Draco left off stomping his feet followed by his group glaring at Devlin and Esme.
"You sure that was okay? While it was funny, don't you think they'll give you a hard time later?" Devlin asked
Esme laughed. "It's fine, it's fine! If they mess with me, I'll mess with them back!" Esme flexed in a humorous way to lighten the mood. "By the way, you don't have to join me for lunch. I only said that to mess with Draco."
Devlin smiled and thought this girl was entertaining. "That may be the case, but how about we...."
"Hey there Devlin, we're about to head to lunch, want to join?" Ernie interrupted Devlin. Beside him was Stan and also Hanna Abbot who he is already familiar with.
Devlin looked at Esme as she smiled at him giving him a sense that it's okay.
"Sure." Devlin got up and gathered his books. Before leaving he turned to Esme. "Esme, care to join us? That's cool with everyone right? Esme's a nice person."
Ernie and the group stared at Esme. "If Devlin says so, then that's fine by me!" Stan and Hannah also nodded.
"Will this be okay with you, Esme? Will this not give you trouble if you hang out with us?" Hannah asked with concern.
Esme smiled. "Nah, I wouldn't worry about it. Most rich spoiled kids are like that. But I'm different. I could care less what people think about me."
Devlin was impressed. When he was their age in his previous life, all he did was worry about what people thought of him. His mind set is different now, but all the more reason to be impressed by her.
The group of four went casually walked together into the Great Hall and sat down at the Hufflepuff table. Because lunch was an hour long. The hall was not as crowded as it was during the sorting ceremony, but based on the student's timing, either showing up late or early during the lunch hour, the incoming and outgoing students entering and exiting the hall was more frequent.
Naturally the students gathered and sat at the Hufflepuff table. Esme sat down next to Hanna naturally and did not hesitate because it was on the Hufflepuff side.
"So you're Esme Lima. Could you be related to Edward Lima, the duelist?" Stan who rarely speaks asks a curious question.
Esme puffed her chest and looks proudly and smirks. "That's right! That's my dad! Future duelist champion. And I'll follow in his footsteps by being the best duelist in Hogwarts!"
"Is that a thing here? Is there like a dueling club?" Devlin asks. He remembers somewhat of it being like a class event, but wasn't sure if it was a regular or formal club.
Esme shakes her head. "I haven't heard of one yet. But that is a good idea. I'll ask Professor Flitwick about this. What do you think? If a dueling club is created, would you join?" Esme asked the group.
"It's not for me. I just want to make sure I do well in school. But I hope it happens for you." Hannah answers.
"It's not for me to compete, but I would join for the practice of it." Ernie also responded.
"I think I would join. It seems interesting." Devlin gestured. Stan also nodded in interest but didn't say anything.
"Well, off to an interesting start! I will let you all know! I will ask Professor Flitwick about this." Hanna says excitedly
"Wouldn't it be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that would be in charge of this." Hannah asked
"If you think Charms first day was boring because it was all talk, just wait until you meet Professor Quirrell. I don't understand him at all and totally disappointed from the class." Esme complained. "Who cares about what dark beasts are like! Teach me spells! Give me action!"
Devlin laughed. "But isn't knowledge also important?"
Esme sighed. "I know it is...it's just...I learn by experience! I can't keep up if things are too long-winded." Esme put her head down on the table remembering the class. "Besides...well..." Esme sniffled her nose and grinned. "Well..if you haven't had it yet, just wait. You'll see what I mean."
The Hufflepuff students stare at her then at each other. They shrugged and continued on to lunch.
***********
Devlin and his housemates entered their class excitingly as this was a class Devlin was looking forward to, for many reasons. This was a teacher of interest to him.
The room permeated with a smell of garlic as the students react as soon as they enter the room. "Do I smell garlic?" Devlin asked.
"I've heard its to ward off vampires." Hannah Abbott said. "I heard about it when chatting with some upper classmen. They said he fought a vampire in Romania and is out to get him." Hanna explained while covering her nose up.
Professor Quirrell then arrived at the scene and in front of the classroom. He looked exhausted but still stood in front of the class to introduce himself. "I..I..I am Professor Quirinus Quirrell. I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Professor Quirrell took a deep breath. "I know everyone is excited to learn new spells and battle against the darkness of evils, but first, in order to battle your enemy, you must know your enemy. S...so..please open your books to chapter 6. T..the s.sstudy about vampires..We will begin there."
While squirming about, Professor Quirrell did manage to talk theoretical knowledge about a vampire, their weaknesses and strengths. Every time he would walk down the isle and pass a student, the smell of garlic would become stronger.
"Oh my god! Did he stuff a ton of garlic in his undies?" Ernie pinched his nose in complained. Devlin and the others silently laughed.
As class ended, the students left the classroom a bit disappointed for their first class. They were hoping for something exciting, instead got a lecture that was hard to listen to. Devlin had Astronomy next as it wasn't too surprising. It was just a simple introduction to the class. He wasn't sure if it was there was a systematic way of knowing, but the classes were filled with other houses. He was sure it was for the purpose of filling up the classroom, but he wasn't sure if there was a purpose to it.
The next day starts with his next teacher of interest. Double potions class. It took place down in one for the dungeons and it was colder than a typical classroom. Devlin looked around the classroom finding that instead of desks, there were stations with a potion set around the classroom. Devlin, Stan and Ernie found stations pretty close together which happened to be close to Hannah and another Hufflepuff student next to her.
"Ready for a double potions class?" Ernie teased to the group.
"I heard Professor Snape is a difficult one." Hannah commented. "Rumor has it, he always wanted a position in the Defense Against the Dark Arts, but it keeps getting stolen from him."
"Professor Dumbledore probably thought he was more fit for potions though." Ernie said
"Well, either way, I hear his a strict one. I guess we'll see." Hannah replied. As soon as she finished her sentence. a loud thump can be heard in front of the class where Professor Snape sits.
The students of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw look towards Professor Snape in silence as he takes out his attendance booklet and starts taking attendance. Once he finished taking attendance, he began his lecture.
"Potions is one of the most challenging subjects in Hogwarts." Professor Snape begins speaking while walking around the class observing the students. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making." Unlike the hesitation of Professor Quirrell's voice, Professor Snape commanded a presence that grabbed the attention of every student. "What I expect from you students is not any fancy wand-waving here. Potions require peak concentration, discipline and intellect. While potions is not as flashy, I will and can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death."
"Padma Patil!" Professor Snape calls out a student from the Ravenclaw House. "What are the ingredients needed to make a cure for boils potion?"
Padma looked intimidated but this young wizard of Indian descent replied calmly. "Umm, Yes Professor." She took a second to think and then answered. "Snake fangs, dried nettles, horned slugs, porcupine quills, and Advil."
Professor Snape stared at Padma strictly for a bit. "Looks like Ravenclaw is living up to their name. Points for Ravenclaw." Padma smiled and sighed in relief. "Today, rather than lecturing you, we will begin by attempting to brew this potion. Open your books and find the steps for Cure for Boils potion. To your stations as pairs. Ask questions as you may, but I expect you all not to act like a bunch of dunderheads in my class!"
Devlin and Stan decided to work together while looking at the instructions in the book. Professor Snape walked around the class watching everyone as they weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing and instructing everyone he walked by. Stan put in the ingredients in the cauldron from the first part and then Devlin read the instructions on the book and took the cauldron off the fire and compared the pictures from the ingredients. He then added dried nettles, horn slugs, and advil into the cauldron and Stan followed up by stirring the cauldron. Once Stan finished the stirring, Devlin waved his wand and a pink smoke raised from the cauldron. Devlin and Stan smiled as this was a sign of success.
"Not bad." Professor Snape all of a sudden commented from behind surprising the two students. "Interesting team work I see." Professor Snape looked at Stan. "You... are from the Little family."
"That's right." Stan replied. Professor Snape kept a poker face not reacting to his reply. Devlin was afraid and wondering if that was too blunt.
"Not bad. Not bad. Points for Hufflepuff. You see class, like this pair here, if you succeed, a pink smoke will raise from the cauldron. Continue on." Professor Snape replied. Shocked, Devlin realized that while he might be strict, Professor Snape is not as scary as rumors claim.
"Do you know Professor Snape?" Devlin asked
"Not personally no. But, he is in the same generation of my parents. Being of Slytherin, maybe they knew each other?"
Devlin thought maybe that was why. Professor Snape has a reputation that seems to favor Slytherin. Maybe he also favors familial connections as well. Everyone seemed to have completed their tasks. Some has failed but nothing as dramatic as Devlin thought. Professor Snape continued to lecture the class and while giving some critiques and instructions to improve, the class ended.
The rest of the day seemed to have been as normal. Devlin was starting to understand the culture of things here at Hogwarts and got a hint of what life of Hogwarts is like.
Weekends are free for the students of Hogwarts and Devlin sits in the common room reading an article from the Daily Prophet that was laying on the table.
"Gringotts Break-in Latest...." Devlin read. It was an article in regards to a vault that was searched and was emptied out the same day. Devlin knew it was about the Philosopher's Stone. Devlin was conflicted about this. In a world where Harry Potter and magic is real, how much alignment does this world have with the story he knows? Just his existence alone is similar to a butterfly effect. If that's the case, maybe he should make a more daring decision. Devlin has already noticed some changes within even himself in this world. In a younger body, he's more energetic and excitable. Even though he has some life experience, being in a magic world is totally different and new. In that case, maybe he should consult with someone, wiser. Experiences about time travel does exist, so maybe discussing it with someone of importance might be a way to prevent some tragedies, or will it create more?