A/N: The seventh chapter! w00t! I hope you are all enjoying this story!

Chapter Seven

"What on earth are house points?" Laurie asked Ron when class was finished. "Oh, well, at the end of this school year, Dumbledore awards the house with the most house points with something called 'The house cup.' You get points by doing something good, and lose points for doing something bad." Ron explained while they both walked out of the Dungeons.

"Broden, stay back so we may discuss detention." Laurie looked longfully at Ron as if she wanted him to help her get out of detention, but he just walked away and joined Hermione and Harry.

Laurie walked in the common room after classes feeling very irritated.

"What is Snape making you do?" Ron asked while playing a game of wizarding chess with Harry. "He's making me clean the trophies in the trophy room. Honestly, I never knew Hogwarts gave out so many awards!" Laurie said, while sitting down beside Hermione on the couch.

"Without magic? That's a classic. One of Snape's favorite ways to punish people." Harry said, while his pawn was being crushed by Ron's knight. "Speaking of Snape, I noticed he seemed to almost want to get you in trouble. I mean, he made it seem like a crime just knowing you!" Laurie said.

"Yeah, Snape particularly dislikes Harry. We think it's because Harry's dad and Snape were enemies in their school years." Hermione said knowledgably.

"Hmmm....do they still hate each other?" Laurie asked Harry. "Both my parents are...er...dead. They were killed by Voldemort." Ron and Hermione winced when Harry said that. "My parents are dead too. Who is Voldemort?" They winced again.

"We would prefer if you didn't say his name." Ron said, shuddering. "Alright, who is you-know-who?" Laurie asked impaciently. "He's a dark wizard. I mean, really dark. He killed a lot of people. Powerful wizard, he was. Harry here was the only wizard alive who survived he-who-must-not-be-named's curse." Hermione said, relaxing a little.

"Seriously? Wicked!" Laurie said excitedly. "Er...yeah...." Harry said, uncomfortably pushing his hair on his forehead. "He has a scar from you-know-who on his forehead, he doesn't like people staring at it all the time." Hermione whispered to Laurie. "I think I'll get to Charms class early Harry said, and walked up the boy's spiral staricase. "Me too." Ron said.

They picked up their bags and walked out of the portrait hole. Laurie went to her dormatory to get her watch, which she forgot last time she was there.. When she got inside, there was a beautiful owl sitting on her bed. "Whoa!" Laurie yelled. Laurie tried to shoo away the owl, but it merrily flew back to Laurie's bed.

Hermione came in and saw Laurie. "Oh, honestly, owls is the way us witches and wizards carry mail out. They are very reliable. Hermione walked over and untied some parchment from the owl's leg. She threw the piece of parchment to Laurie and stroked the owl while Laurie read the letter out loud.

Dear Miss L. Broden,
As Professor Dumbledore has kindly reminded me that I forgot to buy you an owl when we were at Diagon Alley. This one here is now yours. You may name it whatever you want, but as soon as you name it, it won't respond to anything but the name you have already givin it. I'm sure you will find her quite useful.

Sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall

"Wicked!" Laurie said, looking more closly at the pretty owl. "Oh, will you please stop saying that? It's getting on my nerves." Laurie glared at Hermione. "Wicked, wicked, wicked, wicked...." Hermione stuffed her fingers in her ears and ran out the door humming loudly. Laurie sat down on her bed and gazed at the owl again. It was brown with golden specks on her feathers. "Your name should start with an 'H'. Hmm...let's see....Oh, I know! Hazel! Hmmm...or maybe Holly....or Hope! Nah...Hope isn't a bird's name...I like Hazel...ok, Hazel, that's your name." Laurie said to the owl.

The owl nipped Laurie's finger affectionatly and flew over to a cage on Laurie's dresser. "How did that cage get here?" Laurie thought, "McGonagall must have sent it with the owl." Laurie shut Hazel in her cage and picked up her watch. "We don't need a book for Charms, do we?" Laurie asked herself. "No, we don't." said a voice behind Laurie that made her jump. "You frightened me!" Laurie said to Lavender.

Lavender didn't seem to care, because she continued rummaging through her dresser as though Laurie wasn't there. "Lose something?" Laurie asked. Lavender glared at Laurie. "I didn't lose it. I simply misplaced it. There's a difference. you know." Lavender said and continued to look through her dresser. "Er...right. I'm gonna be late for class...." Laurie egded her way out of the room so as not to disturb Lavender. She found that neither Ron, Hermione, or Harry had waited for her. Laurie sighed and descended down the stairs.

A/N: This is my second update today! I hope you like it.