Waking up I put on my uniform and Neville, and I head down to the common room. Hermione is there sitting on the couch reading a book.

"Morning Hermione," I greet.

"Good morning," Neville greets her as well.

"Morning, are you ready to go eat breakfast?" She asks

We both nod and shuffle our way down to the great hall. All the way I can hear whispers about me up and down the halls. People were all staring at me. We get to the great hall. It feels like it took forever. We all sit down, and I drop my head to the table with a thud.

"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asks concerned.

"Harry is largely sheltered from the whispers and stares with his parents. He gets uncomfortable in the spotlight so his parents don't let that happen where he can hear." Neville explains.

"How do his parents do that?" Hermione asks.

"The Blacks are a very well-known family. They are one of the if not the oldest families. If the say jump, you say how high." I tell her, lifting my head and starting to dish up food. I know I wont have another opportunity till lunch. I grab myself some eggs and toast. Just as we finish up Ron Weasley runs in and sits in front of me.

"Hey guys, why didn't you wait for me?" He asks stuffing his face with food.

"Because we wanted to taste our food." I say to him.

Hundreds of owls streamed in carrying packages of all sizes. I notice mom's pure black owl come in carrying a small package. I know she put a release that will bring it to size when you untie it from Ares. I quickly untie it from Ares, and it sizes into a big box. I open it and see 3 smaller boxes with names on it. One for Neville, Hermione, and myself. I hand them out. Hermione give me a confused look.

"I told mom and dad about you last night." I say. "It's tradition in Slytherin that after being sorted you get a gift of some sort showing pride in the house you got. Mom and dad would have been proud no matter what house, but mom wanted to keep the tradition alive."

"Why didn't I get one?" Ron whines.

"Because you have a family that can send you one." Neville says

"Then why did they send you one?" He asks Neville.

"Mom worked it out with his grandmother I imagine." Harry says.

"Harry, you go first." Hermione says.

I open it up and see a whole bunch of sweets. Chocolate frogs, Bertie botts beans, sugar quills, chocolate bars, cauldron cakes and so much more.

"Definitely Remus's contribution." Neville says with a chuckle

"Remus?" Hermione asks.

"Yeah, he is my dad and Sirius's best friend. He lives with us. Helps mom with all the teaching. He was our tutor growing up." I explain.

I pull out a potions book with modifications. It has a note stuck to it. Saying you forgot this.

"You forgot your potions book?" Neville asks.

"Apparently. Good thing mom sent it." Harry says.

I pull out a Gryffindor quidditch jersey out. I read the back it says potter. Its a bit big and looks worn.

"Potter? But you aren't on the team yet." Ron says confused.

I pull the note out and read it out loud.

"Harry,

These last 10 years have been amazing having you in our home. We have had amazing and great adventures and your dad, and I are so excited to have many more.

You getting into Gryffindor wasn't a shock for either one of us. (Even though I was secretly hoping for Slytherin -mom) You will thrive there.

The sweets were from Remus. He didn't want you to forget all the things he has taught you.

Your potions book was obviously from myself. Didn't want you to get in trouble on your first day. Remember Sev is still in hiding, so don't take anything he says to heart. Pay attention to his teachings and be smart about your decisions. Remember the front page of the prophet test.

Lastly, the jersey. Now your jersey. Your dad wanted to include something from when we went to Hogwarts. You dad (James) wore this jersey before he became captain in his last year. Your dad and I hope you wear it and feel closer to your parents.

Good luck, study hard and have fun.

Love,

Mom (Annmarie) and Dad (Sirius)"

I take a deep breath trying to hold back the tears.

"Wow, I wonder what they gave me?" Neville says. "Bet they got me a textbook." Neville and I both laugh.

"Naw, they definitely got you something else," I say still chuckling glad for the distraction.

Neville opens his next and pulls out his candy, first. A cloak, and a wand holster.

He reads the note out loud.

"Neville,

You have been a great addition to our family. Even though you don't live with us full time we always appreciate when you come. We were surprised at all that you got into Gryffindor with you having the heart of a lion.

The candy is Remus's gift to you to remind you that you are stronger then your fears and that bravery isn't the absence of fear but doing what needs to be done despite the fear.

Your cloak, well you forgot it at the house. I would recommend you put it on. Your grandmother wanted us to include your remembrall, but I won't include such a dastardly toy.

The wand holster was a little harder to get our hands on. Sirius was able to find it in an evidence box. It was your fathers; he never took it off. We wanted you to have it to feel close to him.

Next time we see you we will get it resized and get you a new wand. Your father's wand deserves to be with him, and you deserve your own. You will find having your own wand will make your spells much easier.

Good luck, stay safe and be brave.

Love,

Sirius and Annmarie"

"Why did she put her name last and why are you using your dad's wand? " Hermione asks confused.

"On my letters she only puts her name first when she writes them. But on others letters its appropriate to put your husband's name first." I explain.

"That's barbaric." Hermione says offended.

"The wizarding world is a little behind the muggle world." Neville says.

"What does she mean by doesn't work as well. I use Charlie's wand and it works fine." Ron butts in.

"Yes, but it wouldn't work as well as your own." Neville says. "My grandmother wants me to use my dad's because she wants me to be like him. Annmarie is very adamant that I will be my own wizard."

"Good, she shouldn't expect you to be any different." Hermione says.

Ron pouts. "Can't she get me my own wand?" He asks

"No, you have your own parents to buy you a wand. And mom has never met you." I tell him.

He continues to pout.

Hermione decides to open her gift. She pulls out a big bag of Candy. It looks to be bigger then mine and Neville's. A book and a Gryffindor jersey with the name Black on the back. She reads her note out loud.

"Hermione,

I know we have never met, but with your parents being muggles we didn't want you to feel left out if you didn't get anything this morning. First morning is all about celebrating the house you got into. So, congratulations on getting Gryffindor. We do hope Hogwarts is everything you imagined and more. Over the yule holidays you are more then welcome to spend the holiday here. Feel free to use one of our owls if you need to send a letter to your parents.

We all decided to send you candy so you can pick a favourite. Remus tried to include as much variety as he could find. Hopefully you are able to pick a favourite.

Next would be the Etiquette book for witches. I read this book as a child to learn my etiquette, hopefully you find this as informative as I did.

Sirius decided to include his Gryffindor jersey as the something from our years. I thought it would help you fit in and find a place. The Black name also still holds some sway I believe as well.

Last thing, well, two things. The first is ask Harry for his copy of Hogwarts a history and turn to page 1486 that should have something you would desire on it. Somewhere for you to study in silence.

This is the actual last thing is that Sirius and I will keep an eye out for a nice small owl that is discreet enough to be in muggle areas for your parents to be able to send you letters.

Good luck, stay safe and don't study too hard.

Love,

Sirius and Annmarie"

"Mom said they would look for an owl for your parents last night." I tell her.

"She seems really nice." Hermione finally says coming out of her shock. "You seem to have been raised in an amazing and loving home."

"Yeah, I did get pretty lucky. I was never lonely. Even with my little brothers and little sister, it was nice to have people my own age around." I say with a smile. "They always knew what to say and do."

"Their home is so inviting to all people or any house or blood. They never cared." Neville says. "The only reason she sent all the stuff she did was, so you got to catch up on everything we all learned in childhood. Other then that she doesn't care that your muggleborn."

Hermione smiles brightly.

"Well, I can't wait to meet them," she says excitedly.

Professor McGonagall hands out our timetables for the year and we head to our first class.

The classes are exactly like mom and dad described. Like its written in the book there is a hundred and forty-two staircases. I counted to see if they were correct. I lent the book to Hermione. Mom gave her the page number that had a map and directions to Rowena's study. So, any off time she spends there. Neville and I will join her sometimes when we need to study.

On Wednesday nights, at midnight, we have Astronomy. Dad would take us out before we went to school and show us the stars and constellations. He said most Blacks are named after stars or constellations, so it's important to know them. Salazar is the only one to break that tradition. He's named after mom's ancestors and one of the Hogwarts founders.

Three times a week we have herbology. That's Neville's favourite subject. We have a nice big greenhouse at the house for Neville. I know he misses it. I know ducky, the house elf, is more then happy to look after it though.

History of magic is so boring after you get over the fact that a ghost teaches it. In my book it says he was sleeping in front of the fire one night. Got up the next morning to teach and left his body behind.

Professor Flitwick has to stand on a stack of books to see over his desk. He is our charms professor. Mom said he was also a master dueler. It would be cool to see that.

Professor McGonagall our head of house teaches us transfiguration. In my book it says she is strict, fair, but has a great sense of humour. She is also very clever.

When she was explaining the class she turned her desk into a pig, then back again with ease. But we aren't doing that any time soon. My mom told me that this is her speech every year. She said to be ready for Professor Snape's speech. We are trying to turn a match into a needle. It was surprisingly difficult. Mom and dad even made it look easy. Hermione made hers go silver and pointy. I could only get mine to go silver.

Defense against the dark arts well, I was looking forward to it with the way mom and dad were talking. But, professor Quirrell is strange and the class is a joke. He should not be teaching defense. He wears a turban, and it has a funny odour coming from it, the classroom smells like garlic. I know mom and dad will catch Neville, Hermione, and I up in our defence over the holidays. So, then we do well on our OWLs and NEWTs. But, it's still disappointing.

So far, I think my time at Hogwarts will be nothing if not interesting.

Ron Weasley doesn't seem that bright. He doesn't seem to take his studies seriously, at all and it seems like his parents didn't teach him anything before he came to the school. We are supposed to be teaching the muggleborns how to live in the magical world, but he can barely live in the magical world himself.