I'm back and Nationals are over. What a relief! It went well though. Everyone from my studio got called back for the "Big Show" due to our awesome production line, Falling Whistles.

I also saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II at the Midnight show. I really liked it but I missed Neville's big moment in the book. It was so much better than what they showed. Oh well, you can't have everything. It was hilarious though because there were these two old ladies next to me who hadn't read the books. I started crying when Snape died and they were giving me all these funny looks.

Anyways, updates are going to get better. I promise. So now on with the story, I've wasted enough of your time with this long author's note:

Disclaimer: Same thing, don't own, don't sue.

At five to three we left the castle and made our 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.

Harry knocked. There was soon 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, trying 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 nearly knocked me over as he jumped up to lick my cheek. It was unbelievably wet and sticky. Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked or as his name suggested.

"This is Ron, Rigel and Amira" Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate. The rock cakes looked as if they were actually made of rock.

"Oh, it's you two, eh? Didn't expect you make 'n friends with a bunch a troublemakers, Harry." Hagrid said glancing at Rigel and I.

"Trouble? Us?" I fake gasped, trying my best to look greatly insulted.

Hagrid let out a laugh and turned to Ron. He looked at the mass of freckles and red hair. "Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, "I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."

Fred and George have earned my respect.

The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins and possibly pieces of granite mixed in. We pretended to be enjoying them as we told Hagrid all about their first lessons. Fang was looking slightly dejected after I pushed him away from me. My robes already stuck to me from his slobber and there was only so much I could take. But he looked happy over on top of Harry, even if Harry wasn't too thrilled about it.

"I rather liked what you did to that old git."

"Filch?" Rigel asked. I tried to remember if we pranked anyone else.

Hagrid laughed again. "Of course, Filch. Him and that nasty cat."

Anyone who can insult Filch and Mrs. Norris is certainly a friend of mine.

"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."

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

"But he seemed to really hate me."

"Harry, he treated me just as badly." I decided to put in. It might cheer Harry up or at least get an answer out of Hagrid.

"Fine, he hates you too."

"Rubbish! Both of you!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?"

Hagrid didn't quite meet either of our eyes when he said that. It was obvious that he was lying.

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

Anyone could tell Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons,I took breaths trying to calm down. Nymphy had had the largest crush on Charlie Weasley all of 6th year. It was almost like they were made for each other, best friends and all. Every single letter home mentioned Charlie. Seventh year, they began dating. Nymphy was so thrilled. Her letter had almost 50 exclamation points. Rigel and I teased her about her "Prince Charlie" and "getting married." Nymphy would scold us but smile like she really liked the idea. Then, he left for Romania and Nymphy started Auror training. Charlie said they just fell apart because of the distance. But he was the only one who felt like that. Nymphy was still head over heals in love. Nymphy was heartbroken. She had cried all night. I was not wiling to forgive him easily and if I ever met Charlie Weasley, things might not end too well.

"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 this time. He grunted and offered him another rock cake. I reached over Rigel's shoulder and grabbed the newspaper clipping.

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.

Harry's birthday was on July 31st. It seemed almost like minor information compared to the rest of the article but it was the thing that stuck out in my head. My friend's birthday was on July 31st. I was almost disappointed. I was looking forward to throwing a party in the common room. (Don't judge. I was the type of person who took the time to decorate friend's lockers while we attended primary school. I found it so much fun. ) Summer birthdays are such killjoys.

We walked back to the castle for dinner. Our pockets hung heavy with rock cakes we would never eat. Tea with Hagrid had been interesting, more so than some of our classes. It had also showed that Snape definitely had a reason to hate me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought ickle first years avoided Filch's office."

Fred and George were looking at us questioningly. I have to admit it must look strange. I couldn't think of another person who would willingly look at the list of banned equipment on Filch's door. I didn't count Percy because he did many things that baffled everyone.

The list was surprisingly short and missed some very key points. Not that I'm complaining of course.

"If we don't know what's illegal-"

"Then we don't know what we can and can not use."

Hypothetically Rigel and I could cause as much mayhem as we wanted with for example, water balloons, and not get in trouble because they were not on the list of banned substances.

"Brilliant! Forge, why didn't we think of that?"

"I'm not sure Gred. I was fairly certain we knew every possible way to annoy old Filchie."

"Old Filchie? Really? You couldn't think of anything better than that?" That earned me a mock glare from Fred.

"Like you could do any better!"

"I don't know what about-" I shared one glance with Rigel willing him to remember our conversation with Hagrid.

A grin spread across his face and he nodded.

"Old Cat Obsessing Git?" We said together trying to keep our faces as innocent as possible. From the twin's expressions, it didn't to work.

I sat in the common room later the next week. Rigel was talking to Harry and Ron about who knows what. It was after hours and so I couldn't really talk to Eloise. Fred and George had disappeared a while ago. Hermione was reading Hogwarts A History. Though I'm not really sure I would want to talk to her anyways. When I talked to her, I always felt so inferior like I would never be able to learn as much as she already knew. I don't think Hermione meant to do it but I just felt uncomfortable. I had no intent of going over and talking to my other dorm mates. Lavender and Parvarti were giggling and pointing at something in a book. How immature, not that I could really be talking.

All in all, I was bored and boredom wasn't the best thing for me. Well I'm not sure it was the best thing for anyone. I thought for a moment. Then an idea hit me. Rigel and I promised to write home and we hadn't written a single letter.

I pulled out two pieces of parchment, a quill and some color changing ink.

The first one I addressed to Mum and Dad. I wasn't really sure what to say. I didn't want to receive a howler for- well I guess a lot of things. I sighed. I would just keep it short.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Hogwarts has been wonderful. Rigel and I are Gryffindors. (Ha! Dad you were wrong!) I'm not sure if he's written you or not. Right now, Rigel is talking to Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. And I mean THE Harry Potter! We met them on the train. They sat in our compartment.

We also met a certain thin-faced blond ferret. Draco Malfoy was very irritating and insulting. Though he really isn't anything compared to Zacharias Smith. Smith is a Hufflepuff with rather non-Hufflepuff tendencies. He was on our boat when we crossed the Lake. He was trying to freak out Eloise Midgen. She's a muggleborn and didn't really know much about Hogwarts. Eloise is really nice and I think we're going to be really good friends.

I really hate Potions. Professor Snape is so biased. He also takes pleasure in the mistakes of his students. Snape seems to have a grudge against Harry and me. A pretty bad one too.

Well, I should probably get to bed. It's getting late.

Love,

Amira

P.S. Mum, the sorting hat seemed rather fond of you

I grabbed the second sheet and then a third. I wrote basically everything down. I knew Nymphy wouldn't tell Mum anything and most likely would be proud of us, especially with Filch and the bunny suit, not to mention, Smith and the giant squid. I left out only one thing: My conversation with the sorting hat. It was too private and just plain too confusing.

A.N: This is definitely not my best chapter. It's too similar to the book and well kind of boring. I hope the next chapter makes up for it. I got a question about Rigel's name. I'll give a quick explanation. Rigel is named after the 6th brightest star in the sky, going along with Black tradition. It's the brightest star in the constellation Orion. (You can thank my science teacher for the name. Mr. Johnson had a really awesome diagram of the stars, which included Rigel.) His name is pronounced with a long i. Think of it like this, it's the name Nigel with an R instead. I hope this helps (or at least makes sense).