Author's Note:

I cannot even begin to explain how sorry I am that it took me this long to update. To be perfectly honest, and I know this is terribly cliche, but I started this fic back when I had loads more time on my hands. That's no excuse, in my humble opinion, but I hope to reward you with the next chapter of my story and I hope you'll forgive me. Enjoy!

P.S. It's only about half the length of the last chapter, and I apologize again for that. I hope to get back up to par with it but its taking me a while to get back into writing and the same frame of mind I was in when I started it. Also, I'm finishing the next chapter as this uploads, so fingers crossed!

Chapter Five

Rose blinked in the sunlight that was seeping through the sheer curtains. It took several seconds, but eventually she managed to comprehend where she was and why she wasn't waking up in her bedroom in the TARDIS. Swinging her legs to the side and grabbing a dressing gown that was laid out on the chair at the foot of the bed, she stretched.

Temporarily forgetting that she was sharing a dorm with six other girls, all peacefully sleeping, she walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open. Whatever they were made out of, sheer or some other type of magical thread was certainly doing the trick with the sunlight because it shone twice as bright as soon as she did so. She attempted to shut them again before waking anyone up, but it was too late, and the rest of the girls were waking and sleepily rubbing their eyes.

"Sorry about that," Rose blushed. "I didn't mean to wake you all."

Nobody replied, but Rose was hoping that was a sign that they weren't completely mad at her. She glanced over to where she thought Luna should be, but her bed was completely made and there was no sign of her.

"Um," Rose hesitated. "Where's…?"

"Luna wakes up at an ungodly hour every morning," muttered the girl Rose thought was Penelope. "She goes and checks the common room for dingle rats or some other ghastly creature." The girl yawned. "She should be downstairs."

Rose nodded her thanks and started out the door and down the spiral staircase. Trying to imagine what on Earth a dingle rat was or could possibly be, she started to search for Luna. She didn't have to look far, because Luna just happened to be in amidst the soft cushiony chairs, crouched beside the fireplace and poking at its coals.

"Good morning Luna," she yawned. Even though she didn't think she ever had a better sleep, she was still a bit tired from last night's events. "What are you doing?"

"Oh hello, Rose," she smiled cheerfully as Rose joined her on the floor. "Did you sleep well? Comfy?"

"Yeah, it was great," Rose replied.

"I thought as much," Luna chimed. "I thought I felt the presence of a dream worm or two around your bed." Without offering as much of an explanation as to what a dream worm was, she continued. "I like to get up early and check the fireplace for trill birds. They sleep in the hot coals after a fire's been distinguished, but I do believe they've already left this morning." She stood, and brushed off her nightgown which had been covered in charcoal. "Never mind then. Come on Rose, we should be dressed and down for breakfast. I've got Charms first thing and I like to be early."

Luna helped Rose up off the floor of the now occupied common room and followed her up to her dorm. Passing the other girls on the way up, Rose couldn't help but notice that they rolled their eyes as Luna passed. She was just about to speak up and say something to them, but realised she better not as she was technically a guest and she didn't want any strange potions landing in any of her drinks on her first day.

They met the Doctor down at the Ravenclaw table, who was cheerily keeping a conversation with a couple of sleepy looking Ravenclaw boys about something. He looked up as they approached and greeted Rose with one of her favorite cheeky grins.

"Morning Rose!" he chirped, pouring her a cup of tea as she sat down beside him and reached for the toast. "Have a good sleep?"

"It was great," said Rose. "But I can't wait for today. What's happening, Doctor?"

"Ah, let's see," he muttered, reaching into his suit pocket and pulling out their schedule for the day. "Well, at two o'clock there's the Quidditch match that Professor Dumbledore mentions, but up until then, it looks like we'll be attending classes with Luna! Morning Luna!"

Luna looked up at the sound of her name. "Good morning Doctor," she replied.

"Can't wait," he grinned. "Hurry, Rose, we'll miss Charms."

Rose couldn't help but giggle at the Doctor's excitement. While she knew this trip was specially planned for her, Rose had a feeling that the Doctor was just as excited as she was. Finishing up her jam and toast and taking a final sip of her tea, she set down her napkin and stood. "All right then, let's go!"

Luna joined them at the end of the Great Hall and started to lead them up the Grand Staircase again to the Charms classroom. Even though she had already been in this part of the castle, Rose still couldn't help but gawk at everything she could lay her eyes on.

Eventually they joined a group of students that were waiting outside of what appeared to be a closed door, beyond which Rose assumed was the class. About to ask why they were all waiting, Ginny joined them.

"Professor Flitwick's running a bit late," she mentioned, after greeting them. "He's not usually, but, you know, first day of school and all."

"Oh you're in this class too?" asked Rose, even though it was obvious Ginny was.

"Fifth year in a row," Ginny jokes. "And now we get to take our O.W.L.'s."

"We have O.W.L.'s too," Rose mentioned. "Well, not really, but something like it." She didn't think it was a good idea to try and explain Britain's schooling system. Apparently it was difficult to understand.

The door finally opened, and the Doctor nearly just about leapt for joy. "In we go!" he exclaimed. They followed Luna and Ginny to seats near the middle of the class. Sitting down across from a rather strange boy that had seemingly already fallen asleep, Rose turned to the Doctor.

"Doctor, I don't know any magic."

"Oh! Well, of course not."

"I mean, not any."

"I know that, Rose."

"Well then why are we in a fifth-year class?" Rose questioned.

"Well," said the Doctor, thinking. "First year classes are always so boring. I thought we might have a bit of fun." Rose stared at him. "Come on, you don't want to just make a feather fly do you? Have some spirit, turn a chair into a pig!" He laughed at his own joke.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say Doctor," she smiled. "Just don't be too surprised if the pig is still made out of wood and doesn't move." She didn't mind, really. And the Doctor was probably right. She'd have tons more fun in this class with Luna and Ginny than she would if they were alone in a first year classroom. Noticing that Professor Flitwick had silently been waiting at the front of the room for several minutes, she turned and focused her attention on him. Whatever he was going to say, she couldn't wait.

The tiny professor tapped his wand against the desk. "Good morning students," he chirped. "I trust you all had an eventful summer?"

Murmurs filled the class. Whatever happened, they all knew what had happened the previous June, and Rose could tell that it had certainly affected what and how much their parents allowed them to do this past summer.

"Well then, let's get straight to it," said Professor Flitwick. "I thought we would start off today with a tiny new charm to kick off the year. Please turn to page 12 to read the incantation and it's properties."

The class all simultaneously reached for their textbooks and groaned, reluctantly turning to their first reading assignment of the year. Rose suddenly realised that she had nothing to look at. But before she could ask Luna if it was alright to share, the Doctor slid a book already open in front of her. "Professor Dumbledore had it arranged," he whispered. "Figured you wanted one of your own." His eyes twinkled. "Have a go then."

Rose smiled as she turned to read the paragraphs assigned. The charm they were learning today was called Avis. Rose remembered reading about it in the fourth book. Glancing at Luna and Ginny who were already attempting the spell, she carefully picked up her wand and muttered, "Avis." Nothing happened. Rose tried again. Still, nothing. A third, a fourth. Rose had now tried this spell so many times that she was getting frustrated. She heard someone chuckling. Snapping her head towards the Doctor, who immediately stifled his laughter, she glared.

"Go on then, you're doing great," encouraged the Doctor.

Rose turned back to her book and her wand and tried again, but to no avail. She was nearly about to give up after what seemed like the umpteenth time when she felt it. Well, felt something. She tried again. And there it was! Her wand had a warmth to it. There was no indication that any birds were likely to come flying out anytime soon, but this was a start.

By the end of the class, every student except Rose had managed to get a nice flock of birds fluttering out of their wand. Some had even advanced to bigger birds, although how they did it, Rose had no clue. Eventually though, she did manage one feather.

"You did really well, Rose," Luna complimented her as they exited the classroom. "Considering you've never done any magic before."

"Thanks Luna," smiled Rose.

"The cortex pop feather must be around here," Luna hummed. "They're quite well known for helping new wizards out with magic." With this thought, she started skipping down the hall, calling behind her, "See you at lunch!"

"Well then," said the Doctor. "That was quite the adventure."

"Speak for yourself Doctor," muttered Rose. "You got your birds on the first try." Which was indeed true. The Doctor had borrowed a wand from a nearby student and gave it a spin just to see it he could do it, and, well, he could. His doves were probably the best in the whole class. But then of course, he was Time Lord. He probably did some tricky Time Lord science to do it. Rose didn't mind though. She was too excited to start their next class. Glancing at the schedule that she had rescued from the Doctor, who was more on board with just roaming the grounds instead of going to classes all morning, she pointed them in their new direction.

"Potions next," she mentioned, as they went down the Grand Staircase on their way to the dungeons. "I wonder what Professor Slughorn is like?"