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"…" Speech

Bold parseltongue

italics thoughts

Chapter 7

The next morning Harry was woken up by Isis hissing in his ear. Needless to say it was not a pleasant experience.

Go away. Leave me alone, mumbled Harry, turning over and trying to get back to sleep.

Rissse and shine sssleeping beauty! You better get up right now 'cos I'm hungry and don't want to misssss breakfassst, hissed Isis, poking him with her tail. It took a bit more persuasion, but after Isis threatened to bite him, Harry decided that maybe it was time to get up. Crawling out of bed Harry stumbled to the showers. The dormitories were all massive. There were 5 four-poster beds with green and silver hangings. There were a couple of chairs and tables surrounding a fire, all green, silver and black. Harry distractedly contemplated changing the colour scheme. It got a bit monotonous after a while.

Do you have to be so wide-awake in the mornings? It's annoying as hell, grumbled Harry while Isis hummed the theme tune in 'Shreck'. The only answer Harry got was Isis doubling the volume.

You do realise you are tone deaf? asked Harry.

Nothing ssstandss in the way of a true musssician, hissed Isis, switching to the new single by the Weird Sisters. Rolling his eyes Harry made his way up to the common room. Looking blearily around Harry saw that Draco was already there.

"Finally! I've been waiting for you for an age. Hurry, or we're going to be late for breakfast," said Draco and they set off. By following an older student they managed to make it to the great hall without getting lost, which Harry felt to be an amazing achievement. Slipping into a seat next to Louisa Feral, Harry began eating his breakfast, still half asleep and wincing at the any loud noises. A short while later Blaise Zabini bounced in and grinned round at everybody.

"Good morning!" she said cheerily. "I am so excited. Our first day of school!"

"Oh Merlin, not you too! Why is everyone so hyperactive in the mornings?" groaned Harry.

"I've got some bad news for you my friend," drawled Draco. "We're not hyperactive; you're just not a morning person. Honestly, I've seen slimy things living under rocks with more energy than you."

"Hey! I'll be fine once I've had some coffee," said Harry, clutching his cup as if it were a lifesaver. Just then a Prefect came by with their timetables. Grabbing a last piece of toast Draco, Harry and Blaise decided to leave so as to get to their first lesson, charms, on time. Whispers followed Harry all through the school. It was decidedly unnerving. Thankfully they soon reached their classroom and went inside. It wasn't only the students that stared at him though, but the teachers as well. Professor Flitwick, the charms teacher, fell off his chair when he reached Harry's name in the register. Harry had a sneaky suspicion that he was Flitwick's new favourite student, as when he 'accidentally' levitated Weasley to the ceiling instead of his feather, all Flitwick did was give Slytherin 10 points for such a powerful charm. Unfortunately, his fame didn't always work in his favour. Professor McGonagall acted very cold towards Harry and didn't give him any points, even when he was the only one who successfully transfigured his matchstick into a needle. Most of the other teachers treated him as they did other students, though they were stricter on Slytherins in general. The one lesson that all the Slytherins were looking forward to was Potions. And Harry had to say, it definitely lived up to his expectations. Snape, like Flitwick, started the lesson by taking the register but didn't pause by Harry's name. After he had given his 'welcome' speech he said,

"Potter, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Immediately a bushy haired girl's hand shot up so fast Harry was surprised it wasn't burnt by air friction. Harry wasn't actually completely sure of the answer but in his view, confidence is everything, so he smirked and replied,

"It makes a sleeping draught so powerful that it is known as the draught of living death, sir."

Snape nodded and said in an approving voice, "Glad to see you've opened a book before coming here. Five points to Slytherin." Then, reverting to his normal sneering tone of voice, he said, "Weasley, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"I don't know," replied Weasley, while the bushy haired girl practically stood up in her seat waving her hand in the air.

"Five points from Gryffindor," sneered Snape. "Now let's try again. What's the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"

"How should I know!" said Weasley, angrily.

"Temper, temper. That's another five points you've lost for Gryffindor," replied Snape with relish. Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the lesson continued. Snape swept through the room praising the Slytherins, especially Draco and Harry, and taking points off the Gryffindors if they so much as moved wrong. By the end of the lesson the Gryffindors had lost thirty-five points while the Slytherins had gained fifteen and were almost in hysterics with laughter. Watching Snape mete out insults was a lesson all in itself. He seemed to have honed his skills over the years so that now one glare was enough to quell even the most boisterous student. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to have a lasting effect because as soon as the lesson ended Ron Weasley caught up with Harry and angrily started complaining.

"You think you're so great just 'cos you're famous. Your parents are probably turning in their graves at the thought of you in Slytherin, you traitor!" He probably would have continued if Harry hadn't interrupted.

"For your information, Weasley, my mother was a Slytherin," said Harry in a dangerous voice. "I'd keep a low profile if I were you. Don't want people knowing my shoes cost more than your entire wardrobe." With that Harry swept off, but not before he turned the weasels hair bright green with silver stripes. Growling in frustration and embarrassment, Ron Weasley slouched off towards his next class, amidst the laughter of the watching Slytherins. Just then, the Weasley twins turned up.

"Cool prank," said George.

"Maybe ickle Ronniekins won't be so insufferable from now on," grinned Fred.

"Doubt it though."

"So how are you doing?" asked Fred.

"Alright I suppose. I love it in Slytherin," replied Harry, wanting to see what their reaction would be.

"Rather you than me," said Fred conspiratorially. "It shocked us all I tell you."

"Anyway, we gotta go. Lee Jordan reckons he found a new secret passage way. See you round." They left, probably to create havoc and mayhem somewhere else in the castle.

Harry was actually quite pleased that the twins were still talking to him. Yeah, they were Gryffindors and all, but they were still fun.

A/N Whew! Another chapter done. This will be the last one till Christmas. Hope you like it. Thanks to all my reviewers. Especially my faithful ones such as Athena-Kitty and Mars Moon Star. I love you! If you have any questions or problems with my story just send me an email or review. Anyway, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Akuma-sama: Thanks for the review. Constructive criticism is always welcome! I'm really sorry for stealing your name. It was not intentional. I hadn't read your story at that point. (Though I have now and I really like it) I'll try to call her Isis most of the time, though if you want I'll just change her name completely. Just tell me in a review.