A/N: I do not own anything Harry Potter. What's in store for Annie on her first day back at Hogwarts? Read and you'll find out! As always, thanks for reading! XO

Chapter 13

"I don't want to! I'm going to lie here forever and ever and no one will ever get me out of this bed!" Annie picked her pillow up off the floor and covered her head. Hermione ripped the blankets off of her and with a tremendous effort, pulled Annie off the bed.

"That wasn't cool," said Annie pushing the hair out of her eyes and looking up at Hermione with a look of disdain. True she was her best friend, but Merlin could she get excited about school.

"Oh, come on, Annie," said Hermione sitting on Annie's vacated bed and watching as she rifled through her trunk for some clean robes. "Hurry up or we'll be late for breakfast and for class!"

Annie walked into the bathroom and muttered, "I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying."

Twenty minutes later, she came out, showered and robed and ready to go down to the Great Hall. They went downstairs and met Harry and Ron in the common room. The four hurried down to the Great Hall and found seats at the Gryffindor table. Annie helped herself to bacon and eggs. Just as she poured a goblet of Pumpkin Juice, the owl post came swooping in and Oscar landed in front of her. He was carrying a package tied to his foot and he held a letter in his beak. Annie untied the package from Oscar's leg and took the letter from his beak. She opened the letter and was surprised to find it was from Sirius.

Dear Annie,

I took the liberty of making a copy of the Marauder's Map for you so you and Harry don't have to pass it back and forth. I also wanted to make sure you had your Herbology textbook which I found in the refrigerator by the way. I'm not even going to question how it ended up there. Anyway, enjoy your term and the Triwizard Tournament (although I know you think it would be better if there was Quidditch this year). And please mind your head this year. I don't want you ending up crazier than you already are.

Love,

Dad and Bandit

Annie finished reading the letter and giggled at the muddy paw print of Bandit's that had dried on the parchment. She put the letter aside and picked up the package and opened it pulled out her Herbology textbook and the Marauder's Map that Sirius had included and put them on the table.

"Forgot something, have you?" asked Harry nodding at the book.

"Apparently," said Annie digging through her bag for a piece of parchment, a quill and ink. "Dad also made a copy of the Marauder's Map for me so we don't have to share. Isn't that awesome?" She took the stopper out of the ink bottle and scratched her chin with her quill.

"Way cool," he said picking it up and showing it to Ron. While they looked at the map, Hermione busied herself with reading one of her textbooks and Annie wrote a quick response to Sirius.

Dear Dad,

Thanks for the book and the map, I really appreciate you sending those. I'll watch my head but I think the craziness is genetic and there's no stopping that. I think I really might go crazy if I can't play Quidditch this year. I already went mad last night. Tell Bandit I miss him.

Love,

Annie

Annie scratched her chin with her quill while she re-read her letter. "Hey, what's today's date?"

"September 2nd," said Hermione packing her book away in her bag and finishing her breakfast quickly.

"The second? I feel like that's significant but I- oh now I remember!" said Annie dipping her quill back in her ink to add a post script to her letter. "It's a full moon."

P.S. Please be careful tonight with Uncle Prongs and Uncle Moony.

Annie finished her letter and tied it to Oscar's foot and gave him a nibble of her bacon. He gave a grateful hoot and flew off. Harry tapped her map to wipe it clean and handed it back to her as Professor McGonagall started to make her way down the table handing out class schedules. Professor McGonagall gave Annie hers and she let out a groan.

"Will you look at this? Herbology first thing in the morning and Care of Magical Creatures after lunch!" she shoved the rest of her eggs and bacon in her mouth. "Why should I even shower Monday mornings if I'm just going to get dirty again?" she said thickly through her mouthful of food. Just then a voice spoke behind her. George, Lee and Fred had come in the Great Hall and witnessed her disgusting intake of food.

"You are so charming," said Fred sitting down next to her at the table as Lee and George sat across from her.

"Precious," Lee said.

"Irresistible to all men," said George winking. Annie swallowed her food as Ron and Harry choked on theirs laughing. "Let me see your schedule."

"She can't, we have no time. We have to get down to Herbology," said Hermione picking up her backpack and standing up from the table.

Harry and Ron wolfed down their breakfast and stood up, slinging their bags over their shoulders. Annie, however, remained seated.

"Annie, are you coming or what?" asked Harry.

"I've decided I'm not going to any classes today. I'm just going to stay here all day," she said slipping off her chair and sliding under the table. "Go on without me. I'll be here with the food."

"Really, Annie, you're going to get in trouble," said Hermione placing her hands on her hips and giving her a disapproving look.

"Oh, come on, Hermione. If she wants to stay here all day and try to get away with it, I say we let her. Let's go," said Ron grabbing her arm. "See you later, Annie."

Ron, Harry and Hermione left the Great Hall for Herbology and Annie remained behind, hidden under the table and obscured by the chairs. George, Fred and Lee stayed a little longer and passed food under the table to her until they had to leave for their first class. George dropped his fork on the floor and stooped to pick it up.

"Hey, Annie, we gotta leave. Good luck hiding out all day," he said winking and standing up again. The three boys left the Hall and Annie sat alone under the table playing with her hacky sack.

The Great Hall became quieter and quieter as it emptied of all the students and staff going to their classes. Annie thought she had almost gotten away with skipping class until she heard the clicking of heels echoing around the Hall. As the footsteps approached, they got louder and louder until they stopped exactly where Annie sat hidden. A chair was pulled out and Professor McGonagall's livid face appeared.

"Ms. Black I hope you have a good reason for skipping your classes," she said, her nostrils flaring.

Annie looked into her eyes and smiled. "Well, Professor, you see I dropped my fork and I ducked under the table here to try to look for it and I got lost. Thank Merlin you found me!" Annie gave a slight laugh and her smile faltered after seeing the look on her Professor's face.

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and stood up straight. "Get up, Ms. Black and follow me."

Annie crawled out from under the table, grabbed her bag and stood up. Professor McGonagall turned on her heel and walked out of the hall with Annie following behind. She walked outside and they made their way to greenhouse three. They stopped outside the door and Professor McGonagall turned to Annie.

"You will report to my office at seven o'clock this evening to serve your detention," she said and knocked on the door to the greenhouse. Annie groaned and aimed a kick at a rock on the ground.

Professor Sprout opened the door looking surprised to see both the Deputy Headmistress and Annie who looking down at the ground. "Minerva, what's going on?"

"I caught Ms. Black trying to skip your class, Pomona. Don't worry, I have already taken care of her punishment. She is serving detention with me tonight," Professor McGonagall said briskly. "I leave her in your charge."

Professor Sprout ushered Annie into the greenhouse and pointed to a table which Harry, Ron and Hermione were already grouped around. "You can join them over there. We're collecting bubotuber pus for Madame Pomphrey. They'll be able to help you if you need it."

Annie sighed and walked over to her friends. Hermione looked smug while Ron and Harry tried not to laugh. She threw them a dark look and let her bag slip off of her shoulder and fall onto the floor. She stooped down and pulled out her gloves and begrudgingly set to work.