"So Char, what have we got first today?"

"Hmmm Double Divination".

"That should be an interesting lesson!"

"At least we haven't got double potions first up!"

"Yeah" Evie laughed then looked up "Hey here they are".

"About time".

Lessa, Nancy and Cathy sat down in the seats that Evie and Char had saved for them.

"We weren't that late".

"I guess not, oh yeah timetables everyone". Evie passed round the pile of 3rd year timetables. "Double Divination first up."

Lessa groaned "Divination! Why did I choose that?"

"Would you rather have double potions first up or what?" Char was serious.

"No but".

"But what?"

"Never mind." Lessa helped herself to toast.

"What else have we got today?"

Char consulted her timetable "Transfiguiration, Care of Magical Creatures and Defence Against the Dark Arts. That'll be good!"

"We don't have Potions until, tomorrow". Evie added.

"Hmmm yes that's positive thinking Evie, very positive".

"Tell me about it!" Evie looked down the table to where Laura was sitting. She was laughing over some joke with a brown-haired girl with green eyes. The girl had a mischievous look about her and Evie thought that she was a trouble-maker for sure. Well at least Amanda seemed sensible enough. Hopefully Laura wouldn't fall into the wrong crowd whilst she had Amanda as a friend.

"Hello anybody home?" Char was waving her hand near Evie's face.

"Yes Char?"

"I'm going back up to get my bag, you coming?"

"Yeah I'm coming; I'll just finish my juice". Evie quickly swallowed the rest of her drink before following Char out of the hall and back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Laura seems to have made some new friends hasn't she?"

"Yes, Amanda she said her name was but I don't know the other girl she was with. You know the one with the green eyes."

"I saw her, seems to be a bit of a monkey by the looks of her".

"That's what I thought; I hope Laura doesn't get taken in by her antics!"

"Laura's pretty smart; I wouldn't worry about her too much".

"I won't, what Laura does is her own worry not mine".

"Good, I'm glad to hear it. What do you think Divination will be like?"

After getting their bags, books, parchment and writing tools Evie and Char returned to the entrance hall and down the corridor leading off from it. They waited outside the classroom door with everyone else. It wasn't long before the others joined them.

"Firenze is supposed to be a good teacher right?"

"Well yeah I guess so but we don't really know yet do we?"

Just then the door opened and the students started walking in. Evie was amazed. Instead of walking into a classroom they'd all entered a forest. They all took a seat off to the side of the clearing like everyone else and waited for the lesson to begin. A blonde haired centaur stood in the center of the clearing, his blue-eyes unblinking.

When everyone had arrived and was seated Firenze began the lesson.

"Let's start today's lesson". The lights in the classroom dimmed as the stars began to appear on the ceiling. "For centuries we Centaurs have seen the future in the sky above us all.  Here we have Mars" Firenze indicated a red star "Mars is seen as the bringer of battle which suggests an upcoming battle or a war".

The lesson went on with Firenze pointing out some of the major stars in the sky and their meanings. All in all Evie thought it was most like an astronomy lesson but a little more in-depth. Still it had been interesting to learn how centaurs could foresee the future written in the stars and didn't have to resort to tea-leaves like some humans did.

"Hope McGonagall doesn't give us any homework today".

"Wishful thinking Lessa".

In Transfiguiration Professor McGonagall gave them notes on the board to copy down about Animagi (Witches and Wizards who can change into an animal at will). Before the class ended she demonstrated by turning herself into a tabby cat. The class applauded.

"Alright" Professor McGonagall transformed back into herself. "You may all begin to pack up your things and leave but I want a full report on what we went over today. The report must be at least 3 pages of parchment and I shall expect it to be handed in next lesson. You have been dismissed".

Evie grabbed her things and hurriedly threw them into her bag before leaving the classroom with her friends for lunch. "Interesting wasn't it?"

Char had to agree with her "Yeah I wish I was an Animagi!"

"Same here" Cathy piped up.

"So what would you want to transform into Evie?"

"I dunno, probably a bird. I'd love to be able to fly!"

"I'd be a cat like McGonagall"

Everyone laughed knowing all too well how much Cathy liked cats. After all they didn't call her Cat for nothing.

"I'd like to be dog like Snowy!" Nancy admitted.

"Cool! What about you Char? What would you be?"

Char looked thoughtful for a moment "I don't really know"

"Lessa you'd probably be an animal that's black, like a penguin!"

"Are you offending my Gothicism?" Everyone else was laughing again.

"I wonder what's for lunch today because I'm starving!"

"Me too"

Amy and Alexis were already waiting for them at the Gryffindor table. Evie sat down opposite them and helped herself to some pumpkin juice.

"Hmmm stew today, any bread?"

"There's plenty over there" Amy pointed to a big bowl just down the table.

"Excuse me did you just say hmmm brew today?"

"No, I said stew not brew. Get it right Nancy".

"I'm sorry but it sounded like brew".

"I think you need to get your hearing checked if you ask me".

"Well that's nice! I feel insulted now!"

Evie rolled her eyes as she got some bread. "Yeah ok".

"Everyone enjoying the first day back?"

"I guess so; I mean we haven't got potions today".

"We have" grumbled Alexis.

Evie was sympathetic. "Bummer!"

"Tell me about it!"

"We have Care of Magical Creatures after lunch, what do you have Alex?"

"We had just had Herbology and Charms. After lunch is Transfiguration and Potions!"

"That's not too bad you know".

"Yeah I guess".

"Well cheer up it's the first day back!"

"You're right, who cares about Snape anyway!"

"The Slytherins all like him" Char pointed out.

"Yeah but like they count"

 "Good point Evie!"

Evie grinned "I know!"

After lunch came Care of Magical Creatures. Evie and her 3rd Year friends made their way down the sloping lawns to wait by Hagrid's hut. Hagrid suddenly appeared out of the forbidden forest followed by his dog named Fang.

"Hello Hagrid!" Evie waved to him.

"Hello Evie! Got a great lesson fir's up!" Hagrid winked before addressing everyone. "Come on you lot, hurry up. Yeh don't want to miss this!"

"Miss what exactly?" A dark-haired Slytherin piped up.

"I'll have none of that thank you, now if yeh can just open yer books".

Evie pulled out her Monster Book of Monsters out and gently stroked the spine. Instantly the book stopped trying to bite her finger off and lay open in her hand.

"Now if you can just turn to page 93".

After Care of Magical Creatures the Gryffindor students all made their way to Defence Against The Dark Arts.

Evie sat down in her seat between Char and Nancy. Lessa was sitting next to Cathy.

Their teacher Professor Potter entered the room. The class fell silent.

"Welcome back 3rd Years!" He stood behind his desk at the front of the room. "Today we shall be learning about Boggarts. Does anyone know what a Boggart is?" He looked around the room at all the silent students. No one raised their hands. "Anyone?"

Evie realized that nobody else was going to raise their hand so she did.

"Ah yes Miss Crikman". His green eyes turned to her.

"A Boggart is a shape-shifter; one that can transform itself into whatever it thinks will frighten us most. Boggarts also like dark enclosed spaces."

"Excellent" he smiled at her. "Let's give 5 points to Gryffindor!"

"Well done" Char whispered.

"Thanks!" Evie replied.

"Nobody has ever seen what a Boggart looks like on it's own but when you do encounter one it will always appear as something you fear most. That is why it is always better to have company when dealing with one".

"Sir" A boy at the back held up his hand.

"Yes Mr Anderson?"

"Sir are we going to be dealing with one anytime soon?"

"As a matter of fact yes we will be dealing with one in just a few minutes". He motioned to a big box in the corner to his right. "I'm just preparing you all for the experience".

The boy nodded and the lesson continued. Professor Potter went over the key points of dealing with a Boggart. After explaining how to force the Boggart into something that they found amusing they practiced the riddikulus charm.

"I think you're all ready for some first-hand experience." The Professor began. "but before I let you out I want you all to think of what it is that frightens you most and how you might make it less scary and more amusing".

Evie stopped to think. What was it that scared her most? She wasn't afraid of the dark, spiders or even monsters. By the time the class was called to the front of the room and some of the front desks had been moved back she still hadn't thought of one.

"Right now I need a volunteer to go first, any takers?" Hands went up. "Mr Carlson?"

A tall Gryffindor boy came to stand in front of everyone and faced the box.

"Are you sure you're ready Sam?" Sam nodded. "Right now everyone else I want you to come forward when I call your name and have a go okay?"

"Yes Professor".

"Good, now on the count of 3. 1, 2, 3!" He opened the box with his wand.

At once a Zombie approached them all, it's hands outstretched as though it wanted to reach for them. Sam stood his ground. "RIDDIKULUS!" Now the Zombie was falling apart, the expression on his face was hilarious.

"Lessa you're up" Sam went back to his place as Lessa stood before the Boggart.

An extremely happy clown stood before her. "RIDDIKULUS!" The clown suddenly was wearing a very long white dress, black makeup and lengths of ribbon around his wrists. The clown started singing to an Evanescence song. "Right Stevenson"

Lessa came back and Cathy went forward. The clown turned into a ring wraith. "RIDDIKULUS!" Suddenly the ring wraith sprouted a tail and some fluffy ears.

 Char went next. The Boggart went from an Orc to an Orc with blonde hair, a bow and some arrows. Evie laughed. On Nancy's turn a ghost suddenly found itself with a wagging dog's tail. Then it was Evie's turn. Before her stood her worst nightmare, her greatest fear.