"It is what it is. Daphne's been making sure that I'm doing okay in the class, so I at least don't have to worry too much about that." Harry says, thinking of an incident earlier in the week.
"It's still hard to believe that Malfoy was going to put a firecracker in your cauldron, that could have killed you!" Hermione says, referencing the event.
"Even harder to believe that he got away with it without even a points loss." Padma says.
"Malfoy's a jerk and we all know it. At least we know that not all of the Slytherins are like that. Otherwise we'd be like Weasley." Harry says. Ron Weasley had only been at Hogwarts a week and a half, and the entire school was incredibly aware of his vehement hatred for Slytherins, lesser well known was his distaste for Ravenclaws, and total lack of faith in anyone from Hufflepuff.
"Yeah, I can't imagine how Neville deals with having him for a roommate." Hermione says, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Neville just apparently barely deals with him, only interacting at bedtime. Any other time he's with Lavender, Parvati, and their friends." Harry says.
"It's a bit unfortunate that you and Neville don't really have any guy friends though, Hermione and I are spoiled in that we have each other, as well as everyone else in the Sphinx Club." Padma says.
"I'm working on trying to talk to my roommates. I don't know enough about Quidditch yet for that to work though. It's kind of all they talk about." Harry says. "This morning it was all about the Appleby Arrows Holyhead Harpie match. Michael was apparently really conflicted because he's from Appleby, but loves the Harpies."
"Why does he like the Harpies?" Hermione asks, "Everyone I know always rooted for their home team, even if they were bad."
"He said and I quote 'they're the fittest birds to ever fly'." Harry says, putting on his best impression of his roommate.
"Ooh! They're that all girl team!" Padma says. "Parvati mentioned them once, she's always been about the celebrities and things."
"Yeah, it's a bit strange to me to be honest." Harry says.
"I don't get it either, Harry. My dad was really into footie, that is, football and would go watch our local team all the time, but I never got it." Hermione says.
"My uncle and cousin were never into sports at all, so I've never really watched any football or cricket outside of school matches." Harry says.
"Neither Parvati or I were particularly into sports, although we've been to a couple Quidditch games." Padma says.
With that, the trio refocus and set their efforts to prepare for the next day's potions class, excited for the weekend after to spend with their friends.
As September fades into October, the Sphinx Club have quickly risen to be the top performing students of their year-group, which Professors Flitwick and McGonagall are very proud of. Because of the student's exceptional performance, Professor Flitwick decided that it would be beneficial to install a small dueling platform and training dummy in the Sphinx Club room, so that the students could safely practice their spells outside of the classroom.
"Alright Neville, remember that you're trying to cast Red Sparks, not green ones, so the incantation is Vermillious. Now, take aim at the dummy." Harry says, guiding Neville through the spell. Harry's proficiency with Defense Against the Dark Arts has had him to teach the more offensive focused charms over Padma, who feels that she can't properly convey their proper use.
"Alright.. Ugh… Vermillious!" Neville encants, and a few pitiful Red Sparks emerge from his wand.
"Well, everything was right there. Did you try to put some more power in it?" Harry asks, confused at Neville's performance. Neville, when properly applied, is shaping up to be quite the wizard, he had the intelligence needed to succeed. Evidenced by the fact that he was ranked 6th in this group, the highest of the Gryffindors. He still however was struggling in the execution of his spells, even when done properly they always came out as underpowered.
"I'm throwing everything I can behind them, it just feels like there's something in the way." Neville says, slumping.
"What do you mean 'something in the way'?" Tracey asks, her ears perking up.
"I don't know, I guess it's kind of like trying to blow really hard out of your mouth, but you have your lips tightened really far. So there's a lot of air behind them, but not a lot coming out." Neville says, unconfident in his answer.
"Neville, where did you get your wand?" Tracey asks, getting up and inspecting Neville's wand. "This is Rowan wood, with Dragon Heartstring, it should be killing it with this spell."
"Ugh, it's my dad's. He was an auror and could do some wicked stuff with this want. Gran said it would be a good way to carry on his memory." Neville says, looking sheepish.
"Well there's your problem! The wand chooses the wizard Neville! You need your own wand. Here, borrow mine for a second and try again, you might be really unsuited for your dad's wand." Tracey says, turning over her wand to Neville.
"Okay, if you say so. Vermillious!" Neville encants again, and the results are much different. Instead of the few pitiful sparks before, this casting had nearly a dozen sparks, each shooting out several feet.
"Woah! Way to go Neville!" Harry says, looking at the result.
"Just what I thought. My wand is particularly willing to work with others, so it's probably a bit better than just a random wand for you, but should be nothing compared to your own. You should go to Ollivanders as soon as you can to get your own wand." Tracey says, a proud smile on her face.
"How do you know so much about wands Tracey?" Harry asks, in awe at his friend's skills.