My first everything, nearly, came from a Weasley. When I was eight years old met Charlie Weasley at Hagrid’s. I went there for special occasions and this was a special occasion because it was Christmas. I had known about him but only because Hagrid likes to talk about students that have passions similar to his own. Charlie was interested in Dragons. I loved talking to Charlie. We had a great time together. I used to show him all different kinds of things in the forest that I knew about, that I know for a fact they don’t teach you in Care of Magical Creatures. I introduced him to Amy, a Python I knew in the forest. It was then that I realised that not all humans speak to snakes, what a revelation. We ended up covering a fair amount of the forest and its creatures. My uncle began to be suspicious of us, which I can understand as he was a lot older than me and my mother had been abused when she was my age. I found out later on that he had actually spoken to Mr and Mrs Weasley about his concerns, which I’m sure they understood. I don’t remember being spoken to. It was all very innocent and we were just friends. When I told Charlie about the things I could do, like my hair changing colour he told me about a girl in his class that could do the same. He introduced me to Nymphadora Tonks. The best thing about Charlie compared to other people was that he was the easiest person in the world to talk to. I knew he came from a big family and had a little sister; he didn’t make me hide or tell me to keep my powers to myself. He encouraged me, told me to have fun and so did Tonks.

Charlie is also responsible for introducing me to Fred and George, his brothers. I already knew of his brother Bill and he was ok but I didn’t like his brother Percy. Charlie invited me to a party they were having at the school. His brothers were first years and as I was going to start that September, he thought it would be nice for me to know some people. It was in the Gryffindor Common Room and my uncle even said I could go. I turned up with Hagrid and Charlie. It was April Fools and of course everyone was having a lot of fun. I gave them a present which, at the time seemed really good, I went with 2 bars of chocolate from Honeydukes. I had never experienced a birthday party before and it seemed very strange. I remember Hagrid, took my hand and said to me, “don’t worry, they’re good kids these ones” I was really really nervous, but Hagrid went over to two red heads slapped them on the back and wished them a happy birthday. I had to run to keep up but I went over, and Charlie introduced me. I forget the rest because they laughed really hard and shook my hand, something about me being a poltergeist. It was a bit bewildering. I smiled though because they seemed really nice, and I trusted Charlie. They were both funny but I found Fred crazy-fun and George more of a warm fun. I was only at the party for an hour or two because my uncle showed up, I guess he decided that was enough. He entered the common room and everyone went quiet. “Thanks guys, and Happy Birthday” I said, and I left with my uncle.

When I officially started at Hogwarts I didn’t take the train like everyone else so I didn’t meet up with Fred and George to ask them how their summer was. By this time, we had met each other a few times and I could say that I did know somebody at the school that wasn’t a teacher. I waited with the Grey Lady in Ravenclaw Tower and watched them all come in. As they did, I ran down to the entrance to stand with Professor McGonagall as the first-year students came in. When we went down the hall everyone was so amazed, I was concentrating more on where the people I knew were… Charlie, Fred & George, were all in Gryffindor and uncle Severus, Professor Snape was in front on the teacher’s table. Tonks was on the Hufflepuff table. When I was sorted, I will say that I was given 1 piece of advice by my uncle – “clear your mind and don’t look at me when you are called”. I don’t know what he hoped to I’d do with this advice but I was called as “Louisa Snape” (not my actual name), saw my friends, cleared my mind, and was sorted into Gryffindor.