Oh no! I haven't updated in 2 weeks…again! I'm so sorry to my reviewers who have been so good, but I've been sleeping not a lot every night, cuz I'm so busy….:(. I got another "hate mail", this time from the same guy, I think, this time called Drew213, basically saying the same thing. Whatever, I'm deleting his things from now on. Then, I got another anonymous reviewer in Spanish, but I translated it and I THINK that it's a good one. So….

I'm gonna put the review responses in the end, looks better that way ;).

Oh yeah! I have this evil plot bunny that's been bouncing around a few days now, about Snape/Lily and James/Lily's twin sister (OC). What'dya think? Should I start this new one? (Don't worry, I'm not abandoning Holly). Leave me a review, or PM me. Please?

So….let's hear it for SNAPE and HOLLY.!

"There, look."

"Where?"

"Next to that bushy-haired girl."

"That small redhead?"

"Ooh…what does she look like?"

"Did you see her claw mark?"

Whispers followed Holly the minute she left her dormitory. People were craning their necks, staring at her. They crowded around her, asking her questions. At first, she had politely answered "Is it true you live with Muggles?" but Hermione had given them a disapproving frown, and they backed away. Ron also tagged along with the pair of them, but he was proving more of a liability than an asset when looking for their first class.

There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump. Then there were doors that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending. It was also very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and Holly was sure the coats of armor could walk. Hermione, of course, wasn't surprised. "Of course I read this in Hogwarts: A History and it's surprisingly similar to the junior highs in Muggle schools. They give us more time between classes, though, because it's so much harder to get from place to place."

The ghosts didn't help, either. It was always a nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through a door you were trying to open. Nearly Headless Nick was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the right direction, but Peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him when you were late for class. He would drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind you, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, "GOT YOUR CONK!"

Even worse than Peeves, however, was Filch. He was an old, balding man bent over with rheumatism, and he absolutely detested students. Ron got onto the bad side of him by trying to open a door, which unluckily, led to the third floor corridor. He had been convinced it led to their first class. After Hermione had saved him by firing a long-winded explanation at Filch, Filch had given up and decided to chase the Weasley twins, who were setting off Dungbombs in the corridor. Hermione shot an especially smug look at Ron. "See, Ronald. We should just follow the instruction Nick gave us." He'd glowered at her, but kept silent. It was her, after all, who had just saved his butt.

Filch also owned a cat called Mrs. Norris, a scrawny, dust-coloured creature with bulging, lamp like eyes just like Filch's. She patrolled the corridors alone. Break a rule in front of her, put just one toe out of line, and she'd whisk off for Filch, who'd appear, wheezing, two seconds later. Filch knew the secret passageways of the school better than anyone (except perhaps the Weasley twins) and could pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts. The students all hated him, and it was the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs. Norris a good kick.

And then, once you had managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to magic, as Holly quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.

They had to study the night sky every Wednesday, in a lesson called "Astronomy". Holly would've appreciated it, but she couldn't understand why they needed to learn it, since it was also a Muggle class. Professor Sinistra hadn't been able to given an explanation to The-Girl-Who-Lived, but she had stammered that wizards were trying to design a space shuttle. Holly and Hermione had wisely kept their mouths shut, longing to tell her that if she really wanted to build a space shuttle, she should just study the Muggle design.

Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. Holly thought this class wasn't very interesting (she'd never been good with Muggle plants), and Ron didn't like it right away. When a plant wrapped its tendrils around his finger, he swore—"Bloody—"

"WEASLEY! Language, 1 point from Gryffindor!" Professor Sprout then rushed to the plant, and began caressing it. "Are you ok, little one?" She cooed, forgetting about the class.

Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emetic the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up. Holly, who had been determined to give a good impression on every teacher, nearly fell asleep. Ron did fall asleep, and Hermione gave him dirty looks as she scribbled down notes. "Honestly, Holly, he's so…."

Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Holly's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight.

Professor McGonagall was again different. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."

Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time. After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione had made any difference to her match. Holly turned hers silver, but it was still wood. Ruefully, she glanced at Hermione. Professor McGonagall showed the class how Hermione's had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.

Holly had been looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts the most, but Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. First of all, his classroom smelled funnily like garlic, which everyone said was supposed to ward off vampires. When he said he got the turban from an African prince as a thank-you from a troublesome zombie, Seamus Finnigan had asked him eagerly how he had fought it off. Quirrell had turned pink and started talking about the weather. Lastly, his turban also smelled like garlic, which the Weasley twins claimed that it was stuffed full of.

Holly was happy that she was above average in her classes, and that even people like Ron weren't ahead. In fact, out of Hermione, Ron, and her, he was doing the worst.

Then, finally, it was Friday, the end of the week.

"What have we got today?" Holly asked Hermione as she poured sugar on her porridge.

"Double Potions with the Slytherins," said Hermione. "Snape's Head of Slytherin House. Everyone says he favors Slytherins, but it's probably just rumors."

"Wish McGonagall favored us," said Holly, sighing. Professor McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House, but it hadn't stopped her from giving them a huge pile of homework the day before.

Just then, the mail arrived. Holly had gotten used to this, but like the other people who hadn't been raised by wizards, was shocked out of her mind the first day of school. Suddenly, Hagrid's owl came speeding Holly's way, and dropped a very untidy scrawled note into Holly's porridge.

Dear Holly,

I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three?
I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Dragon.
Hagrid

Holly borrowed Hermione's quill, scribbled Yes, thanks, I'm bringing Hermione and Ron on the back of the note, and sent the owl off again. She smiled as the small little owl named Dragon nearly crashed into the window, but righted himself.

Holly's first class was Potions. Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls.

Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Holly's name. He said it with disgust, but there was also something in there that Holly couldn't identify. "Holly—Potter", he said, jerkily. Then, he glared at the class, and kept reading.

Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word -- like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "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."

More silence followed this little speech. Holly and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead. Holly snickered quietly.

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

Powdered root asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? Holly racked her brains. Hermione, next to her, had her hand held high in the air. Finally, she came up with something."The Draught of Living Death, sir." She ventured. Hermione beamed at her.

Snape's sneer was wiped off his face, and he turned away briskly. Unknownst to Holly, he was staring at the blackboard, willing himself not to remember Lily's prodigious skill in Potions. He nearly snarled in confusion and rage, but remembered he was in a class. He then lifted his wand, barked "Copy these notes", and started to write in slanted script up on the board.

Then he turned back around. "Weasley!" He said abruptly. "What is a bezoar and what is it used for?" Ron looked stumped, and looked around wildly at Holly and Hermione for help.

"Tut, tut, Weasley, hoping to make friends with Potter so you can get famous?" Snape sneered. "Thought you wouldn't look in your book? A point from Gryffindor."

Ron sat there, looking furious, his ears as red as his hair. Holly stared at Snape. Surely this was unfair!

"For your information, Weasley, a bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, and can cure you of most poisons."

Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.

"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?"

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

"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Holly and Hermione, who had been working next to Neville.

"Potter, as you've obviously read the book, why didn't you help him? Aren't Gryffindors supposed to be brave for their friends? That's a point you've lost for Gryffindor."
This was so unfair that Holly opened her mouth to argue, but Hermione kicked her lightly under their cauldron.

"Sorry, but don't push it," she muttered, "We don't want to lose more house points."

As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Holly and Ron were fuming. "Snape really does hate Gryffindors," Holly said bitterly. Ron kicked at a stone. "Agreed there, mate."

Hermione looked at them pityingly. "Holly, that wasn't your fault. He shouldn't have done that."

"What about me?" Ron demanded.

Hermione hesitated, but plowed on. "Sorry about the point, Ronald, but you obviously didn't look at the book carefully enough."

Ron gaped at her. Holly groaned. Oh, Hermione.

Pointedly ignoring Hermione, Ron asked Holly "We're going to Hagrid's today, right?"

"Yeah, sure," Holly said, glancing over at Hermione. She looked slightly hurt, because originally it was supposed to be the two of them.

"The three of us will all go," Holly said firmly.

At five to three they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.

When Holly knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang -- back."

Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.

"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."

He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.
There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.

"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.

"This is Ron and Hermione," Holly told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.

"Nice ter meet yer, Hermione." Then he glanced at Ron. "Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, "I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."

The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but Holly, Ron, and Hermione pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons. Fang rested his head on Holly's knee and drooled all over her robes. She discreetly moved her leg away from Fang, and he amiably drooled on Ron instead.

Ron was delighted to hear Hagrid call Fitch "that old git."

"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her -- Fitch puts her up to it."

Holly told Hagrid about Snape. "He looks at me weird, Hagrid, and he doesn't like me."

Ron then cut in. "He hated me!"

"Rubbish!" Hagrid snorted. "He wouldn't hate yer cause—"

"Cause what, Hagrid?"

But Hagrid turned red and fidgeted with his beard.

"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid asked Ron. "I liked him a lot -- great with animals."

Holly wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons, Holly picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.

Hermione peered over her shoulder. "See, that's what I was talking about."

"Hagrid!" said Holly, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"

There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn't meet Holly's eyes this time. He grunted and offered her another rock cake. Holly read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for?

As Holly, Ron, and Hermione walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Holly thought that none of the lessons she'd had so far had given him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid collected that package just in time? Where was it now? And did Hagrid know something about Snape that he didn't want to tell Holly?

Ron cut into her ramblings. "Come on, Holly, we'll be late for the feast!"

Behind Holly, Hermione groaned. "Is food all that boy ever thinks about?"

Hmm…shortish chappie this time, but did you like it? Please please do review with your feedback! ALL REVIEWERS get Zonko's merchandise—Filibuster's Fireworks, fake wands, leprechaun gold! One of the best deals you'll get from me. This time, 20 reviews will be fine, but I'd love it if you guys reviewed more. Don't forget to comment about my plot bunny! Now, I'll reply to each review.

SpencerCollins: Chap 9:

Thanks for the advice, I'm not going to make Holly too girly, because I find those girly-girls annoying and lol if she destroys Voldemort with lipstick . But, she will mature faster than Harry, that's for sure!

Chap 10: LOL, agreed, I hate how girls are called woMEN. Ladies CAN do anything.

Angelvan105: Chapter 9: Thanks for reviewing as usual!!! Hmm…I wonder just how much Draco will be changed by Holly. LOL you can bet that Holly is going to have some interesting experiences around Halloween *cough cough* I have that chappie planned out.

Chapter 10: Thanks, Angel! You are an awesome reviewer, and now I know just to not get upset by those awful pigs.

Nectarine Nightshine: Thanks! I think I changed it, but I'm not really sure…*scratches head*, ah well, if it's still there I'm too lazy to do it now…lol.

Star Wars for Life: Ah, thanks for pointing out the mistake. My apologies, please keep reading!

Gypsydancer529: Thanks, I accidently put the wrong Document in there…lol. Sorry for the wait!

HarryPotterRocks09: Hopefully, the POVs were interesting—I wanted to give you some insight to how Draco and Snape were thinking ;).

Luiz4200: Chap 9: Hi, thanks for commenting again! Except this time, Holly's going to spend more time with Hermione, so I'll wonder how that will turn out…

Chap 10: Haha, lol, thanks, yeah I do get it. Sorry about the late update!

Allen Pitt: …..How did you guess, Allen? LOL I didn't even remember your review until I saw it just now and I realize that's exactly what I've done. And, no, I'm not going to put Ginny's crush in.

Katie Ladmoore: Haha, thanks very much. I'm probably going to do more of them later, so it'll be more interesting than just from Holly's perspective.

Mask with a truth: Thanks! I'm going to, I'm excited about what's going to happen during the troll incident.

Pectus Noctem: Thanks so much…I was pretty shaken, because it wasn't just a flame, it was a horrible guy who I feel bad for the women around him…heh, I think Draco is starting to like Holly, but who knows what Holly thinks? Pretty much, this mark makes her a bit more evil, because it's branded onto her, like a Dark Mark *Gasp*.

Frannienzbabe: Thanks! I really hate those awful people. Lol, my brother's a better cook than me.

The Wandmaker: Thank you for those wise words. I really do appreciate it, probably it's some drunk guy who sees every girl-Harry story and gives those nasty reviews. Thanks again!

Stygian Styx: Haha, now I get it…jeez, this guy can't even write right, lol, when I translated it. Thanks for the positive feedback!

Katie Ladmoore: It's ok, it doesn't matter. Thanks for your continuous feedback!

Lady Sabine of Macayhill: Hi, thank you for reviewing! StygianStyx translated the loser's words. Lol I'm too lazy, but hopefully there were good changes this chapter.

Anonymous Reviews:

Maria esp21: Thanks for reviewing, I think yours is a good review, because of the limited Spanish I have muy buen probably is muy bien, which is very good. And fran idioto also probably says fran is an idiot.

Jess: Hi, thanks so much for reviewing! I'm not going to disable anonymous reviews, because of one pig. I hope that this chapter is different enough, shows more of the Holly-Ron-Hermione relationship. Sorry for the late update!

Jade:

Chapter 3: Thanks for reviewing, me too, I hate it when people make Petunia so mean.

Chapter 8: Thanks ~fixed~.

Chapter 10: Please keep reading . Some people prefer to write in other languages but not all of them are bad, so that's good, right?

Yay! You guys rock, remember to review and ZONKO'S merchandise!

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