Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter; I'm not J.K. Rowling.

Lucas awoke rather early the next day, jitters in his stomach for the first day of classes. He washed, dressed, and combed his hair (for once.) Lucas flew down the stairs to the common room. Assuming nobody would be there yet, he hopped over the midnight blue couch and sat. A thud was heard; a large book hitting the floor. Lucas gasped.

"Florence!"

"Shh! E-everyone is still asleep." Lucas' rapidly beating heart slowed. He picked up her book. The Hound of the Baskervilles. It sounded familiar. It was probably a muggle novel that Lucas had seen in a London bookstore. Snapping out of his daydream, he handed the tattered book back to Florence.

"Thanks."

"What are you doing up so early? It's like, 6:30."

"Reading. I've been up since f-five." Lucas looked her in the eyes. Florence's darted away.

"May I ask why?"

"I-I'm an early riser, I suppose?" Lucas chuckled. She was so matter-of-fact. Nice, but brusque. He got the impression that Florence wasn't one to beat around the bush.

"Alright then." Lucas let Florence get back to her book. She flew through the pages; Lucas didn't understand how she could read something at such light-speed and still comprehend it. He snatched the book out of her hand. Florence gave him a look of indignation mixed with confusion.

"What's it about? The book?" Lucas asked. Florence hesitated, but responded at an equal speed of which she was reading,

"W-well, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson theorize who the owner of a cane is. It was left in their office, but they don't really know by whom. Holmes predicts the advent of James Mortimer, who owns the object. He comes into the office and shows off an old manuscript. Mortimer tells the story of the lascivious Hugo Baskerville. Hugo kidna-"

"Okay." Lucas put a hand up. Florence looked slightly embarrassed. He handed Florence back her book.

"You read really fast, is all. I couldn't tell if you were actually reading, or just skimming." Florence nodded in cognition. Lucas pulled a pencil out from behind his ear and began to sketch again. Just like on the train, Lucas thought. Again, a pleasant quietude, with only the crackling of the fire permeating the air.

A while later, a stair from behind them creaked. Someone had woken up and was coming down to the common room. Florence immediately packed up and hastened through the portrait hole. She moved so fast and instant, it made Lucas flinch. He closed up his sketchbook and ran after her. The girl who was coming down from the dormitories didn't notice; she was too busy fixing her mascara.

As Lucas got out of the portrait hole, he spotted Florence walking down the stairs.

"Oi! Florence!" She kept walking. Lucas sighed and quickened his pace. She was still reading her novel, clutching tightly to the railing with one hand, as not to go tumbling down the marble staircase. Lucas caught up to her and grabbed the book out of her hands once more. He stared at her, mouth agape, with a look that said, "What was that?"

"Why'd you run off like that?"

"Uh…" Florence thought on her feet, trying to make up a good excuse,

"Breakfast time?" she said, but not very convincingly. Lucas' eyebrows said everything: "Do you really expect me to believe that?" Florence looked uncomfortable. She scratched her hairline, and her feet shuffled. She looked down at the floor. Lucas recognized this. He sighed again, trying to read her; to find out what she was thinking; what was bothering her. He failed. Her signals were indecipherable.

"Well." Lucas gave her a soft smile, "Let me join you." He began to walk, but Florence stood still. He turned around. Florence pointed to the flimsy paperback that lay in Lucas' hands. Lucas shook his head and handed it back to her. This time, when he started down the stairs, she followed; one hand on the book, one on the railing.

The Great Hall was fairly empty. Florence sat at the end of the Ravenclaw table closest to the door. Lucas grabbed sausages and bacon, topped them with maple syrup, and began to dig in. Florence took a piece of toast and topped it with banana slices. In her opinion, Lucas' breakfast was absolutely revolting. Once the Great Hall began to fill up, Lucas saw Florence begin to get nervous again. She buried her nose in the book and wouldn't talk; not that Lucas would have been able to hear her meek voice over the crowd. The bell signaling the start of classes sounded. Florence was the first one to leave the table. Lucas followed.

"You've Transfiguration first, too?"

"Mhm." Florence brushed a curly lock out of her face, still reading. Once at the classroom, she took out her wand and laid it at the far end of the desk. Lucas sat down next to her.

Professor McGonagall took out her wand and tapped it on the mahogany podium at the head of the class, just in front of Florence and Lucas. Florence stared intently at the teacher, taking in every word she said.

"Class, since today is your first day of lessons, let's review from last year. You see on your desk a large pile of rhubarbs. Everyone, rhubarbs to rutabagas, go!"

With a tap, a swish, and a timid muttering of "Rivegifors," the long, red plant made its way into a perfect rutabaga.

"Excellent memory, Miss McKinnon. Twenty points to Ravenclaw!" McGonagall began to roam around the room, scolding a rather dim-witted Slytherin who had somehow managed to switch his rhubarbs to rhinoceros beetles.

"Great job," Lucas whispered to Florence. The corner of her mouth turned slightly up, and she uttered a "thanks".

At supper, Lucas tried to start up a conversation, for they hadn't had a truly in-depth conversation since the Game.

"So, are you trying out for Quidditch?" he asked, shoveling down stuffing like there was no tomorrow.

"No. I-I've never even ridden a broom."

"What about first year? There was Quidditch training then. Madam Hooch was pretty awful, but she still let us ride."

"I didn't have the form signed. I-I wasn't allowed." Florence's voice got even quieter at these words.

"Oh. Well it's pretty easy, I guess."

"A-are you trying out?" this brought Lucas aback a bit. This was the first question Florence had ever asked him. Her question made Lucas feel like he was an active member in the conversation, not just hosting an interview. He smiled at this.

"No. My brother and my sister both play Quidditch, and they're a lot better than I am. Believe me, they tell me that all the time. The only position I'd even consider would be Chaser. It's simple enough, and you get to fly all over the field; not as much pressure as a Seeker or a Keeper, and you typically don't have bludgers flying at you every half a minute."

"Interesting."

"You didn't know?" Florence shook her head. Lucas gawked at her in disbelief.

"Haven't you ever been to a game?" Again, Florence shook her head.

"It doesn't sound that appealing. I-I mean, the sport itself, sure. I-I'm sure it's great, otherwise, why would your family like it. But a-all the noise… But I'm sure it's a good game," Lucas smiled to himself. The look on her face; like she thought she had done something terrible, like an insult to his family, by badmouthing Quidditch.

"It's fine, don't worry." He laughed and messed with his dark chocolate brown hair. A look of relief washed over Florence's face.

"Well, I think I'm going to go back up to the common room. Want to come?" Florence nodded. They walked back up the long staircase to Ravenclaw Tower in peace. The level of sound was shockingly low in comparison to that of the Great Hall. Once through the portrait hole, Florence sat down on the midnight blue armchair, while Lucas sprawled out on the couch, head and sketchbook facing Florence.

She closed her book and closed her eyes. The tenth chapter of the book was finished. Such a great last sentence: I swear that another day shall not have passed before I have done all that man can do to reach the heart of mystery. The characters in her books were always so brave, so bold. They all would have been Gryffindors, Florence thought.. The velvet of the chair was soft and worn; she could have fallen asleep right then. Florence let out a small yawn.

"I think I'm going to start my homework. How about you?" While Lucas had only known Florence for a day, it seemed very un-Florence to leave homework until the last minute.

"A-already finished." Predictable.

"Perfect! You can keep me company." Lucas proclaimed with enthusiasm. While he was a Ravenclaw, homework wasn't his favorite thing in the world. Thankfully, the first day didn't consist of much to do. A diagram of a centaur, a list of ingredients for the pus reducing potion, and practicing a few charms.

During the end of Lucas' work, Florence dozed off, her book tightly clutched to her chest. As Lucas got his papers together, he sat on the arm of the chair she was curled up in. Calm, peaceful. As if nothing could ever bother her. Her brow had uncurled from the worried expression it had all day. Her lips were slightly parted, taking slow and consistent breaths. Lucas tapped her on the shoulder. She stirred.

"Hey, sleepy-head. Well, I wasn't sure if you wanted to sleep here in the common room. It's about eleven thirty." Florence took a deep breath in.

"Thank you." She walked up to the girl's dormitory, novel in hand.

"Good night." Lucas called. Florence turned around.

"Good night. A-and thank you, again."

Author's Note: So, this chapter is a lot shorter than the previous one, but we're still in exposition mode. Plus, school just started and I'm taking a lot of Honors and AP Courses. I will try to make time to write more, if you guys want me to. please review, it would mean a lot. Constructive criticism greatly appreciated.