Jackie was the first one awake in her room the next morning. She changed into her running clothes and went to take her daily run around the lake.

She was normally the only one out there running, but today she saw someone else outside as well. As she got closer, she saw that it was Stephen Flint, a Chaser for Slytherin and one of Trent Black's friends that had been in Quality Quidditch Supplies. He gave her a nod and she nodded back, but they ran at different paces so that was the extent of their conversation. He left before she finished as he had started earlier, so Jackie finished her three laps alone, like usual, before heading back to the castle to take a shower before breakfast.

When she got to her room, Rebecca was the only one left.

'Hey, Jackie,' she smiled as Jackie walked into the room. 'How was your summer?'

'Hi, Rebecca,' Jackie smiled back. 'It was pretty nice. How was yours?'

'Relaxing,' Rebecca replied with a smile.

'That's always an excellent thing,' Jackie observed, heading for the shower.

'You've got thirty minutes left till breakfast,' Rebecca called as she left.

'Thanks.'

After her shower, Jackie ran into Nathaniel Quirke in the common room. The two had been best friends since their first year.

'Watch where you're going, Quirke,' Jackie laughed.

'You watch where you're going, Andrews,' he laughed along.

Professor Flitwick walked along the Ravenclaw table that morning handing out schedules. Ari had already received hers as Jackie and Nathaniel sat down.

'Ah, Ms Andrews, here is your schedule. I am rather proud of your Charms O.W.L., keep up the good work.'

'Thank you, Professor.' Jackie fought to keep a straight face as Nathaniel pulled faces at her from behind Flitwick's back.

As Professor Flitwick turned to Nathaniel, Nathaniel pulled one of those moves that made him look ridiculous as he tried to hide the fact that that he was making a face. Jackie snorted into her porridge bowl.

'And here is your schedule, Mr Quirke. I was pleased with your Charms mark as well. I'll see you both later this morning.' And with that he moved along to a group of first years.

'What do you have?' Nathaniel asked, looking at Jackie's schedule. They all, Ari included, compared schedules and found that they had every class but Nathaniel's Ancient Runes, Ari's Care of Magical Creatures and Jackie's Arithmancy together. The early bell rang and everyone filed out of the Great Hall to go to the first class of the term.

As Jackie, Ari and Nathaniel entered the Charms classroom, they saw that they would be having class with Lucas Wood and Nicholas Bell of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

They all sat through Professor Flitwick's speech – which lasted through ninety-five of the one hundred minutes – half asleep. Jackie was grateful that they wouldn't have any homework that night on what he had said.

Jackie and Nathaniel said good bye to Ari in the Entrance Hall and Nathaniel proceeded to complain the entire way to the dungeon for Potions. Snape had never really liked them very much and Nathaniel wished that Potions wasn't required for Auror training.

As they entered the dungeon, they immediately sat down at a table together. Some Gryffindors came in and sat at their own table, and then Trent Black walked in with Stephen Flint. A few Hufflepuffs, including Jessica, barely made it through the doors in time for the bell to ring. Jackie and Nathaniel were left with a table to themselves as Professor Snape walked to the front of the room.

'Welcome to N.E.W.T. Potions, the hardest class you'll take,' he greeted them all. 'Please take out your cauldrons; we will be making Veritaserum for the first month.' He tapped the board with his wand and the instructions appeared. Another wave opened the supply closet and everyone started.

Nathaniel set up things at their table, complaining that they had such a hard task to start off with, so Jackie grabbed her Advanced Potion Making and went to gather supplies. Inside the closet, Jackie grabbed everything they would need and almost ran over Trent Black on her way out.

'My apologies.' He stepped to the side to let her pass, gesturing for her to go before him.

'Sorry,' Jackie apologised back to him, smiling slightly as she walked past. She wondered why he was talking to her, they had never associated with each other before, and Jackie was fairly certain that he hated her. After all, she was a lowly half-blood, and a blood traitor to boot.

Jackie and Nathaniel were the first to make it to where their potions had to simmer for three hours, so they were permitted to leave early. As they left, they heard Snape telling the Gryffindors that they wouldn't be able to leave the room until they made it that far, even if it took them until dinner. As much as Snape didn't like Jackie or Nathaniel, he pretty much loathed all Gryffindors.

Jackie and Nathaniel met up with Ari at the table for lunch.

'How was your free period?' Jackie asked as Ari sat down.

Ari gave a happy sigh. 'It was amazing. I got a wonderful nap.'

Nathaniel muttered darkly to himself, something about Potions and Snape, as he ate his lunch.

During break, Jackie and Ari returned to Ravenclaw Tower while Nathaniel went outside for a walk.

Ari remained in their dorm as Jackie grabbed her new book and settled down in her favourite armchair in the common room to read. Fifteen minutes later, Ari reappeared as Alex entered the room. They immediately sat together and shared the latest gossip as Jackie laughed to herself. It had only been three periods and they already needed to catch up.

Jackie read through most of the break before she had to return to Potions. When she walked in the dungeon, she found that her potion still had ten minutes left to simmer. Nathaniel walked in right after her.

'Hey,' she grinned.

'Hey,' he smiled back. 'How was your break?'

'Pretty good, I read a new book,' she replied as they sat down.

'How far did you get?'

'About a hundred and fifty pages.'

'Oh, so you're almost done already. You should slow down a bit before you finish it in one –'

'There are over a thousand pages total,' Jackie cut him off with a smirk.

His eyes widened. 'Oh…' He looked down at his potion and Jackie laughed at his expression.

They finished their work early again, so Snape, grudgingly, let them go early again. As they packed up, one of the Gryffindor guys walked past their table.

'Derrick asked me to give this to you,' he whispered, dropping the note onto their table subtly so Snape wouldn't notice. Jackie nodded and stuffed it in her bag. As she and Nathaniel walked out, Nathaniel gave her a curious look. She ignored him for the moment and opened her note.

Jackie,

How about meeting me after dinner tonight for a walk around the grounds?

-Derrick

Jackie grabbed her quill and scribbled a 'yes' on the back before giving it to the Gryffindor guy, who was walking past.

'Could you give this to Derrick, please?' she smiled sweetly.

They guy started slightly, but recovered himself quickly and nodded. Nathaniel smirked as they walked toward the greenhouses for Herbology.

'What?' Jackie asked when she noticed.

'Oh, nothing,' he replied innocently. Jackie decided against pressing the issue as Ari caught up to them.

'Hey, guys,' Ari chirped.

'Hey, Ari,' Nathaniel greeted her. As David approached, Nathaniel branched off to talk with him.

'Ohmygosh, guess what I heard!' Ari addressed Jackie once they were alone.

'What?'

'Derrick Turpin was seen writing a note to someone during break.' Ari gave Jackie a pointed look and Jackie knew that Ari expected the note to be to her.

'Yeah, I got that. We're going for a walk after dinner tonight.'

Ari's eyes widened. 'Really? That's so exciting!'

Jackie laughed. They were unable to continue their conversation as class started. Professor Sprout began class much the same way as Professor Flitwick – taking about being a N.E.W.T. student and what that meant. Jackie noticed Ari bubbling with excitement at what Jackie had told her and not paying attention to Professor Sprout. She also saw Nathaniel and David's eyes glazing over.

Once Professor Sprout finished, there were only five minutes left of class. She assigned them a three-foot essay on the properties of mandrake roots and let them go early.

'I could get used to this,' Nathaniel grinned as they left class early for the third time that day.

'I'll catch up with you later.' Ari gave Jackie a meaningful look as she walked toward the Care of Magical Creatures area just outside of the forest.

'I'll catch ya later too,' Nathaniel winked as he turned to head to the Ancient Runes class. Jackie waved as she continued to Ravenclaw Tower.

It was an easier riddle this time, so Jackie got in quickly. The circular room was filled with the sunset light streaming in from the large windows. Students were getting started on their homework or gathering their things to go to the last class of the day. Jackie walked through the door and up the stairs to her dorm. There wasn't anyone else inside, so she opened the windows to let the cool air in. Jackie had the bed with the western-facing window, so she got an excellent view of the beginnings of the sunset. She set her bag down on the side of her bed to continue reading. Halfway through her free period, she realised that she should probably get started on her Herbology homework for the next day.

The final bell rang and Jackie had surpassed the three foot mark, but she hadn't finished yet. Ari came into the room and exclaimed about how cold it was. Jackie hadn't even noticed, but she let Ari shut the windows. With two sentences left, Ari stopped pacing and sat down on Jackie's bed. Jackie was surprised that she had been able to wait as long as she had. As Jackie rolled up her parchment, Ari looked liable to explode.

'It's only the first day and there's gossip?' Jackie raised an eyebrow.

'You're part of it!' Ari burst. 'You've got a hot date tonight with Derrick Turpin. Derrick Turpin! Do you realise how exciting this is?'

'Firstly,' Jackie held up a finger, 'it is not a 'hot date.' We're merely taking a walk. Secondly,' she broke into a wide smile, 'of course I realise how exciting this is.'

After dinner, Jackie walked out through the front doors as Ari and Nathaniel turned up the stairs to go to Ravenclaw Tower. The air was cool and there were a few other students out enjoying the sunset.

Jackie didn't have to wait long. Five minutes after Jackie walked out, Derrick appeared.

'Hey,' he smiled as he approached.

'Hi,' she smiled back.

'Shall we?' He bowed and gestured for her to start walking around the lake. She laughed and curtsied slightly before starting off. He followed and they soon fell into pace with each other.

'How was your first day?' he asked.

'It was pretty nice. Not too much homework yet. How was yours?'

He grimaced. 'Ugh, I got homework from every class. Seventh year seems to be "pile it all up" year from the way the teachers were all talking.

Jackie made a sympathetic face. 'I'm sorry. At least you'll have Quidditch to help get your mind off it all.'

His face lit up. 'Yeah, Quidditch. I can't wait to get started this year. Are you excited to be captain?'

Jackie could feel her face light up as well. 'I'm very excited. I have no idea what the bloody hell I'm going to do, but hopefully I'll still make a good captain.'

'I'm sure you will,' Derrick smiled at her.

They chatted for a while longer before Derrick said that he should get to work and so they walked back inside. In the Entrance Hall, they paused at the top of the marble staircase.

'So, I'll see you around.' Jackie made to turn, but Derrick caught her arm and pulled her into a hug.

'Night,' he called as she turned away. She smiled and waved back.

As she disappeared from view, Jackie pondered her evening for a moment. It had been a nice walk, and their conversation hadn't felt forced. She was glad that it had gone well - her only previous attempt at a first date had been disastrous.

Walking up the stairs to Ravenclaw Tower, Jackie thought about what she was going to tell Ari. Ari would want to hear that they talked about love and their feelings toward each other (which they didn't) and that they kissed at the end (which Jackie was glad they didn't). Ari wasn't hovering in the common room, so Jackie stalled to continue deciding what to say.

Her peace didn't last long. After five minutes, Ari appeared in front of her. 'Come on.' She grabbed Jackie's arm and practically dragged her up the stairs.

Once they were in their dorm, Ari sat at the foot of Jackie's bed. 'Well? How was it?'

Jackie grinned. 'It was nice. We walked around outside and talked.'

'What did you talk about?'

'Quidditch and classes.' Jackie grinned as Ari's face betrayed her disappointment.

'How did you say good-bye?'

'We hugged.' Ari frowned and Jackie laughed.

'Well, it was only your first date. You have time,' Ari resigned as she went to her own bed.

'Night, Ari.'

'Night, Jackie.'

Jackie changed into her pyjamas and pulled out her Walkman, which she had charmed to run on magical energy so it wouldn't go haywire in the school. She turned it on and read until she fell asleep.