HERE IS THE UPDATE!!!!!

I'm sorry I've taken so long to update but I have been so busy getting ready for my high school graduation and this last weekend I had my prom so as you can imagine I have not had any time whatsoever to work on my stories.

I don't know when the next update will be but I will get it posted before July 5, which is when I leave on a trip so there will be another update before this, I promise to try!

Also one of my friends and I are creating an RPG game which is gonna be incredibly fun! Once we get all the kinks worked out I will post a link on my author page so everybody can come and join and play!

The description of our upcoming game is on my author page; go check it out!

Also I heard that I got recced at a yahoo group, that is so cool!! Next time anybody recs me can they please tell me so I can go see it? I would appreciate it!

Now on to thank my reviewers!! I've gotten so many reviews that everybody who left only a one or two sentence review is just getting their name listed in thanks because otherwise I spend inordinate amounts of time responding. So just because I do not respond to your review does not mean that I don't love you, because I do!!

Applause echo and thanks go out for:

a tad to obsessed; Benjis VIP; blackdragonofslytherin; BreetanyaViolet; Chosentwo4381; Cute-Starryeyed-Gurly; Destined Enchantress; Emerald Tigriss; Eriee; FallenAngel12; FroBoy; HecateDeMort; Incarnate; insanechildfanfic; lilvietdevilgrl; Malfoy Angel; M.E; Mistress of Hogwarts; momma-dar; Morcana; Nelum; SasquatchAmmo; ShadowQuirk; silverrowan; SnakeDynasty; Tarawen; & Vaneguard.

Responses and thanks go out to:

Bibbit: Originally I did not mean to make all their names start with B, but after I thought
of nicknames for both Ron and Harry I noticed that they both started
with that letter and thought I might as well have Hermione match so I
managed to find a name that fit.

Raven: Thank you so much for the review, it was an awesome one!!! Yes, Professor
Snape will find out, and this chapter starts to show that. I am glad
you like my characters and I hope that you will keep sending these
wonderful reviews!

solar1: I'm glad you like the story and I am planning on continuing it. I am actually
writing it to each post so it is not prewritten at all. I don't know
how many chapters I am planning yet, I think it just depends on how
the story develops and how big the time spans I skip are. As soon as
summer gets here I will probably be updating more quickly but I am
pretty good about telling people, so you will know.

Time Bomb: Here is the update, please don't flame me!!!! (authoress hides behind chair
peeking out carefully) I am very sensitive, originally I took down my
story because I got a mean flame so I removed it, but then I got a lot
of emails about putting it back up so nobody flame me or it might
disappear again!

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR REVIEWING AND KEEP THEM COMING!

NOW ONTO THE STORY (WOOHOO!!)

Chapter 9 – Time Passing, Detention, & Lullabies

The three first year students retreated back to the dorm, each holding a schedule of Slytherin practices. Ron and Hermione had been put on 2nd string and Harry had booted the current seeker out of his spot, dropping him to 2nd string as well; the sixth year was not going to be pleased.

Isis looked at the three quizzically as they flopped down on the couch in their rooms, "What isss going on my sssnake-children? Mussst I hurt sssomeone?"

Hermione laughed sharply before she sighed and replied, "We were jussst told that the three of usss are now on the Quidditch team, no possssibility of getting out of it."

The snake on the wall twisted her head to the side not understanding, "What isss wrong with that, isss that not consssidered a good thing? I thought firssst year ssstudentsss were not allowed on houssse teamsss."

Harry responded bitterly, "We were made an exception for sssince we are ssso bloody ssspecial."

Ron was the only one who didn't seem completely distraught, "It isssn't completely bad mate, jussst think, we now have an excussse to fly, not to mention the fact that it'sss hardly ever that there has been anything lessss then a third year on the team and even that isss rare."

"RON, the lassst thing we bloody need isss something that will make usss stand out more then we already do, I mean it'sss not like we are exactly on good termsss with the ressst of our houssse right now and thisss certainly isss not going to help." Hissed Hermione angrily before sinking back down into the couch and glaring at the fireplace.

The other two first years also stared into the fire wondering what was going to happen in the coming month.

Some time later

It was nearing the end of October as Harry groaned as he reentered the room greeting his two friends with a moan as he flopped onto the couch. "I swear that Flint is trying to bloody kill me!"

Hermione rubbed his hand comfortingly as Ron spoke up, "Well the first Quidditch match is coming up soon and it is against Gryffindor so obviously he just wants us to win really badly. Just think you'll be going up against my brothers!"

The raven haired teen nodded as he thought over what had been going on in the last few weeks. Classes had continued much the same with Hermione excelling in Charms, Ron in Transfiguration, and Harry in Potions.

Of course Snape was still being a great git to the three in class but lately he had been throwing the three considering and penetrating looks when he thought they wouldn't notice. His brows would furrow and he would look like he was deep in thought over some conundrum. He would then quickly shake it off if he thought that any of the three had caught him looking.

Ron had managed to rebuild bridges with his twin older brothers who still teased him unmercifully even if he was in a different house, but there seemed to be genuine concern and affection behind it. Ron just shrugged it off or responded with a cold shoulder, each time this happened Harry or Hermione would see a flash of sadness come into the twin's eyes as if they were missing something.

Ron had continued to mail back and forth mainly with Ginny but also his parents their relationship fairly well repaired after the first letter, both Harry and Hermione could clearly see that Ron was truly relieved when he heard that neither of his oldest brothers were too disturbed by the fact that Ron had been sorted into Slytherin.

Actually going off his attitude and styling of late Charlie had almost expected his youngest brother to not be sorted into the Lion's House and was not completely blindsided by his placement into the Snake's Den.

Luckily so far the three had managed to avoid Percy at all costs, they refused to let Ron really go anywhere by himself, which really wasn't that hard since where you could find one you could usually find all three.

Their friendship with Neville had continued to grow since he seemed to be so out of place in his own house just like they were in theirs. He had started tutoring them in Herbology since it was their weakest subject and they reciprocated by tutoring him in the other subjects.

Neville was not weak magically, in fact he was quite strong; the only problem was that he had no self-confidence, and because of that he had no confidence in his spells and they came out looking weak since he didn't believe in them.

So far his spells were already stronger, and they were getting closer everyday, together they were debating if they should show him their dorm, perhaps their talents as well. They had decided they should probably get to actually trust him before they disclosed too much of themselves.

As Harry glanced at the clock again he winced and stood, "I have detention with Professor Snape tonight, so don't expect me back early."

Snape always seemed to find some reason, if his potion was perfect to make sure that at least one of the three got detention everyday; it was obvious that the other houses were always stunned by this behavior since usually he so favored his house over any other.

It was quite a shock to watch him throw glares at three Slytherins, and an even greater one to watch the happiness with which he seemed to assign them detentions. With a sympathetic look from his two friends Harry walked towards the dungeon wincing at a few bruises he had managed to make reappear from Quidditch.

The one thing that Harry was thankful for was the fact that by now nearly all of the stripes on his back had closed up and merely added to the litany of scars on his body.

He scowled as he walked down the stairs towards the dungeon, it seemed no matter what he did he was intimidated by the Potions Master. His anger was just to similar to the feelings that Harry always got off his uncle right before a particularly vicious beating.

At precisely 7:59 Harry straightened himself, locked his shoulders into place and knocked on the Potions classroom door. Hearing a barked, "ENTER!" he walked inside the classroom and stood by the door looking emotionlessly at the Professor in front of him.

Snape sneered at the first year, "Well Mr. Potter, surprises of surprises you seem to be on time. Get to work, I want all those cauldrons scrubbed, the tables wiped down, and the floor cleaned!"

Snape waited for the customary gasp or protestation of the amount of work and was bitterly disappointed when Harry just nodded and immediately set to work viciously scrubbing out the horrendously dirty cauldrons.

Not one to bet deterred Snape quickly began dishing insults in his harsh and cutting tone, "Just like your father I'm sure. There was someone who never did any work, always had his flunkies do it for him. A worthless layabout through and through."

Harry snorted quietly to himself as he continued scrubbing, if this was all that Snape had the detention should be over quickly, he had heard worse from his relatives everyday of his admittedly short life.

Not at all discouraged by his lack of response Snape continued on, "Spoiled rotten and probably never done a day of work in his life. Yes, it does describe both of you perfectly, your mother would be ashamed."

Other then his hands tightening on the last cauldron he was scrubbing there was still no response from the preteen as he set it aside and turned again starting on the desks scouring his frustrations and anger out on the surface.

Having run out of scathing comments Snape contented himself with pulling out papers to grade and looking smugly over the desk at the child on the other side. An uncomfortable silence descended over the room only broken by the scratch of a quill or the grating noise of the scrubber on the desk.

After awhile Harry finished the multiple wood surfaces leaving them gleaming and without a peep of protest or complaint began working on the floor; he allowed the monotonous movements to lull him into complacency.

Because of this as he was finishing he did not feel the Potions Master approach him behind so when he heard the sharply barked, "POTTER!" he immediately cringed and shrunk in on himself as he turned keeping his head down.

"You've done a halfway adequate job, you may leave. Get out of my sight." Snape barked and watched as the suddenly shaking and pale boy sprinted from the room and down the corridor. The signs of something were there, but what was it? Could the boy possibly be...abused?

Snape tried to shake off the thought but even as he told himself that the child was merely a spoiled brat the thought lingered in the back of his mind, and refused to go away.

Harry ran as fast as he could back down the hall and burst through the portrait and into the room collapsing onto the couch. Staring into the green flames of the fire he tried to calm himself as he pulled his knees to his chest and rocked. He was so far removed he didn't even notice the double pair of arms suddenly appearing and the soft soothing hissing from three sides.

With this he found himself slipping into sleep feeling comforted by the close warmth and the soft white noise of meaningless hissing filling his ears.

Both Ron and Hermione quickly followed Harry's example falling asleep still wrapped around the other boy. Isis watched from her portrait hissing a soft lullaby as the three started to descend into Morpheus's hands.

Sssleep now, my children
no harm comesss
sssafe now in my heart.

Sssleep now, my little onesss
I will protect you from the world
For asss long asss I am able.

Sssleep now
Let no nightmaresss disturb your ssslumber
For I am here to ssscare them away.

Jussst sssleep now
When the morning comesss
All will be well.

THERE IS THE UPDATE!!! Okay now everyone must remember to review because they inspire me and make me write more!