- Harry and Ron arrive late to their first class the next morning.
- Professor McGonagall proves to be a bit scary at first, but the next class is Potions with Professor Snape…who's about as cuddly as a blast-ended skrewt. (Not cuddly at all.)
- The kids discuss current events and practice together in the great hall for lunch before flying lessons.
- Harry shows talent on the flying broomstick.
- Poor Neville Longbottom, however, quickly loses control, and is lucky to end up falling a few stories with only a broken wrist.
- Madame Hooch takes Neville to the Hospital Wing, while Draco Malfoy takes off with one of Neville's knickknacks.
- Harry follows, in express violation of Madame Hooch's instructions.
- Professor McGonagall catches the end of it, and witnesses Harry catching a small device that Draco'd thrown.
- She immediately collects Harry and takes him to the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, Oliver Wood. He's not being punished; they're signing him up for the Quidditch team.
- Harry's nervous about being able to play well, until Hermione points out his father's Quidditch trophies.
- Harry, Ron, and Hermione accidentally wander towards the restricted wing, and flee in terror when Mrs. Norris, the janitor's evil cat, catches them.
- Unfortunately they run further down the hall, and wind up in a room with a trap being guarded by an enormous three-headed dog.
- The three narrowly escape, and go to bed to count their blessings.
- Harry and Wood go over the basic rules of Quidditch, followed by another bracing dose of school.
- Hermione proves to be the best wizard among them (again) in Professor Flitwick's class.
- After class, Ron says some pretty awful things about Hermione when she's just in earshot, and she quickly moves through them and away.
- Back in the Great Room, we find out that Hermione's been crying in the bathroom for the entire afternoon.