Hello everyone! I know I have been on an uploading spree the last couple of days, but I am brimming with ideas I just want to get out. If you have an idea, please let me know. I may know where I want to go with this but I am still open to suggestions. And I'd love to hear your theories too! I am also looking for a beta. Please let me know if you are interested. The next chapter will take at least a couple of days as I have work. Lots of love. LunaPotter93. xx

3rd September 1991

Isla wasn't sure what time it was. After three for sure. When she heard the doors open, she heard the voice of Professor McGonagall, "Hello, is anyone in there? Are you alright?" Oh no. Time to hear more music. Isla stood up and opened the door. Professor McGonagall looked at her with kind eyes. "Miss Hope. Are you okay? You are supposed to be in potions." Isla just started crying again. "Oh dear. Miss Hope, it's okay. Are you feeling homesick?" When Isla started to cry harder, Professor McGonagall just put her arm around her shoulders. "Please, tell me what's wrong." And Isla did. Everything that had happened in potions. When she had finished, Professor McGonagall signed. "Well, you shouldn't have shouted at Professor Snape, but nor do I blame you either. You are right, he should not have been behaving like that, singling out Mr Potter, and he should not have thrown you out that way. Did he hurt you?" Isla undid her robe and exposed her arm. There was a bruise. "Right, that looks nasty Miss Hope" She started to help Isla do her robes back up. "Why don't you go and see Madam Pomphrey for a calming drought and to get that bruise seen too, and I will go and deal with this situation." Isla nodded. They walked to the door and Percy was walking past. "Ah, Mr Weasley. Would you mind taking Miss Hope to the hospital wing? She has had a bit of a shock."

Percy nodded. The Professor gave her shoulder a quick squeeze and they parted. After a few moments, Percy glanced at her. "How's your first week going?" Isla looked at him as if to say what do you think? "Right silly question. What was your last class?"

"Potions"

"Ah. That explains it. Want to tell me what happened?"

Isla hesitated then started. "Professor Snape was picking on Harry. Asking him Newt-level questions and expecting him to know the answers. Then when we started making the potion, he was criticizing everyone except Malfoy. Then Neville made a mistake which is pretty normal for a first-ever lesson, and even got some potion on him. He shouted at him and then blamed Harry for not telling him not to when he wasn't even looking at him as he was sitting in front of him. He made at least 5 students cry"

Percy nodded, "That's pretty standard from Professor Snape I'm afraid."

"I'm guessing it's not standard for him to grab a student's arm and through them out the room and tell them he will not teach them again?"

Percy started "What?"

"Yeah." Isla nodded sadly.

"Why did he do that?"

"I called him out."

"Well, it makes sense now. Although it doesn't make him right. Is that why you were crying?" Isla nodded. "Well, it's good you told Professor McGonagall. She will sort it out." He put his arm around her. Percy is nice, even if he can be annoying.

It was after five. Madam Pomphrey wanted to keep her in to make sure she didn't react badly to the calming draught, Neville in the bed next to her. They had been talking when Professor McGonagall came in with Hermione behind her, carrying Isla's school bag, which Isla had left in the classroom. "How are you both feeling Miss Hope, Mr Longbottom," the Professor asked. They both nodded. "Good," she stated. "Now, I have spoken to Professor Snape. He had agreed to give back the points he took, but he has put his foot down on the detentions. However, it will be one, not five. That is something. He will also continue teaching you. He also sends his apologies for his reaction, he also sends his apologies to you Mr Longbottom, and he has also given Mr Potter the two points back he took from him. He has also promised to stick to the first-year curriculum from now on."

Neville looked confused, "And what about the on Isla's arm?" Hermione looked at her. She had not been told.

The Professor sighed, "Both will be addressed internally. Professor Snape will be disciplined. Trust me. Verbal and physical abuse is never a punishment we allow, nor will it ever be. Professor Dumbledore put a stop to it when he became headmaster, and it will stay that way." The students nodded. "I will leave you to it. Dinner has started, and it finishes at six thirty. Don't miss it. Please come and see me if you need anything." With that, the Professor walked out.

Hermione walked over holding her bag and past it to her. "You shouldn't have shouted," she said.

6th September 1991

It was breakfast, the last day of her week. The rest of the week went a bit more smoothly. It was rather funny. Wednesday at breakfast, her Aunt sent a howler to Professor Snape. The twins cheered and then spent the rest of the day following her around as if she was Morgana herself, shouting 'Queen of the firsties.' Whilst other students were stopping her in the corridor, shaking her hand. Even some of the Slytherins. In potions that day, Snape barely spoke, ignoring the Gryffindors, and gave them a class on health and safety. Typical. On Thursday a banner had appeared in the great all with flashing letters saying; 'FREE THE FIRSTIES'. She also had a letter from her Grandpa stating unequivocally that he fully intends to come down on Professor Snape with the fall force of the law. She wrote to him saying it wasn't necessary. All this attention was making her quite dizzy, metaphorically speaking. The banners were gone, she honestly did not like this much attention. For a first week, it has been a strange one.

16th September 1991

Isla was coming down to the common room, ready for breakfast, robes on and school bag in hand. It had been a strange couple of weeks, but things were calming down now. There was a throng of first years around the common room notice board. She saw Neville walking away from the board. "Hey Nev! What's going on?"

"Flying lessons," he whimpered. "They are starting Thursday."

Isla smiled, putting her arm around him. "Don't worry Nev! You'll be fine. They are lessons for a reason."

19th September 1991

Soon, Thursday arrived. It passed so fast. Her Aunt never really let her fly a broom, their garden was so small. And Neville's Grandmother forbade it, she was so scared he would hurt himself. Not that she admitted it. And her great Aunt Ursula thought girls should not be allowed on a broom, not that Marcus would let her borrow his. Her Grandpa would have but they rarely go over to his. But first, history. Isla loved history. It was one of the subjects her Aunt taught her at home. She wanted to make sure Isla had a firm grounding in history before she came here, as Professor Binns only teaches about goblin revolutions. Having now three weeks of history at Hogwarts under her belt, she knew that it was probably also because of how boring it was. Not that it stopped her reading. History and Charms are her two favourite subjects. She even read widely outside of lessons. With history, it was the subject itself, not the lessons. With Charms, it was a mixture of the lesson and the subject. Professor Flitwick had a way of making it all sound very exciting. The odd thing is, she may have enjoyed Potions too if it wasn't for Snape. He spent the lessons ignoring her now, apart from telling her to take Neville to the hospital wing. It was always her. History was now over. She made a note of the subject to read more about it after dinner, after going to the library for a book of cause.

Neville was walking beside her, shaking like a leaf. Oddly, so was Hermione. It turns out she's not a fan of heights. The other Gryffindor boys were ahead of them. They were all excited. Of course, they would be. She could hear Malfoy somewhere behind her boasting about how he already knew how to fly, and how good he is. Gosh, she really doesn't like him. As they got to the grounds, Madam Hootch, the flying teacher, was standing there, in front of two lines of brooms. "Okay students," Hootch said bristly. "Gryffindors, stand by the brooms to the left, Slytherins to the right."

They all did as she asked. She gave Neville's hand another quick squeeze. She understood how worried he was. "Okay hurry up!" Hootch boomed. "Stand to the left of the brooms" they did. "Then hover your right hand over the broom, and say up."

Her broom went into her hand immediately. She looked up, shocked. She noticed Harry's did also. Neville looked at her wide-eyed. Malfoy just looked annoyed. She couldn't help but smirk at this. Unfortunately, that's when he looked up. But he just narrowed his eyes at her.

"Once you have hold of your broom, put your right leg over the broom and mount it." Isla did as Madam Hootch said. "Now, on the count of three. I want you to kick off the ground. Hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment. Lean forward slightly, and touch back down." That sounded like a lot. "On three. One. Two. Three." Isla kicked, hard. He was lifted into the air. Okay. She managed to steady her broom. This was amazing. She was about to lean forward when she heard Neville scream next to her. "Nev?" She turned her head to the left. Neville's broom was rising, and he was panicking. "Nev! Try and keep still!" She shouted.

"Isla! I can't!" With that, the room shot off into the sky. Isla tried to follow but she didn't know how and fell off. Ouch. Hermione helped her up – she hadn't managed to do it yet. They started running. Neville was starting to fly over the castle. She didn't know if she had ever been so scared. They all followed. Suddenly he was flying back toward them. Madam Hootch started to wave her want, but he was too fast. They all ducked. Neville whirled around again and started getting higher and higher. Over the tower. Then under the tower and looked up. The broom was now flying on its own.

"Neville!" Isla shouted, panicking. She looked towards the roof. His robes were court on a statue. "Madam Hootch. Look!" pointing towards him. Hootch managed to wave her wand as he came falling down. He started to slow, but not enough to stop the loud thump. "Nev!" She was crying now. She ran to him, and she and Madam Hootch managed to get him sitting up. But it was obvious his wrist was broken. "Nev! Are you okay?" She hugged him.

"I'm okay" Neville sniffed.

"Yes, he will be Miss Hope. Don't worry," Madam Hootch said. They both helped him up. "Stay here with the others. No need for tears." She raised her voice to the others. "I want you all to stay here while I take Mr Longbottom to the hospital wing. If one person decides to fly. I will get you out of Hogwarts before you can stay Quidditch."

Lavender and Parvati were with her, either side, rubbing her back. That was worse than when his uncle Algie dropped him out the window. The tears quickly dried up when she saw Malfoy holding his new remembrall. Aunt Augusta had only sent it this morning. "Give that to me Malfoy," she shouted, practically running over to him. "That is not yours, it's Neville's!"

Malfoy just smirked. "Do I look like I care, crybaby?"

"Oi!" a shout came from behind her. It was Harry, he stood next to her. "That belongs to Neville."

Malfoy just smirked again. "You want it back Potter? Come get it." He then got on his broom and flew off. Harry started to get on his broom.

"Harry no!" She shouted, trying to stop him.

"No way. You don't even know how to fly!" Hermione tried, just as Harry flew off. This was not going to end well. The boys were hovering, shouting at each other, like a verbal game of Quodpot. She couldn't hear what they were saying. It was then she saw Malfoy throwing the little ball towards the castle. Oh no! It was made of glass! Then a blur whooshed passed, towards the castle and the little ball. Harry! He was going to crash!

He didn't. Just before he reached the castle wall, he caught it and steadied himself. "Yes!" Isla shouted along with the other Gryffindor students, as Harry flew back down to the ground. She ran to him, and hugged him, "Thank you, Harry." He didn't hug her back, just patted her back slightly. Upon releasing him, she smacked him around the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Don't risk your life again." She said sternly.

Through the jubilant congratulations, a stern voice came through the crowd. "Mr Potter" the Scottish tone of Professor McGonagall. "Follow me." She turned and walked back towards the castle. As Harry followed, she just thought about how she knew it wouldn't turn out that well.

20th September 1991

Isla went to bed early last night. When she went to see Neville after class, Harry had already been to see him and given him his remembrall. He didn't get into trouble. She wanted to stay with him but Neville insisted she went to dinner and go back to the common room as he felt fine. She made her way down to breakfast. She had double potions in an hour. AH! She disliked Snape. Isla got down to breakfast and found Harry and Ron talking quietly. "Hi, You two. Sleep well?" even though they murmured yes, she wasn't sure if she believed them. "Are you sure? You both look shattered!"

"Oh, stay out of it Hope. Who asked you?" Ron snapped. Harry glared at him.

"What side of the bed did you get out from Weasley?" Isla replied.

Ron just rolled his eyes. Isla decided to move down the table. It was clear it wasn't the morning to test him. A few minutes later Neville joined her, looking tired. "Morning Nev!"

"Morning."

"What time did you get back in last night? You look super tired."

"Late," Neville replied. "I forgot the password to the portrait hole so I fell asleep outside."

Isla stared at him with wide eyes. "What?"

"Yeah," Neville responded gloomily. "But then I got woken up by Hermione shouting at Harry and Ron."

Ah, that explained Ron's mood. Wait. "In the corridor? After curfew?" Neville nodded. She paused. "So, they let you in?"

"Sort of" he paused. "The fat lady wasn't in her painting."

Oh. "Then what happened"

"Harry and Ron decided to go and fight Malfoy."

"What?" her voice was raised. She could see a few students glancing at them, including Harry and Ron. She could see Hermione having breakfast now too, looking at her knowingly. Smart girl. "Then what happened?"

"It was a trap and Filch turned up" Oh no. "But he didn't catch us." He hastily added, seeing the look on her face.

She sighed in relief, but he still had a strange look on his face. "Something tells me there is still something else."

"We accidentally ended up in the forbidden corridor. We hid in a side room. But there was a giant three-headed dog!"

She stared at him. "You mean," she hissed at him. "A giant Cerberus is living in the school!" She said she liked reading.

Neville looked confused, then nodded. "If that's what a giant three-headed dog is, then yeah."

She paused taking it all in. She didn't whether to throw her arm around Neville, thanking Merlin that he was still alive. Or shout and scream at Harry and Ron… and Hermione too apparently. She sighed. "Well, if there is a Cerberus there, and Professor Dumbledore knows about it, there must be a good reason." Neville just shrugged and nodded. She looked at her watch. Quarter past eight. "We better get to potions." Neville just nodded glumly as he stood up and they walked out of the hall. Glaring at the boys and Hermione as she went.