Maggie was always a shy child and hated it when teachers called on her. She was always so frightened that if she was the one called out out of everyone then she would get the answer wrong. So she always kept quiet but that didn't mean that she got bad grades. Dudley had always made fun of her for being so introverted and strange but now at Hogwarts that may have seemed to pay off a little. Maybe here at this school she would get good grades too.

Now that she discovered that she was famous, tons of students and adults of the wizarding world thought she was just amazing and great but then again many of them also thought she was not so great. Sometimes Maggie had to agree with them. She wasn't anything special. Not in her eyes.

She doesn't even LOOK special. She has shoulder-length black hair, a small, skinny frame and bright green eyes that Aunt Petunia told her reminded her of her mother but Maggie didn't seem to think that they were all that special, herself. Plenty enough people had green eyes. Maggie hated sometimes though how bright green her eyes were, though. They looked so strange and weird as if she were begging for attention, which of course, she wasn't.

Maggie used to wear glasses when she was younger but Aunt Petunia didn't like the way they looked on her so she had gotten her contacts to wear. Of course she still has her glasses just in case but she dared not wear them here at Hogwarts for fear of being made fun of. She'd rather be made fun of for her eye color than for wearing glasses.

And then there was her scar on her forehead. She didn't really mind it but it showed horridly when she tried to but her hair up so in habit, she always kept her hair down to cover the grotesque lightning bolt shaped scar. It was so jagged and ugly to her. . . . Ron and others HERE seemed to like it, though. . . .

After the feast that first night at Hogwarts, the first years were all introduced to their dormitories and dorm-mates. Maggie was a little disappointed that she had to share a room with Hermione but she supposed she could get over it. Hermione was a know-it-all but she was also pretty nice. Maggie also met some other of the girls her age she would be sharing a dorm with. Their names were Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown and some other girl that Maggie couldn't remember the name of. She didn't know nor did she care at that point. She was exhausted.

And yet. . . she laid in bed that night still wondering about the Professor with the steely dark glare and if he really had something against her. But he was a Professor right? Certainly he would treat all of his students fairly? She hoped he didn't bring any attention to her.

The next morning, Maggie was up and about and ready to venture down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Unfortunately, this meant that Hermione was trailing right behind her giving her a lecture on the history of Hogwarts and all the things she read about that Hogwarts contains. Maggie was only half listening though. It was too early in the morning for a history lesson.

When they reached the Great Hall she spotted Ron at the Gryffindor table and sprinted to him seeing as he was the only person that had been treating her normally and not in an annoying fashion of any sort.

Ron greeted her, "Hey Maggie! You excited for classes today?"

She nodded vigorously before grinning, "I can't wait! It's going to be so cool!"

Hermione chirped in, "Have you at LEAST studied beforehand?"

Both Ron and Maggie stared at her and Ron snorted at her, "Surely you're joking, Hermione? We haven't even been to our first class yet"

Hermione smiled, "Well you HAVE to be prepared. I already memorized all our books for the semester"

"Bloody hell" Ron muttered and went back to his breakfast.

Maggie sat down beside him. She hated to admit it but she actually had been reading a lot of her books. Especially Potions! It fascinated her because it was so much like baking and if it was anything like the muggle activity, she was going to love it!

With a small smile, she began to dig in to the feast of the morning with eggs, potatoes, sausages, and even sweet pastry treats! 

'Dudley would be so jealous if he saw me right now!'

Soon after breakfast was over, Ron and Maggie traveled to their first class with Hermione trailing behind. Maggie truly felt sorry for the girl as she obviously had no friends but maybe if she wasn't so outward and obnoxious about her knowledge, she'd be easier to stand. Maggie hated to think that but it was true in her mind.

Their first class was Charms and Maggie had to confess she was already thrilled with the subject especially when Professor Flitwick made a pig fly! Would she be able to learn how to do that one day!?

After that was History of Magic and practically all of the students hated that class and would rather sleep in it than listen to the droll sounding ghost of a teacher. Herbology was next and then Lunch and then soon enough came Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Maggie had never been so fascinated in her life and almost felt like Hermione with a wide grin on her face as she practically devoured the information.

The week went by rather slowly and things weren't too bad with all the new friends she was making. Maggie wrote to her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin every day telling them how much she missed them and, of course, how wonderful Hogwarts was. She made sure to tell them every little detail as she knew her Aunt Petunia had wanted to go years ago. Yes, she always didn't get along with her sister but that didn't mean she wasn't jealous at the time.

The only thing bad so far was how Draco Malfoy treated her and Ron but he treated Hermione the worst and she couldn't really understand why. They were both just as obnoxious in their own way. 

But when Draco insulted her, Maggie just took the advice from her Aunty and ignored him. . . . which he wasn't so fond of.

And then Friday came.

Ron whined, "Today's gonna be horrible!"

Maggie munched on a piece of toast, "Why?"

Ron grumbled, "We have double potions today with the Slytherins. You see, Fred and George told me all about Professor Snape and how he's such a horrible teacher."

"Why's he so bad?" she took a small glance over at the staff's table where Snape was visiting with Professor Quirrell. He seemed nice enough but he kept sending the students dark glares as though he hated every single one of them. His sneer made Maggie shudder with fear.

Ron explained, "Well for one, he hates his job. You see, he wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts position but Professor Dumbledore denied him that so he's stuck teaching Potions. Fred and George say he's the worst teacher ever and he especially hates the Gryffindors and favors the Slytherins. We're toast!"

Hermione jumped in, "Certainly he can't be THAT bad. Surely your brothers were just exaggerating to scare you"

Ron gulped, "I don't know. He looks menacing enough. Ey what are you doing here anyway?"

Maggie shoved him, "Be nice, Ron!"

"Sorry" he huffed.

Hermione ignored Ron, "Hey Maggie, I was wondering. Would you like to study with me after Potions today?"

Maggie gulped, "I don't know, Hermione. I don't feel so good today. We'll see though later, okay?"

In truth she really didn't want to study. She had other things on her mind.

Hedwig suddenly flew in with the other owls and gave her a paper and letter from Hagrid. Maggie rolled out her subscription paper of the Daily Prophet first and noticed the very first article on it. It was saying something about a vault in Gringotts had been broken into but nothing was stolen. But that wasn't the most interesting part of it all. Apparently the vault had been broken into on the very same day and her Hagrid had visited!

She was about to say something to Ron and Hermione but they were bickering too much about eating habits to notice her anyway. Instead, she looked at the letter Hagrid sent her, unaware of Ron looking over her shoulder to have an excuse not to talk to Hermione.

"Oy he wants to see you for tea after class today, Maggie? Can I come?"

"Sure"

Hermione huffed, "But you can't leave the castle"

Ron groaned, "Professor Dumbledore said we couldn't go into the Forbidden Forest. He never said anything about visiting the groundskeeper."

Hermione groaned back and shuffled away leaving Ron to roll his eyes.

Maggie had to giggle at that but then she noticed something else. It was almost time for Potions class.

She gasped, "Ron! We're going to be late! Hurry up and eat!"

As Ron and Maggie made their way into the Potions classroom, Maggie couldn't help but to notice that the Gryffindors and Slytherins were firmly well seated away from each other. She noticed Draco giving her a sneer but she just turned the other way and went to sit over in between Ron and Hermione.

She quickly pulled out her supplies such as her parchment paper, quill and ink and sat at the ready. She looked over to her right and nearly gaped in horror as Hermione had all of her things ready as well  . . . almost the same as her.

'Dang it now I look like her' she grumbled in her head.

Maggie glanced over to Ron and grinned, "Not so bad so far"

Ron gave her a look, "Speak for yourself. It's bloody terrifying down here and it's freezing too!"

Maggie chuckled, "Oh, man up"

Ron pouted but suddenly there was a bursting through the doors of the entrance and a man in black robes swished in, stomping through, "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this classroom."

The man strode up to the front of the classroom and stared them all down, "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few. . ." he took a moment to glance over at his precious Slytherins and then back at the whole class, ". . . Who possess, the predisposition . . . I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."

Maggie scribbled all of his words on her parchment paper, quite adamant about being a good student. But then she noticed that her Professor had taken a pause.

"Then again" Professor Snape sneered, "Maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to NOT PAY ATTENTION!"

Maggie felt his steely eyes on her and she looked up and shuddered. He was glaring at her down like a cockroach.

'But why?' she thought, 'What did I do? Did I do something wrong?'

"Miss Potter." Maggie cowered at the sound of her name as he continued with hatred in his voice, "Our new celebrity."

Then Maggie's worst fears come to light as her Professor crossed his arms and smirked a little, "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Hermione rose her hand up high for some reason.

Maggie stopped, 'Huh!? He's calling ME out?! Why?! Oh crap. Powdered root of asphodel to infusion of wormwood? Uh . . . . Crap I know this! I KNOW this! I read it in that book!'

She gulped and took a meager guess, "Um . . . .Draught of Living Death, sir?"

Snape actually looked surprised for a second before glaring and asking again, "Alright . . . well where, Ms. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"

She perked up, "Oh! In the belly of a goat sir! Isn't that the thing that can cure most poisons?" she turned unsure at his glare, "R-right?"

Snape narrowed his eyes not giving her an answer but something told Maggie that she was right when Snape went ahead and asked her yet ANOTHER question.

"And what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Now Maggie was truly stumped. She didn't know this one but it seemed as if Hermione did as she kept her hand up high.

Maggie looked around, a bit nervous and embarrassed, "Uh . . . I don't know but Um . . . Sir? If I may ask, why am I the only one being questioned? Hermione looks like she knows the answer to this one. I honestly don't. Perhaps she'll know?"

Snape growled and trotted up to her, snapping at Hermione, "Put your hand down you silly girl!" even Hermione cowered back, unprepared for his hatefulness, "For your information Potter, Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant and go by the name of Aconite.  . . . . . . .Well!?" he paused and looked around the class, "Why aren't you all writing this down?"

Suddenly the class erupted with shifting arms and the sound of quill meeting the parchment and Maggie blushed as she started to write it down as well but Snape stopped her.

"You, Ms. Potter, have just lost ten points for Gryffindor for your little cheeky remark. Remember next time to actually study and pay attention in my classroom when I talk"

Maggie was confused. But didn't she pay attention? She got two of the three questions right, right? So why was he taking points away? What cheek was she giving?

"Um sir. I'm sorry but I don't understand. What did I do?"

Snape snapped his glare back at her, "Did I not make myself CLEAR?"

Everyone was listening again and Maggie's courage once again faded away as her Professor turned relentless.

"You did not pay attention when I spoke so therefore you were punished. CLEAR YET?"

Maggie, even though she was scared, apparently couldn't keep her mouth shut, "I'm sorry. sir but I WAS paying attention! Here! Look!"

She handed him her notes, "I wrote down every word, sir" her voice went quiet as Snape snatched the parchment away and ripped it in half, making Maggie's blood run cold.

"You think I care?! Next time actually pay attention instead of just aimlessly writing every word you silly BRAT!"

Maggie didn't know what to do. She had never been treated so unfairly before by an adult. It was frightening. She felt like she'd cry at any moment until Ron held her hand from under the desk.

Maggie took a small breathe and kept her eyes away from her Professor's. She wouldn't want him attacking her verbally again.

Finally, Snape retracted and went back up to the front of the classroom, leaving the Slytherins to snicker at her embarrassment.

'Ron was right' she kept thinking that entire class, 'Professor Snape really is the worst'

The rest of the class was no better, though, as Snape constantly stomped around behind his students watching and waiting for any mistakes they made in brewing their potions.

Finally it was lunch time, though, and the Gryffindors were all free to escape the  wrath of Snape.

Maggie sighed, "You were right, Ron" she told him when they were walking on their way to Hagrid's, "Snape really is mean. Why did he target me, Ron? I didn't do any wrong, did I?" she unconsciously fiddled with her locket.

Ron noticed the movement but answered her question, "No. . . . it's just because he's nothing but an old greasy git who likes torturing unsuspecting students that aren't Slytherins."

Maggie pouted, "It's not fair. It looked like he really hated me in particular"

Ron shoved her lightly and laughed, "Oh come on now, you can't really mean that. It's just the way Snape is. He's always like that to everyone. But I guess he really was more 'talkative' to you and Neville more so. Don't know why he chose to pick on poor Neville, though. Kid's got enough problems"

Maggie agreed, "Poor Neville. Yeah, he looked terrified."

When they reached Hagrid's hut, they knocked on the door politely. They spent the rest of the day there with Hagrid and his dog, Fang, and shared many stories with Hagrid about their first week at Hogwarts. Then the subject got to Professor Snape.

"He's such a mean git" Ron spat.

Hagrid jumped to defense, "Eh now, eh. Don't ye talk about yer professor like that. I'd trust Professor Snape with my life, I would. Good man Snape is."

"But he was so unfair to Maggie!"

Maggie sunk into her chair as Hagrid looked to her, "What he do, Maggie? Ye look a bit upset"

Maggie shrugged her shoulders, "It doesn't matter I guess. It's just that I felt that he was treating me more unfairly than anyone else in class today. It was like he hated me, Hagrid."

Hagrid pat her back softly, "Aw it's alright Maggie. Snape ain't as bad as he seems. He's just a bit different is all. A bit uptight, I suppose, but not all bad. Trust me Maggie. Ye do, don't ye?"

Maggie with her spirits lifted, smiled and nodded a bit, "Yeah, I guess. Thanks Hagrid."

Ron rolled his eyes, "I still don't like him"

The next week they finally were going to begin flying lessons and Maggie was terrified. Honestly she was scared of heights and the thought of being yards up above the ground was not a pleasant one. Sure, riding in Hagrid's flying motorcycle was cool but she was hanging onto HAGRID. 

Riding on a stick that she had to control HERSELF sounded like a death sentence.

They all sat that morning in the Great Hall eating breakfast and Maggie was dreading the day. But before she could dread any further, all of the owls came in through the windows in the Great Hall, all hooting and flapping about, dropping things off to specific people.

Maggie watched in glee when Hedwig flew over to her and landed on her arm, "Hey girl, what do you have here?"

She took the letter from Hedwig's foot and read it. It was a letter from her Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. Maggie had sent a letter to them the other day explaining how fearful she was for this week when she would start flying but now she knew that everything would be just fine. Aunt Petunia wrote to her saying that she would be great at flying and not to doubt herself. If she were confident enough, then she could accomplish anything.

Maggie's heart rose at her aunt's kind words as she walked with Ron out to the courtyard for their flying lessons. Maggie started getting very nervous again and she began to sweat as they neared the area with their teacher and brooms. The brooms were all laid out in a nice straight manner and that seemed to lift her spirits a little. They were all neat and tidy with everything which meant they were prepared and ready in case anyone got hurt. Right?

Their teacher, an eagle-eyed woman with spiky white hair, spoke to them all once they were all in front of her, "Today shall be your first flying lesson. Now, I don't want anyone hurt so you'll all do exactly as I say, alright?!"

Everyone nodded and acknowledged their professor in fear. All except for Malfoy of course. The little jerk just stood by his cronies with a smirk plastered on his face like some all-star who's done this before.

Maggie narrowed her eyes at him once before taking orders from her teacher.

Steadily, she stood beside her broom.

Then she commanded it to rise.

"Up!"

Maggie was astonished! The broom actually rose up to her voice!

'Wicked' she thought as she continued to get on her broom.

But this was the scary part. Now, she had to let the broom rise with her ON it.

She clutched on the broom handle tightly, slightly shaking as she rose neatly about five feet in the air.

'Huh.' She thought, 'This . . This isn't so bad'

She floated back down with a few other lucky ones and held onto her broom with pride. Perhaps she really could fly. Then again she was only five feet in the air. It wasn't like she just did something spectacular.

Maggie looked around at the others and realized that maybe she was wrong. For a first year, she had done pretty damn good. Hermione's broom didn't even want to listen to her, Ron's smacked him in the face, Neville's didn't move at all yet and Malfoy's broom just flailed around like it was in pain.

Suddenly Neville's broom did something, though, that left everyone gaping as it finally listened to him and let him get on. But that's not even the big thing. Neville's broomstick then started clobbering him around in the air like a ragdoll and the professor shouted for Neville to command his broom but would it work? Of course not. 

It seemed as though Neville's broom had a grudge on him or something as it lifted him high into the air and dropped him onto a gargoyle's spear at the top of one of the castle wings.

Maggie gasped with everyone else as Neville's pants gave way and Neville fell to the ground with a thud and whimper.

The Professor rushed over to him, "Oh tch, tch, tch. A broken wrist. Don't worry Neville. Madam Pomfrey can fix this in a jiffy. Now don't any of you dare try and lift off the ground because if I catch you in the air, you'll be expelled! Is that clear?"

All of the first years nodded their heads vigorously in understanding as she waltzed away with a crying Neville.

Malfoy, seeing that she was gone, piped up, "Hah! Look at that! Fat oaf dropped this when his broom went mad!"

Hermione gaped, "That's Neville's Remembrall!"

Ron growled, "You have to give it back, Malfoy"

Draco smirked, "Eh, why should I? His fault he dropped it. Finders keepers I say."

Maggie finally had it, "Give it here NOW Malfoy!"

Draco's eyes lit up, "Or what Potter? Heh, tell you what. I'll hide it and it'll be his fault if he can't find it." He got on his broom and flew up into the air.

Maggie glared up at him and he taunted her from above, "What's wrong, Potter? Afraid you'll fall off your broom, too, coward?"

She snapped and hoisted herself onto her broom, flying up at least twenty feet into the air, "Give it back!"

Malfoy smirked, "Go get it!" he threw the ball as hard as he could but Maggie's eyes just followed it and it was heading towards a window!

As fast as she could, Maggie bolted towards it and just in the nick of time, she caught it before it hit the glass. Maggie grinned with unimaginable pride and didn't notice that one of her professors saw this recklessness. Maggie floated back down to her peers who were all cheering and jumping in joy. They had never seen anyone, especially a first year, catch like that before in mid-air!

Ron and Hermione, along with the other Gryffindors met her as she landed . Ron hugged her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "Maggie, that was bloody brilliant! How did you do that!?"

Hermione jumped in to ruin it a little, "You could have been killed! Are you alright?"

But before Maggie could answer, Professor McGonagall came rushing towards them, "Ms. Potter!"

Her head of house stopped a few yards away with a stern look on her face, "Come with me. Now"

With that, she turned with a short whisk and left Maggie no choice but to follow her.

The Slytherins all jeered and laughed at her.

'Uh-oh. Stupid Maggie! How could you destroy yourself like this?! Now McGonagall is going to expel me! I can't be expelled! No way! Auntie and Uncle will be so disappointed with me' all of her thoughts brought despair to her as she slowly trailed behind her head of house. She resigned herself to her fate.

That is until they came up to Professor Quirrell's classroom. Professor McGonagall smiled as she opened the door, "Oh, um  . . Professor Quirrell!"

The teacher stopped his strange instruction and stuttered, "Y-yes Mc-McGonagall?"

The Gryffindor head of house grinned, "I would like to borrow Mr. Wood if I could, please?"

The professor nodded, "O-of course, m-mam"

An older, fit boy with brown hair in a red and yellow tie like Maggie's came out and McGonagall couldn't contain her excitement any longer when the boy asked, "What is it, Professor?"

The teacher practically squealed, "Oliver, I believe I've found you a seeker!"

Both Oliver and Maggie stared at her, " A what?!"

It was a few days later when Maggie was lost in thought on the stairs. Ron and Hermione were by her arguing about something. It was almost curfew and she and Ron were just coming back to the tower from a detention with Snape when Hermione found them and started berating them.

'I can't take this today. I'm so frustrated. Why did Snape give us that detention? I wasn't even doing anything! Ron was the one who put in a frog's tongue instead of a Newt's!'

Suddenly something carried her out of her thoughts though when the stairs moved of their own accord.

"Ah bloody hell no!" Ron sulked as they missed their flight to the tower.

"They're steering away from Gryffindor tower!" Hermione pointed out the obvious and Maggie just sent her a look.

When the stairs stopped, they led to the one tower they weren't allowed to go to.

"We can't go in there. We're not allowed!" Hermione whispered scoldingly but Ron didn't listen as always.

"So what? We have no choice! It's the stairs' fault, not ours!"

Maggie rolled her eyes as she opened the creepy door, "We really don't have a choice, Hermione. We have to get to the tower by curfew and our only way there is to take the creepy scenic route."

Hermione grumbled but followed behind.

They opened the door to the corridor and creeped inside. It was dark and smelled heavily of dust. Maggie was in front followed by Ron and then Hermione. Ron whimpered a little as he felt the soft touch of a cobweb.

"Let's get out of here, Maggie"

"Shhh" she shushed him, "Don't be a wimp"

As they ventured further in, they were met by many strange objects and statues. It was clear no one had been in here for a long time but it didn't explain why Dumbledore told the students never to come in here. It wasn't that bad.

Suddenly they all heard a scuffle and a mew and Ron panicked, "It's Mrs. Norris! Filch's cat!"

"Aw, she's so cute!" Maggie couldn't help herself.

"We should turn back. Filch will catch us!" Hermione sounded worried as well but Maggie wasn't really wanting to turn back so quickly.

"Calm down. Let's go this way!"

She led them to a door on the other side of the corridor just as the amber light of Filch's lantern shone in the dark, "Do you see anything Mrs. Norris!?"

"Mmreew!"

"Go!" Ron bust the door open and push both girls in.

They shut the door and all leaned against it together, listening to the receding footsteps of Filch until they didn't hear him or the cat anymore.

"Do you think he's gone?" Hermione's face was contorted with worry.

"I think-" Maggie stopped as she saw the epic terror on Ron's face looking behind them. Maggie slowly looked in the direction Ron was looking and gulped.

She breathed out a bit in a gasp but slowly gripped Ron's robes, "Let's go" she whispered to him. Hermione looked as well and suddenly started backing up in fear.

"BARK!" All three heads of a large black dog started barking and lunging at the intruders.

The three students screamed in terror and ran to the exit door, barely managing to shut the door in time behind them.

Hermione gasped for air, "That was a three-headed dog! A Cerberus!"

"Yeah Hermione! We know!" Maggie yelled a little harshly, "Let's get the heck out of here!"

"I think it was guarding something" Hermione blurted but Ron and Maggie didn't care at that point. They were too busy running.

They all ran back out of the corridor, not worried if Filch saw them now or not. The stairs started to change finally, so as quickly as they could, they jumped on the right one and took a breath.

Hermione, "That was too close. You two are a bad influence"

Maggie pouted a bit, "You followed us. You didn't have to"

"Yeah" Ron agreed intelligently.

Hermione just rolled her eyes as they got to Gryffindor tower, "Well I hope you're proud of yourselves. You two could have gotten us killed back there or worse expelled! See you tomorrow." With that, Hermione marched up to the girl's tower leaving Maggie and Ron at the bottom of the stairs in the common room.

Ron rolled his eyes, "She's got to sort out her priorities."

Maggie nodded, "Well I better get to bed too, Ron. See you tomorrow."

Ron nodded, "Tomorrow."

Maggie ran up the stairs and ignored Hermione. Instead she just went straight to her bed and got ready to sleep.

'I wonder why that big three-headed dog was in there? Hermione said she thought it was guarding something but what? What could it possibly be guarding? Could it be that weird stone that Hagrid and I got from Gringott's?' she fell asleep wondering, not sure if she could even think about it again.

Ever since Maggie was accepted onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team, a lot of things have happened. For one, Snape hates it. Maggie had heard from multiple students that he almost constantly argues with McGonagall and Dumbledore about the decision, but they won't hear him out.

And a week after she was made seeker of the team, Maggie received a Nimbus 2000 which was the fastest broom of the year! She didn't know who it was from at first but she had a sneaking suspicion that it was from Dumbledore if the glint in his eye and the smile he sent her was anything to go by. She didn't know why he gifted her a broom but she didn't care! Snape absolutely hated the gift she had been given and snarled at her as she showed it to her friends.

The Potions Professor wasn't as mean in class anymore as he was on the first day but he still had a growl in his throat every time she asked a question. It was starting to concern her and she tried asking McGonagall about it but she dismissed her question. Apparently, all the other professors just loved Snape and she didn't know why. He was so mean and hateful to everyone and everything!

Maggie tried telling her aunt and uncle about it too but Aunt Petunia lettered her back almost immediately and told her everything was fine. Maggie had a suspicion it really wasn't though because she wrote the words down on the paper quite shakily. 

It was all a big mystery to her. Why did Snape hate her so much and everything around him? Why do the professors treat him with such high regard when he treats them like pests? Why did she care? She was only there to learn, not to worry about why one professor didn't like her.

However, it was hard to think of anything else especially when it seemed like Professor Snape was everywhere SHE was. It just got strange one night when she noticed him watching her at Quidditch practice from a distance. She told Ron about it this time and he looked quite creeped out and made an absurd suggestion. This is when Hermione butted in and gave her opinion.

"He's a professor, remember? He's supposed to look out for students. Perhaps he was just worried? He didn't like that you were in Quidditch after all"

"Exactly Hermione!" Ron interrupted, "He hates it that she's in Quidditch so he's watching to see if maybe she'll die one day from practice!"

"Gee Ron thanks. You have so much faith in me" Maggie replied sarcastically.

Hermione sighed, "I'm sure it's nothing, Maggie"

That was a few weeks ago and the actual first game of Quidditch was next week. She was nervous for it but Oliver was very convincing. He expressed his enthusiasm that she would do great and she really wanted to believed him.

Now Maggie was sitting at the Gryffindor table for breakfast preparing for her day of classes. She sighed, 'Today's Halloween. This was the night Aunty and Uncle said my parents were killed by that Voldemort guy. I wonder if he'll try to come after me tonight? Nah he's dead. Or so everyone thinks. I don't know. Maybe I'm just being all nervous for no reason.'

Hermione and Ron sat at the table by her and Maggie noticed that Ron was trying to cover his ears and slap food on his plate at the same time. Hermione was lecturing him on something and Maggie just rolled her eyes, 'I swear they have a crush on each other or something, the way they bicker and argue with one another'

Maggie looked around the hall to steer her thoughts away from Halloween and Quidditch. Unfortunately she me the gaze of Malfoy. He caught her gaze as well and the two had a staring contest for a few seconds before Malfoy just smirked at her. Maggie glared at him and looked away, 'Prick' she thought.

After breakfast it was time for classes and as soon as the day started Maggie was just ready for it to end. Everyone else was all happy and skipping about the day, all excited about Halloween but here, Maggie was wishing it would already end. It's not as if she hated it but it wasn't her favorite holiday either. Especially now here at Hogwarts. All the teachers seemed to look at her with a pitying look. Except for Snape of course. He just held his normal glare but if Maggie would have looked just a bit longer, she would have seen the lingering sadness in his eyes.

But she didn't, so it didn't matter.

Charms came along and oh boy was that exciting. They had to make a feather float in the air and of course Hermione got it down on her first try while the others including her struggled. Maggie got it down after a few more tries but she felt bad for poor Neville, Ron and Seamus.

Hermione could have avoided another taunting but she just couldn't help herself this day. She just had to correct Ron on his levitating skills and verbal pronunciation.

At the end of class Ron laughed with some of his other friends around him, "Then she says it's Levi-O-sa not Levio-SAR. I swear. No wonder she's got no bloody friends"

Maggie didn't make it in time to hit Ron upside the head as Hermione stormed past them in tears, clutching her books to her chest. Maggie sighed, "I think she heard you Ron." She smacked him on the shoulder, "Why did you say something like that?! She doesn't know any better!"

Ron just shrugged, "Oh well. Hey I wonder what they'll have at the feast tonight for Halloween. What do you think they'll have, Maggie?"

Maggie just rolled her eyes and walked past him. Ron didn't know why Maggie ignored him for the rest of the day.

Finally it was almost time for the feast but there was no sign of Hermione anywhere. Maggie spotted Lavender, "Hey Lavender!"

They blonde girl reacted with a smile, "Hi Maggie! What's up?"

Maggie raced up to her, "Have you seen Hermione? She hasn't been to any of her other classes today. It's worrying"

Lavender looked a bit sad, "Oh yeah. I saw her earlier after Charms. She ran to the girl's bathroom crying. Maybe she's still there?"

Maggie wanted to berate her but just nodded and ran to the girl's bathroom. Lavender called out to her, "Where are you going?! You'll miss the feast!"

Maggie just ignored her and ran to the bathroom. When she got there, it started to storm outside and she quietly trotted in.

"Hermione? You in here?"

Maggie saw that the room was empty but then she looked under the stalls to see a pair of feet. Maggie sighed sadly, "Hermione I know you're here. Please come out?"

"Leave me alone, Maggie!"

Maggie was a bit perturbed by her sudden anger but not surprised, "Hermione please. You know how Ron is. He's a prat and always will be one."

"But he's right!" Hermione was crying again, "I'm such a know-it-all! A bother! Everyone hates me!"

Maggie stomped forward and slammed the door open to reveal Hermione standing in the stall with tear-stained cheeks. Maggie came in and hugged her, "No one hates you, Hermione. I don't. And Ron doesn't either. He's just a boy. And boys don't know any better on how to behave, didn't you know?"

Hermione laughed a little through the hiccups and hugged Maggie back, still crying, "Why are you here?"

Maggie hugged her tightly again before letting go. She looked right in her eyes, "Because I'm your friend, Hermione. I was worried for you. I won't let you feel alone."

It was true, she did care for Hermione. If only the girl would be a bit less obnoxious with her smarts.

Hermione smiled back but before anything else was said, there was a deep rumble and Hermione's eyes bulged.

Maggie giggled a little, "You hungry too? The feast is just starting. If we hurry we could make it"

Hermione just stared behind Maggie in fear, "That wasn't me, Maggie." she looked over to the door, seeing something open it and begin to walk in. Hermione's eyes went wide, "Hurry. Get in the stall. There's a Mountain Troll!" she whispered.

Maggie looked confused and turned around.

She almost let out a high pitched noise when Hermione closed her mouth and dragged her in the stall, "Shhhh!"

The giant mountain troll grumbled and clambered his way in the bathroom stupidly.

The girls stayed as quiet as they could.

Hermione slowly let her hand off of Maggie's mouth and they slowly backed up in the stall more and more as the troll made its way inside. But there was only so far they could step back and Hermione accidentally made a high pitched squeaking noise with her shoes against the floor.

The troll heard the noise right away and roared. He slammed his club down across on the stalls and Maggie made Hermione duck with her.

"Hurry! Let's run!" Maggie shouted, "We have to get out of here!"

She pushed Hermione out first just as the troll slammed his club down by them. It almost got Maggie but she was fast enough to dodge. Hermione ran around the troll as fast as she could and to the door, waiting for Maggie but the troll managed to slam his club down in between the two to separate them. The troll let out a big stupid roar.

Maggie fell to the ground at the impact of the club on the floor and could just stare up at the troll in fear, "Oh no"

"Maggie! Run! Get up and run!" Hermione shouted to her from the door but she couldn't feel her legs. It was if they were frozen.

The troll lifted its club over his head and was about to strike.

"Maggie!"

The troll let out a wail as he was about to slam his club down upon her.

"Wingardium LeviOsa!" a new voice came out of nowhere and bewitched the club. Maggie just stared with the troll as the club began to float in the air.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted, "You did it!"

'Ron?' Maggie's thoughts came back to her, 'He saved me?'

Maggie turned to see Ron with his wand in the air levitating the club but suddenly he released it and the club fell heavily on the troll, causing the large being to fall unconscious.

Maggie still laid on the ground a bit petrified, her heart racing as Hermione and Ron came over by her.

"Maggie, are you alright?!" Ron asked her, "What . . . . Your necklace . . . it's glowing"

Maggie was a bit surprised at the sudden statement and bent her head to see that he was right. Her locket that her aunt Petunia had given her a while ago was sporadically flickering. She didn't know what the make of it.

But she didn't have to worry for long as the flickering stopped and suddenly there were more voices coming in the bathroom, "What in the devil is going on here?!"

It was Professor McGonagall.

She saw the troll and then she saw the three children on the floor. Following her were the teachers, Quirrell and Snape.

Ron was the first to speak, "Professor McGonagall! The troll tried to kill us! We were just defending ourselves!"

"That does not explain why you three were not at the feast, Weasley! Granger! Potter! How did this happen!?"

Ron looked terrified to answer her so Hermione spoke up, "I'm sorry Professor. This is all my fault. I heard about the troll being loose and I thought that since I knew so many spells and I've read about them that perhaps I could take it on. I was wrong. Ron and Maggie saved me"

Maggie stared at her and Ron just looked at Hermione with astonishment and admiration.

McGonagall didn't look as if she believed her at first but soon sighed, "You seriously thought that you, a first year student, could take on a full grown mountain troll!? Are you mad, Granger?! Five points from Gryffindor! And Weasley and Potter! You thought that you both could just interfere and save the day?! How stupid of you both!"

Snape smirked at them in contempt.

"But I suppose you all are very lucky. Not many first year students could defeat a mountain troll and live to tell the tale. Five points will be awarded to each of you to Gryffindor. For sheer dumb luck!"

Snape's face lost his smirk but that's not what caught Maggie's attention. Maggie found her gaze being drawn to the blood on Snape's leg and his torn trousers. Snape suddenly realized his mistake and swished his robes over to cover his legs from Maggie's view. Maggie looked up at him in confusion but didn't dare to say a word.

"Now up! All of you! I'll be taking you all to your dormitories myself!" Professor McGonagall quipped.

Maggie had forgotten that she was on the floor even and blushed slightly when Ron and Hermione got up at once and helped her up. She was still a bit shaken from the mountain troll's attack and it was clearly visible to everyone.

Professor McGonagall sighed, quickly giving her a worried look, "Ms. Potter. Are you alright? You're shaking like a leaf, dear"

Maggie nodded, "I-I'm F-fine mam" she scolded herself mentally for stuttering like an idiot. Now she was starting to sound like Quirrell!

The strict woman just raised a brow at her, "I doubt it. It's clear you're still suffering from the shock of the attack, dear. Professor Snape. Would you be a dear and take Ms. Potter to get a calming draught?"

Snape was about to reply when Maggie suddenly snapped, "I'm fine! I don't need a calming draught!" she suddenly realized she spoke too loudly and quieted down, "I'm f-fine"

Snape scoffed sarcastically, "Clearly." He took out a bottle from his robes, "But there's no need to go down to my office for a draught when I have one right here. Ms. Potter!"

Maggie flinched a little as the Potions master came closer to her, stalking forth as if his leg injury wasn't hurting him at all, "Take this draught. It will calm your nerves and your mind."

She was hesitant to take it from him and Professor McGonagall groaned, "Do you honestly think he'd poison you, deary? Just take the potion"

Maggie reluctantly took the potion from Professor Snape's hands and shakily drank it. She almost sighed in relief when she recognized it to actually be what he said it was.

When she was done, Snape grabbed the vial back from her and turned back around sharply to leave, "McGonagall. Quirrell."

With that he left. '

Probably to bandage his leg' she thought.

Maggie's shaking stopped but she suddenly caught a glimpse of Quirrell staring at her. More like glaring. It wasn't a Snape glare that was full of hate. No this glare was full of murderous intent and Maggie didn't know what to make of it. It only lasted a second and Quirrell smiled at her quickly but Maggie knew better. She saw murder in his eyes and she instantly feared him.

Something inside of her just told her that she should trust Snape more.

When Quirrell left, McGonagall gathered the children to follow her and they all traveled in silence up to Gryffindor tower. Maggie was quick to notice Ron's sudden change towards Hermione along the way as he asked her if she was feeling alright and if she needed anything to eat. Maggie found it kind of cute the way they acted with one another as Hermione blushed and politely declined.

When they reached the tower, McGonagall ushered Hermione and Ron inside but made Maggie stay behind.

"Dear I need to ask you something. Will you be honest with me?" McGonagall asked her.

Maggie looked a bit surprised but nodded cautiously, "Yes mam. What is it?"

The stern old woman smiled at her softly, "You were shaking quite a storm after the bout with the troll. I have to wonder. Will you be alright for your first Quidditch match, deary?"

Maggie was silent for a moment. Not really believing what she was hearing, "Mam, no offense, but I think Quidditch is a lot different than going against a troll"

"How do you mean?"

"Well for one I didn't expect the troll. In Quidditch I can at least expect that I'll be beaten up a bit and I know what to go after. With the troll it was so sudden, I honestly had no idea what to do. If Ron hadn't shown up then"

"Wait just a moment, Potter. Are you telling me that you didn't go find the troll with Mr. Weasley as Ms. Granger suggested?"

Maggie was silent before sighing. There was no way she could lie to a teacher outright, "I'm sorry Professor. Hermione wasn't at any of her other classes today after Ron had made fun of her in Charms. I found her in the restroom crying and that's when the troll came and Ron saved us both"

McGonagall stared at her for a moment before humming, "Ten points to Gryffindor for your honesty, Ms. Potter and for going to help a friend in need. That was a very good thing to do."

Maggie blushed at the compliment but immediately remembered something that had happened after the troll fell, "Oh Professor! I just remembered! After the troll fell unconscious it was strange. Ron noticed it first actually. My locket had started glowing and flickering for some odd reason. I don't know what it was. Aunt Petunia had given it to me years ago, I remember, and it had never done that before. I thought it was just a normal necklace. Do you know what it could possibly mean?"

McGonagall, in fact, did know about her locket. She was there when Dumbledore had received the pleading letter from Petunia Dursley just two years ago, requesting help. But she knew it wasn't her place to tell Ms. Potter of this secret just yet. She wasn't ready.

McGonagall just smiled, "Oh deary, all is fine and well. Perhaps you and your friends imagined it. Don't worry about it. I'm sure it's nothing. Now off to bed with you! I'll see you in class next week. Good luck in potions tomorrow."

With that the Professor made a hasty leave. Maggie just stood there a bit dumbfounded but she trusted her teacher.

'Maybe I DID imagine it? Maybe light was just reflecting from the candles and Ron, Hermione and I THOUGHT it was glowing?'

She went through the portrait and into the tower up to her bed.

'It feels different than that though' she thought as she cuddled up in her blankets, 'It was like something was trying to come out. I don't know. Perhaps I'm just tired.' She sighed and closed her eyes.

'I should be worried more about my class with Snape tomorrow. And Quidditch . . . and Malfoy . . . Slytherins'

Softly in her thoughts, the tired girl finally fell asleep, leaving her worries behind for the night.