Harry Potter

Something Wicked This Way Comes

By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx


Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you don't recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Rating: K

Pairing: N/A (as of now)

Genre: Adventure/Friendship

Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.

Summary: Charlie Hunter and Riley Spirit thought they were ordinary girls, but when they each receive a letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Their lives change completely. What adventures lie ahead for these Muggleborn Witches?

Author's Note: Big shout out to Omen94 who manages to review without fail. Also to Spycier and Aro the Evil Demon and Mysterygirl123 for their awesome comments.


First Day at Hogwarts


Riley frowned as she followed Percy and the rest of the Gryffindor's through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries. The Gryffindor's climbed more staircases, yawning and dragging their feet.

They met Peeves the Poltergeist halfway up the next corridor, and had to wait a good few minutes while Percy argued with him. Until Percy finally said that he would get the Bloody Baron, was it that Peeves disappeared. And Percy warned the first years that they should watch out for Peeves whilst at school.

"Here we are," Percy said suddenly from up front, ahead of them at the end of the corridor hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis" said Percy, and the portrait swung forwards to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it and found themselves in the Gryffindor Common Room.

Percy directed the girls through one of the doors to their dormitory and the boys through another. At the top of the staircase, which was obviously in one of the towers, the girls found their beds. Four four-posters hung with deep red-velvet curtains. Their trunks had already been brought up. Too tired to talk much, the others pulled on her pyjamas and fell into their beds.

Although her room-mates were asleep, Riley found she couldn't. She lay awake staring at the ceiling. Finally she got frustrated and pushed the sheets off her bed and slipped into her slippers, careful not to wake Lavender, Hermione and Parvati in her room, she padded softly out of the dorm, down the spiral stone stairs and into the empty common room.

As soon as she sat down on the couch in front of the fire, the fire burst into life. She sighed as she leaned back in the comfortable couch and soon her thoughts took control.

She couldn't believe she was at Hogwarts, a school of magic. But now she was here, she was starting to miss home. She missed her mother. She was scared that her father would return home while she was away, and hurt her mum. Since he had left he hadn't done anything to try and see either of them, not that she was complaining, but he had a background of violence, and she was nervous that he would try something while she was away at school.

Being lost in her thoughts, Riley almost missed the sound of the portrait hole opening.

Two boys entered the common room, and she remembered them from Dinner. They were Ron's older twin brothers. Fred and George. They were laughing about something and talking amongst themselves.

"I honestly can't wait to see his face in the morning!" said of the twins.

They hadn't seemed to notice her sitting there.

"The Greasy Git is getting everything he deserves" the other twin said, and the came into the light at last.

When they noticed Riley staring at them from the couch. All was silent before one of the twins broke it.

"Well, what brings a pretty first year such as yourself down here this time of the night?" one of the twins asked.

"What are two troublesome twins such as yourselves doing out of bed, and out in the hallways past curfew?" Riley asked with a smirk.

"Nice comeback" one of the twins cried "I'm Fred!"

"I'm George," the first twin said

They both held out their hands to her, and Riley crossed her arms over one another to shake each of the hands. They grinned at her.

"Got ourselves a smart one here," Fred said, and the plopped down either side of her on the couch.

"I'm Riley," she said.

"So, what brings you down here so late, Riley?" George asked.

"Can't sleep," Riley answered simply "Why are you wandering the halls so late?" she asked curiously.

"Should we tell her Forge?"

"Why not Gred?"

The twins bent down to whisper in her ears and began to explain in whispers what they had been doing outside the common room after curfew.

Riley gasped, and stared at them like they were insane, people from another planet. "You didn't do that?" she asked.

"We did," Fred answered her, with a mischief smirk.

"Maybe you should dye his hair Gryffindor colours, next time" she suggested.

"Fred I think we may have found ourselves another prankster," George cried.

Riley giggled.

"Really?" she asked. She wasn't one for Pranks, but she knew a few good ideas, having been the recipient of pranks from the Spinner's End kids. Besides, Muggle tricks, had to look better in the Magical world, didn't they?

"Yes," George answered her, throwing his arm around her shoulders "You're welcome to join us in our pranks anytime my dear,"

At that moment, Fred dug in his pocket and produced what looked like a small blue skittle. Except there were no blue skittles.

"What's that?" Riley asked "Its looks like a skittle."

"A what?" George asked confusedly.

"A Muggle sweet."

"Oh," the twins said, before Fred placed the sweet in Riley's hand "it's a sleeping potion. Usually they are in liquid form, but we came up with this. It's just a sweet with Dreamless Sleep Potions mixed with it."

"You invented these yourselves?" Riley asked.

The twins nodded.

"Take it before you go to bed," George told her "It will guarantee a good night's sleep."

Riley nodded. "That's all I need" she said, and slipped off the couch and hurried back to the stairs leading to the girls' dormitories. She bade goodnight to Fred and George before disappearing back upstairs.

"Good Night, little Gem" the twins called after her.

Riley was soon lying back in her bed. She stared at the sweet the boys had given her and popped it into her mouth, chewed and swallowed. In 30 seconds or less, she slumped back against her pillows. Finally asleep.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

As the Gryffindor's trudged further up into the castle, the Slytherin's were taken deeper into the underground; Marcus and Nikki leading the way occasionally glancing over their shoulders to make sure that there were no stragglers in the back of the group. Charlie, who had stuck close to Nikki the moment they had left the Entrance Hall, tried to remember each and every turn as she trudged along the long stone corridors which were lit by torches.

"The dungeons are where you will be having Potions with Professor Snape," Nikki called over her shoulder, explaining some things to the first years behind her "Our Head of House!"

The Slytherin's murmured, and soon they came upon a life size portrait of a man that Charlie recognized from the chocolate frog card, she had obtained back on the train. She grinned and dug in her robe pocket and pulled out the hexagon card as she studied the man in the card and then up at the portrait. He looked exactly the same. "This is Salazar Slytherin," Marcus stated "He is one of the Four Founders of Hogwarts. While you are in Slytherin you will address him as Headmaster or Headmaster Slytherin" he explained "He will keep Slytherin house safe from outside houses. If you are fortunate enough to make friends outside of your house, do not -unless its life or death- bring them into the Slytherin dorms. Understand?"

The other first years nodded in understandment, as a chorus of 'Yes' echoed throughout the dungeon. Meanwhile, Charlie frowned - What did that mean for her and Riley?

"Password?" the portrait asked.

Charlie's eyes bulged in her head, moving and talking portraits?

"Pureblood," Marcus answered.

Nikki glanced back at Charlie who was staring at the card in her hand, twiddling it between her thumbs and forefingers, as the portrait swung open, Nikki nudged Charlie inside as the other first years followed her.

The common room was huge, and well lit by torches and a large fireplace on one wall, which held a sad excuse for a fire within its grates. On the opposite wall stood several staircases. The furniture was black leather and rather pleasant looking and there were several Slytherin banners on the high walls and hanging from the ceilings. Desks and tables littered the place along the outside of the room and a bookshelf stood tall, filled to the top with many books.

Man, am I glad Riley isn't down here Charlie found herself thinking as she eyed the books closely.

The rest of the students were already in the common room and had stopped to watch the first years enter; some stared at Charlie longer than others causing her to glare back at them. She didn't mind being the centre of attention, but the stares were seriously starting to irk her! So she was a Muggleborn who had been sorted into Slytherin, she had three words for people who couldnt believe it: GET. OVER. IT!

"Take a seat!" Marcus told the first years "Quickly!"

As everyone scrambled to find seats, Charlie felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced up to see it was Nikki; the older girl was nodded her head towards an empty desk near the fire and herded the first year towards it. Charlie jumped up as Nikki sat beside her, their legs dangling over the sides.

Only one chair remained empty and all the older students seemed to be avoiding it, like it was cursed or something.

It was situated right near the fire and looked way comfier than the rest, Charlie frowned and was about to point it out to Nikki when the portrait opened again and Professor Snape glided in, his expression stern but softening slightly when he was face-to-face with his students.

He made his way towards the chair and Charlie realized why everyone seemed to be avoiding it. He sat down, and stared at them all for a moment.

"My name," he began "is Severus Snape. Professor Snape. I am your Head of House and I am also the Potions Master here at Hogwarts. You have been placed in Slytherin because the Hat has seen your cunningness and your talent of magical abilities. The people in this house should be like your family while you are here at Hogwarts and while Dumbledore does push for house unity, you're first and foremost friends should be in this house. You're House! The rules of Slytherin are quite simple, be respectful to all in authority, Prefect, the Head Boy and Girl, the professors! even Mr Filch. "he glanced around at the students present "be respectful to each other and other students. If there are any problems do not hesitate to consult myself or your prefects, problems will be dealt with here in the common room, or the privacy of my office. Protect your housemates!" he added "Other houses will not hesitate to hex you; get good grades, study hard, and make yourselves and myself proud."

His gaze surveyed the room before landing on Charlie, "Miss Hunter," the whole common room turned to the new girl who looked startled "The rule which clearly states that no student outside of Slytherin may be brought into the Slytherin common room, will be lifted for your specific needs. As is you and Miss Spirit are usually joint at the hip, but mark by words Miss Hunter, abuse this rule and it will be taken away, understood?"

"Yes, Professor Snape" Charlie answered.

"The same rule goes for Miss Spirit," he nodded "You have free access to the Gryffindor Common room, just as Miss Spirit does too here. This is for your purposes only!"

Charlie nodded again, before looking back down at the card in her hand, she was aware of the stares she was receiving as other Slytherin's probably wondered why she had access to Gryffindor tower and why a Gryffindor had access to the Slytherin dungeons.

"While we are on the subject, Miss. Hunter" Snape continued "Congratulations. You are the first Muggleborn to be sorted into the Slytherin house in over 50-years."

Charlie quirked and eyebrow "Uh...thank you?" she responded "I think..."

"I will have you know that are people in this school that do not wish for you to be in Slytherin. Many will fear for your life and will try their very hardest to turn you against your housemates."

Charlie smirked "They can try...but the one thing about coming to Hogwarts, is that i'm around people who don't know me! They don't know what I am like; that makes it all more fun."

The other Slytherin's, mainly those in upper-years, exchanged identical looks and smirks. They could clearly tell that Charlie was different to the Muggleborns that were sorted into Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

"They will try to convince you that your housemates are evil." Snape pressed.

"There is no good or evil!" Charlie countered "It's what we choose to do with our abilities that make us who we are. At least that's what my mum, says"

Snape smirked, before turning his attention back to the whole house once more, he noticed that a few older students were staring at Charlie with unreadable expressions on their faces but he knew they understood the rules and were not stupid enough to attempt anything on a fellow Slytherin. No matter how much Slytherin's were detested by the other houses, they stuck together and protected one another. They had a motto 'Only a Slytherin can hurt another Slytherin' if anyone else attempted to hurt someone from his house, there would be hell to pay, because the older snakes would come down on them like a ton of bricks.

"Furthermore," Snape continued "I cannot stress this enough; protect your housemates! My office is always open to Slytherin's." he glanced around at them "Now, does anyone have any questions?" no one raised his or her hand "Good. Now that everything is sorted, why don't we get to know our new first years? Let's see..." he looked thoughtful "Okay, why don't we start with the basics, I want you to say your name and your favourite colour."

Charlie rolled her eyes "This should be fun" she murmured.

The boys went first.

"Blaise Zabini," a rather tall, dark-skinned boy spoke "and my favourite colour is black."

Snape smirked.

Blaise turned to Draco "My name's Draco Malfoy," he stated proudly "and my favourite colour is green."

"Nathan Lestrange; and I like silver."

Charlie shook her head "three for three," she murmured "I hope the girls have colours outside of Slytherin!"

Nikki jabbed her with her elbow, the 11-year-old, squeaked and rubbed her chest.

"Vincent Crabbe," one of the sluggish looking boys with Draco spoke, "and I like Grey."

"Gregory Goyle," the second sluggish boy spoke "and I like White."

Snape nodded and turned to the girls "and you ladies?" he questioned.

"Pansy Parkinson," the dark-haired girl from dinner stated "I like Purple."

Charlie grinned.

"Daphne Greengrass," a blonde from beside Pansy stepped up "and I like Yellow."

"Millicent Bulstrode; and I like Black."

Everyone turned to Charlie once more "I'm Charlie Hunter," she told them "and I like a multitude of colours. Ranging from Black to Silver."

"Even pink?" Daphne asked.

Charlie's eyes darkened "Pink is not a colour! At least it shouldn't be allowed to be called a colour!"

The first year girls exchanged looks "So you like a multitude of colours as long as they are dark colours?" Nikki asked.

"Yeah," Charlie nodded "i'm what my mum describes as a 'Gothic'" she smirked.

"An hyperactive, vegetarian 'Gothic'" Nikki nodded "Basically you're a piece of work."

Charlie grinned "Pretty much!" she agreed.

Snape nodded once as Nikki and Charlie finished their minor conversation; before he spoke glancing at the clock on the mantle place above the fireplace "It's already 10:30pm. First years you are to be in your dorms by nine - a rule not too difficult to follow. Second years onwards, you know the rules."

"Yes, sir" the Slytherin's chorused.

"Good," Snape stood, bade them all a goodnight and swept from the room, his robes billowing out behind him.

As soon as Snape had left soft murmurs erupted in the common room and Charlie cast a glance at Nikki "So we have to be in bed by 9:00pm every night?" she asked.

"No," Nikki answered "You just can't be in the common room after that time."

"What if i'm in the Gryffindor common room?" she asked "Or if Riley is down here?"

"She will be escorted back to her own common room, by a prefect" Nikki answered "Don't worry so much Charlie, it will get easier. Come on, I'll show you where your sleeping."

Charlie nodded and slid off the table, as she followed Nikki up some stairs before stopping outside the first door on the left.

"This is your dorm room," she explained "Boys are up the other staircase. The girls' staircases are warded so that boys cannot enter, if a boy attempts the staircase will turn into a slide and whoever is standing on it will return to the common room. Understand?"

The first years nodded.

"Good," Nikki smiled "Goodnight," she bid them and watched as they entered the dorm rooms "Oh and Charlie," she added.

The Muggleborn turned "Yeah?"

"Don't let anyone bother you while you are here," Nikki smiled "If you are having trouble, then come find myself or Marcus. Understand?"

"Yes," Charlie smiled "Goodnight Nikki."

"Goodnight Charlie."

The two girls parted and Charlie entered the dark and cool dorm room. Pansy, Millicent and Daphne had already chosen their designated beds, leaving one empty for Charlie to use. Her trunk sat at the bottom of her bed and Scamp was scratching at the carrier case he was packed into as it rested on the top of the trunk.

"Hello Scampers," Charlie grinned leaving the cat out of the case, changed into her pyjamas and dove onto the bed, the quilt was fluffy and a deep emerald green, she untied the bed curtains which were also a deep green with silver serpent patterns all over it. "This is amazing!" she murmured, flopping down onto the pillows and feeling herself sink it them, like one would water.

"Yes, it is" Daphne agreed rolling onto her side so that she was facing Charlie "So, what do you think of Slytherin so far?" she asked.

"I think it's positively amazing!" Charlie grinned "I don't know a lot about the Wizarding world, or Hogwarts for that matter, but my best friend is a total bookworm; so you can guarantee that by the end of the year, I will be a right know-it-all" she chuckled.

Pansy looked up "Your friend is in Gryffindor, right?" she asked "That's why you have access to the Gryffindor common room and vice versa?"

Charlie nodded.

"You have a lot to learn about school rivalries," Daphne interrupted "my guess, if the Gryffindor's and older Slytherin's get their way, you and your friend won't be friends by the end of the year."

Charlie frowned "It takes a lot to break me and Riley apart," she told them "We're total opposites, yes, but we're the best of friends. We're practically sisters!"

"Are you willing to bet that your friendship can survive anything?" Millicent asked.

Charlie nodded "I would go to the ends of the Earth and beyond for Riley," she retorted "and I know she would do that same for me! Like I said, anyone can try and break us apart, but it won't work!"

"What if someone were to threaten Riley?" Pansy asked "You know an older Gryffindor, or something?"

Charlie's eyes darkened once more "Then they would pay a horrible price!" she retorted "Nobody touches Riley and gets away with it! That goes for any of my friends!"

Daphne, Pansy and Millicent exchanged looks - Yep, Charlie definitely belonged in Slytherin.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

Charlie awoke around 7:00, she lay in bed staring at the canopy above her for about 10 minutes, collecting her thoughts, and trying to remember the dream she had. But she couldn't. Frowning, she slipped out of bed, through her closed curtains and slipped into her slippers, and gathered her bath robe, hair wrap and school robes, and shuffled across the dormitory floor and into the girls' bathroom.

She was the only one in there, and she guessed that was probably the only one awake. She turned on one of the showers, and undressed, before climbing in. She pulled the curtain closed, and sighed as she moved her head under the warm water. The warmth waking every muscle in her body. After at least 15 minutes she shut off the water and climbed out. Wrapped her bathrobe around her and tied her hair back in the head wrap. She was in the middle of brushing her teeth, when the door opened and Daphne entered from the dorm room.

"Morning," the oldest Greengrass smiled, as she headed towards the showers.

Leaning over the sink, Charlie spat out the excess toothpaste and washed her mouth out with a handful of water "Morning," she responded, wiping the paste from her lips. She averted her gaze as Daphne changed and hopped into the showers, pulling the curtain around her in the process "Sleep well?" she asked.

"Like a baby," Daphne answered "You?"

Charlie frowned as she glanced at her reflection aside from a dream she couldnt remember she had a pretty restful night "Fine" she answered, deciding it would be better not to go into depths on her dream. If it continued she could always talk to Professor Snape, but maybe it was just first day nerves of being in a new place without her mother by her side.

As Daphne showered, Charlie dressed quickly into her school clothes and headed back into the dorm room, and begun packing her overhead bag with her first day equipment.

She didn't know which books she would need, so she packed everything which weighed her bag down a lot. Once she was sure that she had everything, she grabbed her wand and school robe from the bed, and hurried down into the common room, her school tie in her hand.

When she entered the common room, she was glad to find both Marcus and Nikki awake.

"Charlie," Nikki smiled, and waved her over "How did you sleep?"

"Fine," Charlie lied again "Could you help me?" she asked.

Nikki spotted the tie and smiled "Sure," she agreed, and got to her feet. She placed the tie around Charlie's neck and looped it over and through itself before a small knot appeared. When she finished, she allowed Charlie to tuck it under her jumper "There."

"Thanks," Charlie smiled.

"You're not the first who has asked for help with a tie," Nikki smiled, taking her seat beside Marcus once more "When we have more time I will teach you, all right?"

The first year nodded and settled down opposite the two prefects as she waited for her friends to come down from upstairs.

As she waited, she found her thoughts consumed with Riley and how she had gotten off on her first night in the Gryffindor tower, she wondered if she had made any friends up there like she had down here, then she remembered Hermione Granger had been sorted into Gryffindor and she relaxed as she realized that Riley had more than likely formed a bond already with Hermione and they were closer than ever to begin with.

As long as Hermione didn't replace her then, Charlie had nothing against her. Finally the rest of the first year girls entered the common room, and Riley jumped up and the four of them headed out of the Common room and up to the Great Hall for Breakfast.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

As she entered the Great Hall, Charlie sighed as a dead silent swept the whole place and every head turned in her direction; she ignored them but their gazes followed her all the way from the doorway and towards her seat at the Slytherin table "Okay, seriously?" Charlie cried "What is wrong with you people?"

The rest of the hall turned away at her outburst leaving her to drop into her seat with a huff "You handled that well," Draco commented.

"Yeah? Get used to it!" Charlie responded "Because there's going to be a lot more fireworks, if people don't mind their own business and stop staring at me!"

The rest of the Slytherin first years smirked, and went back to their breakfast.

Charlie grabbed a piece of toast and bit into it as more stared were thrown in her direction. As she managed to catch those who were stupid enough to stare at her long enough and forget what they were doing, she glared back darkly, warning them if they carried on irritating her then they were asking for trouble.

It wasn't until the whole hall was full and Professor Snape swept amongst his house, did the students look away.

Charlie was in the process of pouring herself a goblet of milk, when her timetable was handed to her "Thank you," she murmured, swallowing the white liquid. Once her friends had received theirs the eight Slytherin first years, put their heads together and compared the sheets of parchment.

"Look at today's," Pansy complained "Double Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Free period"

"Two out of four subjects are with Gryffindor's;" Draco pointed out "Are they looking for a fight, or what?"

"I think it has something to do with House unity" Charlie said, looking over the rest of her week's lessons "So we got, Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, and a free period?"

Blaise and Daphne nodded as they returned to their breakfast.

Charlie nodded once, and quickly finished her breakfast, before turning to her new friends. "See you in potions?", when they nodded she hurried off to the Gryffindor table and dropped down beside Riley.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

"Double potions with Slytherin's," Ron grumbled as he looked down the Monday morning column of his timetable. "Then we got Herbology with Ravenclaw, Transfiguration with Hufflepuff, Charms with Slytherin, and a Free Period"

"Why so many lessons with Slytherin?" Harry asked

"If we didn't have lessons together, we may never see each other" Charlie said dropping down beside her best friend, she smiled at the others "Good morning"

"Hey," Riley grinned, looking up from her time-table "How was it last night?"

"Pretty good actually," Charlie nodded "Professor Snape told me that you had free access to the Slytherin common room"

Riley nodded "Yeah, Professor McGonagall said you had access to Gryffindor common room too" she smiled "Something about Professor Snape explaining of how close we are and what not."

Charlie grinned "I think it's awesome that we have such a close friendship,"

"Totally!" Riley chuckled, going back to her breakfast.

Hermione, who had been listening in on the conversation frowned "How do you both get access to one another's common rooms, but no one else does?" she asked "I mean, it's like one rule for students and a completely different rule for you."

"It's because we're awesome!" Charlie grinned, wrapping her arm around Riley's shoulders "that and we're inseparable."

"Obviously not," Hermione countered "Or you'd be in Gryffindor with us!"

Charlie shrugged "Or Riley could be in Slytherin."

"She'd never fit in!" Ron countered "She's too nice."

"What you trying to say, Ron?" Charlie asked, feigning hurt.

The Red head faltered "Uh...I meant...well, I didn't mean..."

Riley smirked and nudged her friend "Leave him alone," she scolded "Just ignore her Ron."

"Oh, traitor!" Charlie accused Riley, although the threat lost its worth as she grinned.

"So?" Riley asked "Ready for Potions?"

Charlie nodded and stood, slipping her overhead bag on, and turning to Riley, Hermione, Harry and Ron as they left the Great Hall. The Potions classroom was quite creepy, and the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls, didn't help.

When they entered, Charlie and Riley immediately started to unload the contents of their bags onto a near-by table. Hermione joined them, as everyone else started to show up. It was a while before the class actually started, when the classroom door swung open, and Professor Snape entered the room.

"My name is Professor Snape," he spoke "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish-wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe this to be 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 minds, ensnaring the senses." Snape said in a voice barely above a whisper "I can teach you to bottle fame brew glory and even put a stopper in death"

Silence followed the speech, and Charlie exchanged looks with Riley and Hermione who sat beside her.

"But it seems some of you have come to Hogwarts, with the pertness to NOT. PAY. ATTENTION!" he added. And Charlie, Riley and Hermione had to twist in their seats to see he was staring at Harry, who had been writing in his note-book. "Potter!" Snape snapped, swooping down on Harry like an over-sized bat.

"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" he asked.

"I don't know sir," Harry answered although Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

"You don't know?" Snape muttered "Mm? Let's try again, Where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Snape asked again, and just like before, Hermione's hands shot up.

"I don't know, sir" Harry answered again.

"What's the difference between Monkshood and Wolfs-bane?" Snape continued to ask, ignoring Hermione. He only had eyes for Harry.

"I don't know," Harry answered.

Snape's sneer widened.

"I think Hermione knows," Harry added "It seems a shame not to ask her."

Charlie almost choked on her own breathing at Harry's retort; her eyes grew wide as she levelled him with a look that clearly told him he had crossed the line.

No one said anything, they were too stunned. Snape glared at Harry before turning to the Hermione. "Put your hand down you silly girl," he hissed at her. She dropped her arm. Snape then rounded the desk and loomed over Harry "Asphodel and Wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Death. A Bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a Goat and it will save you from most poisons. And Monkshood and Wolfs-bane, are from the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite" he explained, before glancing over his shoulder as the class watched him silently "Well, why aren't you all copying this down?" he asked.

There was a rush to get parchment, ink, quills and other essentials that the students would need, before the scribbling of quills were heard throughout the dungeons. He then added "Gryffindor, 5 points will be taken for your house-mates cheek," his eyes lingering on Harry.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

Riley noticed that things didn't improve for the Gryffindor's as the potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He wouldn't let them chose who to be partnered with, and therefore partnered them up himself. Hermione was partnered with Ron (much to the red heads displeasure) Harry was partnered with a fellow Gryffindor Callum Thompson and Riley and Charlie were partnered together, the two of them seemed to be the only two -other than the Slytherin's- that Snape didn't seem to hate.

Snape swept around the room in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticising almost all the Gryffindor's, and leaving his own house. Now Charlie knew what Nikki had meant when she said, Snape favoured the Slytherin's. He was just in the middle of telling everyone to look at how perfect Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeons.

Neville had somehow managed to melt his partner's cauldron into a twisted blob and their potion was sweeping across the stone floor, burning holes in shoes. Charlie who had climbed onto her chair to avoid getting caught in the potion, had pulled Riley up onto hers, as around them, Nathan, Daphne, Pansy, Draco, and the rest of the classroom had mimicked their actions. Poor Neville, though, was sitting, covered from head to foot in his potion, red angry blotches starting to appear of his body.

"Idiot boy!" Snape snarled, clearing the spilled potion away with a wave of his wand "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"

Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his face.

"Take him to the Hospital wing," Snape spat at Gryffindor, Dean Thomas, and then turned to Harry and Callum who had been working at the same desk.

"Potter, why didn't you tell him not to add the quills?" Snape asked coldly "Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor"

From across the classroom, Charlie threw Harry a 'don't-even-try-it' look, and climbed back down off her chair, before turning back to hers and Riley's potion.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

Two hours later Potions let out and the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's stumbled out into the hallways as most went their own ways, glaring all the same at one another Riley and Charlie walked alongside one another up as far as the Entrance Hall. There they both pulled out their timetables and examined them "What do you have now?" Charlie asked her friend "I have Charms with Ravenclaw."

"Transfiguration," Riley answered "With Hufflepuff."

The Slytherin smiled and nodded "Do you have a free period today?"

"Yeah," Riley nodded "at the end of the day" and she pointed at the blank space on her timetable "You?"

"Same," Charlie grinned.

Riley looked pleased "Meet you here at 2:00pm?" she asked "We can do any homework we have together."

Charlie groaned but nodded all the same "Okay, 2:00pm, right here."

"Deal" Riley agreed, "See ya" and she hurried off after Hermione.

Charlie waved her off as she hurried off up the marble staircase after Daphne, Pansy and Millicent who were waiting for her.

Then together the four of them headed off for Charms with Draco, Nathan, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

With Charlie going in one direction, Riley walked arm-in-arm with Hermione up to the Transfigurations room where the Gryffindor's came face-to-face with the Hufflepuff's for the first time that day.

The Hufflepuff's looked timid and nervous when it came to students outside their house, but compared to any other houses the Gryffindor's were not that intimidating.

Once the Gryffindor's had arrived the two houses entered the Transfiguration room together and took up seats. Just like in Potions, Riley and Hermione occupied a desk together, as the rest of the housemates and the Hufflepuff's quickly took their seats, however, two seats remained empty and Riley noticed that Harry and Ron were missing.

Where did they disappear too? she asked herself, glancing around before returning her attention to the front of the room where a tabby cat sat on the desk that belonged to McGonagall. It leapt forward, before changing into a woman.

"Whoa," Hermione whispered.

"That was amazing," Riley exclaimed "How did you do that?"

Professor McGonagall's lips curved upwards in response to a smile. "I'm an Animagus, Miss Spirit"

"Pardon me, Professor," Callum Thompson said confusedly "But what's an Animagus?"

"An Animagus is someone who can turn into an animal" Riley explained "it's a skilled piece of magic. No two person Animagus form is the same. I could have a Cat, while you could have a Bear."

"Well done, Miss Spirit" Professor McGonagall said "5 points to Gryffindor."

"Do we learn that this year?" asked a Hufflepuff boy, from across the room.

"No. Not this year, Carl," said Professor McGonagall "Animagus changing is advanced Transfiguration, as Miss Spirit pointed out. If you ever take Transfiguration at NEWT Level then you will learn the basics."

She then went onto explain the fundamentals of Transfiguration, such as concentration, pronunciation and correct wand movement. Riley and Hermione exchanged looks through the explanation identical grins plastered across their faces.

A moment later, the entire class had their text books open and were copying down notes. McGonagall had turned back into a cat and was sitting stiffly back on her desk. In the silence of the room, everyone hear the movement of rushing feet, and the opening of the door behind them. Riley, glanced over her shoulder as Ron and Harry came down the aisle.

The two boys where just passing the girls desk, when Ron spoke.

"Made it!" he cried "Can you imagine the look on McGonagall's face if we were late?"

Riley had to bite inside of her cheek, and looked towards the front of the class, just in time to see Professor McGonagall jumped from her desk for the second time, and landed, fully transformed in her human form before the two boys.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed as he stood awestruck.

"Well, thank you, Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall answered "Perhaps I should transfigure yourself or Mr Potter into a pocket watch? That way one of you might be on time!"

"We got lost" Harry answered.

"Then perhaps a map? I expect you don't need one to find your seats."

She gestured to their seats and they sat down. She told them the pages the rest of the class were reading and left them to do the rest. Once she reached the front of the class again, she turned her back to write on the chalkboard.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

Classes ended at two, and the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's who had their Free Period at the end of the day, were thankful. After meeting Charlie in the Entrance hall, Riley pulled her friend by the arm down the corridors as they went in search of the library the Slytherin moaning and groaning about not spending every waking hour of her free periods in the library, she wanted some fun.

She liked school as much as the next person, and she believed in getting good grades, but she seriously didn't believe in spending every waking moment of one's life pouring over books and writing essays. There was a time for work and there was a time for fun too.

That was why, when they finally stumbled across the Library, Charlie looked as if she had died and gone to hell! While Riley, stood slack-jawed and staring in awe at the two story room which was filled with books, books and a lot more books.

"Someone pinch me," the Gryffindor murmured "I've died and gone to heaven..."

Charlie rolled her eyes and reached across to pinch her friend.

"Ouch!" Riley cried "What you do that for?" she demanded.

"You told me too!" Charlie shrugged.

"It's a figure of speech!"

"Obviously not!" Charlie smirked "Can we just get our work done, so we can go play?"

Riley grumbled under her breath, something about school being more important, before she pulled her friend into the library and found a secluded table near the back of the room.

While Charlie got out her work books and homework, Riley took off in search of a book she would need for her Transfiguration homework.

Now that she was alone, Riley was able to take in everything there was too see about the library; the shelves stood so that they reached the ceiling with no trouble, books upon books lined their shelves and it was a readers dream to be in a place like this.

She hadn't realized she had been staring, and was unaware when the librarian had joined her, watching her with an amused expression.

"Wonderful, isn't it?" the woman asked.

Riley yelped as she jumped in surprise and turned to the woman "Yes, ma'am" she nodded "I've never seen any place as huge as this before" she looked around "May I ask how many books you have?"

"Five thousand and over," the woman answered.

Riley's eyes bulged "Five...Th-thousand?" she stuttered.

"And counting," the librarian added politely.

"Yeah; I didn't want to say that because I might have passed out from shock," Riley responded with a bright smile "I'm Riley" she added "Riley Spirit."

The Librarian smiled "Pleasure to meet you Riley," she smiled "I'm Madam Pince."

"Lovely to meet you, Madam Pince" Riley smiled "My friend is around here somewhere. Her name is Charlie Hunter."

"Ah, the Muggleborn Slytherin" the Librarian nodded.

Riley frowned "Wow, news sure travels fast around here."

"It's a boarding school, dear" Madam Pince chuckled "You will find that it is rather difficult to keep a secret here at Hogwarts. Now, what can I do for you and Miss Hunter today?"

"Actually we have two essays to complete," Riley answered "I have Transfigurations and Charlie has Charms."

Madam Pince nodded "Ah, this way, child" and she led Riley back down the library to an aisle of books "This is the Charms section," she stated pleasantly, and pulled a book off the shelf "I'm going to guess that your friend Miss Hunter, isn't an evident reader like yourself?" Riley shook her head "She may find it difficult to concentrate on more than one book for her essays; this book will help her understand the theory of Charms. It explains it well into detail, but it won't overpower you like some books will. If your friend wishes to study Charms into her NEWTS, then she will have to learn to read more in depth"

"Well, let's hope she doesn't plan on doing NEWTS" Riley smiled "I don't think Charlie could handle the extra pressure."

Madam Pince chuckled and led her to another aisle and pulled down another set of books "These should help you with your Transfigurations," she explained "Professor McGonagall, even though you're a first year, will like to see a well written essay. You yourself, may end up going over the given amount you need."

Riley took to books as well "Thank you," she nodded.

"No problem, dear" the Librarian responded "It is what I am here for; good luck."

"Thanks," Riley smiled, before hurrying back to her table, where she found Charlie beating her head against the table as a couple of Hufflepuff first years, crowded around her. As she grew closer she could hear snippets of the conversation.

"...have they threatened you yet?" a sandy-haired boy asked, he wore glasses, and Riley recognized him as Matthew Connors "Slytherin's are nasty! They don't like anyone who isn't of Pureblood standards! It's a wonder you're still alive this morning."

Charlie groaned "Argh! No, they haven't threatened me, and obviously i'm lucky to be alive, getting killed on my first night here would bad!" she told them "Now, if you would be so kind, scram! I have work to do!"

"But you're a Muggleborn!" Matthew pressed; clearly he wasn't going away anytime soon "A Muggleborn in Slytherin is unheard of!"

"Obviously not!" Charlie muttered, glaring at the table top.

Deciding it was time to intervene, seeing as Charlie was getting restless of the questions Riley placed the books onto the table and turned to the Hufflepuff's "Hey guys," she smiled.

"Hi Riley," the red head near the front smiled "are you doing your Transfiguration homework?"

Riley nodded "Yeah; i'm also helping Charlie with her Charms" she pointed at the Slytherin "I'm sure you've met my friend. Charlie Hunter"

"She's your friend?" Matthew exclaimed "But she's in Slytherin! You're in Gryffindor! Those two houses must never be friends!"

Charlie levelled the boy with a glare and watched as she scuttled backwards away from her, Riley nudged her in the shoulder "its okay you guys," Riley promised them "She doesn't bite."

"Often," the Slytherin added, earning an another jab from her friend "Ow!" she mumbled, rubbing her arm.

Another boy stepped forward "Come on," he told his friends, taking the red-headed girl, Susan by the arm "The Slytherin's have probably brainwashed her," he pointed at Charlie "and she in turn is brainwashing Riley" he looked at the 1st year Gryffindor "Watch your step Riley, Slytherin's are slippery snakes!" he warned, before walking away with the rest of his house.

Charlie glared after them "Can we go, please?" she asked "I really don't feel like studying anymore!"

"But we haven't even started!" Riley protested.

"We can check the books out!" Charlie stated "We'll study later in the Slytherin common room, that way Daphne, Pansy and Millie can study with us!" she explained "and if we need help, Nikki will help us."

The Gryffindor sighed and glanced down at the books "Fine" she grumbled, before passing her friend the Charms book "Madam Pince, she's the Librarian, told me to tell you, that this book would help you with your Charms essay. It explains everything and it doesn't overpower you."

"Cool," the Slytherin responded, packing up her books, parchment and ink, before she threw her bag over her shoulder and picked up the Charms library book. She and Riley then headed towards the front desk, where Madam Pince was sitting. She smiled at Riley when she asked if they could check out their books, and soon they were off, heading to the Great Hall.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

There the two friends found some of their housemates studying, seeing as Dinner wasn't for another hour. Dragging Riley over to the Slytherin table, Charlie threw down her book and dropped into a seat beside Nikki. "Sit down!" she told Riley, tugging at the Gryffindor's arm, and pulling her into an empty seat beside her.

"What's the matter?" Nikki asked "I thought you were in the library?"

"We were," Charlie answered.

Nikki surveyed Charlie for a good five minutes "Need help with your homework?"

"No thanks," Riley answered "Charlie was doing just fine until she was bothered by first year Hufflepuff's!"

"Oh," Nikki nodded.

Marcus looked up from his Potions book "You didn't hex them did you?" he asked.

"I don't know any hexes yet," Charlie protested.

Riley glanced at her friend "Which I think is a good thing."

"Hey!" Charlie gaped at her friend.

Nikki and Marcus exchanged looks "What happened?" they asked together.

Riley and Charlie stared at them "Are you sure you two aren't related?" the Gryffindor asked "Because that was kinda freaky!"

The two Slytherin prefects smirked "No," Marcus answered "We're not related. Now tell, us what happened."

"Nothing," Charlie sighed "Riley went off to gawk over the library while I started my Charms essay; I was going fine until I heard footsteps. At first I thought it was Riley coming back, but when I looked I noticed it was first year Hufflepuff's. They kept prodding me and questioning me about Slytherin and how I could be in Slytherin if I was a Muggleborn. They said some pretty awful things!" she explained "Then when Riley did come back, they accused you lot of Brainwashing me...and me brainwashing her, because she told them we were friends!"

Nikki smirked "Yeah, that would have come as a shock" she stated, looking over the two girls "Gryffindor's and Slytherin's have hated each other since the fall out between the two Founders. It's a strange concept for people to understand, when two students can be best friends, but in different houses. Especially our houses."

"But it's not fair!" Charlie cried "It's not fair that we have to get subjected to stupid stares, comments and questions! We're just like everyone else!"

"Yeah!" Riley agreed "Charlie and I, we've been friends since crèche! Just because we're at Hogwarts now and in different houses, doesn't mean we're going to turn on one another."

Marcus smirked "How far are you both willing to go?" he asked. The girls frowned. "To prove that your friendship is stronger than house rivalries that have been around for 1000 years?"

The Slytherin and Gryffindor Muggleborns exchanged looks, is that what it had come down to? House Rivalries or their friendship?

"All the way," they answered together, turning back to Marcus and linking arms in the process.

They were best friends.

And they would stay that way.


A/N: Another chapter.

I hope you are all enjoying this re-make of 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' because I am finding it rather enjoyable to write. Charlie and Riley are so much more appeasing to write about than Kara and Jess were. Although they are slightly more difficult to write than the twins, but eh, everyone likes a challenge right? Of course.

Right, well, I took a huge leap of faith when it came to taking down my previous story and uploading a new one, because of the amount of reviews I had. I'm not saying I write for reviews, but I do enjoy getting some feedback from my readers; so those of you who have added me to your favourites, alerts and whatever else, please...please...PLEASE leave me a review and tell me why! There HAS to be a reason why you have added me, so I would just like to know why.

Thank you for taking the time to read;

Reviews (pretty please)

~*Kara*~

All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated 14/12/2010 at 12:09am