Chapter Thirteen.

Lessons and Teachers.

"Look there!"

"Did you see her scar?"

"It's her!"

"Did you see her face?"

The whispers followed me from the moment I left my dormitory the following morning. Looking at our timetables, it appeared at Gryffindor and Slytherin had most of their classes together and thankfully Mae refused to leave my side as many students tiptoed over others to get a glimpse of me or doubled back in the corridors, staring. I wish they wouldn't because all I was trying to do was concentrate on finding our way to class.

There was hundred of staircases at Hogwarts: some wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that moved whilst you were on them. 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 wall pretending.

Filch, the caretaker also owned a cat called Mrs Norris, a scrawny, dust-coloured creature with bulging, lamp-like eyes that are a bright yellow. She patrolled the corridors alone but break any rule in front of her or put one toe out of like and she'd whisk off for Filch, who would appear, wheezing, seconds later. Filch knew off the secret passageways of the school better than anyone (except perhaps the Weasley Twins)

Once me and Mae managed to find some of the passageways, there were the lessons themselves. There was a lot more to magic then I thought, and which we all found out quickly, it was more than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.

On Wednesdays at midnight, Mae and I along with everyone else in our class had to study the night skies through their telescopes and learn the names of different stars and the movement of the planets. Three times a week we went out to the green house behind the castle to study Herbology (which we had with the Gryffindor first-years), it was with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout where we learnt how to take care of all different strange plants and fungi and found out what uses they have. Hermione stuck by my side in lessons which Gryffindor and Slytherin are together as Ron made it clear he didn't like her very much. Harry and I greet each other like siblings would, he questions me about the Slytherin's and I question him about the Gryffindor's. We joke and laugh.

Professor McGonagall was different from the other teachers. I had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross, she threatened to turn one of Ron and Harry into a pocket watch or a map when they turned up late for her first lesson. McGonagall was strict and clever, as soon as we all had sat down, she gave us a firm talking to.

"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said, "Anyone messing about in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."

McGonagall then changed her desk into a small pony and back again. Ever pair of ever widened in shock but we all realised that it would be a long time until we were turning furniture into animals. We were told to make complicated notes before being given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione and I had successfully turned our matches into needles and we received a rare smile from Professor McGonagall.

One lesson was taught my a ghost called Professor Binns, and it was easily the most boring lesson which was History of Magic. The ghost droned on and on while I scribbled down names and dates, if it wasn't for Draco poking me in the ribs with his wand sending a sharp electric shock through me, I would of fallen asleep.

Professor Flitwick, my Charms teacher, was almost close to adorable because he was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of book to see over his desk. At the start of our first lesson, as perusal, Gryffindor and Slytherin are placed together, so Hermione nabbed the seat to my left before anyone else could, Harry sat to my right, Mae sat to his left whilst Ron had no choice but to sit next to Hermione.

For our first Charms lesson, we all learnt a simple levitation spell, Flitwick handed us each a feather, he explained that we all needed to simply 'swish and flick' our wands, we all practised that movement for several minutes, Flitwick looked at us all, spending extra time watching Harry and I, he seemed excited by us and when he called the register and reached our names, he lets an squeak.

"Now, the words, repeat after me: Wingardium Leviosa." Professor Flitwick said loudly and clearly.

The entire class replied in unison, "Wingardium Leviosa."

"Prefect." Flitwick says, "Now, remember the movement, swish and flick, you all try using your feathers."

Everyone in the class attempted it, and continued to try, wands and the spell was being used, some students shouted the spell others whispered. And if you were like Ronald, he was just saying the words and then waving his wand madly at the feature. Hermione flinched as the wand got to close to her eye.

"Stop! Stop!" she said strongly, "You're going to poke someone's eye out. Beside, you're saying it wrong, it'slevi-O-sa."

Ron snarls at Hermione, "You do it then if you're so clever," he challenges, stupidly.

Hermione just flickers her hair, and picks up her wand and says clearly whilst swishing and flicking her wand in perfect motion, "Wingardium Leviosa." Almost immediately the feather begins to levitate, Hermione continues to dip and raise her wand to keep the feather raising up and up. Ron's face plummeted in embarrassment as I begin laughing uncontrollably, it serves Ron right as he shouldn't of been rude.

Then after lesson, Harry, Ron, Seamus and Dean, (two boys who'd introduced themselves) they walked several feet in front of us however I can hear Ron talking about Hermione, "Levi-O-sa." he says mimicking her voice. "Honestly she's a nightmare, its no reason she hasn't got any friends."

Pain struck Hermione's face, she then stormed off, knocking shoulders with Ron to show that she had heard him. I give Harry and disappointed look as I run past them to catch up with Hermione. "Wait!" I call after her but she doesn't, I step in front of her quickly, "Don't listen to him, he's an idiot."

"But it's true, I don't have any friends, no one like me!" she says, tears line her eyes and she immediately stares down at her well polished shoes to avoid me from seeing that she was really upset.

I laugh, "I'm your friend."

"But we're not in the same house," she objects.

"Why does that matter?" I question, Hermione looked up from her shoes to meet my eyes, "Just because we aren't in the same house doesn't mean we cannot be friends, think about it, Gryffindor and Slytherin – from what I've heard – hate each other, think how fun it would be to prove that theory wrong?"

Hermione smiles, "I guess that would be fun."

"Plus our houses have literally every lesson together so you couldn't get rid of me if you tried." I wink.

This time, Hermione actually laughs, its a real heartfelt laugh that makes me smile. I gave her a hug, which she returned gratefully when we released each other, we just laughed like we'd known each other for years. It was nice.

From then, onwards, Hermione met me in the Entrance Hall as she come down the main staircase that led up to the right from the Great Hall's doorway whereas I come from the left down from the dungeons. We eat breakfast together, Milo usually comes down to sit beside me but during the day he either sleeps in my room or wanders around the school ground catching mice. Hermione didn't have a pet however the we received mail by the post owls, well I say 'we', I really meant, Hermione receives mail from her parents who are muggles and both dentists.

Friday was a very important day for Harry and Ron as it marked the first day they actually managed to find their way down to the Great Hall in time for breakfast without getting lost once. They sat opposite me and Hermione, we exchanged good mornings. It was strange being apart from during the night but since arriving at Hogwarts, I can feel Harry almost slipping away from me but I think it's because for the first time in our lives, we have our own friends and we aren't forced to spend all of our time together.

"What have we got today?" Harry asks pouring sugar on his porridge before passing it over to me so I can do the same. Pouring some on top before stirring it in and relaying the top with a thick layer of sugar.

"Double potions with the Slytherins." said Ron, I didn't like his tone when saying Slytherins. "Snape is there Head of House, apparently he always favours them – we'll be able to see if it's true."

I roll my eyes and chuckle, Ron gives me an odd disapproving look, "I'm certain that's not true, teachers who are the head of houses cant show favouritism to the students in their house. It's unethical and unfair."

Just then, the post arrived, I had gotten used to this by now whereas on the first morning it had given me a bit of a shock when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the table until they saw their owners or the recipients of the letters they hold, once located, they dropped letters and packages onto the table in front or in their laps depending on the size.

Hedwig hadn't brought Harry or myself anything so far, she sometimes flew in to nibble our ears and steal a bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owlery with the other school owls. Despite not being the owner of Hedwig, she would still sit on my shoulder and allow me to pet her, Harry said he didn't mind because I'm certain that Milo sneaks off to spend time in the Gryffindor common room.

However, this morning, Hedwig fluttered down between Harry and myself and dropped a note onto the table between us. Harry and I stare at it, unknowing what to say because the note is addressed to both of us. Harry nodded to me, I picked it up and tore it open with excitement.

Dear Harry and Grace, (it said, in a very untidy scrawl)

I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three? I want to hear all about your first week. Feel free to bring the new friends. Send us a answer back with Hedwig.

– Hagrid.

Snatching Hermione's quill, I scribbled a reply on the back of the note saying, yes please, see you later, I gave the note back to Hedwig and informed her to go back to Hagrid before telling Harry, Hermione and Ron that we are having tea with Hagrid at three. They all agreed happily. And then we headed off to Potions with Professor Snape, to see if he favour the Slytherin students.

A/N: Tell me what you think of Grace and Hermione's friendship but also the twins meeting Snape for the first time! Review, I love reading your feedback, also favourite and follow to get updates of later chapters! Have a good day!