The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 4

Harry was sure he had never done anything against Professor Snape in his life. He had only met him a few days ago! So why did he hate him so much?

He could still feel the sharp pain in his scar he had felt during the welcome feast, when Snape had turned to look at him. That experience, combined with the disastrous Potions lesson, had left Harry with some trepidation towards Snape.

Thankfully the other teachers didn't seem so unreasonably rude. Professor McGonagall, who taught Transfiguration, could keep a class silent without having to say a word, and she gave them a fair amount of homework, but she seemed like she cared about her student's learning.

Professor Sprout, who taught Herbology, made sure that her instructions were so clear that even Crabbe and Goyle, who had the IQ of a moldy toothbrush, could follow them. Professor Binns, who taught History of Magic, was a ghost and was so boring that nearly everyone fell asleep during class.

Professor Flitwick was Harry's favorite teacher. He was part goblin, and so short that he had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. As he took roll call, he nearly fell off the books when he got to Harry's name. Charms, which is what he taught, seemed very interesting to Harry.

All morning he looked forward to a visit to Hagrid's cabin, which he had been invited to in the afternoon. Harry made his way across the grounds and knocked politely as Hagrid let him in, struggling to contain a very eager Fang. Harry loved dogs and immediately went to pet the massive Great Dane.

''Make yerself at home,'' Hagrid said as Harry sat down in the small one room house and was served tea and very hard rock cakes. ''Slytherin, huh?'' Hagrid gestured to Harry's robes. ''Would'a thought you'd be a Gryffindor, like yer dad.''

Harry chatted animatedly with Hagrid. He rather liked the Hogwarts gamekeeper, even though the other Slytherins didn't seem to. Harry would never forget his first trip to Diagon Alley, and the man that brought him there. During the conversation, a piece of paper caught Harry's eye. It was a clipping from the Daily Prophet, with a big headline that said Gringotts Break - In Latest. He shoved it in his pocket for future reading.

As Harry walked back to the castle for dinner, he read and reread the article, especially the fact that the break - in happened on July 31. His birthday. Something was up with that, but he would figure it out later. Right now he was starving and wanted dinner.

After a pleasant dinner with Draco joining him at his table, he walked down to the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons. ''Venom'' was the password that allowed him to enter. The Slytherin Common Room was decorated in green, black, and silver, with big windows looking out to the lake and black velvet couches. There were round tables for doing homework and big bookshelves and talking paintings that were more than happy to share anecdotes about their time at Hogwarts. It might seem too cold and dark to some people, but it was perfect to Harry.

''Hello Harry,'' waved a girl with long blond hair and sapphire blue eyes. She was Daphne Greengrass, a witch in his year that sat next to him during lessons and did homework with him. Harry wanted to be her friend, of course. He couldn't fall short to Draco, who was befriending Hermione Granger. Harry also wanted some extra protection between him and all the whispering students that were probably churning out rumors about him this very minute.

After he did all his homework with Daphne, he went to his dormitory. He was glad that the dorms were a little more private, each set into an alcove and covered by dark green velvet curtains. Even though he was tired, Harry couldn't sleep, so he curled up on his small window seat and read books he had found in the library. He had gone through three books before dawn rose and he prepared for another day of classes.