Author's note: A special thanks to WillowD and RottenTangerine for their support and comments, and to everyone that has left a kudos. Now on to the story.

Having gone to see Professor Flitwick before getting lunch meant the Great Hall was packed, and while this wasn't anything new, word that I'm a parselmouth had by now circulated around pretty much the entire school. As soon as I walked in it seemed like half the students stopped their conversations and we're staring at me. I remembered the advice Professor Snape had given me, that I should embrace it. With my head held high I walked to the Slytherin table and sat down next to Pansy. 

"How'd everything go with Flitwick?" She asked between bites of her sandwich.

"I've made the dueling club." Glancing at one of the metal snakes on the table I said in parseltounge "Go get me a sandwich like hers." The snake came to life and slithered down the table towards the tray of sandwiches.

"It's creepy when you do that, you know." I was about to get mad at her, but I saw her smirk that told me she was teasing me.

"Oh really? Creepy? How so"

"Oh come on. You don't think it sounds weird?

"I've never noticed it honestly. In my head I hear my normal voice."

"Well, it just sounds weird. All that hissing. And your voice sounds like it's under water but with an echo or something."

By this time the snake returned, holding a sandwich as big as it in its mouth. "Thank you, little one." I told it, taking my sandwich and patting its head. As it went back to it's normal decorative form, I saw half the table staring at me. I stood up and gave a little curtsey then sat back down to start eating. Pany just laughed at the whole thing, as did a few others that had been sitting next to us.

Astronomy was a nice change of pace. The class started at midnight and only lasted three hours. In that time we got our telescopes set up and focused, and learned how to use them properly. I don't really see the practicality of the class, but it might prove interesting. I've always enjoyed staring up at the night sky.

Thursday morning came and went with me still in bed. It was nice being able to sleep in. And even better the only class today is DADA, which I had been looking forward to until the class started. I don't know who the worse teacher is, Binns or Quirrell. While Binns puts people to sleep with his monotonous droning, Quirrell studders and seems unsure of what he's talking about. At least in Binns' class we can sleep or try doing something else. I think everyone left that class a little more confused than anything else. And Quirrell seemed to be staring at me every chance he got. Even Pansy and Tracy seemed to think so. Tracy said I should report him, but with it only being our first class with him I didn't want to stir up trouble. "Maybe it's because I was caught dueling. This is Defense of the Dark Arts after all."

"Yeah, but he wasn't ogling Draco." Said Tracy.

"Yeah, that's cause I beat Draco. Not to mention people's views on paseltoung being a 'dark art'." I responded back (and yes I air quoted around the words dark art).

"Maybe. Just promise to stay on guard around him. He creeps me out." Said Pansy.

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Our last class of the week is flying, and it's only a half day. Everything was going well until one of the Gryffindors lost control of his broom while we were supposed to only be hovering. It was quite comical, but at the same time I felt sorry for him. He broke his arm in the fall and Madam Hooch took him to the nurse. Draco walked over to where he fell and picked up Longbottom's remembrall that had fallen out of his pocket when he fell. Granger was trying to get it back from him, but Draco being who he is called her a dirty mud blood and threw the remembrall as far as he could.

I was suddenly filled with rage at his actions, memories of Dudley and his friends doing the same thing to me much of my life. I pulled out my wand and aimed it at the remembrall and cast Carpe Retractum. A string of light stretched out from my wand and latched around my target. With a tug of my hand the remembrall was on its way back and I caught it in my hand. I walked over to Granger and handed it to her. "Make sure this gets back to your friend safely."

"Thanks." She said a little unsuredly.

"You know, not all snakes are vipers. Some of us are capable of doing something nice." I said before turning around and walking back to my friends.

"Yeah, usually to stab you in the back when your guard is down." Quipped the annoying red head Weasley. No wonder Draco hates him so much.

"Shut up, Ron." Said Granger. I heard a small "oof" from behind me. Sounds like Weasley got an elbow to the gut. That made me smile.

"What was that about?" Tracy asked me in a whisper.

"Even if I find her annoying at times, she's one of the smartest in our class. It might pay off later to have her as a friend." I whispered back. "Plus I hate bullies." That I said loud enough to make sure Draco heard it. He intensified his scowl at me, and stormed off.

With classes over for the week, we had two and a half days to ourselves. At lunch I used the snakes on the table to send notes to Hannah, Susan, and Lisa, asking them if they wanted to get together after lunch to catch up. Pansy and Tracy asked what I was up to, so I told them, and asked if they wanted to join us. Before they could respond, gasps, and a few screams of surprise came from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables which caused the three of us to giggle like… well… schoolgirls… which we are. 

Tracy was the first one of us to get control of her giggles and said, "I don't think the students will ever get used to that. But yes, I'd love to join you and your friends." 

Pansy was still giggling too much to form words, but she nodded her head yes. The three little table snakes returned, and a few minutes later two paper airplanes landed in front of me. The first was from Lisa, who said she already has plans in the library, but the other was from Hannah, which said she and Susan would love to.

So it was that three snakes and two badgers spent the rest of the day chattering away. Up till now all of us first years have been shepherded around between classes, which has made socializing with other houses rather difficult, so it was good getting to actually spend time with friends again. I'm really glad that everyone got along, and it was nice getting additional perspectives on the professors.