(A/N: Those of you who know French will get a hoot from the Creature Teacher's name. And thanks to all my reviewers! I love you guys. I'm going to work on this all Christmas break, but next week are finals, so forgive me if I don't post so often.)

His dreams that night were normal, if one considered that he had had similar dreams for the past few days. The girl, who was known to him, was walking through the school hallways apparently looking for something or someone. She peered into a doorframe, and waved inside. A dark-clad boy walked out of the room, and put his arm around her shoulder. She was happy with this. And there the dream ended.

The morning dawned bright and early for the students of Soleil. As it was the first day back, every transfer wanted to make the best possible impression they could on their new teachers. Bed were thrown in disarray by waking teenagers, clothes were strewn about the room looking for the nicest robes they owned. Showers were taken, hair was slicked, and there was a general disorganized rush.

Draco wasn't a part of it. All he did was take out a simple black robe, since all of them were exactly identical, and comb his hair. While everyone else was looking for shoes Draco was gathering his books to take with him down to breakfast. Calmly putting his things in his bag, he told himself not to worry about classes. He could handle anything the professors threw at him, and more. That was the way his father had prepared him, ready for any contingency. He took all the volumes in his arms and carefully checked to see if he had every one that was needed. He did. So then he sat down on his made-up bed and waited for the others to be ready.

When they were finally ready, and breakfast was done, a tingling bell rang to signify the start of classes. Even though he had memorized his schedule, Draco glanced down at it again. First up was Arithmancy, taught by the well known and universally like M Thibaut. At least it would be a recognizable face. There were no classes shared with the other houses, so that in each the teachers could help their students' particular abilities, or disabilities as it may happen, in magic.

After finding his way to the Arithmancy room, he sat down at his desk and readied his things. He set up his inkwell, and took out several clean sheets of parchment. Draco was one of the first in the room, he was proud to say. Thomas came in, and slid into the chair next to Draco. "This is going to be lots of fun," he whispered as he got himself situated. "Arithmancy was my favourite subject back home."

"Really? I've never had it before. What do we do?" Draco murmured back. Just then, M Thibaut walked in the door and started class.

Hello there, students. I hope you all slept soundly, He commented upon seeing their (mostly) weary faces. Now, lets get started. Turn to page one of your textbooks- eh, yes, Miss Granger?

Hermione looked down at the ground, abashed. It appears that I have left my Arithmancy book in my room. Is there one I could borrow for the day?

He handed her a book with a stern look in his eyes. Just don't let it happen again, okay?

Draco laughed to himself. The first day, and Little Miss Perfect already had a teacher who didn't absolutely love her. This would be a splendid day of classes.

After getting a brief introduction to Arithmancy, which involved a lengthy detailing of how it was used in real life, they all got to work on their first homework assignment. It consisted of making a flow chart of how a spell worked. Thomas, whose analytical mind was good at this sort of thing, was done in minutes, and had to help Draco with his.

"You know, I really don't think that this has any real purpose in life," he grumbled.

"Of course it does," Thomas said enthusiastically. "If you didn't know how a spell worked, then you couldn't make up your own!"

He had a point. Draco told him, "Well, if I ever want a spell, I'll just look it up and be done with it. Though this really isn't all that hard, I just don't like doing it."

Soon enough, though, they were done with the dullness, and off to the next class, which happened to be Care of Magical Creatures. Though he had never shown it to that awful Hagrid brute, he found magical creatures fascinating, and could hardly get enough. He had first had his interest piqued when he was but five years old, and his nanny had taken him to a magical zoo, full of frolicking satyrs in their forests, and wallowing re'em. Everything was wonderfully interesting, and the nanny had to read every single informative plate.

So now he stood at attention, waiting for the teacher to arrive. When she did, she was nothing like what Draco had expected. Short, stout, and rosy as an apple, she assessed the group and took stock of the situation. Here at Beauxbatons, we treat our animals right! We shall not hurt them in any way, and you shall not need your wands in this class! She boomed. I am Madame de Confiture, and all of you shall stand up straight! She was as an army general inspecting his troops. Sorry to all of those who've heard this before, She continued more gently. But everyone has to know these things.

They all stood still as she brought out the first creature for them to study. A magnificent horse, wings sprouting from its sides, stood before them. She was black, a Thestral as Draco recalled. An unlucky animal for any wizard.

As if she could read his thoughts, Madame de Confiture called out, I know what you are thinking, and you are wrong. This Thestral is not unlucky, but had that myth propagated to keep poachers from catching them. The Thestral is the rarest of the winged horses, and needs all the protection it can get. This one is named Yoyotte, and she is a kind creature. In twos, I want you to come up here, and you shall get a ride. She will not harm you, as I have instructed her not to, but do nothing to alarm her. Also, make sure that you do not damage her wings. She instructed them.

Madame de Confiture called them up randomly, paying no mind to any protests of the students. Every pair was a boy and a girl. First up to ride were Joel and Marguerite, soaring over the treetops in a rush of wind. All the girls gasped at her fortune to be paired with this desirable boy. After a two or three minute ride, Yoyotte set them gently down on the ground. Another pair went, with the girl gasping from the joy of the ride.

You there! Madame de Confiture called out, pointing at Thomas. And you! Draco couldn't see whom she pointed at this second time. He merely grinned at Thomas, and gave him the thumbs-up signal that he had learned last night at supper. Thomas grinned back.

Thomas climbed carefully onto Yoyotte's back, not touching her delicate wings. Then Granger walked out of the crowd, slowly making her way towards the fantastic beast. Draco glared. A mudblood got to go before him? He couldn't blame Madame de Confiture, though; even if she shared Draco's feelings, she couldn't tell what Hermione was just by looking.

Without warning, Yoyotte took off. Thomas visibly clutched Hermione in fear, fear of heights, Draco supposed. He would have to work with Thomas on this fear. I mean, he would have to be able to play Quidditch, wouldn't he?

Suddenly, Thomas screamed, and Yoyotte stopped in midair. She reared on her hind legs, an awesome sight, if not for the bodies tumbling from her back. Hermione shrieked as she fell, flailing her arms in an attempt to catch anything she could. The twenty-foot fall seemed much longer, lasting minutes in the eyes of the onlookers. She fell in slow motion, making Draco feel that if only he could move his concrete feet, he could save her.

Hermione hit the ground, followed only milliseconds later by Thomas.