Disclaimer: The only part of this story I own is Daniel Potter, everything else belongs to JKR.

Harry Potter and the Twin Who Lived

"GRYFINDOR!"

Harry took off the hat and made is way to the Gryfindor table where he got a hug from Hermione before sitting down next to her. When the sorting ended and the feast began Daniel turned to Hermione and with as much charm as he could muster tried to start a conversation.

"So Hermione, what do you think of the magical world so far?" Daniel asked as Harry silently groaned to himself.

"Daniel, don't start this again. It really is childish." Harry said.

Hermione put a reassuring hand on Harry's arm before speaking "Well Daniel I find it amazing that you have such a short memory. I mean it was only a few hours ago you dismissed me out of hand on the train, and yet here you are acting like it never happened."

This put a smile on Harry's face "You'll have to forgive my brother Hermione, it seems the only time he is capable of being polite is when he is attempting to poach my friends."

"He does this a lot then?" Hermione asked completely ignoring the look of outrage on Daniel's face.

"Oh yes, just ask Neville." Harry told her.

"I really am sorry about that Harry." Neville Longbottom said from his seat a few places away from Harry and Hermione.

"I know you are Nev, and I forgave you for it a long time ago. I was simply using you as an example of my brother's childish need to take anything he can from me. You see Hermione, Neville's parents and my parents are old friends, and when we were younger he used to come over to the house to play with Daniel and I. When we were seven Daniel got upset that Neville was spending more time playing with me than with him, so he decided to change things. Over the next month he was as nice as could be to Neville, letting him play with all the best toys, all the while slipping hints about how he was a better friend than I was. Eventually Neville was only playing with Daniel, at that point Daniel went back to being his usual self and completely ignored Neville. Neville didn't come around any more after that, Daniel didn't really care though because as far as he was concerned he had won."

"So he would just take your friends and once they stopped being your friend he would just drop them? That is just sick." Hermione said thinking of how Daniel reminded her of some of the bullies she had known in primary school.

Harry nodded his agreement "It was worse when Susan didn't fall for his charm. When he failed to get her to abandon me he was down right vicious. I really don't get why he feels the need to try and get everything from me, I mean he is already famous, he can get just about anything he wants, and yet his greatest happiness seems to come from taking things from me."

The rest of the feast was taken up with pleasant conversation with some of the older students about what to expect from the different classes and teachers. Hermione was especially eager to start learning magic, though she was a little disappointed to learn they wouldn't get to do anything interesting in the classes for a few months. It seemed that Hermione's biggest concern was that she would be behind everyone who had grown up in a magical home, but Harry did his best to dispel her worries.

"Most of the kids in our year have only had their wands for a month, and since most of their parents don't want to worry about fixing any mistakes, they don't really get any practice. Other than History of Magic none of the theoretical knowledge is covered as part of basic education, unless you have a parent with a mastery in something they don't really know theory well enough to teach it. So out of all the first years only a few have any head start at all, and even then it is only in theory, and theory gets covered pretty heavily so the advantages from early education disappear pretty fast." Harry explained to her trying to impress upon her that she didn't need to worry.

"You seem to know quite a bit about everything though." Hermione pointed out.

"My mum is muggleborn, and she always thought it was strange that so many purebloods came to Hogwarts knowing almost nothing about magic, history, and society. So she decided to teach Daniel and I as much as she could, but Daniel never really liked having to sit and listen to her so he never really learned anything. When it comes down to it that is what will determine how you do here, if you want to learn, if you apply yourself, you will succeed. If you slack off it won't matter who you were before you came here, you will fail."

Eventually the feast came to an end and Professor Dumbledore stood up to make a few announcements "Ahem- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. "First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

"Who tells a bunch of schoolchildren not to go somewhere because it's dangerous? He might as well have told everyone 'check out the third-floor corridor, it's really cool.'" Harry asked Hermione with utter disbelief as they were being led up to their dormitories by Percy Weasley. Hermione just shrugged she had to admit he had a really good point. "I'd be willing to put down money that before the end of the month someone will have already found out what is up there that is supposedly so dangerous."

They were showed into the comfortable looking Gryfindor common room, the entrance to which was hidden behind a portrait of a large woman in a pink dress. They were told where to find there dorms. Harry gave Hermione a hug goodnight and went up to his dorm where he promptly fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning Harry was awoken by the thundering snores of the redheaded food disposal unit known as Ronald Weasley. He walked down to the common room and was surprised to find Hermione sitting in a chair reading a book.

"Morning Hermione, what are you reading?" Harry asked stifling a yawn.

"Good morning Harry. I was just rereading Hogwarts, a History." Hermione told him showing the cover of her book.

"Well do you want to join me for breakfast?"

"Isn't it a little early for breakfast?"

"No. They start serving at six, Professor McGonagall hands out schedules starting at seven so if we eat now we'll have time to come back up and collect the books we need for our classes. Otherwise we have to walk around with all our books today." Harry explained to her.

Hermione put her book into her bag, picked it up and followed Harry out of the portrait hole. "How do you know all this already? As far as I know there is no schedule written down anywhere."

"There isn't a schedule," Harry shrugged "but my mum and dad went here for seven years and they learned a few things which they passed on to me. Mum figures McGonagall hasn't changed her schedule since she started teaching so she is probably still handing out schedules as soon as she finishes eating, which she apparently does like clockwork." By the time Harry had finished explaining this they had reached the Entrance Hall.

When they entered the Great Hall there were already a handful of early risers at some of the tables. As soon as they sat down at the Gryfindor table a snowy owl flew down with an envelope in its beak. "Hey Hedwig, what have you got there girl?" Harry took the letter from his owl "Hedwig this is Hermione, Hermione meet Hedwig." Harry introduced them while he looked at the envelope. Hedwig hopped over to Hermione looked her in the eye and gave a hoot of greeting. "She likes you Hermione, you should be honored, she is an excellent judge of character." Harry said as he opened the envelope. Inside the envelope were three pieces of parchment and a smaller envelope.

"She doesn't like Daniel either?" Hermione asked.

"Not a bit." Harry said as he began reading the first piece of parchment. "Oh, oops... hadn't thought about that."

"What is it?" Hermione asked him, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Letters from home, this one is from my dad... sending his congratulations... on our engagement."

"You told him?" Hermione asked with a tone of surprise.

"Didn't need to, apparently the family tapestry updated itself while my dad was in the room."Harry told her. Seeing the confused look that Hermione gave him he explained "It's a big magical family tree, it automatically updates when there is a change in the family, like a death, birth, marriage, or in this case engagement."

"How did he react to the news?"

"It's hard to tell with my dad, for instance I can't be sure if he is more upset that I stole his move, or that I got better results than he did. The next piece of mail he sends will tell me more, as it is he hasn't had time to come up with a good joke to play on me." Harry told her as he moved on to the next piece of parchment. "This one is from my mum, telling me off for moving to fast in a relationship just like my dad. Apparently this is for you" He told her handing over the smaller envelope. "And this last one is from my Godfather Sirius saying he's glad some of his charm rubbed off on me, and asking for advice in getting a girl since I've already had more success than he has." Harry finished the last letter with a chuckle. Upon seeing that Hermione had finished reading whatever his mother had sent her he asked "What did she have to say?"

"Just making sure that I was aware of certain things, same stuff you warned me about on the train mostly. Said to write to her if I felt you were if I felt you were forcing me into anything and she would come up here and sort you out. She also wanted to make sure I was aware that we are legally engaged until one of us makes a formal declaration of breaking the engagement." Hermione summarized.

"I notice you haven't done so yet." Harry pointed out.

"Neither have you." She countered.

"I have even more reason to want to marry you today than I did yesterday." He shrugged.

"Oh, do tell."

"You've read all of Hogwarts, a History right?" Hermione nodded "Well you might have seen the section on accommodations for married students?" She nodded again. "Well after last night I would do just about anything to get away from Ron Weasley's snoring."

"It can't be that bad."

"I've heard quieter chainsaws. Back to my original point though, even after my mother's letter you still haven't done anything about the fact that we're engaged."

"I've got plenty of time to do anything about it, and you seem like a nice enough person." Hermione answered simply.

"I guess you're right, we'd have to wait at least three years before we could get married anyways."

"Three years? We'd only be fourteen, isn't that kind of young."

"Maybe a little, but totally legal. Wizarding marriage laws haven't changed in a few centuries, the only requirements are that the groom be at least fourteen and the groom and either the bride or her father or legal guardian give consent." Harry explained "Which is where the unscrupulous type could take advantage, when you agreed to my impromptu proposal it constituted consent."

"I should probably write to your mum, let her know that you had already told me about all this stuff so she doesn't decide to come here to check on us. Was that all there was in the letters?"

"Mostly, there are a couple of inside jokes, and they all say they're looking forward to meeting you if you, as my dad puts it, haven't come to your senses by the holidays." The rest of their conversation was about unimportant things and soon they were heading back up to Gryfindor Tower to get the books they would need for their classes.

The first week of classes was an interesting experience. Each class was its own unique experience with almost no similarity to the other classes. Charms started off with the tiny Professor Flitwick calling roll only to fall off his pile of book from excitement when he reached Daniels name. Harry decided to give Flitwick the benefit of the doubt despite his reaction to Daniel, after all Daniel hadn't said a word to the Professor and Flitwick seemed like he was just the excitable type. McGonagall immediately earned Harry's respect when she told Daniel off when he and Ron came in late to the first Transfiguration lesson. Harry found out that History of Magic with the ghost of Professor Binns was as boring as his dad had warned him it would be. Defense Against the Dark Arts was a bit of a disappointment as Professor Quirrel stuttered his way through lessons about a few simple jinxes that they wouldn't get to try until November. Herbology was held out in the greenhouses where they learned about different types of magical plants and what uses they had.

On Friday the Gryfindors had their first Potions lesson of the year, and it was a double period with the Slytherins. When everyone had entered the classroom Professor Snape walked into the room ordered everyone to be silent and called roll. When he reached Daniels name he stopped "Ah, Daniel Potter- our new celebrity." he said with a sneer before continuing with the roll. When he had finished he launched into a speech about potions "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking, 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." Harry looked over to Hermione, who was sitting right next to him, to see a determined look on her face, it was clear she wanted to prove herself in this class.

Snape didn't leave much time for this to sink in before he started in on Daniel "Potter, what would I get if I added powdered asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Daniel looked at Snape defiantly for a few seconds and Harry knew his twin was about to say something to antagonize the Professor, so he answered the question before his twin could do something stupid "You would get some pretty noxious fumes, unless you had already added a stabilizer like fluxxweed, in which case you would get a sleeping potion the exact strength of which would depend on the proportion of the ingredients added."

"I didn't ask you." Snape barked at Harry while Daniel glared at him for preventing what was apparently a well thought out insult from being leveled at the Professor.

"Sorry sir, perhaps you should be more specific about which Potter you are referring to in future, there are two of us." Harry said with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Very well, Daniel Potter, where would you look if I asked you to find a bezoar?" Snape asked staring Daniel down, just waiting for the boy to say something foolish.

Hermione was about to raise her hand, but before she got it in the air Harry put his hand on her arm and gave a subtle shake of his head. Daniel meanwhile was being anything but subtle "I don't know, but if I had one I'd shove it up your greasy Death Eater arse." Harry was unable to stifle his groan at this comment.

"Twenty points from Gryfindor Mr. Potter, and detention on Saturday after lunch" Snape said with barely contained malice in his voice.

After Snape gave the answers to the questions he had asked he told them to partner up and make a potion to cure boils. Snape spent the rest of the class belittling every Gryfindors potion making ability, while praising every Slytherin who had somehow managed to do the simplest of tasks correctly. Suddenly the air was filled with bright green smoke and a highly acidic potion ran across the floor. Neville had made a serious error in making his potion and had melted the cauldron he was using. Neville had been covered with the potion and now every inch of his exposed skin was covered in boils.

Snape cleared the potion away with his wand, told off Neville for his mistake and ordered Seamus Finnegan to take Neville to the Hospital Wing. He then rounded on Daniel "Potter, why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he messed up? That's ten more points you've lost for Gryfindor." Daniel was obviously about to retort, but Ron showed an unexpected level of forethought and kicked Daniel and whispered something before Daniel could say anything.

Once they were out of they were out of the dungeons Harry turned on his brother "Daniel, what the hell is your problem? What the hell were you thinking antagonizing Snape? Do you want to get yourself kicked out? Because if you do want that you better write home right now so I don't have to worry about the fallout from your idiocy."

"What do you mean, what was I thinking? How can you stand there and lecture me for standing up to that... that... you know what he's done, how can you defend him?" Daniel asked incredulously.

"Daniel, I know full well what he did. I am not defending him, but trading childish insults with him is just asking for trouble. Don't do anything stupid Daniel, that bastard isn't worth it." Harry finished before heading off to the library with Hermione.

"What was all that about, with Snape?" Hermione asked.

"Bad blood. My mum met Snape before they started Hogwarts, they became friends when Snape found out she was a witch. They were friends until they had a pretty nasty in their fifth year, they didn't speak for years. Dad on the other hand was openly hostile towards Snape all through school, they absolutely hated each other. In the end mum and dad joined the fight against Voldemort and Snape became a Death Eater. For dad it was the final confirmation of how bad Snape always was, for mum it was the final betrayal of their friendship. Near the end Snape switched sides, not sure why but from the way mum talks about him I think he did it to win her back." Harry explained to her.

"So Snape hates you and Daniel because you are living proof of his failures. Proof that he lost his friend to his worst enemy." Hermione said after a moment.

"Probably something like that." Harry nodded "And Daniel spent to much time listening to dad's stories about the trouble he got in at school. Even my dad will admit that he did some really stupid crap as a student, but Daniel completely ignored that part. So now here he is faced by our dad's childhood nemesis, who is also a former follower of the dark lord he is famous for getting rid of. Add to that the fact that Snape isn't swayed by Daniel's fame, and Daniel lashes out in a fit of stupidity."

"I've just realized that you actually say his name, all the books I read before I came here that mention him say that nobody uses his name. That their that afraid of him."

"Who Voldemort? Hard to be afraid of someone who was beaten by Daniel when he was a year old." Harry shrugged "He isn't the devil or the boogeyman, he isn't even alive anymore. Why should anyone be afraid of him anymore."

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed. For those of you who are also reading my other story 'Harry Potter and the Master of Time' I'm probably going to get a couple more chapters done for this story before continuing. In case anyone thinks Hermione is OOC, just remember that she was extremely enthusiastic about being at Hogwarts the first few weeks. As for the Harry Hermione engagement, they are kind of in an unofficial game of chicken waiting to see when the other breaks it off.