The next morning I woke up surprisingly early, around 6 a.m., a rare feat for someone like me. Maybe it was the new environment or the lingering excitement of the previous day. Either way, I figured it was a good opportunity to let Garuda out. He could explore the mountains and forests surrounding Hogwarts hunt and do whatever hawks do.
After releasing him, I found myself wide awake, so I decided to take a quick bath before heading to the Great Hall for breakfast. Unsurprisingly, it was nearly empty, save for a handful of older students—probably sixth or seventh years—who gave me a polite nod before resuming their conversations.
---
With plenty of time to kill before classes, I embarked on a self-guided tour of the castle. The idea was simple: locate hidden corners, secret rooms, and any places that might give me an edge in this magical world.
From my knowledge of the series and the Hogwarts Legacy game, the Room of Requirement was the ultimate jackpot. It could literally become anything I needed. However, it wasn't the only hidden gem in the castle.
The Undercroft, a secret dueling chamber accessed via a wardrobe-like clock near the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, was also worth checking out. According to the game, you could interact with the clock to enter.
As I wandered the corridors, I noticed Hogwarts did indeed have a Floo Network, just like in the game. Sadly, the Map Chamber was sealed and destroyed—no access to Ancient Magic for me. That discovery was a bit of a letdown, but at least the Undercroft turned out to be real.
With time running short, I made my way to my first class of the day: Transfiguration.
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Walking into Professor McGonagall's classroom, the first thing I noticed was a black cat perched on the teacher's desk. Without hesitation, I greeted it.
"Good morning, Professor," I said with a small smirk, earning confused stares from some of my classmates.
Of course, I knew the truth: Professor McGonagall was an Animagus, and the cat was her. She didn't acknowledge me—no surprise there—but when she eventually transformed back into her human form, I caught a faint twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
I took a seat in the second-to-last row, as the coveted last seat was already taken. So much for the protagonist's seat.
We waited a few more minutes for the rest of the class to arrive. To no one's surprise (except maybe Ron's and Harry's), the duo stumbled in late, gasping for breath. They had clearly gotten lost in the maze-like corridors of the castle.
This, of course, led to their first embarrassing moment: Professor McGonagall's stern reprimand and the stifled giggles of the class. To be fair, though, this place is confusing as hell. A map wouldn't hurt.
---
McGonagall wasted no time diving into the lesson, introducing us to the basics of Transfiguration. She explained the theory behind transforming objects and demonstrated the goal for today's class: turning a toothpick into a needle.
She made it look effortless. With a casual flick of her wand, the toothpick on her desk shimmered briefly before becoming a shiny, silver needle.
"Your turn," she said, scanning the room.
Confidently, I pointed my wand at the toothpick. Alright, time to show off, I thought.
I muttered the incantation and... nothing. The toothpick didn't even wiggle. My second and third attempts weren't much better. It wasn't until my seventh try that I finally managed to transform the toothpick into a proper needle.
McGonagall, however, seemed pleased.
"Well done, Mr. Wayne," she said with a rare smile. "Ten points to Gryffindor."
The praise felt good, even if it wasn't entirely deserved. But hey, progress is progress.
---
After Transfiguration, the rest of my classes followed in quick succession. Charms was a breeze—Professor Flitwick was enthusiastic, and I managed to successfully cast a simple levitation charm on the first try. Potions, on the other hand, was... less enjoyable.
Professor Snape had a knack for making everyone feel like an idiot, and I wasn't spared from his sarcasm. Fortunately, my brewing skills were decent enough to avoid outright humiliation.
By the time dinner rolled around, I was both mentally and physically drained. The day had been a mix of highs and lows, but it felt good to finally settle into the rhythm of Hogwarts life.
---
Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, I claimed an armchair near the fireplace and watched as my housemates chatted and laughed around me.
I couldn't help but think about what lay ahead. Between the classes, the castle's mysteries, and the looming presence of Voldemort in the background, there was no doubt this year would be anything but ordinary.
But for now, I was content. Hogwarts was slowly starting to feel like home.
---Note
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