A/N: Ok, I'm not gonna spout off several thousand excuses as to the lateness of any of my chapters. You all know that I am in college and I work full-time. Plus, writer's block has driven me away from any kind of writing, fanfiction or original work. So, without further ado, here is the chapter. And I am really, really, really, really sorry for the wait.

Chapter Fifteen: Classes

If Harry hadn't been raised by two Hogwarts professors, he would have gotten lost in the vast castle like the others. However, as Minerva had said earlier, he had to pretend that he was as lost as they were or he would draw unwanted attention. Well, more unwanted attention.

"Look, the kid next to those two girls, the redhead and the blonde."

"Did you see those eyes?"

"Did you see his scar?"

Harry kept his head down as he scooped eggs onto his fork. It was worse than he would imagine. He hated the stares and the whispers, even the giggles.

"Cheer up Harry," Christian said. "Once classes are in full swing, no one will have enough time to stare."

"I'm not so sure of that," Harry replied and he brought his fork to his lips.

Neville patted his back and Justin, Susan, and Hannah gave him sympathetic glances. The group remained quiet until Professor Sprout, their Head of House, passed out their timetables. Harry noticed that they alternated with the other Houses for certain classes. Astronomy was the exception, and it was at night.

"Looks like we are getting acquainted with Ravenclaw the most on our schedule," Justin said, putting his piece of parchment and spooning some oatmeal. "We're rarely with Slytherin, with Transfiguration and Charms."

"At least we don't have Potions with them," Susan said, shuddering. "I can't imagine embarrassing myself with them in the same room as their Head of House."

"Don't worry about being bad in Potions," Christian replied. "I'm really good at that subject and can tutor you if you would like."

"He's being modest," a brunette male called from a few seats down. "We all think he'll be the next Potions Master."

"Quiet, Cedric," the Prefect called back but he had a smile on his face, softening his words. "That's Cedric Diggory by the way; reserve Seeker on the Quidditch team."

"Quidditch?" Justin and Hannah asked.

"We'll explain later. Mail's here."

After Christian finished speaking, owls began flooding the Hall, dropping packages and letters to their owners. Harry saw Hedwig amongst those heading toward the Hufflepuff table. He untied a couple of letters from her leg and let her drink some juice and eat a couple of bacon rinds.

"She's beautiful," Susan and Hannah cooed, reaching to pet the snowy owl, who looked pleased at the attention.

Harry smiled and proceeded to open one of his letters. This one was by Remus and Sirius, or Moony and Padfoot in the letter. They went back and forth, telling him that they missed him and demanded weekly letters (Padfoot's idea, with Moony playfully scolding him) with detailed information. He put the letter down and picked up the other one. This one was written by Minerva and she would like him to go to her personal quarters after dinner.

"Hey, look at what Gran sent me!" Neville said happily. Harry tore his eyes away from his letter and saw a glass ball with gray smoke inside. "It's a Remembrall. It'll tell me when I've forgotten something."

"If you can remember what you have forgotten," Christian said with a smile. He winked at Neville. "If that thing can't help you, we will. We stick together, we Hufflepuffs. If you are having troubles, they become our troubles and we take care of our problems."

The pudgy boy blushed. "Thanks Christian."

The fifth year reached across the table and patted his shoulder. "It's no problem, Nev." He glanced down at his watch. "Finish eating up quick and I'll show you where your first class is."

Their first class was Herbology with their Head of House. Harry enjoyed this class, as well as Neville. The other Hufflepuffs and the entire Ravenclaw house, however, not as much. The two Houses split so the Hufflepuffs joined the Slytherins for Transfiguration. Harry noticed the small crowd around his blonde Slytherin friend and raised an eyebrow.

Draco smirked. "Ah, c'mon Potter, you knew I would attract at least some of the attention, whatever you wouldn't get."

Having expected the older boy to be mean to him in front of other Slytherins, Harry brushed off the remark while the other Slytherins chuckled. Justin balled his fists but didn't make any other motions of hearing Draco.

"Jerk," he hissed as he followed his classmates into the classroom.

Various animals were caged all around the room, their calls mingling with the chatting of the students. Draco and his Slytherin "friends" sat down on one side of the room and Harry and the 'Puffs did the same on the other side. A tabby cat was perched on the desk in front of the desks, watching them. Harry hid a smile, knowing the cat to be his adoptive mother.

When the bell rang for class to begin, the cat jumped off the desk and transformed into Professor McGonagall, much to the classes' shock, except for Neville, Draco, and Harry.

"Welcome to Transfiguration, one of the most difficult magicks you'll ever learn," she began. "Transfiguration takes discipline and concentration, as well as control of your magic. Many things can go wrong when you Transfigure objects." She pointed her wand to her desk and turned it into a pig. Everyone clapped. "But first, you must understand how even the littlest manipulation can make a difference before you can achieve this kind of Transfiguration. For the rest of the class, you'll be Transfiguring matchsticks into needles."

McGonagall passed out the sticks and wrote the incantation on the blackboard behind her. After that, she taught them the proper wave of the wand in order to complete the spell. Most of the students had trouble with the movement. Harry, who had a little lesson from Minerva before, got his goal in four tries. He helped his friends afterward. At the end of the lesson, at least everyone in the room had something close to a needle. Despite that, Minerva handed out an essay to be completed by their next lesson, which would be in two days.

"That wasn't so bad," Susan said, clutching her books to her chest.

"Speak for yourself," Justin moaned, shaking his wand hand.

"Exercise your wrist and you won't have a problem," Harry replied, smiling.

"You do know that the Potters are all excellent Transfiguring Masters right?" the dark-haired boy said, staring at the smaller boy.

"Of course I do. My adoptive family has informed me of that. Just be glad you have me for a friend and you'll be passing Transfiguration like the rest of us."

Justin blushed.

They headed to lunch, where Christian asked them how their classes went. As Harry started to spoon some corn, he felt something hit his head. He glanced up and saw his friend's smirk from the Slytherin table. After sending a glare (which was fake), he picked up the object, which turned out to be a ball of parchment.

"What I wouldn't give to kick his arse," Justin muttered.

"Language," Susan and Hannah admonished.

"What? You want to as much as I do."

Harry unraveled the ball and pulled out his wand. Severus had taught both boys how to send secret messages only meant for one person, since Draco and Harry had to appear to hate each other at Hogwarts. Malfoys and Potters were never friends. Besides, until the Dark Lord was permanently destroyed, it would be best for the boys to be away from each other.

Harry,

I hate this, resorting to send these secret messages and not being able to talk civilly in front of everyone. Insert pout here. And I hate these goons following me around like I am some kind of prince. I think I've been officially labeled the Slytherin prince, like my father before me.

I already had Sev's class and Weasley was thoroughly humiliated. Sev asked him questions, knowing he never opened his books, and Weasley sputtered. Hermione kept her hand up the entire time, know-it-all. We got to brew a potion without him even saying much on the subject. Of course I had the best potion of the class, with Herm in second.

Hope your class goes well with him. Remember that he doesn't mean what he says in class just like you should ignore what I say while I am with the Slytherins. No one is supposed to know that we are friends and no one knows that Sev and Minerva are your adoptive parents.

Sincerely, Draco

Harry ended the spell and an image of a stick figure appeared, sticking its miniscule tongue out at him.

"That's nice of him," Neville said, leaning over to take a look. He winked at Harry and the skinny boy let out a breath of relief. Neville also knew that Draco didn't mean it.

"Not even here a day and you already made an enemy," Hannah remarked, shaking her head.

"It was bound to happen," Harry said, crumbling the parchment. "I'm not going to impress everyone and make friends with them all."

Christian smiled. "Exactly. Are you sure you are a first year kid?"

The small boy glared half-heartedly at the Prefect, who laughed and returned to his meal. The rest of the meal went by quietly and before they knew it, it was time for the two evening classes: Charms and Potions. Harry's heart beat a little faster when he saw Potions at the bottom of the parchment. He was afraid of how Sev would treat him in a classroom environment.

End of chapter.

A/N: I was going to do more on here, but my brain died and I also decided to at least give you guys something to read for now. Again, thanks for all the support! You guys rock!