Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. ;)

This is my first ever story here on FF.net! I hope you all like it! Please R&R. :D

Chapter 1

"Harry!" hissed Hermione, poking Harry in the arm. "Harry, snap out of it!"

"Wh-what?" said Harry with a jerk. He had been daydreaming about his godfather again. This time, he'd dreamt he was lying beside the Great Lake with a teenage Sirius. It was a nice, sunny afternoon, and students were seen frolicking out on the school grounds, enjoying the end of exams. Harry and Sirius were on the grass, gazing up at the clouds, taking in the fresh air and the soft swishing sound of waves in the lake, discussing their plans for the summer.

"So, how about you come over to stay at my house this summer, and we can spend weekends surfing at the beach?" said the young, handsome Sirius, running his fingers through his smooth, black hair.

"Sounds great to me," grinned Harry. "I'm not great in the water, but who knows? I might come across some cute girls while I brush up on my surfing…"

Sirius chortled. "Well, you won't be the only one, I can guarantee that!"

The two boys chuckled gaily, then fell silent, enjoying the soothing sounds pervading the atmosphere. Suddenly, Harry felt a poke in his arm, followed by a female voice in his ear saying, "Harry, wake up!"

"Wh-what?" said Harry dazedly. Before he knew it, he was back in his Potions classroom, chin in his hand and his cauldron steaming alarmingly.

"Harry!" Hermione repeated. "You've neglected your Melting Potion!"

"Oh, no…" Harry said helplessly, getting up and watching as the sticky liquid oozed out of the cauldron and onto the floor. On impulse, he turned and tried to block his cauldron from Professor Snape's view, but it was impossible to do so, for several Slytherins were already pointing and sneering at his mess.

"C'mon, mate," Ron said hastily. "We'd better try to wipe this mess out before--"

"POTTER!" Snape yelled. "What the hell have you done now?!" With a swish of his cloak, Snape got out of his chair and flew to Harry's cauldron.

"I'm--I'm sorry--Professor," Harry stuttered. "I--"

"This has gotten out of hand, Potter!" Snape said, ignoring the Slytherins' jeers. "You have been performing ten times worse than you normally do now that you are in your sixth year, something I'd never have thought possible given your already despicable performance during the past five years you've spent in this school!"

The Slytherins smirked and sneered. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched helplessly as Harry's Melting Potion ran through his cauldron, melting it, spreading across the floor. By the time the cauldron was no more, the potion had run across the entire length of the room, melting table legs and ingredient jars. The Slytherins broke into peals of laughter.

Snape was livid. "SILENCE!" he cried. The Slytherins stopped laughing, and the whole room fell silent. Snape stared disgustedly at Harry and looked down at him from the top of his crooked nose.

"It seems any hope of you improving in my class has vanished, Potter," whispered Snape, although Harry was sure his every word was audible throughout the classroom. "It also seems like no amount of detention or persuasion will be enough to make you get what I'm trying to teach you into your big fat head."

A few meters away, Draco Malfoy and his goons, Crabbe and Goyle, sniggered as they stood still, enjoying one of their favorite past-times at Hogwarts: seeing Harry get scolded by his most loathed teacher.

"I think I've endured enough of your stupidity," Snape continued, the coldest and most dangerous glint in his black eyes. "I want you to get out of my classroom."

Harry gaped at him, trying to absorb the full effect of Snape's words.

"YOU HEARD ME!" Snape spat. "YOU'RE HOPELESS, POTTER! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU IN THIS CLASSROOM EVER AGAIN! GET--OUT--NOW!"

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He wanted to say something; he wanted to defend himself, but he knew the only thing he could do was to leave and spare himself further humiliation. Sensing every pair of eyes in the room focused on him, he turned and glanced miserably at Ron and Hermione, who gazed back at him woefully, as he marched miserably across the room and out the door to the dungeons.