Gryffindor notice board:

REMAINS OF A FIREBOLT, RIDDEN BY THE FAMOUS HARRY POTTER! SPLINTERS, £5 A PIECE

Please ignore that notice; I have not smashed up my broom, if you have bought any pieces of wood off somebody please tell a teacher immediately because you have been scammed. Harry Potter.

Chess Club

Looking for new members who love a game of wizarding chess. Competing in inter-house matches is not compulsory! Please contact Ron Weasley for further details.

Attention all seventh years! There is to be a meeting held in the great hall at 6:30 PM today, and everybody has to be there – it's crucial to your NEWTS grades!

Head Girl, Hermione Granger

There, I thought to myself, that should get everybody's attention. No, I didn't pin up the one about Harry's broom (that's had a few raised eyebrows, I can tell you!). Mine's the one about the meeting. Yes, I am Hermione Granger, Head Girl of Hogwarts. I just love to hear my name paired up with Head Girl. Gives me such a feeling of achievement.

Sorry. Letting myself drift off a bit there. Well, that notice was just the start of my problems. No, cut that, Monday was just the start of my problems. Professor McGonagall had held back myself and Neville Longbottom (Head Boy, a surprising choice but certainly a good one as it had given him a massive confidence boost).

"Try your best to round up all the seventh years. There is something of an extremely important nature that we have to tell you all."

And that was that. Neville and I had as much clue as the next person about what the meeting was about, but nobody seemed to believe that.

"Oh go on, Mione, please tell us! Are we in trouble?" Parvati said, tugging on my arm.

"Have they had to cancel NEWTS? Oh Merlin I hope so!" Squealed Lavender, tugging on my other arm.

"Look, I don't know better than the rest of you what this is about! So just stop bugging me, alright?"

Didn't work though. They didn't shut up until the clock had ticked round to 6:30 and we were making our way to the hall.

Everyone, I noted, was very quiet. I think they were all waiting with bated breath to see what would be said to us.

Nobody could have foreseen what was about to happen, though…

"Students! If I could have your attention, please!" Professor McGonagall rapped her wand on the wood three times. The chatter died down and everyone turned to face the head table, with expectant faces. Alright, so I admit I was one of them as well. It was hard NOT to be curious.

"Well, no doubt you are all wondering what this meeting has been called for, so we won't keep you in suspense any longer." Professor Dumbledore nodded and she sat back down again.

"Well, seventh year, you have quite a treat in store!" Dumbledore's face was merry – in fact, if it were anyone but him, you might say he looked quite tipsy. "The ministry has been working on an all new section to your NEWTS" There were a lot of groans at this "but I think you may enjoy it. Tomorrow morning until this time next week, we are going to be on a survival course!"

A shocked tremor ran through the hall and everyone began whispering. Survival Course? What was he on about?

"For seven days we are going to hike through the Scottish wilderness, pitching camp and eating out in the open. Your challenge is to try and make the situation as easy as possible by using your knowledge of magic. You may have noticed that recently in your classes there have been a lot of wilderness based topics" When he mentioned it, I did in fact realise that we had had a lot of spell work based on nature "and that was all in preparation of this. It shall be graded like any other exam, but in this case it will be team work. We are going to split you into groups of four – one person from each house."

Everyone was staring in horror at him now. No friendly and familiar faces? Worse still, someone from each house? That meant that we'd all have to go with a Slytherin!

"The names are on that board over there" a board magically appeared near the door "and if you could all please file in an orderly fashion-"

Dumbledore was too late though. Already a mad dash had been made to see who would be paired up with who.

"Oh my god! I have to share a tent with GOYLE!" That was Mandy Brocklehurst screeching her head off.

"ARGGHHHH! PANSY PARKINSON? THIS IS BLOODY STUPID!" That was Ron. I felt really sorry for him until I managed to get a glance at the board myself.

Hermione Granger

Anthony Goldstein

Hannah Abbott

Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy! Draco Malfoy? DRACO FRIGGIN MALFOY?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPNED TO ME?

"Well, well, well," I heard a slimy drawl from behind me. "Together at last, eh Granger? Just you and me. I've been biding my time all these years, ever since you had the impudence to actually touch me with your filthy little hands-"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, ferret-face," I snapped "but there are two other people we'll be with. You come within a metre radius of me and I'll hex you into oblivion."

He scowled and looked more pale and pointy than ever.

"You think you're so smart, don't you? Well, you just wait and see. You may have the brains, Granger, but I've got the contacts and the power."

"Is this supposed to be scaring me?" I retorted back "Better practise your insults, Dracula, because I'm not even quaking in my Clarks shoes."

I turned on my heel and stormed off, but inwardly I was cursing. Why oh why did I have to be stuck with him? For a whole week? In the middle of nowhere?

Crap.