The news got around fast. Harry Potter was the new seeker on the Gryffindor team for Quidditch. According to Oliver Wood, he was the younger player in centuries and according to Hermione, Harry's dad was a chaser for Gryffindor. Draco wasn't too happy about it, he wasn't happy with Cortney for standing up for Longbottom. Anyways Cortney decided to be nice and give Neville his rememberall back now. She was accompanied by Seamus, Dean, and De'lexi.

" Not to be stereotypical, but aren't Slytherins supposed to be mean," Dean said. Just as she was about to answer they ran into Neville.

" You dropped this," Cortney said holding out the ball.

" Are you sure you didn't steal it," Neville said suspiciously as he grabbed it? They began to walk towards the library to study and do homework.

" Why would I steal it, what use would I have for it? " Cortney asked. De'lexi gave her a suspicious look while the others were oblivious.

" Because your in Slytherin," Seamus pointed out.

" Just because she's in Slytherin doesn't mean she's mean and steal things," De'lexi said sticking up for her. " That reminds me, I told Milan and Joseph we would meet them at the library ".

" What for? " Cortney asked.

" You'll see," De'lexi said smiling.

" Oh gosh," Cortney breathed. All of a sudden De'lexi grabbed Cortney's hand and dragged her to the library and sat at a table with the other two boys.

" Spill," Milan began.

"Is it Lestrange or O'Donnell? " Joseph asked.

" O'Donnell," Cortney whispered.

" Then why do people keep saying, Lestrange? " De'lexi asked suspiciously. Cortney looked up to see if anyone was listening in.

" Lestranges not my legal last name," Cortney whispered.

" Legal last name? " Milan questioned.

" Stepfather? " Joseph asked. Cortney shook her head. The three looked at each other.

" Adoption? " De'lexi asked.

" Yes, but please don't tell everyone. I will tell people when they ask," Cortney pleaded.

" Fair enough," Joseph sighed.

" Did you know you were adopted? " Milan asked.

" No, found out when I got my letter for Hogwarts. The same day I found out I was a witch," Cortney answered.

" How's it going? " Seamus asked bumping Cortney out of her seat and onto the floor.

" Where did you come from? " Milan asked.

" Down the stair, up the stairs, around the corner, through the doors," Seamus answered. Cortney stood up and glared at Seamus.

" I didn't want to sit there anyway," Cortney sassed.

" Oh, Cortney! I didn't see you there! " Seamus exclaimed quietly. Cortney playfully rolled her eyes. They sat in silence for a bit as Neville and Dean came up.

" I think it's time for dinner," Dean stated.

" Now that I think about it, I am kinda hungry," Cortney stated.

" I wonder why? " Milan sassed. Cortney put her hands up in defense.

" Did you even eat the grape? " Neville asked.

" Sure," Cortney said walking away grabbing her stuff.

" I'm going to take that as a no," Joseph laughed. After dinner, Cortney went back to the library to do homework and study. She kept glancing down at her letters before picking one up. The on me from her family. She carefully opened the letter.

' Dear Cortney,
Slytherin sounds cool! Sounds like a snake! And you know how Tristen loves snakes! We hope that you make new friends! Erin and Sarah want to hear more about the twins you've mentioned. It's been almost a month and we miss you so much!
- The Fam '
Cortney smiled, she looked at the item in the letter which was a picture. It was taken a while ago. At Tristen's birthday which was in February.

" You're adopted aren't you? " Hermione asked making her jump.

" Yes, please don't tell anyone," Cornety pleaded.

" Fine," Hermione sighed after a few seconds of silence. Soon the two got up and left the library. They somehow managed up with Harry and Ron. They were going up the stairs when suddenly there was a huge moving sensation.

" Woah! " They exclaimed grabbing the rail.

" What's happening? " Harry asked.

The staircases like to change remember " said Hermione

" Let's go this way " Harry led them to the other side.

" Before the staircases move " Ron added. they walked to the other side then stopped for a pause.

" Does anyone else feel like we shouldn't be here " questioned Ron nervously?

" It's the third floor, we are not supposed to be here it's forbidden ! " chimed Hermione. Suddenly, a small meow emerged and a shadow of a cat appeared at the end of the hall.

" Flich's cat " Cortney. " RUN !" The five first years raced down the hall and turned left trying to find an open door. They stopped in front of a closed down and Harry tried pushing it open but it wouldn't budge.

" That's it we're done for " Ron moaned.

" Oh move over " Hermione sounded annoyed pushing Ron out of her way.

" Alohoroma. Get in " she commanded pushing the door open and quickly going into the room and closing the door behind him.

" Alohoroma " repeated Ron

" Standard Book of spells chapter seven ! " breathed Hermione.

" Of course you knew that " he muttered.

" Anyone here my sweetums? " Flich spoke sweetly to Ms. Norris ( his cat ).

" He thinks the doors locked " whispered Ron as the caretaker's footsteps died.

" It was locked " Hermione corrected.

" And for a good reason," Harry added. They turned and saw a three-headed dog beginning to wake up and stand up. The dog began to growl at them.

" AHHHHHHHHH! " They screamed running out of the room and closing the door, they ran all the way over into the Gryffindor common room.

" What do they think they're doing? Keeping that thing locked up on school." Panted Ron

" You don't use your eyes, do you? Didn't you see what it was standing on" breathed Hermione catching her breath.

" I wasn't looking at the feet, I was a bit occupied by its head, or I'd you didn't notice there were three ! " argued Ron.

" It was standing on a trap door, it wasn't there by accident, it's guarding something," Hermione informed.

" Guarding something ? " repeated Harry, Hermione stopped in front of the Gryffindor.

" Now if you don't mind I'm going to bed before you get us killed or worse expelled," she said and walked off.

" She needs to sort out her priorities " sighed Ron said. He looked at Cortney. Her eyes were wide, she looked like she was thinking really hard. " What are you doing here? " He growled. Cortney didn't respond it was as if she was in a trance. " Slytherin, Lestrange ".

" O'Donnell," Harry spoke up. Cortney snapped out of her gaze and looked at Harry.

" What? " She asked.

" You should go to your common room," Harry advised.

"Oh...Ummm....right...umm I'll see you guys tomorrow," Cortney said slowly. With one last look, she left the common room.

" O'Donnell ? " Ron asked suspiciously.

" I don't know," Harry said quickly. " That's how Hagrid introduced me to her ".

" She's different for a Slytherin," Ron said still suspiciously.
*****
Cortney now laid under her sheets and bed cover. She had a candle and began to read her letter from her friends.

' Dear Cortney,
We miss you so much! This will probably be one of the only letters we were together. We wish you could experience sixth grade with us. Honestly, you would love it well-ish. You would love the chaos in the hallways. Well, we are all in the sixth-grade band. Brice plays drums, Rosemary plays flute and Jordan plays Trumpet. If you stayed here, we are pretty sure you would be playing the clarinet. Honestly, it hasn't been that long, and you have been gone for way too long! Counting down the days till you come back! 

From
Rosemary, Brice, and Jordan

Cortney silently laughed. Her shaking made her accidentally spill wax all over the sheets and burn her arm. She quickly put out the candle. She climbed out of the bed and cuddled up under her blanket from home. Sooner or later she fell asleep.