A/n: Hey readers. Glad to see you again. I hope you like this chapter. You don't have to, but it's nice if you do. R&R, but if you flame, keep them constructive.

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Chapter 5 – The First Day

It was early in the morning. Simone was walking the corridors, her soft shoes only padding on the cold stone floor. She came to a life-sized statue of a grimacing gargoyle.

"Peppermint squares," said Simone, stifling a yawn.

The gargoyle burst into life and carefully stepped aside, revealing an arched doorway with a spiral staircase inside it, before it reverted back to its stony existence. Simone stepped through the archway and climbed the stairs. She heard the Gargoyle go back to its original place, guarding the entrance. When she got to the top of the stairs, Simone knocked twice on the wooden door.

"Come in." Called a voice from inside.

Simone opened the door and stepped into the large circular room.

"Good Morning Uncle." She said.

"Good morning to you too Simone. Lovely to see you again. It has been far too long."

"Only a month."

"A month is along time to go without seeing your loved ones. I did miss you. How are things?"

"Good I suppose…" said Simone, walking towards her uncle and collapsing in the big, comfy armchair opposite him.

"I suppose?"

"Well, I guess it has been okay, I mean, I am doing well in the Muggle School, as always, my friends are all fine and there hasn't been much trouble in any of the realms. It's all been pretty quiet."

"Then what is the problem?"

"It's too quiet. Kind of like the calm before the storm. I can tell something big will happen soon, but I have no idea what and how I can prepare for it. It's a very annoying feeling to have. Especially now I am here at Hogwarts. How am I supposed to concentrate on my studies if I am worrying about some big unknown tragedy about to happen?"

"Hmm, I see, well, I suppose you will have to try and ignore this future disaster for now and try and concentrate here. It is worrying, but there is not point on getting all stressed out over something that hasn't even happened yet. You should stay alert, but until something actually goes wrong, why not relax a bit and have some fun. After all, if you get all worked up about what might happen, you will be in no shape to deal with it when it does happen. And besides, it is an important part of your training to complete the seven years here, so it would be wise to not be too distracted."

"That is nearly impossible considering everything!"

"Maybe, but you must try. As long as you try your best here, there will be no problem and you will one day look back and see these years as some of the best."

"I will try, but do I really have to use the wand?"

"Yes, Simone, you must use the wand in all your lessons, like everyone else. It would be unfair for them if you just used your normal magic, and using your wand is a part of your training too."

"Fine. Now, what's with this business about the grounds?"

"Ah, that is what I originally called you here to talk about. This morning, we have received a new tree."

"A tree? Is this what all the big mystery is about, a tree?"

"It isn't just any tree, it is a Whomping Willow. A rare tree that has come into our possession for a specific purpose."

"And that is…"

"One of our new students is, well, he's a werewolf. The tree is there to guard an entrance to the Shrieking Shack, where this student will go every month during the full moon, so he does not endanger any of our other students. This is the precaution we have taken so this poor boy can attend school here. Otherwise he would not be able to receive an education, and I don't have to tell you how terrible that would be."

"Oh, so that is why you couldn't come with me to the station. I don't suppose you are going to tell me who this boy is, are you?"

"No."

"Thought so. Anyway, is there anything I can do?"

"Yes. This tree is rather violent. It isn't even full grown yet, but already it is very big and even more violent than usual as it doesn't appear to like being out of the ground, and no-one can get near enough to plant it or use a spell to do so."

"And you want me to coax it with my mighty ability to communicate with plants and then plant it?"

"If you don't mind."

"I'd love to!"

"Just as I suspected."

An hour later, Simone and Lily were sitting together in Transfiguration. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter (who had all bonded surprisingly quickly, literally overnight!) were all sitting at the table behind them, franticly whispering.

"…So, it's a deal," said Sirius, "with your firecrackers, James, we'll sneak into the Slytherin common room, with the help of Remus' smarts, and then, using Peter as a distraction, we will plant the crackers under the lounge chairs, hook up these sensor squares that I got from a dodgy joke shop, and as soon as one of those greasy Slytherins try to sit down…KABOOM! And we sit back and watch an entire house run around terrified."

"Until someone with sense knocks it out the window, of course." Interjected James.

"Let's just hope that doesn't happen for a while." Concluded Sirius.

"Apart from the fact that this whole idea is senseless, stupid and could land us all with a month's worth of detentions, there is still the annoying matter of visibility. We're sure to been seen; they're not blind!" Said Remus, bringing their plans unceremoniously back to reality.

"I might have a solution to that problem--" started James.

"Mr Potter, Mr Black, Mr Pettigrew and Mr Lupin, I am terribly sorry for disrupting your conversation, which is obviously more important than Transfiguration, but may I remind you that you have a test next week on this very lesson. Now if anyone of you cannot turn your buttons into ladybirds in the next twenty seconds, you all get detention." Said Professor McGonagall, in her usual strict, 'no-nonsense' voice.

Effortlessly, James and Sirius flicked their wands in unison and their buttons were instantly turned into bright red ladybirds. Remus took a few flicks, but soon his button was transformed, even if it was still blue. Poor Peter, however, tried, but to no avail. Luckily Sirius subtly transfigured his button for him.

"Well, it appears that you are ready for the test, but Mr Black, I ask that you let Mr Pettigrew learn it for himself, next time." McGonagall said, her voice full of warning.

"That's amazing! It took me at least five minutes to make my button even remotely bug-like!" said Lily.

"Must be naturally talented" Offered Simone.

"You mean, just like you."

"Naturally" said Simone with mock seriousness.

During lunchtime, while almost everyone was in the Great Hall, Simone, Albus Dumbledore and Professor Sprout, the new Herbology Professor, were all outside on the small hill with a rather violent tree, standing two metres high and angrily whipping the air around it.

"Are you sure is it safe to allow a First Year plant this tree?" asked Sprout, nervously.

"Simone is no ordinary First Year, Professor Sprout; she is perfectly capable of dealing with this aggressive plant." Replied Albus.

Simone walked up to the tree, in a sort of magical state. She had surrounded herself with a mild wind and was emitting a reasonably strong, golden glow, all for effect. Her golden hair whipped around her face, and her robes threatened to come off. She slowly and fearlessly walked up to the wild plant, which was thrashing around in its tiny pot.

'Be not afraid' Simone telepathically communicated to the plant, 'I am here to help you.'

The plant stopped thrashing and cocked its branches, as if listening.

'If you be still for just a few moments, I promise I will release you from your tiny pot and deep into the ground.'

The plant sent Simone one word, back through the telepathic link she had opened up.

'Okay.'

Simone channelled her power from her inner core to her hands. Her hands glowing, she made the motion to lift them up, and on the top of the hill, a neat chunk of the earth, a metre wide and deep, lifted up into the air, revealing part of a wooden tunnel, and put the earth down a little distance away. Then, she approached the tree, picked it up at its base, carried it over to the hole and gently dropped it in.

Simone levitated the pile of dirt again, and poured it in the hole, filling it up around the tree. After quickly patting the dirt and watering the tree, with a shower from a small cloud that Simone had summoned, she stepped back and let the Whomping Willow go about releasing its roots and settling around the large wooden tunnel.

"And that is how you plant a tree!" said Simone, triumphantly.

"Amazing!" exclaimed Sprout.

"I told you she was good." Chuckled Albus.

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