Harry Potter was at a bit of a disadvantage due to his hospitalization, and everyone knew it. Despite it being a new world with new rules and behavior he still half expected there to be no exceptions or excuses. He would need to work harder, and faster, to catch up in class work but considering he was still around three years ahead it wouldn't be too difficult.
It was the electives which worried him.
He had never taken either class before, and the extra courses from his own time were a joke. How far behind would he be? Even with Magical Culture being noted as an 'easier' class it still might be tough for someone who hadn't grown up in said world.
"Good afternoon class," the woman greeted as she walked, prim and proper, towards the front of the room before writing her name on the board. "As a reminder I am Professor Puckle and this is Magical Culture. We will be studying the intricacies of the Magical world, and its society, both in England and located in other countries around the globe."
She paused, making no attempt to hide the gaze she focused on the boy-who-lived, who nodded in understanding in return.
So, she was going over the basics again for him, well that was an unexpected kindness. "Let's go over your reading from last night and the assignments for the week."
For the remainder of the class the woman spoke and called on students, although never once pointed in his direction. Harry took notes, made plans for when he would be able to accomplish the, likely very dry, reading about the history of magical culture, and began packing up at the end of the period like all the other students when he was asked to wait behind after class.
Doing so, the woman let out a sigh as she approached, but stayed at a professional distance, "I don't want you to worry too much about the assignments for this week. I understand you are still recovering a bit so just take it easy."
He blinked and couldn't help the slight frown which formed, "I didn't sign up for this class to be treated differently, professor."
"I trust you did not sign up to risk your life to save dozens of other students either, and yet you did." Harry's face heated from the attention, and he did his best to shrug it off. "Even if you hadn't acted in such a courageous way there would be leniency because of your upbringing and hospitalization. As I'm sure you've heard, this is not the most difficult of classes. Relax a bit and focus on your other studies."
Harry let out a sigh, "I didn't sign up for this because it's an easy class, I signed up for it because I want to learn. I want to be able to have conversations with my family and know what they are referring to, I want to be able to go to parties and not embarrass myself and others by staring blankly when there are talks about Magical things. I want to understand my family and the world they live in."
The professor stared for a moment, before she smiled warmly. "Most students take this class for an 'easy O' without much studying needed. I'm glad to have someone who wants to learn instead. I look forward to having you in class."
****
"For those of you who may have missed the first day of class," the older woman announced as she stood from her desk and made her way around and towards the students who were seated, "you may think of me as a less biased Serena Snape. I do not tolerate foolishness or roughhousing in this room. While Potions may be a far more dangerous topic than Spell Theory my class leads into a far more specialized one in which if not taken seriously can result in permanent injury or worse. If you are looking for an easy class with little homework to boost your grades or impress your parents with… pick a different one. Those who remain understand this, I am here to teach, and you are here to learn. Spell theory might sound easy, but I assure you the intricacies behind it are no less complicated than Arithmancy or Runes."
The woman, Professor Alecto Carrow as she had written on the board, paused to look Harry directly in the eyes and when she found him staring back with nothing but resolution and confidence she smirked before moving on.
Her next stop was in front of a pair of twins, ones Harry recognized as being a year older than him from Slytherin. "Some of you might have heard that I have a pair of daughters at Hogwarts, in this very class it seems."
Said twins seemed to squirm a bit under the woman's gaze.
"The same rules that apply to all of you apply to them as well, and I assure you…" Carrow's gaze seemed to sharpen and she leaned in, although her voice did not drop in volume. "Just as my mother did not coddle me, I will not coddle them."
At least it would be an interesting class.
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