Panting, Harry ran through the courtyard. If he were late to McGonagall's class again, she would have his head, literally. Passing past several of his friends, whom Harry barely noticed, he felt a twang of compassion for Hermione. She had so few friends because of her focus on class, and now understood why.

Cutting across the middle someone tapped his shoulder.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where to find Professor McGonagall's class?" Said a rather nervous female voice. "It's my first day."

First year, he thought, but when he turned around, the surprise was his. Not only was this girl not a first year, she was a sixth year like Harry. With Gryffindor robes on.

"Yeah, sure, that's where I'm headed. You can follow me." Harry replied, a little baffled.

He thought she was very pretty. She had dark brown hair, only a little lighter than Harry's black hair and it was pulled back into a half ponytail. Her eyes were her best feature. They were light brown, speckled with deep green. She was shorter than Harry but only by a bit. She was wearing a pendant with a moon on it and her lips were covered with a little clear gloss.

They began to walk and Harry inquired why it was her first day.

"I transferred here from Golden Broomstick Academy. It was a great school and everything but my mother's job sent her here. My name is Michele Charles, by the way."

"Mine's Harry, Harry Potter." Here we go he thought, now is when she checks to see if have the scar. But to his surprise she did not. He wondered if she even knew who he was.

For the first time since Harry had seen her, he noticed the people around him. They all seemed to be staring at them, or at Michele, rather. She seemed somewhat tense so Harry put his hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn't be nervous." She turned and looked at him. Her eyes searched his and Harry had to catch his breath.

"I know who you are. People talk about you all the time, especially my mother. You don't seem very different than any other person I have ever met. Not to downgrade you of course, I mean you just seem...well, normal." She finally looked away.

Harry could not believe his ears. No one, not even Ron or Hermione had ever said that to him. She took him for what he was, a person. He turned to say thank you when he realized they had reached the classroom. He opened the door for her and she looked back at him as if to say thanks. Then, turned on her heel and went to Professor McGonagall's desk.

Harry took his normal seat next to Ron. Ron chose to speak first.

"Who is that?" he questioned. But Professor McGonagall spoke before him. She cleared her throat.

"Class, we have a new student. Please, give her your full attention." With that, she turned to Michele and let her address the class.

"Um...hi. My name is Michele Charles and I just transferred here from Golden Broomstick Academy-"

With that Hermione's hand shot straight into the air. The compassion Harry had felt for her jus a few minutes ago completely disappeared and was replaced with pure embarrassment. Michele seemed to feel the same way.

Blushing she answered. "Um...yes? You have question?"

Hermione countered. "Yes, I do. You say you went to GBA, isn't that in the States? And if I'm correct, why would you transfer here."

Michele seemed a little uneasy, but answered regardless. "Well, yes, you are right...GBA is in America, but my mother's job took us here." Eager to sit down she asked if there were any more questions. Someone in the back of the room asked what her mother did for a living.

"Well, my mother...um well works in muggle control..." and she trailed off. Then Ron chimed in.

"What does your father do?" It seemed that when Ron said these words someone had stabbed Michele. Yet, she still replied to his question.

"He...um was here during the dark times and...was killed by a Death Eater." She looked to Professor McGonagll as if to ask if she could sit. Professor McGonagall nodded and said, "Take the seat next to Ron, dear." Pointing him out to her.

Michele proceeded to settle herself into the seat between Ron and Hermione. They were supposed to be transfiguring books into videos, but Ron had his own agenda. By the end of class he had found out everything there was to know about this girl. He had asked her if she wanted to sit with them at lunch but she refused.

"I've missed a lot and I really need to catch up on things. My teachers are being nice enough, I don't want to mess up already, but thank you." She touched his shoulder and left to go to the dormitory. Ron went to catch up with Harry and Hermione.

"She's really great you guys...She knows all this really cool stuff and loves quidditch. Plus she's pretty, really pretty. I like her a lot." Ron babbled on.

Sounding quite stung, Hermione said. "Then why don't you ask her to go out with you, on a date."

Ron-as if hit by a wonderful idea- stood up so quickly he knocked over his pumpkin juice. "You know what? I think I will!" And with that, he left the Great Hall headed for the Gryffindor common room.

Although Harry knew it was wrong, he kind of hoped that she turned him down. But he had nothing to worry about just yet. Meanwhile, Hermione had been muttering bitterly under her breath. Harry had a feeling that it was about Ron, but he said nothing.

He was wondering about Michele. Maybe that's why she understood so well, because she was in a similar situation. But you see, Ron was wrong...she wasn't great, she was amazing. And she wasn't pretty, she was beautiful, no, gorgeous. He hadn't ever felt this way before, not even about Cho. Regardless of what happened with Ron, he would be happy for him, or at least pretend to be.

Hermione's muttering had increasingly become louder so he decided to question it.

"Hermione...what's the matter? You've been muttering ever since Ron left. Is there something wrong? You can tell me."

Hermione seemed rather surprised that Harry realized she was mumbling. "Huh? Oh me? Nothing I was just mumbling about why that girl transferred here from GBA. It's supposed to be the best magic school out there. Even better than Hogwarts."

Harry knew that this wasn't why she had been mumbling but nothing else was said about it. Lunch was over and he needed to get back to the common room.