First Potions class of the year

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. They are the property of JK rowling. I only own the new OC's which appear in the following chapters.

It felt incredible to Harry to be able to get back to class and just be normal again. Getting to leave the castle whenever he desired was something that he greatly treasured. Harry and Ron took their usual route down to the Great Hall for breakfast. They had already begun to eat when Hermione and Lorena took a seat next to them. Professor McGonagall had started handing out this years time table, and was slowly making her way towards the group. Lorena wasn't eating, she was just gazing around at the different house tables.

'You'll know at least one person in each class anyway, so no need to be nervous.'

'I don't get nervous.' Lorena said shortly, but catching Ron's eye she added, 'But thanks Hermione.'

'Miss Valdéz-Black, may I speak with you a moment?' McGonagall had finally reached them. She handed them each a timetable, then directed Lorena a bit away from the Gryffindor table. Ron frowned over at them.

'Ron,' Harry sighed, 'There is nothing to be frowning about. She's not a death eater. She's a fifteen year old girl.'

'How do you know? She could be a death eater under disguise.'

'Doubt it.' Hermione said vaguely, gazing over her timetable, 'The Order would be able to tell.'

'It's not like they knew her before, so someone could have easily just have taken some of her hairs and made a polyjuice potion.'

'I haven't seen her drink every hour.' Harry got bored of Ron's usual argument, and decided to turn to his time table to distract him. 'Fucking fantastic.' He muttered.

'What now?'

'Double potions.' Harry rolled his eyes. 'Why is there always a double potions class on a Monday morning. It's just the story of my life.'

'The class is starting in ten minutes so she better hurry up or we'll all be in trouble.' Ron nodded his head towards Lorena.

'How about you wait for Lorena, Hermione?' Though she didn't seem too sure.

'I don't know. I don't want her to be alone, but I really don't want to be late for a potions class. Potions is much too important.'

'Hey don't look at me!' Ron said as Harry turned to him. 'I have Care Of Magical Creatures to get to.'

'But Snape hates me. If I'm late he'll kill me.'

They all looked at each other for a moment until Harry finally gave in. 'He hates me already, what more do I have to lose?' And that was it. Ron and Hermione thanked Harry and hurried off to the dungeons and out to the grounds. Harry continued to wait for Lorena who was still talking to McGonagall. After another ten minutes of staring at his empty bowl, Lorena finally came over.

'Sorry about that. You really didn't have to wait.' Lorena threw her bag over her shoulder and walked with Harry to the Great Hall door, where a few last minute stragglers were drifting.

'I wanted to. No one should have to suffer being late to Snape's class on their first day. At least if we're together he'll have the two of us to vent his anger on all year.'

'So, this Snape. Bit of a cunt?'

'Oh yea. You're lucky that you're with me. When he sees me he'll probably just forget about you.'

They had quite an enjoyable walk to the dungeons. And seeing as they were already late, Harry suggested a detour. He took her past the Room Of Requirement and explained how it worked, 'Then you have secret passageways that go to Hogsmeade, the village closest to Hogwarts… Hey, if you want I can show you around tonight.'

'Is there no curfew?'

'Well yea, but we'll be okay. Seriously, it's not a bother to us, we've been doing it since first year.'

'How rebellious.'

Harry was enjoying his walk with Lorena, and was greatly dreading his entrance into Snapes class. He knew the more he put it off the worse it would be when he had to go to class tomorrow. He had half a mind to suggest skiving off completely for the double lesson. But decided against it.

'This it?' Lorena asked as Harry turned down an eerie corridor, which was dimly lit by torches. Harry nodded and continued to Snapes dungeon. Not bothering to knock he grabbed the handle and turned. Everyone in the room abandoned what they were doing and looked around to see who was entering. Harry noticed that Hermione and another Gryffindor girl that Harry was sure was named, Melina, were already sitting together in the second last desk, thankfully leaving the very last one for Harry.

'Mr Potter, knock when you are entering my class late in future.'

'Will do.' Harry said shortly, and as a few girls giggled, he quickly took a seat at the back of the classroom.

'And…Miss…?'

'Valdéz-Black.'

'Ah, gone the way of your mothers family.'

'Excuse me?'

'Nothing.' Snape waved a hand at the class to signal them to go back to work, 'We've already started brewing a potion. Turn to page five and get started. You should be finished in time, if not, that's a zero for today's work.'

Lorena looked at Harry, indicating him to start setting up the cauldron. He believed she was kind of unhappy at the prospect of getting a zero and he suddenly wished he was seated next to someone else. She took out her book and turned the pages. Harry could hear Hermione and Melina talking. It was clear Melina had just nearly put in the wrong ingredient. All you could hear was the chatter of students among the simmering cauldrons. Snape was sitting behind his desk, reading, as if bored with the class. For the first time Harry looked down at the book with the ingredients. He read the large heading, 'Foxglove potion' with a frown.

'Have you ever heard of this before?' Harry asked.

'Yea,' Lorena said absentmindedly stirring the contents that she had put in so far and looking back down at what to do next, 'First potion you learn if you do healing. It's good for wounds and stuff like that. The main ingredient being foxglove, it should end up being a purplish colour.'

'So, you're good at potions then.'

Lorena looked up at him and grinned coyly, 'Yea, you saw my OWLs didn't you?'

The class went relatively well, Lorena showed him how to make the potion, but naturally didn't let him touch a thing, just in case. She had heard from Hermione what a disaster he was around a cauldron and she wasn't willing to take any risks.

'Is that your… Girlfriend?' Lorena asked pointing to Hermione's partner, Melina.

'What?! No way! Why?'

'She just kept staring at you. Just thought she was pissed with me being here.' Lorena shrugged, 'Maybe she's just a crazy psycho.'

Hermione turned around to have a look at Harry and Lorena's potion. The look on her face annoyed Harry somewhat.

'I suppose Harry didn't touch anything,' She grinned.

'Course not.' She grinned back, then noticing Harry's not so happy face said, 'Come on. It's only a joke.'

Both Lorena and Hermione reached for a phial to collect some of their potion and brought it up to Snape with their names on it. Harry was left alone with Melina and feeling pretty uncomfortable with her staring he reached into his bag for his timetable to distract himself. Luckily enough, he could meet up with Ron for a free period back in the common room while Lorena and Hermione went to Arithmancy. He shouted up to the top of the class, 'Lorena, Hermione. I'll see you at break!' They both nodded and went back to their conversation. Harry, gladly threw his bag over his shoulder and headed back to the common room. He had not even being walking more than a minute when Melina Todd, ran out of the dungeon with her bag clutched in her right hand and her potions book in the other.

'Harry! Wait up.' He stopped half heartedly, not really wanting to speak to this Melina girl.

'Do you have a free period now?'

'Yea, no way was I taking Arithmancy. That involves thinking.' Melina laughed a little too loudly. He wasn't trying to be funny, just honest.

'Want to come down to the lake? Me, Parvati, Lavender and Becca will be there.'

'Nah, sorry I can't.' Harry said as they walked up a staircase and finally had natural light to look at each other properly. 'Have to get back to the common room to Ron.'

'Oh,' She looked crestfallen, 'Well, I heard from two seventh year girls that there'd be a party in the Gryffindor common room during the week. You know, celebrate everyone being together again. Will I see you there?'

'Yea sure, I do live in the Gryffindor dorms so I'm sure we'll run into each other.' Melina laughed again and Harry smiled weakly.

'Well, I'm going this way Harry,' She smiled, 'Nice talking to you.'

Harry didn't bother to say goodbye. He just walked ahead. Hopefully Ron would be down by the fire so he wouldn't have to go looking for him. All Harry wanted to do right now was lye on the couch and perhaps take some aspirin for his headache… The potion fumes usually made him feel very dizzy.

'Hey,' Ron was indeed sitting by the fire with a large roll of parchment out in front of him.

'Um… What the fuck are you doing?' Slightly concerned for Ron's well-being.

'Only had a single Care of Magical Creatures class, so got started on my essay.'

'…Why?'

'Don't want to fall behind like last year. Plus, it's not like I had anyone to really talk to…'

'Hey, you know that Todd girl in our year?' He was going to ask Ron what the deal with her was, but he didn't have to. Ron cut in quickly and informed him of what was happening.

'Yea, fancies you like mad. Lavender told me.'

Harry looked questioningly at his friend.

'She won't leave me alone either. She's in the Care Of Magical Creature class too.' Ron rolled his eyes and reached onto the table for something, 'Here, Sirius sent you a letter.'

Glad for something to do seeing as Ron, for some reason was acting studious, Harry opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

I hope you're having fun on your first day back at school. The place has been dead since you guys left and I know nothing much has happened since, but I thought I might as well write. Make sure you send me the dates of your Hogsmeade weekends as soon as possible. There's no point me being stuck down in London when my two favourite people are up there!

And Harry, remember what I said about keeping quite. You're being watched, for your own safety I might add, so don't start complaining. Make sure you keep certain things private, if you don't they'll be leaked to the papers. There have already been numerous articles about you in the past few days. You really have to start picking up papers and reading them, seriously.

Tell Ron, Hermione and Lorena that I said hi and that I might get a chance to talk in the fire sometime soon. Though Molly is suggesting not seeing as the Ministry are keeping an eye on the fires. At least now that Umbridge is gone we can talk freely through letter.

Anyway,

Have great fun at school,

Sirius