As much as I love the books, I regret to say that all of Harry Potter belongs to J K Rowling. This includes all of the characters except for Ryua (who's mine) most of the places, and an awful lot of the spells. Oh, and if you see something that looks like one of your stories, I'm really, really sorry. I don't mean to plagiarize. I've just read a lot of really cool fanfics, and they melt into my brain, but I'll try not to use any of it.

The First Week

Ryua woke up the first day of term curled up on her bed, tired, stiff, but resigned. Apparently, her dorm mates were the type to sleep in as long as possible, so Ryua got their lavatory to herself. She scrubbed her face to get rid of the tracks her tears had left last night, and combed her tangled hair back into its normal silvery cascade. One thing living with her family had taught Ryua, she was very good at taking a terrible lot and living with it. She was quite good at repressing things like regret and pain, and was likely to add hope to the list now. Showing emotions like that on your sleeve just got you hurt. If you look weak, people hurt you. If you hope for things, people hurt you. If you can't keep up with the present, people hurt you. It was better to act as haughty and proud as her mother was always urging. No one interfered with someone in control.

She strode back into her dorm room, snapping "Wake up! We've got classes today, dears." While the other two were in the lavatory, Ryua had the dorm to herself, so she took her time adjusting her robes and strode out of the girls' dorm corridor before the others were even fully dressed.

More in control of her senses this morning, Ryua surveyed her common room. It was just as dark as last night, it being in the dungeons and therefore lit only by the green lights and fireplace. She saw several low tables made of some dark, polished wood, and carved chairs made of the same material. I'll have to find a cushioning charm for those, she thought to herself. Even dark and forbidding as it was, it was luxurious, like the den of a deadly snake. The thought gave her a small sense of comfort. She liked snakes, their beautiful coils, intricate colors and scales, and incredible strength and sleekness all combining into a masterpiece of a magnificent creature. At least the symbol of her house was a snake. There had to be something good about being in Slytherin. Well, she'd just have to concentrate on doing honor to such a noble creature.

Up in the Great Hall, Ryua soaked up some welcome sunlight. The bewitched ceiling was reflecting the beautiful morning sky, all azure blue with wisps of white clouds and the glowing orb of the sun, magically dimmed so you could look at it. As more students filed in from their common rooms, the breakfast appeared on the table. Ryua had much more of an appetite today, and put away far more food than her mother would have deemed 'ladylike'. Well too bad. Ryua wanted to eat, so eat she did.

They went to their first class, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Five minutes in, Ryua concluded she had never seen a more pathetic excuse for a wizard, including the round-faced toad-less boy who somehow had ended up in Gryffindor. Ryua reviewed the events of last night now, instead of listening to the stuttering Quirrell. Making a note to avoid the third floor corridor, she forced her attention to her teacher, who had so far said nothing useful. Luckily, the bell rang, and she swept out of the room.

Transfiguration was more interesting at least. Professor McGonnagal was strict, but Ryua could also see a smart mind who was willing to teach behind the square spectacles. By the end of class, she had a solid metal stick, the only one to come even close to transfiguring a match to a needle, and earned three points for Slytherin and a half smile from McGonnagal.

Herbology was also interesting, and even though Professor Sprout was a rather common looking witch, she knew an incredible amount about plants.

Charms was taught by a bizarre little wizard named Flitwick, who Ryua supposed would be all right, if he could actually be seen above his desk.

The first four days were much the same, two classes in the morning, two after lunch, free time for homework in the evenings. On Friday, however, Slytherin was scheduled for double Potions with Gryffindor, and a free afternoon. Now, this was her element. Ryua was fairly competent in her classes so far, but none really interested her. The moment she walked into the potions classroom in the dungeons, however, she felt the first stirrings of excitement. The Gryffindors all huddled together on one half of the room, looking absolutely terrified. Ryua mentally snorted. What were they scared of? Ah, right, this was their first time in the dungeons. When Professor Snape entered, every student fell silent as he picked up the register. He paused at Potter's name, and sneeringly asked him some advanced potions questions. When, understandably unable to answer, he suggested Snape should ask Hermione Granger, the irate professor took a point from Gryffindor and proceeded to lecture the class. Even the lectures and assigned textbook readings fascinated Ryua, although she wondered why Professor Snape seemed to detest Potter so much. Actually, her brother did too, and most of the Slytherin house followed him. Oh well.

All in all, Ryua thought as she poured over her One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and Magical Drafts and Potions in the common room, Hogwarts wasn't turning out so bad. Although she wouldn't mind some company. The Patil twins had got themselves assigned to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, and she was stuck with Pansy and Millicent for company. One was an absolute airhead, and the other looked (and acted) like an unfortunate accident between a wizard and a troll. Maybe she needed a pet. After Draco finally managed to explode Cotton the pluffskein two months ago, Ryua had suddenly run out of living creatures to talk to. She closed her books and left for the school library to see if Madame Pince had a pet catalogue