The next morning, Abby woke up as the sun shone through the usually dark basement window. She covered her face with her covers in vain. A few minutes later, Sarah's rustling woke her up even more. Curse, morning people. She groaned and got out of the warm bed, shuffling towards her trunk, taking out her robe before making her way to the showers where she got undressed and stepped into the steaming shower. The hot water was just what she needed to help her wake up.

"Ugh, why can't classes at a more acceptable hour, like noon," Lila groaned as she took Abby's spot in the bathroom.

"I know, meet you down in the common room."

Lila nodded. Abby made her way to the common room to see Malcolm sitting on the couch.

"Morning Abs," he greeted happily.

"How can you be so happy in the morning," she groaned sitting on the couch.

The boy shrugged. A few minutes later, Cedric joined the duo.

"We have the morning rounds today," Cedric said reading off the schedule.

Abby got up and said goodbye to Malcolm before she and Cedric crawled out of the common room and began their rounds.

"So, you know Professor Burbage?"

Abby smiled. "She's my mum's best friend and my godmother."

Cedric nodded as they continued their assignments. They walked around chatting and joking.

At the end of their rounds, Abby was starving. They made their way to the Great Hall and sat down.

"It looks like we have Transfiguration with the Slytherins first," Malcolm said excitedly reading off the timetable in front of him.

Abby groaned. Transfiguration was her worst core subject. Although, she didn't mind the professor.

"Why so glum?"

"Not everyone is a Transfiguration prodigy, Mal," Abby said

Malcolm shrugged. After breakfast, they made their way to the Transfiguration classroom. Malcolm sat in the front of the classroom. Lila in the back and Abby in the middle. Abby glanced at McGonagall in cat form. She recalls the she thought it was amazing that wizards/witches could transform into animals.

The rest of the Hufflepuffs filed in followed by the Slytherins. Professor McGonagall in cat form jumped from the desk before class started.

In the middle of class, Ankur threw a note at Abby . She didn't expect anything positive.

Mudblood, Mudblood

If this was first year she probably would've burst out crying. Actually, that's how she bonded with Malcolm. He may come across as a bookworm but he has quite the unstoppable temper when pushed. He ended up hexing Ankur and getting detention for a month. It was a funny memory to see Ankur with bogeys flying out of his nose.

"How stereotypical and uncreative, Dukes," Abby snapped at him before she left the classroom after the lesson.

This lesson had been a double lesson so it was time for lunch. After lunch, they had Herbology with the Ravenclaws. Despite this being the subject that her Head of House teaches she was barely scraping by.

"Hey Abby," a brunette boy greeted.

"Hey Matt," she greeted as she turned around.

She had briefly dated Matt in their third year after going to their first Hogsmeade weekend together.

"How was your summer?"

"Good, how about yours?"

"Same."

Professor Sprout walked in and the lesson started. After Herbology it was time for Cedric and Abby's rounds. Abby thought to herself that it was funny that rounds came before meals because the last thing she wanted to do on an empty stomach was scolding a bunch of first years.

It was now Saturday, Abby was in her dorm writing a letter to her parents. She was sprawled out on her bed.

Dear Mum and Daddy,

It's only been a week but a dramatic start per usual. There's these soul-sucking sort of demons guarding Hogwarts because someone named Sirius Black broke out of the Wizard prison Azkaban. He must be a hardened criminal I've read about Azkaban nobody has escaped it. I wonder how he did it? And daddy I know you'll want me to come back after you read this. I' m perfectly safe at least safer than last term.

Love,

Abby

She did a once over of the letter and got up to mail it. She made her way to the Owlery. She found the usual owl she used to send letters to her family. After tying it to the leg and started the trek back to the Hufflepuff common room.

"Hey, sis."

She turned to see her little brother walking towards her with his friends.

"Have you had Defense yet?" Jason asked.

"Nope, but we have it first thing Monday morning with the Gryffindors," she replied excitedly.

Defense was one of favorite subjects although that didn't mean she was good at it.

Jason nodded. "I know I was only here for Lockhart and I was petrified about two-thirds of the year. I don't think I know much about Professors being qualified or not."

"Anyone else have an opinion on Professor Lupin?"

"He seems qualified enough," Jason's best friend Nathan told her.

She nodded. "Thanks for telling me."

"No problem, Abby," he smiled at her.

The two siblings continued their trek back to the Hufflepuff common room. They crawled into the common room.

"I know you just got back but it's time for our rounds," Cedric said.

"Alright, Cedric."

The two prefects left the common room and started to do their rounds. After their rounds, it was time for dinner.

It was now Monday, Abby made her way towards Defense with Malcolm and Lila. They reached the classroom and walked in. She sat down in the front of the classroom.

"Hello, I'm Professor Lupin,"

Abby recognized him from the start of term feast. Now that she got a closer look at him. She noticed his clothes were worn and he had wrinkles

There was a chorus of greetings.

"I know all of you are fifth years but I'm going to review what you guys have learned the last four years for your O. ."

There was a chorus of groans.

"We'll review what you learned in your first year today."

The lesson continued. So far, Professor Lupin was a good professor. She found his brains attractive.

After class, she walked to her Aunt Charity's classroom. She was finishing teaching the fourth year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors.

"Hello," Charity greeted her warmly.

"Hi."

"So, what lesson did you just have?"

"Defense. I really like his class. He's very qualified," Abby told her.

Charity smirked. "Somebody has a crush."

"I teased Lila about having a crush on Lockhart last year. It's her turn to tease me," she laughed.

Charity said. "So, I'll have to compete for favorite lesson."

"Muggle Studies will always be my favorite, especially if you tell me what our first lesson is about," she smiled hopefully.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Charity replied with a smirk on her face..

"You're no fun, Aunt Cherry," she whined.

The group of fifth years soon fell into a routine. It was now time for the Hufflepuff Quidditch tryouts to support her team and Cedric. Though, she wasn't that fond of Quidditch. Cedric was the captain of the team. For most of the tryouts, her nose was stuck in a book.

"Albright?" he asked surprised.

She looked up to see Cedric. "Oh, hey Cedric. Are the tryouts over?"

"Yep, I have some tough decisions to make."

Abby nodded and put her book back into her satchel and began following Cedric back into the castle.

"I'm surprised that you were watching the tryouts. I know you're not too fond of Quidditch."

"I wanted to support the team," she said.

He gasped. "Are you finally falling for my charms?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Diggory. I would never fancy Quidditch players especially seekers."

"Ouch, I'm wounded," he winced.

She giggled.

"Is that a good book?" he asked.

"It is although I've read it before."

"Why would you read a book that you've already read?" he asked confused.

"I suppose that's the Ravenclaw in me," she shrugged as Cedric pushed open the door to the Entrance Hall.

"You know I was nearly sorted into Gryffindor but the hat decided on Hufflepuff," he told her.

"I think that makes sense but I think you fit well in Hufflepuff."

They walked towards the Hufflepuff common room and crawled in.

"Hey guys," Lila greeted.

Abby sat down next to her and Cedric went back to his dorm.

"How were the tryouts?' Lila asked.

"I barely watched them since I was reading," she said.

Lila nodded. She wasn't too fond of Quidditch either. After an hour, it was time for dinner. They walked to the Great Hall and ate dinner.