Chapter 107: Changed Class Schedule
The Astronomy Tower was the tallest tower at Hogwarts.
Except during classes, students weren't allowed up there.
Astronomy lessons and evening exams were held at its peak, which required a long climb up a steep spiral staircase.
To be honest, Alexander couldn't understand how Crabbe and Goyle remained so overweight in the original timeline—especially considering how many stairs Hogwarts had.
Then again, they were Slytherins. Their common room was down in the dungeons, and the most exercise they probably got was climbing the stairs to class.
The professor for Astronomy was Aurora Sinistra, a talkative witch who frequently attended the opening banquet and other meals. She often chatted with the teachers beside her. Alexander and the others would spot her regularly in the Great Hall during dinner.
In the first-year Astronomy course, the only required tool was the foldable brass telescope listed in the Hogwarts acceptance letter.
In class, Professor Sinistra mainly taught them how to use the telescope to observe the night sky, learn the names of various stars, and track planetary movements.
Interestingly, Alexander once overheard Harry analyzing the professor's name.
"'Sinistra' comes from Latin and means 'left' or 'on the left side,'" Harry had said. "And 'Aurora' is English for the northern lights, derived from Latin meaning 'dawn.' So, her full name sort of combines darkness and light—interesting, right?"
Harry was clearly obsessed with The Evolution of Spells, and now analyzed every new name he came across. Unfortunately, this habit almost got him points deducted when he blurted it out during class. Hermione shot him a sharp look while he scrambled to shut up.
But none of that really mattered. The important thing was that the Astronomy homework load was light.
Because of that, Alexander and the other Ravenclaws still had energy after class. It took them about fifteen minutes to finish the assignments.
That left Harry with extra free time—time he used to continue questioning other students about Professor Snape. After all, Potions was tomorrow morning, and according to his aunt, Snape had been a close friend of his mother.
Alexander couldn't help but tell Harry, "Your mother was really talented in Potions. As Snape's friend's son, he might just single you out. Better review some basic potions knowledge."
It wasn't alarmist advice.
In the original timeline and class schedule, Gryffindor and Slytherin had Potions together on Friday mornings. Now that Harry had been sorted into Ravenclaw, Snape had apparently altered the schedule—possibly just to get a closer look at Harry's green eyes more frequently.
This Potions class wasn't just awkward because of that. It also included another student who made Snape seethe—Neville Longbottom.
Neville had been the other potential "Child of Prophecy." If Voldemort had chosen Neville instead, Lily might have lived.
Snape never forgot that. In the original timeline, he had belittled Neville, shattered his confidence, and tormented him relentlessly.
Of course, what Snape didn't know was that the real reason Voldemort had chosen Harry was because Harry was more like him—a half-blood wizard born of a pure-blood and a Muggle.
With these thoughts drifting in his mind, Alexander finished washing up and drifted off to sleep.
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The next morning, Harry woke up early and devoured Arsene Gigg's Magical Pharmacy and Potions like a madman. Alexander raised an eyebrow in amusement. It seemed yesterday's reminder had worked.
Breakfast in the Great Hall was simple: oatmeal porridge, bread, and eggs. The only "flavor" came from a dish of white sugar beside the porridge.
Nearly every student added sugar to their cereal.
"Alexander, why are you smiling like that?" Harry asked curiously. He'd observed that his mysterious friend's mood often corresponded with the food quality in the Great Hall. He even came up with something he called The Smith Smile Law.
"What? Can't I smile?" Alexander replied innocently. Even if the food wasn't great, the first proper encounter between Snape and Harry was about to happen. As a long-time Harry fan, how could he not be excited?
"Fine," Harry grumbled, realizing he wasn't getting a real answer.
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The Potions classroom was located in the dungeons—not far from the Slytherin common room. Even Snape's office was on the same floor.
"I wish Professor Flitwick's office was in the Ravenclaw tower," Hermione suddenly remarked.
"What's so great about that?" Ron asked. "If the professor's always next to you, how can you ever relax?"
Ron had gotten better at speaking to Hermione without turning red over time.
"But it is far," Neville added, panting as he lugged his supplies—a standard-size, tin-plated cauldron, a set of crystal phials, and a brass scale.
The group entered the Potions classroom, which was large enough to hold at least twenty students.
It resembled a potions shop. A Muggle stumbling in might think they'd entered Frankenstein's lab in a horror movie. The walls were lined with shelves holding animal specimens in jars. A storage cabinet stood to the side, filled with potion ingredients.
Behind the podium stood a blackboard. The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
Soon, the Hufflepuff students filed in, and Dudley trailed at the very back. His plump form made him puff up with restored confidence.
But as soon as they arrived, the once-cold classroom erupted into noise. Hufflepuff students pointed and whispered about Harry and Dudley.
Dudley, who had shrunk back nervously at first due to the eerie dungeon setting, quickly regained his confidence in the cheerful chaos.
That is, until Professor Snape entered.
Snape exuded a quiet, chilling authority. The moment he stepped in, the room went dead silent.
Clad in flowing black robes, he looked like a dark storm cloud—snuffing out the last traces of sunlight and joy that had lingered in the room.
Even Dudley, who had once proudly followed Snape through Diagon Alley to purchase supplies, immediately lowered his head.
The real Hogwarts experience was about to begin.
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