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The next day, September second, classes started. Over breakfast, where Ron and Harry tried to feed me again, Professor McGonagall, out Head of House, handed us our timetables. I nibbled on one piece of toast as I examined mine.

"Does anyone else have Potions first?" I asked. Both Ron and Harry looked up at me from their timetables and breakfasts.

"Then Defence Against the Dark Arts, right after that?" Harry said. I nodded. I finished my toast and shoved my still-full plate away.

"I'll meet you there then." I said, as they both opened their mouth to tell me to finish. I stood up and left, wandering along, in – what I hoped was – the direction of the dungeons.

"You never told me you were Potters' sister." A cool voice behind me said.

"You never asked." I replied, slowing but not turning around. "Do you know where the potions classroom is?"

He drew level with me, nodding, and we walked together towards our Potions class.

"Now we know why you're so special to him, requiring escorts all over the place." He muttered darkly after a moment of comfortable silence.

I shrugged. "I never asked for any of it. And I think it was more 'show her where to go, and make sure she doesn't get lost'."

He looked at me sidelong. "Didn't you know you were a witch?"

I shook my head. "Not until about two days after my eleventh birthday."

He looked over at me. "Really? I've known all my life. Didn't your magic show in its own ways? When you were a little kid?"

I nodded. "You grew up with your parents who are magical though. I didn't, I had no one to explain it to me. I thought it was luck, or karma or something though, on the streets. I always managed to find good food, and shelter."

"On the streets?" He seemed horrified for a moment, before covering it up with his cool mask again.

"Yea. Mr Bryce took me in when I was nine. All my memories before then I lived on the streets."

I saw a flash of something in his eyes, before his mask replaced it.

We reached the dungeon doors, and I leaned against the wall, waiting for the rest of the class who were probably still at breakfast.

"Well, that at least explained your horrible clothing before I got to you." He said as others started arriving. I sneered delicately at him, before Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin house, swung open the door, looking over us all with an expression of exaggerated patience. He turned and led us into the classroom, which was dark and cold, appropriate to the dungeons and the Professor standing at the front of the class. I looked around and took an empty seat in the second row. Draco looked as if he was going to sit next to me, but changed his mind as Harry and Ron came my way.

"See you." He muttered, walking over to his fellow Slytherins.

Potions class was clearly not going to be my best subject. Professor Snape bullied Harry and ignored the other Gryffindors, giving top priority to his own house: the Slytherins. I disliked him immediately, watching him stride bat like around the classroom.

When class finished I let Harry and Ron go first, uncomfortable with the bossy boys in my house, lingering slightly, and leaving the classroom by myself. I found Draco waiting for me outside. I smiled slightly at him, and fell into step beside him as we made our way to Defence Against the Dark Arts.