Disclaimer: I make no money from this and hold no rights to it save for any original characters I may create. Anything you recognise belongs to Warner Bros.

Authors Note:

This story his been rated T due to some violent scenes and some bad language, though the bad language will be kept to a minimum.

Thanks to everyone who has supported myself and this story so far and a special thanks to the following people for favouriting, following and reviewing my story; Tryndamer95, WizBali, BohemianFrankenstein, Mando-Vet, Kukarlz85, mary-overseas, LadyTygerEyez, Darth Void Sage, Kerjack45, GrandMajingaZetto, benjamindh and chemrunner57.

Review replies:

To Caro: Thanks for the kind words, glad you've enjoyed the story so far.

To scrappy8: Glad you enjoy the story, thank you.

To jun lane: Rest assured I have no plans to pair up Harry and Ginny relationship wise in this story as given their being siblings it would be too strange.

This chapter is slightly shorter than the others but I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter Five:

Harry awoke early and blinked as he sat up. Yawning deeply, he looked around and found that everything was blurry. He stared about for his glasses and noticed a glasses shaped blur on his equally indistinct bedside table.

Having slipped his glasses on Harry remembered where he was, in the First Year Gryffindor Boys Dorm at Hogwarts. While he still felt homesick he smiled at the memory of the denning down in the Common Room the previous night.

Harry checked his watch and saw that it was only seven o'clock in the morning. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep he shoved back the duvet and headed over to the trunk that lay at the foot of his bed.

Once Harry had his school clothes and shoes plus toiletries he headed for the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth ready for the day ahead.

Harry returned to his dorm, retrieved some parchment, quill and ink and decided to write out a short note for his brother. He padded over to Ron's bed and could see as he approached it that his brother was fast asleep, snoring loudly as was his custom. He rolled his eyes and placed the note down on the bedside table. He then headed over to his bedside area, retrieved his wand from one of the drawers and turned to exit the room.

Harry heard a yawn as a voice said tiredly, "what time is it?".

Turning around Harry found that Neville was sitting upright in bed blinking and scratching his head.

"Seven o'clock", Harry informed him.

Neville nodded.

"Sorry if I woke you", Harry apologised.

Neville smiled and shook his head. "I usually get up at this time at home anyway, I help my Great-Uncle Algie in his greenhouse and herb garden, he's big on making potions".

Harry nodded. "Shame we don't have him teaching Potions", he said and added, "my Dad James Potter and Professor Snape were enemies at Hogwarts apparently and afterwards so Mum and Dad warned me he might treat single me out".

Neville frowned. "That doesn't seem fair if he does".

Harry shrugged. "No but there's not much I can do about it".

"Are you heading down to the Common Room?", Neville asked.

Harry nodded. "Yeah. As a matter of fact I've just realised that I nearly forgot my school bag". He grabbed the bag from where it lay next to his bed.

"Hold on a minute while I get dressed and brush my teeth?", Neville requested. Harry nodded and sat down on his bed.

Neville was soon ready and the pair of them descended down to the Common Room as Ron, Seamus and Dean slept on.

As Harry and Neville reached the Common Room they both gaped in surprise. Given the early hour neither boy had expected anyone else to be up, and yet sitting there on one of the plush sofa's...was Hermione Granger!.

Harry and Neville exchanged a bewildered look and then just shrugged. The two boys walked slowly across the room saying nothing until they reached either side of the sofa on which their friend sat engrossed in her book.

"Hello Hermione", Harry said. The effect of these words were electric. Hermione jumped two foot in the air, fell off the sofa and dropped her book. She turned to glare at Harry.

Harry felt embarrassed but he did not wilt under the glare, he had had too much practise enduring glares from his mother and sister to be affected. The same, however, could not be said of poor Neville who shrank back as a blush spread across his pudgy face and he murmured "sorry Hermione".

"Yeah sorry Hermione, didn't mean to startle you", Harry apologised with a grin.

Hermione picked up her book and settled herself back on the sofa. "For your information I was not startled Harry Potter! I was just very focused on my book", the bushy haired girl denied.

Harry and Neville exchanged disbelieving looks but said nothing.

The boys joined Hermione on the sofa and the threesome chatted about what classes they might be attending that first day.

"I hope we don't have Potions first thing", Harry said with a shudder and informed Hermione of the history between his birth father James Potter and Professor Snape.

Hermione was sceptical about possible animosity from Snape. "I am sure there is no way Professor Snape would single you out Harry, he must be able to separate his personal and professional lives or he wouldn't have been engaged to teach here".

Harry hoped his new friend was right but at the same time he couldn't help the niggling doubt in the back of his mind that told him to be wary of Professor Snape.

"Morning", Harry turned at the sound of his brothers voice to find Ron stifling a yawn. It was clear he had only just got dressed for the day and Harry rolled his eyes at Ron's being lazy even on such an important day, don't get Harry wrong! he did love his brother it was just that he could never understand why Ron enjoyed sleeping in so much. For Harry the day was there to be enjoyed.

"You only just got up didn't you", Harry said in amusement.

Ron nodded in response and yawned. "I was tired".

Harry shook his head. "We'd better wait for Percy, he said he'd show us how to reach the Great Hall".

Ron disagreed. "We'll be fine and besides we can't rely on 'Perfect Percy' all the time".

Harry shook his head but picked up his school bag and he, Neville and Hermione followed Ron across the Common Room, out of the Portrait Hole and down the moving staircases.

"See, we don't need Per...", Ron's declaration was cut off and he cried out in alarm, as did Harry, Neville and Hermione, when the staircase they were on began to move without warning.

"What do we do?!", Neville was clearly panicking.

Hermione settled them down. "Percy told us that the stairs move sometimes and that if they do then we wait until they reach one of the landings".

"Fun time this is going to be", Ron grumbled, "having to watch out for moving stairs for seven whole years!".

Eventually, the staircase ground to a halt having connected up to one of the landings. "Quickly everyone!", Hermione urged.

The four of them piled off the staircase only to find themselves in front of a dusty and cobweb strewn old oak door.

"We'd best turn...oh no!", Hermione's advice proved to be all for nothing for as they turned around the foursome were greeted with the sight of a gaping hole and a gigantic drop where the staircase had been.

Harry surveyed the door. "Well it must lead to somewhere, perhaps it's a way down to the Entrance Hall?" he said, thinking aloud.

Hermione eyed the door sceptically and raised an eyebrow at Harry. "I'm not so sure, what if it's a restricted area? or a dead end? we could get lost just wandering about like this".

"Well we don't really have a lot of choice", Harry reasoned, "after all, that staircase was the only way down". He raised an eyebrow of his own, "unless you all feel like jumping and hoping for the best". Ron and Neville both hurriedly shook their heads at such an idea.

Hermione sighed. "Well here goes nothing then". She reached out and tried the door handle.

To the surprise of the four students, the door creaked open. The loud noise suggested that it had not been opened much for some time.

The four of them stepped through the doorway and peered cautiously in. It was a corridor, dusty, cobweb strewn and populated only with a number of crumbling statues and rusting suits of armour. Several small spiders scurried towards the ceiling causing Ron to take a sharp breath.

Looking down the corridor towards it's opposite end another door could be seen. "Come on", said Harry and the four of them walked slowly towards it keeping an eye out for possible danger.

As they reached the door the four of them took in the detail. It was just as old looking, and cobweb strewn as the other one. Without warning, the door at the other end of the corridor slammed shut causing a collective yell of alarm and fear to pass through them all.

Once they had recovered from the surprise Harry made the decision to try the door handle and see if he could open the door. To his great frustration it was locked, "it's stuck!", he said irritably.

"Let me try", Hermione said softly. Harry stepped aside and wondered exactly what she would be able to do. His wondering did not last long as she whipped out her wand, aimed it at the door and murmured "Alohamora".

As the door lock clicked open and Hermione opened the door she turned to face Harry who was gaping at her in surprise. "What?", said Hermione looking nonplussed.

"How did you know that spell?", Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. "I started to learn a few basic spells after my parents took me to Diagon Alley for my wand".

"But...but...but that's a Second Year spell!", Ron burst out. Harry nodded.

Hermione looked surprised. "Is it?", she said, "I had no idea".

The boys all gaped at her and she huffed in annoyance. "Can we get a move on please? I want to get to breakfast".

"Sorry", Harry, Ron and Neville apologised.

The four of them turned towards the door and piled through the doorway. As they closed the door a loud snarl could be heard. Turning as one in the direction of the sound the blood drained from their faces. Ron and Hermione let out yells of surprise and terror as the foursome came face to face with a massive three headed dog which was snarling and slobbering looking for all the world like he was planning to have them for breakfast.

Harry and Ron wasted no time. "Lets go!", Harry shouted and together he and Neville pulled Ron and Hermione back through the doorway and slammed the door shut.

Recovering from her shock and fear, Hermione aimed her wand at the door and managed to get out of the word "Colloportus!", just as the massive dog slammed himself against the wooden door which almost splintered at the impacted.

"Run!", Harry yelled and the four of them hurtled down the corridor, practically flying through the other door and slamming it shut.

The four students stood there breathing heavily as each of them tried to take in what they had seen.

In time, the foursome had got over the worst of their experience and headed down the staircases.

As they walked, Ron complained loudly, "what the hell do they think they're doing keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?! it could have eaten us!".

Neville shuddered but said nothing.

Harry noticed Hermione had a thoughtful look on her face which he was certain matched his own. 'Why exactly is a giant three headed dog chained up in a school?', he thought. It was an intriguing thought.

"Oh Ron really!", Hermione exclaimed, "didn't you see what it was guarding?".

Ron and Neville exchanged looks and shook their heads as Ron voiced what seemed to be their collective feelings, "no me and Neville were too busy looking at it's heads and hearing its snarling and snapping jaws!".

"It was standing over a trap door", Harry cut in.

Hermione nodded. "Exactly, which means that it must be guarding something!".

"What on earth could possibly be so important that a monster like that would be brought in as a guard?", Neville said.

Hermione bit her lip. "I don't know", she replied uncertainly.

"It's a mystery though", said Harry with a grin. He looked at his brother and said, "and you know if I like one thing it's a mystery".

Ron shook his head. "I'd better just warn you now guys, my brother is mad. He actually enjoys this sort of thing".

Harry playfully slapped his brother on the back of the head as the four of them reached the Entrance Hall.

"Where did...", said George.

Fred added "you...".

"Get to Ickle Ronniekins and Ickle Harriekins?", they said together.

Ron grew red in the face at the unwelcome nickname while Harry, having a slightly better grasp on his temper, merely rolled his eyes. "Don't call us that!" Ron said loudly, looking around to check no one else was nearby.

"If you really want to know we found a rather dusty corridor and had a fairly nasty encounter with a three headed dog".

Fred and George gaped at the four younger students. They then swallowed hard and looked at each other.

"I'm not telling Mum", declared Fred emphatically.

George shook his head. "Neither am I", he said.

Harry and Ron both breathed a sigh of relief. Both boys knew that while their dad would not mind so much their mum, who was very protective of her children, would be furious at them for putting themselves in danger. Don't get Harry and Ron wrong, they loved their mother and her overprotectiveness was actually endearing but sometimes it made them feel quite claustrophobic.

"You'd both better watch out though", Fred told them.

Harry and Ron frowned. "Watch what?", Harry asked.

Fred and George grimaced and said together, "'Perfect Percy' is on the warpath".

Harry and Ron closed their eyes and groaned in sync.

"It seems the pair of you were supposed to wait for him so he could escort you to the Great Hall this morning. He was not happy when he passed us just now, grumbled something about 'adventurous younger brothers' messing up his timetable".

Ron sighed. "Great", he muttered sarcastically. He turned to Harry and said accusingly, "this is your fault".

"My fault?!", Harry hit back. He poked a finger at his brothers chest, "you're the idiot who said to go on without Percy and we'd be...", he used air quotes, "...fine".

Harry and Ron glared at each other for a moment until their elder brothers intervened and separated them.

"No one is at fault" Fred said, attempting to play peacemaker.

George backed his twin up, "these things happen guys. Given how old this castle is it's not surprising you got lost".

Hermione had been silent for awhile but not spoke up. "Actually, you're both at fault. Ron for suggesting going on without an escort for this one time and Harry for not disagreeing".

Harry and Ron stared angrily at their new friend until she held her hands up. "But then again we did discover an intriguing mystery thanks to it", she admitted.

Neville nodded as he stood next to her.

Harry and Ron were placated and turned to each other. "Sorry Ron", Harry apologised.

Ron scratched his cheek a sign of embarrassment. "Sorry Harry, I shouldn't have accused you, it was my fault".

"Hey we both made mistakes lets forget about it, yeah?", Harry grinned at his brother. Ron grinned back and nodded.

Fred and George wiped away mock tears from their eyes.

"It's so beautiful Gred", George declared mockingly.

Fred agreed. "A wonderful scene Forge!".

"Shut up you two", Harry and Ron said together.

An evil grin split Harry's face as he said, "hey Ron, do you remember our conversation before the sorting ceremony last night?".

Ron's face now sported an evil grin as he recalled it. "Something about paying back our 'Dear Brothers Fred and George' for their information on how we would get sorted?".

"That's right", Harry turned to face Fred and George as did Ron.

Fred and George gulped as their brothers grinned evilly at them and Fred muttered, "uh...Forge...I think we may have made a bit of a mistake".

George gulped and nodded. The two of them left the four younger students standing in Entrance Hall while they fled into the Great Hall.

Hermione and Neville both looked confused and Neville asked them, "what was that all about?".

Harry and Ron scowled.

Ron informed them, "those gits told us that the sorting ceremony would hurt".

Harry nodded. "They said that we'd have to do anything from fighting a troll to singing in front of the whole school".

"And I take it by your facial expressions you intend to get even with them", Hermione stated perceptively and with disapproval.

Harry and Ron had quickly learned that Hermione did not like the idea of going against the rules. Neville, however, it seemed was not such a stickler for following the rules as he asked a bit timidly, "can I help?...I mean do you need any help?".

Neville looked surprised to have spoken up but Harry and Ron both smiled and each clapped a hand on his shoulders.

"Can you help?", Harry chuckled, "Nev you will be instrumental in making the plan work should you help us".

Ron nodded. "The distraction is a key part of pranking and we reckon you'd be perfect for it mate".

Neville beamed a smile at them. Harry had the feeling that they had made the right choice in becoming friends with the pudgy boy who seemed very loyal.

"I don't approve of pranking but...I do think it was mean what your brothers did", Hermione admitted to the shock of the boys, "I won't take part in the prank itself but if you need help with the distraction in addition to Neville then let me know".

As Hermione walked ahead of the three boys to the Great Hall Harry, Ron and Neville exchanged stunned looks.

"I think we might be having a bad influence on her", Harry stated with mock concern.

Ron watched her go and nodded, "think you're right Bro".

"Did she really agree to being a distraction for a prank?", Neville asked no one in particular. Harry and Ron nodded at his question and Neville shook his head, "how did you two manage to get her to bend the rules so fast? I mean we only met the pair of you yesterday!".

Harry and Ron shrugged. They were as amazed as Neville. The three boys strode into the Great Hall in silence, Harry thinking of a good prank as he was sure his brother was.

As expected, Percy was on the warpath when Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall with Neville at their side. "And just where were the pair you earlier on?", their older brother demanded.

Neville gave Harry and Ron sympathetic looks and hurried off over to where Hermione was sat at the Gryffindor table enjoying a piece of toast with marmalade. Harry wished he could be relaxing and having breakfast instead of getting the third degree from 'Perfect Percy'.

Percy pushed his horn rimmed spectacles further up his nose as he fixed Harry and Ron with a withering glare. His younger brothers winced and cast hopeful looks at each other. "Can you tell him?", Ron whispered.

"Me?!", Harry was horrified at the very thought. He came up with a good solution as Percy stood there impatiently. He said to Ron "lets do rock, paper, scissors. The loser can tell Percy".

Ron nodded and the pair of them turned away much to Percy's irritation. "What are you up to now?!".

Harry and Ron ignored him. "On three", Harry instructed, "one two...three". Harry's was rock while Ron chose paper.

Ron cast a relieved look at Harry who sighed and turned to face Percy was glaring at them even harder now. "We decided to head on to the Great Hall on our own", Harry told their older brother.

Percy's eyebrows rose. "Despite the fact that I told you to wait for me and I'd escort you there?", he said in annoyance. Harry nodded. Percy scratched his head and then said "well where did you get to then?".

Harry knew that he couldn't say anything about the giant, three headed dog and so he improvised an excuse. "We accidentally ended up on the Seventh Floor, pure bad luck. Took us ages to get down to the Entrance Hall".

Percy fixed them both with a penetrating stare for a moment before he just shook his head, muttered "younger brothers" and walked off towards the Gryffindor table.

"Git", Ron muttered after him. Harry privately agreed but he said nothing as the two of them headed for the Gryffindor table themselves.

Harry and Ron slipped into an empty space at the Gryffindor table alongside Neville and opposite Hermione.

Hermione was giving them a sympathetic look as was Neville even as they ate their breakfast. Eventually, Neville broke the silence telling them "we heard Percy go off on one at you, bit unfair I thought".

"You can see his point though", Hermione said as she finished her bowl of porridge. Harry and Ron gave her annoyed looks and she amended hastily "but as Neville says he was a bit harsh".

Harry and Ron snorted humourlessly. "That's what Percy is always like", Ron informed their friends, "doesn't care about us just about his precious schedule".

Harry heard footsteps just as he picked a piece of toast and slathered it in marmite ready to eat.

"Your timetables Mr Potter-Weasley, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom", Professor McGonagall said as she passed them each a timetable and explained "this is a timetable of your classes for the year and their length as well as highlighting what time break and lunch are and how long for".

The students thanked the Professor for the timetables and she left to hand out more. Harry took a bite of his toast savouring the combined flavour of butter and marmite as well as admiring the cooking skills of the Hogwarts House-Elves while he perused his timetable. He groaned out loud causing Ron, Neville and Hermione to stare at him. He elaborated by showing them, "we have Potions as our first ever lesson. I just know Professor Snape is not going to like me".

"Well...as long as he acts professionally I suppose", Hermione said trying to lift Harry's mood.

Harry sighed and rested a hand on his head. "The thing is Hermione...I'm not sure he will".

Once breakfast was over, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville headed to their first class of their school year along with the other Gryffindor First Years. Hermione talked with Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil and her sister Padma plus another girl named Bronwen Jones who, as it turned out, was the niece of Quidditch star Gwenog Jones.

Harry overheard Hermione talking to Bronwen and couldn't help coming over to ask her about her aunt, who he had a slight crush on. Ron joined him while Neville kept talking to Seamus and Dean.

The chatty mood broke up as the Slytherin students arrived for the lesson. Harry seethed as he recalled that he and his friends would have to take Potions with the prattish and arrogant Draco Malfoy, he only hoped that the blonde haired boy would prove to not be as bad as he seemed.

"Potter", Malfoy sneered.

Harry rolled his eyes. "It's Potter-Weasley, Malfoy. How many times do I have to tell you?".

"Never mind chatting amongst yourselves it is time for class", said a cold voice.

Harry turned to find himself facing the long haired and hook nosed professor from the Welcoming Feast the previous night. Professor Snape.

To Harry's confusion, his scar which had pained him the night before when staring at Professor Snape was not causing him any discomfort on this occasion.

Harry and the other students filed past the Professor who barely looked at any of them.

One Harry and the other students were standing by their Potion tables Professor Snape ordered "well sit down then". There was a scraping of stools as the students all moved to sit.

Professor Snape strode over to the left hand side of the cold dungeon classroom waving his wand to shut the curtains and blinds closing out the exterior lights. 'He looks like an overgrown bat', Harry thought with some amusement. He didn't voice this thought for fear he'd laugh.

"Potion making is more an exact science than simply being magic", Professor Snape informed them and then declared, "there is no foolish wand waving in this class and as such hardly any of you are likely to consider it magic at all".

Professor Snape fixed them all with a penetrating stare through cold eyes. "I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death". He waved a finger, "this is all only possible however if you prove not to be as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually teach".

Professor Snape took the register and when he got to Harry's name he paused. Harry waited to see how the professor would act. "Ah, I see we have a new celebrity joining us", the professor said with a sneer.

The Slytherin students sniggered looking for all the world to Harry like they were happy to see him taken down a peg or two, though whether due to his being a Gryffindor or because of his fame he didn't know.

Harry sighed and replied, "I'm not a celebrity Professor, just someone who somehow survived Voldemort. I'd much rather not have this fame at all".

Professor Snape raised an eyebrow. Harry had the impression that this was not the response the man had expected, an impression that was reinforced as the professor carried on with the register shortly after while making no comment.

Once the register was out of the way Professor Snape fixed Harry with a stare and said, "and now time to begin the lesson. Potter-Weasley, tell me what I would get by mixing by adding powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood".

For a moment Harry's mind was blank and then he recalled what he'd read in the summer and again the previous night. "A draft so powerful it is know as the Draught of Living Death Professor", he replied.

Professor Snape looked annoyed and Harry had the feeling it was due to his answering correctly. "Correct", the Professor said begrudgingly and then moved on. "Where would I find the stone of a bezoar?". He ignored Hermione's outstretched hands and the hands of a number of other students including Draco Malfoy's instead asking, "well Mr Potter-Weasley?".

"From the stomach of a goat Professor", Harry answered promptly.

Professor Snape's eye twitched but he nodded. "Correct". He moved on again and once again ignored the other students as he asked Harry "tell me Mr Potter-Weasley, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?".

Harry thought for a moment and then recalled reading about it. "They're the same plant Professor", he replied.

"Not bad but if you were hoping for house points you will be sadly disappointed. You failed to name the plant that both Potion ingredients come from which is in fact a plant by the name of aconite". Professor Snape surveyed the room, eyeing up the other students and demanded "well? why aren't you writing this down?". The students hurried to write the information down as Professor Snape placed it on the blackboard.

Harry exchanged a brief look with Professor Snape before he moved to note down the information himself. He had the feeling that the Professor had had some of his notions jolted. It was obvious to Harry that Snape had expected him to be a lot like his father.

It was a surprise to Harry how well the exchange between himself and Professor Snape had gone, though he was certain the Potions teacher still dislike him due to his looks.