Chapter 3

Professor McGonagall hesitated. Pure coincidence she thought but when Mary began to walk over, Prof. McGonagall just wanted to grab her hand and put her in another house. As the two women approached the studying trio, they could hear them bickering.

"Ron! Harry! Honestly, you both should just drop out of Divination if your just make up these ridiculous stories to keep that mad woman happy. It's not worth it, and you both could be occupying your time with something a little more productive. Like studying for your N.E.W.Ts." Prof. McGonagall heard Hermoine yell at the boys.

"Well, I'm so sorry Hermoine that we all just can't run out on it like you did." Harry snapped back. "Besides Ron and I always try to get Firenze, but we keep ending up in her class."

"And you've been studying for your N.E.W.Ts for five years!" Ron argued.

"You don't even need that class Harry!" Hermoine growled ignoring Ron's comment.

"Ahem," Prof McGonagall coughed lightly getting Ron's attention. He turned his head and when he spotted Mary, his eyes widened as round as saucers as he poked Harry in the back.

"H-Harry, Hermoine. The professors talking t-to us." He stuttered, not taking his eyes off of Mary. Before turning around, Harry heard Hermoine growl about Ron's stuttering. She was already turned around and had seen what Ron was stuttering about. When he turned his head, he couldn't help but to stare at the figure standing in front of them.

"Harry, Ron, Hermoine, this is Mary Hamilton. She has been sorted into Gryffindor." Prof. McGonagall spoke tightly trying to not let her voice get caught. "Mary, they are Hermoine Granger, Ronald Weasly, and Harry Potter. "

"Thank you for the introduction, professor." Mary thanked lightly, and turned to her new schoolmates. "It's very nice to meet you. I'd very much appreciate it if you could befriend me." She smiled and did a small curtsy. When she looked up, she met Harry's eyes and Harry could have sworn he saw an evil gleam flash in her familiarly green eyes. It's just in my imagination He thought. His stomach tightened in a knot however; as Professor McGonagall explained to Hermoine that Mary will be staying with them.

"Hermoine, Mary will be sharing a dormitory with Parvati, Lavender, and your self. Because of a tragic accident at home, Susan will not be returning for the rest of the school year. And Mary will be in Susan's bed."

"That's awful!" Hermoine exclaimed about Susan (not Mary), "I hope she is ok."

"She is fine, but I'm afraid that her mother is not. Now, unfortunately I must be going. But I will trust the three of you to give Mary a hand around the school. See the four of you tomorrow in class." Professor McGonagall made all conversation short. As much as she hated leaving them alone, she needed to return to her classroom. As she turned around, Harry stared after her with stony eyes. Don't leave her here...Professor...Harry's thoughts chased McGonagall ask she exited the common room.

This entire time, Ron had never taken his eyes off of Mary. Hermoine seemed more aggravated than usual about Ron's hypnotized state, as she smacked him on the back of the head with his divination book.

"Com 'on Mary. I'll show you where we sleep."

"Okay," Mary agreed and followed Hermoine up the stairs to the girl's dormitory.

Ron was still rubbing his head when Hermoine stomped off with Mary. He made a childish gesture by sticking out his tongue at her, and then turned to face Harry who had sat back down at the table.

"What did she do that for? Is her time of the month?" Ron grumbled

"Maybe you should be wearing my glasses instead of me." Harry stated picking up a quill.

"What is that suppose to mean? There's nothing wrong with my eyes. "Ron defended he still had no idea what Harry was talking about and was still oblivious to the reason Hermoine had hit him.

Harry rolled his eyes, and looked up as Hermoine and Mary descended from the steps. The two seemed to be talking a little more than when they had gone up.

"Thank you for introducing me to the others Hermoine,"

"Of course Mary. You won't be able to make it if you don't know the people around you. And, you don't have to be so polite. You're among humans you know. We're not going to be bite your head off."

Parvati, and Lavender descended the steps not too long after Hermoine and Mary did. They seemed very agitated. They were whispering to them selves, and sending anxious glances at Mary.

"I'll be right back Ron." Harry mumbled and got up from his chair. Ron didn't hear him how ever, because Mary had walked up to the table and stolen his attention.

Parvati spotted Harry walking in their direction and waved for him to come quicker.

"What's the matter with you two?" he asked the nervous girls.

"That girl...who is she Harry." Lavender demanded

"I thought Hermoine just introduced you."

"She did." Parvati answered, " but there's something wrong about her."

"What do you mean wrong?" but that's no surprise Harry thought

"Parvati and I were doing our divination homework upstairs. And we decided to have a little fun by looking into my crystal ball." Lavender began to explain. I don't how Divination homework is fun Harry thought before Parvati stared to finish their story.

"We saw things." She said simply

"What kind of things?" now the story was peaking his interest.

"The moment Hermoine said her name...'Mary Hamilton'... Everything in the ball went crazy then blank. Then the pictures began showing up. She's bad Harry. Really bad." Parvati said this with urgency in her voice pleading for Harry to do something.