DISCLAIMER: Any recognizable works in this story is obviously not owned by me but the great J.K herself. I only own Clare O'Hare and maybe her marriage to Neville...sorry Hannah...not sorry Hannah.

Chapter 3

Early that next morning Clare made her way up to the dining hall. Torturously delicious smells had been drifting down the corridor into the common room since the first light of dawn and she was starving. She would have to hurry and eat to smuggle any breakfast back to her room. Bright morning light poured into the hall through giant colorful windows, bathing the floors in rays of magnificent rainbows. The ceilings above had light wispy clouds drifting by whose undersides shown a golden yellow when the light touched them. A splendid array of biscuits, muffins, eggs, sausages, and other such food lined each table up and down; and even though Clare was early, a few housemates were already at their tables along with a few professors enjoying their meals. Clare could feel Maokai's tongue flicker beside her ear and she could tell he was eager to get a morsel or two.

Gabriel beamed at her and motioned her to a seat in their small group. "Loving the dew O'Hare." He smiled warmly reminding Clare it was still down and in a sleepy mess.

She quickly pulled it up into a rather messy tangled tail and had a giggle about it with the others over morning small talk.

"I honestly can't wait til our pitch schedules come in." Started Stebbins with a stretch.

"How soon do you think we'll get them?" Asked first year ravenclaw. He seemed really excited about the matches even though he himself would not be playing this year.

"So...none of us can play?" Clare asked after swallowing a large bite of her sausage and egg mix.

"No, but next year you all can try out for the teams then." Said another ravenclaw girl, Denise.

"And sometimes if you're really good you can make better than just being secondstring."

"Aww, cheer up mate." Lee Jordan added as he passed by noticing her sullen look. He took a seat not too far down the table and tossed a small pear her way. She caught it and turned her moping frown into a smile.

"See already got the prowess of a... badger waiting to er- pounce!" Jordan grabbed a rather bulbous looking muffin and mimicked a microphone, "Another great catch by Hufflepuff's newest member, just hear that crowd now!" He shot up from the table and cupped a hand to his ear while the others at the table cheered indiscriminately. Clare blushed a bit and looked down at her pear.

Jordan continued, "Look at her sore! Such speed such skill! O'Hare is really taking the lead!" He pointed excitedly about as if following someone on their broom. 'O'Hare! O'Hare! O'Hare!' The table chanted knocking their utensils on the table in time and getting louder each beat. By now Clare was blubbering and blushing a bright red, muttering to no avail for them to quiet down a bit.

"JORDAN!" Everyone quieted immediately as McGonagall's stern tone rang out over the noise. She eyed them from under the brim of her hat.

"And they're off!" Lee announced spinning quietly away as he fled the scene. Clare ran a hand up into her loose ponytail and fidgeted, face still burning as she shot one last look over to Jordan who had made his way to another group of gryffindors. Soon other students sleepily shuffled in. Lily saw her, waved and sprang over to have breakfast with her. Susan sat and they talked about how cool their rooms were. The girls listened with growing interest in what Lily had to say about the gryffindor common room and Lily likewise about theirs. Fred and George passed by with a hello and a wave. She watched them take their seats next to Jordan and jostle around in comradery.

"Oh and do remember mum and dad want to hear from us. I already wrote my letter. I'll be sending it off before classes." Said Lily bringing Clare's attention back to the table.

"Oh right uhm… I'll probably send mine today maybe after dinner." She said faintly.

"Ok well, I know they'd love to have your letter too." Lily added. Lily tried so hard to make Clare feel like family even though sometimes she would little bits of Jacob and Cecile forgetting to include her, like on the train. From a few tables over a slight commotion erupted and their small group turned to watch as a small group of first year slytherins unceremoniously bustled out of the dining hall. The sight cause a slight stir in laughter among the group but was soon forgotten as conversation picked back up again. Soon, eager to be back in her room, she said her goodbye's and made off with a decent heaping on her plate. At the first turn a merry bit of loud laughter signaled the Fat Friar was near and on some unspoken que Clare stepped to the far side of the door.

"HoHoHo, on your toes then O'Hare." Congratulated the ghost. She grinned and bowed her head slightly. The Fat Friar had a sheen to his cheeks she was sure would be red if he didn't have a ghostly pallor. Bidding him a good morning she eased her way through the painting and down past to the common rooms without another interruption.

She passed out granola and fruit goodies to Merry, Berry, and Lulu; then egg and sausage bits to Jasper, and fed Maokai small bits of fried chicken. Once everyone was full they played about the room for a moment.

"I won't be long." She said changing into her school robes and tidying up her hair. She hugged everyone and gave them all kisses before starting out the door. "Bye everyone! Be back for lunch." Clare hurried on her way to catch up with Susan and the other first years back in the dining hall.

They had a free period first so Gabriel was going to take the time to show them around the castle and grounds. Around court yards, down halls, up moving staircases with only slight warning, their group traveled all the while they oo'd and aw'd appropriately. Hogwarts was huge. Quidditch pitch, forest, lake and hills made a bountiful layout and that was all outside the castle. Inside, inside had just as much ground to cover in all sorts of twists and turns. The group took a small break right as second period was coming up. Their first class would be Charms with Professor Flitwick.

Their Charms classroom reminded Clare of what would happen if you were to mash a choir room into a library. An innumerable amount of books were piled here and there and while the the place was clean it was possibly the most stuffed room she had ever seen. Large books, thin books, tattered books, thin slips of paper with jibberish on them, and large print in some language stuck out from every shelf, hung over a table or corner or lay piled on top of each other all over the room. Their charms teacher stood behind a small podium and once everyone became situated in their seats saw he was a short dwarf of a creature standing atop a large pile of books. Susan leaned in whispering how she had heard he had been cursed or something. Cedric overheard them and laughed a little. He reassured them it was nonsense just something the Weasley twins had made up. The truth were much more simple of course, being he was part goblin and what was the matter with the girls acting like they had never seen one before. Professor Flickwick greeted them warmly and started their day with vocabulary.

"It is important to note with charms, feeling and intent pose just as much to the spell's potency as do personal gift and incantations. Charms is useful in reassigning an object's purpose." He studied the room briefly and beamed at the first years. "I always do enjoy watching first attempts!" He clapped his hands and set about getting the older years lesson moving. At the front rows the first year girls and boys sat wands at the ready to learn whatever they could.

"All of you finish taking down the vocabulary?" The professor began, "Good good, tell me Ernie is it? What good is the lumos spell for?"

Ernie, who was lanky and blonde, preceded to be elbowed in the side by Roger at the question, "Well uh it lights up dark areas."

Professor Flitwick nodded but it wasn't the answer he seemed to want. Hannah raised her hand so he called for her. Her answer was it was also good for fending off ghostly type creatures which pleased Flitwick more earning her a bit of praise.

"Precisely, but curious how the simple spell 'lumos' can do both yes? Emit a light to see by and also ward against Gytrashes. Gytrashes are more of what Miss Abbott meant. The intent children means everything with charms." The professor gave his wand a flick causing a bit of chalk to write as he spoke, " 'Lumos' is a simple charm meant to give a witch or wizard light to see by. 'Lumos Maxima' is a more powerful version and can be cast about a room or area. 'Lumos Solem' is more like conjuring a tiny sun as the light it gives off is warm while 'Lumos Duo' imparts light into an object." He demonstrated, incanting 'Lumos Duo' and the first years watched as light flew from his wand into a nearby orb. They looked on in awe, Susan taking to bouncing in her seat not able to contain herself over wanting it to be her turn.

"The first spell I want you to cast will be 'Spongify' but not now. Study this spell, go ahead and open your books to it. Then, once you're there we will go over proper pronunciation." He said giving a small nod and giggle.

Much class time was spent rehearsing the exact way to say the spell followed by reciting almost every use and possible outcome of the spell. To Clare's dismay they would not be allowed to actually try casting the spell until Wednesday but would be expected to be able to cast it fully by no later than the end of the week. When Charms was over she vented a little to Susan who shared her disappointment over not getting to try immediately.

Gabriel met them on the way out and gave them a bit of advice, "Take your time. There will come a time when you wish you had a week of learning instead of a few days." He said with a grin. It's for their safety of course taking things a little slower. All in all it seemed an easy enough class that Clare couldn't wait to dive deeper into. She was surprised at just how much more involved magic was than just saying words and waving your wand. A lot of theory that had to be covered before you were even allowed to try a spell, otherwise they could be disastrous if done wrong.

Clare had stayed only briefly in the dining hall before hurrying off to her room. She was grateful no one seemed to notice or care that a first year was wondering off back to the common room both hands with platefuls of food. She sat and talked with them all while they had a lazy lunch. She hoped they were all keeping occupied as well as staying sort of quiet but she could tell they were getting jittery so she promised to sneak them out after dinner. She grabbed her things and Maokai took his place under her robes as she bid them all goodbye. Potions was next and she had to admit it was a fanciful subject she hoped was every bit as captivation her books made it out to be. She stopped into the kitchen hoping to run into whatever staff and give them her dishes but no one was around. In fact, everything seemed impeccably clean for a place that had just served a feast. Hurrying, she left her dishes on the corner of a large table hoping someone would find them later.

"ICKLE FIRSTIES LEAVING A NASTY MESSES AT THE TABLE!" Came a loud voice that made Clare jump and turn white. Heart pounding in her ears, she switched about trying to see who had startled her. Peeves suddenly swooped out from under the table, toppling the plates onto the floor.

"Oh, you!" Clare's face went red. "Shoo! Go away! You're the one makin' the mess." She frowned. Flicking her wand Clare mumbled a small cleaning charm and picked up the plates. Any food that had fallen and smudged the floor were now gone and it was just as clean as before. "You're gonna give someone a heart attack you know." She said eyeing Peeves. He retorted by sticking his tongue out and waggling it at her while making obscene noises. Petty, she mimicked his face and swiped at him then turned on her heels with a huff.

Clare met up with Susan who asked where she ran off to during lunch. She quickly explained how she didn't feel well.

"But didn't you take you food with you?" Susan asked gaining the look of some of the other kids.

"Oh well uhm…it's for me to eat later." Clare said softly. Susan 'oh'd' and thought no more of it while Hannah and some other first years talked about their next class little less enthusiastically than their others. Professor Snape was the potions teacher, they had heard how nasty he was and hoped their first class wouldn't be horrible.

Once in the room the girls took their seats and noticed Ravenclaw had class with them. A dank, musty smell hung in the air almost overshadowed by the power of smells that the mystery jars and other items gave off. It was dreadfully dim which added to the eerie feeling she got from the room which honestly creeped her out. Susan had a squirrely look to her face making it obvious to Clare she felt the same way. It seemed as if an eye in one of the jars had moved but before Clare could ponder it she jumped in her seat with the sudden appearance of their potions teacher. Other than the soft billowing of his cloak and quiet footfalls, Professor Snape seemed to glide across the stone floor. He gazed about the room with a blank expression on his face as he studied each of them briefly.

"Our first lesson." He started deliberately, "Will be for you all to understand potion brewing is not only an art but a discipline as well. As many of you are of Ravenclaw affiliation I expect you to make up for any bumbling done by you Hufflepuff classmates." The drawl in his voice creeped to a slow halt as he shifted his gaze back through them, "I also expect you to be just as silent as your latters and forgo any presumptive attempts to know more than I." The room sat in silence as many ravenclaws looked a bit sheepish with that last remark, "Now….take out your books and turn to pages 80 to 105." Unstoppered bottles and plants on paper lined the front of a desk up in front of the classroom.

"You." Professor Snape pointed to a first year ravenclaw, "Rivers. What does dittany have in common with monkshood?" He asked folding his hands into the sleeves of his robes. Clare squinted and recognized at once it was Oliver.

"Dittany and Monkshood are both downward facing flowers but one needs lots of sun and the other needs very little." Oliver replied seeming to be pleased with his answer.

"This isn't herbology and if you can't tell the difference in that I'm surprised you can tell the difference in anything. Are you quite sure you are a Ravenclaw." Snape hissed, "I'll ask you again. What does dittany have in common with monkshood as it pertains to this class Mr. Rivers?"

Oliver's lip trembled a bit and his hand made a move to his face but he tapped the back of his hand instead, "Dittany and m-m-monkshood both have the ability to wake a person from magical sleep." He stammered not making eye contact. Clare shot her gaze back to Professor Snape and squinted hard at him, she didn't like how he insulted Oliver like that in front of everyone.

"And you miss Abbot. Do you know how to identify this particular brew?" He asked holding up a vial of deep blue liquid.

"Uhm…" She started trying hard to think of the answer but instead shook her head.

"As to be expected-" He stopped short when Clare raised her hand.

His gaze met hers and he raised a questioning eyebrow, "Yes?" he drawled.

"It seems to be a wideye potion." Clare started, grateful to cut him off from another probable insult. "Unless it's an unfished brew of some other kind, wideye potions either make a deep blue color or slightly lighter blue when made properly."

"And how exactly is a wideye potion brewed properly?" He asked studying her with a tight expression.

"A whole day but probably less if it's brewed by you correct, Potions Master?" She stated refusing to break her stare which currently was trying to bore through the back of his head.

The class had taken a slight hush and some of the ravenclaws in particular had a terrified look to their faces. He seemed slightly taken aback just briefly before his face took on a bored expression, "You're right a potions master would be able to make a wideye potion in a quicker manner." His voice was low and slow like syrup. "All of you on the other hand could probably take eight hours and make nothing but a mess. You will take notes from these pages as well as from the board on all of the ingredients used to create a cure for boils however. It is a much simpler brew and come weeks end you will all be attempting to brew one." Clare could already tell this class was going to be a challenge and that Professor Snape was in fact nothing like how she had hoped, his words seemed to laced with poison not unlike the some of the potions in the class. He was so intolerable about asking questions which made the class ever so much harder. The class too was not the way fantasy made it out to be and was so much more complicated. They took the time to learn how to prepare the ingredients with methods of cutting, slicing, mincing, crushing, and so on to which most seemed like a waste of time.

"No way cutting a bean matters if you cut it like this or like that." Claire whispered to Susan head down. She mimicked in an exaggerated manner on her desk but Susan just shrugged. On their way out of class Clare caught up to Oliver intending to encourage him to brush off what professor Snape had said.

"Blimey, that was impressive you know, what you did in there." He exclaimed once in the hallway. Clare looked sheepish for a moment and explained how it was nothing. "Nothing I'll say. Everyone always seems so intimidated by Snape ...well everyone but the slytherins, ey?" He patted her across the shoulders and thanked her again.

"Listen Oliver if you'd like you can sit with me next class period." Said Clare.

"Yeah there was an empty seat next to us." Added Susan on Clare's other side. Oliver smiled big and said he'd like that very much then they parted ways. Potions lessons were not too hard to understand but there was much too much to nitpick that Clare knew would bore her before long.

Clare swapped her books out in her bag, a new excitement bubbling inside. The last class of the day was to be Transfiguration, it was the class Clare was most excited to get to try. All of her books made her that much more excited about the material and getting to try it hands on. The room was spacious and well lit from the tall windows that lined the room. She sat in the second row from the front and found her seat taken up with Rodger a first year boy since Susan opted not to sit directly up front. They would be sharing this class with Slytherin, who took up the left of the room. She had already had potions with Ravenclaw and wondered if another class time they might be paired with Gryffindor. She turned about in her seat taking in all the room had to offer. Large mobiles of planets sat here and there as well as charts and posters ranging from bugs, to animals, people, and many things in between. There were odd jars of this and that along with many random objects that cluttered the room but Clare didn't mind, it made the room look more lived in.

Professor McGonagall sat at a large and beautiful desk covered in stacks of papers, weights, quills, and a few scales. A larger bird sat on a perch at one corner of her desk that looked like some kind of tropical or exotic breed. Roll was called and Clare tried to listen to the names since this might be the only time she would have to otherwise get to know any of the other classmates. There was a brief pause as Selene's name was called McGonagall took note of Selene's raised hand then continued on. Clare smiled and waved but Selene didn't seem to notice before ducking her head back down.

McGonagall stood and moved to the front of her desk in one fluid movement, "Good afternoon class," she greeted to which they replied good afternoon, "I hope you all have paid attention in your classes today. Now we start our lesson on how to turn a this into a that. More specifically a matchstick into a needle. Ah no there will be no need for that." She chided gently to a boy three desks over who had pulled out his wand. She looked about the room with a slight pinched look, ever still the look of a stern grandmother.

"Please open your books to page five and do take a moment to copy these vocabulary." With a flick of her wand the chalk resting by the board sprung to life and began writing all on its own.

"First before any practical part of magic is performed, theory is needed to help you better understand the spell you will be casting." McGonagall adjusted her glasses. Clare felt her heart sink a little Oh no she began. "You will find that your lessons will show you how to alter the physical state of a great many things. Some of which will not happen however, until a few more years in my class. Transfiguration is much more complicated and far more difficult than your other classes. Potions is exact and Charms do a great deal of wondrous things, but the art of transfiguration is the art of turning an object inside out. Quite literally you are taking what an object is and making it into what it is not." She explained in depth about matter and physical properties of numerous things, places, people, and animals.

Wow… awful lot of talking and no magic to be classes ABOUT magic spells. After their first section of class, which was mostly reading the first few chapters and taking notes from McGonagall, they were allowed to walk about the room and examine things, copy from charts or posters, and ask questions about them all 'reasonably'. Clare enjoyed this part taking her time to explore the room and many of the curious items. Their assignment was to pick something from the class that was their favorite and explain why or what they liked about it. Oddly enough Clare liked the perch the bird was sitting on as opposed to the bird itself. She couldn't quite tell if it were made of a metal or wood and it was a lovely dark and twisted design. Their first bit of homework, due on Thursday, was to write everything that was relevant about whatever object they picked be it the size, shape, weight, color, anything that would explain what it was to its essence and then what the object wasn't like.

After class everyone sat and talked excitedly about their first day. Some classes were living up to expectations both good and bad, while others not so much. Gabriel and a few older years listened in nostalgic smiles playing over their faces each giving encouragement here or half joking warning about higher up classes there. For a school and people she had never met until being sorted it was almost unbearable how warm and inviting everyone was. Older students seemed more than happy to sit amongst the younger years and chat about anything and everything. Maybe house hufflepuff would be her new home, with new friends, and a new family. Clare smiled to herself and ate heartily while taking part in the comradery.

Every puff filed out, with some heading to other parts of Hogwarts and the others waddling their way to the common rooms. Susan wanted to leave for the lake so she hugged Clare warmly and waved bye. Clare was going to nap she had said which wasn't really a lie just not a nap in her room.

Lulu flicked her tail rapidly when Clare made it to her room.

I don't think I like this transmutation class. She did not like the idea of being turned into anything other than a squirrel. It upset her so she didn't finish the rest of her dinner Clare had snuck in her pocket for her. It took much petting from Clare to calm her.

"Don't worry Lulu I'm not going to turn you into anything." Clare said scratching her head and down her back.

Berry huffed, nibbling on bits of salad All of this seems rather suspicious to me. Merry batted him with her left ear as she chewed on fresh fruit Everything always sounds suspicious to you. He always thought the worse of things and Merry always got onto him for it.

It's not so bad. It's momma doing it, momma won't hurt us said Jasper through bites. Maybe it's nice to be small enough to go everywhere with momma right Maokai? Jasper wagged his tail excitedly then laid in her lap. She petted and scratched him behind the ears and he gave her nose kisses.

"We're going outside remember? Everyone will like that." She said after most everyone was finished with their dinner. Carefully she packed Merry and Berry in her satchel then she stuffed Lulu under her shoulder and carried Jasper under her robes in her arms. Maokai took his place around her neck and squeezed more snuggly as she eased them all out into the common room. A few puffs lay snoozing on the sofa seats and anyone else was either close to snoozing or otherwise to notice her awkwardly stuffed robes.

Clare had snuck her pets successfully out of her room and outside for her first attempt. Soon everyone was running and rolling about the yard out back near an exit from the kitchens. She dumped her pockets out of extra bread and fruit then sat while Jasper ran about barking. The deliciousness of the food was not something Clare saw herself ever getting used to as she laid back against the grass. Maokai explored a bit on his own but didn't wander too far off. Clare groaned as she stretched letting her mind buzz around all she had seen and heard that day. Before long she was snoozing in the warm evening light and was unaware how many minutes had passed when woke with the feeling of being watched. She stretched again and looked about at the students passing by across the side of the school. They all seemed to be on their way, no one stopping and staring yet she continued to look. Perhaps it was that small figure in the distance, she squinted trying to get a better look but to no avail. They were too small or too far away being nearly all the way to the lake so she shrugged it off.

"Tha's quite the collection you 'ave there." Rumbled Hagrid as he strode up. Berry scurried behind Clare while Lulu darted under her robes.

"Oh no need to be afright, I am the grounds keeper after all." He drawled proudly holding out a finger and waggling it at the other bunny.

"You don't mind o'course?" He asked Clare.

"Oh no Hagrid." She said smiling and patted the grass next to her. "Although I can't say everyone would be ok with it?"

He took a seat with a great thud making Berry flinch behind her and Jasper to start up with a bout of very heroic barking. Hagrid coo'd at the tiny terrier and rummaged around in his pockets for a treat. She made the introductions and let everyone get acquainted with Hagrid. Merry got Berry out from behind Clare and the two now sat happily snuggled by one of Hagrid's massive feet. Lulu was up by his shoulder nibbling on a nut he had given her while Jasper jumped from one leg to the other. Hagrid had explained how it might go against the rules to no certain amount of certainty but added less ominously that he doubted the headmaster would make an issue of it especially seeing how well behaved and taken care of they were already.

"Weeeeeeeell what about snakes?" she asked giving Hagrid a meek side look.

"What d'ya mean a snake?" he asked raising a bushy eyebrow.

Clare bit her lip but procured her snake hiding in her curls and neck. She cleared her throat, "This is Maokai." Timidly she unwound him from around her neck and shoulders then held out her hands. The colorful snake wound around her hands and wrists and still had a good bit of length to him hanging off her limbs. Light banana yellow and greyish black scales covered what bits of his body were not solid white. He blinked, one eye black and the other red, at Hagrid's giant finger which was held out and gave a cautious sniff, flickering his tongue.

Hagrid's eyes widened and a small look of surprise came to his face. "Well I'll be a botis snake!" He exclaimed. "Only the second one I've seen in all me life." He gently petted the liquid white of his scales and watched in awe as they shimmered with a dull rainbow sheen at his touch. A very small reflection of Hagrid appeared just briefly there then faded away.

"That's a very special snake you 'ave there!"

Clare sighed in relief seeing Hagrid take a much different view on her Maokai than others.

"Maokai You said his name was?" He asked much more excited now and she nodded. He grinned and rubbed under his chin, "Elloo there lil' Maokai. He's a cute little bugger, never seen one so small afore." Maokai slither into Hagrid's hand and made two or three loops on the giants wrist.

"Aww-wee." He chuckled. He didn't see how anyone would mind such a cute little guy like him and he asked where she had gotten him. Hagrid seemed to be fairly familiar with Doris and Lo as well as their quality of stock. Hagrid and Clare swapped stories on animals they wish they had.

"You know I've always wanted me own dragon." Said Hagrid fondly.

"What?!" Clare's mouth was agape.

"Aye' every since I was a wee little lad."

"You mean...own them? Like pets? I read that they were real but REALLY?! You can have a dragon for your own?" Clare was shocked and awed, her mind whirling about at the fantasy of owning her very own dragon.

"Well not necessarily." He started. "A few years ago I think they were banned you know not really legal to own one or sell 'em..." He drifted off. Clare looked sullen and Maokai slithered back to Clare and up her arm sleeve. "Of course other creatures too but that don't mean ya can't get them. Take my good boys Fluffy, he's a cerberi."

Clare tilted her head a bit, "You mean Cerberus… like Hades' guard dog?"

Hagrid grinned big and nodded quickly, "That's according to those muggles though, Cerberi been bread for years but a lot less now a'days."

"Can I see him your Fluffy?" Clare asked a look of excitement playing into her eyes.

"Er' well maybe not this year he's still a young pup and I don't think he's ready to be knowing a whole lot of people. Not to mention he's a bit busy with a big important mission. Wonderful guard dog my Fluffy is...uh I prolly shouldnt'a said that." Hagrid stood and said his farewells, having remembered a sudden errand. He invited Clare down for tea at his hut whenever she'd like and was more than happy to have all her little friends too.

Clare gathered everyone up and headed back to her room. Small basket in hand Clare padded her way to the bathrooms with her barefeet. Taking the right hall, it curved like Gabriel said into a large area that had short sandstone walls. On one side there were stalls for what appeared to be toilets and one large vanity over several small sinks. They stood out from the wall all on their own and had deep basins with shiney brass handles and faucets. On the other side a few small stairs lead to an even larger open roomed area which held one large pool, showers, and individual rooms. The stairs were rough on the feet possibly to prevent slipping. Small copper and brass fixtures hung down from the ceiling and held very beautifully shaped glass. Inside the glass looked like dancing lights maybe fireflies Clare thought but had hoped not. A few girls were making their way back towards the front of the bathrooms in their robes and towels on their heads. Fresh smelling herbs hung in this part of the bathroom and Clare could make out rosemary, mint, lemon, and a few others. Tiny whips of heat rose from the pool perhaps hottub adding to the steam that hung in this section. The small rooms had swinging round doors on them and once inside there were benches to place one's things. The room tilted down at an angle the farther in you went and at the end of the wall was a large barrel cut in half. A thick faucet sat above it about four or five inches while below were several knobs all of brass and copper. Some knobs had white on the ends while others yet had blue, green, or other colors. After a bit of trial and error Clare found that it was different soaps the knobs would mix with the water that would come out of the faucet and pour down into the barrel. Getting the right temperature, Clare mixed the scent of fruits and mint into her barrel which quickly began to fill. Slipping out of her clothes she called softly to her basket sitting on the low seated bench.

First, his head poked out from under a towel, then the rest of his body followed hitting the floor making a soft pad noise. The barrel overflowed a bit before the water turned off and the runoff flowed down an open notch at the walls end. Maokai leaned his body up the side of the half cut barrel and onto Clare's outstretched hand. He gave a happy hiss at the water's warmth most would mistake for a puff of air, but Clare knew it was his way of squeeing. After their bath, Clare sat at her desk finishing up the last bit of her homework for the day while Maokai sat warming himself next to her candle and everyone else napped in their own places.

Do you want to stay here when I go to astronomy she whispered to Maokai.

He coiled into a tighter ball then yawned No. I go with. He went back to snoozing softly and Clare petted him with a finger. Taking out a new paper she scribbled a few lines then scratched them out. She tried again scribbling a line or two onto the parchment then her mind drifted off. She paused and gave a loud sigh as she shoved her quill into it's ink pot and rubbed her eyes vigorously with the palms of her hands. Soon she gathered her things and threw on her robes again then grabbed her satchel. She slipped Maokai gently into it before heading out to the towers.

Aurora Sinistra's classroom was at the top of a tower. Clare struggled bringing up the rear of a large group of winded, wheezing classmates. Each step made her short legs ache harder and toting her telescope and pack even heavier. Susan and Clare started out keeping pace with Cedric and Stebbens but before long they had started to fall behind. With a smile and laugh the two had left the girls behind, jokingly encouraging Clare that it would be good for quidditch.

"I'll be on a broom." Clare complained, "This makes -huff- no sense?"

"-huff- It's hogwarts -puff- it doesn't have to -huff- make sense." Susan replied breathing through the stitch in her side. She pointed to the top if the stairs they had neared and mouthed 'finally'.

The first years stood off in a group all their own and caught their breath.

"Good night students," Professor Sinistra greeted. She was a dark skinned woman who nearly bled into the background of the night sky. Her garb was the deepest black from her hat to her boots and yet she shined. Small flecks of black somehow caught the dim light of the classroom and reflected just a moment before disappearing. She smiled big and the older years greeted her back with "Good night Professor" like it was an inside joke. Her face was set and stern but her eyes were a warm, soft brown color that sparkled like stars. Professor Sinistra turned to the first years and bid them a special welcome then ushered everyone outside to the circular balcony to set up their telescopes. Short iron braziers lined the stone walls outside and had barely any flames left in them instead they were mostly bright red embers. The night wind caught soft wafts of heat from off them and brushed the students keeping them somewhat warm. Tall open windows let the night air sweep from off the balcony into the room making it just as crisp as outside. The tops of the windows met in tight arches that shown dark pieces of glass that Clare could see were merely unilluminated stained glass. After everyone had set up their telescopes the professor turned their attention back inward to the classroom. She showed them many charts, drawings, and tapestries depicting the heavens filled with planets, stars, and the stories behind their naming. In the center of the room made of many different shaped, sized, and colored stone was a circular mosaic that mapped out not only their star chart but that of other galaxies as well. A large instrument was to their left, it spun, turned, flipped, and rotated in all sorts of ways, some very slowly while others were rapid.

"This class is an Orrery. A bit small but it is accurate and fills its functions for this class perfectly." The professor said following their curious looks.

"I've never seen one of those before much less heard of one." Said Megan, a first year next to Clare.

"They are very rare yes." Professor Sinistra gave a small giggle, "However you all will use this in your studies now, come we have much to learn for our first night!" She smiled big again and ushered everyone outside.

For now the class was to search the sky, find and name all the constellations they could all the while Professor Sinistra asked them about the various ones they found. The moon was waxing but wasn't bright enough to block out the stars soft glow. She floated about the room assisting the older years in their assignments as well as helping readjust the first years telescopes as they needed. Their first assignment was to take note on all the star clusters they had found and write short essays on their make up. For extra credit the first years could write an essay no less than 15 pages on the constellation that marked the day of their birth, it would be due at the end of the year. She explained even though the sun might have been out the stars were still there just not visible so they would need to use the orrery or other means to track it. Eventually they could track more than just star and planetary movements, with the aid of this class they would later learn the art of reading the stars in a more personal aspect. However Professor Sinistra told them, they would learn the basics just the stars names where to find them and the history of it. Doing star readings for people, places, things, or events would come from Professor Trelawney. Besides transfiguration, astronomy was quickly turning into one of Clare's more fun classes. No magic was involved but a class where they did instead of read books and theorised was a wonderful change of pace. With as much fun as that was, regrettably it was a class where all the reading and studying was done as homework. They had been given a whole weeks worth it seemed like of reading charts and graphs, even a story about stars to read before next week. On their way back down Susan beamed brightly, invigorated with a new energy.

"Oh I really can't wait to take this into divinations!" She exclaimed. She really seemed enthused about this particular class to the point she nearly literally bubbled with excitement. "Isn't it all so romantic." She sighed, "Gosh who really DOES know what the stars hold for us."

Clare laughed at her friend and shook her head, she had been stuck on the thought of her birthday for their extra credit and it filled her with unsettling emotions. Fighting off thinking about her past she gave a well rehearsed grin, "Yeah I suppose… not looking forward to this trek however." Clare smirked as color drained from Susan's face and she swatted Clare with a book.

"Ooooh ruin my fun!" She groaned exasperatedly but agreed the trek would probably kill them after their third class.

Down the dim lit corridors and into their common room the tired lot said their goodnights and headed off to bed. Back in her room Clare set her bag of stargazing equipment down with a soft thud and groaned dragging her feet to bed. She dug in her satchel for Maokai and eased him onto the corner of the bed then tossed her cloak to the side and flopped down dead in the center. She took a long breath then huffed into the quilt drawing enough strength to pull her uniform off and crawl under the sheets.

"G'niiiight." She half groaned softly to the room. Merry and Berry snorted in their sleep in response and Lulu gave a small peep followed by a lazy grunt from Jasper. Maokai slithered sleepily up to his place near her head and cuddled in the warmth of her neck and hair. The last tea light burned out of oil on her desk making the room pitch minus the soft moon light drifting in through the half moon window. Smalls bit of barely touched parchment lay on top some reading awkward starts to a letter addressing a Jacob or a Cecil, and others scribbled through to be illegible. A quill still rested, forgotten in the ink pot and one partially finished letter sat on top:

'Dear Mr. and Mrs. Moon

I got sorted into Hufflepuff and have made a new friend, Susan Bones. Hogwarts is such a wonderful place …. And

And it really feels like home….and

And what….what am I writing you for it's not like you're my pare-'

A few small drops smeared the ink on the last bit of writing that sealed the note.