Luckily, for Layla, time almost never seemed to go slowly, except when she wanted something to happen. So she was desperate for Potions class the next week. Her other favorite class was Astronomy. She waited for Potions. Finally, she was down on her way to Snape's dungeon. She tried to make sure that she was one of the last people there.

Fortunately, the Granger girl didn't seem to have anyone who liked to sit next to her. Layla was familiar with this, since no one liked to sit next to her, either, she was usually left to herself.

"Hello."she said.

"Oh, hello."she answered.

"I was hoping Professor McGonagall didn't punish the Potter boy, you know. He didn't do anything wrong. I heard he was sent a broomstick. Malfoy was furious yesterday evening. It was actually kind of funny, very pathetic."

"Well, they seem to think that it was an award for breaking the rules."she said, shaking her head.

"Oh."said Layla, not knowing what to say next. "Well,…"

Professor Snape walked in, and they had to stop talking. Today, it seemed that they would be working on a simple Babbling Beverage.

"Do you know a lot about Potion making?"Layla asked the Granger girl.

"I've done quite a bit of reading about it."

"It's my favorite class. I've always wanted to learn to cook. I've never said anything to anyone, about it, you know. I also like Astronomy. Do you have a favorite class. Is it true that you're Muggle-born. I'm a pureblood., but I've read some things by Muggle authors, you know. I mostly like science fiction. I think that's what Muggles call it. Especially when it has to do with different worlds, that's probably why I like Astronomy. A particular favorite of mine, is the Isis Trilogy, by Monica Hughes. Have you ever read that. I've got the books with me. And have you ever watched Aladdin. That's also one of my favorite videos. Oh, I'm sorry, it's just that I don't speak to people too often,"she said suddenly, "I'm just, well, I'm sorry for bombarding you like this."she apologized.

"Oh, that's quite all right. Now I'll just try to remember everything, and answer it. Let's see. I like all my classes, actually. They're all fun, and yes, I'm Muggle-born. No one in my family is magic. And as for the science fiction and Aladdin, I don't really watch many Disney movies, and no, I don't read many fiction books."

"Oh. Well, these I'm talking about, they are great. You should really read them. The Isis books. I love them. Perhaps I could let you borrow them. I'm pretty sure you'll like them. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No. I'm an only child."

"I have two brothers, they'll be coming here next year, both of them. They're twins, and they spend so much of their time torturing my cats. My poor Sissy, especially. Their names are Manuel and Macario. I hope they are in my House. What do you think about Hogwarts, by the way."

"I think it is a great place. I've read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

"I've read parts of that book, too. Isn't it neat, about the enchanted sky in the Great Hall?"

"Yes."

Before Layla knew it, it was already time to start packing.

"My, my, why is that my favorite classes are always the ones that end so quickly? And then the boring ones are the ones that go on forever? I do hope that I'll see you outside of class. Not after class, or anything like that, of course, since we are in different Houses, but maybe between, or in the Great Hall."

"Of course."

"Your name is Hermione, right? I'm sorry, but, it's just that I'm terrible at names. My name is Layla, that means 'night' in Arabic. I read a lot about the Arabs. Well, about different cultures, really. Someday, I hope to travel around the whole world."

"Yes, my name is Hermione, and I also hope that we'll speak to each other more. It was nice."

Just after leaving class, Malfoy, and a girl named Pansy Parkinson, and their gangs stopped Layla.

"I didn't know you liked Mudbloods, Dominguez."

"Why?"asked Layla. She didn't want to talk to Malfoy, and she though, perhaps the best way to get rid of him was by asking what her brothers called why questions. That had always worked on them.

"Because you're an embarrassment to all of us, if you do."

"Why?"Layla just kept walking.

Since she was a fast walker, she was soon out of Malfoy's way. But in the common room that evening, they made hell for her.

"I'll tell on all of you."she told them. "I don't see how whom I talk to could possibly affect all of you."

"Because you have to proper wizarding pride."

"So? I was only asking her a few questions. Besides, she's really smart. You're probably jealous, that you can't get the grades she does."

Malfoy went pink.

"That doesn't change the fact that she's a Mudblood! How could you have ended up in Slytherin! You belong with that Gryffindor scum! With that Mudblood!"

"Well, that's not up to you to decide, is it? That was up to the Sorting Hat, and it said I belong in Slytherin. I'd like to see you kick me out."

She walked back to her dormitory.

"Oh well, we'll see who gets the last laugh, won't we, Tzacita?"she told Tza Tza.

Tza Tza meowed, and went up to Layla's lap. Layla spend the rest of the evening in her dormitory. She didn't care what Malfoy had said about her. She was still proud to be in Slytherin.

"Yes, they'll all be sorry, one of these days. When I'm through with school, and they're nobodies, while I, while me, I'll study a career, and you know, I'll go live in Yucatan, or maybe Veracruz, where I will own a big, big ranch, or hacienda, and they, ha, at the rate they're going, will probably be on the streets, begging!"she told to herself, and lay down, with an expression of longing that she always wore, when she thought about the plans she had for herself, and she was determined to see them fulfilled, no matter what the cost.

Despite everything Malfoy said, Layla didn't care, and went on talking to Hermione, in between classes, and whenever she met her in the library. As they both spend a great deal of time in the library, that wasn't hard, and Layla did lend Hermione her books. In the library, they discussed books they had read, books they liked, and information and things they learned when they read.

"Most of these, you see, are from my grandparents. Or well, otherwise, I just get them with my own pocket money, you know. My parents don't like to buy books for me. Especially my mother thinks that gold spend on books is anything but gold well spend. She doesn't like me reading so much."

"But why?"Hermione looked shocked.

Layla shrugged.

"That's just what she thinks. I'll never understand why. Do your parents buy books for you? For your birthdays? Namedays? Christmas? All I ever get on those days is usually robes, or things for my hair, or jewelry. Well, I like the jewelry. You should see how much I have at my house. I like silver, mostly."

"Yes, my parents will give me books as gifts."

"Lucky you. What do you like to read about? I read about almost anything, but my favorite subjects are history, any history, science fiction, science, and animals, especially things like biology, and different cultures. Those are my 'Muggle' subjects. I also like to read about different jinxes. I'm so glad I came here. I can't wait to try them out myself, and things like how they were discovered."

"I like to read about everything, too."

"Did you go to a Muggle school before you came here?"

"Yes."

"What are they like? Did you have a lot of friends."

"Well, I guess that they are more or less like here, except that you learn things like math, and stuff, instead of magic. And no, most of the people there were just goof offs, like here, I guess you could say. So no, I didn't have many friends."

"I've never had many friends, either. For the same reason. They are all just goof offs, but I've always liked to think I've got a future, and they don't. Ha. Well, it's time for class, I should think. I guess I'll see you at the Halloween Feast."

"Yes. Bye."

"Bye."

However, when Layla looked towards the Gryffindor table, she couldn't find Hermione. Odd, she thought. Perhaps she went back to the library? I'll see, maybe after the Feast. She sat down, at the nearest empty seat, that was furthest from everyone else, and as she was always one of the first people there, this wasn't hard. About halfway through the Feast, Professor Quirrell, came in saying there was a troll in the dungeons. She tried to remain calm, as she followed the prefects back to the common room.

Nothing's going to happen, she thought. Nothing's going to happen. Fortunately, nothing did. She finished the Feast, in her corner, and then went to sleep. The next morning, she heard that Hermione had gone looking for the troll, and was saved by the Potter boy and another boy.

"Oh, dear, I don't think I would've done it!"Layla exclaimed. "That was really, really brave of you, you know. And those boys."

"Yes."said Hermione, quietly.