New Faces + Classes
Yoichi Isagi’s second day at Hogwarts dawned bright and early. The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Gryffindor dormitory, and the sounds of students rustling about filled the air. Isagi stretched, still marveling that he was waking up in a magical castle.
“Let’s go, Isagi!” Bachira called, bounding over to his bed. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss breakfast!”
“Coming, coming!” Isagi said, fumbling to put on his robes.
The Gryffindor table in the Great Hall was buzzing with energy when they arrived. Plates were piled high with toast, sausages, eggs, and porridge. Isagi noticed several students pouring over their schedules, and he quickly did the same.
“What do we have first?” he asked Chigiri, who was seated nearby.
“Herbology with the Hufflepuffs,” Chigiri replied, flipping his schedule over. “Then Transfiguration.”
“Herbology sounds fun!” Bachira said, grabbing an apple and tossing it in the air. “I hope we get to wrestle with man-eating plants or something.”
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Herbology: Plants That Bite Back
The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs gathered outside the greenhouses, where Professor Sprout, a cheerful witch with dirt-streaked robes, greeted them enthusiastically.
“Good morning, everyone! Today we’ll be working with Mandrakes,” she announced, holding up a pot containing a suspiciously leafy plant.
Whispers erupted among the students.
“Mandrakes?” Isagi asked, leaning toward a nearby Hufflepuff boy.
The boy, who had a kind face and blue hair, smiled. “Yeah, they’re magical plants, but their cries can knock you out cold. I’m Hiori Yo, by the way.”
“Isagi Yoichi,” Isagi said. “Nice to meet you!”
Professor Sprout handed out earmuffs and demonstrated how to repot a Mandrake safely. When it was Isagi’s turn, he worked carefully with Hiori, who guided him through the process.
“Make sure to grip it firmly, or it’ll try to wriggle away,” Hiori said.
Isagi nodded, his hands trembling slightly as he pulled the Mandrake from its pot. The tiny plant flailed and shrieked, but with Hiori’s help, he managed to replant it.
“Good job!” The blue haired boy said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Isagi grinned. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
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Transfiguration: The Art of Change
After Herbology, the Gryffindors hurried to Professor Teieri’s classroom for Transfiguration. The stern professor wasted no time diving into the lesson.
“Transfiguration is one of the most complex and dangerous branches of magic,” she began. “Today, we’ll be turning matchsticks into needles.”
Isagi was paired with another Gryffindor, a boy named Kurona Ranze. He had short, Red hair with a thick braid and crooked teeth
”shark” Isagi imagined in his head
Kurona seemed to be quiet and only spoke when needed to.
“Transfiguration is all about precision,” Kurona explained as they practiced. “It’s not just waving your wand wand around.”
“Yeah, I’m figuring that out,” Isagi said, frowning at his still-wooden matchstick.
Kurona’s matchstick had already taken on a metallic sheen, and he offered him pointers until his began to change.
“Got it!” Isagi exclaimed when his matchstick finally transformed into a slightly crooked needle.
“Not bad for a first try,” Kurona said.
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Lunch in the Great Hall
By lunchtime, Isagi was both exhilarated and exhausted. He joined Bachira and Chigiri at the Gryffindor table, where the three swapped stories about their morning.
“Herbology was awesome,” Bachira said, enthusiastically recounting his encounter with a feisty Mandrake. “I think mine tried to bite me!”
“Sounds about right,” Chigiri said with a smirk.
As they ate, Isagi noticed a tall boy with dark hair and striking green eyes sitting at the Slytherin table. It was Rin Itoshi, the partner he had met during Potions. Rin seemed to be ignoring everyone around him, his focus entirely on his meal.
“You’re staring,” Chigiri said, nudging Isagi with his elbow.
“Huh? Oh, no, I just—” Isagi stammered.
“Rin’s not exactly a people person,” Chigiri said. “Don’t let him intimidate you.”
“I’m not intimidated,” Isagi said quickly.
“Sure you’re not,” Bachira teased, his grin mischievous.
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Defense Against the Dark Arts: A Duel of Wits
The afternoon brought Defense Against the Dark Arts, taught by Professor Lupin, a kind but slightly disheveled man with a warm smile.
“Defense magic is all about preparation and quick thinking,” Lupin explained. “Today, we’ll start with simple shield charms.”
Isagi partnered with a Ravenclaw boy named Aryu Jyubei, who seemed more interested in keeping his robes immaculate than practicing.
“Hold your wand like this,” Aryu instructed, demonstrating with exaggerated flair.
Isagi followed her lead, managing to cast a weak shield charm that flickered before fading.
“Not bad,” Aryu said, tilting his head as if appraising him. “You’ve got potential.”
“Thanks, I guess,” Isagi said, unsure if it was a compliment.
Across the room, Rin Itoshi cast his shield charm effortlessly, drawing murmurs of admiration from the Slytherins. Isagi couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
“I’ll get there,” he thought, clenching his fist.
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A Newfound Determination
By the end of the day, Isagi had met more students than he could count, each with their own unique personality and skills. While some, like Hiori and Kurona, were easy to get along with, others, like Rin, remained a mystery.
As he sat in the Gryffindor common room that evening, surrounded by the warmth of his housemates, Isagi felt a growing sense of determination.
But he still had one thing in his mind, Who was that boy from Hufflepuff during the sorting hat ceremony?
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