One Day They'll Know Your Name

Names for the present

Harry practically bounced into the Runes class. After the first week, which was mostly memorizing the alphabet, the professor had moved into being able to write in runes. They worked on that for almost a month, and now they were learning how to channel their magic through their writing implements.

"If you can manage this," Professor Babbling had said, "you will have an advantage in your sixth year when your professors start you learning non-wanded magic."

They had started with a wooden stylus because channeling magic through wood was the easiest. They had focused on wood for almost a month, and they were now working with a silver stylus. The only rune Professor Babbling allowed them to use was Inguz, the rune of the Seed, which symbolized growth and common sense, among other things. "This is about the only rune that won't blow up in your faces if you do it wrong in any way," she explained. "At least, it definitely won't blow up in your face it you mess it up. The others might."

So the students continued to write Inguz over and over until they could feel the magic flowing through the instrument. Hermione raised her hand. Professor Babbling nodded to her.

"Is channeling our magic through the implements similar to potions and our stirring sticks? Since Muggles can't make potions, it would stand to reason that magic is somehow being used in the potion, even without the use of our wands."

"Very good, Miss Granger. Five points to Ravenclaw. It is very similar, but when using runes you must be much more precise. Potions is also very precise, but in that class, your magic is drawn out by the inherent magical property of the objects around you. Your magic naturally travels through your hand and into your knife, stirring stick, and anything else you use to make the potion. In this class, it must be learned, because writing is not generally a magical process. Does that answer your question, Miss Granger?"

Hermione nodded and Harry smiled at her. Runes was fascinating and he wouldn't trade this elective for anything.

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Arithmancy was another class that Harry enjoyed. It included a lot of numbers, but the way the numbers were set up and how you got those numbers was important. This year they focused on how to solve spells and why different spells had different numbers that corresponded with what they did. Hermione had compared it to balancing equations in Muggle Chemistry, and Harry had to agree with her. The section Hermione had showed him was very similar to what they were doing in Arithmancy.

After OWLs, they would begin learning how to use Arithmancy as a Divination tool. Right now Professor Vector was handing out some worksheets for the spell Duro, which they had learned in Transfiguration.

"Once you've finished this, do what we've done for all the other spells. Increase one of the variables and see how that changes the math."

The class got to work.

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Care of Magical Creatures was also going well, even if Draco didn't like this class as much. After hippogriffs Hagrid had brought out some salamanders, which where not like the salamanders Harry had learned about in Muggle school. These salamanders like fire, and their fire glowed interesting colors.

After the salamanders, which were around for a couple weeks, they covered flobberworms, but not for very long. Hagrid only lasted a week before he got bored and brought in some crups, which the class was working on currently.

The two tailed dogs were adorable, and the class enjoyed learning about them. Even Draco had fun with the pups.

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Yule rolled around and with it went Harry's hopes that he would be able to go stay with Sirius. Besides the fact that the Ministry still wasn't with the program of Sirius having already been cleared, the dementors were also likely to show up on the train again. Sirius had promised an amazing present to make up for not being able to see each other, but Harry would have preferred to be at Grimmauld Place with Sirius and Kreacher than any gift.

All of Les Amis was staying at Hogwarts as well, so Harry wouldn't be lonely. They had already decided to spend some time in the Chamber in their Animagus forms to spend time together and get used to each other. They hadn't yet, since they had homework to do first as Hermione insisted, but now that it was Christmas day they had decided to go down after breakfast.

After they had finished breakfast, the morning post arrived, and with it came several owls carrying what was obviously a broom, Hedwig at the head of the group. They landed in front of Harry, and he quickly read the note. "It's from Sirius. He says he sent a Firebolt, since the school brooms aren't actually mine, and this one is one I can use outside of school as well!"

Draco and Ron grinned and crowded close to see better as Harry unwrapped it from it's shiny red and green paper. "That's the best broom on the market so far!" Ron said excitedly. "It's even better than the Nimbus Two Thousand One!"

Draco grinned down at the broom, then a thoughtful look came over his face. "You should ride it up to the ceiling, see how high it actually is," he said with a smirk.

Ron smirked back, Neville laughed a little, and Hermione just sighed exasperatedly. Harry grinned and mounted the beautiful broom. "See you on the other side!" he laughed, and shot up towards the ceiling.

Luckily the only professor in attendance was Professor Dumbledore, and his eyes were twinkling as he watched the group. Harry suspected Professor McGonagall or Snape would have taken points or given detentions, but Headmaster Dumbledore seemed to be curious as well.

Les Amis and Professor Dumbledore watched as Harry flew higher and eventually stopped. Suddenly Harry's voice sounded faintly. "What the FUCK."

"Language, Mr. Ornament!" Professor Dumbledore called.

"Sorry!" came the call. A moment later Harry flew back down. "Did you know that there's no ceiling? Because I do. That is a thing that I know now. Morgana's overflowing chamber pot. What were the Founders thinking?!"

As Harry's voice got louder, Draco and Ron's laughter was getting harder to control. Neville also seemed amused, but he wasn't outright laughing. Hermione was intrigued.

"How does it work? Is it what the weather actually is right that moment? How does the temperature stay so constant? How does bird poop not get through? How do we not see the birds?"

"Slow down, 'Mione," Ron laughed. "Let Harry have his freak out moment and then you can ask all of your questions."

"I'm gonna go write Sirius." Harry started walking towards the doors. "Salazar's sagging left tit. There's no actual ceiling. What the hell."

Professor Dumbledore pretended not to hear the last sentence, laughing quietly into his tea as Harry's friends followed the green eyed boy.