Celesta woke earlier than her dormmates, and as she made her way downstairs, Maera trailing after her obediantly, chasing at her heels, earlier than most of the Tower. Red eyes looked upon the seventh years, already reading ahead in order to be caught up on their Newt courses, scattered students finishing their summer homework before it was due.

Nodding to a few she knew of, if not personally, she made her way out of the portrait hole, waiting until it shut firmly behind her and her fox before heading to the Great Hall to break her fast. Even in there, she was one of few up so early. She saw Uncle Severus, or as he was to be called during school, Professor Snape. Dumbledore was absent, but Professor Flitwick and Quarrel were eating, and it seemed Professor Mcgonagall was just finishing her meal.

Sitting down, she prepared a bit of toast with bacon and a side of eggs, smearing peanut butter over the bread. "Miss Malfoy, your schedule," she heard from her Head of House, the girl nodding quietly as she took the parchment, looking it over. Nodding her head and finishing her breakfast after making sure Maera was fed several slices of ham, she stood, making her way back to her dorm in order to grab her potions, charms, and Defense against the Dark Arts, slipping them into her bag.

"Good morning." she replied to those speaking to her, a flash of regret crossing her face at Hermione's offer to join her for breakfast. "I've already ate and received my timetable. I'm so sorry. I'll save you a seat in Potions," she appeased her newest friend, a small smile on her lips.

Silently, she waited by the potion's door, Snape pausing and pursing his lips, before nodding at his Goddaughter. "Line up five minutes before class," he merely advised, before going into his classroom, the door shutting behind him. Celesta nodded and went back to revising her book, adding her own notes from what she'd observed during the month of pre-studying she'd done before term.

Slytherins and Gryffindors slowly trickled to the potion's room, and while they seemed to keep to their own House, Celesta had moved to be near her brother, a nod coming from the blonde as they lined up neatly.

As promised, once they were allowed into the potion's room, Celesta had chosen a seat near the front, setting up her cauldron diligently, as well as pulling out parchment and ink, setting her quill in the well to have it ready. The seat next to her remained empty until Hermione filled it, a grateful smile on the bushy haired girl's lips as she set up her own supplies.

Harry and Ron, however, were not so lucky as to be on time, loosing them House points right off the bat. Added to that affect, Professor Snape had asked Harry, who didn't look like he knew anything, questions that weren't to be covered until a few chapters later. She and Draco didn't raise their hand, though Hermione had seemed more than eager.

Frowning lightly, Celesta wrote down her notes in her neat calligraphy that had been hammered into her since she could hold a quill, stoppering her inkwell by the time Professor Snape paired them up and had them working on a Simple Cure for Boils. Though Snape seemed to favor the Slytherins, he did show a bit of pride by awarding Celesta two points for having her and Hermione's supplies prepared properly to his standard.

He was in the middle of praising Draco for the way he had stewed his horned slugs when a horrid green smoke and loud hissing filled the dungeon. Longbottom had somehow melted Finnegan's cauldron into a twisted blob, their potion sweeping across the floor and burning people's shoes and bags. Calmly, Celesta snapped her fingers for Maera to climb onto her shoulders as she pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder and continued working on her potion after pulling her knees to her chest. She was not going to fail her first class because of a mistake Longbottom made.

After snapping at Finnegan to take Longbottom to the Hospital Wing, Snape took another point from Potter before vanishing the mess, instructing the others to continue their potions.

As a result of Celesta keeping calm, she and Hermione were the first ones done. "Acceptable. Stopper your potion." he said, ignoring Granger altogether.

Their lesson ended swiftly after, Celesta and Draco's potions the only ones garnering praise.

"How'd you get it so perfect?" Hermione asked on their way to Defense against the Dark Arts, which turned out to be disappointing. Professor Quirell seemed to be afraid of his shadow, and the whole classroom positively reeked of garlic.

"I practiced before term," was Celesta's modest and truthful answer. "I hope to be a Potion Mistress after Hogwarts." she'd added.

Charm's class was much more interesting, though Flitwick had them practicing pronounciation for the muggleborns and half-blood not blessed to have had private lessons with their family. For those that passed his inspection, which included most of the purebloods and Granger, they were assigned reading and homework. Celesta and Hermione set to work immediantly, though others seemed to chit chat quietly between working on homework.

They all had lunch together, Celesta and Hermione finishing their homework before the owls swooped in. Most of the mail had already been delivered that morning, though she saw Xerneas, her Mother's Screech Owl, carrying a care package that was set gently down next to her plate. Offering the mild-tempered bird a treat, she thanked him for his service, opening the package and smiling at the baked goods, charmed to last a few days, and plenty of them. 'To make friends,' was written on a note she saw as she pulled out the letter she was both reliefed and filled with dread to see.

As the rest of the day they had free time, she turned to Hermione, informing her that she'd talk to the other girl later, for she was going to go to the owlery and then perhaps the library before dinner.

It wasn't until she was in the owlery that she opened her letter.

'My dearest girl,

You were correct in saying that I am proud of you, no matter the House you were sorted in. I know many great witches and wizards who had been in Gryffindor. As to your father...while disappointed both his children weren't sorted into Slytherin, he understands you differ from your brother in many ways, though he doesn't understand them. Remember to be true to yourself, first and foremost my darling. Only then will you shine the brightest.

Your doting Mother,

Narcissa Malfoy'

Sighing with relief, Celesta pulled out a bit of parchmet, scrambling a short letter in return and borrowing one of the Hogwarts owls to deliver it.

'Mother,

Thank you for appeasing my fears about returning home to a furious father. It's relieving to know that he isn't upset with my Sorting as cousin Sirius's parents were when he was first sorted. Thank you as well for the care package, and while Draco may want and/or need more, these will last me at least a week to go through. I do currently have one friend in my house, though Father would not approve. I fear I am her only friend at the moment as well, as she shares the same temperment as me when it comes to studying.

Yous,

Celesta Hecate Malfoy'

Tuesday was...much more mundane at first. She'd waited, this time, to eat breakfast with Hermione. She was swiftly becoming the best of friends with the muggleborn, sharing the pumpkin pastries and cookies her mother had sent with Granger. But listening to Binns drone on in their first class of the day had Celesta struggling to stay awake. She'd already learned all this with private tutors anyway, and besides homework, she would've gotten away with sleeping. She amused herself by instead doodling on her notes.

Herbology was much more fun, as herbology was a subject needed for her to become a Potioneer. Not even Granger could keep up with her notetaking, her quill nearly going through the parchment in some places when she got too excited about the plant they would be working with in their next class.

During lunch, Celesta had eaten little, her real nerves hitting as Transfiguration neared. She had left early, read the instuctions on the board and noted the cat sitting on Mcgonagall's desk. Starting her silent reading on the importance of the Transfiguration alphebet and notes, she continuously shifted in her seat as the class slowly trickled in.

Briefly, she'd looked up as Potter and Weasley arrived late, but went back to her notes just as Mcgonagall shifted with a smirk, beginning her class. By the end of it, they were practicing the incantation for transforming matchsticks into needles, which they would be attempting the next class.

Wednesday was their long day it seemed. Double potions in the morning, the first half thoery and reading, the second half covering flubberworm mucus and it's uses. They had Magical Theory and then lunch.

After lunch it was flying lessons, a class her brother had wanted right away, if only to brag about it. They didn't get to go up though, Longbottom's broom shooting up into the air as if excited and causing the boy to fall and break his wrist. As Professor Hooch took Neville to the Hospital wing, warning them to stay grounded, Celesta retreated to the shade of the castle wall, leaning her broom against it and pulling out her parasol, avoiding the drama unfolding between Potter and her brother.

As pale as she was, she'd burn worse than Weasley would, especially with her condition as she was already squinting in the sunlight. Not a bit of her skin besides her face could be seen, covered in clothing in the warm autumn day, but still she was suffering. She ought to have gone to Madam Pompfrey that morning, but flying was important. She ought to at least know the basics of such.

Mcgonagall appeared just as Potter and Draco set down, pulling Potter out of class. They didn't see him again until dinner, Celesta overhearing that Harry had made it onto their Quittich team, the youngest seeker in a century.

That night they had Astronomy, beginning their star charts which they'd complete by the end of the first term, should weather permit. Professor Sinistry informed them that on cloudy nights, class would be dismissed.

The next day Harry received his broom, and Draco challenged Potter to a Wizard's duel, refusing to even glance at Celesta's glare. The morning after the supposed duel, she'd heard all about the cerberus supposedly guarding something from Hermione.

And so their classes began in earnest, harder assignments being given after their first week. She and Hermione excelled in their classes, Granger jealous of Celesta's potions scores, Celesta jealous of Hermione's ability to not fall asleep to Binn's droning on and on. Occasionally, she was able to sneak out of the castle, she and Maera running around until they were both exhausted. She didn't know who left a warm blanket and a thermos of tea in the passage she used to sneak out all the time, but nobody would catch her complaining.

Halloween seemed the change everything. They'd left charms class, Hermione having corrected Weasley's pronunciation, much to his ire.

"It's no wonder her only friend is the female Malfoy. The two of them are know-it-alls!" they overheard. While Hermione shoved past Ron, Celesta had flinched, lowering her eyes. Hermione was her only friend as well. While she didn't draw attention to herself by answering questions, she did seem to grasp the coursework rather easily, ostracizing her from her other peers.

Tears in her eyes, she sniffled, before running off after her friend, following the bushy curls. Together, they wallowed through their evening classes, answeing only when called upon and seeming to disappear right after they were dismissed. Parvati, the Patil twin they shared a dorm with, heard their tears coming from the girl's bathroom a few halls down from the Great Hall, where most of the students were gathered for the Halloween Feast.

Hermione assured her it was a case of allergies, but it was obvious that the two had been sobbing, trying to be quiet and comforting each other, sending the other Gryffindor off with assurances they'd be at dinner soon. It was due to this that they missed Quirrell running into the great hall nearly into dessert.

By that time, the two girls, blissfully unaware, were finally drying their eyes, heading to the sink to wash their faces. The hall had been emptied, professors on the lookout for the Troll. Only it had wandered from the dungeon, Celesta and Hermione found out, looking fearfully towards each other as the loud and sluggish thumping and the horrid smell right outside the bathroom door. Shuddering, they seemed to be on the same wavelength as they shuffled into one of the stalls together, the troll coming into the bathroom.

It seemed sedate, but only for a minute, a roar announcing it's rage at being denied it's prey as he swung his club, destroying the top half of the stalls. The two of them shrieked at the same time, ducking for cover and scrambling to crawl under the next stall, barely making it as the troll destroyed the toilet the two of them had been huddling against. Again and again they crawled, each of the stalls becoming destroyed before they were forced to the sinks.

It was then that Harry and Ron appeared, having heard they'd been crying because of Ron's words and looking for them. They managed to subdue the troll in the nick of time. Granger had managed to stand with the two boys just as the professors arrived, but it seemed Celesta was in shock, her pupils blown in her red irises, her form shaking as she huddled under the last remaining sink. Maera was crouched protectively in front of the terrified girl, growling at the knocked out Troll.

"What on Earth were you four thinking of?!" Mcgonagall's voice was cold, breaking through the silence in the girl's bathroom as if a Dementor had suddenly appeared. "You're lucky to be alive, you are. Why aren't you in your dormitory?" She demanded answers, Snape assessing the children with calculating eyes.

Hermione suddenly spoke up. "Please, Professor Mcgonagall, they were looking for Celesta and I."

"Miss Granger!" gasped Mcgonagall as she spared a shocked gasp and look at Granger, Celesta not having yet moved, not even to speak.

"You see, I'd read all about trolls and thought I'd be able to handle it. Celesta had just convinced me to let you, the Professors, handle it, when it cornered us here." Hermione stated, wincing when she saw the state of her friend. Ron had since dropped his wand in astonishment that Granger, a Bossy Know-it-all, was lying. "If they hadn't found us...we'd..we'd be dead. Honestly, if Harry and Ron hadn't arrived when they did. They managed to knock it out right before you got here."

Stammering for a few moments, Mcgonagall stared at the three standing Gryffindor's in astonishment before coming to her senses. "Miss Granger, what possibly could've possessed you to take on a troll on your own?! For this utter disregard of safety, five points will be taken from Gryffindor. If you aren't hurt, return to the dormitory at once. The other students are finishing the feast in the common room."

Hermione had hung her head and nodded, gathering her bag as she made her way back to the tower.

"Now for you two!" exclaimed Mcgonagall, whirling to face the boys. "Not many first years could've taken down a fully grown Troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. For sheer dumb luck. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. Now go, let us attend to Miss Malfoy."

It'd taken several minutes of assuring Maera that they meant Celesta no harm before they were able to approach her, summoning Pompfrey with a patronus. "Oh the poor dear. In shock she is. She'll be right as rain in a jiffy!" came Pompfrey's affectionate tone, something cold and slightly minty getting poured down her throat. Almost immediately, Celesta seemed more alert, Maera finally settling down as well.

"W-where's Hermione?" she'd asked, Snape nodding and turning to deal with the troll with Quirrell after seeing his goddaughter alright.

"She's gone to the common room to finish dinner with the others, dear. Come now." Mcgonagall stated, helping the small girl up to the tower. "Thank you, for trying to talk sense into Granger about fighting the troll." she remarked calmly. "Eat your dinner and go straight to bed. The Calming Draught Madame Pompfrey gave you should send you right to sleep once you have something in your stomach."

Celesta nodded as she went into the portrait hole, following her Head of House and joining Hermione at the table that'd been summoned for the students to eat at. There were a few stragglers, Fred and George Weasley overhearing what had happened as Mcgonagall explained to the prefects. Exchanging worried looks, they looked over the quartet of first years, their eyes lingering over Ron and Celesta longer than the other two.

The latter was more concerned about what her mother and father would have to say about their little adventure, Hermione nudging her whenever she seemed to nod off into the small plate of food left for her.

From that night on, the four of them were friends.

Author's Note: This chapter was hard for me to write. Either from sleep deprivation or writing too much, too fast. In either case, here's Chapter six! Thank you so much for those following this story, and to the person who's favorited it so far! Your support means a lot to me, as this is my very first fanfiction ever.