While Harry is relieved that he doesn't need to live with his relatives during the school year anymore, he is still oblivious to what Hogwarts could bring. The first thing that makes him realize this is his talk with the sorting hat.

Severus was captured in a Death Eater attack and with the help of a potion Voldemort shrinks Snape to a fifteen year old to hit it off with Ginny so that Voldemort can later use her for his newest plan to take over the magical world.