A/N: Sorry this is a short chapter, but I promise the next will make up for it.

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Samantha gathered her parchments together while Professor McGonagall finished speaking with Ron and Hermione. Today's lesson had focused on the Animagus transformation, but when she'd expressed interest in it, her godmother had stated that the practical books on the subject were in the Restricted Section in the library, and 'for good reason'. Samantha had filed that tidbit away for future reference.

Sighing, she glanced down at her papers. She was doing quite well in most of her subjects – except for Charms. She just didn't understand why she was having such trouble with it. It was compounded by the fact that she had difficulty with any potion which required an enchantment cast over it. She had meant to ask her father yesterday, but she had sensed that he was rather stressed about something so she had remained silent on the matter.

"So, how are Bill and Miss Delacour settling in?" McGonagall asked Ron.

The two in question had arrived the prior evening with an announcement that they were engaged. It had made for an interesting dinner as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley tried to be polite through the meal, when it was painfully obvious they wanted to question their son. It had also made the rooming situation interesting. Ginny's room was only large enough for two people and Hermione was already bunking there. Mrs. Weasley had asked if Samantha would mind bunking with Fleur and she had – naively – said she wouldn't mind. Bill was sleeping up in the attic in his and Charlie's old room.

"They're settled in, but mum and dad are right upset about his engagement to Fleur," Ron said, answering their professor's question.

Samantha glanced at Ron and gave him a small smirk as she muttered, "At least it gives Ginny a new target for that barbed tongue of hers."

"Personally," he replied, "I think her initial target was spot on."

"Ms. Johnston! Mr. Weasley! Please try to behave yourselves," McGonagall scolded.

Hermione remained silent, obviously appraising the situation and Samantha avoided meeting her gaze. The Gryffindor girl was too clever for her own good which was why Samantha had avoided her thus far.

Samantha sniffed and finished gathering her papers, "Fleur is not that bad. I don't understand why everyone dislikes her so much."

Hermione and McGonagall both gave her disbelieving looks. "Are you serious?" Hermione asked.

"Well, let me see… Ginny has been focused on Fleur, meaning Ginny has less time to think of ways to get on my nerves… Yup, I'm quite serious. I think I like Fleur."

"Careful," McGonagall said, heading for the door. "If Ginerva hears you say that, she'll have yet another reason to dislike you." With that, their professor left, leaving the three teenagers looking after her.

"Ginny doesn't seem to need any reason beyond the house I was sorted into," Samantha said quietly. "I've never even met anyone else from my house beyond my Head of House."

"Then I guess it's not too early to warn you not to trust any of them, eh?" Ron asked.

"Including my Head of House?" she asked with a small smile.

Ron snorted, "Especially him. The greasy git hates all Gryffindors."

Samantha smirked, knowing that Ron wasn't aware of her relation to Snape, "And I should trust those from Gryffindor instead, hm?"

"Better us than the snakes," he sniped.

"It seems silly for us to have gotten off to such a terrible start," Samantha remarked, brushing strands of her hair back behind her ears. She was enjoying the playful argument with Ron and she was pretty sure he was enjoying it too.

"Well, house rivalries are strong between our houses," Hermione said, obviously trying to defuse what she must have seen as a volatile conversation. "In fact, according to Hogwarts, A History, the rivalry has been strong since-"

"The days of the founders when there was a falling out between Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin over who should be allowed to attend the school," Samantha finished for her. She glanced between Hermione and Ron, both of whom were gaping at her, "What?"

"You actually read that!" Ron asked. "We thought only Hermione had ever read that!"

"I've never met anyone else who has read it," Hermione said. "So," she began, moving a chair to sit across from Samantha.

"I'm going to take that as my cue to get out of here," Ron said good-naturedly as he backed out of the room.

Samantha laughed and turned her attention to Hermione. "Is the ceiling in the Great Hall of Hogwarts really enchanted?"

Hermione smiled and Samantha knew she had just made a new friend. Now, if she could just find some way to win over Ginny…