The next morning when I woke up Athena was fast asleep in her unlocked cage. I sighed and stretched. I slowly got up and took my pajamas off, which included a big t-shirt and shorts. I threw the required uniform and cloak on. I brushed my hair and clipped it back. I walked downstairs to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. 

"Dumbledore!" I heard Malfoy call from the Common Room.

"Coming!" I hollered back and spit the toothpaste out. I halfway ran to the Common Room. When I got in there Draco looked at me funny.

"What?" I asked.

"I don't know how people are where you come from but where I come from people wear shoes." He said. I looked down at my bare feet.

"I knew I forgot something!" I ran back up to my room and quickly put my shoes on.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. Do I need to bring anything for class?"

"No. After breakfast we come back up." He explained.

"How do you know all this stuff? You're a first year too." I asked him.

"My father told me the basics. Come on Crabbe and Goyle."

"Oh." I said simply and followed them out.

"Wait!" I said when we were in the hallway.

"What now?" Malfoy groaned.

"Um...I don't know how to put this tie on. Could you help me?" 

"Give it to me." He said roughly and held his hand out. I gave it to him and lifted my hair up. He quickly put it on.
"
Thanks." I said. He walked on without saying a word.

It must be nice to have a father to tell you all those things. I wish I had that. But oh well. I wouldn't be who I am if my life was different. I wouldn't be as independent. I try to stay positive like this. But maybe Dumbledore will tell me somethings. I think I'm going to talk to Professor McGonagall tonight.

We walked into the great hall and I instantly smelled the sweet aroma of pancakes and maple syrup. It was really crowded and it kind of made me nervous. I've never been around this many people. I saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione and went to them. 

"Hey guys." I smiled. They looked at me funny.

"You're a Slytherin?" Hermione asked. I looked down at me feet and held my hands behind my back nervously. 

"Yeah. Does it matter?" I said shyly, not looking up. 

"Yeah it kind of does." Ron piped in.

"If family doesn't make you who you are then why should the house you're in make you who are?" I said slowly looking up at Hermione.

"Oh you're right." She sighed and hugged me. I smiled widely and hugged back.

"You're with the wrong house Dumbledore." I heard Draco snarl behind me.

"I can be friends with who I want to be with."

"Snape put me in charge of you and I don't think you should be hanging aound other houses. Especially Gryffindor."

"Professsor Snape asked you to help me out and figure things out. Not make decisions for me. But I do need to go to my table guys. I'll see you during break?" 

"Yeah. We'll meet up." Hermione assured me. I smiled and followed Draco to the Slytherin table.

"You're not meeting up with them." He told me when we reached the table.

"Yes I am."

"Then I'm not going to be your mentor."

"Okay." I said and filled my plate with pancakes and my bowl with porridge.

"So you won't?"

"I'll tell Snape you refuse to help me and ask for a new mentor." I said matter of factly.

"And get points taken away from Slytherin?! Do you not care about our house?!"

"Of course I do. But when we graduate are we going to have our house or our friends?" I said. He didn't answer.

"Exactly." I said and poured syrup on my pancakes and started eating. It was amazing until the Bloody Baron came through the table and scared me, making me spill my milk.

So far the day was okay. I was doing decent in all my classes. I turn my match into a needle the first try. I knew the answers to a lot of questions.  But what's odd is I don't know how I knew them. It just came out. Peeves was the worst part. He kept flying around me saying "I KNOW WHO YOU REALLY ARE!"

"What's next?" I asked Draco, too lazy to look at my own schedule.

"Double potions with Professor Snape with Gryffindor." He groaned. I perked up at that. 

"Come on let's go!" I exclaimed smiling.

"You can't sit by them. It's against the rules. You have to sit with your house."

"But-" I started.

"He's right....for once." Hermione said walking up to me. 

"Oh." I sighed.

"But afterwards you can meet us in the library." She offered.

"I'd love to."

"See you then." She smiled and we walked in. I followed Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. I had to sit by Draco....again. Most of the classrooms only fit two to a table. So Crabbe and Goyle sit together and me and Draco sit together. I think Draco is just using me for answers. Oh well. At Least I'm not a loner like I thought I'd be.

I looked around the classroom. Weird animals were floating in jars. It was kind of freaking. My thoughts were cut off by the banging of a door. I looked back and saw Professor Snape quickly and swiftly walk in. He walked to the front and started roll call. When he said my name he said it rather slowly.

"Here." I said silently and raised my hand. He continued on.

"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity." Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle sniggered. I gently elbowed Draco. He glared at me but I continued on like nothing happened.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," He spoke softly but held everyone's attention. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." He finished. I was listening very closely. This interested me a lot. When I was younger I would always mix random things together to see what would happen. I think I'm going to like this class....maybe.

"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"I don't know, sir." Harry answered. Hermione's hand was raised high.

"Do you know Ms. Dumbledore?" He asked me. I swear he's staring into my soul.

"Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death." I answer immediately. How do I know that?

"Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything." Snape said. I gave Harry an apologetic look.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" I didn't. I didn't even have my books till I went to board the train. Poor Harry.

"Ms. Dumbledore?" He said again.

 "A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons."

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"  Herimione's hand stretched up again.

"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" Some people laughed but I could tell Snape was not pleased at all.

"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "Ms. Dumbledore, will you please tell us the answer."

"Monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite."

"Very good. Well, why isn't everyone writing this down?" He snapped.

 "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter. As for Slytherin, 10 points will be added for Ms. Dumbledore's excellent work."

Professor Snape paired us to make potion to cure boils. While he was giving instructions I was already starting.

"What are you doing?"Snape suddenly asked. I looked up nervously. 

"Just getting the ingredients ready."

"And how do you know what to add and how much of it?"

"Um well I don't really know how I know. I just know." I tried to explain. He walked over to me and checked everything.

"Well done. I see potions come naturally to you."

"I guess so. Draco stewed the horned slugs." I said trying to get the attention off of me.

"Very good both of you. 5 points each to Slytherin." He went to walk off but suddenly smoke filled the room. Neville had melted Seamus's cauldron. Everyone jumped on their stools while Neville groaned in pain.

"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Boils formed on Neville's nose.

"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville. "You — Potter — why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor." That's so unfair!

After class was over I walked over to Harry.

"I'm sorry. I didn't meant to make you look bad or anything." I said to him. 

"It's quite alright." He smiled.

"Good!" I hugged him. He hugged me back.

"W-would you like to come to Hagrid's with me at 3?" He asked me.

"Sure. I'm going to meet Hermione in the library now. How about I meet you in the Great Hall five to three?"

"That's splendid." He smiled widely. 

"See you then." I smiled back and walked to the library.

****

Third-person's POV

"Mr. Malfoy will you stay here for a moment? I'd like to speak with you." Professor Snape said. Malfoy walked over to Snape's desk. When everyone was gone they started talking. 

"Yes Professor?" Draco asked.

"Why is Ms. Dumbledore with Potter, Granger, and Weasley?" 

"I don't know. I told her not to. I even told her I wouldn't be her mentor but she told me she'd tell you that I didn't want to be her mentor and would ask for a new one."

"And this upset you?"

"Uhhhhh.....I don't want any points taken away from Slytherin."

"Very good answer. I'll let tonight slide. But try harder to keep her away from them. Make her hate them if you must.  It is very obvious Potter has some attraction for her. A Slytherin can not be with a Gryffindor. Especially one as powerful a her."

"What do you mean as powerful as her? And why would Potter be attracted to her? She's not really his type and I don't think he is hers either. She obviously wants a great wizard who will not let some boy with a silly scar on his head run over him."

"You may go now." Snape said. Malfoy nodded and left.