I still don't own anything.

Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long, Real Life stuff turned up. It's a bit boring. But they have DADA next chapter.

I will probably make this Ron/Hermione. Still not sure who Caroline, Harry or anyone else will end up with. Does anyone hate slash?

-----

Caroline woke up unable to open her eyes. She was so tired that her eyes refused to open, despite the length of time she'd slept. But she couldn't just roll over and go back to sleep because she was too hungry. The other girls in the dorm were beginning to get up so Caroline rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and pulled her curtains back.

The other five girls in the dorm were going through their morning ritual of showering, dressing and hair brushing without getting in each other's way. Caroline watched, a little intimidated for a moment. Athena saw her and nodded towards the bathroom. Caroline scurried in and emerged four minutes later feeling much more human.

"That was quick," Marina commented.

Caroline shrugged. "I'm used to not having much water."

"Are you really a Saxa?" Parvati asked.

"No. You're a Patil, though," Caroline said.

Parvati blushed. Hermione looked speculative, and Caroline was beginning to wonder how long she went without trying to work something out. Hermione, however, still hadn't showered, so she disappeared. Eventually all six of them were able to leave the dorm together

They chatted randomly about classes and what their timetables might be like as they walked towards breakfast. Hermione and Caroline sat near Ron, Harry and Ginny for breakfast. Caroline was still too tired to say much, and too home sick to care. She hadn't had breakfast without her mother for as long as she could remember.

She perked up when Professor McGonagall arrived with the timetables. She had double Potions before a break, and then double Defence and Double Transfiguration. Harry, Ron and Hermione each had the same timetable, although Neville had Defence when they had Potions, and Herbology when they had Defence.

Ron groaned when he saw they had Potions first. Hermione gave him a warning glare.

"I like Potions," Caroline said. "They're a bit like chemistry."

"You won't like Professor Snape," Harry said. "Nobody does."

"He really knows about Potions," Hermione said.

"But he hates everybody," Ron replied.

By the time they arrived at the dank dungeon classroom, Caroline thought she might agree. There were about twelve students in the class altogether, and all four of them sighed when they saw that Malfoy was among them.

"At least he's lost Crabbe and Goyle," Ron muttered.

"Snape would never have let them, Slytherin or not," Harry replied.

"We've still got to deal with Millicent and Pansy," Hermione said.

She pointed the two Slytherin girls out to Caroline. They started at her for a moment before turning to each and giggling. Caroline rolled her eyes.

"So you've fallen so far as to join the Mudbloods?" Millicent asked.

Pansy hit her sharply. Hermione tried to hide a grin at the astonished expression on Millicent's face. But both Harry and Ron had taken a step forward. Caroline pushed passed them to stand up to Millicent. Caroline was taller, but Millicent was heavier. Caroline smiled.

"Oh no, I've chosen to spend my time with wizards and witches who like, and have brains, rather than evil parents," Caroline said.

Millicent flushed crimson. She aimed a punched at Caroline, who took it roughly in the stomach and immediately retaliated. Unfortunately at that moment Snape arrived to start the class.

"Fighting? I can only assume you started this, Miss Saxa," he sneered.

"No, sir," Caroline said.

Snape's sneer became a smirk as he leaned closer to her.

"I know what you are, and who your family is. Five points from Gryffindor for fighting," he added in a louder voice. "It will be more if you don't sit down now."

Caroline didn't Hermione's hand on her arm to stop her from retaliating.

"He likes to pretend he's intimidating," Harry whispered as they sat.

Caroline smiled at that, but she watched Snape carefully through the class.

"You have all managed to sneak your way into this class," he began. "So we will have to see if you still retain the skills that got you through your OWLs."

He began to ask random questions of the class, most of which people seemed to know the answers too. Snape got a bit annoyed at that and made them start their potions.

He seemed to decide that the greatest punishment he could give her would be to ignore her. Caroline didn't mind that. They worked through their Potions in silence while Snape prowled, occasionally added a snide comment at one of the Gryffindors.

The emerged again with several pages homework. Caroline was used to only an hour's Potions at a time, so a double was tiring, but her new friends seemed happy.

"I can't believe we survived advanced Potions," Ron said.

"We've only had one class," Harry reminded him.

"But he wasn't as horrible as he usually is," Ron insisted.

Caroline wondered how anyone worked properly in a class that was more stifling than that one.

"Maybe he saves his meanness for people who don't chose to be there," Hermione said. "I mean, it's kind of useless if we can just leave, isn't it?"

Ron's look said he wouldn't' put anything past Snape, and Hermione simply huffed at him. Caroline shared an amused glance with Harry.