Disclaimer: I do not any of the people or places you recognise from the Harry Potter books. Everything and everyone else is mine. I'm not making any money either.

Author's Note: I really need some different people to review! If you really think my stories are good you could tell your friends... hint hint Sorry about the last chapter, the italics and bold and underline stuff didn't work. Hopefully it will in this chappie but I'll have to wait until I upload it. I am also extremely sorry about the delay. It's almost becoming a chore to write and that sounds crazy because when I do write I love it... I have also been almost buried in homework so that's an excuse aswell :-).

This chapter is dedicated to kitty minky as my only faithful reviewer ... sob You help me so much, you would never know how much I look forward to seeing that little number next to 'Reviews' jump up and then reading your happy and cheerful review. It means so much to me. =)

Astra asked the other Ravenclaws if they had the time. Apparently it was seven o'clock. She didn't know where the last two hours had got to but decided she had better head off now before the hall started to fill up. She picked up her bag and headed towards the doors, but when she was halfway there, they opened and Luna was standing there. The two girls eyes met and Luna hurried past Astra, her bottom lip trembling.

Chapter Seven – The Dramas of Being Fifteen

Astra hadn't forgotten her promise to Jodie and Francesca that she would 'join' their study group. If last night was anything to go by, it didn't sound like they would do much studying. After her morning's lessons (which proved very easy) she gulped down some lunch and hurried to the library. She found it quite easily too and she had never even been there before. Something strange was happening. She arrived at all her classes extremely quickly, rather like the way she had arrived at the Common Room last night, but hadn't had any time to dwell on this as she had been ushered into each class and set to work.

She found Jodie, Francesca, Georgia and Lucy in the library and was surprised to see them pouring over their books.

"Hi everyone," Astra said, "This is the study group, right?"

She peered around the shelves, searching for a possible explanation to their studious behaviour. There was nothing. A group of Hufflepuffs sat in the corner, giggling and a Gryffindor girl with bushy brown hair was browsing the shelves.

"I thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be smart," said Lucy cruelly, "We don't do that in public."

Astra knew what Lucy meant by 'that'.

"Oh," said Astra, her voice weak.

"Don't mind her," said Jodie vaguely, she was concentrating on her essay. It was titled , 'An explanation of the most Ancient Runes and their creators.' It was already two rolls of parchment but Jodie was still scribbling away and was showing no sign of stopping.

"Yes don't mind me," said Lucy sarcastically, "Sit down Astra."

Astra sat, feeling very uncomfortable. There was silence, as they all began scribbling away again, occasionally pausing to read a couple of paragraphs from their books for ideas.

"Er," said Astra.

Georgia's head snapped up, "What now? This is a study group, not a social event. We study."

Astra slowly got out her Transfiguration books. Compared to what these girls were doing, she felt like a baby. No one noticed that she was only studying from The Standard Book of Spells (Grade One) and A beginner's Guide to Transfiguration instead of The Standard Book of Spells (Grade Five) and Advanced Transfiguration like them. At least, that was what she thought. Jodie kept snickering under her breath until Georgia cracked and said loudly, "Whatever is the matter Jodie-"She was cut off by her own ringing laughter. She laughed a high pitched shriek and a nerdy looking kid from the next table looked over.

"Keep it down George," said the boy.

"Keep your slimy little mouth shut Alistair," snapped back Georgia.

Astra, unable to stand it anymore said, "I think I'm going to be sick." She grabbed her books and would have made it out the door if the busy-haired girl had not been in her way. They collided and Astra staggered backwards, before falling over and dropping all her books.

"I'm so sorry!" exclaimed the girl, "Here, let me help you." She offered her hand to Astra who took it gratefully.

"Thanks," she said.

They picked up Astra's books and Astra could hear the snickers of the Ravenclaw girls.

"Come on," muttered the girl, "Get away from that lot."

Together they walked out of the library.

"Thanks for that," said Astra.

"It's okay; I should have been watching where I was going."

"No, I should have been watching."

"Really, I –"

Astra laughed, "I can't believe I'm arguing with a complete stranger about which one of us should have been more careful!"

The girl laughed, "I'm Hermione Granger. Gryffindor prefect, sixth year."

"Astra Liu, Ravenclaw nobody."

The girl laughed again, "I wouldn't say you're nobody. Luna says you came all the way from Australia just to come to Hogwarts by yourself. Not just anyone could do that Astra."

"Luna Lovegood?"

"Yes, why?"

"Oh, nothing."

Astra looked at her feet and suddenly, without any warning, burst into tears. A few days ago, she had been out in the woods, starving and tired and desperate to get here. But now she was here, she felt absolutely horrible. On her second night she had ruined the only friendship she might have had here and the other girls thought she was a complete idiot.

Hermione looked shocked. She had bumped into this girl and now she had burst into tears. She awkwardly patted her on the back.

"What's wrong Astra?" she asked sympathetically. "Is it Luna? Has she been horrible to you?"

Astra wiped her face with her sleeve.

"No," she said, "Luna was the only real friend I ever might have had and I went and ruined it. Luna was the kindest person I ever met. No, Luna wasn't horrible to me. I was horrible to Luna."

An awkward silence followed this speech.

"I spoke to Luna today. She said the exactly same thing about you."

Later...

That night at dinner, Astra approached Luna.

"Hi Luna," said Astra.

Luna made a small squeak as a greeting and went on chewing her chicken.

"I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I wasn't having fun with Georgia and Lucy and the boys. It was disgusting. And I came out to see where you were and you were asleep on your diary and I didn't mean to look but I saw my name and wondered what possibly you could have been writing about me for and I was just going to have a little peak but... Oh Luna, I really am sorry and you can take it or leave it but at least I know I tried to make it up to you."

Astra was about to turn and walk away when Luna said, "I'm sorry too, it was my fault, I took it too seriously. I was so stupid."

"No it was my fault," said Astra.

"No seriously..." Luna said but her voice faded away when she saw the look on Astra's face. She was grinning. Then she laughed and threw her arms around Luna.

"Friends?" she asked.

"Yes," said Luna, back to her old vague self.

The next day...

Astra paid more attention in her classes on Wednesday. She had Herbology first up in the greenhouse. It was chilly and the windows were covered in morning condensation. Professor Sprout was a plump, jolly woman with frizzy grey hair and grimy clothes. She was Head of Hufflepuff house.

They had Herbology with the Slytherins. They were a nasty bunch, they squirted the square fruit juice that they were supposed to be watering the exotic magical plants with all over the Ravenclaw first years. They didn't touch Astra though, but she heard their snickers and saw their pointing. She tried to ignore it and went on with her watering but deep down she was wondering if anyone except Luna would ever accept her.

After Herbology the first years headed back to the castle but Astra crossed the grounds for her flying lesson. There were a few other kids there already who all looked rather bored, as if they'd rather be somewhere else. Astra was about to introduce herself to one of the girls when she felt a tug on her sleeve. It was a boy, quite short but he looked about her age. He had brown hair and a few freckles on his nose. He was quite skinny and looked like an overgrown stick-figure from a child's storybook.

"Hi Astra! I'm Colin Creevey, I'm in your year in Gryffindor. I was really excited about meeting you, you know. I mean, did you really walk all the way from Australia? Some people are saying that you had to fight tigers! Is that true? What's it like down there? Do they really have kangaroos on the beaches? Did you go to school? What-"

"Quiet everyone!" A sharp, commanding voice cut through the now animated conversations followed by a loud blast of a whistle. Astra jumped and Colin smiled at her. A tall woman with short hair wearing grey robes and a whistle around her neck strolled through the class.

"Line up behind a broom," she said, "We'll be playing a mini game of Quidditch today."

Everyone moved back and stood behind one of the brooms that now lay on the ground. How strange, Astra thought. I'm actually going to fly on a broom! Colin's hand shot straight up into the air.

The woman sighed, "Yes Creevey?"

"Well, this is Astra Liu. She's new and I don't think she knows how to play Quidditch. Do you?" The last part was directed towards Astra. She shook her head.

"I'm sorry Astra. I'm Madam Hooch, I'll be taking your flying lessons. Quidditch, is a game, played on broomsticks. I don't have much time to explain it, but if you spend too much time around this lot you'll be an expert in no time. Today I'll just teach you how to mount and get up into the air, steer and things. The basics."

Astra nodded. And gulped. It sounded difficult. Madam Hooch explained the lesson to the rest of the class and then they set off. They flew around, swirling, swooping and showing off. Madam hooch approached her.

"Well Astra. Just stand by your broom like that, that's the way. Put your right hand above the handle and say 'up'."

"Up!" The broom flew upwards into her ready hand. The handle was smooth, but thin. She doubted it would hold her weight.

"Now just slip your leg over and push off the ground when you're ready. Take your time now."

Astra did as she was told. She didn't particularly want to let go off the nice, solid ground but Madam Hooch was looking at her expectantly. She gently pushed off the ground and felt herself rising, the wind in her hair and she soared above the ground. It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful. Astra smiled widely and zoomed between the others, dodging their shocked and surprised selves.

"Alright Miss Liu," called Madam Hooch, "You can come down now and join the others since you already seem to be an expert."