It only took a few days for Albus and Rose to learn their way around the school, which was rather difficult seeing as nearly every hallway looked the same. So while they knew the way to each of their classes the layout of the rest of the school remained a mystery to them.

On a particularly gloomy day, as Rose was heading to Transfiguration, she paused to look out the window. The sky was a monotonous gray and fog rolled in from the woods. The wind blew through the trees and made Rose wonder what creatures might be hiding in the cover of darkness.

She was straining her vision as she walked up the stairs, looking through each window, but unfortunately this led her to run into Scorpius who was rushing down the stairway in the opposite direction.

They both fell and Scorpius looked at her angrily, "Is this a habit of yours? Running into people?"

"I could say the same to you," she said, "Where are you going anyway? Transfiguration is upstairs."

"Wouldn't you like to know," he said mysteriously, but Rose wasn't at all interested in his mind games.

"Well, if you're not skipping class then I'll see you upstairs," she said, and picked up all her things and continued upstairs, waiting until she knew he couldn't see her to start rushing.

She got to class just as the bell rang. She tried to be inconspicuous as she slunk over to a table where Albus was sitting with his friends. He had grown quite popular these first few days, though they both wondered if this was solely the outcome of his relations.

To Rose's disappointment, they weren't doing actual magic that day; instead they were instructed to write an essay on the laws of transfiguration with their assigned partners. Rose sighed, she hated having assigned partners, it was as if the fate of her grade hung in the balance of chance.

The teacher was about to read off names when he was interrupted by the arrival of Scorpius, who offered no explanation to his lateness.

He probably thinks he doesn't need to, thought Rose resentfully, he probably thinks the whole class was just sitting here waiting for him before beginning.

The teacher looked at him disapprovingly but didn't comment at the moment. Instead he began rattling off the pairings, "Nyla and Violet, Cathy and Asher, Albus and Sienna…"

Rose was inwardly disappointed. There went everyone she knew, including Albus.

She looked over at Sienna, who sat by the window. Her dark brown hair could pass for black in poorer lighting and her black scarf made her intriguing black eyes look even more so. Sienna waved to Albus and Rose thought it was rather silly for her to wear a silver ring on every finger.

"Rose, could you move seats please?"

"What?" Rose had been so deep in thought she hadn't noticed that as the list had been read everyone was moving to sit with their partners, "Oh, of course." But where am I supposed to go…she wondered, mentally scolding herself for not paying attention and regretfully imagining what her brilliant mother would say.

"So now you're paying attention?"

She turned around to find Scorpius, clearly as unpleasant as always.

"I'm just looking for my partner," she said and made to move away.

"Look no farther, or are you blind as well as deaf?"

"Oh no…" she muttered under her breath.

"Yes, it is rather unfortunate isn't it?" said Scorpius, smirking at her disapproval.

"Well," conceded Rose, "I suppose we should get started. But I won't accept tardiness on days when we're supposed to be working together."

Meanwhile, Albus moved over to the window beside Sienna. He wasn't really sure what to say to her so he thoughtlessly began with introductions, forgetting that the teacher had already read his name to her.

"I'm Albus Potter," he introduced himself, sitting beside her.

"So I've gathered," said Sienna, smiling to herself. "And if we're using last names I feel obliged to introduce myself as Sienna Snape."

"What? Are you related to-"

"Severus Snape? I get that all the time, and yes. I'm his niece, on his father's side, but, obviously, we never met."

"I never knew he had any-"

"Relatives? No, I doubt he himself did. My father was a great deal younger then his father and they were never very close I fear."

"And do you always-"

"Finish people's sentences?" She laughed now, "No, I really don't. I've just been through this so many times, and if I ever start to again please stop me, as it's one of my very worst qualities."

Albus rather enjoyed Sienna's company for the rest of class and afterward ran into James in the hallway. He was, for once, without his usual assortment of extremely popular friends and was talking to a very annoyed girl with wavy strawberry blonde hair and incredibly blue eyes.

Albus sped up, if he strained his hearing he could just barely make out their conversation.

"Come on, Elizabeth, why won't you come with me?" James was asking her.

"Because I don't want to get in trouble," she said. "Unlike you I take pride in my perfect record."

"You won't get in trouble! You'll be with me and-"

"All your amazingly cool friends?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm now, "No thank you, James, I greatly disapprove of your little club, and, forgive me for saying so, but you're really not as irresistible as you think you are." Then she turned around and walked back down the stairs.

"I don't think she likes you much, James," teased Albus, catching up to him.

"Oh, shut up," said James, still watching her go, "she does; she's just being difficult."

"Well, I don't think so. I think she considers you-"

"Whatever, Albus," interrupted James, "I have to go practice for Quidditch. There's finally an opening for seeker!"

"Finally? This is only your second year, correct?"

"Dad was seeker in his first year," said James enviously, "but don't get any ideas, the position is mine this year."

Albus watched him go for a bit before Rose found him. That was classic James. Albus had no doubt his brother would get the position and he told Rose this.

"But you have to try out, Albus," she said, taking him by surprise.

"Why? I'm really not that good," but he didn't need to hear her reply to know that wasn't true. He was almost as good as his father now.

"Stop fishing for compliments," said Rose, pretending to be annoyed. "You're trying out, so don't even try to argue."

"I'll think about it."

Rose stepped in front of him and blocked his path. She crossed her arms and gave him a look that made it clear she wouldn't move until she got her way.

"Fine, fine, I'll do it. Happy now?"

She moved back beside him. "Yes," she said, "very happy."