And here it is! Chapter 2!

Thanks to RedSmileyFace for Beta Reading!

Hogsmeade

Sansa watched as Arya left the Great Hall with the Muggle-born and a fat kid, thanking the Gods that Joff wasn't there to watch it too.

"Sansa." a rough voice called and Sansa looked up. Sandor Cleagane was in front of her; Sansa felt Jeyne shiver slightly.

Sandor was Joffrey's best friend; well at least that was his title. Sandor actually was a 7th year student who, along with Joffrey, was a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team, and worked in what Sansa could only describe as "taking care of Joff".

"Joffrey is waiting for you in the common rooms." Sandor said simply, taking a step back and giving Sansa space to stand up.

'And why didn't he came looking for me himself?' Sansa wanted to ask but she knew Sandor wouldn't give her an answer.

"Alright," she muttered and stood up. She could see Jeyne pulling a little face, but didn't comment anything. She knows how scared Jeyne is of Sandor, even if Sansa constantly told her that Sandor was not going to hurt them, but still Jeyne avoided being near the big-scarred man.

While Joffrey is delicate and somewhat pretty, Sandor is big and scary, with half his face scarred by burns and using his long hair trying to cover the injured side. He had been a beater for Slytherin's Quidditch team since he was in his second year and that only added to his intimidating reputation.

Sansa had already come out of the Great Hall when Jeyne caught up with her. "Let's go the common room," she muttered quite annoyed and trying to keep her voice low so Sandor didn't hear. Jeyne asked, "Why does he has to follow us? We are not going to get lost!"

Sansa turned to glance at Sandor, who had a frown on his face, but that didn't meant he had heard Jeyne.

"Silver," Sansa said once she was in front of the Stone Wall that was the hidden entrance to the Slytherin common rooms. Inside was Joffrey with some of his friends, if someone could call them that.

"You took your time, Hound." snickered Joffrey as he stood up, with his broom in his hand, "We are going to practice, I want you to come and watch." Joffrey told Sansa and then turned to Jeyne as if an afterthought, "you can come too."

Jeyne smiled, and it was more than obvious that it wasn't a sincere smile. From all the people Sansa knew, Jeyne had been the most exited when Sansa and Joffrey got together 'you look so good together' she had said, 'he looks like a great guy' she had said.

Now Jeyne was sick of Joffrey being mean to them, and Sansa was starting to get tired too. If it weren't because they had all that history together she would break up with him.

"It sounds lovely." Sansa said smiling brightly, and turned to Jeyne, who smiled a little bit wider, and with the corner of her eye saw Sandor's frown become deeper.

"Good," Joffrey smiled. He walked towards the door and took Sansa's arm, the two of them followed by the rest of their group. Sansa just hoped there wouldn't be any problems today; once Joffrey lost his temper, his very, very short temper, he generally lashed out, and mainly at her.

All her hope of an uneventful morning vanished once they arrived at the Quidditch field.

"No, no, no! You are doing it wrong!" Arya's voice yelled at a poor guy seated on a broomstick, "How is even possible that you passed flying?"

Sansa didn't hear what the guy on the broom said, but not even a minute later he fell on the ground in what could only be a really painful way.

"Look, it's little horse-face and her muggle friend!" said Joffrey, loudly snickering, and causing Arya to turn, glaring daggers at Joffrey. Her friend on the ground stood gingerly, holding his left wrist.

"I think I broke this." he said through clenched teeth. He still hadn't acknowledged their presence, but a fat boy near them did as he jogged towards them.

"What do you want?" asked Arya looking at Sansa directly. But before Sansa could say anything, Joffrey cut in, "Our Quidditch team is going to practice, so move your arse out of here."

"But no one scheduled a practice today," Arya refuted, "we are allowed to be here!"

"You don't want to be the one to blame if your own house's team is not in shape for the first game, do you?"

" It is not going to be my fault if you all suck!"

"Arya," interjected Sansa softly, "please."

"It's not like you could keep this going." said Jeyne trying, but failing, to help. At Arya's confused look, Jeyne's limited answer was to give 'Gendry' a pointed look.

"Your muggle can't keep flying, Horse-face," how Sansa hated when Joff used that nickname, "and unless you want to try to make that pig of yours fly, I see no reason for you to be here," Joffrey smiled cruelly, "it's not like you can join the Quidditch team yourself."

Sansa saw Arya tense, but before she even said anything, her muggle-born friend was standing before Joffrey. He stood at his full height and his icy blue eyes were looking coldly at the blond boy. That's how Joffrey looked; like a scared boy just before being scolded by his father. But the muggle-born wasn't stupid, his eyes quickly glanced at Sandor, and the rest of the Quidditch team, and having what it looked like a broken wrist, he needed to avoid a fight.

"Leave my friends alone, Baratheon."

"And if I don't?" Sansa knew that Joffrey only felt brave enough to say said it because he knew he had his teammates to defend him.

The other boy didn't answer; he just glared at him before turning to Arya and the fat kid, and then walking towards the castle.

Arya glared at Joffrey and his group, before following her friend, side by side the fat kid.

While Joffrey and his friends laughed, Sansa watched her sister, seeing the muggle born waiting for her and their friend to catch with him.

When Sansa looked at her boyfriend, he and his friend were getting on his their brooms, and Jeyne was waiting for her to return from her world.

Sansa sighed, and Jeyne and she sat to watch the Slytherin Quidditch team practice.

.-.

"I see you hurt yourself again," said Aemon Targaryen, Hogwarts' mediwizard, as he sat besides Gendry's bed, "give me your arm." He looked at it for a long time before turning to Gendry.

"I need to learn how to fly properly." Was Gendry's only explanation.

"Such a stubborn boy." Old man Aemon chuckled, "Should I let it heal in the muggle way so you learn your lesson, then?"

"At least he got hurt learning something and not in a fight," said Hot Pie.

He looked at Gendry directly, "Brackim Emendo!" A crack sounded and Gendry grit his teeth, "Ferula." A piece of cloth twisted and covered his wrist immediately. Mister Targaryen sat back, "You've been in the medical wing enough times, try to be more careful."

"Thanks."

"So, how the hell did you pass flying class if you can't fly?" asked Arya in a mocking tone, but honestly intrigued. Gendry sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with his good hand.

"It's a long story."

"Is not that long," interrupted Hot Pie, "it actually is not long at all."

"Ok, is not long, I don't want to talk about it!"

"So… Hot Pie, tell me, what happened?" Arya asked sweetly to Hot Pie.

"Oh well, it was hilarious really. Last Year..."

"I'll tell the story!" Gendry almost screamed. After a deep breath, he started his story, "I used to fly quite decently, really, but midway through last year me and Hot Pie and some others were playing a game."

"Hot pie, others and me." corrected Arya

"Are you going to let me tell the story!?"

"Sorry."

"Well, we were playing a game of Quidditch, and it was going fine, I mean, it was all going fine, until…" Gendry struggled to say the next part, so Hot Pie intervened and help.

"A bludger hit him."

"Yeah, basically that happened."

"And he flew!" continued Hot Pie, ignoring Gendry's deadly glare, "He had to actually grab on the bludger or the fall would have killed him but then-"

"I actually broke virtually every bone in my body." interrupted Gendry, nodding, and finishing the story there.

Arya couldn't help the smile that creep on his face, she had heard about a boy who had had an accident the year before but it didn't finish quite there.

"You are the guy that fell on the Whomping Willow!"

"…So my reputation precedes me."

Arya heard steps and turned to the door of the medical wing.

"Waters!" the worried voice of Professor Tarth called, "What happened?"

"I just fell, it's nothing to worry about." The trio stared at professor Tarth before Hot Pie chipped in, "Why are you here, Professor?"

"Oh, well… I was worried for my student, so I came to check on him."

"My head of house never comes to the Medical Wing when anyone gets injured injures, except if it is something really serious," Arya mutters to Gendry, who simply shrugs his shoulders.

"Oh, here you are wench!" a voice boomed in the room, and Mister Targaryen simply turned to the cause with a serious expression.

"Lannister," Tarth almost growled, "what can I do for you?"

"You for me? Nothing my dear; obviously, I am here to offer you my help, since you seem to be incapable of keeping your students safe."

Professor's Tarth face turned an incredible shade of red before she snapped, "You three, to your common rooms."

"But it's not even noon!" complained Hot Pie.

"Now!" the three of them immediately stood and ran out the door, avoiding both the professor and the Auror.

"Well, that was interesting." said Gendry, chuckling, and Arya laughed.

-.-

The library was utterly silent while Bran read about the history of Hogwarts and its founding fathers. He and Jojen, a house mate, had been discussing and reading about the history surrounding the old castle, but a couple of hours before, Jojen's sister had appeared in the library looking for him. Jojen hadn't come back, but maybe he had returned to the common room, since it was late.

That was the moment Bran noticed it was really late.

Bran looked at the clock, noticing it was almost nine and felt his blood ran cold. He stood up as quickly and as quietly as he could, running towards the door. He didn't want his house to lose any points because of him, and for a moment he wished there was a way of knowing where everybody was at any given point so he wouldn't meet anyone.

He walked towards the Ravenclaw tower; everything was dark, but as he crossed some stairs they started moving.

Bran wanted to curse his luck, but he simply continued on his way, hoping that his deviation wouldn't be that long. He entered into a dark hallway, where a voice called for him.

"First year students should be in their common rooms." The voice said. It was feminine, and husky with a hint of an accent, "but you already know that, don't you Mister Stark?"

Bran looked around him; it was very dark and he could barely make out a woman's silhouette, but there was one red gem, barely shining in the dark that stood out, like a fireplace's embers, "I am sorry, I got lost and…"

"You lost track of time as you read, I know."

"...You do?"

"My fires told me," she smiled enigmatically, making her white theet glow in the dark, "you will learn how to read the fires soon, too."

"But I am first year." He stated skeptically.

"Yet, you will." She walked towards him and when she was close enough, Bran noticed her eyes shined like her necklace, "Walk back to the stairs, they will take you to the Ravenclaw Tower." she said and walked past him.

"Good night, Brandon Stark"

"Goodnight, professor."

.-.

The first week of October didn't only bring an early and mysterious cold wave, but also brought some surprises for Sansa: especially regarding her boyfriend, Joffrey. Tonight, the little prick, as her younger sister often called her boyfriend, had thought that it would be hilarious if he locked Sansa out of the common room by using a muting spell.

And now Sansa was looking at the entrance, only dressed in her thin pajamas, hugging herself as tears threaten to leave her eyes. She was so… so… so angry!

'When is he letting me in?' She asked herself but knew that was not going to happen. Joffrey loved pranks, he simply loved making people miserable, and while sometimes he teased her, he had never used magic against her before.

It didn't mean it was the first time he made fun of her.

Or even hurt me.

Sansa quickly shakes her head: that had been just one time, and it had been an accident. Right? She had pushed him into getting mad.

But this time she had done nothing wrong. Nothing.

"Why is there a Little Bird out of her cage so late?" a rough voice asked, and Sansa turned her head to find Sandor Cleagane.

She sighed, relaxing her body.

"Are you hurt?" Sansa shook her head, "So why are you are not in the common room? It's past curfew." Sansa knew Sandor had been punished for getting in a fight with another seventh year, so he had to help Clydas; the castle's old and short groundskeeper.

Sansa wanted to explain; she opened her mouth but no sound came out.

Sandor simply grunted; he knew that Sansa used to be scared of him. Sandor opened the hidden door on the stone wall and Sansa rushed in. "So you are not going to tell me what's wrong?" he grunted rasp and Sansa tried to answer, again. Sandor didn't look at her, he simply took a knitted blanket that rested on a couch and threw it to Sansa, who was shivering.

"Good night," he said, almost growling, and went to his room.

Sansa sighed; she would thank him in the morning.

She quickly ran to the third year's quarters and knocked. She had to wait, but eventually the door open. Thankfully it was Arya who opened the door, "what do you want?"

Sansa opened her mouth, trying to explain, but no sound came out. Sansa was starting to get pretty annoyed by it.

"What? Did the cat eat your tongue?" Arya asked; it wasn't her usual teasing tone, but an annoyed tone.

Sansa shook her head, but then nodded and tried to explain her sister, by gestures, that she had been victim of a prank.

Arya didn't seem to get the whole message, but still she sighed, returned to the room and coming out seconds later with her wand in her hand.

"Finite Incatatem." muttered Arya and Sansa stared back at her. "Well, what are you waiting for? What happened?"

"Joff," Sansa gasped, and Arya raised an eyebrow, "a prank… I'll explain, I swear, but it is late, and I'm sorry, I'll let you sleep." Sansa turned and ran to her room.

-.-

The first month of class in Care of Magical Creatures had meant Professor Drogo and Miss Targaryen constantly trying to up level each other with their classes. Professor Martell had thought it would be a great idea to have both professors working together in each class, though it had created even more friction between the young professors then otherwise. But in what seemed and incredible turn of events, something had changed. Arya didn't understand it, had tried to put a finger on whatever had changed, but she just couldn't.

Miss Targaryen giggled as Professor Drogo said something while the rest of the students read about flobberworms and how to take care of them.

Yep, Arya thoght, they are flirting.

"They are cute, aren't they?" Myrcella Baratheon asked one of her friends, and one of them sighed, sorry for the loss.

'As if they stood a chance!' Arya thought.

Myrcella Baratheon is Joffrey's younger sister; because of Arya's obvious dislike for the blonde jerk, she and Myrcella had never even tried to get along, but Arya thought she wasn't half bad.

'Still, she is a Baratheon.'

"Class," Miss Targaryen called with a bright smile, "you are dismissed."

Some kid muttered something about being 20 minutes too early to leave, but everyone quickly grabbed their bags, hoping to leave as fast as possible. Free time was something precious.

Arya thought to maybe go looking for Gendry and Hot Pie. Arya had found in the pair of older boys really good friends, even if Hot Pie constantly complained about stuff and Gendry was constantly being stupid. But Arya remembered they were probably still in class, since she doubted any other professor was letting the students leave 20 minutes early. Arya weighted her options for a minute before choosing to go to an empty classroom and read a book she had just gotten from the library.

She searched for a classroom near her friends, so she could catch up with them when they finished, but when she opened the door of what she was sure was an empty classroom she found someone already using it.

"Sorry," she muttered quickly as Professor Forel turned from whatever he was preparing for his next class, "I didn't meant to interrupt."

"Ah, boy, don't worry, don't worry, you are not interrupting anything."

Arya frowned; she knew she was not the most beautiful girl in the world, but she had never been called a boy, it was weird, but she didn't think too much on it.

"…What are you preparing?" Arya asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Today I will teach Dueling class so this is for a demonstration." Professor Forel explained, pointing at what seemed like a long and fancy table.

"Dueling class?"

"Oh yes, yes, don't worry! I will teach dueling to each class, using charms for each level, of course. I don't expect you to know most difficult chams, boy." Forel's thick accent and way of talking made it a little difficult for Arya to understand him. "Do you like the idea of Duelling?" he asked with a big smile.

"I… I think so." Arya said. Of course it seemed interesting, but …

"You think so?"

Arya had just gotten a book on old sword fighting techniques muggles used centuries ago, so the first thing she thought when she heard 'Dueling' was swords. "it's just… I thought of… swords, not charms and…"

"Are you interested in dueling with swords?" the question was not mocking, nor mean, it was just a simple question.

"I… yes."

Syrio Forel studied for a second, his brown eyes piercing on hers, "I see what can I do with that." He said but Arya didn't know if he was talking to himself or to her.

"I'll leave, then."

"Oh, yes, yes, you are dismissed, boy." He replied absentmindedly.

-.-

Brandon Stark knew it was not polite to stare, his mother had told him that hundreds of times. But as Professor Greyjoy ranted about how the youth lost their time with meaningless moments instead of drowning because 'what is dead cannot die', taking big gulps of water from a skin he carried around his neck, and saying how the drowned god had blessed him: it was impossible to part his eyes from him.

It was incredible that this humorless, dirty, ratty, and overly devoted man was a relative of Theon, his older brother's best friend.

History had always been one of his favorites subject when studying with Maester Luwin, an nice old man who had instructed all the Stark children before each moved on to Hogwarts, but since Bran had arrived at the castle, History had become more of a constant preaching of the Drowned God, stories the professor remembered form students' ancestors, and his own life.

He had had a really interesting life.

Bran quickly turned his eyes when professor Greyjoy, or "Damphair" as most called him, turned directly to him. He really didn't want to hear the story of how Damphair's older brother and Bran's father had dueled, or fought, or whatever it was that they had done to hate each other so much.

Bran's friend, Jojen Reed, was seated next to him. Bran wasn't so sure why he called Jojen his friend; he rarely talked, was very serious, and he always seemed to know something Bran didn't, and that sometimes irritated Bran.

But Jojen was part of his house, so they spent a lot of time together.

The class was over before Damphair could start inviting more students to get blessed by the drowned god, and everyone flew from the class.

"Sometimes I wonder if it's actually water that man carries around his neck." Arya had told him when telling him about school during her first year, and now Bran understood why: his constant rambling sounded really similar to Robert Baratheon's his father's best friend speeches when he was drunk.

"Jojen!" His line of thought was cut short when he heard a female voice he was starting to know too well.

"Meera, what's wrong?" Jojen asked.

Meera Reed was Jojen's older sister; she was the same age as Arya and had green eyes like Jojen. And Bran thought she was beautiful.

"I just wanted to know how you were doing" she said cheerily, completely different from Jojen. It seemed that all the energy that family had has been inherited to (by) Meera.

"I am fine, thanks." Jojen said quite dryly, and Meera frowned.

"Great," she seemed to dislike her brother's tone but didn't say anything, "well see each other later, all right? Tomorrow is the Hogsmeade trip and I was wondering if there was anything you'd like?"

"No, thanks."

Meera rolled her eyes, "Fine." She turned to Bran and smiled sweetly, "Hi, Bran."

"Hello." he said, trying to not sound so much like a child.

"Well, I'm going to the Great hall," she said walking towards a group of her girlfriends in her same year, "later, little bro." Even her steps were more cheery than Jojen's.

-.-

Hogsmeade was everything Arya had dreamed of and more. After years and years of hearing stories from her brothers, Arya already knew everything one needed to know from the town.

"Oh! We could go to Honeydukes! I should totally buy something for Bran. And I swore Robb I was going to get him a pair of screaming socks from Gladrags Wizardwear, and we could go to Zonko's-" But Arya is interrupted by Hot Pie.

"Why can't we just stay at the Three Broomsticks, drinking?"

"Oh, come on! Look how excited she looks." said Gendry, almost laughing.

"Don't talk about me like I wasn't here."

"Plus, don't you remember the first time we came here?" Continued Gendry, ignoring Arya, "We spent, no you spent like two hours at Honeydukes!"

Hot Pie grumbled something but then smiled when Arya said she would buy him something. When the group walked in front of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, however, the trio had to stop.

"Is that…?" started Hot Pie

"With…" continued Arya, as shocked as her friend.

Professor Drogo was seated in front of Miss Targaryen, both of them chatting and smiling and laughing and so.. so…

"Oh God!" laughed Gendry, "I thought it was a joke when people started saying they were an item!"

"But they hate each other."

"Yeah Arya, but that was before."

"And now what?! They love each other? It's stupid!"

"I think they are cute." said a voice behind them. The three of them jumped to see Sansa besides Jeyne, who was smiling slyly at them, "They are in love."

"They are not in love, Sansa, they've just met!"

"Whatever."

"Wait," Arya stopped her sister form leaving, "why are you not there with Joffrey? I though every couple sat there."

"Been there enough times," said Sansa with a clipped smile, "we thought we could just spend time with out friends today." Seeing Jeyne mirroring her sisters uneasy smile, Arya knew there was more, much more than that: probably another fight.

Sansa left as silently as she arrived and the trio went back to their own business. Arya tried not to worry about her sister for the rest of the trip.

-.-

Brienne sat in front of her desk reading different reports about her students, why each professor had given points to her house members and why they had taken points from them, too. While also checking on the fifth and seventh years' grades, OWLs and NEWTs always meant extra attentions for any possible doubt.

A knock sounded, and Brienne answered in a loud and clear voice, without taking her eyes out of her scrolls, "Come in."

"I swear to you wench, this school is so much more boring that when I was a student." said the arrogant voice of Jaime Lannister.

"Maybe if you did your job instead of terrorizing me every minute, you would be more entertained."

"Oh, certainly not," he said, with a mocking tone in his voice and Brienne knew that if she turned to look at him, in his face too, "I am most entertained when I spend time with you."

Brienne didn't understand why she felt herself blush.

"So you just ignore your job."

"Oh, no, I certainly do my job."

"Really? Then why are you here and not at Hogsmeade, making sure the students are safe?"

A minute of silence passes until Jamie speaks again, this time his voice serious, "I'm not here to keep the students safe." Brienne lets herself ignore the scroll in front of her and looks at Jaime, who has a serious expression and is looking at some point on the wall, "I'm here to get sure those monsters Qyburn created don't escape."

"Oh?"

"But, as I already checked that everything is closed," he spoke again with a lighter tone, "I came here to check on my favorite wench." he smiled at her his brightest, widest and most annoying smile.

Oh someone kill me now.

-.-

Arya and Hot Pie devoured the cauldron cakes that she had bought for them at Honeydukes—Gendry had saved his for another day. The group was thinking on what activity to do next.

"We could always go to Three Broomsticks." commented Hot Pie, but both Gendry and Arya dismissed the idea; the weather was nice enough to be outside, and by the quick decrease of temperature of the last month, they both supposed they should make the most of the day.

They were walking near the post office when Arya spotted Professor Forel walking by.

"Oh, hello boy!" the professor greeted cheerily with his thick accent, while carrying a big parcel.

"Hello professor," greeted in the same way "what do you have there? It is for class?"

"Oh, this is nothing for class, this is special." he said, his smile widening, "Go to my office later and I'll show you, it will be of your most interest." The professor nodded to the boys, "Pie boy, Waters." he acknowledge, and left after that.

"What could that be?" asked Gendry, not actually expecting an answer.

"Dunno, but I'll learn soon enough." Arya murmured.

-.-.-.-.-

Arya stood outside Professor Forel's office; since there was still time before the Halloween feast started.

"Come in," called the accented voice inside the office. Once Arya entered she saw Proffesor Forel carrying a pair of long wooden sticks, "Oh, boy! You have arrived."

"Uhm, yeah." Arya stood shifting her weight from one foot to another nervously, "Professor, I don't know if your are not aware of it, but I am a girl."

"…Why is that relevant, boy?"

"I just, thought you should know." Arya sighed, "why did you call me here, sir?"

"I am teaching you how to dance." he said simply.

"Dance?"

"Water Dance." He said throwing her one of the wooden swords.

Arya stretched her arm but the sword slipped from her grasp and fell.

"Tomorrow you will catch it."

"Sir?"

"You said you were interested in sword fighting, so I will teach you." He took his wooden sword and got himself in position, Arya copied him.

-.-.-.-

Bran sat on his bed, breathing heavily. He had dreamed he was still in Winterfell; he was playing with Shaggydog but the big black wolf had stopped and ran back inside the house, and Bran remembered following him, walking on four legs. 'Why I was walking on four legs?'

"What did you see?" a quiet voice asked. Jojen sat on his bed. Even in the dark Bran knew he was looking directly at him.

"I was back home," Bran gasped, "I was Summer, my wolf." he tried to calm his breathing, "What did it mean?"

Jojen lay back on his bed, "I don't know." he whispered.

'Maybe I just miss Summer' Bran thought, 'But it's ok, I will see him soon.'

"You won't." said Jojen, before falling asleep.

I'm so sick I don't know how I'm going to class tomorrow.

Thanks to all who reviewed and kudoed and followed!

I would love to write a longer comment but… you know, sickness and stuff.