Sombra's POV

The next morning, Sombra went down to breakfast with Alia. The two were surrounded by other Ravenclaws wanting to chat. It seemed as though any misgivings of Sombra had disappeared from the Ravenclaws' minds the night before. Soon, practically the whole Ravenclaw table started talking about their quirks, and experiments they wanted to try. A girl named Viktoria said that she wanted to try Ovomancy which led to both Sombra and Alia volunteering to help. Then, Sombra started talking about her fascination with Nundus and Zouwus, and wanting to try to tame a Nundu despite knowing it was impossible. Alia laughed and said that something was only impossible until someone smart enough to find a loophole discovered a way to do it.

After breakfast, it was on to Transfiguration. The two rushed to class, and were pleased to find that they were the first ones there.

Professor McGonagall smiled at them. "Hello Ms. Baron and Ms. Black. It's marvelous to see two young women so dedicated to their studies."

Sombra smiled, "I couldn't wait for Transfiguration. I've always loved the prospect of changing an object with a spell."

Professor McGonagall smiled warmly at that. "You might just be the most enthusiastic student I've ever had. As a reward for being so early, five points to Ravenclaw for each of you, and feel free to pick your own seats.

The two girls beamed. "Thank you, Professor." The two of them picked the table in the middle of the front row to be able to see the notes better.

A little while after, Hermione came in.

Professor McGonagall smiled and said, "Good morning, Ms. Granger. Take a seat to the right of Ms. Baron. A few minutes later, everyone else filed in. Professor McGonagall put some notes up on the board, told them to do some independent note taking, turned into a cat, and sat atop her desk.

Where are Harry and Ron? Sombra wondered. They won't make a very good impression if they're late on their first day.

Sure enough Harry and Ron waltzed in a few minutes late, and thinking Professor McGonagall wasn't in the room, Ron voiced his relief at seeing they were "on time". Professor McGonagall then transformed, and sent them to their seats. Harry sat next to Sombra, and Ron next to Harry. After Transfiguration, the group headed to the dungeons for Potions. Once everyone had found their seats a chatter filled the room. Sombra was the only one who took the time to read through her Potions textbook and take some notes onto a small black leatherbound journal she carried with her. She was seated to Harry's left, and Hermione to her left.

Snape seemed none too happy when he came in. He immediately started talking. "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the exact science and subtle art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses, I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable, that they feel confident enough to not pay attention!" He snapped.

At this point, Hermione nudged Harry who had been taking notes, and he immediately stopped writing.

"Mr. Potter," Snape said, "our very own celebrity. Tell me what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Sombra and Hermione's hands shot up.

"You don't know? Well then, Mr. Potter, let's try again. Where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"

Once again, Sombra and Hermione were quick to raise their hands.

"I don't know, sir." Harry admitted.

"And what is the difference between monkswood and wolfbane?"

Sombra and Hermione kept their hands up.

"I don't know, sir." Harry said.

"Hmm. Pity." Snape commented. "Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it Mr. Potter?"

Harry lost it. "Clearly Sombra and Hermione know. Seems a pity not to ask one of them."

At that, Sombra lowered her hand, not wishing to start any problems.

"Well then, Ms. Black?" Professor Snape inquired. Choosing to pick on her now that she had lowered her hand. "Can you answer the questions?"

She took a deep breath. "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the draught of the living dead. A bezoar is a stone taken from a goat's liver that will save you from most poisons, and there is no difference between monkswood and wolfbane. They are the same plant that is also known as aconite."

"Well... why aren't you all copying this down?" Snape grouched. "That is correct, Ms. Black." Professor Snape said begrudgingly. "Twenty points to Ravenclaw... for being the first student I have taught who is in possession of a brain."

That was an interesting compliment. Sombra thought.

"And as for carrying a notebook around," Snape mentioned, "Well done always being prepared. And, Gryffindors... please note that five points will be taken from your house. For your classmate's cheek."

Next, they had Charms class with Professor Flitwick.

Once again, Sombra sat to Harry's left.

After the professor gave them their instructions, Sombra grabbed her wand in her left hand, pointed it at the feather, and said the incantation. "Wingardium leviosa." Immediately, her feather began to float, and she directed it high towards the ceiling.

"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed. "See here, everyone. Ms. Black's done it! Splendid."

Alia followed and got it on her first try as well.

Ron then proceeded to butcher the pronunciation, and Hermione corrected him before executing the spell correctly as well.

After class was done, Ron complained about Hermione to Harry and another boy who blew his feather up, Hermione heard him and started crying.

"I think she heard you." Harry said.

Sombra rolled her eyes. "No shit, Sherlock." she snapped before running after Hermione. "Hermione, wait!" She caught up to her. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere he won't bother me." She snapped. "Besides, aren't you going to make fun of me too? Aren't you his friend."

"I am his friend..." she said, "but I'm not going to make fun of you. I know what it's like to be bullied, and I don't want to do that to you." She paused. "If you want to get away then follow me. I know a place."

Hermione followed Sombra up the tower steps and into the astronomy tower where Alia was.

"Hermione, I'd like you meet my friend, Alia.'

"Pleasure to meet you, Alia." Hermione said.

"Pleasure to meet you too." Alia responded. "I see Sombra's brought you up here so you could have some peace."

"How did you...?"

Alia laughed. "The astronomy tower's not much good for stargazing unless it's nighttime. If you're here during the day, something's going on."

"Ron was making fun of her. She got upset." Sombra explained.

"Ah..." Alia said slowly. "That's never fun. Getting picked on, anyway."

"How would the two of you know?" Hermione asked. "You're both so beautiful. Sombra, you've got black hair and blue eyes that make you gorgeous at eleven. Alia, you've got light brown hair, and brown eyes that go together perfectly."

Sombra sighed. "I'm a Black. My uncle was a murderer and a maniac. Practically my whole family were death eaters at some point. That's not something you can escape getting bullied for."

Alia responded next. "I'm a half-blood, and I went to a muggle school before this. I was a nerd. Kids bullied me for that." Alia took something out of her bag. "Are you two hungry?"

Sombra nodded. "I'm famished. Hermione, what about you?"

Hermione smiled. "I could do with a bit to eat."

Alia pulled three tins out of her bag. Each one had steamed pork, boiled carrots, and a side of rice. Sombra and Hermione each took a tin.

"Blimey, Alia. This is amazing!" Sombra exclaimed.

"This is so good!" Hermione readily agreed.

Alia smiled shyly. "My parents thought I should learn to cook. I asked the house elves if I could try a recipe in the kitchens, and they let me use a section. I made extras in case Sombra brought a friend."

Hermione turned to Sombra shocked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sombra questioned playfully. "I wouldn't have brought you up here if I didn't like you.

Hermione beamed. "So, we're friends? All three of us?"

Alia grinned. "Of course we are! And as friends I need to ask a favor of you two."

"You're not going to ask us to help you hide a body are you?" Sombra joked.

"No, you dingus." Alia pulled out. "Have either of you ever tried Ovomancy?"

And just like that, Hermione and Sombra found themselves cracking eggs, and telling the future according to how the yolks fell. The three were laughing and smiling, and they all felt happier than they had in a while.

"Oof." Alia teased. "That yolk really fell hard." and then in a bad imitation of a divinator's voice said, "You are going to have a difficult life, Sombra Black."

Sombra laughed. "The funny part is, it's probably true. Well predicted, Alia."

"Or maybe it's saying that you need to lighten up a little, or your life will be weighed down." Hermione joked.

Sombra's jaw dropped, and she mocked offense, "Ouch, Granger."

The three of them laughed, and sat there for a couple more minutes before deciding to go back to their dorms.

After they got down the stairs, they heard a noise; they turned around and saw a troll at the end of the hall.

Terrified, the group backed up slowly. Then, the troll turned around and saw them. The three girls held their breath, praying the troll wouldn't see them. It saw them and immediately charged after them. They screamed and ran as fast as they could trying to get away from it.

"Make sharp turns!" Sombra cried. "It might make it easier to loose him!"

Several sharp turns later, they crashed straight into Harry and Ron.

"Harry!? Ron!? What are you doing here?" Sombra exclaimed.

"We came to warn you about the troll!" Harry shouted.

"The troll is already chasing us, thank you very much. We know about it." Hermione stated.

"And it's catching up." Alia warned. "We've gotta go!"

The group took off running, but were unfortunately cornered. In a moment of decisive action, Ron performed Wingardium leviosa on the troll's club.

Sombra got an idea. "Descendo!" She shouted, and the club fell onto the troll's head, rendering it unconscious. "That was brilliant, Ron." She said, referencing how he casted Wingardium leviosa earlier.

"I was brilliant!? If I was brilliant, youbwere bloody fantastic!"

"You saved our lives." Hermione exclaimed.

"I never would have been able to it if Ron hadn't started. I would have gone about a completely different approach, but the one Ron used was actually better. Now, we'd better get to our dorms before we get caught."

The others immediately sobered and nodded. The quintet set about climbing the staircase. When Sombra and Alia spotted Ravenclaw tower, they bid the rest of them farewell, and headed towards the door.

"This riddle had better not be one of the impossibile ones." Alia muttered as she rapped on the door.

"What question can you never honestly answer 'yes' to?" The knocker asked.

"Are you dead or are you asleep." Sombra answered quickly.

"Both answers are correct, Miss Black." The knocker replied and the door swung open.

The two girls snuck inside the tower, and managed to get to their dorm room without waking anybody. The two changed into nightgowns and promptly fell asleep.