Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters

A/N: Yes, third book in the series. I just have to warn you guys, though, this is dramatic, kind of angsty, and some of it is slight OOC. There is still humor, joy, and of course-my character's growing sarcasm. HOORAH! Anyways basic summary of this third story: Maranda returns to Hogwarts with a few of her friends to assist different professors for the Extra Year Program I thoughtfully made up when I started writing the trilogy. Also, there is a possible discovery of finding who killed her parents. maybe.. blah blah blah...Gwen's tellin me to hurry up and write hahaha. (sing's the monster mash...it's stuck in my head)

Chapter 1: A Warm Welcome

Sunbeams glimmered down through the tree-tops as birds sang a melody of genuine happiness. Summer was almost at its end, as Autumn was chasing the warmth away with its chilling breezes and falling leaves. The Hogwarts Express gave off steam. This was two weeks before school started, but the train was making a special trip for us E.Y.P-ers.

Fantabulous. The summer had been so fantastic and fabulous. I stayed over at 'Mione's house again, and we did not spend one minute sulking. It took us a full two weeks into the vacation to realize we really had graduated. Pfft...How can graduating take that long to kick in? Easy: It just can.

Now in our train compartment, 'Mione and I stared longingly out the window as trees whizzed by. We left as students, but we were returning as teachers...Well, sort-of-teachers. Either way, it was a great feeling to think of helping students learn different potions and uses for them. I couldn't wait to step into the castle. For some reason, I felt like a new person.

A few minutes ran by when we heard a knock on our compartment door.

"Come in," Hermione said happily.

The door swung open and in came Ron and Draco. I had forgotten that Draco was going back to Hogwarts with us.

Draco sat across from me, next to Ron, and greeted us. "Hey guys! You know anyone else in our group who's going to be at Hogwarts with us?"

"You're in our group?" I teasingly asked, "Since when?"

Giving me a look of annoyance, Draco replied, "You really want to start with me this year?" I shook my head and he continued, "That's what I thought. We'll already have enough on our minds...I don't think you and I need to have shaky grounds, Maranda."

"I think Gwen is coming back," Ron piped in, "At least she told me she was going to try. Her Mum and Dad might not let her, so we won't know until we either see her or don't see her."

Now staring back out the window beseide me, I found it hard to look at Malfoy. We had hated each other, dated each other, hated each other again, and have become somewhat friends..All in two measly years. It's kind of tough speaking to the Ferret as though nothing wrong ever happened. He is the one who lied to my face and cheated on me while I was completely out of it. But..whatever.. I had to put that aside. No more time for sadness over the past that I can't fix. It's a new year with new goals. I can't let any pests, like ferrets, get in the way.

A rain drop hit the window. The sky was cluttered in greyish whisps of clouds, indicating the summer days of golden rays were soon to be gone. It was time for falling leaves, chilly breezes, long-sleeve shirts, and hot cocoa from Hagrid. Autumn wasn't here yet, but I could feel the season's changing fingers run down my spine.

Time was a snail, moving slowly and sourly by, giving me an urge to hasten it. Anticipation ate at my insides.

0o0o0o0o

The castle was lit up like a birthday cake, for all the windows glowed with acceptance and warmth. We were home.. In all its pride and glory, Hogwarts stood tall. I wanted to jump for joy..I wanted to scream wit happiness.. I wanted to get off the damned buggy. I suddenly had this odd picture of Dumbledore as a hippie in my mind. . .

Leaving the black buggy, I immediately spotted Hagrid and ran so fast, I thought my legs would fall off. Speaking no words, Hagrid noticed me, grinned, and hugged me.

"You have no idea how much I missed you!" I practically screamed.

Hermione and Ron dashed over to us. Hagrid was the official greeter at the front door of Hogwarts. He hugged us all, even me again, and asked how our summers went.

"Great," Ron chimed.

Hermione stated, "Couldn't have been better."

"Awesome," I admitted.

"That's great. I'm glad you all have had a good time. Yeh know, once yeh go in there, Dumbledore is goin' ta' announce who's workin' with who. I'm invited to the E.Y.P. dinner...Oh!" Hagrid shook his head, "I forgot to tell yeh. First, tomorrow nigth is the E.Y.P dinner officially greetin' and meetin' everyone who got in. Second, I heard there are no more than about thirteen people who got in. A lot of parents said no, a lot of students wanted to go right to college, and a lot of other people needed to go straight to work.. So many people passed, though. Oh well. Oh, another thing.. Don't get in Filch's way tonight, as he's outraged. He hates the fact that you all are comin' here early before the school session actually starts. Other than that...Welcome back!"

We yet again hugged Hagrid before entering Hogwarts. Draco somehow made his way ahead of us, for he already walked on the stairs to reach the Great Hall. I wondered why we hadn't seen anyone else yet, but Hermione mentioned that one buggy was running late, for it lost a wheel. Of all the things to go wrong in a magical land, it's a loss of wheel...How ironic.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione exclaimed as we reached the doors of the Great Hall. She was excited to be here.

I stood beside her and Ron as the doors swung open. Time to fly..

Dumbledore's voice boomed in the air, "Here are Hermione Granger, Maranda Maguire, and Ron Weasley!" The small gathering of professors and students clapped as we entered.

Our Gryffindor table we sat upon two months ago was deserted. Students were at the Slytherin table while Professors were at their professors' seats. The scene was sort of depressing, for we'd never seen the castle this empty. Hermione, Ron, and I sat next to Draco, for he was the only person we recognized at the time. The there he was... Severus Snape.. Slimy Snake, Head of Slytherin. He was sitting in his usual spot, glaring around the room. My stomach fell a few feet and my heart jumped up my throat. I had completely threw the thought of working with him out of my mind. And it was staring me in the face, making me unable to avoid it. No way out now.. I was here..

"You alright?" Ron asked me, but I couldn't answer on account of the Great Hall doors opening again.

Dumbledore's voice echoed as previously, "Here comes Melisa Knowles...Behind her is Gwenneth Thompson..Behind her is Gregory Frankson.."

"Gwen!" I shouted while clapping. Neville's sort-of-girlfriend was there too, but I didn't know the guy behind them.

Darting over to us, Gwen greeted happily. "Howdy y'all! I spent the summer in Texas..Pronounced, tay-has in Spanish. Guess what I got there?"

"What?" Draco piped up, now interested.

She pressed on, "I got...a...sunburn! Hahaha," She started to laugh as she sat next to Mione, "I'm only joking. Well, I'm not, but I got something else."

Ron looked concerned, "Are you alright? The sunburn hurt? What'd you get?"

While still chuckling, Gwen pulled a living, lime-green lizard from her pocket, "His name is King Fredrick Monopoly Watson Lionel Gregory the Third. ..Ringo for short." The lizard stuck its tongue out and we all broke out in laughter. "The sunburn is fine.. It's healing quickly." Gwen concluded with a smirk on her face.

"Why'd you bring him to Hogwarts?" Hermione wondered.

With her smile widening, Gwen answered, "I am working with Professor Handrel in Care of Magical Creatures. This is no ordinary lizard..King Fredrick Monopoly Wa-...Ringo can transport from one place to another. Also, he does anything I say."

Stepping up to the podium in front of the teacher's table, Dumbledore started a short speech. "As everyone is here now, exactly fifteen graduated students and our faculty and staff, I shall begin by welcoming everyone. You former students sitting before me have not only proven intelligence, but courage, potential, and achievement. I am proud to say you are the first class who has experienced the E.Y.P's, and I know you will all have a wonderful year. Now, I know everyone is probably questioning certain situations. For instance, you will be told where to sleep by who you work with. Everyone will have their own room next to the one they will be working in. It might be the next room over, or the room down the hall, but either way, you will be near your professor. Another topic of question is the eating arrangements. We are adjoining a few tables onto our head table behind me, where you will sit next to your professor. Any problems should be confronted, so come to me if you need aid. Now, I will call out everyone's name and who they are assisting for the year. Approach each other and they will bring you to your new rooms immediately. Tomorrow night at five p.m. sharp is a grand feast for all of us."

After that, Albus began to name off people. Hermione was called to work with McGonagal, Melisa Knowles went to Flitwick, Gwen was going with Handrel (as she said before), Draco unfortunately went with Lockhart, Ron was with Madame Hooch, and the list went on. After each pair of names were called, students and teacher met up and left the Great Hall. Pretty soon my name was called, as was Snape's. I slowly approached him with a look of nervousness on me.

"Good evening, Miss Maguire," Snape's intimidatingly mysterious voice began, "We shall adjourn to your room. The house-elves have been ordered to bring a tray of food to each person tonight for supper. As for everything else that should be mentioned, I will do so once you are a little more settled. Agreed?"

I agreed without a doubt. No way would I start instigating with Snape the first day I'm back. No flogging way. We quietly sauntered to the dungeons. I hadn't remembered how cold it was down here during the night.

Note to self: Bring sweaters.. Lots and lots of sweaters..and Mittens..And hats.. and Gloves...And more sweaters.. Oh and pants.. need pants..

I'm crazy like whoa.

We reached Snape's end of the dungeons and stopped abruptly.

"This is your room," He pointed to a door across from his classroom and continued, "It used to be a storage room where I'd store all of my extra potions and such. Now I must keep all of my belongings in my study."

I just stood there like a dummy.

"Well," Snape's voice became slightly pushy, "Go on."

Opening the wooden door, I revealed the room within. Entering it, I noticed every detail. My new bedroom/dorm was painted a dark green color, (for it was the Slytherin part of Hogwarts), had a low bed with black sheets and a black comforter, a dark brown bureau, a mirror on the left wall, and a dark green, circular floor rug over the stone floor. How plain. But it would suffice.

"Great," The sarcasm escaped without me knowing...

A glance of anger from Snape changed into a look of amusement. He mumbled, "You have no choice."

"I know, Professor," I turned to face him, "I'm just going to have to get used to all this green. I love the black, though. Who's going to bring my luggage up?"

"House-elves.." Snape backed up a bit and said, "I'm very busy tonight. If you need anything, you can ask, but if it's minor please wait for the morning. I suppose you had a good summer?"

My head nodded on its own.

A few more words were spoken, "That makes one of us.Now, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."

He turned and walked into his classroom. Let me elaborate...He turned, walked into his classroom, and left me standing in my own shock at his rudeness. Oh well.. I can't win them all.

But Snape's welcome wasn't very kind.

It just wasn't very welcome.