Hogwarts: Through the Veil of Time

Everyone, except for me and the first-years, wandered off in different directions, splitting into groups based on their interests. Although, most likely, many would go to bed, because their eyes showed fatigue and relief - their native walls would protect them. For us, Cedric read a speech about what a wonderful Hufflepuff house is, how friendly and hardworking everyone is here, and about the fact that there is some kind of conflict between Gryffindor and Slytherin in the school. Because of this conflict, we need to "keep our finger on the pulse", and if there is a desire to be friends and communicate with students of these houses, always keep in mind the possibility of arrogant aggression from Gryffindors, and a cunning set-up from Slytherins, because, to everyone's sorrow, many consider our house to be a den of narrow-minded blockheads.

"Hector," the headman addressed me familiarly, having previously instructed several students to settle the first-years. "You were enrolled straight into the third year, weren't you?"

"Exactly," I nodded seriously in response.

"No need to be so formal," Cedric continued to keep the smile on his face.

I don't know why, but it didn't seem natural to me. Or rather, not so much unnatural as forced. Yes, that suits me better.

"Let's move away," he invitingly pointed to a free sofa, on the armchair next to which a terribly decent guy of my age, with a damn neat parting of his dark hair, was looking boredly into the fireplace.

"Justin," Cedric said to the guy sitting in the chair.

- Huh? Yes? - the guy looked at us. - Cedric. Something happened?

- You could say that, - the headman turned to me. - You see, Hector, it is customary at our faculty that at first, first-year students go to classes and breaks with the headmen or responsible persons. In order to get acquainted with the routes, the castle, the classrooms, and all that sort of thing.

"I think I understand the difficulty," I nodded again, mirroring Cedric's smile.

My gesture made him freeze for a moment, but he continued speaking almost immediately, and it seemed to me that he even nodded to something.

- Of course, we usually assign some seniors to the first-year students for the first time, but this is all strictly optional, and this year there won't be any seniors available for the first-year students even one to one. Not to mention the third-year student. Justin...

Diggory turned again to the guy who had been listening attentively to everything.

- You won't abandon a new comrade in trouble, will you? Will you help Hector get settled in?

- We?

- Yes. You, Justin, Zachary and Ernie.

— Our schedules may differ.

- What? Oh, right, how could I forget. Hector, what extra subjects did you take?

- Additional? They didn't tell me anything about that.

"Hmm…" Cedric thought, and Justin sat quietly, looking at the fire in the fireplace. "But do you have textbooks for all subjects?"

- Yes. In general, on all of them. And even that jaw-dropping book on UZMS.

"A jaw book?" the headman was surprised, looking questioningly at the startled Justin.

"A terrible book," the boy winced. "At first I was very surprised. But now, knowing that Hagrid would be the teacher, I understood the reasons for this particular book's appearance on the lists."

For now, all I could do was shift my gaze from Cedric to Justin, playing the role of a simple, but understanding and reserved boy. Although, I am one. And that book is really funny - big, with an eye, and it behaves like a huge living jaw. I almost immediately realized that you need to stroke its spine to calmly open it and read - a very characteristic ridge on the spine.

"I see," Cedric smiled again. "Hagrid is truly unique. Look, Hector. You need to choose two additional subjects. UHMS, Divination, Muggle Studies, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy."

- In that case, - I thought for a moment. - UZMS and Ancient Runes.

- An unexpected combination.

- Yeah, - Justin nodded. - We all chose UZMS, Divination or Muggle Studies. Nobody cares about the rest. Hector, why UZMS and Runes?

- You can figure out other subjects yourself, the books there are quite clear. Understanding animals is best done in contact with them, and books on Runes are too abstract. Muggle Studies... Well, you understand.

- Yes, - Cedric nodded. - A questionable item for a Muggle-born. I'll talk to the other prefects about the Runes. And one more question. How are you with magic?

— Practical training in subjects? Or theory?

- Yes to both questions.

— I learned all the theory, no practice at all. But I learn quickly.

"Hmm, let's check," the headman smiled again and, taking a wand from the inside pocket of his robe, pointed it at a sheet of parchment lying on the table nearby.

The sheet quickly and without any effects turned into a feather.

- Take out your wand and cast a levitation charm on the feather.

Pulling my wand out of the holster on my forearm, which I hadn't even noticed I had made from my mother's old, worn-out boot, the box of which was being prepared for disposal, I made the correct swing, released my control over the magic, and said:

- Wingardium Leviosa.

The crumbs of my magic rushed to the wand and left it in a kind of a train, enveloping the feather. Yes, it took off and happily hovered above the table, obeying the movements of my wand. But I did not feel any special structuring or anything else. The magic in an almost unchanged form seemed to envelop the feather, leaving a simple communication channel for interaction. What is happening? Why? Why? Nothing is clear, but very interesting.

"Excellent," Cedric nodded contentedly and smiled at me. "And you haven't tried this spell?"

- No. Just like other magic in the program.

"Impressive," Justin looked at the hovering feather with interest, and I decided to cancel the spell. "You're just like Hermione, you cast spells with almost no practice. Then we'll quickly get through the material.

"By the way," Cedric clearly perked up, and even sat up a little more importantly. "Are you, Hector, by any chance related to Hermione Granger?"

- Yes. Brother. Does it matter?

"Not really," Cedric shook his head, but Justin had a different opinion.

- Well, she is the best student not only in the course, but in general. Everything is always perfect in her studies.

"Okay, guys," Cedric stood up from the couch and we followed him. "I won't keep you any longer. If I've looked at the schedules correctly, your classes will start with potions tomorrow."

"Oh-oh-oh, no," Justin groaned, causing the prefect to smile again. A kind one, for a change. "Come on, Hector. I'll show you the room. And don't worry about the magic. We'll definitely help and do it ourselves."

We left the gradually emptying faculty common room, passing through the round doors into a corridor with several more doors. And yes, also round. Hobbits, honestly!

The room I was placed in with the other third-year guys was done in the same light color scheme as the faculty common room, and the windows were also round. In four of the six deep niches there were fairly large wooden beds with canopies that were yellow, like the lining of the faculty students' robes, and you could separate yourself from the common space with a thick curtain, creating a nice personal corner. There was also room in the niches not only for a bed, but also for a chest, and there was even a small table with a chair. The room itself was quite spacious and could boast a large table, chairs, a sofa, armchairs, and two of the remaining niches were clearly turned by a student's hand into a nook for various little things that did not find a place in the room.