Disclaimer: Certain dialogue belongs to JKR Rowling.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Sorry if I miss any typos, 5 am typing be like that.

Maggie had been wrong before. She had been wrong multiple times, all in a range of severity. Yet, she had never been so dreadfully wrong in her entire life. Or at least that is how it felt.

The first week at Hogwarts was a complete nightmare. It all started when her lovely roommates somehow destroyed her bed causing Maggie to sleep on a thin blanket on the floor ("Where filth like her belonged" was what Pansy Parkinson had said). The only small blessing she had was they were unable to gain access to her suitcase and the fact the bed was always fixed by the morning.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner were painfully awkward. At least she had Elena, Roselyn, Adrian to keep her company and listen to her rants. The fact they were all older than her, with Elena being a year above her and Roselyn along with Adrian being two years her senior, did not ease the pain that she had to deal with during classes. Herbology was the only class that wasn't painful as she shared it with the Ravenclaws, which meant some freedom away from her housemates. Thankfully Padma, her acquaintance from the boat ride, was still kind to her despite her house and much to Maggie's relief, kept her company along with her Ravenclaw housemates. It also helped that their professor, Professor Sprout, allowed her to sit away from her classmates. The stout and grey-haired witch claimed it was to "promote inter-house friendship and cooperation", but Maggie was pretty sure the woman took one steady glance at her and decided to give her some mercy. Even if it was just for one class period.

Defense Against of the Dark Arts was a joke of a class. The entire classroom smelt of garlic and death and Professor Quirrell seemed like he could barely function. However, the more Maggie watched him, the more uneasy she felt. Despite his rather pathetic teaching skills, his eyes seemed far more intelligent then he was acting. She didn't like it when he looked at her, it nearly sent her in fight or flight mode. Maggie always made sure to sit near the door for a quick exit.

Astronomy was the other class that Maggie was fine with. Astronomy was every Tuesday night at midnight which generally meant that her fellow first years were too tired to do the usual bullying

The worst times she had was when it was just class, sans Astronomy, with the Slytherins. The hateful glares sent her way when the professors weren't looking, the snide remarks that were only loud enough to hear. Maggie was surprised she managed to keep her cool for so long. It didn't help that she was absolutely dreadful at magic. Wandless magic or manipulating shadows was one thing, but this wand was going to be the end of her. The two subjects she thought were going to be her favorite, charms and transfiguration, turned out to be a living nightmare.

For Charms, Flitwick did roll call. Something about the short and pointed ear man gave Maggie an odd sensation. The same sensation she had been feeling a multitude of times during the boat ride to Hogwarts. Thankfully for her, the feeling left as soon as it came. However, it didn't stop the class from being torturous. When he called at her name, the whispers of mudblood and filth invaded her ears. The lesson didn't get better from there. It was mostly a lecture to prep them for the next class where they have to levitate a feather.

Transfiguration didn't inspire a lot of confidence as well. Just like Maggie remembered, Professor McGonagall was stern and a no-nonsense woman. Half of the class time was taking intensive notes, which Maggie didn't mind and enjoyed, the second half was trying to transfigure a match stick into a needle. No matter how many times she said the incantation, did the wand movements and repeating looked over her notes, nothing happened. The other Slytherins, especially Malfoy and Parkinson, thrived off her repeated failures. At the end of the class, no one was able to successfully turn the matchstick completely into a needle, though the rest of the class had made some progress.

Maggie wasn't sure what was worse, the look of disappointment from Professor McGonagall or the cheery looks from her classmates.

"Pathetic mudblood," Malfoy had said loudly after class to his friends, "Couldn't even show any amount of magic. No better than a filthy squib." They laughed as Maggie ran off. Maybe they were right, she couldn't even show any simple type of magic. Perhaps she got here by mistake.

That day she spent her lunch hiding in the Slytherin common room with Elena, Roselyn, and Adrian. "The week is almost over," Roselyn said, as she hugged Maggie. "This weekend me and Adrian will help catch you up. Malfoy and his friends won't even see it coming."

When Friday arrived, Maggie nearly cried with relief. Today was a morning potions class with Gryffindor followed by a free period before her third herbology class of the week. Maggie would never admit it, but she was extremely nervous for potions class. It would be the first time that Maggie would see Harry and she wasn't sure where they stand with each other. Did he hate her now? After all, she was a Slytherin and everyone talked about how much the two houses hated each other.

"Not hungry?" Elena asked as she sat down next to her. Apparently, both Roselyn and Adrian decided to sleep, something Maggie wished she could do as well.

"Uh not really," Maggie said, playing with her fork.

"That nervous for your class?" She took a bite of bacon, "It can't be that bad."

"Double potions with Gryffindor."

Elena just shrugged, "Be glad you aren't a Gryffindor. Just be wary of Snape. One could say he isn't a morning person."

Maggie, wanting to give their head of house a good impression, said goodbye to her friend before promising to catch up with her during break, and headed to the Dungeon. It seemed she wasn't the only one to get the idea to arrive early as several Gryffindors were already they.

They watched her wearily as she entered the Potion classroom. She saw Parvati and Lavender and rushed towards them.

"Oh hey Maggie," Parvati said politely as Maggie took the desk in front of them. She turned towards them.

"Oh thank God you two are Gryffindors," Maggie groaned out.

"Slytherin treating you well?" Lavender asked, her tone was slightly teasing.

Maggie merely groaned again as they gave her a sympathetic smile.

The two girls started to make some small talk. Asking things like: how has your week been, how are your classmates, ect. Maggie got so involved in their talk, she didn't acknowledge the glares the Slytherins gave her when they finally walked in.

She was only brought back to surrounding when she felt several light taps on her shoulder. Turning around she was met with green eyes. Harry stood there, his unkempt black hair sticking out in several directions and a light pink blush danced on his brown cheeks.

"Maggie-"

"Snape should be coming soon, you better go back to your seat," Maggie spoke quickly, cutting him off. It was the only excuse she could come up with. Like a coward, she rather him not say anything at all to her in fear of what he might say.

Harry looked downcasted before making his way to his seat. Maggie felt slightly guilty as she turned forward, ignoring the shock looks on her two Gryffindor friends faces.

At least it seemed her excuse had some merit as only a few moments after Harry took his seat next to Weasley, Snape entered the room. His black cloak whipping in the air as he stormed to the front of the classroom. For a moment his eyes glanced at every single one of them. Maggie watched as those coal-like eyes seemed to pause and narrow at the place Harry was sitting before they landed on her. She saw confusion and disgust in those black tunnel like eyes, most likely due to the fact she was on the Gryffindor side of the room.

Maggie winced. She probably should've moved to where her classmates were earlier. There goes making a good impression.

Similar to Flitwick, Snape started the class by doing a roll call. Unlike Flitwick, her classmates stayed quiet when her name was called out. It seemed that they were also intimidated by their head of house.

He continued going down the list, pausing at Harry's name.

"Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity."

Maggie sent a sharp glared towards Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle. They sniggered behind their hands. It seemed that Harry also got on their bad side as well.

He finished reading off the names and stared at the class. She could tell everyone was paying rapid attention, but it took all her strength not to burst out laughing. It wasn't her fault that he kept the same speech from the year before and the year before that. Her friends reacted the whole scene Thursday night, and she much preferred that version.

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

Maggie snapped out of her daydreaming as the sudden change of pace. She turned around and gave Harry a look of confusion. He seemed as clueless as everyone else, except for the wild brown hair girl who was raising her hand as high as she could. Harry's eyes met her and gave her a pleading look. All she could do what gives him a confused shrug. How was she supposed to know? It isn't like her and Snape had late night chats about potions.

"I don't know sir," Harry replied in confusion.

Snape gave him a sneer. It seemed that sneering is a Slytherin trademark.

"Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything. Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Maggie's eyes widen, that was a question she actually knew the answered to. Maggie was about to raise her hand before deciding not to. Professor Snape was clearly ignoring the other Gryffindor who knew the answer, she didn't see why he would change his mind.

"I don't know sir," Harry repeated.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Snape kept his cold eyes on Harry, a wicked gleam danced in them. It was as if he was taking some type of sick pleasure of tormenting Harry.

"There isn't one Sir," Maggie spoke up quickly, drawing the attention away from Harry and onto her.

It took everything she had not to shrink under the Professor's sharp glare.

"And the bezoar is found in the stomach of a goat...sir," her voice growing slightly louder.

She wasn't sure what Snape was going to do. He seemed angry, his black eyes flaring up in annoyance that she ended his beratement of Harry.

"Well, it seems someone had come prepared. Thought you were too good to open a book over the summer Mr. Potter?" Snape leaned forward, his robes looking like wings dangling on his sides. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. And as Miss Barker had correctly stated, a bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. And as Miss Barker stated, monkshood and wolfsbane are indeed the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well, start copying it down."

The sounds of quills on parchment filled the classroom. "And that will be one point from Gryffindor for being unprepared...and two points to Slytherin for Miss Barker's knowledge."

Maggie short-lived joy of impressing Snape was dashed quickly when he sorted them into groups for making a simple potion that would cure boils. Unlike Professor Sprout who had allowed her to stick by her Ravenclaw friends, Professor Snape forced her to sit right next to Malfoy.

At least Malfoy didn't look pleased by the seating arrangement as well. It didn't help how Professor Snape kept favoring Malfoy, praising him for any little thing he did.

Maggie tried to get involved but every time she made an attempt Malfoy would move everything to his side. "I'm not letting you taint my potion with your filthy mudblood germs," he hissed as he tossed in one too many horned slugs.

"Well our potion is about to be ruined because you just threw in an extra horned slug," she snapped back.

Malfoy scoffed at her, "I know how to make potions you filthy pathetic mudblood."

Maggie felt her fist clenched tightly around her quill, snapping it in half. Slowly she made the shadows of Malfoy stool, and with the bending of her index as well as middle finger the shadows were yanked backward taking the stool and Malfoy with them. Laughter filled the room as Malfoy toppled on the ground, his stool landing on top of him. As Snape rushed towards them, Maggie got to the cauldron, removing it from the fire before adding three porcupine quills. If her memory from reading her potions back was correct, the extra porcupine quill should save their potion.

"Miss Barker," Snape snarled, causing the room to go silent, "Did you just add three porcupine quills instead of two like. The. Directions. Stated?" Malfoy gave her a nasty grin.

"Well you see Sir, when Malfoy tipped over he accidentally added an extra horned slug. Adding another porcupine quill should counteract the mistake," Maggie said smoothly as she stirred the potion.

Snape held his stare at her before looking at their potion which was now a perfect blue color. "Another three points to Slytherin for your quick thinking Miss Barker. Mr. Malfoy, be more careful." Professor Snape nodded his head, before turning away to torment the Gryffindors.

Malfoy angrily waved his wand, leaving the two to sit in silence with their finished potion. "Now who is the pathetic one Malfoy," Maggie said smoothly, "Do try to keep up. I wonder how your father would feel about a mudblood outshining you in potions." Her voice was oh so very quiet, her cool stare piercing his grey eyes. His pale cheeks turned a bright pink as he threw her a sneer, yet stayed silent.

Maggie tossed her dark strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder and watched the other students, enjoying her first small victory.

It seemed the other students, specifically the Gryffindors, were struggling. One accidentally blew up his cauldron. Snape was on them in an instant, berating them instead of trying to calm the situation. "-take him to the hospital wing," he spat out to the poor boy's partner. With a quick nod, the boy grabbed the injured boy, whose body was growing boils, out of the potion room. Snape quickly turned towards Harry and Ronald.

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

Harry opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it. His eyes met hers and Maggie just gave him an apologetic smile before turning back forward.

When the class period ended, Maggie sped out of the potions room. As she climbed up the stairs, she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder. Turning around she saw Harry, his eyes giving her a silent plead. "Can we talk?" he asked softly. Maggie sighed before nodding. The two of them walked a couple of feet away as Ronald waited for Harry by the top of the stairs.

"I'm sorry about Snape," she blurted before either boy could say anything, "He was completely awful and-"

"Well it isn't your fault Mags," Harry said politely, giving her one of his warm smiles. She stared at her shoes awkwardly as her brain ran miles trying to figure out what he wanted.

"I'm sorry Maggie," Harry quickly blurted out, breaking the lapse of silence.

"Huh what?" Maggie said, startled at being mentioned.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, "For uh blowing up at you, y'know before...I didn't know and I should've done this earlier and-"

Maggie felt her body relax, relief replacing any anxiety and gave him a small smile, "It's all good Harry, I kinda expected that reaction."

Silence came back again, neither of them not really knowing what to say. "Are we friends Harry?" she managed to ask, looking at the slightly taller boy with uncertainty.

He stared at her with wide eyes, before letting out a long breath, "Yeah," he said quickly, "Of course Maggie."

"Even if I'm a Slytherin?" She had to say it, after all, no one had heard of a Gryffindor-Slytherin friendship before. At least it is according to the gossip within Slytherin.

Harry looked at Maggie like she was speaking in tongue. "What kind of question is that Maggie? You aren't a Slytherin. You are just Maggie."

The amount of relief lifted what felt like a heavy burden off her shoulder. They gave each other matching grins, setting the past in the past.

"...Ron and I were going to head to Hagrid's. If you want...you can come join." He tilted his head towards the tall redhead, who sensing the lack of tension, decided to make his ways towards them.

"Sure, I don't have much going on for a bit. Besides, I rather not be in the Slytherin Common Room at the moment."

"Really? After the points you managed to give them?" Ron asked as they started to head out of the Castle.

"I guess my kids in my year are less...kind to Muggleborns. I generally stick with the older students," she admitted.

"Well for what it is worth, what Harry told me about you...well you don't seem bad for a snake."

Harry's cheeks turned a bright red, bright enough to see the color against his brown skin. He sharply elbowed his friend, who let out a yelp. Maggie, on the other hand, was debating whether or not to be offended that she called a snake. "Uh thanks I guess," was what she settled on, deciding to take it as a compliment.

"Well," the boy sputtered, his eyes widening as he realized what he said, "It is just, well you know Malfoy and his group. And what Harry-"

"Speaking of Malfoy," Harry said loudly, cutting Ron off, "Did you…" he trailed off, his hands making odd gestures, "you know," he added quietly so only she could hear.

She sent them a sly smile, "Malfoy deserved it. Just like Dudley and his friends."

Ron looked at the two of them in confusion, "Wha-Did you cause Malfoy to fall back like that?"

Maggie's smiled said it all and he burst out laughing. "That was bloody amazing!" he wheezed.

"Like I said, he deserved it."

They made their way towards Hagrid's house which was a small wooden house, far tinier than what Maggie thought would fit such a giant of a man, near the edge of the dark forest that Dumbledore had informed the school about being forbidden.

When Harry lightly knocked on the wooden door, the three of them heard a cluster of noise and several loud barks. The strange sensation that occurred during the boat ride and during Charms came back, this time slightly stronger. Maggie hoped whatever that sense was would go disappeared. Maggie's eyes widen at the noise, a joyful smile spread on her face at the fact there is a dog. Suddenly, the door was cracked open, the cheery face of the giant black-haired man who had led all the first years through the black lake.

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

As he grabbed the collar of the giant slobbering black dog, he opened the door wide enough to let the three them. "Make yerselves at home," he said, waving them in. Maggie rushed straight towards the dog, ignoring the suspicious look Hagrid gave her as he noticed the green and silver tie she wore. Fang gave her several sloppy licks before making his way towards Ron and giving him the same treatment.

His house was quaint, only being one room. Various types of meat was hanging on the ceiling, a kettle was resting on the open flames of his fire, and there in the corner laid a giant bed underneath a quilted blanket.

"This is Ron and Maggie," Harry introduced them as Hagrid tended the kettle and putting what seemed to be boulders on a plate.

"Another Weasley, eh?" Hagrid took in Ron's red hair and abundance of freckles, "I spent half me life chasin yer twin brothers out of the forest." Fang went back to Maggie, his tail wagging rapidly as she scratched his head and rubbed his belly.

"Maggie...Barker ain't it?"

She looked up at the man with curious eyes and nodded her head slowly. The uneasy and cautious expression on his face shifted into what was most likely his cheerful and regular demeanor.

"Ah," he smiled, " Good to finally meet yeh. Har-"

"Hagrid what are these," Harry blurted, swiftly changing the subject to the strange stone-like food on the table. Harry was successful in his attempt as Hagrid explained to the students that they were his "famous rock cakes" and urged them to eat. Harry and Ron politely agreed to eat the cakes, though it seemed like they just played with the food, while Maggie denied the request politely by lying that she had already eaten.

Maggie merely played with Fang, listening as Harry and Ron explained their week so far. Maggie decided to keep quiet, feeling that she didn't want to ruin the lighthearted mood with his own complaints. When asked about her time, she gave the three a weak smile and shrugged. "It's been fine, didn't have any run-ins with Finch. He seems like someone uh interesting. Wonder if he is similar to Professor Snape"

Harry eyed her with suspicion, seeing through her lie while Ron took her bait, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Snape eh? Yeh yall had Potions today?"

Harry nodded his head, directing his attention toward his towering friend, and explained his rather less than pleasant experience in class.

"Yeh worried too much Harry. Professor Snape hardly likes any of his students." Which Ron nodded in agreement too.

"But...he seems to really hate me," Harry argued. Maggie couldn't help but agreed with him, it did really seem that her head of house had an odd vendetta against him.

"Rubbish," Hagrid explained, "Why would he?" If Hagrid met Harry's eyes, his point would've been stronger.

"They do have somewhat of a point," Maggie spoke up, "He even hates some Slytherins, like my friend Roselyn." Harry gave her a pointed look, which she returned. "But, he does have some type of uh focus? I guess? On you. Maybe give it a couple of classes?"

"How's yer brother Charlie," Hagrid asked Ron, changing the subject. "I liked him-always great with animals yer brother."

Maggie shook her head and turned her attention by towards Fang, only glancing at Harry to see his eyes focusing on a piece of paper.

"Hagrid!" he exclaimed, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday. We might've been there when it happened."

"Gringotts was broken into?" Maggie questioned in surprised, "Who would be crazy enough to do that?"

Instead of answering the questions, Hagrid merely grunted and started pawning off extra rock cakes to the three of them. He refused to make eye contact with any of them.

Eventually, the three of them left Hagrid's house, making their way back to the castle to get dinner. All their pockets were filled with those harden rock cakes. Maggie felt the hard substance and considered using them as projectiles if either Malfoy or her dorm mates gave her any trouble. Surely these cakes were hard enough to cause some damage.

"I guess I will talk to you two later," Maggie said as they reached the Entrance Hall.

"Um Maggie could I talk to you for a second," Harry said quickly, causing Maggie to drop her hand off the door.

"Sure."

Ron gave them both a nod while Harry told him that he will meet him at their table. Ron made his exit leaving the two friends alone.

"Is everything alright?" Maggie asked in concern and confusion.

"Uh yeah, I'm fine," he dugged in his pocket and pulled something out, "I missed your birthday," he exclaimed as he shoved his hand towards her revealing a charm bracelet.

Maggie stared at him in shock.

"I found it in Diagon Alley and I realized I didn't get you anything for your birthday and I thought you would like it," he explained rapidly, his cheeks burning red.

"I do like it," Maggie replied, "It is just...you didn't have to get this Harry. I forgot your birthday as well." And she didn't think about getting him anything, though it wasn't like she could really afford too.

Harry just smiled, "It's fine Mags. Take it, after all, you and your mum helped me far more than what I deserved."

"Your my friend Harry, of course we would help you." Maggie held the bracelet in her hand before sliding it on her right wrist. Only one charm was on it so far, a silver owl.

"Thank you Harry," she whispered as she gave her a hug, "I owe you one."

"It is a gift Ma-"

"I know," she said swiftly, "I owe you one is my birthday gift to you."

Harry just rolled his eyes and they entered the Great Hall and walked their separate ways. Their friends both giving them curious looks at the different tables.

Maggie didn't mind it though, as she rubbed her owl charm, and she could tell Harry didn't either.

Another long chapter for yall. I hope you all enjoyed it! Let me know what yall think. Feedback is welcome and I'm curious to see what everyone is thinking. I hope you enjoyed the Draco and Harry interaction! Thanks for favoriting and following! Cya next time!