Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Harry Potter and the Green Flame ❯ It Always Starts at the Beginning ( Chapter 1 )

On September the twelfth, my father escorted me to the front doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"You'll be welcomed here, Morgan, with open arms. You're talent will not go unnoticed within these walls." My father said confidently as he led me towards the entrance.

"But why father?" I asked, looking around at my surroundings. Definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto. "What makes this school so different from the one back home?"

"You'll soon see, Morgan. Hogwarts holds many opportunities for those who go above the expected. You're on the road to greatness, my dear." He said; a little urgency noticeable in his voice.

He opened the doors to a grand entrance hall and led me along huge corridors covered in paintings and tapestries of all sorts of themes. Upon further inspection I noticed movement from one painting to another and I looked on in amazement. There were paintings of wild animals from a safari of which the giraffes and the elephants were walking away and from picture to picture. Old white haired men dressed smartly were peering curiously as my father and I passed their frames. Another glance upward as the sound of stone against stone reached my ear. I gasped in amazement.

"Father, look at those stairs. They're moving!" I exclaimed. Father smiled as he looked at me, slowing his pace to keep next to me. He seemed to approve of my wonderment.

"Yes, it's pretty amazing isn't it? I always loved watching the stairs move. I used to sit at the tops of the stairwells waiting for one to move so as to hop on and take a ride. And I loved talking to the paintings-"

"You talked to the paintings? Father, this place is too unreal to be real."

"Hogwarts is full of wonderful and exciting things, Morgan. Its magic extends far more than just the teaching of its students. You'll see in time, Morgan. But there's no time for that now. The headmaster is waiting."

We stopped in front of a stone gargoyle that looked quite menacing in its hunched position. Father muttered a strange word and the stone structure quite literally jumped up from its place to reveal a hidden staircase leading up.

"Right this way, Morgan." he advised me. And up we went until we came to a stop in front of a huge oak door. He knocked and from a distance beyond the door, I heard someone speak.

"Come in." The old voice said from within. Father opened the doors and led me through to a large circular room filled with knick knacks and small whirring instruments, some which puffed smoke. At the center of a room was a large wooden desk and behind it stood the oddest looking man I'd ever laid eyes on.

He had long white hair and matching beard that nearly touched the ground. Half moon spectacles perched carefully atop a crooked, wrinkled nose set his bright blue eyes a sparkle. Talk about ancient.

"Headmaster, I would like you to meet my daughter, Morgan." Father motioned me forward. I took a small step ahead and smiled as warmly as I could.

"Hello, Professor." I said in a clear, confident voice.

"Hello Morgan. I'm so happy to meet you," he said quite cheerfully. I couldn't help but feel light and happy to be in his presence.

I looked around the room a little more, taking note of the large portraits on the walls of more old, white haired men. Small snores were coming from their frames and I watched as their chests rose and fell in slumber.

"Is there anyone to show her around? I'm unable to stay too much longer. I must get back to America. There's still much to do as far as getting the old academy back under control." Father said.

"Yes, I've arranged for Harry Potter to escort her about the school. He was the only one in her House that had a free period during this time." The Headmaster spoke happily to my father. And as if on cue there was a knock at the door.

"Yes, he's here now. Come in." he called towards the door. I looked over as it opened to see who this new person was and had to stop myself from making a noise. The boy was about my age with round glasses. He had untidy black hair that stuck in every direction except down. He was taller than me, but not much and shoulders that looked as if they were just beginning to broaden. He was skinny, but not exactly boney, having a look of only just now getting the proper nutrition he needed. But all this was a side observation, noticed only in my peripherals. What held my attention the most were his eyes. They were the color of bright emeralds, almost the exact same shade as mine and they were looking right at me.

"Mr. Potter, I'd like you to meet Ms. Morgan Lennox. She's a new student to our school, right from America. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to show her around the castle. She'll be starting the term later today and will need to get acquainted with the grounds quite quickly. What say you?" The headmaster asked him. Harry smiled and nodded.

"Ah, wonderful. Follow him then, Morgan. He'll show you around the grounds and I daresay you might make a few new friends before starting your class's Thank you, Harry." The headmaster dismissed us both from his office in a sweeping gesture and off we went. Upon leaving the stairwell, I turned to this strange new boy and extended my hand.

"I'm Morgan, nice to meet you." I smiled as nicely as possible and hoped I didn't come off as too pushy.

"Nice to meet you too." he said just as nicely with a shy smile. His English accent gave me butterflies. I've always loved British men.

He led me through the corridors, pausing briefly to allow me time to regain composure after each stunning new thing Hogwarts presented. Every statue and every armed suit that lined the halls seemed to bring the boring regularity that would be school, to life. I was in complete awe of this place.

"So er, how do you like it so far?" he asked me with a bemused smile on his lips. I couldn't contain myself.

"It's fabulous. This place is amazing and beautiful and really you call this a school?" I gushed with excitement. He smiled, clearly enjoying the look on my face as I spoke fondly of his center for education.

We walked a little further, coming back to an area I remembered from early. The entrance chamber to the school could have easily fit most if not all of my house back home. And to my right was a large sweeping staircase that led up to even more portrait bound walls and corridors that seemed to go on forever. Harry seemed to notice where my thoughts were.

"It is big." He said. I snorted at this.

"Big is an understatement. Colossal I think is the term we're looking for here." I responded back. He grinned at me as he nodded his head in agreement.

"Yeah, but you get used to it." He added.

"I don't ever want to get used to it. I want walk through these halls and feel the wonderment I feel now each and every time."

"So you're from America." This wasn't a question, merely a statement of the obvious. "I was kind of surprised when Dumbledore said so; you and your father have a slight English accent." I looked at him a little surprised. I never noticed it before but I suppose since my parents were both raised here it would only make sense that I had a small piece of their accent as well.

"America" I sighed whimsically. I was little sad to see it go. I had a small amount of friends back home that I missed so much already and I grew up there. I noticed him shrug a bit indifferently. "What?"

"Nothing, I'm just curious why you came so far just to go here. Aren't there magic schools where you grew up?" Though the question may be taken as though it were an accusation, his voice revealed mild curiosity.

"There have been a lot of problems with our magical government lately and my father has been upset with the course of action they've chosen with the school. See it's being controlled through the government and they're making mandatory classes that my father feels isn't appropriate for our age group."

Harry seemed to absorb everything I was saying. He appeared to be just as interested in the difference of our lives as I was.

And then we were off. He took me everywhere he could think of. The transfiguration wing, the dungeons where he said our potions class was held. The Defense wing was by far my favorite. Back home we didn't have much reason for defense theory. It was an elective that most students still chose to take, but our instructors were hardly any good at it. Nor did they know what it was truly like to have to defend oneself from dark magic.

After a tour of school itself we started for the grounds outside. He took me by the lake and the edge of the forest. He even took me to the game keeper's house.

"Hagrid is busy teaching a class at the moment, but here's where he lives. My friends and I spend weekends here visiting. He's a very close friend and very special to me." He said this all while looking up thoughtfully towards the door to the little hut, not offering to explain further. I didn't want to pry too much so I left it well alone. We walked on towards the Quidditch Pitch. I stared in amazement once more.

"You can not seriously tell me that you've never heard of Quidditch." Harry asked, noticing my silence. I rolled my eyes.

"Of course I have, but we don't play the sport at school. They say it's too dangerous. Of course we have a national team and I catch the game on the Wizarding Wireless Network every so often, but I have yet to see an actual game take place." Harry gawked at me, his eyes bugging ever so lightly.

"That's crazy. We'll fix that for you. I mean it's only our school tournaments but each House plays against each other once a month so you'll have ample opportunity to see one." He got excited at this. Obviously this was a sport he enjoyed as well.

"Yeah? Maybe we can go together sometime." I started to smile at this but quickly recovered when I saw him hesitate.

"Well, yes we could I suppose. I don't normally watch the other houses games but there's no reason why I couldn't. It could be fun." I frowned.

"You don't watch your own house play?" How odd. He laughed a little and shook his head.

"Sometimes I wonder what that would be like, but then I get out on the field and that thought quickly vanishes."

"Oh you play for the house team! How exciting! What position are you?" I was suddenly enthralled at the aspect that I was talking to a Quidditch player. I'd never met anyone who'd actually played the sport and was so intrigued by anyone that did. His cheeks burned red as he had clearly not wanted too much attention but I could tell he was proud to share this information all the same.

"I'm the seeker." He said and blushed a little more. Keep the awe coming.

"Wow." I was impressed. It was easily the hardest position in retrospect. I could tell he was getting uncomfortable with the extra attention so I decided to change the subject.

"So, what's it like being here everyday? Do you ever get distracted by how amazing it is? Or maybe pinch yourself to be sure it's even real?"

"Some days it's harder than others. But really there's usually so much work during the quarters that we have a harder time noticing anything else." He explained. I could tell he was really trying to give me a good idea of what my life is going to be like till next summer.

After a thorough tour of the grounds we began our way back to the school. It was almost lunch time and I could hear the sounds of students heading for the Great Hall getting louder as we got closer.

He led me through the throng of kids each trying to hurry to their tables for lunch. We stopped again so as to let the size of the hall sink in. There were four long tables; I assumed were designated to each house and one shorter, horizontal table at the front of the hall, where teachers were already seated and enjoying their meal. He led me to the right towards the middle of the hall where two other people were sitting. From afar they seemed to be bickering, the female gesturing wildly.

The girl was mousy, with long, thick brown hair. She had a large text book in front of her as she sipped her drink and continued what ever she was yelling about. The boy was a tall, freckly red head. And it seems his only response to her argument was to huff and roll his eyes at her and look generally confused. He looked up when he saw us approaching, motioning for the girl to do the same.

"Hey guys!" Harry sat down across from them and I quickly followed suit. I smiled at them and waiting for Harry to introduce us. I could tell right away that they were protective of their friend. The girl was eyeing me suspiciously and the boy was looking back and forth between the three of us, waiting for the questions to fly.

"Guys, this is Morgan. Dumbledore just had me show her around the school before lunch. She's here from America." Harry explained to his friends whose suspicious looks only slightly evaporated. I extended my hand to the girl first.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you." I offered another friendly smile, which was returned a little hesitantly.

"Nice to meet you too, I'm Hermione Granger. This is Ron Weasley. We're friends of Harry's." She said warmly and I felt accepted, at least temporarily into their group. But when I tried to offer my hand to Ron it was denied. He merely nodded in my direction and went back to eating his lunch.

Harry looked at him for a moment before deciding it was better left unsaid and quickly helped himself to food.

I should have been used to all the surprises by now but of course watching as the originally empty trays miraculously filled with food I couldn't help but stare in awe. Harry chuckled a bit from my side and looked over him a little embarrassed.

"If you saw the school I went to in America you would completely understand why I'm so enthralled with yours." I quickly defended myself. Harry laughed opening at this as I looked back at the food and took a few pieces to sample.

"What was your school like in America?" Hermione leaned curiously over her book towards to me to ask.

"It was just a school. It was a regular building with walls and doors and windows. We had teachers and a lunch room and lockers. I know there were some Magic Academy's that housed their students through out the whole year, but I grew up in larger town that had lots of magically inclined families. We all grew up together too. Our government recognized the magical ability through the families we were born from so we didn't go to regular public school first like you guys do here.

We were taught our reading and math skills by witches and wizards and we learned the history of our nation's magical community. And when we entered junior high we started taking more classes involving magic. We got our wand and were assigned different majors depending on our strengths and interests. It was like college for minors. By the time we graduate at 18 we'll have all the skills required of what ever branch of work we were interested and we're usually tested on our skills on the employer level right out of school." Hermione nodded her head as she kept up with my explanation. She seemed very eager to learn about a different way of life, just as Harry had been. It was nice too. I could tell she was genuinely interested in getting to know me and it made me happy. I felt lucky to have had a jump start on the social setting. Making friends was hard, especially in such a foreign setting.

I looked towards the door to the great hall as the Headmaster walked in accompanied by my father. They shook hands and parted ways as the Headmaster walked back out into the corridor. My farther spotted me sitting with Harry and his friends and made his way towards me, smiling in excitement.

"Morgan." He greeted me with a pat on the shoulder. "How was your tour? Efficient I hope." He looked to Harry and then back.

"Absolutely, Dad, Harry did a wonderful job showing me around. I don't think I'll have too much trouble finding my classes later." My father beamed at me and shook Harry's hand graciously.

"Excellent, Harry, thank you! Morgan I have to get going back home now. I had your things sent up to your dormitory. Owl me everyday if you need to, your mother and I look forward to hearing all about your classes and new friends. Be careful and study hard." He kissed me on the top of my head and squeezed my shoulder tight. "Love you, Sugarbee." He whispered in my ear before letting go.

"Love you too, Dad! Thank you!" He smiled once more before turning around and walking briskly away towards the door. My throat worked a little as I watched him go. It would be a few months before I see him again and I had never spent more than a weekend away from both him and my mother. This was going to be a challenge. I was homesick already, but I trusted in his decision to put me at Hogwarts instead of the Academy this year. It was way too dangerous there now.

As I watched him go I heard a few hoots of laughter and jeers coming from the table on the other side of the hall. I looked over in time to see a blonde haired boy with a pointed chin make faces in my directions. Harry seemed to notice the disruption as well, for he was staring daggers at the boy.

"Who is that?" I asked getting annoyed fast as he continued to point his finger in our direction and angrily imitate mine and my father's farewell.

"Draco Malfoy." Harry said with a bite of acid. Hermione turned back around and laid a hand on Harry's clenched fist.

"Don't work yourself, Harry. You know he's not worth the agitation." She said in a soothing manor. I watched as he slowly unclenched his fist and blew out a quick stream of air. And the plot thickens.

"I take it we don't like this person." I added, watching as Harry calmed down. At this, Ron, who had been otherwise quiet throughout lunch, snorted.

"I'll say." He added before squeezing another bite of food in his mouth and returned to his silence. Hermione nodded with him.

"Draco is in Slytherin house, which is our biggest rival. Harry and Draco haven't gotten along since our first year. It's nothing new but as you can see we all can't help ourselves getting a little angry when he starts up his taunts.

"Yeah well just let him come over and try his antics. I'll be happy to give him a taste of American hospitality." I smirked as thoughts of the many ways to curse him went flying round my head. I looked up as he called out again.

"Yoo hoo! Mudblood lover! Tell Daddy I said bye too!" He sneered as his friends laughed with him. I turned red in the face.

"Can I hit him yet?" Harry smiled smugly at this.

"See, Hermione. I'm not the only one that wants to beat that fool into a pulp." Harry's hands were clenched again, only this time Hermione didn't stop him. She averted her eyes and looked a little embarrassed.

"I wish you wouldn't. I hate to be the cause of you getting suspended or expelled, Harry" She pleaded softly. At this I was more than a little confused.

"Come again? How is it your fault?" Harry quickly intervened as Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Do you know what the word 'mudblood' means?" He asked with extreme difficulty in saying the word. I'd never heard of it before in my life.

"No."

"It means 'dirty blood'. It's a term that stuck up, full blooded wizarding families, like Draco's, use to describe a witch or wizard that has one or both muggle parents." He said this with disgust dripping from each word. I was absolutely appalled.

"That's nasty. I take it that means that you have a muggle parent?" Hermione nodded sadly.

"Both my parents are muggles." She said simply. I shrugged it off. What difference does it make?

"Well, Hermione, I have no problem at all with your heritage. Back home, we're all mixed together with muggles. We have to be, there's no room anywhere to seclude all of us. Besides we like to live as normal a life as the next person. I don't see where that Draco boy gets off being that way." Harry laughed at this but there was no humor in it.

"The Malfoy's don't care. They're among one of the oldest, full blooded families left here so they see themselves as royalty." He explained.

"They act like it too." Hermione added just as the boy named Draco sent a paper airplane in our direction with more annoying jabs and jeers about the exchange between my father and I.

"Mudblood lover!" My skin boiled as he yelled it again over the hum of the other students in the hall. I jumped up, unable to contain my anger.

"Come say it to my face!" I yelled over a group of girls that looked no older than eleven or twelve. They jumped at my sudden outburst and became quiet much like the rest of the hall. Draco just smirked at me.

"Another time my dear, another time." His voice was confident, as if he were tempting me instead of the other way around. I stood there another moment longer, staring him down till stuck his tongue out and sat down. This earned himself more supportive laughter from his posse but I didn't care. I made a promise to myself then that some how, some way, Draco Malfoy was going to get what was coming to him.

Just as I was about to sit down, I felt a hand tug me back down to my seat.

"Oof!" I landed with a thud on my backside. "Ouch." I looked up at Harry and noticed he and his friends were staring at me with their mouths hanging open. "What?" I asked. Harry just smiled; looking like I had looked all day when I saw something new, except it was towards me that his amazement was directed. Even Ron, who other than the two words he'd spoken earlier and had remained quiet, looked impressed.

"That was really very brave, Morgan" Hermione said to me. I shrugged this off and shook my head.

"It was nothing. And someone needed to say something to him. He was starting to piss me off."

Our group sat in silence for a few awkward moments before I noticed everyone getting up and heading back to classes and I realized then that I still had to change out of my street clothes.

"Say, Hermione, would you mind taking me up the dormitory? I need to change into my uniform and get ready for my classes this afternoon. She smiled and nodded her head.

"Sure, let's go. Harry, Ron, we'll meet you in Potions." She said as she got up and gathered her books. I took one last swig of my juice and got up to follow her out.

We walked in silence for a moment. I was still taking in the sights of the castle as she led me up a new set of stairs and through more corridors.

"It must be overwhelming coming to a school like this." She said quietly as we neared the end of one hallway. It was true. I felt completely bombarded with this lifestyle. It so utterly different from the one I grew up with.

"Yeah, but I think I've really lucked out. I think it would be worse if I had just been thrown into this with no one to help me out. But so far you and Harry have been so graciously helpful." She smiled.

We walked a little further till we got to the end of a corridor with a picture of a fat lady. She was singing a song that was unknown to me and about three octaves off from it probably should be.

"Wackspurt!" Hermione shouted over the Fat Lady's howls. Before I could even wonder what that meant, the Fat Lady's frame shifted forward on an invisible hinge to reveal a large, carpeted room with big fluffy red couches and arms chairs sounding a wall length fireplace on the right wall. There were a dozen or so large tables scattered pell-mell throughout the room and a bookshelf full of what looked to be hundreds of magical dictionaries and literature text books just under the high rise windows. There were two doorways off to the left with staircases that led to the separate dorms for the boys and girls.

The room was warm. It had an air of welcoming and I instantly fell in love with it. I could already imagine curling up on one of the soft couches with a book on a cold winter day. As I began making my weekend plans for this a huge smile spread across my face.

"This is the Gryffindor Common Room. You'll do your studying here and it's a general meeting area for everyone in our house. Pretty toasty isn't it?" Hermione asked noting the look of thrill on my face.

"I'm pretty sure I want to stay here forever, Hermione." I replied back to her. She giggled at this and began walking towards the doorway that led up to the girls dormitories.

As we entered the dorm for our year, I realized it wasn't hard to see where I'd be sleeping. My four poster bed was straight back and to the right and my trunk was already lying in front of my bed just as my father said it would be. On top of it was an array of uniform pieces. Two skirts and two vests, all trimmed with the Gryffindor colors of Red and Gold and there were two red and cold ties lie were next to three long sleeved, white blouses. There was also a pair of black school shoes laying on the floor next my trunk and hanging on a small hook of a post to my bed was black robe with the Gryffindor crest sewn to the left breast. I beamed as I ran my hand over every piece.

Back home there was no feeling of being a part of a team. We didn't play sports and they rarely offered any extracurricular activities, always saying that studying the art form of magic should be what we kept our attentions to. But here it was different. Just belonging to a house gave me a sense of moral duty to the rest of the habitants of Gryffindor house. It was a warm feeling.

So as not to be late, I quickly grabbed the uniforms that I needed and rushing into the bathroom to change. I wasn't long and I stepped out I noticed Hermione was already at the door, book bag slung over her shoulder and ready to head to class. I slipped my shoes on, put on my robe and grabbed up the schedule left on my bed along with the books I needed for all my classes. Let's see, potions and herbology. Gripping my book bag tightly in my hands I hurried to the door and rushed with Hermione back down the lengthy corridors towards the dungeons for potions.

"Don't be nervous, Morgan… You'll do fine." She said breathing heavy as we practically ran to make to class on time. I tried to keep her words in mind but as we neared the dungeons I couldn't help but feel the nerves. Thankfully we'd gotten there in time and quickly joined Harry and Ron in line just as the door to the potions room opened.

I watched as a tall, greasy haired man walked slowly out his door, clicking the heels to his shoes on the floor for emphasis of his power. He had a mean look to him and his eyes seemed to inspect everything they roamed over. I had a feeling there would be no misbehaving in this class. Not that I wanted to in any of them but I felt more compelled to follow the rules here than I had all day roaming the corridors with Harry. I took the seat next to Hermione as Ron shoved past me to sit with Harry. I blinked for a second, a little dazed but shrugged. I shouldn't be upset, they were his friends first.

As I looked around as I took my book out for class and realized nearly everyone else had taken out potions supplies. Hermione must have noticed my distress and she thankfully came to my rescue.

"Don't worry, Morgan. You can use some of my materials till you order a set of your own." She smiled as she pushed her small shelf of ingredients towards me and handed me a glass wand for stirring.

"Thanks" I whispered towards her as the teacher took his place in front of the class.

"We're making remedies today. On each of your tables I've left a selection of remedies to choose from, ranging in difficulty, from easy to N.E.W.T. grade level standing. Pick one with your partner. You have one hour to complete them." With a flourish of his wand, each table was adorned with a caldron that was already boiling and ready to go.

I looked to Hermione who seemed to have already picked out a remedy for us and was gathering the needed ingredients.

"What's our teachers name again? I must have missed it." But before she could answer, a shadow appeared over our table and I looked up into the menacing eyes of our dear potions instructor. I gulped.

"Professor Snape." He answered for me but continued to stand there looking threatening. "And who are you?" He asked; annoyance clearly evident in his voice. I tried to smile politely but all I could do was stare, blank faced as he stood waiting for my answer. Hermione spoke up, again, coming to my rescue.

"Professor, this is Morgan Lennox. She's a new student to our year." Professor Snape sneered at her cruelly.

"I don't believe I asked you, Ms. Granger. Five points from Gryffindor. As for you," He looked back to me with a sneer still lingering on his face. "I'll advise you not to stay partner to Ms. Granger. I won't be able to properly grade you seeing as she does all the work." It was a clear attempt to sway my loyalty away from her but I wasn't having it. I sat up straighter and looked him right in the eyes.

"Thank you for your concern Professor, but Hermione has served me well more than once already today. If it's all the same, I'll just stay right here." I countered back and could tell already that I'll be regretting it. I felt the eyes of my new friends on me as I waited for Professor Snape to unleash his fury at me. But it didn't come. He pointed in the direction of the opposite side of the room and to my horror, right at the Malfoy boy from lunch.

"Mr. Malfoy, please clear a space at your table for Ms. Lennox. She'll be joining you for the duration of this lesson." His voice was icy as he gave me my instructions. There goes any thought of ever enjoying this class.

I gathered up my belongings and walked tall towards my punishment for speaking out against him. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he'd pissed me off. I acted indifferently towards Malfoy as I sat next to him. Treating him the same as I would any stranger, with unbiased politeness till Professor Snape retreated to his desk at which point I turned to look at him.

"Here's the deal. I've already done this lesson at my old school. I'll do which ever remedy you pick by my self and allow you equal credit at the end of class under one condition." I waited patiently for Malfoy to consider this for a moment.

"And the condition?" He asked, curiosity obviously getting the upper hand. I smiled sweetly before responding.

"You keep your mouth shut and don't say one word about my friends or utter that disgusting, elitist, foul term the entire rest of class. Just keep your book open and act like you're reading the ingredients to me. Got it" I crossed my fingers behind my back as I waited for him to accept. Please oh please don't make me deck this kid out.

He shrugged and opened his book to the ingredients page of the remedy he picked "Deal" he said before reading the list of what I needed.

I quickly got to work on it. Back home potions had been a class that I had always excelled. The process of combining different things together to make good or bad just came naturally to me. Of course Malfoy picked one of the most difficult potions on the list; one which, if made correctly, cured a tough case of cursed boils. It was difficult, but not impossible. And I had actually made it before so I was prepared for a few of the grueling stirring processes it took to make it.

I sweating by the time class neared its end, but I was finished with the potion. I was almost certain it was near perfect too. Knowing of course that I was already done with this potion, Malfoy decided to break his agreed upon silence to start up a string of taunts. I closed my eyes and cursed under my breath. I would have kept my cool too but as Professor Snape neared out table, Malfoy just had to make mention of that disgusting word from earlier. And I of course, lost it.

"You little bastard." I muttered before whipping my wand out and sent the skin boiling curse at him. It hit him square in the chest before he even had a chance to reach for his wand. All at once his eyes got wide and began ripping his shirt off to pull the fabric away from the wounded skin. I smiled smugly and sat down, calmly waiting for Professor Snape.

"What is the meaning of all this?" The icy tone to his voice returned. He inspected Malfoy's chest and looked up at me with pure malice.

I just stared up at him innocently waiting for him to ask.

"And what was your reason for cursing him, Ms. Lennox" He asked. I smiled sweetly at him then, just as I had with Malfoy before I cursed him.

"Well I slaved so hard over that Anti-Boil potion that I just thought we needed a test subject for it." I said this innocently and continued to smile sweetly in his direction.

"Detention! After dinner." Class was immediately dismissed after this and I quickly gathered up my things and walked out to join Harry and his friends.

I didn't say anything for a long time. Not even during Herbology, though I was polite when Professor Sprout introduced herself to me. I kept quiet the entire lesson, not even offering to raise my hand to answer I knew. This turned out to be most of them. I was quiet the entire walk back to the castle for dinner and even while we ate.

Their chatter was small as I picked, not hungry, through my food. Harry had finally had enough of the silence and he let his fork fall loudly to his plate. I jumped and looked up at him.

"Okay, I can't take this anymore. Where in the bloody hell did you come from?" He asked just as amazed as he had been when I stepped up to Malfoy earlier. I couldn't help but smile at this.

"I'm sorry. I don't normally make a spectacle of myself but that kid has a real attitude problem that needs fixin'." Hermione reached out a hand towards mine and smiled.

"You were brilliant of course. I mean, it's totally awful that you got detention but, Morgan, I think for once, seeing the look of pure shock on his face made it absolutely worth it." I beamed at her approval. Just as I was about to thank her, Ron jumped up a in a moody rush and stalked out the great hall.

"Is he always like this towards new people?" I asked, a little shaken by his sudden impromptu exit. Harry stared after him again and frowned.

"No, he's usually pretty cool actually." Harry said as he looked back to Hermione. They shared what looked like a significant silent agreement and Hermione stood up from the table.

"I'll go check and see; he's probably just forgotten something in the common room. I'll be right back." And she raced off towards the doors.

Some how, I highly doubted this explanation and as I looked back towards Harry I decided the fate of my future friendship with this group rested on me getting down to the bottom of this.