Alright, here is the next installment. I hope you enjoy it.

Harry Potter isn't mine.

Classes and a Letter Home

**********September 2, 2008 - Tuesday

The next morning Nattie was woken up by Livvy, who had been trying for at least fifteen minutes to get her awake.

Nattie looked blearily at her. "Wha’ ya want?"

"For you to get up. You’ll be late for breakfast it you don’t hurry up."

Nattie yawned and rolled over pulling the covers over her head she did. "Okay, I’ll get up. Just give me about ten minutes."

Livvy jerked the covers off of her. "No, you need to get up. Now!"

Nattie sighed and sat up. "Alright, alright I’m up. Happy?"

"Not until you’re out of bed," Livvy said with a smile.

Nattie sent her a glare but the edge was take off as she yawned. Finally she climbed from her bed and stretched.

Livvy smiled. "See, that wasn’t so bad now was it?" She looked down at her watch. "Now, you better hurry and get ready. I’ll meet you down in the common room. I have to see if my brother’s awake. If not I’ll have to go up and smack him until he is." With that she disappeared out the door.

Nattie sighed and flopped back down on her bed.

Which promptly threw her back out.

"Bloody Hell! What just happened?!?"

Livvy appeared in the doorway. "I charmed your bed using the spell mum uses on my brother’s. Now it won’t let you go back to sleep." She laughed at the look on Nattie’s face. "Better hurry up," Livvy told her in a sing-song voice.

Nattie groaned and stood up. Mumbling curses to her new friend she made her way to the bathroom where she swiftly took a shower then dressed in her robes. She left her hair down brushing it until it fell down her back like a waterfall of white blonde silk. Then she walked down the stairs to find Alec, Jas, and Livvy waiting for her.

She smiled. "Morning guys."

"Morning," they all replied.

They made idle chat on the way down to the Great Hall. Livvy making a few comments on her excitement about classes starting today.

Nattie laughed when she saw Jas and Alec roll their eyes at Livvy. When she wasn’t looking of course.

**********

When they had finished their breakfast, except for Jas who was still eating, Professor Granger came around handing out their timetables. She stopped when she got to their little group.

"Morning guys. How was your first night?" she asked the twins.

"Good," they both replied.

Granger smiled at them. "That’s great," she said handing them their timetables. She handed Alec his but stopped before giving Nattie hers.

"Good morning, Natalie. I trust your first night was good as well?" she asked.

Nattie nodded. "Yes, Professor."

Granger nodded with a smile. "How’s your dad? I haven’t seen him in ages."

Nattie had no idea why Granger was asking her this question but answered anyway with, "He’s good. If not a little sad at my leaving."

"Yes, parents often feel like that when their children leave for the first time," she told Nattie as she handed her a timetable. "By the way, welcome to Hogwarts."

Then she continued on to hand out the rest of the timetables.

Nattie shrugged off the slightly weird conversation and headed to the dungeons for class with the others. Double potions with the Slytherins.

Taking a seat with Jas, while Livvy and Alec sat in front them, she waited with trepidation for class to start.

The door opened and in came a man with greasy hair and a big crooked nose. His robes billowed behind him and gave him the impression of gliding across the floor.

Nattie knew this man, oh yes, her dad talked of him often. It was his Godfather. He could be less then pleasant she’s heard once or twice.

"You are here," he said turning to the class once he’d reached the front of the room, "to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making." He spoke quietly but the students still caught every word. Due to his known hostility from the other students they brightly remained quiet and still.

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes. The delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins; bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame; brew glory; even put a stopper on death."

Nobody spoke as he finished and looked around the classroom. With a glint his eyes came to rest on Nattie.

"Ms. Malfoy, what would I get if I mixed ground bones of mileta and essence of murtlap?"

Nattie stared. She didn’t know! Despite her dad’s attempts to teach her, she sucked at potions. Once she’d heard him cursing her father under his breath. Realizing she needed to give him an answer soon she shook her head and said, "I don’t know, sir."

Snape hid his surprise well but Nattie noticed it in his eyes. "Then tell me what most well-known potion uses alum clovers.

Uses what? Nattie thought. She shook her head again. "I…don’t know, sir?"

Snape sneered slightly. "What is the difference between Aconite and Monkshood?"

Did Draco tell this girl nothing? Snape asked himself.

Nattie’s eyes widened slightly. Now this she knew but the fact was escaping her. Then she realized.

"Nothing."

Snape reigned in his shock. "Nothing?" he asked.

Nattie nodded. "They are the same plant. Also known as Wolfsbane. It’s used in the potion that allows werewolves keep their mind during the full moon."

Snape nodded. "Good." -maybe there is hope- "As for the other questions, that is today’s assignment. Find out what you get when combining ground bones of mileta and essence of murtlap. Explain it’s uses. Then find out what an alum clover is and what potion its use is most important in. Both are to be fourteen inches."

The rest of class was a little subdued as they just wrote their essays.

**********

Nattie groaned as they left the dungeons. "I hate potions! I’ve never gotten them!"

Livvy gave her a sympathetic look.

"I don’t think Professor Snape liked that you didn’t know anything either," Alec said.

"Yeah, he knows my dad’s good at potions so that’s probably why. Dad blames my father. I’ve heard Dad cursing him under his breath when he was trying to teach me," Nattie said with a sigh.

"If you don’t stop poking around we’re going to be late for Transfiguration and mum will get onto us," Livvy told them as she quickened her step.

Jas rolled his eyes.

**********

That evening Nattie sat down to write a letter to her dad.

Dad,
Hey, what’s going on there at home? There’s not much happening here and, just because I know you’re worried, I’m fine. Are you?

Classes are great! With the exception of potions and that’s just ‘cause I can’t get them. I don’t think Professor Snape likes me much either. Defense Against the Dark Arts is the easiest class and you’ll never guess who our professor is. Harry Potter! He’s an awesome teacher dad. You should see him. Course I guess you’d know that. Transfiguration is alright. The teacher is very strict on us. You should know her too. Hermione Granger? Our flying couch is Ron Weasley. You know him too right? We are just learning how to control the broom right now so it’s not too exciting yet.

Those are all the classes we’ve had today. I can’t wait for the rest tomorrow.

Alright. Alright. I guess I stalled long enough, didn’t I? Well, the good news is that it’s not Hufflepuff. Of course it’s not Slytherin either.

So that only leaves Ravenclaw and Gryffindor and I think we both know I’m not Claw material so…

I’m a Gryffindor!

Well, I got to go. Talk to you later dad.

Love you,

Nattie

Nattie sealed the letter and gave it to her familiar. A sleek black owl named Septimus. He gently nipped her finger before flying off from the window ledge where he had been perched.

"Hey Nattie," Jas called from across the common room, "you want to play a game of chess?"

Nattie smiled a bit before walking over to where Jas was sitting by the fire and plopped down opposite from him.

"Alright," she said, "let’s play."

**********

Two games later Jas was staring at the chessboard with dismay. No one could beat him aside from his dad and yet here Nattie had, in fact, beaten him. Twice!

He looked up from the his remaining pieces. They didn’t seem to be very happy with him if the things they were shouting at him was any hint. "Best three outta five?"

Nattie smiled before standing up. "Sorry but I’m going to bed. See you guys in the morning."

Livvy and Alec said goodnight as Jas went back to staring at the chessboard.

This girl kills the self-esteem, he thought.

**********

All done, tell me what you think.