Myr will always remember the second Tuesday of his first year at Hogwarts as one of the greatest days of his life.

It starts out plainly enough. Breakfast is as raucous as ever, with Remi and Charlie getting into an argument about who-know-what-this-time while Brandon and Evera fiercely back Charlie up. Remi's supporters vary from day to day and even meal to meal. This particular Tuesday at breakfast it's Fiona McKay, who does more arguing than Remi.

Double Herbology with the Slytherins is tense, but all their classes with Slytherin are tense. None of the Slytherins are particularly friendly, and admittedly the Gryffindors don't do much about it. Some, like Charlie and Drake, even encourage it at times.

Myr keeps out of the rivalry himself for the most part, though he wouldn't say he much likes the Slytherins either.

He partners with Drake who, while far from being a model student, at least tries his best. Their final product isn't the most impressive in the class, but they do manage to finish passably at least.

Lunch sees the revival of the breakfast debate, which is concluded when Fiona tries to hit Brandon with a spoonful of eggs but ends up catching a very irritated Hufflepuff fifth year instead. Said fifth year turns out to be a Prefect and she promptly reports them to one of the Gryffindor prefects, who takes five points from each of the five quarreling parties.

The rest of lunch is spent complaining about Prefects.

Then they're heading outside and Myr feels a nervous tension in his gut. Flying class is something often talked about in the common room, along with Quidditch, and he's honestly grown more and more apprehensive of it with each passing day. At first he was rather looking forward to it, but the longer he's at Hogwarts the less sure he is he'll be capable of it.

He's of course seen other people flying - Charlie had dragged half the house out to watch Quidditch tryouts the night before - but really it looks dangerous, and his balance isn't particularly notable.

In fact, Myr has learned that in general he isn't particularly notable. He's mediocre at best in his classes and though he studies hard his grades are mostly average. And practical application proves much more difficult for him than a lot of his peers. While everyone else has successfully transformed matchsticks into needles in Transfiguration, his has only been turned silver.

Holly has been dropping not-so-subtle hints that he needs a proper wand, but he remembers how his Uncle Cyril had almost believed he had no magic up until his Hogwarts letter arrived. The truth of the matter seems to be that he simply isn't a very good wizard.

And so the idea of flying on a broom, which will be entirely controlled by his weak magic, has lost quite a bit of appeal. But Flying class is required for First Years, so he uneasily follows the obliviously excited Brandon and Charlie out onto the grounds, bracing himself for inevitable bruising.

The flying teacher, Walter Crowell, is an ancient wizard who looks like he should be in a wheelchair rather than on a broom, which does not give Myr any more confidence about the class.

Once the Gryffindors have all assembled, he wastes no time in having them take a broom from a pile beside him. Once everyone is holding one, he places his wand against his throat and begins speaking.

"Brooms by your side - dominant hand - good. Now shut up and listen up." His voice comes out much louder than Myr had expected, though he supposes that may be due to the wand, and is much stronger and steadier than should come from such an ancient person.

The class falls silent, and the wand is put away.

"Now then." Walter Crowell paces slowly in front of the line of Gryffindor first years, eyeing them critically as he passes. "I'm sure plenty of you have been on brooms before. I'm sure you fancy yourselves excellent flyers who don't in any way need this class." His eyes flash. "If you are one of these people, you are wrong. In all my years teaching I'm yet to see a single child fly properly on their first go - even those from magical families. So you're going to listen, and you're going to follow instructions. Anyone who doesn't will receive detention and possibly be removed from the class as I see fit." His voice lowers dangerously. "And anyone who doesn't complete this class with automatically lose eligibility to ever try out for Quidditch, or fly on a broom while on school grounds. So I recommend you take everything I say seriously."

Several people swallow nervously, Myr among them. While he certainly has no interest in playing Quidditch, or really riding a broom at all beyond this class, something tells him he does not want this man as an enemy. Walter Crowell, despite all appearances, has the aura of a predator.

"Bill told me about him." Charlie notes later, as they're trying to command their brooms into their hands. "Says Crowell's the greatest teacher he's ever had. Scariest, but greatest." He grins. "I can kind of see what he means, but I think so far the scary is outweighing the great. The man is like the human version of a dragon."

"You like dragons Charlie." Brandon points out cheekily. He's currently struggling to get the broom to move upwards rather than side to side - the only movement it's made so far is to whack him rather soundly on the ankle repeatedly.

Myr meanwhile hasn't manged to get even a twitch out of his broom. He flinches back when he sense Crowell coming closer, hoping the teacher won't single him out.

"Mr. Cadawallader."

Myr bites his lip and swallows his anxiety. "Yes?"

"Your broom would react better if you weren't so afraid of it."

With those words he's off again, and Myr flushes. He's not afraid of the broom! He's just not good at this is all.

Taking a deep breath he focuses again, a small part of him desperately wanting to prove their teacher wrong.

A moment later there's a broom humming in his hand. He blinks and very nearly drops it again in surprise. Instead he curls his fingers around the carved wood, marveling at how warm it feels against his palm.

Beside him Charlie whoops. He's already successfully called his broom up seven times, and has just placed it down again, leaving both hands open to punch at the sky. "Way to go Myr!"

Coach Crowell glances over his shoulder at them, and Myr swears he sees the man smile before he turns back to lecturing Holly, who's had the worst luck of the class so far.

"Fourth person to get it - not bad." Charlie gives Myr a solid punch to the shoulder, and Myr really does drop the broom this time. "You even beat Brandon!"

"I'm getting there!" The other boy insists, and sure enough a second later the broom shoots up - though it's a bit faster than Brandon was expecting and he stumbles back a few steps from the impact of catching it. "See?"

Myr chuckles lightly, and then glances down at his own broom once more. Hesitantly, but with a bit more confidence than before, he commands it up.

It leaps into his hand, buzzing happily and clearly eager to get flying.

"Are brooms like wands?" He asks suddenly. "Like, do they have minds of their own?"

Charlie shrugs. "I dunno man, that's a Holly question." His own broom jumps effortlessly up again. "Why?"

Myr just shrugs in response, a little embarrassed. Maybe it's a silly question, but it really does feel like the broom in his grip has a life of it's own.

"Alright, if you've got your broom in hand get over here. The rest of you keep at it." Shockingly, the half of the sentence directed at the people still struggling isn't accusatory in the least. If anything, Coach Crowell sounds almost encouraging - as much as he can anyway.

Myr, Charlie, and Brandon walk over, accompanied by Remi and Evera. The five of them line up in front of the Coach, who has them prove they can summon their brooms into their hands before he nods. Before he can talk though, a breathless Drake runs up.

"I got it! Sir, I got it." He quickly puts down the broom and, with some effort, calls it to his hand.

Coach Crowell nods, showing no interest. "Very well. Mount your brooms like so."

Myr swings his leg over his broom as instructed - it doesn't sit quite right if he's honest, and he shifts uncomfortably, trying to find a less awkward position.

"Relax Cadawallader." The Coach snaps, and Myr momentarily tenses further before trying to force himself to loosen up. He's still uncomfortable, but less so.

"Weasley your grip is terrible. Did you brother teach you nothing?"

Coach Crowell finds something to criticize about each of them before he moves on, and Myr feels rather glad he's not the only one who doesn't know what he's doing.

Finally the Coach nods. "Excellent. We still have ten minutes, so let's get you lot into the air."

Myr's stomach roils dangerously, but he bites down on it. Everyone flies a broom. He can too.

Coach Crowell demonstrates how to take of several times before he lets them try, and only Evera and Charlie manage to stay in the air longer than a few seconds. But they try again, and again, and after his seventh push off Myr finds himself hovering several inches over the ground.

It's absolutely terrifying to realize there's nothing solid under his feet - but there's also a rush of exhilaration and adrenaline that are shutting down whatever part of his brain is in charge of over analyzing everything else in his life.

He's flying. And it's the most fantastic feeling in the world.

By their third lesson, Myr is starting to swoop around, coaxing his broom (he's privately calling her Hawk) from side to side and in small dives from the measley five meters they're allowed to fly at. Charlie and Evera are with him, and Drake and Remi are catching up quickly. The rest of the class is still working on take offs, so the five of them have quite a bit more free time.

"Sir? Is it alright if Charlie and I race across the field and back?" Myr asks during their fourth class, hesitant but eager.

This time he knows the Coach smiles as he allows them under the conditions that they go no higher than ten meters from the ground.

Myr rejoins Charlie, grinning excitedly. "He says it's fine!"

Charlie grins back. "Man, you are about ten times more fun during this class, you know that? You sort of have a stick up your arse the rest of the time. No offense or anything. I just noticed."

"So tactful of you." Evera grumbles. She hasn't quite mastered turning yet so she hadn't been invited to join the boys' race despite still being the third best in the class.

Charlie and Myr ignore her and line up for their race.

"Ready, set, go!" Fiona waves wildly to indicate the start, and then immediately grabs onto her broom to regain her balance.

Myr takes off like a shot, leaning low against his broom to coax it onward and faster. He can see a blur of red to his side and knows Charlie is hot on his heels, if not a bit ahead.

It's a split second decision, and he makes it just as he reaches the end of their practice field.

He spins his broom in a sharp one eighty, nearly flinging himself off from the sheer force of the turn, but it gives him the edge he needs and he pulls up to the other first years mere milliseconds before Charlie.

He's shaking from the rush, and grinning hard enough that his face is hurting.

"It looks like Myr will be Seeker at this rate." Remi sounds a bit disgruntled.

Myr shakes his head. "I wouldn't want to be. You two can battle it out, don't get me involved."

"That turn was insane though! You would be a good seeker." Charlie admits as they land back on the field.

"You were barely behind me and your turn wasn't nearly as quick. You're faster than me, no questions." Myr insists as they return their brooms to the shed. He's sad to put Hawk away, but he knows he'll be back the next week.

He's startled to find Coach Crowell standing outside of the shed.

"Mr. Cadawallader, I would like to speak with you."

Myr swears his blood freezes for a moment he's so cold. He swallows and nods. "Yes sir?"

He sees the other Gryffindors shooting him apprehensive looks as they head back for the castle. Coach Crowell's temper is legendary already - apparently during their first lessons one of the Ravenclaws had taken off without permission and managed to somehow blow up her broom. No one was seriously hurt, but she was permanently banned from flying on school grounds again.

"That was a very dangerous turn you made today. Most flyers with your lacking experience would have been flung off their broom and been seriously injured."

Myr stares at his feet. "I'm sorry sir."

There's a pause, and Myr dares to glance up only to find the Coach frowning down at him.

"Sorry? What for? That was one of the best shows of flying skill I've seen in years." The Coach is gruff as ever, but Myr can almost imagine his tone is a bit softer than normal.

"I... th-thank you sir." Myr blinks, honestly stunned and touched. After over a month of being nothing but mediocre, it's nice to hear that he's genuinely skilled in something magical.

"I heard you say you have no interest in Seeker. But maybe consider a Beater position. They require better balance most of the time."

Myr nods mutely, and stumbles back to the common room in a happy daze.

The others pester him a bit, but he assures them that he's not in trouble and he didn't lose any points for Gryffindor. He holds back on mentioning possibly being a Beater. Despite how much he loves flying, and how good it seems he is at it, he's still not convinced he could do well in Quidditch. Flying and flying while throwing balls or swinging bats are two very different things after all.

He does entertain the idea though. And the longer he thinks on it, the more he realizes that even if he does end up failing miserably he wants to try.

Flying is the first time he's felt completely free of worries. And he wants to hang onto that for as long as he can, however he can. Whatever it takes.

After the first week of classes, things fall into a routine for Franziska.

Morning breaks are spent studying, afternoons are enjoyed out by the lake, usually with the Gryffindors but sometimes it's just Hufflepuffs crowding the shores. Classes are difficult in general but double potions on Friday mornings are the absolute worst thanks to their midnight Astronomy class. And Franziska is pretty sure she's miserably failing Transfiguration, but it's okay because her seat partner is Henry and he's just as confused as she is.

All in all she can't complain, but also school is turning out to be a lot more, well, school than she had anticipated. The number of essays she hasn't started but really needs to is piling up, and she's beginning to crack under the pressure.

So on a Wednesday during the third week of October, she declines Kiera's invitation to hang out by the lake and instead drags herself to the library to continue slogging away at a History of Magic paper that's been giving her a headache for the better part of a week.

She's surprised to find a group of first years already there, their heads bent together and several textbooks scattered across the library table that they're occupying.

Donaghan Tremlett, one of only two Hufflepuffs present, notices her hesitating in the doorway and happily waves her over. She takes the seat next to him and smiles at Holly Kiddell, who's sitting across from her.

Her and Holy have maintained a sort of friendship since the start of the year, and the other girls shoots her a bright smile in greeting.

"Joining our study group?" Holly asks.

Franziska hadn't actually realized that's what it is, but it's rather obvious in retrospect. "Oh, um, if that's okay with everyone." A study group sounds like a really good idea if she's honest.

The other first years all smile and agree, aside from Cian who just shrugs disinterestedly, and introductions are quickly made.

Aside from Holly, there's only one other Gryffindor present - Myrddin Cadawallader - and she's informed that Charlie Weasley sometimes joins them as well, though today he's decided to join the lake group.

There are three Ravenclaws there as well, and all of them are boys. Jerome Boot, who insists on being called Jerry, informs her that they used to have a girl named Evie in the group, but she always got them kicked out of the library for some reason or another.

The other two Ravenclaw boys are Shaun Roberts and Fitzwilliam Selwyn, but Franziska doesn't speak with them much as they're at the opposite end of the table from her. She spends most of the period talking with Donaghan and Holly since they're closest to her, which works out fine since they all have the same History paper due at the same time.

"I just know we'll turn this in and then realize we missed one of Ulrich's achievements." Holly sighs as they head out of the library several hours later. Donaghan had stayed behind to meet a friend, so they have a gloomy Cian tagging along behind them.

"We looked everywhere in the book, there's no way." Franziska is quite confident of this. "Trust me, I don't overlook things. I make a point of it."

Holly laughs. "Well then I'm glad you decided to join the group! Merlin knows the boys get sidetracked more often than not. Us ladies need to stick together."

Franziska grins. "So how long have you all been meeting up like that?"

Holly shrugs. "I joined a couple weeks back, but I think Donaghan and Mr. Pouts-A-Lot here have been studying together since the start of term."

The girls glance to Cian for confirmation, and he shrugs.

"Don thinks I wouldn't study on my own."

Franziska can understand that. "Would you?"

"Probably not."

Holly grins. "At least you can admit it. Myr had to drag me when he saw my last potions grade. Said he wasn't going to fail just because his partner didn't care enough." She gives a single shoulder shrug. "I'm glad though. My grades are already improving a bit truth be told."

A rush of relief passes over Franziska. Hopefully the group will prove helpful for her as well. At the very least, she knows her History essay is at the very least E-level material.

"So what are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?" She asks, glancing back at Cian to include him in the conversation.

"I'm going back to the dorms." He responds, and Franziska shrugs as he heads off, leaving the two girls in the hallway.

"I'm not really sure. I don't feel like going down to the lake to be honest. The boys are probably still crowing about Quidditch and flying." Holly admits.

Franziska tilts her head. She doesn't know much about Holly's older sisters as neither is in her house, but she does know that Laurel is the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. She'd assumed Holly would be good on a broom as well. "You don't like Quidditch?"

"Oh it's good fun to watch, but I'm not much of a flyer really." Holly waves her hand idly. "What about you?"

Franziska blushes. "I was hoping to try out for the team next year," She admits, "But it turns out that I'm really not so great on a broom." She'd thought that since she's quite skilled in a couple of muggle sports that Quidditch would come naturally, but six classes in and she can still barely manage to float a foot off the ground. "I've fallen off more times than I can count."

Holly looks relieved. "Well I'm glad I'm not the only one. It feels like every other Gryffindor was born on a sodding broom from how quickly they're all picking it up."

Franziska laughs. "I'm sure it's not that bad. But I suppose I can't really talk since no one is standing out as naturally talented in my class." Tyler is doing rather well, but the rest of them are still shaky.

Holly sighs. "Lucky. Maybe I should ask Coach if I can join you guys." It's only half joking, and Franziska smiles awkwardly.

"Well, it's Tuesdays right after breakfast so you probably have a class-"

Holly whips her head around to stare at Franziska. "Seriously? No, we have then free! Wait, do you think I could actually practice with you guys? I'd feel way less self-conscious without those showoffs around."

Franziska blinks. "I... guess you could ask? I really am not the person to talk to about this." She laughs awkwardly but Holly seems absolutely thrilled.

"Right, right. Okay, I'm going to go find my Head of House! See you at dinner! I'll tell you how it goes!" And just like that she's gone, racing down the hallways. A prefect shouts at her to stop running, and then takes ten points from Gryffindor when she ignores the order.

Franziska sighs and wonders again what to do. Eventually she finds her way to an empty classroom and pulls a match out of her bag. Although they've moved on to more complex spells, Franziska can't exactly practice them as she has no interest in finding any small animals to practice on. And she certainly isn't going to carry around a newt or rat in her bag on the off chance she has a moment like this one to practice.

It still takes a few tries and a lot of concentration, but the match fully transfigures into a needle after a minute. Then she focuses again.

"Redintegro."

The needle remains on the desk, and she frowns. They've only briefly covered this spell in class, as the Reparifarge spell - for reversing failed transfigurations - is much more applicable most of the time.

She points her wand once again at the needle on the desk. "Redintegro."

"You're emphasizing the wrong syllables firstie. But do try again, this is rather entertaining." An amused voice drawls from the doorway, and Franziska jumps.

A dark haired boy sporting a Slytherin tie smirks at her from wheres he's leaning against the door frame. He doesn't look to be that much older than she is, so Franziska glares at him.

"Oh sod off. I doubt you could do it either."

He flicks his wand lazily. "Redintegro."

When Franziska looks back, the needle is a matchstick again. She frowns. "I meant at my age."

He grins, and it's a bit dangerous but also a bit playful and Franziska isn't sure what to make of it. "Sure I could. I'm a natural."

"Natural liar maybe." A very familiar voice sounds from the hallway, and both the invading boy and Franziska turn to face the newcomer. "Stop being such a prat Ed." Leona Poole is standing with her hands on her hips and a glower on her usually beaming face. "Or I'll go get Patrick."

The Slytherin holds up his hands. "Alright, jeez. I was just trying to help."

"Yeah right. You never help." With that Leona pushes past him and smiles apologetically at Franziska. "Ignore him, he's an idiot."

Ed just rolls his eyes and strolls away while Leona joins Franziska at the desk.

"Sorry about him. He's my dumb brother. Third year Slytherin and thinks he's too cool for the rest of us." She grumbles.

Franziska shrugs. "I mean, I do know how the incantation is supposed to sound now, so he wasn't that terrible."

Leona sighs. "You only say that because you don't have to live with him. He's a right prat really. I'm glad I'm not in his house."

Franziska can't help but smile. She couldn't imagine the eternally cheery Leona being in the seemingly gloomy Slytherin house. The brunette would surely go insane from the lack of sunshine. "Well I'm glad you're in ours." She offers. "Did you want to practice with me?"

Leona lights up. "Oh, sure! I should warn you though, I know Reparifarge better than I know most of the transfigurations we're doing."

Franziska doesn't get all that much practice in after the brunette joins her, as Leona regales her with stories from around the castle.

"Apparently Laurel Kiddell, the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, chose some fourth year for Keeper over the Seventh year who's been playing for three years on the team. It's caused a real mess and apparently Gryffindor house is going to be divided at the game next week. I'm not sure if that will really be the case though, since Gryffindor and Slytherin hate each other so much. I don't think any Gryffindors, no matter how pissed of they are, could really bring themselves to root for the snakes." She grins. "My brother is still the Seeker though. No one can out fly him, not by a long shot."

Franziska frowns. "Isn't your brother in Slytherin?"

Leona blinks, and then laughs. "Oh, I have two brothers! And a sister. Patrick is the Gryffindor Seeker. I think he was hoping to be captain this year, but he says that Laurel is a good choice. And my sister Sarah is in Ravenclaw, She's a prefect and probably going to be Head Girl if she has anything to say about it."

"That's a pretty big family. Do you think you'd want to play Quidditch or be a prefect?"

Leona shrugs. "Eh, maybe. I'd rather be the announcer! The current one is in his sixth year, so in two years the spot will be open and I'm going to ask for it. I think I'd be a pretty good announcer, don't you?"

Franziska smiles. "Yeah, I think you could do a good job."

Leona beams. "That's what I'm saying! Oh, but speaking of the announcer he's a Slytherin so he'll probably be really biased. Ed says he is, and I'd believe it with how much those houses hate each other. I just hope he'll be nice when talking about Hufflepuff. Our team hasn't won the Quidditch Cup in six years." She frowns. "Rumor has it there's a new Seeker this year - Tyler's sister Lola, I think you know her - and that she's really good. So maybe we stand a chance! I hope so anyway, Hufflepuff gets overlooked a lot I've noticed. It's really unfortunate since we're the best house."

Franziska is quite frankly a bit overwhelmed at the tsunami of information being thrown at her all at once. "Where do you even hear all this?"

Leona just smiles. "Oh, here and there. People aren't nearly as quiet as they think they are and I'm very good at weeding out truths from various rumors. If you ever need to know something just ask. I like you so I won't charge."

Franziska is pretty sure she's joking. At least, she hopes so - the idea of Leona having a little empire of information is one that seems entirely too plausible right then.

They end up chatting until dinner, at which point they head to the Great Hall and are joined by the rest of their peers.

"You guys missed a great day! We had a swimming race, and a mud fight, and Henry almost drowned at one point-"

"That was awesome!" Said muggleborn confirms enthusiastically.

Kiera grins over at him, not in the least bothered by the interruption. "And I totally saw the squid again! You girls missed out."

Leona looks devastated and immediately demands more details from everybody in hearing range. Franziska leaves her to it and drops into a vacant seat next to Donaghan. He shoots her a warm smile and passes a pitcher of orange juice without having to be asked.

Franziska accepts it thankfully and fills her goblet before offering it further down the table.

"Long day?" Donaghan guesses once they've both started eating.

Franziska laughs slightly. "Very. I hope you don't mind me not talking much."

He shrugs and smiles at her. "My best friend is Cian. You can't get much quieter than that."

"I heard that you twit." Cian grumbles from Donaghan's other side.

Franziska smiles into her goblet. It certainly has been a draining day, but at the same time it had been fun. Hogwarts is so far proving to be everything she'd hoped for.

By the time Halloween rolls around, Ana is just about ready to murder Evie Jones.

She could do it too - her grandmother has taught her enough about hag magic that she could probably do it in her sleep if she so desired.

But on the off chance she was caught, she'd be expelled, and Durmstrang likely wouldn't accept her upon learning the reason for her departure from Hogwarts.

Still, some days it's quite a tempting notion.

Friday the twenty-sixth of October dawns slightly chilly but manageable, and the Ravenclaw class is out on the green right after breakfast for their flying class.

Ana is rather ambivalent about this particular class truth be told, but she gets the sense she'll like it less when they're flying in below freezing weather after Christmas break. For now she's content being a perfectly average flyer.

Evie, however, makes the class that much less bearable.

"It's not fair that they don't let me fly! Isn't this a required course?" The muggleborn girl spends the entirety of the walk to and from the class complaining loudly and being studiously ignored by her classmates, who are more than used to it at this point.

What no one will say is that they agree with Coach Crowell's decision to pull Evie off the brooms. On her first day, the enthusiastic girl had somehow managed to make her broom explode after flying a good fifteen meters higher than they were supposed to.

By some miracle no one was seriously hurt, though Amelia did have to go to the hospital wing when one of the wooden pieces had lodged in her arm on its way down. Coach Crowell had been livid, both about the destruction of the broom and her blatant disregard for his instructions.

Honestly, Ana thinks Evie would have been given another chance if she hadn't been so flippant in her response to the lecture. The girl's declaration that "no one was hurt so what does it matter?" resulted in Crowell banning her from ever flying on campus again.

Something she still is not over.

She spends the entirety of class sitting under the group, pouting heavily and generally ruining any fun Ana might have had on the broom. Evie doesn't even have to be there with them, she could be inside studying, but no, she insists on tagging along and whining incessantly for the entire forty five minute period.

Amelia is no help either. The girl is quieter than a mouse and more often than not vanishes into some remote corner of the library the moment she's able to. And the boys, well, they're boys. Boys are never particularly helpful for anything.

And so Ana is left to deal with Evie and her drama alone more days than not.

But on her twelfth birthday, she refuses to let the other girl ruin her mood.

Halloween has always been her favorite holiday, and only partially because it also happens to coincide with her date of birth. It's a celebration of the weird and morbid, and it's the one day of the year she almost feels like the rest of the world isn't utterly intolerable.

She wakes up early despite the late night Astronomy lesson the day before and slips out of the tower with her bags packed for Potions, History, and Transfiguration. She has no intention of going back to the tower until after all of her classes are completed, especially not after she'd been stuck outside the door for nearly four hours a few days before, struggling along with nearly a dozen of her housemates to answer the doorknob's riddle.

They'd eventually been rescued by a seventh year, who gave the answer with no hesitation at all and making them all feel rather ridiculous.

Today nothing is going to go wrong. Today she's officially twelve, and everything is going to be amazing.

She makes it to breakfast with no incident, and she's half way through her meal when her parent's owl Nikola drops a parcel onto her lap with the morning mail.

A few minutes later another owl deposits a package by her breakfast, and she smiles slightly when she recognizes the looping scrawl of Baba Inga, her adoptive grandmother and a friend - of sorts - of her mother's.

"What's with all the attention Ana?" Evie hasn't yet figured out that Ana hates her, but the Bulgarian bites down on any annoyance and opts to simply ignore Evie. Today will not be marred.

"Are those gifts? Is it your birthday?" Jerry Boot is marginally more tolerable than Evie, though only just, so Ana decides answering him likely won't cause any major negative repercussions on her mood.

"It is. I'm officially twelve." She informs him, enunciating each word carefully. She will not be mocked for her heavy accent today.

Evie frowns. "Hey, I just asked about that!"

She continues to be ignored as the people nearby congratulate Ana. Even one of the Hufflepuffs at the neighboring table turns around to give her best wishes.

Ana heads to potions feeling quite pleased with how the day has begun.

Her potions partner, Shaun, lets her take control as usual, and Snape gives them a begrudging pass on their final product at the end of the hour and a half period. The Gryffindors all start heading for the Great Hall immediately, some of them chattering about Halloween decorations being up, but Ana steers off to the library for some peace and quiet.

She greets Madame Pince and heads straight back to the restricted section. While naturally she can't go in, there's a reading area nearby that no one ever goes to, so Ana enjoys an hour and a half with a book on dangerous beasts that she'd checked out earlier in the week.

She's halfway through the chapter on Hippogriffs when the bell signals the start of lunch. Wondering if the decorations can really stand up to the ones she saw in Bulgaria (London has never decorated very well so her best Halloween memories are still from when she was eight), she heads for the Great Hall.

She is, she admits, rather impressed by the Great Hall. It's clearly unfinished - the real spectacle will be at the Feast tonight - but the bats swooping overhead accompanied by a cloudless full moon makes quite an impression.

"It looks really neat." Amelia rarely speaks up but even when she does her voice is subdued, and Ana has to strain slightly to hear her over the chatter of the rest of the Hall.

She nods. "I look forward to seeing it complete tonight. Hogwarts a History states that at Halloween and Christmas the school goes all out."

"There are pumpkins and bats all over the corridors as well." Fitzwilliam offers from across the table. "I'm rather looking forward to tomorrow when they aren't popping out everywhere."

"Aw, don't be such a fraidy cat!" Evie joins in enthusiastically. Everyone at the table shifts uncomfortably at her intrusion, but as always she either doesn't notice or ignores it.

Fitzwilliam stares at his food. "I'm allergic to bats." He mumbles awkwardly, and Jerry quickly shifts the conversation to their earlier potions class.

Ana listens in for a minute or so before growing bored and excusing herself early. She hasn't yet opened her gifts and she's curious to see what her Baba sent her.

Her parents have provided a new book - on animagus transformations, so it was likely her father's idea - and her Baba has sent what appears to be a crystal ball.

She'd just been starting some basic Seer training when her letter had arrived so she's honestly rather rubbish at it. Still, she appreciates the gift and vows to get in some practice whenever she can manage it.

She packs the two items back into her bag and hurries to History of Magic. It's as boring as ever but she sits beside Alasdair - whom she's still somehow remained friends with despite their different houses - so it isn't terrible.

The two of them stay together afterwards, studying silently and occasionally asking the other a question if they can't figure something out themselves. This is their usual Wednesday afternoon routine, sitting side by side in the library until they have to head to Transfiguration.

As she had expected from day one, Professor McGonagall is a fantastic teacher, and her class have proven to be one of Ana's favorite courses. She earns quite a few points for Ravenclaw for achieving new spells quickly and almost always knowing the answers to lecture questions. They've recently started working on general animate-to-inanimate transformations that McGonagall has hinted will feature heavily in their midterm exams, which Ana is looking forward to. It will be nice to go home with an armful of Os to show her parents in lieu of a proper Christmas gift.

The rest of the class isn't quite as enthused by the upcoming tests and there's been a heightened sense of stress as November approaches. But all that has drained at least partially with the excitement of Halloween settling over the grounds.

Peeves, the Hogwarts poltergeist, has been particularly active in the past week, and as she leaves Transfiguration Ana sees him dropping quills over the heads of some Hufflepuff first years. She hurries to get away, not wanting to be caught by one of the ghost's childish pranks. She's managed to almost completely avoid him so far - aside from an incident in the restroom that she hopes will never be spoken of again.

Alasdair leaves her to go back to the Slytherin common room - most Slytherins seems to spend their free time there rather than elsewhere in the castle - so she decides to see about getting back into Ravenclaw tower.

"What Am I?"

She stares down critically at the raven-head doorknob. Of all the ridiculous things to ask. "A doorknob."

"What Am I?"

Merlin she hopes this isn't going to turn into a situation like Saturday again. She really just wants to curl up on her bed and read her new book.

"A... raven?"

"You're being too material. The knob likes throwing random Muggle brain teasers at first years just to mess with them."

The invading voice belongs to one Sarah Poole, the fifth year female prefect and a bit of a know-it-all. However, she's proven very good at working out the door's riddles, so Ana begrudgingly steps aside to let Sarah answer.

"What Am I?"

"A Question." There's no hesitation in her voice, and the door swings open obligingly. "Those ones can be tricky." She offers as the two girls step into the common room. "It really works best when written down rather than spoken aloud."

Ana nods mutely and vanishes up to her room as soon as she can, dropping her bag on top of her trunk and grabbing her new book.

She's been interested in animagus transformations from a very young age, but she's never found any books specifically dedicated to explaining the process, and her parents and Baba have no real interest in it so she can't talk to them.

The process is even harder than she'd expected, but it only makes her more determined to achieve it someday. There are plenty of recorded instances of people becoming animagi, and probably even more unrecorded ones, so surely it can't be as complex as the book makes it seem. And even if it is, Ana has never been one to back down from a challenge.

She's almost halfway through the book when it's time for dinner, and she greeted by a ghoul as she exits the Ravenclaw tower. Grinning she picks up her pace, excited to see what the Great Hall has in store.

As she hurries (she would never go so far as to rush or scamper, but hurrying works fine) down the halls, she passes Jack-o-Lanterns, bats, and ghosts at every turn. The ghosts, of course, are standard fare, but they're playing it up for the evening and Ana feels a pleasantly spooky chill run down her spine as something somewhere lets out a shriek.

And then she's turning into the Great Hall and a small breath of surprise manages to escape from her lungs as she regards the transformation it's undergone since lunch.

The entire hall is patterned with flickering shadows, lengthened by the dim lanterns floating silently in the air over their heads. The full moon occasionally peers from behind the wispy cloud cover and bats flutter close enough overhead to stir her hair. Howling echoes through the hall, accompanied by cackling and cries of fear.

It's wonderful.

Ana quickly finds a seat in one of the darkest corners of the Ravenclaw table and helps herself to a full plate of the special Halloween fare. It almost feels like home, and she closes her eyes to enjoy the special concert the Hogwarts choir is giving, singing all the Halloween classics.

As she's sitting in a different section of the table than usual, none of the first years sit near her. Instead, she finds herself beside Eric Hobbes the prefect, who seems content to stay quiet and listen as well.

"...I find Halloween is my favorite holiday. There's something comforting in how dark and creepy it all is."

Ana isn't sure if she was supposed to hear this particular musing from how softly Eric says it, but as she rather agrees with the sentiment she decides to engage.

"I find that as well. It does't hurt that it's my birthday of course, but something about the atmosphere on this day is quite nice." She speaks more to the pumpkin pie on her plate than to Eric, allowing him to decide if he wants to continue the conversation or not.

There's a long moment of silence, and then he comes to a conclusion. "Well happy birthday. Consider me jealous, mine is April first. Ruddy awful day to be born on I find."

Ana snorts. "Thanks. I'm surprised though, aren't you supposed to be a prankster then?"

Eric shrugs. "All I ask is just once to get a proper birthday gift and not some prank pulled. Oh, and I suppose I should warn you, Ravenclaws do seem to like pulling increasingly elaborate pranks over the course of April fool's. Something to remember for next year."

Ana nods. "Duly noted, I'll keep my wits about me then."

The lapse back into silence, and Ana finds she enjoys the creepy atmosphere just a bit more knowing that the teen next to her is enjoying it just as much.

That night she sits down to write a letter to her parents, the first one she's penned since arriving at school.

Mother and Father,

Thank you very much for my new book, I have already read quite a bit and it is fascinating. Tell Baba I say thank you for her gift as well, and that I will put it to good use.

She pauses, figuring that if she's writing anyway she should update them on her scholastic situation as well. But what is there to say?

School is going well so far. I anticipate excellent marks on our mid-year examinations and the teachers are all quite excellent.

Aside from, perhaps, Professor Snape, but he's clearly good at potions. He's just a horrendous teacher.

I am, as I'm sure you've heard by now, a Ravenclaw. Our tower is quite nice, and it's good fun working together to solve the doorknob's more challenging riddles.

She omits the fact that one of her roommates is a terror and the other practically useless. She's sure her mother will wring that information out of her over Christmas break regardless and she doesn't much want to dedicate any time in her letter to Evie.

All in all things are quite satisfactory. I look forward to seeing you over the break and discussing all I have learned so far.

Your daughter,

Anastasiya

Rajani has never thought of herself as a particularly avid fan of Quidditch. And yet when the first match of the season arrives on the second Saturday of November, she finds herself swept up in the excitement.

"You're coming right? Everyone is going to be there, this is practically the biggest match of the season!" Nia is attempting to coax Elspeth out to the pitch, but as usual the sullen girl declines and heads back to their dorms as soon as breakfast is finished.

"I'll wear her down yet." Nia declares.

"Good luck with that. Girl's been locked up tighter than a fidelius charm since day one." Queenie doesn't sound optimistic but Nia just waves her off.

"Trust me, we've got a bond."

"Like how both your parents were Death Eaters?" A rather snide voice breaks into the conversation, and everyone in the vicinity turns to shoot death glares at the Ravenclaw boy who'd dared to say it. He just sneers at them before going back to his breakfast.

"Ignore him, he's just a prat." One of the third years growls. "I've had that said to me before and it's not true. People are just arseholes."

There's muttered agreement from around the teen, but Nia remains tense and ready to snap throughout the rest of the meal.

Finally they're heading outside, and everyone relaxes some once they're away from the oppressive atmosphere that had permeated the table after the mini confrontation.

"Our team creamed the Gryffs last year, no way they stand a chance this year." One of the prefects says confidently.

"I hear Laurel Kiddell switched up the entire lineup pretty much though, so it could be tougher-"

"Are you actually saying we have something to worry about?"

Rajani rolls her eyes at the conversation. She's watched the Slytherin practices a few times with her roommates (at the insistence of Queenie who was insulted that Nia had somehow gathered the very incorrect impression that women aren't allowed on the team) and so she knows that the Slytherin team is incredibly in sync. She doesn't see how an entirely new team could have the same synchronicity as theirs does, as they've only replaced a single player from the year before.

They find some seats further up the stands - Clary declares that she doesn't want to be anywhere they could be hit with a bludger or splattered with sweat. Rajani finds it amusing that Clary is so concerned by this considering how improper she tends to be in the rest of her life.

But they sit a ways away from the action regardless, and one of the Slytherin prefects conjures some binoculars for them to use. There's only two pairs, so they pass them between themselves, and squint when someone else has them.

Rajani expects the Slytherins in the stands to clap politely when the Slytherin team is announced, but she's startled by the roaring that emanates from all around her. She even thinks she might see Sahana standing up and shouting along with the rest but she can't really be sure. Surely her ever studious sister wouldn't stoop to such levels.

She doesn't get a chance to join the cheering, but she can't help it when a hiss escapes from between her teeth at the introduction of the Gryffindor team, joining a cacophony of other hisses and boos from around her.

"And they're off! Weasley with the Quaffle there, come on Slytherin he's not that quick, you could get him with a Bludger-"

There's a thwacking sound and something tells Rajani that the commentator wasn't supposed to encourage one team to injure the other.

She vaguely knows the teen in the announcer's booth, in the same way she vaguely knows everyone in her house. His name is something with a T and he's somehow managed to hold the announcer spot for three years despite being aggressively biased towards Slytherin in each of their matches.

Eugene hands her the binoculars and she attempts to locate the Quaffle. One of the Slytherin chasers has it and is weaving nimbly away from the bludgers the Gryffindor beaters are firing at him. He passes to another chaser who takes off like a shot.

"And Byrne has the Quaffle, good luck getting it away from her. Best chaser in the school I always say, pity she refuses to date me-"

Another smack and T focuses back on the game, though from his voice it's clear he's grinning.

For her part, Mayra Byrne seems to have fully tuned out the announcer and is focused only on the goal posts. The Slytherin beaters are flanking her, redirecting any bludgers flung her way back towards the Gryffindors.

Rajani passes the binoculars over to Clary when the other girl starts poking her in the side, and she's amazed to find that she can actually see the game better without them.

And so she's able to spot exactly what the team is up to before it happens.

"She's not going to make the shot." She murmurs to herself. Eugene gives her a curious glance but says nothing.

And sure enough, as soon as she's close enough to the goalposts, Byrne passes the Quaffle to their third chaser, who's been shadowing Byrne just below and to the right. He makes the catch and lobs it through the far right hoop, opposite where the Keeper has been preparing to block Byrne.

"An excellent demonstration of the Shadowed Eagle right there folks. That's our new Chaser Taylor, already playing like a pro-"

"Sloppy." Rajani mumbles with a grin. Eugene is eyeing her with newfound respect.

"You caught onto their play pretty quickly. You think you'll try out for Quidditch?" The blond asks curiously.

Rajani shrugs. "Perhaps, if I feel like it."

"You should, you'd be a bloody brilliant captain if you're already spotting plays like that." Eugene encourages. "We'll tryout together next year, yeah?"

Rajani smiles. "Oh why not. It's a deal."

They shake on it quite formally, earning a laugh from Clary as well as a few of the older students around them. The binoculars have moved on so Finn and Lenox are holding them. The boys ends up retaining them for the rest of the match as the rest of their group engage in a game of trying to guess what plays the teams are using.

Two hours later the Seekers are still flitting around and Slytherin is up by twenty points. Rajani has guessed about half of the plays used so far, which is twice as many as the others have. The idea of one day being captain is getting more appealing. She's not bad in flying class, and clearly she has some talent for strategies.

She'll speak with her father about it over the Christmas break and see what he thinks.

Slytherin ends up winning about thirty minutes later. Rajani doesn't see the exact moment Talia Blackthorn spots the snitch, but she gets as caught up in the anticipation when the announcer starts shouting excitedly that she's spotted something.

The Gryffindor seeker Poole is off after Blackthorn, but she has the head start, and in a possibly unneeded but still incredibly impressive display of Quidditch prowess, Blackthorn stands up on her broom and launches herself through the air, snagging the snitch smoothly and landing back on her Cleansweep as if she'd never left it.

It's utter chaos in the Slytherin stands, and Rajani lets herself forget her dignity for a moment as she screams herself hoarse in celebration. She ignores the dirty looks they're getting from the rest of the school in favor of being swept up in the excitement.

They're still in full party mode when they return to the common rooms, and though the prefects are calling to not stay up too late they're drowned out by the rest of the house crowding around the still-sweaty Quidditch players and shouting their congratulations.

Clary is very quick to make her exit, pulling a face when the new chaser Taylor steps too close. Rajani considers following her - until she spots her sister still mingling in the crowd, awkwardly trying to get closer to Byrne but failing spectacularly.

Rajani sets a new destination and edges her way around the crowd - and did she see alcohol? That couldn't be allowed - over to her sister.

"Are all the games that exciting?" She raises her voice a bit to be heard over the continued ruckus, and Sahana looks over, surprised.

"Oh, well, yes I suppose. When we win it certainly is." She's still distractedly looking in the direction that Byrne last was, and Rajani frowns.

"Um, are you friends with Byrne?" She asks, hoping to somehow gain her sister's attention, and maybe initiate a conversation.

Sahana nods distractedly. "We're roommates. I just want to congratulate her before going to bed."

Rajani sighs as she realizes that Sahana has no intention of giving her attention, so she turns towards the dorms, deciding to get some sleep and escape the dizzying atmosphere of the common room.

The next Quidditch match is two weeks later, in the right before the start mid term exams, and it's a welcome break from studying.

The first years unanimously decide to root for Hufflepuff and this time they all join in the "guess the play" game with Rajani, Clary, and Eugene. Alasdair, who they were rather surprised decided to join them, proved to be almost as good at Rajani at spotting things, and Eugene ended up spending more time trying to pit them against each other than actually guessing plays himself.

Hufflepuff ends up winning, but only because their Seeker saves them at the last minute, catching the snitch and giving them a thirty point lead in the last seconds of the game.

"Well, we still technically won." Finn observes as they make their way to the Great Hall for lunch.

"It's not as fun as when it's Slytherin though." Eugene sighs. "I guess we wait until February and our match against Ravenclaw for that."

"And in the meantime, back to studying." Rajani grins at her friend's groans. They've practically lived in the library and common area, books open and wands out as they struggle to make sure they remember everything for the exams.

"At least it's not the year-end exams." Nia sighs. "They can only do so much for these ones really, three months doesn't give us much time to learn anything."

The list for who's staying over Christmas is posted in the common room when they get back from the library, along with the new password.

"Runespoor, huh? At least that's easier to remember than Grammatica Totarius." Nia sighs. "I'm going to go drag Els down to study with us, the girl's been cooped up in the dorm all day I think."

She departs quickly, and the remaining first years share a look.

"How much you want to bet she can't do it?"

Sure enough, Nia never reappears and the group settles down to study for Transfiguration without her. After about an hour Rajani excuses herself, stating that she wants to try and find a book in the library.

She's not sure why she lies. But ever since Nia's outburst about the other houses, Rajani has felt a need to keep her friendship with a certain laid-back Hufflepuff secret from her Slytherin friends.

Donaghan grins as she slides into the seat next to him fifteen minutes later. "Hey, I thought you might not be coming." He doesn't sound too bothered by the notion, but Rajani knows that's just how he is. "Ready for some Potions cramming?"

It's easier, she reasons with herself, to study potions with Donaghan over her housemates. After all, they are partners, so they can compare notes more efficiently. And he really is surprisingly good at it for a badger.

"Okay, so the Forgetfulness Potion starts with the Lethe water, but I can never remember if it's the Valerian or the mistletoe berries that come after the heating." Donaghan frowns, and then gives a wry smile. "Forgetting how to make forgetfulness potions, that's a bit ironic."

Rajani chuckles as well. "It's two Valerian, the mistletoe berries are mashed in with the standard ingredient mix later. I remember because ours came out mushy when it was supposed to be a powder." She shoots him a pointed, but amused, look and he grins unabashedly.

"Hey, how was I supposed to know the berries weren't dry enough? It wasn't specified in the instructions you know."

"Who in their right mind thinks crushing ripe berries will create a powder?" She retorts, and then they're both grinning at the memory. Professor Snape had been livid over their final product that class, though they actually hadn't been the worst ones.

"I best this is what we have to make for the exam. Almost nobody got it right in class." She says once their amusement has died down.

Donaghan nods. "Most likely, though I wouldn't put it past him to have us make something else specifically because he knows we'll probably study for this one the most."

Rajani hums. "Fair enough. Professor Snape does seem to enjoy trying to make us fail."

Donaghan takes on a rueful look, a rarity for him. "Only the other houses - he treats you Slytherins pretty well."

Rajani frowns. She disagrees, but she's not sure she should say anything. They need to study after all, so now is not the time to test exactly how far Donaghan's patience stretches.

So she shrugs. "Maybe. Anyway, shall we review the cure for boils before dinner?"

When exams finally start the days begin blurring together. There are late night cram sessions in the common room, begging for help from the older students who should know these things already, and slouching miserably out of exams just knowing something was forgotten, if not knowing exactly what.

Rajani is relatively sure she completely failed her Astronomy exam. She could barely keep her eyes open for most of it.

And yet, when she arrives back in the dorms with the other girls, the exhaustion is replaced by the realization that most of them are going home tomorrow (or rather, today) and this is the last chance they'll have to hang out until the new year.

"Els and I will miss you guys. It'll seem really quiet with you gone." Nia frowns. "You better owl us. And send Christmas gifts."

"Where would we find time or money to send Christmas gifts?" Queenie points out.

Clary giggles. "We should just ask Eugene, he's obviously a spoiled rich boy. He could totally get us all last-minute gifts."

The girls keep chatting about their new year plans and excitement for the next year until sleep finally overcomes them a few hours before dawn.

Then it's time to say their goodbyes, and Clary forces a group hug before they head for the train, even managing to rope in Cadfael and Alasdair, who Rajani has barely seen aside from classes and meals.

Then she's on the train and heading home - but part of her is already anticipating the trip back.