EDIT: 1/30/2012

Grammar should be better and I think a few little details have been changed but that's it.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OC's

Chapter Four: And Thus the Loathing Begins.

Whispers followed Harry from the moment he left his dormitory the next day. People lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look at him, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, staring.

Riley found it extremely annoying and distracting when you're trying to find your classes.

"Don't you people have any self respect? He's not something to be stared at like a mannequin at a museum! He's a boy who needs to get to class and you're not helping." Riley finally snapped at a group of girls who were openly pointing, whispering and giggling.

Harry smiled gratefully at her as they continued their search for their classroom.

There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts (yeah, she counted): 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 Riley was sure the coats of armor could walk.

The ghosts didn't help, either. It was always a nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through a door you were trying to open. Nearly Headless Nick was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the right direction, but Peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him when you were late for class. He would drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind you, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, "GOT YOUR CONK!" it was really funny as long as he wasn't doing it to you… well, okay it was still funny then too.

And the caretaker, Argus Filch, was a right git if he was in a bad mood… or really any mood. Harry, Ron and Riley managed to get on the wrong side of him on their very first morning. Filch found them trying to force their way through a door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to the out-of-bounds corridor on the third floor. He wouldn't believe they were lost, and was sure they were trying to break into it on purpose, and was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when they were rescued by Professor Quirrell, who was passing.

But one good thing about getting lost means you find a lot of hidden passages and stairwells that sometimes lead exactly where you need them too. Sometimes "please" really is the magic word.

As for the classes Riley loved them... well, most of them anyway.

They had to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. That was interesting because Riley always loved watching the stars.

Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. That was fun too, until Riley got scratched by a venomous tentacula and had to go to the hospital wing.

Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up. Riley had to fight extremely hard not to fall asleep in his class. She never was one for history.

Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight. It took about five minutes for Riley, Harry and Ron to stop snickering. But other than that Riley found the class rather fun.

Professor McGonagall was exactly like Moony had warned Riley she'd be. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. (What a way to change the subject no?) They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time.

After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to their matches; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.

The class everyone had really been looking forward to was Defense against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed this story.

For one thing, when Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started talking about the weather; for another, they had noticed that a funny smell hung around the turban, and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full of garlic as well, so that Quirrell was protected wherever he went.

Friday was an important day for Harry, Ron and Riley. They finally managed to find their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast without getting lost once.

"What have we got today?" Harry asked Ron as he poured sugar on his porridge.

"Double Potions with the Slytherins," said Ron. "Snape's Head of Slytherin House, They say he always favors them - we'll be able to see if it's true."

"My Godfather went to school with Snape, said he was a real git, and always tried to get him and his friends in trouble." Riley told the boys. Of course that's not really what Moony said, he was much too nice to say something like that. But it was close enough.

"Yeah, Fred and George told me he's awful, especially to Gryffindors." Ron told us as he shoved food in his mouth.

"Wish McGonagall favored us," said Harry. Professor McGonagall wasn't one for favoritism.

Just then, the mail arrived. Riley had gotten used to this by now, but it had given her a bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps.

Riley was surprised when Batman (her finally named owl) plopped down in front of her, landing in her cereal. He seemed to have gotten her clumsiness. Riley tore it open at once. It said, in very neat and loopy writing:

Dear Red,

How are you? I haven't heard from you for awhile. Tell me all about your time at school so far. What house did you get in? How do you like your classes? What do you think of the teachers? Have you made any friends? I got a job at a muggle bookstore, started last week. I spend most of my time there reading the books. It's wonderful. Would you like me to send you some? I know you like muggle books as much as I do. I miss you love, so does Andy, Ted, Tonks and Mad-eye. They send their love. Write back soon?

Love,

Remus

Riley smiled. She always loved hearing from Remus. She worried about him a lot. Since he was a werewolf, people didn't like to hire him or really be near him at all. Afraid he was going to eat them or something if they made him mad. It was ridiculous, but that was life she supposed.

So because of this, Riley was really happy and surprised Remus found a job he seemed to like. And maybe, she thought hopefully. Because it's run by muggles he won't get fired.

~{}~

It was lucky that Riley had gotten a letter from Remus to cheer her up, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst class so far.

Riley had heard bad things about Snape since before she even got to Hogwarts, but she always tried to see the good in people. And by the end of her first Potions lesson she wasn't sure there was any good in him. Snape seemed to not only dislike Harry - but hate him with a fiery passion, and he wasn't too keen on Riley either.

Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals and other things floating in glass jars all around the walls. It was almost the sort of place you would expect Dracula to show up in… or Igor…

Bet Snape would love having someone like Igor to follow him around… Probably make a zombie and start yelling "It's alive! It's alive!" Riley mused.

Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name. Poor Harry.

"Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity." Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. But the only thing Riley could think was; they had an old one?

Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word - like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses..."

"Maybe we should let him be alone with his 'softly simmering cauldron' yeah?" Riley whispered to the boys, who had to stuff their fists in their mouths to stop from laughing.

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." More silence followed this little speech. Harry, Ron and Riley exchanged looks with raised eyebrows still trying not to laugh. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.

"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

"I don't know, sir," said Harry.

Snape's lips curled into a sneer.

"Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything." He ignored Hermione's hand. Riley looked irritated. How was he supposed to know that? It wasn't even in their books and what did fame have to do with it? She hated it when her friends were picked on.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry looked like he didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, were shaking with laughter.

Like they know the answer. Riley thought glaring at them.

"I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"

Git.

Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.

"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her." A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye, and Seamus winked. Riley just smirked.

Snape, however, was not pleased.

"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well. Why aren't you all copying that down?"

There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."

Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like.

He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.

"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire." Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.

"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville.

"You – Potter – why didn't you tell him not to add the quills. Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you. That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor." This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron.

"Don't push it," he muttered, "I've heard Snape can turn very nasty."

But Riley's temper had already gotten a hold of her and she didn't care.

"That's not fair!" she yelled standing up. Snape whipped around to face her. "Harry was just trying to get his potion right, how was he supposed to know Neville wasn't doing his right? And Neville is not an idiot, how is anyone supposed to get there potion right with you breathing down our necks?"

Riley knew she was going to get in trouble but she just couldn't stand the injustice. Snape gave her a death glare and said in a deathly quiet voice.

"Detention, Langley, tonight. And twenty points from Gryffindor for yelling at a teacher."

As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Riley's mind was racing and her spirits were low. She'd lost twenty points for Gryffindor in her very first week - what were Moony and Andy going to say?

"Cheer up," Said Ron, "Snape's always taking points off Fred and George." Then he turned to Harry and asked, "Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?"

"Yeah, you should come too Riley, you'll feel better." Harry said.

So at five to three they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.

When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang - back." Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.

"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang." He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.

There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling; a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.

"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.

"This is Ron," Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.

"Another Weasley, eh." said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. "I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."

The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but Harry, Riley and Ron pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first -lessons. Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled all over his robes.

They were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch "that old git."

"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere. Can't get rid of her - Filch puts her up to it." Riley laughed.

Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students.

"But he seemed to really hate me."

"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he? And you Riley, shouldn't be yellin' at teachers like tha'"

Riley looked unabashed.

"Well I couldn't let him be so nasty to Harry and Neville, now could I?" she said defiantly. Hagrid just muttered something, and then abruptly changed the subject.

"How's yer brother Charlie." Hagrid asked Ron. "I liked him a lot - great with animals."

While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons, Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet Riley read over his shoulder:

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.

Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.

"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokes goblin this afternoon.

"Hagrid!" said Harry, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"

There was no doubt about it; Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes. He grunted and offered him another rock cake, but Riley being the curious girl she was started to wonder…

As the trio walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Riley couldn't help but be depressed. She had a feeling tonight's detention was going to be awful.

At about half past eight she walked down to the dungeons, sneaking past Peeves unnoticed, her dread growing with every step closer she took to Snape's office.

Finally she got there and knocked on the door.

"Come in." she heard Snape drawl from inside. She walked in and stood in front of his desk waiting for him to acknowledge her.

"Sit down over there; you will be pickling frog eyes tonight."

"Lovely." she muttered under her breath.

She worked for about an hour in silence, until Snape came over and said in a voice that left no doubt in her mind that he loathed her.

"I realize that your father and his friends never had much respect for their superiors, but that does not mean I will tolerate you smart mouthing me again… next time I will not be so lenient."

Riley glared her best death glare at him and gritted her teeth, figuring now was not the best time to open her big mouth and say something to get her in more trouble.

"Go. You're done here."

Riley left without a word.

Lenient! Ha! He doesn't know the definition of the word. Moony taught me to respect those who earn it! If he wants my respect he's going to have to work for it.

Riley kept up that rant in her head the rest of the way back to the tower. When she finally got to sleep it was with dread in her heart knowing tomorrow she was likely to get a very angry letter from her Aunt Andy and Moony.

~{}~

Review please, authors live off of reviews.