TFA: Chapter 3: The Building of Foundations

> *"I am, however, most curious as to how two children of similar stock could possibly end up on two opposite ends of a most telling spectrum. I think we have in front of us, an excellent opportunity to test the theory of nature versus nurture."*
>
>

— Severus Snape in the first potions class of the year.

## Summary:

Harry Potter has his first day of classes in Hogwarts, consisting of Potions, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

## Plot:

**September 2nd, 1991:** Harry Potter wakes up early, having been inculcated in the habit by the Dursley's system of chores. He is thankful that he didn't scream in terror during the night, as he is want to do, suffering from nightmares as a result of 10 years at 4 Privet Drive. He enjoys the luxury of the dorms, and heads into the common room to read *The Rise and Fall of The Dark Arts*.

In the common room, he is approached by Grace Weitts about his unusual waking habits. They enter a conversation about Harry's interest in history, and Grace bemoans the quality of the course at Hogwarts. When Harry suggests he might just skip it, Grace questions his audacity that he would intimate plans of wrongdoing to a prefect. Harry replies by commenting on the nature of a Slytherin, and how Grace wouldn't want to alienate possible future allies this callously. Grace is surprised at how well Harry can play the game, and thinks his Slytherin sorting might have been more than a fluke.

Harry and Blaise Zabini go to the great hall for breakfast, led by the 5th year prefects. There, Harry makes deductions about the Slytherin social hierarchy, it's expression in seating arrangements, and it's basis in connections and influence. Harry has a conversation with Blaise, who points out Charlus Potter has been staring at him since the start of breakfast. Then, Professor Snape handed out the timetables.

In Potions, Harry is accosted by Charlus, who asks why he went to Slytherin. After they have a brief clash of wits, Professor Snape enters the classroom, and punishes Charlus for his unruliness. While questioning him on bezoars, monkshood, and wolfsbane, Charlus insults Snape instead of answering, and Harry gets the answers correct in an example of 'Nature vs. Nurture'. They then brew a Boil-Cure potion. Neville Longbottom's and Seamus Finnigan's cauldron explodes, misbrewed into a painful, boil-causing solution, injuring Neville and Seamus. When they are sent off to the hospital wing, Harry steals some of the misbrewed potion, for use at a future date. Daphne Greengrass finishes early with a perfect potion, and Harry and Blaise turn in a perfect potion at the end of class.

He then goes to Charms with Professor Flitwick, and had a lesson on the theory of magic. Harry is bored by the slow pace of the class, and he resolves to get as far ahead in that class as he can.

Finally, the has Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Hurst. She lectures them on the ever changing nature of the Dark Arts, and thus the need for a strong defense against it. Harry is called on by Professor Hurst to aid in a demonstration, where she uses the 'Aegis Vocar' Shield to defend against Harry's jinxes. Harry is the first to successfully cast the shield, and appears to enjoy the class.

## Characters Introduced:

Seamus Finnigan.

Filius Flitwick.

Chronological Order