a/n: Seeing as how I'm taking some really strenous courses this quarter, don't be surprised if I don't update every week like I used to. Junior level french class, hard religion classes, history, and a 16 by 20 art canvas? Yeah, I'd say once every three weeks, two if I'm lucky.

"You know something," Char said loudly. "If it weren't for the fact that Unforgivable Curses are illegal, I would've killed the disgusting ferret, Malfoy."

Over the heads of the other students climbing the stairs, Malfoy turned around, his gray eyes glinting with malice.

"I do believe that snot-nosed, garbage face runts shouldn't be speaking to me like that," he spat.

"And who's the runt in this situation?"

Malfoy growled and took out his wand. "Duro!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Aly's spell flew above the heads of the others; they all ducked.

Malfoy's wand flew out of his hand and dropped to the ground as Aly stood with her wand raised, smirking in satisfaction.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Ms. Trevelyan; no magic in the corridors."

Snape's lip curled. "I thought someone like you should've known that." He was standing at the top of the stairs as the students walked past him into the Great Hall.

"I do," Aly said haughtily, looking up at him. "But when you've got slimy Slytherins insulting Gryffindors, you've got to do something, ought you?"

"Another ten points, Ms. Trevelyan. Do not insult my students. Open your mouth one more time and you will skip the Welcome Feast to organize my private cupboard. Even antidote, every solution, every poison," he said, his black eyes glinting, "By alphabetical order."

Aly stared up at Snape defiantly, but did not open her mouth.

"Aly, come on!" Amanda said urgently, grabbing her hand and pulling her along. Aly stared angrily at Snape and allowed herself to be pulled into the Great Hall.

"You have such a smart mouth," Amanda sighed. "If I didn't stop you, you would've been expelled by now."

"Slimy Slytherins," Aly muttered. They approached the Gryffindor table and sat down.

"Why, hello there," Char said, raising an eyebrow. "Having a nice little chat with Snape?"

"Sure," Aly muttered, looking down. "I feel like stabbing someone right now."

Char hesitantly moved away from Aly. Aly glared at him and Char smiled.

"Did you see what that piece of scum did?" Amanda hissed. "He completely-"

"Hello, guys," Hayden said quietly as he approached the table. "Make room, will you?"

Aly stared at Hayden and Kylie's intertwined hands and then turned to grin at Char.

"Two galleons! I told you!"

"That's not fair! You must be some sort of psychic freak!" Char groaned.

"You made a bet?" Kylie asked skeptically.

"Of course they did," Amanda said with disapproval. Hayden sat down with irritation, as did Kylie.

"I can't believe you two. When you're married, don't come running to any of us when you've gone broke because you're gambled too much," Kylie said, shaking her head.

"Oh, we won't," Aly said brightly. The sorting began and her voice dropped to a whisper. "You see, Char will have a big paying job and we won't need any of your help." She knew that for sure.

Damien rolled his eyes and turned to watch the sorting. Aly clapped politely after every student who came in, though she noted that the number of first years was smaller than the previous. She wasn't surprised.

"Hey," Char said as the dishes appeared with food a few moments later. "There's Professor Slughorn, Damien." He smiled cheekily. Damien's eyes darted to the heads' table.

Damien looked up from his mashed potatoes and grinned. "Where? I don't see him; He blends in with those fat, squishy chairs so well."

"Oh, shut up, that's mean," Kylie snapped.

"Just because he is excessively fat doesn't mean you need to insult him," smirked Aly. Char eyed her with disapproval.

"You'd best not get on his bad side," Hayden said, frowning. "He will be your teacher, after all. You might want to treat him with some respect."

"Oh, like you do," Kylie scoffed. "Mind telling me what you said about Professor Snape on the train?"

"He's my favorite teacher, of course," Hayden replied plainly. Kylie rolled her eyes and continued eating.

"I bet Snape's a jolly man now," Char said, quietly. "He's been wanting that job for years."

"Did you know he's a death eater?" Damien asked quietly, leaning forward across the table.

"Yeah, I figured."

"Good morning," Kylie said brightly as she came into the Great Hall the next morning.

"Hi," Char said, smiling up at her. "Sleep well?"

"Great," she replied as she sat down next to Hayden and leaned toward him. "Hello, you."

"Hello," Hayden replied, smiling impishly at her. He leaned forward and kissed her good morning.

Aly looked up from her breakfast when she heard smacking sounds and frowned as she watched Hayden and Kylie snog.

"Um..." Aly started, coughing. "Kyles?"

"Kylie?" Amanda asked, looking at them.

Damien's face contorted into disgust as he set down his spoon and pushed his bowl of oatmeal away. "That's it. I'm not eating, then."

"Kylie," Amanda said, trying not to laugh, "Do you mind?"

Kylie didn't answer.

"Kylie, can you do that somewhere else?" Aly asked angrily. "We're trying to eat."

"Eat then," Kylie gasped, breaking away for a split second and then returning.

Aly blinked for a few seconds and then stood up with irritation.

"Well, I'm going to go hungry today!" She picked up her books and stalked out of the Great Hall as Char made haste to follow her.

They turned out of the corner of the Great Hall.

"So, Ms. Trevelyan," Char sighed, looking at her as they walked leisurely down the hallway. "What are your courses for this year? What'd you get on your O.W.L.'s?"

"You first."

"O, A, E, A, E, O, A, A."

"Really?" Aly said absently. "That's good."

"You?"

"O, O, E, O, A, E, O...P."

"P? In what subject?" Char exclaimed.

"History of Magic."

Char burst into laughter and laughed even more when he saw Aly's face. "What?"

"What're you laughing about?" she growled.

"I can't believe you got a P in History of Magic?"

"And what'd you get?" she said mockingly.

"O."

"What! How could you've gotten an O and I get a P?!" she exclaimed, stopping. "I'm way smarter than you!"

"Obviously not in history," he said, grinning down at her. "I studied."

"And so did I!" Aly protested.

"But you see..." Char said, looking down at her smugly. "Those late night snogging sessions didn't exactly help you."

"That's not the point. I studied as much as you," Aly said, crossing her arms.

Char winked. "And you probably failed because you were too distracted by my good looks."

"You are such an arrogant pig."

Char smiled. "Love you too."

Aly heard the sound of a rush, and knew that it was almost time for their first class.

"Well then..."

She seized Char by the collar of his shirt and pulled him into a short, but sweet kiss.

She grinned as she shoved him back, and he gaped at her in disbelief, breathing hard.

"Wha...why did you...?"

"I hope you fail a class this year," she sniffed, and then turned to walk down the hallway.

Char blinked and then smiled lovingly at her retreating figure.