Not Alone After All

Chapter II

Later that night, Laurie found herself in the Great Hall. She sat down on the table next to Hermione.

"Are we still friends?" Asked Laurie, after an awkward silence.

"Of course we are. I usually don't befriend Slytherins, but you seem alright, Laura." said Harry. Laurie smiled.

"Im under the impression Dumbledore hated the idea of you being in Slytherin," Hermione commented.

Harry, who was sitting on the other side of the table, besides Ron, replied:

"And I'm under the impression Snape liked it," he said. "You should have seen the look on his face when the Sorting Hat said Slytherin."

"Who's Snape?" Asked Laurie.

"He's the head of the Slytherin house," said Hermione.

"He's their master!" Yelled Ron.

Harry, Hermione and Laurie just stared at him, wondering what the hell was going on inside his head.

"He doesn't really like Harry," explained Hermione.

"He doesn't like anyone," said Harry.

"No he doesn't," agreed Hermione, "but he seams to hate you the most."

"And Neville," said Ron.

"Yes, and Neville."

"Great guys. That's just great, thanks. And since he's the Potions professor, I'll see him tomorrow morning," Laurie murmured.

"Tomorrow is only the first class of the year. He will probably take it easy," explained Hermione, trying to comfort the younger girl.

"No he won't," contradicted Harry.

"No he won't," granted Hermione.

They all went to their rooms, only to wake up the next morning. Hermione was up very early. Harry came by sometime later. They decided not to wait for Ron, who was sleeping like a rock and wouldn't wake up.

Harry helped Laura to find the potions class and then he went back to his own class. Laura sat down besides another ginger girl who was sorted in Gryffindor.

"Hello," sais the girl to Laurie. "Im Ginny, who are you?"

"Im Laurie," she said back, with a smile. Laurie thought it was strange, a Griffindor willingly talking to her, a Slytherin. Harry said there was this rivalry between the two houses, but she was glad to make friends.

Ginny was to add something when Professor Snape slapped his book on the table.

"The class has started, Weasley," he said. Ginny shut up and turned towards the teacher, with a scared look upon her face.

"Now," he said, with his deep voice. "Anyone knows what I get if I add powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Was his first question.

No one dared to put their hand up, or even look into the Professor's eyes.

"No? Useless," Snape mumbled, looking at Ginny.

Just before he turned around, Laurie put her hand up. Everyone looked back at her, even Snape.

"Yes, Ev--Angelo? Do you know the answer?"

"I believe so, professor," she said  looking straight into his eyes.

"Then say it."

"I believe, Professor, it creates a very strong sleeping potion," she said. Snape looked at her very attentively." It's called the Draught of Living Death."

"Where did you pick that information?" Asked the Professor.

"I read about it. On one of my brother's books," she answered, her voice slightly shaking.

"Rory?" Asked Snape, as if he didn't know what brother she was talking about.

"Yes, sir."

Before they knew it, the class was over. Snape asked Laurie to stay. Ginny waited for her by the door.

"Angelo." Said Snape, coldly.

"Do I know you, professor?" Asked Laurie.

"No. Why would you ask that?"

"I don't know sir, you are always looking at me like you recognise me. Should I remember you?"

"No. I just wanted to say that... in years we haven't had a student like you in Slytherin. An actual smart student. Not like Malfoy, that little vermin. I'm proud to have you in our house," Snape said. Laurie felt like she was a bomb about to explode.

"Um... thank you sir," was all she was able to say, as she walked to the door. Laurie and Ginny left the room side by side.

"How did you know that thing about the sleeping potion? Asked Ginny, in awe.

"I read about it, as I said. My brother often leaves stuff around the house. So when I'm bored, I read it. I've got this surprisingly good memory, when I think about it."

"Are you sure you shouldn't be in Ravenclaw?" Joked Ginny. They both laughed.

"Never!" Laurie said, between two laughs. "You should see me doing homework and studying! I'm a lost cause!"

They both laughed. They then walked to the Great hall, where Hermione was waiting for them, wanting to know how was their first class with professor Snape.

"He's not that bad," explained Laurie. "I think he's just lonely."

The two other girls stayed silent for a moment when they heard footsteps running through the hall. It was Ron, his hair all messy and his tie tied wrong.

"Why didn't you wake me?!" He yelled.

"We were in class, Ronald," said Hermione in an annoyed tone, rolling her eyes.

"Bloody Hell! I slept during the first period of the year!" Once more, Hermione rolled her eyes. She seamed to do that a lot around Ron. "How was class with Snape?"

"Not bad, actually--" she was interrupted by Ron once more.

"Since when do you two know each other? Ginny?" Ginny slapped his arm.

"Stop interrupting."

"We just met, actually," explained Laurie.

"I think we are the exceptions of the school," Ron commented. "The only Gryffindors friends with a Slytherin."

By Laura's face, he would give anything to take his words back.

"Well," said Harry. "Im glad that it's Laurie." The girl smiled.

"And im glad that I met you all," she answered. "I would be nothing without you."

"That's not true," said Ginny.

"Yeah," sais Ron. "You'd be friends with Malfoy."

"Which is even worse. That boy is a serious problem," Laurie said.

"Tell me about it," Harry said, as he sighed.

"If you want, I can ask him why he hates you," Laurie volunteered. "I think he just kinda.... likes me?"