The next morning Erin, Harry, Hermione, and Ron climbed out of the portrait hole heading for the Great Hall. The previous evening had been a disaster with everything going on. They had found out Slughorn was there for potions! And Snape was now Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Their feelings were mixed towards Snape though after he helped them the previous year and kept them safe and not falling into a trap. And then Hagrid had come over and told them he couldn't wait to see them the next day for lessons. Only Erin was taking his class this year, they didn't know if anyone else was, but it may have been a one person class, not that Erin minded that at all. "We had to make a choice, after all," Hermione said just a tad defensively as they walked down to the Great Hall. "Ghoul Studies is being held at the exact same time. So we really have no choice. That class will teach us more than Hagrid's."

"I'll tell you how it goes then." Erin said unconcerned. "He said it should be fascinating and special." Okay so he didn't say that, but that was reading between the lines.

They hurriedly ate breakfast because McGonagall wanted to get their schedules done as quickly as they could. "I'll see you later, Hagrid!" Erin called cheerfully waving.

"Would you really be taking his class if you didn't have to?" Hermione asked in an undertone.

"Yes," Erin said without hesitation. "Besides he's making a huge effort to help me prepare for the university and wants me to do as well as any American witches and wizards. Besides he's been learning these last few years same as us."

They went quiet as McGonagall asked Hermione to come over. Hermione was immediately cleared to take all the classes she had decided to take and hurried off to Ancient Runes. Neville took longer to sort out mostly because his Gran wanted him to take classes he wasn't going to be able to take. Then Parvati's schedule and she set off for Divination a few minutes later. Harry was next and things were shuffled around a little for him to take Potions with Slughorn. Then Ron was cleared to do the same subjects and they left the table together. Harry squeezing Erin's hand and telling her they'd see her at lunch. Lavender, Dean, and Seamus were done with in short order having no classes they couldn't take. Then McGonagall turned her attention to Erin. Erin settled down at the end of the table near to where she was sitting at the end surrounded by Erin's OWL grades and all the classes she was taking. "I know this will seem daunting, Miss Black, but I have every confidence in you. You just have to get down your schedule. I will help you with that. I'm afraid you are going to have quite the schedule this year and spending most of your time in two or more places."

Erin nodded. "I assumed so."

"Now, you're cleared to take all your classes with O's in all your OWL's. I'm so proud of you." She said smiling almost like a proud mother at the girl. Erin beamed. She remembered the woman only through the memories that the others gave her, but she felt comfortable around her. "Many of your classes overlap…Today you have Ancient Runes and Divination in the first block. And then Defense Against the Dark Arts in the second. But you must have Private Tutoring Sessions with all your teachers as well. So that makes it a little more complicated. Your teachers are all willing and have given me times when they can do the tutoring. After lunch you have Care of Magical Creatures and Ghoul Studies and then in the fourth block you have Potions." They went through the rest of the week making up the schedule. "Each day you will have two lunches, one with a teacher and one here, you must keep up your strength. You'll have two dinners as well. You can decide who you would like to have dinner with. I have to say all of us are extremely excited about the prospect of a university here. And no one minds doing their share to make sure you are prepared to go to the university. They have a program there to get you prepared to open your own university. I have already received owls from the Ministry about getting together to discuss programs at the university to train those who wish to enter it, instead of having them Ministry trained they'd be university trained!" It wasn't often you saw the woman so excited about something. "We know it's premature, but we all want to be ready when the day finally comes." She was writing out Erin's schedule. "I suggest you choose a schedule and stick to it. Then you won't be confused as to what you need to do next. Every day you have two first blocks, two second blocks, two third blocks, and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday you have three fourth blocks." She then helped her come up with a good schedule of when she would do what and who she would have lunches with and dinner with on certain nights. Because of the hours involved she would nap after her first dinner. She was going to lunch every day before turning time back to do the morning again and then going to dinner. After that she would sleep for about four hours and turn back time again to after lunch and do her afternoons over again. And three days a week after her second dinner she would go back for one class or private tutoring session and then she would probably fall asleep in front of the fire snuggling with Harry. And on Wednesdays she and Hermione would be up at midnight for Astronomy. Those classes would be very small since very few were taking Astronomy for NEWT levels.

When they finished Erin headed to a broom closet out in the Great Hall and went back to 9 and when the coast was clear she headed off for Divination with Trelawney, she was taken the 6th years and sharing with Firenze. Erin had private tutelage with Firenze as well, but that would be on Tuesday nights. They were studying Palmistry starting off in Divination and Erin partnered with Felicity Prewett. The girl was glad to see her because Louisa McCormack wasn't taking Divination, you rarely saw Louisa without Felicity, but the two were going in different directions and that wasn't a bad thing. Felicity wanted to be a teacher. Trelawney gave them a book on palmistry to read and to find at least five students not in class to read their palms and write it up in an essay before their next class.

After Divination they had break, but Erin headed down to Defense Against the Dark Arts and found Hermione there. Hermione beamed. "You're going to love Ancient Runes." She said. "But we already have a fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and these books to read by Wednesday!"

"You could have dropped it off at the common room…" Erin began.

"But I want a good seat! And if you don't get to a class early you don't get one!" The other girl asserted.

Harry and Ron showed up around then and Snape opened the door. "Inside," he told them. Erin waited until last and handed him her schedule so he could see it. He looked to where his name was on it and nodded handing it back to her before he shut the door and she took her seat beside Hermione. "I have not asked you to take out your books," he said moving to face the class. Hermione dropped her book back in her bag quickly "I wish to speak to you and I want your fullest attention." His eyes went around the room looking all them in the eye. "You have had five teachers in this subject. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an OWL in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the NEWT work, which will be much more advanced." He moved around the edge of the room. "The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which each time a neck is several, sprouts a head even faster and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible." He paused looked at them again. "Your defenses must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures," he motioned to ones around the room, "are a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse, feel the Dementors Kiss, or provoke the aggression of the Inferius…" Each one was worse than the one before.

"Has the Inferius been seen, then?" Parvati asked in almost a whisper. "Is it definite, is he using them?"

"The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past," Snape told them. "Which means we must assume he will use them again. Now," he set off around the room again. "You are all complete novices in the art of nonverbal spells—" he paused and looked at Erin, "Almost all of you…Miss Black, what are the advantages of a nonverbal spell?"

"When performing a nonverbal spell your opponent doesn't know what you are using against them and such gives you an advantage against them. I believe most of Lord Voldemort's followers are adept at nonverbal spells."

"You are correct." He said nodding. "Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course, it is a question of concentration and mind power which some lack. Miss Black, stand up and come up here if you please."

Erin stood and came up in the front where an area was cleared a bit. Without warning Snape flicked out his wand and sent a spell at Erin. Erin stood calmly and the spell hit a shield without Erin even moving for her wand or doing anything. The shield actually absorbed the spell without just bouncing it off and then the spell flew back to Snape. He hadn't been prepared for it and it hit him sending him sprawling back. Erin's eyes went wide. She hadn't meant to do that.

Snape got up though dusting off his robes. "Very good. Not many students could surprise a fully-fledged wizard. Miss Black has certain skills that make nonverbal and wandless magic possible, regardless though. She has been fine tuning her concentration and mind control from a young age, which gives her an edge. But all of you can attain this level…if you can channel your concentration and your mind into it. All of you divide into pairs. Mr. Potter, you will partner Miss Black. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. There should be no speaking at all in this room."

The DA had learned the previous year how to do a shield charm, but they'd never done it silently, so many were whispering it and cheating. Harry knew very well he wouldn't get away with that with Erin. Snape knew very well Erin would not show mercy to Harry despite being in love with him. If he couldn't do things on his own merits and how he was supposed to she would blast it completely apart.

Many of the students were just whispering the shields or charms. Snape knew they were cheating. He told everyone to put up their shields and then he flicked his wand. The shields put up verbally all shattered in a spray of lights sounding like glass. All those that were nonverbal stayed, a few flared a little depending on strength, Erin's was very bright though. "There will no cheating in this class. You have been warned."

When class was over they were given the task of practicing their shield charms nonverbally and an essay at least 10 inches long on nonverbal spells and why they were so important.

They were on their way to lunch when Jack Sloper found them and gave him a note from Dumbledore telling him when his private lesson was. It would be that Saturday night at 8 pm.

After lunch Erin used her Time Turner to go back to the first class and headed to Ancient Runes sliding into a desk with Hermione. Professor Babbling started right in about their NEWT years and an overview of what they would be doing that year and then they started right in on translations. Erin went to her private tutoring session with McGonagall after that. She hadn't had a class with her yet, but that was okay. They most talked about what they would be doing in Transfiguration and to get ready for class the next morning. They had lunch together and talked more about the University.

After lunch with McGonagall, Erin headed off to Care of Magical Creatures while the others went off to Ghoul Studies even if it was being taught by Snape. She'd see them later for the class. For now she met Louisa McCormack and the Monson twins heading out across the bridge. They all converged to walk together. Well, at least there would be a bit of a class and not just her. Erin thought as they laughed a little crossing the covered bridge with their books. They had to buy a field journal at Diagon Alley for the class. They were all excited about that and wondered what they would be putting into the books first. They met Hagrid outside of his hut. "Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures." He said excitedly seeing them. He did glance up to see if anyone else was coming, "This all of yeh?"

"I think so," Erin said. "Most people had to choose between this and Ghoul Studies." She explained.

"Well, that would be a hard choice." He nodded. "Well, welcome to all of you. Now, I'm sure yeh've been gettin' the same speech in all yeh classes today. It's your first NEWT year and such it's going to be harder. This year we'll be studying creatures around Hogwarts. Do you all have your field books? Good. Now, if yeh come with me we'll walk around the forest and search for any creatures. If you see anythin' stop and try to sketch it in your book. Also try to identify the creature and write down what it does. If it leaves something like a bit o' fur or feather, piece o' food they were munchin' on, that sorta thin'. Spread out and tread softly. Nothin' will hurt you in the daylight on the boundaries. I'll give a whistle when it's time to pack it up. We'll see what yeh've found or didn't find. Don't worry iffen yeh don't see anythin'. Now off yeh go."

Erin went off on her own and found a quiet spot to just sit and watch, her field guide open on her lap. At the end of the time allotted she had seen a unicorn and a foal briefly, a golden snidget that had flown in front of her curiously and then shot off again, a centaur that had kindly stood still while she sketched him. He had liked the sketch too and told her a little bit about himself. He was young though and flirted shamelessly until a centaur filly had come along and made him leave. And several fairies that were more than happy to let her sketch them. Of course fairies were very vain and anything decorative or flaunting their tiny human bodies was at the top of their list.

She joined the others in the glen where Hagrid and Fang were waiting for them. "So, what did yeh see out there? Let's start with Dean."

Dean opened his book. "I saw a doxie burying its eggs. I sketched the doxy and what an egg looks like." He said showing them. "It took the doxie some time to lay and bury the eggs."

"That's wonderful, Dean, very good. Kaeli? What about you?"

"I saw a thestral and I drew the mother and baby."

"That's really good. Louisa?"

"I saw a few fairies that let me sketch them and a bowtruckle was curious as to what I was doing."

"These are very good." He said nodding when he looked them over, "And what about yeh, Erin? What did yeh see?"

"I saw a unicorn and foal, a golden snidget, a teenage centaur boy, and several fairies."

"Good fer yeh!" Hagrid said nodding as he looked over the sketching. "Yeh all have done so well today! I'm proud of yeh! Now before the next class I want yeh to look up the creatures yeh saw and write out what yeh know about them. Also put a few things down in yer field guides. And write out a list of all the creatures yeh can find here. Class dismissed."

Louisa, Kaeli, and Dean headed off and Erin stayed to talk to Hagrid. "On Wednesdays I'll be staying here for the private tutoring," she told him, "And eating dinner with you, if that's all right."

"O' course it is!" He said happily. "I can't wait for Wednesday. Yeh'd better get to your next class."

"Thanks, Hagrid." She said smiling and gave him a hug.

"Off with yeh," he told her gently pushing her towards his hut and the path back to Hogwarts.

Erin headed for Potions after dropping off her stuff in the common room. She got their just before class started and went in with the others for Potions. Slughorn greeted them all happily and got Ron and Harry a few things from the store cupboard since they didn't know they could take the class beforehand. They all sat down at different tables mostly according to house, except Dean was sitting with the Ravenclaws. It was becoming a common occurrence. "Now, I've prepared a few potions for you to see, just out of interest, and you should be able to make them after a NEWT class. Anyone want to tell me what this one is?" They looked to see what appeared to be plain boiling water. Hermione raised her hand as well as Erin and Louisa. "Yes, Miss—?"

"McCormack," Louisa told him. "It's Veritaserum," she said. "It is colorless, odorless and forces people to tell the truth."

"Good! Good! Now, how about this one?" it was a bubbly, mud like substance and this time Ron actually raised his hand along with the girls. "Mr. Weasley, is it?"

"Yes, sir, that's Polyjuice Potion. It can change someone's appearance if you have a bit of a person you want to turn into."

"Correct! Yes! This has been featured in many Ministry Pamphlets lately…but here, now, let's go onto the next one, yes, Miss Black?"

"Amorentia…" Erin said. "It's the most powerful love potion in the world…recognizable by the mother-of-pearl sheen and the smell…it smells like whatever attracts you the most…air before a rainstorm…lily of the valley…broomstick oil…"

"Freshly mown grass…new parchment…" Hermione sighed.

"Bleach…" Louisa breathed in deeply, "moon flowers…cedar wood…"

"Pine smoke, old books, vanilla…" Kaeli was leaning towards the pot. The other girls in the class were inching forward also. The boys looked a little confused like the smells weren't as powerful for them.

"Harry, my boy, what do you smell?" Slughorn asked.

Harry reddened slightly. "I smell wolf fur, raspberries, and sulfur."

"To be honest though, that could just all be me." Erin said.

"Erin smells like wolf fur?" Ernie asked curiously.

"I was just outside in the forest."

"Oh."

"Well, come closer, Harry," Slughorn said motioning him forward.

Harry reluctantly got up and went over to the potion smelling it. "I smell the same as I did before…" he admitted eyes lifting up to look at Erin. Whatever she was he was attracted to, even the sulfur because it was her. It embarrassed him slightly, but it didn't matter. He loved her.

Slughorn chuckled. "Let's see, what about you, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco looked like he didn't want to say anything, but he sighed. "I smell the moonlit air and the woods after a rain."

"Very good, now it's time to start work."

"Sir?" Ernie put his hand up. "You haven't told us what's in the last cauldron."

The liquid in the cauldron looked like liquid cold. "Ah, I haven't, this is Felix Felicis. Can anyone tell me what it is?"

"Liquid Luck!" Hermione burst out excitedly. "It makes you lucky."

"Exactly! This is what you will be attempting today! And I say attempting because it is difficult to get right and disastrous if you get it wrong. To whoever can get this potion exactly right will receive a small vial of it. We have time to make a decent attempt if you turn to page ten of your books. Off you go!"

They all started setting up and getting the ingredients from the cupboard. By the end of the time Harry had the best potion, though Erin and Louisa's were deemed passable, just not perfect like Harry's was and he got the small vial.

"Come on let's get to dinner." Erin said pulling Harry away from Hermione's glaring. After dinner Erin went to their dorm room and slept for four hours. Dobby came and woke her up so she could use her Time Turner to go back to just after lunch.

She met Harry, Hermione, and Ron outside the Great Hall and they went to Ghoul Studies. Snape actually had a real Ghoul in the room that they could see and study. Ghouls resemble slimy, bucktoothed ogres. It mostly ignored them and just grumbled if they got too close. Snape was actually slightly more accommodating for this class and allowed Ron to tell about the ghoul they had in their attic, and the other students that had ghouls or knew of witches and wizards with ghouls. After class Erin stayed and after Snape got rid of the Ghoul to where it was staying in the castle they started their private tutoring session. She was able to get through her homework from Defense Against the Dark Arts and from Ghoul Studies. When they finished Snape had the House Elves bring them dinner.

"How is your scar?" He asked as he poured her a bowl of soup.

"The same," she sighed a little. "It has a tendency to seep. I shouldn't have let the bandage changing go so long, but I'll know better tomorrow."

"How many hours are going in a single day?"

"About 22, not counting the four hours I spent sleeping before my second afternoon classes. I still have to go to my private tutoring with Professor Babbling and then I'll spend the evening with Harry and the other in the Common Room probably falling asleep before the others."

"Is this too much for you?" He asked concerned.

"Not so far, and I think as long as I can keep everything straight I'll be fine. It helps that the Private Tutoring sessions give me time to get my homework done. And I have Saturdays and Sundays off so that helps. I can get caught up on work and relax."

"Well, if any student is able to do this, you can." He said taking a sip of soup. "We all have our trials to bear, Miss Black…it matters what we do because of those trials."

The rest of the meal went smoothly and they spoke of class and different things they would be studying that year in class. Afterward Erin used her time turner and went back for her private tutoring session with Babbling. She spent the evening with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in front of the fire. Ginny joined them since her own friends were treating her differently now.

"I'm sorry about not being able to play Quidditch this year." Ginny told Harry. "I heard you were the Captain this year."

"Yeah, it's hard losing you as a Chaser, but we'll deal. I might see if Erin might try out…" He looked in askance.

Erin sighed. "Okay. I'll try out. And I'll be there for you, Harry." She'd figure it out. "Just promise me to have practices on Thursday or Friday nights during the week."

He nodded. "Definitely," he said eagerly. "Are you trying to Keeper again, Ron?"

"Of course I am. Now what about you, Hermione?"

"I'll carry a clipboard and help with those that want to try-out." She told them. No way was she getting on a broomstick. She knew enough about Quidditch though to help, she just couldn't fly worth anything. It wasn't something you could learn from a book. "Better get Erin to bed before she's completely out."

"We've got her." Ginny said. She and Hermione helped her up to the girl's dorm and put her to bed. "One day down…" The redhead said.