Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine, three of the character are however and somewhat of the personality of the fourth. I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 4: Schooling Snape

There wasn't that many people after them that still needed to be sorted. Ron went to Gryffindor like the rest of his brothers and Blaise Zabini went to Slytherin. When the sorting hat was finished, Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, stood up in greeting. Everyone immediately quieted down to listen to his speech.

"Welcome! To another year at Hogwarts, welcome! 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 with a smile and the dishes and goblets filled with food and drink instantaneously.

"Is he a bit mad?" Harry asked Percy, Ron's older brother.

"Mad? He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But yes, he is a bit mad. Potatoes, Harry?" Percy offered.

His mouth fell open; there in front of him was every type of food imaginable and foods that he didn't even recognize. He filled his plate with a little bit of everything and hungrily dug in; he had never been able to eat whatever he wanted. It was fantastic and his stomach certainly didn't protest.

"Hi, I'm Dorinda Potter." Dorinda introduced herself to the girl sitting down next to her. The dark girl smiled politely.

"Padma Patil, nice to meet you." They shook hands and started eating the food on their plates.

"I couldn't help but wonder? Is your sister in Gryffindor your twin?" Dorinda thought she they were identical but she couldn't be too sure.

"Yes identical. Parvati and I are however quite different." Padma spoke with a quiet voice.

"I can only imagine." Dorinda looked over at the Gryffindor table. "I am quite different from my siblings as well."

"You're brother is actually talking to that filth." Draco sneered. Julian looked over at where Harry was sitting, at the other side of the hall. His brother was talking and laughing at something Ron had said.

"Not my problem." Julian shrugged it off; he could care less about whom his brother or his sisters chose to hang out with. "Not hurting me."

"Actually it is, your family is going to be associated to the Weasleys through your brother."

"A pity I'm sure." Julian laughed it off as he stuffed another piece of chicken down his throat. Draco just shook his head indignantly and took another bite of mashed potatoes.

"You're Rose aren't you?" A slight faced girl asked. Rose nodded with a pleasant smile. "I'm Hannah and this is Justin."

"Lovely to meet you." Rose shook their hands as she helped herself to a roll, she quickly buttered it. "Are we allowed to sit at other tables?"

"Oh no, they don't want us over there. Most of the other houses think Hufflepuffs to be weak. We can blame it on our kind and giving nature." Hannah explained. Rose furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Everyone sticks to their own house for the most part. We are after all put in this house for certain common characteristics."

"Who's that man with the black hair?" Harry asked Percy, a sharp pain had just shot across his scar when he had looked at him.

"Professor Snape. He teaches Potions but he doesn't want to. Everyone knows he's after Quirrell's, the man he is talking to, job. Knows a lot about the Dark Arts, Snape." Harry stared at the man for a while but the guy wouldn't glance at him again, so he just helped himself to some treacle tart instead.

"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. A few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's eyes, twinkling, flashed in the direction of Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George.

"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 your house team should contact Madam Hooch. 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." Dumbledore paused grimly.

"He's not serious?" Harry asked Percy, holding back a laugh.

"Must be," Percy was frowning up at Dumbledore. "It's odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere, the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore was the only adult who actually seemed joyful at the mention of the school song all the other Professors smiles had become fixed. Dumbledore flicked his wand and the words were made out of a ghostly wisp.

"I don't sing." Dorinda muttered hatefully glaring at the words in the air. Padma nodded a long side of her; she too was glaring at the words. Dorinda grimaced as she remembered her singing that very morning, she had been a bit too cheerful. Here however, she wouldn't dare embarrass herself.

"Ah music, a magic beyond all that is taught here." Dumbledore wiped his tearing eyes. "Now, to bed!"

"First years this way." The older girl she had sat by, Penelope told them. She quickly fell in right behind Penelope as she walked out of the Great Hall and up the grand stairwell. "Remember where we are going."

"You remembering?" Padma asked her, she shook her head with a smile. "Only I have a bad memory that's all." They turned onto the fourth floor, took a left on the first corridor, and came to a door that had neither a handle nor a key hole.

"What is the correct incantation for the stunning spell?" The knocker, an eagle, spoke majestically. Dorinda held back a gasp.

"As you can see we are asked a question to gain entrance to our dormitory. To enter you must get the question correct or wait until someone else comes with the answer." Penelope explained. "The incantation is stupefy."

"Very wise." The eagle answered before the door swung open.

"Wow." Dorinda muttered looking around.

There was a dark blue couch and two lounge chairs in front of a fire, tables with chairs to study and bookcases filled with books against every wall. The carpets were a dark blue with stars and the room itself was circular. It was very airy and she could see the mountains out of the arched windows. Next to another door, that she assumed led to their dormitories was a life-size statue of Rowena Ravenclaw in all her glory.

"I call that bed!" Julian yelled pointing toward the bed against the right wall. It was cold in the dungeons. However, his bed looked very inviting. It looked to be made from silk and mahogany. His comforter was a dark green and his two pillows were bright silver. His new house colors. He jumped on the bed and sighed, he could definitely get use to this. A bed all to his own.

"Crabbe and Goyle, you take those two." Draco pointed to the two farthest to the left. "I want this one. Nott and Zabini can have those." Draco chose the one next to him and quickly set to changing into a pair of pajamas.

Julian shrugged off his robes, removed his sweater and slid out of his slacks. He shivered as the cold dungeon air hit his bare skin and hurried to get under his warm comforter. He looked back at Draco, who was staring at him curiously.

"Potter, where is your evening wear?" Draco asked getting under his covers.

"Evening wear?" Julian laughed. "Draco, first call me Julian. Second, I don't have any evening wear. "

"Goyle shut off the light." Was all Draco responded with. Julian rolled his eyes.

"Night Draco." He said merrily. He silently said goodnight to his siblings. Tomorrow would be the first day of classes. He was almost sick in anticipation.

"Wake up Rose." Hannah was shaking her shoulder. Rose groggily opened her eyes. "Breakfast is in five minutes."

She noticed that while her robes were still black, her tie was now striped with yellow and across her left breast was the Hufflepuff emblem. She smiled as she put a fresh uniform on and happily walked down to the Great Hall with Hannah and her older sister, who knew her way around Hogwarts. She didn't fancy getting lost on her first day.

"Isn't the food here just wonderful?" Hannah was always cheerful; she had learned this fast enough. She hadn't really talked to anyone other than Hannah at Hogwarts and she still didn't feel like her and Hannah had a lot of things in common.

"Yes." Rose smiled at the girl and looked to the left, she wanted to go and talk to Harry. "Excuse me." She didn't care if Hufflepuffs never left their house table; she needed someone familiar to talk to. She walked over to the messy haired boy and tapped him on the shoulder; he turned around and smiled widely.

"Rose!" Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. "What's the matter?" Harry could always tell when there was something bothering her.

"I dunno, I just haven't really found anybody I like to talk to here." Rose looked down at her shoes, her feet inverted inwards.

"Don't worry you'll find someone, I promise. Just be patient and in the meanwhile you have me." Harry reassured her. Rose smiled sadly and gave her brother another hug before stealing his toast and taking off back towards the Hufflepuff table. "Hey, that was mine!"

"What's our first class?" Padma asked Dorinda, taking a swig of her pumpkin juice.

"Transfiguration with the Gryffindors." Dorinda was happy enough, she had found out that she rather liked Transfiguration in the book at least and couldn't wait to try it out. She also wanted to see how Harry was doing and hopefully get a chance to chat with him for a few.

"We better get going if we're going to get a good seat." Padma stuffed the rest of her toast into her mouth and picked her bag up. Dorinda nodded and got up as well, in silence they took off towards Professor McGonagall's room.

It was a good thing that they had decided to leave early because they needed the extra time to get there. Dorinda had accidentally confused one left with a right and they had ended up at the Charms room. The Professor, a tiny little man, escorted them to the correct room with five minutes to spare before their class began.

"Thanks Professor." Dorinda thanked the smaller man. Professor Flitwick gave off a squeak.

"My pleasure Miss Potter." Professor Flitwick left with a smile.

Their roommates Mandy Brocklehurst and Lisa Turpin were already on the left front seat but the front center table was still open. They took the two seats readily and got out their required materials before eagerly awaiting for Professor McGonagall. Dorinda glanced behind her as each pair of people took their seats, waiting for Harry and Ron to walk in. They didn't show up by the time class began.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." The door opened loudly, banging against the wall and in came Harry and Ron. Both were breathing heavily.

"Sorry Professor got lost." Ron huffed. Both Dorinda and Professor McGonagall gave the boys severe looks.

"Take a chair boys." Professor McGonagall instructed. Harry smiled at Dorinda who rolled her eyes at the boy as they took seats behind her and Padma.

They took some complicated notes and Professor McGonagall showed them some Advanced Transfiguration. McGonagall made transfigured her desk into a fully-grown pig. Dorinda couldn't wait to be able to do that but she had to start somewhere.

They each were soon given a match and told to transfigure it into a needle. It was difficult but after a few tries and frustrated grunts, she succeeded. Professor McGonagall was more than slightly impressed.

"Well done Miss Potter, five points to Ravenclaw." Professor McGonagall gave her a rare smile. "Must have your father's talent." Dorinda beamed at this.

With the last few minutes of class, Dorinda helped Padma and corrected Harry's pronunciation. Gryffindor was awarded five points as well because Hermione Granger had managed to make her match become silvery and pointy. Dorinda didn't think it was very fair that the girl was awarded just as many points as she was for a mediocre transfiguration but she didn't dare voice it.

"Good job, Dorinda." Harry patted her on the back as she packed her quill, parchment, inkbottle and book back in her bag.

"You could have managed it easily as well if you would have concentrated a bit more." Dorinda replied briskly. "How's Gryffindor?"

"Its great, have you talked to Rose lately? She seems lonely." Harry informed her. Dorinda shook her head no but made a mental reminder to remember to talk to her sister.

"Till Wednesday." Professor McGonagall dismissed them. They all filed out of the room.

History of Magic was easily the most boring class but somehow Dorinda always managed to stay awake and that didn't make Julian happy. If Dorinda was awake then Julian had to be or else he would hear about it later. He honestly didn't know what history had to do with performing magic in any sense. Harry seemed to agree with him readily.

Charms was fun, made so by the small and hairy Professor Flitwick who whenever called roll would always squeak at the Potter name. They were learning how to levitate things but were still learning the swish and flick movement and taking notes before they would be allowed to perform the charm.

Everyone had been let down though when it came to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Expecting to learn how to fight creature and defend themselves against evil wizards, they were sorely disappointed at the class. Professor Quirrell turned out to be a bit of a joke as well and the room smelt strongly of garlic. A funny smell hung around the turban, Quirrell said it had been given to him from an African prince, and the Weasley twins insisted that it was filled with garlic as well.

They also had to learn Astronomy on Wednesdays (Gryffindor/Hufflepuff) or Fridays (Ravenclaw/Slytherin). They studied the night skies, learning the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. They also had to learn about plants and fungi of the magical kind from a stumpy Professor Sprout in Herbology three times a week.

Potions for the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had turned out to be okay. Dorinda and Rose did fairly well on their potions. However, the same could not be said about Friday's Slytherin/Gryffindor class. Professor Snape started off the class like all of the other teachers, with roll call. Like Flitwick, he paused at the Potter names. He stared both of the boys down before sneering.

"Ah, yes. Harry and Julian Potter. Our new celebrities."

"Thank you sir for that lovely title." Julian smiled cheekily. "I'd much prefer to have your title as Potions Master instead some day though." Snape's eyes narrowed. "A bit more prestigious I bet."

"Sit down Mr. Potter and shut up." Snape gritted out between his teeth. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. 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…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Professor Snape spoke in barely a whisper but just like McGonagall, you caught every word out of urgency and fear of his wrath. Silence followed his speech, Harry and Ron exchanged looks, as did Julian and Draco. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat in anxiousness to get started.

"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Harry looked stumped, so Julian answered just as Hermione's hand reached the air.

"A sleeping potion, hmm…Draught of the Living Death if I do recall." Julian ran a hand through his shaggy hair. Professor Snape's glare only intensified at the gesture.

"Correct. Now Mr. Potter," Snape paused. "The other one, where would I find a bezoar?"

"Um." Harry was trying to remember what he had read with Julian just last week. "A, sheep's stomach?"

"Wrong, five points from Gryffindor. A goat's stomach and it will save you from most poisons brother." Julian slapped his brother on the back. "Close enough though I say."

"Mr. Potter please refrain from speaking out of turn." Snape's glare was back on him. "What's the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"Now that one I know." Julian again spoke out of turn. "However, I'm going to let Hermione answer this one."

"There is none sir." Harry instead answered. "They're the same plant and it also goes by the name of aconite."

"Keep your mouth shut, Mr. Potter." Snape spit out when Julian's lip quivered. The boy just smiled and put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "What are you all waiting for! You should be writing this all down!"

"Julian thanks for in there." Harry grasped his brother's shoulder with a smile. "I got a letter earlier from Hagrid, the groundskeeper, wondering if we all would like to go for some tea before our flying lesson this afternoon, would you?"

"Yeah sure, I'll meet you after lunch." Julian agreed. Everyone was filing out of Potion's class. Snape had been furious when Julian managed to brew a perfect boil curing potion and the class had continued to go down hill from there. It had been simple enough and Harry's turned out fair enough surprisingly too.

"He's a Slytherin you know?" Ron muttered for the fiftieth time that week. He couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't horrible to know someone in Slytherin. It just wasn't right he said.

"I haven't noticed Ron."

Knock, Knock, Knock.

The four waited for Hagrid to come open the door. They didn't know the man but he seemed really nice and very gentle for his size. Ron himself had said that his father though Hagrid to be a good friend. A few barks were heard mixed in with a couple of yells before the door was opened. Hagrid was in an apron and a plate full of burnt rock cakes were in his hand.

"Come in, come in." Hagrid ushered them in. "Back Fang, back!" There was only one room inside, with hams and pheasants hanging from the ceiling and in the corner was a massive bed with a quilt cover.

"How are you, sir?" Rose asked politely taking one of the rock cakes; she bit down on it and almost felt her tooth break. She smiled though as if it had never happened.

"None o' that sir business, just Hagrid. Make yer selves at home." Hagrid gestured towards the table with five rickety wooden chairs for them to sit in.

Julian and Harry were delighted when Hagrid called Filch, the caretaker, an old git. Julian had had some close calls when it came to playing on Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris and Harry had accidentally gotten on the wrong floor once or twice. Filch was perhaps one of the fair few who seemed to not worship the Potters.

"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her ter 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 ter it."

Harry then explained about his and Julian's Potions lesson and how Julian had bested Snape on several occasions. Hagrid, like Ron, said not to worry about it and that Snape hardly liked any of his students.

"I don't mind much myself." Julian shrugged. "Hasn't taken any points from me, how could he honestly? I answer every question and perfect all my Potions."

"Course he hasn'. Snape wouldn' dare take a point from 'is own house!" Hagrid laughed at Julian.

"I think he truly hates us Hagrid." Rose grimaced. "He gives me the oddest looks."

"Rubbish!" Hagrid replied. "Why would he?" However, Hagrid didn't quite meet any of their eyes as he said this. "I've a mind ter as' why yer hanging 'round a Malfoy?" Hagrid changed the subject, Julian just laughed like usual and patted Hagrid on the back.

Dorinda picked up the Daily Prophet and read the front-page article:

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believe 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 spokesglobin this afternoon.

"This break-in happened on our birthday!" Dorinda exclaimed.

"Yup, I was there the very same day it happened." Hagrid still refused to meet their eyes. He grunted and offered them another rock cake, only Rose took another out of kindness. Dorinda read the article again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Odd.

Gringotts was supposed to be impenetrable by thieves. She herself had read the chilling warning on the outside doors to the goblin bank. She couldn't even begin to dream that someone would try to steal something from there. They would have to be mad. Gringotts from what she had read was not just an ordinary bank but a fortress.

"We better head back Hagrid." Rose excused them politely. All of their pockets were loaded down with rock cakes. Hagrid had insisted and they couldn't refuse the kind man.

"Off yeh go then." Hagrid led them to his door. "Come ter see me again yeh four!"

"Bye Hagrid." Harry waved. They took off walking back towards the school. "Anyone else think Hagrid was acting a bit odd when Snape was mentioned?"

"Not only that but when the break-in was mentioned as well." Dorinda explained. The others looked surprised; obviously they hadn't observed this note. "What do you think it was?"

"Dunno, could be anything Dorinda." Julian shrugged. He didn't think Hagrid capable of stealing anything from Gringotts. He wasn't nearly smart enough.

"Yes I suppose." Dorinda relented. Julian was right; Hagrid could just be reacting to the fact that he had been there that day himself. Might have shaken his bones. Hagrid was good, she was sure. But then who had attempted to steal from Gringotts? And what had they been looking for? She continued to think over and over about the situation the rest of the night.

But the answers weren't there.

Redone: December 4 2010