Otherworldly Interference

Harry rose early with a purpose. The quiet halls echoed his footsteps as he made his way to the Owlery. Among the sleepy owls, Harry spotted Hedwig perched on a wooden beam, her eyes half-closed. Approaching her, he greeted her by gently scratching on her feathery head.

"Morning, girl. Ready for some deliveries?" Harry whispered.

Hedwig, stirred by his touch, opened her eyes and responded with a soft hoot. With practiced ease, Harry affixed a letter and a delicate Aurora Petal to Hedwig's leg. His first task was to send a message to Petunia, and he entrusted Hedwig with this important delivery. But Harry had another letter for Sirius. Hedwig, with an affectionate nip to Harry's fingers, acknowledged her duties and gracefully took flight, the letters securely fastened to her leg disappearing into the early morning sky.

Harry smiled as she disappeared and he made his way back to the common room. On his way back Harry thought that he could do with some hot chocolate so he made his way to the kitchen. The castle, still cloaked in the quiet of the early morning.

Navigating the familiar corridors, Harry reached the entrance to the kitchen. Standing before the enchanted painting of a large fruit bowl. Tickling the pear at the center of the painting, he watched as it transformed into a door handle, revealing the passage to the bustling Hogwarts kitchen.

Stepping through, Harry was greeted by the warm, inviting aroma of breakfast being prepared. The house-elves, ever diligent, moved about their tasks with efficiency. Pots and pans clinked, and the air was filled with the sizzle of ingredients meeting the heat of the stoves.

The head chef, a friendly-looking house-elf with a towering chef's hat, noticed Harry's presence and beamed at him.

"Harry Potter! What brings you to our kitchen today?" the house-elf inquired with a twinkle in his eye.

"Just felt like a cup of hot chocolate," Harry replied with a grin.

Without hesitation, the house-elf summoned a cup and a pot of hot chocolate. Steam curled upward as the rich, velvety liquid filled the cup. The delightful scent enveloped Harry, awakening his senses. The house-elf handed him the cup with a flourish.

"There you go, Mr. Potter. Enjoy your drink," the house-elf said cheerfully.

"Thanks a lot!" Harry replied, taking a sip of the comforting beverage. The warmth spread through him, chasing away the remnants of the cool morning air. Harry lingered for a moment, appreciating the atmosphere of the kitchen, before bidding the house-elves a farewell and heading back to the common room with his cup of hot chocolate in hand. 

As Harry made his way back to the common room, the rich aroma of hot chocolate accompanied him, adding a layer of coziness to the quiet corridors. The early morning sunlight streamed through the castle windows, casting a warm glow on the stone walls.

Upon reaching the Gryffindor common room, Harry found it still relatively quiet, with only a few early risers scattered around. He settled into a comfortable armchair, savoring the soothing warmth of the hot chocolate. The enchanted flames in the fireplace crackled softly, creating a serene ambiance.

Lost in his thoughts, Harry reflected on the day ahead. There were classes to attend, Quidditch practice in the afternoon, and perhaps, if time permitted, another visit to the Forbidden Forest to check on Lumos. The prospect of the day unfolding brought a sense of anticipation and excitement.

As the common room gradually filled with more students preparing for the day, Harry enjoyed the camaraderie and the familiar hustle and bustle. Ron and Hermione soon joined him, their faces lighting up when they noticed the cup of hot chocolate in his hands.

"Where did you get that?" Ron asked, eyeing the steaming beverage.

"Made a quick stop at the kitchen. Needed something to keep me warm," Harry replied, offering a grin.

Hermione, with a hint of disapproval, chimed in, "Harry, you know you could have just summoned it with a spell."

Harry chuckled, "Sometimes, a visit to the kitchen adds a bit of magic to the morning."

The trio spent a pleasant moment in the common room, chatting and enjoying the calm before the day's activities. The aroma of hot chocolate lingered in the air, blending with the laughter and conversations that filled the room. 

The thing Harry dreaded to was that they had History right after breakfast, followed by Defense Against The Dark Arts. Professor Quirrell was still going about his acting quite well and he had not tried to kill unicorns in the jungle yet. If he had, Lumos would have let Harry know. But Professor Binns really had the ability to make Harry bored out of his skin. Harry had read about History before, but never once was it this boring. If only they could have another teacher.

Harry's thought suddenly went to a man who could be an excellent replacement for Professor Binns. He smirked at himself and made his mind to talk to Dumbledore about it.

As the trio got ready for the day, the common room buzzed with the usual morning activity. Students hurriedly prepared for their classes, exchanging casual greetings and laughter. Hermione meticulously organized her books and quills, while Ron attempted to locate a missing sock, grumbling under his breath.

"Ready for the riveting history lesson, Harry?" Ron quipped, a sarcastic tone in his voice.

Harry chuckled, "More excited than ever."

Hermione, ever the voice of reason, chimed in, "It's essential to understand the past, Harry. Knowledge of history provides context for the present and future."

"Easy for you to say, Hermione. You actually enjoy this stuff," Ron teased.

With their belongings in tow, the trio made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. The aroma of freshly prepared food wafted through the air, and the enchanted ceiling reflected a bright, sunny day. As they found their usual seats at the Gryffindor table, Harry couldn't help but glance over at the staff table where the teachers were either having breakfast or discussing something with their colleagues.

The idea of proposing a replacement teacher lingered in Harry's mind, but he decided to bring it up with Dumbledore at a more opportune moment. For now, the trio focused on the hearty breakfast before them, exchanging banter and laughter amidst the company of their fellow Gryffindors. 

The classes went by easily. Harry had fallen asleep again in the History class, followed by Ron. Hermione woke them up in the ending sounding quite cross. The DADA class was not any better either. Quirrell stuttered almost half of the class while teaching not making any sense to most of the students. 

After enduring the tedious History of Magic class with Professor Binns and Professor Quirrell, the trio made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. The dimly lit corridor echoed with the sounds of students chatting about the monotonous lecture they had just endured.

Harry couldn't shake off the idea of suggesting Remus Lupin as a replacement for Professor Binns. As they reached the common room, he decided to bring it up during lunch. The thought of having an engaging and knowledgeable teacher for History sparked a glimmer of excitement in Harry.

Entering the bustling Great Hall for lunch, the trio found an empty spot at the Gryffindor table. Plates of various dishes appeared before them as they settled down, but Harry seemed preoccupied with his thoughts.

"Hermione, Ron, I've been thinking," Harry began, catching the attention of his friends.

"About what?" Hermione inquired, fork in hand.

"Professor Binns is just... unbearable. I was thinking of suggesting someone for the position. Someone who could actually make History interesting," Harry explained, glancing at the enchanted ceiling.

"Who do you have in mind?" Ron asked, intrigued.

"Remus Lupin," Harry replied with a determined expression. "He knows the subject, and he could make it come alive, unlike Binns."

Hermione and Ron exchanged thoughtful glances.

"Who is Remus Lupin Harry?", Hermione asked. 

"Is he the same guy who followed Dumbledore to our house Harry?", Ron asked.

"Yes. Lupin is a person who loves teaching and I know his history knowledge to be good too. I think I might go and suggest it to Dumbledore in the evening after my Quidditch practice.", Harry added. Both Ron and Hermione nodded. Harry had still not gotten his broom yet. Matter of fact, now that he noticed, he is still to receive his reply for the letter he sent. Hedwig was not back yet. Puzzled by this Harry continued to stare at his lunch but he shrugged it off as nothing.