Disclaimer: I own plot and me and anything new. But I don't own anything from J.K. Rowling.

A/N: YIPEE! Thank you ppl who actually like this story. It'll get much better trust me. Here we go-oooo by the way. I know the story mostly centers around Maranda, but that is the whole ponit. It's like a fictional biography. I will have more of the characters shown, but please don't critisize me for my work. Thank you, and have a great day. This is not supposed to be a normal fanfic about the trio (HP RW and HG) it is about the girl (Maranda) and her troubles.. It's going to get better, for I have only just begun. These things take time so please don't tell me I need more characters being shown. They will appear gradually. It is not a good writing skill to bring characters all at once. Then there is no excitment in that area and could affect the story horribly. So, if you want a rush-rush story, then don't read mine. And if you have any problems with my writing strategies then don't read this. But don't critisize me for my work. If you don't like it, then don't read it. now, on with the fic!

Chapter 3: Helping Hagrid

How did I manage to get a detention? I hadn't done anything to upset the Professor. It wasn't fair. I had been a perfect little student until Malfoy had to mess everything up. God, if he hadn't unscrewed my ink bottle...What could have happened in the day? Maybe I woudn't have gotten stuck with him in potions class. Snape just loves torturing us, doen't he? With 'Miss Maguire,' this and 'Miss Maguire,' that all yesterday and today you'd probably think I was about to pop! I'm very good at bottling in my anger, but this school is driving me bananas!

I'd like to just kick Draco and see what he does. He'd probably start calling me names. Mudblood....what kind of a name is that? Hermione told me it meant dirty blood. Well, duh! What else would mud indicate. Mud isn't clean ya know. I'm not sure if I want to go to detention though. I want to skip, but then I'll get in more trouble. Professor Snape seems to be the kind of man who is never, I mean never, satisfied.

When I think of how it used to be at my orphanage, and how it is here at this school, I figure that orphanage life was much better. At least no one bothered me. well, no one really talked to me, but I didn't care. I always sat in the corner of my room reading romance books and fantasy books. I miss that life. I've been in this Hogwarts place for two days now, and I miss my old life. Isn't that terrible? Goes to show you no matter where you are you think of home, even if it wasn't a good life. the orphanage was home after all.

"Hmmm. Miss Maguire," I hated how Snape said my name, "I see you've finally arrived. You are two minutes late. no matter, you will be helping Hagrid tonight."

Hagrid, was that the big guy who brought me here? I want a word with him.. I think I'm gonna yell at him for bringing me here.

"Are you paying attention, Miss Maguire? I said, tonight you will be helping Hagrid. You have to help him pick some turtle-weed flowers for my class tomorrow."

"Ok Professor Snape," I accepted meekly.

Getting up from his desk, Snape told me to follow him to Hagrid's hut. As I followed him, I thought to myself, as I naturally do, how in the world a big guy like Hagrid could live in such a tiny hut. If I ever get rich, I will buy him a house. I promise.

"Miss Maguire," Snape went on, "I am expecting a better attitude from you in my class for the rest of the year."

Really? Hahaha. If Malfoy behaves, maybe I will. Of course I wouldn't say this to a Professor though, I just nodded.

As we approached Hagrid's hut, Snape talked to him after he opened the door. I spaced out, thinking about ...things. I looked in the background and saw a terribly dark forest. This, of course, scared me to death. There was something I hated worse than Malfoy, which was the dark. I was deathly afraid of it for some unknown reason, and I don't think I could ever get over it.

"Well, Severus, I think we'll be fine. I wasn't expectin' her to get in trouble with you this soon though." Hagrid seemed disappointed in me.

Turning around, Snape bid Hagrid a farewell as he gave me a mean look. I should get used to those. Hagrid took a paper bag with him and told me that we'd be searching for turtle-weed flowers. He said they were green, black, and brown flowers with a speck of white on one of the petals. I have never in my life seen a green-petaled flower. I've seen brown and black though, from a drawing I created one year. The drawing consisted of a wilting black rose, hence the black and brown.

Snape walked away with his robes flowing behind him. Why doesn't he wear anything colorful? Hagrid got my attention by shoving a small paper bag in my face. He said sorry as he shut his front door and locked it. Taking a flashlight out of his pocket, Hagrid then turned it on and told me to stay close by. God, I really do hate the dark.

We began walking in the 'Forbidden Forest' and heard pleanty of scary noises. Well, they were scary to me. Hagrid said he was used to the great outdoors. Oh, they weren't as great as he made them sound.

"Hagrid," I called as I almost tripped over a dead tree branch, "Why did you bring me to this school? I've had nothing but bad luck since I got here. Especially in Professor Snape's class."

He stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at me with sympathy, "Maranda, You are a bright student. Professor Snape is just intimidated that ya' can have fun with yer' studies."

"Fun?" My attitude came back, "It isn't fun yelling with Draco all day. That lousy little leech."

"You need ta' learn how to handle 'im. If you fight fire with water you'll win."

"Fire with water? I thought it was fire with fire." I had no idea what this big guy was talking about.

He bent down to face me, "Kill with kindness...fight evil with good." He stood back up and started to walk again. I followed closely behind him.

I understood what he meant, but how could I possibly be nice to that ferret? Malfoy was such an idiot, a mean idiot anyways. I spotted one of the turtle-weed flowers and picked it up. Placing it in the bag, Hagrid thanked me for getting it. Apparently he had missed that one.

A half hour passed slower than a glacier melting. It wasn't boring working with Hagrid, but finding the same flower over and over again made me want to go burn the picture of the wilting black rose. I never knew how ugly a flower could get. Hagrid lightened up my mood though, he started to hum a Christmas song which made no sense considering it wasn't even Halloween yet. He said he was in the mood to get a tree and decorate it. Now that was funny and random.

At long last we ended our flower-finding-fun and went back to his hut. I gave him my bag and he put it inside, came back out and brought me back to the castle. I entered and sighed.

"Thanks Hagrid. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I never knew someone could be as random as I can." I laughed and he joined in.

Responding, Hagrid nodded, "Well, I hope I made yer day a little bit better. You are random by the way. I started to talk about charms class and you start to talk about unicorns. Now that is random."

"That's because we saw one and you know that!" I laughed once more before waving and saying goodnight to him. Guess he wasn't as bad as I thought.

As I went up to the Gryffindor common room, I realized that it was midnight. I never knew detention could take that long. Hmmm...If Snape thought it was punishment, he was wrong. I didn't have any ounce of a bad mood in those woods. Well, except for the darkness. I still hate the dark.

0o0o0o

Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet

When are those birds going to leave me alone? Oh, crap, time to get up! I jumped from my bed and got dressed into my usual attire. A plain t-shirt and jeans. How boring. I would have better clothes if it weren't for the orphanage. The kids there stole some of my best work. Yes, I make clothing. It's one of my other hobbies I don't really like thinking about. I just do it whenever I get time. Since I have yet to find a sewing machine, I haven't been able to make anything new. Maybe Hermione would know where to find one.

Stepping into the Great Hall for breakfast wasn't fun. Draco saw me and gave me the meanest look in the world. I sat in my seat and heard a bunch of students talking about the incedent in potions class. Oh great, more gossip about me. Well, like Hagrid said, I'll just have to fight fire with water.. Or fire with marshmallows....Or maybe those little hot dogs you roast...Mmm Mmm Mmm.. I'm hungry now.

That's why there's breakfast; For times you think of marshmallows or those little hot dogs. I really am random.

Flying Class was first with Madame Hooch. The students already had previous years with her, and they were far more advanced than I was. She seperated me from the others by making me do each year's lessong within a week until I caught up with the class. I am not a good flyer though, so it might take me longer than expected. I was only here for the third day, and I was still on the first lesson. How to levitate on your broom. It was nerve-racking having eyeballs watching your every stupid move.

Especially Draco...He laughed at me when I almost fell off of my broom. Today would be different though. I had a new attitude and was ready to fight! Just as long as I don't think of those little hot dogs. They really make me hungry.

Boarding my broom, a Nimbus 2000, I levitated in the sky and saw Malfoy whispering to the other Slytherins. I flew around in a circle and stopped as I heard Malfoy and the others chant.

Maranda Maguire,

She's not a flier,

Better watch out for ink,

As it goes higher and higher,

She messes up well,

Like she's under a spell,

Don't ever go near her,

Cause she'll bring you to Hell.

And she's under a curse,

cause she's just getting worse,

She'll end up killing us all,

we'll ride away in a hearse.

I had an idea pop in my head as I landed my broom. I stood in front of Draco and smiled. Sarcastically, I thanked him.

"Oh thank you Malfoy," I began, "What a touching song. Now all I have to do is make you one. Hmm....I'll owe you one alright? Now, If you don't mind," I continued with my sarcastic kindness, "I'm going to walk over there," I smiled and acted perky, "and finish my lesson. That is if you don't mind. Because unlike you I'm here for an education. But thank you again for that perfect song."

I lifted my head and turned on my heel. Getting on my broom again, I smiled a real smile and flew into the air, preparing myself for the next lesson.

Charms class was next, and boy oh boy did I not want to go in there. Surprisingly it went pretty well. Professor Flitwick stayed at his desk throughout the class in case any other incidents were to take place. Today we had no experiments; We read the next chapter silently in our books and answered the chapter questions afterwards. Hermione and I were the first ones done. When the bell rung again, I remembered what was next...The class I always loathed: Potions. Why must I always have his class when I am almost in a good mood?

A moldy smell came from the potions classroom as the students filed in. I sat down in my usual seat next to Hermione thinking nothing of it. Snape stood up from his desk and announced that everyone should be sitting with their partners so we can, 'Start early on the potion.' What a pain! I didn't want to sit next to Malfoy through an entire class. Without any arguments, however, every student calmly sat side-by-side to their partner as though a bomb were to go off if they were loud. well, I guess you could say Snape was a bomb; Neville Longbottom, known klutz and paranoia victim, screamed in shock when his Slytherin partner placed a tack on his seat before eville sat down. Snape's yelling seemed to bounce all over the walls as he scolded Neville for screaming. Saying nothing, Neville moved the tack and took in the angry professor's punishing voice. Lowering his head in embarassment, Neville spoke no words as professor Snape gave him a detention with Filch, the school caretaker, after supper.

Quiet as a mouse, I plopped myself into the chair next to Malfoy and took a much needed deep breath. It calmed my nerves a bit, which helped me think clearer. Of course I had no time to think while Snape spoke of what the class would be working on.

"You will be conjuring a potion," Professor Snape stood still, "which can be used as both curse and cure. It is a potion with high regards, yet may be feared by many. Altus Mentis is the potion. It creates a relaxing enviroment to the mind when imbibed, but if taken in excessive amounts, one can become ill. Some witches and wizards use this potion to drug their enemy. We, on the other hand, will only use it for curing headaches and nervousness. It is used in this school for helpful purposes only. Now, turn your books to page eighty and get started. Thanks to Miss Maguire and Hagrid who've found more than enough Turtle-weed Flower for the classes to use. Please send one person from each of your pairs and take three flowers. That means three flowers per pair of students. Now, get to work."

Draco asked me to get the three Turtle-weed flowers and bring them back. Being the 'kind' person I was, I decided to. When I arrived back at the desk, Draco was already to start our next potion together: Altus Mentis.