SPTEMBER FIRST GREETED NAT with excitement. She was excited for the school year because her brother will be there with her and that she can try out for quidditch. Since there were no vacancy's last year in the Slytherin Quidditch team , she couldn't try out but that's not the case this year and she was nervous about it. Anyway she was getting ready for the day when Remus yelled "NAT! ARE YOU UP!?".
"YES I AM!"
"OKAY JUST CHECKING. WE LEAVE IN HALF AN HOUR!"
With that Nat did her morning routine and went down for breakfast.
"Excited?" Remus asked her to which Nat nodded enthusiastically.
After breakfast , she went upstairs grabbed her trunk and Janet's cage and came downstairs with great difficulty. She saw Remus standing downstairs with an amused smirk who then took out his wand and waved it to leviate her trunk.
"And your doing this now why?" Nat asked her godfather with an irritated expression.
"You never asked me to! And it was fun watching you drag your trunk." He replied with the amused look not leaving him.
Nat huffed at her godfather and grabbed his hand to apparate towards platform nine and three-quarters. As she arrived at the platform she gave Remus a big hug and told him to take care of himself who also told her to have a good term and walked towards Molly who was standing a few feet away with Ginny talking to her sons.
"Ron, you've got something on your nose."
He boy tried to jerk out of the way, but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose and Nat couldn't help but giggle
"Mum – geroff." He wriggled free.
"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" said George.
'Shut up,' said Ron.
'Where's Percy?' Molly asked.
'He's coming now."
"Hey Nat!" Percy greeted her from behind already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts with a shiny red and gold badge on his chest with the letter P on it. Percy was so excited about being appointed as prefect and Nat was happy for him. Nat was pulled into a hug by Molly
"Can't stay long, Mother," Percy interrupted . "I'm up front, the Prefects have got two compartments to themselves –"
"Oh, are you a Prefect, Percy?" Fred mocked , with an air of great surprise.
"You should have said something, we had no idea."
"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said George.
'Once –'
'Or twice –'
'A minute –'
'All summer –'
'Oh, shut up,' said Percy.
Nat concealed her smiles as she didn't want to give her arch enemies that they still amused her.
"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" George asked his mother.
"Because he's a Prefect," said Molly fondly.
"All right, dear, well, have a good term – send me an owl when you get there.".
With that Molly kissed Percy on the cheek and he left after hugging her as well. Then she turned to the twins and Nat.
"Now, you three– this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've – you've blown up a toilet or –" hearing that Nat smiled.
"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet."
"Great idea though, thanks, Mum."
"Yeah. Blowing up your toilet sounds lit. Thanks Mum" Nat told Molly with a smirk etched on her face.
"It's not funny. And look after Ron." Molly instructed them.
"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us." Fred told his mum after throwing Nat a dirty look.
"Shut up," said Ron again.
"'Hey, Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?" Fred told his mother.
"'You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?"
"Wait what?" Nat asked him hearing the description he had given seemed that of her brother's.
"'Who?'" Molly asked
Ignoring her Fred continued "'Harry Potter!"
"Oh! So he is here. Thanks Fred!" Nat chirped at him giving him a smile, something she hadn't done in two years, gave Molly a hug saying that she loves her and promise to write and hugged Ginny as well before boarding the train looking for her brother.
She found him in the last compartment of the train sitting there looking out of the window.
"Harry!" She greeted grinning at her brother.
Harry gave a huge smile and hugged her.
"Want to join my friends or want to sit here and make your own?" she asked him.
"Oh! You go ahead. I'll sit here and make friends." Harry told her with a smile.
"Okay Sweetheart! Now, After we reach ,Hagrid will be waiting for you. Just follow him ok? I'll come and check in sometime. Love you!" She instructed him and gave her brother a hug before leaving the compartment in search for her friends.

She soon found Adrian, Terrance, Michael and Catherine in the Slytherin compartment and she joined them.
" Hey girl. How was summer? " Adrian asked her.
"Interesting."
"Rora's and Your brothers are joining this year right?" Terrance asked her. Nodding at him she asked "Where is Rora anyways?"
"Maybe with her brother?!" Cat suggested.
"Yeah. Maybe."
The group sat talking about a variety of topics and halfway through the Trolley Lady passed by with an assortment of candies and chocolates. Nat having a sweet tooth, brought a couple of them (because hey! who doesn't like chocolates?)
She was sitting and chatting when their compartment door opened and revealed that one person she didn't want to see. Evelyn Carrow stood infront of them with an evil smirk etched on her face.
"Well well well... if it isn't the blood-traitors. Heard your sister graduated this year? What is doing, cleaning filth? Because is she is then tell her to clean her blood." she sneered.
Before Catherine could punch her Nat interrupted loudly " Oh did you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Cat asked her.
"The sound of nobody giving a fuck on your opinion." Nat glared at the Carrow girl.
"Oh yeah! That reminds me... Evelyn." Terrance called out to her.
"I searched everywhere"
"For what?" Evelyn asked him.
"I looked through hundreds of books." he continued.
"Searched through my files"
"I even searched for my toilet."
"For what Higgs?" Evelyn asked annoyed.
"And I still couldn't find where we asked for your opinion." He told her with a harsh glare.
"He's right Evelyn. Your ass must be jealous of the shit that comes out of your mouth." Adrian completed with a satisfied smirk.
Nat snorted at their comments and looked at Carrow (who was red in her face) with an extremely satisfied smirk. God, she loved the boys!. Evelyn looked like ripe tomato that's going to burst which gave them enough and more satisfaction. She composed herself , looked at Cat directly and warned "You are just lucky that your stupid friends are here now. I doubt you can manage on your own ."
"Really. Want me to demonstrate?" Cat asked her with a cold glare, her hand lighting up on fire. Seeing the flames on Cat's hand Evelyn looked positively afraid and took a step back and left with a huff. Laughing at the scenario Nat high-fived Cat. Over the years Cat's been able to control her powers to an extent now. She doesn't easily get annoyed now which Nat thought was amazing
There were no more interruption's during the remain time and before pulling into Hogsmead Station Nat left her friends to check up on her brother. As she reached the last compartment that had her brother, she saw Ron in as well both of whom had changed into their robes and eating chocolates (So many of them actually!). Opening the door she greeted her brothers even though Ron hasn't acknowledged her for the last two years , "Hungry are we? Blimey Harry! Did they starve you again?" she asked her brother seeing the number of chocolates that were there. Harry just gave her a sheepish smile.
"I see you both are already ready. Good luck loves." She told them giving Harry a hug since Ron rejected her hug.
"Thanks sis. I hope Malfoy doesn't piss me off before I even reach Hogwarts." Harry told her.
"Malfoy? What happened here all this time?" She asked them in a motherly tone that she had learnt from Molly in her years living with them. Her brother started explaining about a blond boy who were insulting the Weasley's and offered to help him understand that some wizarding families are better than other. Hearing that itself made her blood boil. She couldn't believe that Athena had managed to shut out all those stereotypes which she was thankful for. Harry also proceeded to explain that he rejected the boy and when that happened he had insulted their parents. That literally pissed her off. No one and everyone knew that no one talks bad about her parents. She was starting to hate the boy more and more , wondering how she's going to tolerate him without ticking Athena off. 'This is going to be one hell of a year' Nat thought to herself as she heard how Scabber's who was Percy's rat and now was Ron's bit one of his goons and sent them off. She was also proud to hear what Harry did and laughed at him saying "Good Job! I knew you were a Potter. I couldn't be more proud. You do have the Sass genes then.".
Harry grinned at his sister and asked her "Who was that bloke , thinking that he is some king or something?"
"Well brother dearest, he's a Malfoy. That's what they do. They are one of the richest and proudest wizarding families who think they are above everyone. Don't let that fool you. There are some exceptions though." she explained to him hinting about Athena. " Don't worry about him. If he says something stupid one more time I'll make sure his life at Hogwarts is living hell."
By the time they finished talking (Ron still ignoring her) , the train arrived at Hogsmead and she bid her brother goodbye and left to join her friends.
In front of the carriages she saw those weird creatures again. She didn't understand why she could see them while the rest of them couldn't except maybe Cat. The girls had seen them last year, it was the same thing this year, those creatures pulling the carriages. If she had had to give them a name, she supposed he would have called them horses, though there was something reptilian about them, too. They were completely fleshless, their black coats clinging to their skeletons, of which every bone was visible. Their heads were dragonish, and their pupil-less eyes white and staring. Wings sprouted from each wither — vast, black leathery wings that looked as though they ought to belong to giant bats. Standing still and quiet in the gathering gloom, the creatures looked eerie and sinister.
Cat was petting one of them when Michael called out to them "Oh come on! Not again. Please don't tell me you both are still seeing things." in an irritated tone.
"Hey! we don't why it's only us who can see them!" Nat retorted back at him.
"Okay guys! Come on, otherwise there will be none left!" Adrian told them motioning them to get into one of the carriages.
The girls got into one with the boys and set off the carriage bumping and swaying all along the way. Finally they reached the huge oak doors of Hogwarts where they were greeted by Aurora. Seeing their bestfriend the girls ran towards her and pulled her into a tight hug!
"Rora! Finally!" The boys exclaimed .
Laughing at her friends Aurora linked arms with them and walked towards the great hall. As they walked towards the Slytherin table they saw Athena sitting with Evelyn. Nat gave the girl a small smile and a harsh glare towards the Carrow girl.
"What happened this time?" Aurora asked them sighing.
"What do you mean?" Cat asked her tearing her glaring eyes away from the Carrow girl.
"The looks your giving her , she'll probably drop dead if looks could kill" Aurora told them.
"WHO?" They asked her a bit loudly startling the people around.
"Sorry" Aurora told them and then turning to her crazy friends she said "Evelyn! Who else. You both have been glaring daggers since the time you stepped into the great hall."
With realisation in their face they started telling her the incident on the train and Aurora who was listening to them was laughing by the end. "Wow. Wish I was there to witness that." she told them.
Soon the doors opened and professor McGonagall came in with the first years. Nat was trying to catch the eye of her brother and when she finally did she gave a thumbs up and a swift wink. She saw Ron was looking at her as well looking scared, she gave him a reassuring smile which surprisingly he returned.
The sorting began with Professor McGonagall placing a stool with the sorting hat and the that burst into a song.
McGonagall started with the list and Nat did zone out for the first few until she heard
'Diggory, Chole'
Nat saw Chole walk up to the stool and placed the hat on her head but almost immediately had it off because it yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!".
Nat, Leo and half of the Hufflepuff table bursrt into applause for her.
The girls sort of zoned out for most of the sorting until again McGonagall said
"Longbottom, Neville."
Aurora was looking very excited for her brother's sorting. She was on the edge of her seat as he tumbled over like his sister as well. Nat saw the siblings exchange glances before the hat was placed on his head and covered his eyes.
The hat took a long time to decide with Neville.
When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR" Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter.
Aurora was cheering for her brother as well glaring at her fellow housemates for laughing at him. She looked positively delighted. 'Atleast Gran won't torture him.' Aurora thought to herself with a small smile.
"Malfoy, Draco"
The Hat barely touched his head unlike what had happened with Athena and yelled "SLYTHERIN!"
There weren't many people left now and Nat was waited for her bother's turn. "Moon". . . , "Nott". . . , "Parkinson". . . , then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil". . . , then "Perks, Sally-Anne". . . , and then, at last -
"Potter, Harry!"
Hearing her brother's name whispers went down the entire Hall, Some were looking at her as well but her eyes were with Harry. Their green eyes met before the hat was draped over his head.
The hat took sometime to decide just like it had did with Nat until it finally yelled
"GRYFFINDOR!"
He took off the hat and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table. Nat was so happy for her brother that she started applauding with a huge grin on her face but nothing could match the Gryffindor's cheers. Percy the got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, "We got Potter! We got Potter!" . Chuckling at them Nat settled down giving her brother a huge grin which he returned.
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table and looking at Nat when he realised something.
His sister was in Slytherin!
His face turned to that of deep thought as it was processing that his sister was in the same house as Malfoy, the house of Voldermort which Ron had told him. It was Slytherin he didn't want to get into and yet there his sister was laughing with her friends and glancing at him sometimes. He didn't know what to even think. Maybe not everyone is evil. His sister wouldn't hurt him and he knew that and that was enough for him. She was his family and she loved him which he knew. So he decided that she's still his sister and he loved her too.
It was nearing the 'T's' now and Nat knew it would be Ron's turn what she didn't expect was he looked at her with fright. Nat just gave him a reassuring smile and a thumb's up. Ron smiled at her for the first time in two years and Nat couldn't help but feel happy to see Ron smile at her.
Soon it was his turn to get sorted. Ron walked upto the stool and soon his head goes underneath the Hat. 'Damn the first years are small' Cat's voice said in her head. 'I know right! Cant believe that was us two years ago' she thought back.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled for Ron and soon the Gryffindor table erupted to cheers welcoming the sixth Weasley boy to the team. Nat was clapping hard as well and soon caught Ron's eye and gave him a wink which he returned to her surprise.
Nat was overwhelmed with joy to see Ron winking and smiling at her, she missed her younger brother and now she has him back- Well most of him back.

The sorting was over and Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.
Dinner was splendid as always, and Nat couldn't help but laugh at the first year's reaction especially Harry's and Ron. Both of them looked positively delighted. Ron looked like Christmas came early and Harry was in pure shock from seeing so much to eat. Nat knew her brother was mistreated by her uncle and aunt ,so seeing him beaming at all the food made her heart warm. She wanted him to be happy and loved and he was. Nat couldn't ask for more.
"Promise me Nat. Promise me you'll protect Harry" Lily Potter's voice was heard in her head and she closed her yes and whispered "I promise.".
As soon as dinner was done Dumbledore stood up again and said "Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. "
Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death. "
Nat looked surprised at that comment.
"That's odd" Michael told them who got a series of I know right's in return. Nat just brushed off the uneasy feeling she was getting.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go"
And soon Nat and the rest of school started singing the school song:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot. "
Nat finished midway along with Aurora who sang in the same tune as her. Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
With that Nat and her friends started walking to the dungeons with Michael carrying Aurora on his back. She had just reached the entrance when Adrian lifted her into air and started running off with her on his back yelling "RACE YOU GUYS!". Laughing at the antics Nat enjoyed the free ride towards the common room. Adrian was first with Nat, Michael with Aurora next and last Terrance with Cat who whined "Not fair. You didn't even warn me." Laughing at him the girls bid the boys goodnight and walked down to their dorms.
Nat didn't even bother telling Evelyn to shut-up as she sat there talking loudly to Athena who was only half listening as she climbed into her soft bed and let sleep take over.

Next day was the first day of classes. Nat woke up early and took a long shower before she got dressed and went down to the great hall for breakfast after which they started classes for the day

Never talked about the castle itself did we. Well Hogwarts was a gigantic castle. If you don't keep closer look to your surroundings you'll get lost instantly. It took the girls a full year to know their way to class. They still haven't found their way through half the castle. There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump. Then there were doors that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending. It was also very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and coats of armor that could walk. The ghosts of Hogwarts are friendly unless you straight at them or that through them. You definitely don't want to do that because it's a horrible felling walking through a transparent … well... person. . It was always a nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through a door you were trying to open.
Hogwarts was also the home to a poltergeist called Peeves and that creature cause nothing but trouble. Let's just say if your late to class he was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him on your way. Boy! That would mean two days worth detention from professor McGonagall and five from Snape. Even worse than Peeves, if that was possible, was the caretaker, Argus Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris. It seemed as if his only purpose of existence was to torture the Hogwarts students.

Since Nat was in third year ,each of them had to take two electives. Nat chose Care of Magical creatures with Cat, Aurora, Adrian and Michael and Arthimancy with Terrance and Adrian. Cat chose divination with Michael and Aurora chose Ancient Runes with Terrance.
As Professor Snape handed out the timetables, they started comparing them with each other's. Nat saw that she had Transfiguration, Potions and DADA with Gryffindor's, Charms and Astronomy with Ravenclaw's and HoM and Herbology with Hufflepuff's. After comparing each other's timetable she got up and walked towards the Hufflepuff table to meet Cedric. She still got a questioning glances along the way but she chose to ignore the, she can be friends with whoever she wants.
Cedric was at the Hufflepuff table laughing with his friends until of them gave him a nudge and pointed behind him. Turning around he saw Nat and instantly smiled and got up to hug her which returned.
Nat saw some of Ced's friends scowling at her but she never cared and thrust her timetable on his hands and grabbed his. They sat down at a vacant spot at the Hufflepuff table and started comparing timetables. Halfway through their tak they were joined by Leo who placed his timetable next to theirs.
Nat saw she had her electives with Ced and Arthimancy with Leo along with Charms and Astronomy. Happy with this year's timetable Nat left Cedric and walked with Leo to their first class for the day which was Charms.
She was kind of late as she was chatting with Leo which slowed them down so she saw that there weren't many seats vacant. Cat sat with Aurora, Athena with Evelyn, Adrian with Michael and Terrance with a Ravenclaw boy. There weren't any spots left near the Slytherin's and Leo went to join another boy from Ravenclaw because none of the desks were empty either. She walked up to the corner of the class and saw an unoccupied seat next to very quiet Ravenclaw girl and asked her politely "Hi. Is this seat taken?" . The girl looked up startled her brown eyes meeting her green eyes.
"Not at all." the girl told her back in a soft voice.
As she sat down she saw most of the Ravenclaw's giving her weird looks. She met Leo's eyes who were startled as well and gave a look that said 'What's the matter.' to which he gave a shrug. Ignoring them she turned to the girl and gave her a heartwarming smile.
"Hi I am .." she started to which the girl interrupted "Natalie Potter. You aren't exactly unknown."
Laughing at the girl Nat said "That's one of saying it. So since you know who I am, I think I should know you as well."
"Hi, I am Scarlett Blair." the girl introduced herself.
Scarlet was a really pretty girl with strawberry-blonde hair and brown eyes and she looked quite shy to Nat but what was really weird was that she had scars all over herself. Scars stretched from her face to her hands but Nat found it pretty. It reminded her of Remus's scars.
"You're beautiful" she blurted out accidently and covered her mouth when she realised what she just.
"I mean, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to blurt it out like that. I mean those scars reminded me of my godfather, I don't know why I always found it beautiful." she started ranting to the girl who just gave her a huge smile.
"Thank you, mean's a lot to me. No one's ever called me beautiful." she told her.
Nat was shocked, how can someone not see how pretty Scarlet was! She the told her with a huge grin "Well Scarlet , then you should hear it again. You are beautiful no matter what people think.". Scarlet looked very delighted at Nat. She couldn't believe someone called her beautiful instead of making fun of her scars. Scarlet felt warm and happy for the first time in years and she wanted it to last.
But she didn't want to make friends here at Hogwarts because she has a huge secret that she didn't want anyone to know because if they knew she'll be force to hide in shame but she was very lonely and wanted a friend. Seeing Natalie's smile made her felt wanted and loved and she didn't want to push her away but she didn't want to hurt anyone either. So she just decided to stick to herself like she always did. She knew that by the end of the lesson Natalie will go back to her friends and never talk to her again but she didn't know what was in store for her.
Professor Flitwick started the class with his usual attendance and the announced "From today onward you all will be working with the person seated next to you till the end of the year. All your assignments will be done and marked in pairs. So I suggest you get to know your partner because you'll work with them for the rest of the year."
Nat turned towards Scarlet and gave her a smile. She was looking forward to getting to know her new friend.
They were practising the freezing spell for that class. Scarlet being a Ravenclaw got it almost immediately. Obviously Rora was the first one in class as Charms was her best subject, but Scarlet was good at it too. Nat got it after a few more tries with a little help from Scarlet and after that started chatting with her partner trying to get to know her. They talked a variety of topics , especially Quidditch. Scarlet shared the same passion for quidditch like Natalie and the both of them started having a heated discussion about it for almost twenty minutes and finally switched.
"So I live with my godfather after what happened to my parents. What about you? Where do you live?" Nat asked her.
Scarlet became quite all of a sudden and started shifting nervously and Nat seeing her uneasiness immediately started apologising "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked. You don't have to answer anything , I was just curious because I love to make friends that's all. I'm so sorry."
"No. It's okay. I've never had friends that's all." Scar told her whispering the last part but Nat heard her.
"What? But you are amazing." Nat told her with shock in her voice. She couldn't believe that no one was Scarlet's friend because within an hour of knowing each other she felt she was a really sweet and gentle person. She wanted to be this girl's friend.
"I don't know." she lied to Nat. She wanted to blurt it all out but she knew that if that happened Nat will not even spare a glance at her.
"Oh.. Anyways. My friends are I meeting up at the courtyard after classes for chilling around. Want to join us?" Nat asked trying to change the topic.
Scarlet was shocked to hear that question. Never has she been invited to chill with people or hang out with them after class but seeing Nat's genuine eyes she couldn't resist. How can this girl make her feel something she's been dying to feel for years?
"I would love to." she whispered with a smile.
"Great! I'll tell Leo and he'll show you the place ok?" Nat told her with a huge grin.
"McDonald?"
"Yep. Don't worry he doesn't bite." Nat joked. Upon hearing the word 'bite' Scarlet mumbled something under breath that Nat didn't catch.
"I'm sorry what?" Nat asked her.
"Oh nothing. Was just wondering which period I have last that's all." she told her with a smile.
"Excellent. See you later then." Nat told her as the bell rand and she set out to her next class.