I find out today we have double potions with the Slytherins. I just repeat to myself that not all Slytherins are evil. My dad was right when he told me that is a hard fact to remember, with all the prejudice around here against them. It's just easier to get on the Hogwarts express and agree with them. But I know I have to be against it. It isn't fair to the Slytherins, they didn't ask to be treated badly.

"I wish McGonagall favoured us." Ron says, at breakfast.

I think about it and McGonagall seems to be one of a few fair teachers. There doesn't seem to be many. I think Snape is just trying to even out the odd for his snakes. He is also trying to boost their confidence that they are not always evil.

All the owls come in and Hedwig comes in holding two letters. I know one is from mom and dad. The other I tear open quickly.

Dear Harry,

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 Hedwig.

Hagrid

I know he felt protective of me since he found me as a baby. He would stop by often to visit and have a cuppa with mom and dad.

I scribble back Yes, please, see you later. On the back of the note. We all make our way to the dungeons. Ron sits beside me quickly before Hermione or Neville get the chance, so they sit together right behind us. I notice the Slytherins sat on one side of the room and Gryffindors sat on the other. Snape comes bursting in the room

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making." He says pausing when he gets to my desk then keeps walking to the front. He seems to have a gift for keeping the whole class silent a lot like Professor McGonagall. "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." He pauses to look around the class. "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."

Annmarie was right his speech was by far the best. I just hope she has taught me enough to do well in this class. I really do enjoy potion making with her. Usually it's just Draco, Her and I brewing. The others aren't as interested. Hermione was sitting at the edge of her seat. I told her not to wave her hand around in the air in this class. Annmarie says Snape doesn't like that kind of behaviour. He finds it foolish. Ron looked at me with raised eyebrows. He will probably be the one that screws me up.

"Potter." Snap suddenly calls out. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"I believe draught of the living death, sir." I say trying to be respectful.

Annmarie taught me to always have a healthy amount of respect for my teachers. They could teach me more then I can imagine.

He nods and continues "Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"The stomach of a goat?" I ask hoping I am right.

Hermione looks proud of me. Ron looks like a proud peacock right about now. Not that he has done anything.

"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape asks.

"That is a trick question, sir. They are the same plant also know as Aconite." I tell him knowing that confidently.

"It seems Annmarie has not let you come to my class knowing nothing." He says he turns to the rest of that class. "Why aren't you writing this down?" Everyone scrambles to get out their quills and parchment and start writing.

We then get split up into pairs to brew a potion to cure boils. I have done this a few times with mom. She went through all the potions I would learn for the next few years with me. Saying that I never know when I will need a potion. She thinks they are far superior to spells. I see that Snape thinks the same way. I do my potion a little differently then the instructions. I wrote little notes in my potions textbook that mom told me while we were brewing. I know the Slytherins of my group will have perfect potions as well. Snape keeps praising Draco. I know he is his godfather, but it's getting to be a bit much.

Neville and Hermione's potion seems to be just as good as mine. It's good to see that Neville did learn from Annmarie. She really is an amazing teacher. There is a loud hissing noise. And Seamus's cauldron begins to melt. The class stands on their stools to protect their feet.

"Idiot boy!" Snarls Snape while red angry boils appear on Seamus's arms and legs. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" He waves his hand, and the potion vanishes.

I do love that magic. Mom never vanished it away just to an unbreakable jar. That way we can study what went wrong and fix our mistakes. She says it's the best way to learn. It's how her parents taught her. "Take him up to the hospital wing." Snap spat at Neville. Ron makes a noise, and he turns on him. I know better then to make a noise when he is like this. "You, Weasley, 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 a point lost for Gryffindor." Ron opened his mouth to argue but I kicked him to get him to shut it.

"Can I come meet Hagrid with you?" Ron asks when class ends.

"I guess you can." I say a little unsure. We leave the castle and make our way to Hagrid's hut. I knock on the door and hear frantic scrambling inside. I hear barking then Hagrid yell. "Back, Fang, back."

Hagrid face appears in the crack as he pulls open the door. "Hang on," he says. "Back, Fang."

He lets us in holding on to an enormous black dog's collar. "Make yourselves at home." Hagrid says.

Letting Fang go. Fang goes straight for Ron and starts to lick his ears. There is only one room in his hut. It is exactly as big as it looks on the outside.

"This is Ron," Harry introduces.

"Another Weasley, eh?" Hagrid says glancing at him. "I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest." Hagrid pours tea and puts some rock cakes on to our plates.

Ron takes a bite and almost breaks his teeth. I just pretend to enjoy them. Sirius mentioned that Hagrid has good intentions, but his cooking is a little lacking. We tell him all about our first lessons.

"How is Neville?" Hagrid asks.

"Neville is good. The potion set Annmarie got him for his Hogwarts letter gift really helped out. All the lessons that she had Sirius give us and that she gave us were really helpful." I tell him. Dad sent a letter saying that mom forgot to add that into the letter.

"Getting your Hogwarts letter gift?" Ron asks.

"Yeah, when Neville and I got our Hogwarts letters we got gifts." I say not telling him about the rest of the gifts they gave out to the Slytherin's. I also didn't tell him that they sent one to Hermione today. "I also got my sorting gift. They said next good seeker broom that comes out they will get it for me. I'm so excited."

"You get a new broom? When did they say that?" Ron asks eyes wide open.

"Today, for being sorted we get a gift." I tell him.

"If you were sorted into Slytherin I bet you wouldn't get as good as a gift." Ron says.

"Ron there are good Slytherins." Hagrid says.

"I will have you know my godmother is a Slytherin. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Her and Sirius both said it doesn't matter what house you are sorted in. You will receive the same gift." I tell him a little upset as his thinking. He pouts.

"I heard Annmarie will be coming up to deliver two gifts to Hermione." Hagrid says innocently.

"What!?" Ron exclaims. "The bushy haired know it all gets a gift, but I don't?"

"She already got her gifts. She got one in the great hall yesterday. But I didn't decide that Ron. My godmother did. I told them about Hermione, but it was up to my godmother on what she did with the information." I tell him stretching the truth a bit.

I knew telling them about Hermione would lead her to taking Hermione under her wing. I told her that Hermione was a muggleborn and very eager to learn. I know mom will go a little crazy with her gifts.

"Yeah, it's your Slytherin godmother's fault. I get it now." Ron says rudely.

I look at Hagrid realizing that bringing him here was a bad idea. Hagrid changes the topic to Ron's brother Charlie the dragon tamer. Ron tells stories to Hagrid. I pick up a cut of the Daily Prophet and read it.

Gringotts break-in latest.

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31st July, widely believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown.

Gringotts's goblins today insisted that nothing has been taken. The vault that was search had been in fact emptied that 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 spokes goblin this afternoon.

I wonder if this is the task that Hagrid was telling me about earlier. Its surprising that it was robbed on my birthday. Mom and dad made the day so much fun. I wonder what dad would know. I will have to remember to ask tonight.

We head back up to the castle for dinner. We took some rock cakes, but I know I'll throw mine out when we get back to our common rooms.

I have to find out what Hagrid is hiding. I would bet that it has something to do with the third floor being blocked off. I finish up dinner quickly racing to go mirror my mom and dad. Neville follows me, probably wanting to speak to them as well. I pull out my mirror and say Sirius.

"Hey pup. How was your day, today?" He asks cheerfully.

"It was good. I had double potions today. Neville is here as well." I say showing Neville's face.

"Hi Neville, how was your potions class?" Sirius asks knowing that he has more difficulties with the class.

"They actually went surprisingly well for me. One of the other Gryffindors melted their cauldrons, so it was nice to not have the heat on me." Neville tells him.

"That's amazing to hear." I hear mom in the background.

"Harry! What's Hogwarts like?" I hear Sal in the background.

"I'll write you all about it in a letter." I say chuckling.

I see Carina's head pop into the mirror with dad.

"Hi Harry, I miss you." She says sweetly.

"Miss you too Carrie. I'll be home before you know it." I tell her.

"You better." She says then disappears I watch as dad grabs and pulls mom onto his lap into the mirror picture.

"Did you speak to Hagrid?" She asks.

"Not really. He did have an article about a break in at Gringotts on my birthday. Remember on my birthday Hagrid said that he stopped by Gringotts for something for Dumbledore." I tell her.

"I do remember that. This will be a disaster for the goblins. I also remember reading that article." She says

"Why is it a disaster for the goblins?" I ask mom and dad.

"Because there are a lot of old families with lots of precious items and gold stored in there. If there is a chance it can be stolen. They will have a lot of angry wizards on their backs." Dad explains.

"Would the goblins say if anything was missing?" I ask her.

"No, but if something was taken, they wouldn't lie and say the vault was emptied." Dad says.

"I guess that makes sense." I say.

"You found out anything about the third corridor?" Mom asks.

"No, no one is talking about it." I say.

"Well, off to bed you two. You both need to study, do your homework then get sleep." Mom says.

"Yeah, I guess." I say unsure.

"Next time make sure Hermione is here. I want to actually meet her." Mom says.

"I'll make sure of it, Annmarie." Neville promises.

We say our goodnights and end the mirror call. Neville and I head downstairs to do homework for a little while with Hermione.