A/N: This is my first story. I will say that I own nothing and I am just having fun. I hope you enjoy.

LATE

Sidra Moncrieff woke up late for the first time since she had been a pre-teen. She threw back the covers as panic set in. Knowing there was no time for a proper bath, splashed water on her face, brushed her teeth and took off out the door wearing the clothes she had worn yesterday and consequently slept in. Her accommodations were on the fifth floor and it was quite the feat of navigation to find her way in a place she had not even been acquainted with for eight hours. She hoped with all her might that Professor Sprout might oversleep as well.

Her train arrived late last evening, all the way from Carcassonne, France, a long and uneventful journey. It was after midnight and the waning moon was high in the sky when she was greeted at the iron gates by the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who seemed to be put out at having to wait up for her. Salutations were swift and made while the long walk began to the massive entry doors. Sidra barely registered the greetings of the stalwart woman leading her towards the largest fortification she had ever seen.

Sidra was in awe of the castle she would be living in for the next three years, it was nothing like the school she had just graduated from, Beauxbatons, a rolling chateau of pale blue and gold façade, nestled in the idyllic hills of southern France. The fortress that confronted her now seemed like it was pulled out of her imaginary musings of Count Dracula's home, well maybe not quite as sinister but something of the sort. Under the moonlight the vast silhouette of the edifice and outline of the many turrets took her breath away as she felt the many sightless windows watch her surreptitiously. There was a certain ebb and flow of the castle walls that slightly alarmed her as if the structure itself was alive. However, keeping up with the impatient strides of the Headmistress did not afford her to linger as long as she would have liked, even though she was tired and looking forward to resting her head. She hadn't slept on the train.

Oh, now how she wished she would have caught a few moments of rest on the train, as she traversed her way through the castle. She now hoped that maybe Professor Sprout had somehow got tangled in Devil's Snare; poor women, if she had.

Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress, led her to her rooms and left Sidra there to settle in for the night after explaining that the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, would meet with her late tomorrow afternoon, after her first lesson with Professor Sprout. Sidra closed the door, thankful for the brevity of the explanation and sighed to herself. She felt overwhelmed and a bit frightened suddenly in this new place.

She had wanted her apprenticeship at Hogwarts fiercely and after applying and jumping through hoops to get here she felt slightly anxious. It was unusual that the Governing Board of Hogwarts had allowed her to apprentice with three different Professors. Only on occasion did a new grad get to apprentice at Hogwarts at all. Three years studying under the most brilliant minds in their respective fields: Professor Sprout, Botanist and Herbology expert, Professor Snape, Potions Master, and Madame Pomfrey, Mediwitch, a year of tutelage under each. Her first being with Professor Sprout, the only one she had met.

Sidra's Professor of Herbology at Beauxbatons, Mademoiselle Royer, introduced her to Professor Sprout over the summer at a symposium on non-magical plants used in magic. She took an immediate liking to the older witch and hoped her applications would be accepted. She didn't fear being rejected after meeting Professor Sprout or corresponding through letters with Madame Pomfrey. It was Professor Snape that had her worried. His first letter was a flat out no. No explanation, no anything. She had sent letters of inquiries with scans of her NEWT transcripts, showing she had received Outstanding in all her subjects, along with recommendation letters from several Professors and Madame Maxine, her former Headmistress.

Feeling dejected she wrote once more, this time to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore explaining her dream of becoming a Mediwitch and of how she had worked hard to achieve her grades. It was more than a dream of course, her Mediwitch desire, it was almost bordering on an obligation. All said, she was determined to get the best training and cultivation she could, and felt like the minds at Hogwarts could provide it.

Four weeks later she received another letter from Professor Snape, accepting her as an apprentice of potions. The letter was short and curt and most surly. The post script contained a list of equipment and ingredients she was to bring with her next year and for her not to lose the list as she would not be receiving a duplicate copy. At least she only had to apprentice with him for a year and not until next. Sidra had never met the man but from the tone of his letters she was very grateful for the slight reprieve she would get from not having him as a master first. She had wondered all along how Professor Dumbledore persuaded him to say yes. Without the Potions training the other two fields didn't matter one bit.

Putting her anxieties to rest she quickly scanned her lodgings and found them to be more than enough. She was thankful her trunk had arrived before her and sat in the middle of a large sitting room. Sidra decided she would sort through her things tomorrow evening. The best thing about her new space was it had enough bookshelves to store her accumulation of books. It also held a loveseat and two wing-backed chairs facing a large fireplace, which occupied most of one wall. Windows adorned both sides of the hearthside and looked out over a massive lake, rippling silver in the moonlight. To the left she found a moderate sized bedroom with a large four poster bed carved intricately with exotic flowers that matched an armoire in the far left corner. To the right was a bathroom big enough for the loo, basin, and a large claw foot tub. Sidra looked longingly at the tub wishing she had more time to take a soak and relax. As it was she would only get six hours of sleep if she went to bed directly.

Crossing to her bed she found a map of the school and grounds thankfully as she was yet to have a proper tour. Tomorrow would be a big day for not only her but the rest of the students at Hogwarts. First days always were. Placing the map on her bedside table she crawled under the heavy duvet and opened her copy of Hogwarts: A History. Evidently she had missed the sorting ceremony, where first years were separated into one of four houses. Beauxbatons did not have anything like that. She would catch the sorting ceremony next year as she definitely wanted to see the sorting hat in action. Her last thoughts before the heavy tome slipped from her hands was what would be served at breakfast.

Damn! Now she didn't have time for breakfast and cursed herself for her foolishness as she ran as fast as she could through the throngs of students in the halls of Hogwarts, careful of the sudden changing staircases but, paying no heed to the uneven stones threating to trip her, elbows pumping, heart racing, she hit the thick, wood-carved, front doors and flew down the steps as fast as her legs would move. Sidra consulted the map in her back pocket searching for the greenhouses. She didn't see them last night and wanted to be sure she was heading in the right direction.

Once on grass her flight picked up speed and she skidded to a halt in front of what she thought was Greenhouse 3. None of the greenhouses were clearly marked and she had to count from the first of which she encountered. Sidra hoped she was right. Pausing briefly to catch her breath and smooth her blonde hair down over her ponytail she slid quietly into the humid air in search of Professor Sprout. Five minutes late. Great first impression, she mused with a roll of her green eyes, still searching for the pleasingly plump Botanist.

She entered the hot house slowly and cautiously. She was well aware of the danger the greenhouses could hold. Looking all around her she momentarily forgot she was late. The movement of something above her caught her attention and her eyes shot to the transparent ceiling. The roof of the greenhouse soared toward the sky and a myriad of magical tropical plants swayed from the support beams. Sunlight sliced through the foliage and she could definitely detect movement in the overhanging fauna. Making a mental note to duck and run for cover if she had to, she brought her eyes forward to the narrow path shrouded in canopies of green.

Potted plants lined the walkway in all colours and sizes, some moving, some still, but all glistening in the early Scottish sunlight. The middle of the hot house held several large plots filled with seedlings making their way through peat and dung to greet the morning light. That's where she found Pomona Sprout, kneeling over a seedling she had coaxed into an upright position, speaking to the purple plant like one would speak to a small child. Although she could only hear murmurs of sweetness, she could tell the words were full of affection.

She hesitated for only a moment, so intent on watching the older women tend to her plants, before going over to kneel beside her.

"Good Morning Professor Sprout.", she smiled widely, "I'm sorry I'm late, I lost track of the time, it won't happen again."

The kindly mentor looked up from her administrations and wiped her brow with her muddy palm. She looked confused briefly before smiling back at her student.

"Well you are here now! That's what's important!" Sprout said cheerfully. "Help me finish planting these lumineux shoots and we can move on. Glad to have you Miss Moncreiff!"

So that is what she did for several hours until tea. They worked well together and before long the middle of the greenhouse was planted and watered. The Professor's knowledge of plants amazed her and she hung on every word and sage snippet she could remember. Out of the three subjects she chose to apprentice in, herbology was her weakest, and she was glad her first year would be devoted to the greenhouses. Hopefully the knowledge she gained here with Professor Sprout would help her with potions and medicine. Why else would it be required for the Mediwitch programme? She had a feeling she would need all the help she could get come next year.

Tea was a lovely occasion shared with Pomona, who insisted she be called by her first name. Expectations were set, the syllabus finalised, and plans for the rest of the afternoon were made. Working together companionably was like a balm for Sidra's soul. She didn't miss home or think about her friends, although she did wonder briefly if she would meet anyone her own age, and forge new friendships here at Hogwarts. Her mind briefly flittered to her parents, but she pushed the thoughts aside.

She concentrated on what she was learning and doing with her hands. She felt free and on her way to realising her purpose. At five o'clock they stopped and surveyed their work. Pomona seemed pleased with her efforts and in turn Sidra felt pleased with herself. With a bounce to her step she retreated to her rooms to finally have that bath she had been longing for.