Alone.

Know It All.

Cassie's anxiety was through the roof the next day. She'd gotten her class schedule, and had no idea where any of the classes were.

Each of her classes were exactly an hour long.

Everyone had breakfast from 6:30-8:00 am. Then, from 9:00-12:00 pm, there were classes. From 12:00-1:00 pm, was lunch. After that, the rest of the days classes stretched from 1:00-4:00 pm. Finally, dinner was from 4:00-6:00 pm.

Due to the classes Cassie had chosen, she had two classes before lunch (potions and transfiguration), and an hour break in between the two. After lunch, she had charms, defense against the dark arts, herbology, and care of magical creatures. Although, on Tuesdays and Thursday, Cassie didn't have an hour break in the morning and instead had divination to replace it.

Thankfully though, it was a Monday, and Cassie had her hour break.

She paced herself through breakfast, grabbed no her book bag when the passing bell chimed, and headed off to potions.

Since Cassie was new, she unfortunately had no idea where potions was. She stood in the corridor outside the Great Hall, switching her gaze from her schedule paper, to the bustling, loud, halls.

Finally, Cassie heard someone mention they were on their way to potions, and she silently followed behind them, keeping a close eye so she wouldn't lose them in the busy halls.

She made it to the dungeons and into the potions room. A fat, jolly looking man stood at the front of the room, smiling as he watched students filter in. "Come in, come in!" He said, a little too happily for Cassie's taste. "Since it's the first day, sit where you like. I'll assign table partners later in the week."

Cassie sat in the back, praying no one would sit next to her. Thankfully, no one did.

Cassie thought she'd get away with being alone until three familiar boys walked in. Remus, a raven haired boy she didn't know, and James.

James saw Cassie, made eye contact, and made a beeline for her. He was about to sit next to her when Remus pushed him out of the way and sat on the stool next to her.

"Hi Cassie." He smiled. "Is it alright if I sit here? Or would you rather have James?"

"It's fine." Cassie answered immediately.

James stared at Remus annoyedly and found an empty table nearby where he sat with the raven haired boy.

"So. We've got potions together." Remus stated. "Thats fun."

Cassie nodded, building up the courage to hand him her schedule paper, "Do we um.. have any other classes together?"

Remus scanned the paper and grinned. "We're in luck. We've got potions, charms, and herbology together."

Cassie smiled in relief. At least she'd know one person in some of her classes. "Thats.. that's good."

Remus nodded. He was about to say something else but the fat professor started speaking.

"Good morning fifth years! I, as most of you already know, am Professor Slughorn, your potions teacher. I hope you all have purchased the required textbooks, Magical Drafts and Potions, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, and Advanced Potion-Making." Professor Slughorn looked around the room expectantly. "Now if you're wondering why you were required to buy a book about herbs and fungi, it's because we deal with many different potions and creations in this class and that books going to help you all. And, it's also required for herbology." Professor Slughorn continues to drone on and on, about the school, potions class, and his credentials.