Sark's Heart: Are you joking? Of course Arabella is sticking with her Slytherin friends! She is still going to be friends with Ginny and Percy, but not as much.

TriGemini: Yes, Arabella is coming out from the protective shadow of her cousin.

Yaukira: Thank you!

This chapter is just random because it is her first day. Also, it is not as long. Oh well, R&R anyway! Oh, and if you want to join the PIWFC, leave your e-mail in a review! (Read on to find out what that means).

Arabella, Gwen, and Chance did not talk about Voldemort, or Death Eaters, and anything related at lunch, for which Arabella was glad. They spent their time chatting with Delectabla, who easily dominated the conversation, and not only because Chance was too grossed out by that fact that she was drinking a blood supplement potion Snape had made so she did not have to bite humans.

"So what do you all think of Sirius Black?" she asked casually.

"The Ministry is wasting its time on him," Gwen said from her place next to Delectabla. She edged nervously away from the golden goblet.

"Really," Delectabla muttered without interest and immediately switched to a different topic. "Do you think Potions is going to be hard? I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to them- I much prefer charms. We have that next; I am so excited!"

"You see, some... select individuals... know that Sirius did not, in fact, kill- " Gwen tried to begin again, but in vain.

"Have any of you ever listened to Muggle music? I am particularly fond of the Beach Boys... Arabella, have you ever heard them?"

"Yes," Arabella said, but that was as far as she got before the chatty vampire broke in again.

"You know, it would be so much fun to have some people become Animagi, and as I can transform into a bat at will, we could run around the grounds and Hogsmeade at night-"

"But that is really dangerous!" Chance burst out, despite that fact that Delectabla's goblet was only a few feet away from him.

"Not if there isn't a werewolf or something!" Delectabla laughed. Arabella, Gwen, and Chance exchanged very nervous glances.

Arabella was almost skipping as she went into Potions that afternoon. She was looking forward to this, as it was her favorite subject. Percy and Harry had warned her that Severus Snape favored only Slytherins and detested Gryffindors, and was really strict. Altogether, Arabella was really looking forward to it.

Arabella grabbed a seat in the front row and Gwen and Chance slid in on either side of her. Professor Snape gave his customary speech and then fired a few questions at Arabella. Harry had told Arabella about Snape doing this to him, and so she figured that he was doing it to her because she was Harry's cousin. Being obsessed with Potions, Arabella got them all right, and Snape awarded points to Slytherin.

After this, he set them to mixing a simple potion to cure boils, again, his standard first lesson. Arabella and Gwen worked together, while Chance worked with another Slytherin named Brian Trombatore, who spent the entire lesson complaining about wanting to be on the Quidditch team. Chance managed to get the potion done himself, and delivered a satisfactory sample flask to Professor Snape. Personally though, Arabella thought hers and Gwen's was the best.

There was a small amount of time between Potions and dinner, and Ginny Weasley immediately came up and asked how Arabella's first day was.

"Transfiguration and Potions were good, though I personally think Herbology is useless and Charms is silly," she said.

"You only thought Herbology was useless because you are so bad at it," Gwen teased.

"Who are your friends?" Ginny asked.

"This is Gwyneth Goyle and Chance Thorne," Arabella introduced them. "Guys, this is Ginny Weasley."

"I've heard about your family..." Gwen said slowly.

"My family may be poor, but we are happy at least, which is more than you or Malfoy can say," Ginny snapped, the Weasley temper flaring up.

"I was not the one insulting you!" Gwen said. "I was only commenting that I heard about your family! Gryffindors are all so prejudiced!" With that, she stormed away.

"Arabella, why did you make friends with someone like her?" Ginny asked. "Do mind, um, visiting me... without your new friends?"

"Whatever," Arabella said glumly. Ginny walked off in the opposite direction.

"Come on, Ara," Chance said. "Let's go outside for a bit."

"Harry was the only one who used to be allowed to call me Ara," Arabella said softly. "Why do I have to be the one stuck in the middle between the Slytherins and Gryffindors?"

"The world is not ruled by the house you are in," Chance said. "However, everyone, even a lot of Slytherins, cannot see past that. You and I are two of the few who do not really care about that. Gwen doesn't seem to either, but Ginny jumped to a conclusion, and, well, you know how Gwen is already. But... now that you are mad at Harry... may I call you Ara?" Arabella smiled, despite her frustration.

"You are such a good friend, Chance," she said. "I would love that."

"What do others call you?" Chance asked.

"Arabella or Bella." They were once again interrupted by a Gryffindor, this time Percy, who also wanted to know how her first day was.

"Transfiguration and Potions were both easy, thanks to you, but since we did not focus on Charms or Herbology, I was just one ordinary student," she said.

"Actually, it was more like you failed Herbology, and thought Charms was stupid, so you failed that too," Chance said.

"Ignore the lying, conniving Slytherin," Arabella said loudly.

"Why are you talking about yourself?" Chance asked innocently.

"Shut up," Arabella said and they both laughed.

"You know though, Arabella, you could never just be an ordinary student," Percy said.

"Really?" Arabella asked, daring to hope.

"You are more like a sister to me than my real sister. And unlike my brother, your being in Slytherin does not change that one iota," he said.

"Thanks," Arabella said, although inside, she was crying again. The I-love-you-like-a-sister thing was hard, but from Percy, she knew it was very true and a great compliment.

"Percy, darling, how was your first day of your last year?" a voice called.

"Penny!" Percy said. "Arabella, um...

"Chance Thorne," Chance supplied.

"Arabella, Chance, I will talk to you two again later." He went of towards Penelope, and they exchanged a kiss then walked away, hand-in-hand.

"What does he see in her?" Arabella asked. "Chance, do you See anything in the future for Percy and me? Anything... romantic?"

"You love Percy!?" Chance asked in surprise.

"Yes," Arabella said.

"He is six years older than you!"

"It does not feel that way. We have been friends ever since we first met while dropping Harry off at Platform 9 ¾ two years ago. Love knows no age, of course."

"Alright... and if you really love him, I guess I can crystal gaze for you... but later."

"Do you think I should ask Penelope to join the PIWFC?" Arabella asked.

"What is the PIWFC?" Chance asked.

"It's the Percy Ignatius Weasley Fan Club. So far, there is one other member besides myself!" Arabella chirped happily. (A/N: Member #2 is me!)

"I will never understand the over-powering desire of girls to start fan clubs over silly crushes," Chance said, too quietly for Arabella to hear. Aloud, he only said, "Come on, dinner is starting soon... we should save a seat for Gwen."