Raven stepped into the classroom, finding numerous students already gathered there. Many of them had already paired up to sit with their friends. Ominis was one such classmate. He sat next to the freckle-faced boy from the common room. She hadn't given him time to introduce himself, but if he was a friend of Ominis's, then it was better to keep her distance. Fortunately, even if the blind boy knew she was there, he didn't try to talk to her or anything. Maybe he got it through his head to leave her be.

"Here, behind you," a girl's voice said. "There is an open seat here."

Raven turned toward the Gryffindor, who wore a big, friendly smile. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't refuse the kind invitation. Thanking her, she went over to take the empty seat, setting down her things.

"Hello. I am Natsai. My friends call me Natty. So you are the new student?"

Raven could tell by her accent that Natty wasn't from around there. The friendliness, however, did make her smile. "I am. My name is Raven. A pleasure to meet you."

"Ahem." Everyone grew quiet upon hearing Professor Ronen's voice. He'd just left his office at the top of a flight of stairs. A friendly chuckle left him as he descended the steps. "Welcome to year five of Charms. Now, this will be a crucial year in your education on the art of Charmwork, but I am confident that we will take hold with the passion and rigor requisite of such a challenge." He took a jolly hop off the final step. "Right, now everyone, please open your textbooks to page five one seven. But, before we begin, can anyone tell me the difference between the incantations of the Color Change and Growth Charms?" There was silence. Either no one remembered or no one wanted to risk speaking up with a wrong answer. "Anyone? Anyone?"

Raven only wished she casted those charms more often, for even she forgot the exact wording. Granted, she used the Color Change Charm on rare occasions, but only when something didn't suit her tastes. But the Growth Charm? She rarely, if ever, used it.

"My, the summer months must have really taken a toll on you all. By the looks of it, you all spent your holidays practicing Obliviate on one another." Ronen laughed at his little joke. "Do you even remember how to perform a basic Summoning Charm? Hmm? Well, it seems that we are in dire need of review. Everyone, get into pairs and take positions on opposite sides of the classroom. Now let's put those textbooks to use as the blunt objects you so believe they are and take turns summoning them out of one another's hands." The professor spotted one girl scrambling for her things. "Only one book will be needed per partnership, Miss Dale. Thank you. Get into place now." The embarrassed student was quick to find her place with a partner.

While Ronen was going on about the wand movement and the incantation, Raven focused on the book in Natty's hand. With the slightest hint of a smirk, she pointed her wand at it. "Accio!" Yanking her wand back, the book sailed through the air and landed in her waiting hand.

"That is not bad!" Natty complimented, amazed by the skill Raven showed right off the bat.

She got it on her first attempt while some of the other students struggled with the precise wand movement. She did happen to spy Ominis and his friend. Unsurprisingly, they both got it right away as well.

Raven, however, caught the professor's eye. "You are a swift learner! I see a lot of potential, but remember, potential is nothing without practice. Keep at it, you might just rival Miss Onai here!" With that jovial smile on his face, he watched student after student succeed in his task. "Very good, everyone. That's enough of that." He had an idea his class was certain to enjoy. "Well, as you all seem to have the basics down, and it is an exceptionally lovely day, I was thinking that we might have ourselves a little excursion - outside for a spot of fresh air. After me."

They followed Professor Ronen out of the room. They traversed halls and passed many rooms before making their way outside. The Quidditch Pitch could be seen from there, and the man wasn't wrong, it was a bright, sunny day that seemed to lift everyone's spirits.

Ronen certainly had a spring in his step. "I've always found that fun goes hand in hand with mastery, as I'm sure the Quidditch players amongst us would agree. So, what better than a bit of sport to put our prowess with the Summoning Charm to the test? Right?"

He chuckled with delight and directed his attention to the open field in front of them. With a wave of his wand, his magic began to build something. Piece by piece, planks of wood came together, as did large colored balls. Together, it looked like a giant game of Gobstones. Ronen waved for Raven to join him on the platform he made.

"Why don't we have our newest student start us off?"

Raven stepped up to stand beside him, looking from the game to him. "With all due respect, sir, I'd prefer a real challenge."

"Oh ho, quite the confidence! I like it! It's true that there's no sport in playing without some friendly competition. Miss Onai, would you care to give Miss Lothaire a bit of a challenge?" Natty stepped up to stand with the Slytherin, a little grin of excitement on her face. "You'll be the blues, Miss Lothaire, and Miss Onai, you are playing red. Clear?"

With that, the game began. The other students watched from the sidelines with the professor. Raven was good at calculating the distance and timing when rolling her blues forward. Of course, Natty was a great adversary who was equally as skilled at the Summoning Charm. Their scores were tied until Raven managed to knock one of Natty's reds out of the way in order to lower her points while increasing her own. And with that, she won the game.

"Very good, both of you!" Ronen congratulated. "And well done, Miss Lothaire! I daresay you're already a pro when it comes to the Summoning Charm. Points to Slytherin."

For a brief instance, Raven looked to the sidelines to see a proud smile on Ominis. His approval and her victory had her smiling as well. After some of the other students tried their hands at the game, the class was moved back inside where they were just in time to gather their things to dismiss. There was a lot of chatter amongst her classmates, and Raven took notice of Ominis talking with his friend on the way out.

"Of course, you can use Accio on humans," the freckled boy said. "If you're so inclined."

"Well, you'd be using it on clothing to be precise, Sebastian. You know it won't work on humans."

Overhearing their almost comical conversation got the softest of giggles out of the girl. She was relieved, at least, that Ominis had a friend to keep him occupied. As much as she wanted to join them, she couldn't. It was too risky. Before she could exit the classroom, Raven found Natty waiting for her with a friendly smile.

"Good game back there! I must admit, I think I underestimated you."

"Thank you," Raven replied, being polite to the friendly girl. "You were quite skilled yourself."

"Maybe so, but it took me weeks to become proficient with Accio. Took weeks for me to get anything right when I transferred here. It gets easier. I promise."

Raven shrugged her shoulders a little. "I don't mind the challenge, to be honest. This actually wasn't the first time I've learned the Summoning Charm, so it truly was just a review for me." Her curiosity was piqued though, her head tilting to the side. "So you're a transfer, too?"

"I am. I transferred here from Uagadou just before my fourth year. My mother received an offer to teach Divination here. Before I knew it, we had left Uganda and were halfway around the world at a new school in a new country. And where did you transfer from, if you do not mind me asking."

"I don't mind," Raven told her. "My first and second years were spent at Durmstrang Institute. For my third and fourth years, I studied at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. My grandfather had us moving a lot."

"Sounds like you are more accustomed to changing schools than I am," Natty said with a small laugh. "Perhaps sometime you could tell me more about them. I would love to hear about the places you have been to."

"Anytime, Natty. I need to go, though. It was nice meeting you."

"You as well. Until next time."

The girls parted ways. And here Raven was hoping to not draw too much attention to herself, but she'd found an interesting new friend in the fellow transfer. Maybe meeting a few people wouldn't hurt. If anything, it might prove useful to have allies. The pure-blood took a restroom break before heading for her next class. Even though she was still learning some of her classes' locations, she could rely on the occasional classmate to help with directions. When she reached the open door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, she saw a duel in the midst. Ominis was present while his friend fought against a Gryffindor boy.

Sebastian used Protego to block a Stupefy spell and several basic casts. "Is that all you've got? Bombarda!"

Leander blocked the impressive attack with a Protego of his own. But the blast rattled the dragon skeleton hanging from the ceiling above. The ginger hunkered down out of reflex when the skull of the beast fell toward him.

"Levioso!"

The Charm caught the skull before it crushed the boy. An elderly woman hobbled down the steps from her office. Professor Hecat's swift wandwork saved the pair of reckless students from a huge mess.

"Perhaps you'd be good enough to blast each other to pieces on your own time," she said, raising the skull back up to reattach to the rest of the skeleton. "I get new students every year but I only have one Hebridean Black skull. It was a token from the Great Poacher Raid of 1878. No doubt you've heard of it." With the bones fixed back in place to decorate the room's ceiling, Hecat approached her attentive students. "Now you may be asking yourself how an old woman like me single-handedly took out the largest poacher ring in eastern Wales and lived to boast about it. Knowledge. To the wise, age matters very little. Today we will review a spell that has saved me from death at the hands of Dark wizards more times than I care to remember - Levioso."

"Levioso?" Leander questioned in disappointment. "A Levitation Charm?"

The old woman turned toward him in an instant. "Levioso!" Leander was lifted up, his feet leaving the floor. He was completely helpless while floating there. "A surprised opponent is a weak opponent. Care to defend yourself, master Prewett? No?" She placed the boy back on his feet, though Sebastian crossed his arms and gave him an amused smirk. "One thing I've learned as an Unspeakable is the value of simplicity, especially in the heat of battle. Now, let's practice what we've just learned - starting with something small."

She gestured to the feathers that appeared on the desks. Raven, like the others, casted Levioso on a feather to lift it effortlessly into the air. Hecat gave a nod of approval, specifically toward the new fifth-year. She was glad to see the new student already had a grasp on the basics.

"Very good, but the best way to practice in this class is by dueling. We'll start with you two."

The professor pointed at Raven, and the girl was caught off guard when she looked to see Sebastian was the one beside her that Hecat also addressed. The freckled boy whom Ominis often seemed to be around. At least it would give Raven the chance to test his skill. His little duel with Leander was fairly impressive.

"Time for a proper Hogwarts welcome," Sebastian quietly said to her, passing her with an impish chuckle.

He went to take his place, and just as Raven did as well, the floor around them raised up to form a dueling platform. Raven glanced at the onlooking students, spotting Ominis with that little smile of his.

"Now, I want a fair duel using only Levioso, basic casts and Protego."

The battle began with Sebastian using a swift basic cast in hopes of catching his opponent by surprise. But Raven blocked it with a Protego. She then casted Levioso before he had a chance to shield himself. While he was in the air and unable to move, she used a combination of basic casts. They weren't enough to really hurt the boy, but it was enough to send him spinning and falling from the platform. Their classmates applauded, causing Raven to smirk and hold her head high with pride.

"Well done, Miss Lothaire!" Hecat congratulated. "I put you on the spot and you rose to the challenge. Points to Slytherin."

"Thank you, Professor Hecat."

Class went on with all manner of duels. The skilled young wizard that Ominis was, he also won his duel against a Ravenclaw boy. He hadn't missed out on honing his magic over the years, that was for sure. Once class dismissed, Raven found a certain freckled boy seemingly waiting for her. She was skeptical, of course, yet hesitantly went over to him. Seeing her attention directed at him, Sebastian might have taken the opportunity to get a better look at her, curious to know what Ominis saw in her. She was pretty, he'll admit, with fair skin and a beauty mark under the corner of her left eye. Her long black hair was straight with bangs parted in the middle. Her eyes were a lovely, vibrant green. She had a thin, feminine physique and carried herself with confidence and grace. Definitely a pure-blood.

"Nice work today," he said in a friendly manner. "That duel was quite something. Everyone'll be talking about it."

"It was good practice, I suppose."

"Practice? It felt more like I was dueling an expert. Sebastian Sallow, by the way. I didn't get to introduce myself this morning in the common room."

His compliment made her grin slightly. "I've had my fair share of duels, to be perfectly honest. And it's Raven. Raven Lothaire. Although I'm sure Ominis has already told you about me."

"He has. Well, not much actually."

Raven's smile faded and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Did he put you up to this? You two seem to be friends and all."

Sebastian was quick to shake his head. "No. I simply wanted to speak to the person to finally best me in a duel. With your kind of talent, I wanted to see if you'd be interested in a certain exclusive, unsanctioned dueling organization."

The girl quirked a brow. "I'm listening."

"If you want to get the most out of your time at Hogwarts, you're going to need to break the rules now and then. Whether it's joining a secret dueling club or sneaking into the Restricted Section of the library - you just have to be clever enough not to get caught."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Sebastian. I'm definitely intrigued."

"Good. Pleasure chatting with you. I'm sure I'll see you soon. Perhaps somewhere 'unsanctioned'. Look for a kid named Lucan Brattleby near the Clock Tower Entrance. If you're interested."

With a subtle smile, Sebastian left her to think it over. Unfortunately for him, when he decided to get a little extra practice in the Undercroft before his next class, he found Ominis already there, as if expecting to find him if he waited long enough.

"And just where did you disappear to?" the blind boy asked suspiciously. It was normal for him to ask considering how many times Sebastian would sneak off and get into trouble.

"Just getting a proper introduction from your old friend."

Ominis gasped. "You spoke with her? And she didn't brush you off? What did you say to her?"

The brunet was taken aback by the desperation in his voice. "All I did was congratulate her and invite her to Crossed Wands. She's more deft with a wand than even I am."

"I see."

The sorrowful sigh that left him didn't go unnoticed by his best friend. "All right, I think it's time you tell me what's really going on. You put on a facade during classes, then it's back to being a gloomy ghost the rest of the time. Actually, I take that back. The ghosts are more jovial than you are."

"Do you truly want to know?" Ominis asked in a dejected tone.

"Yes. You know you can tell me anything. We've always confided in one another."

Ominis moved to one of the room's stone columns, leaning back against it. "You know how my family is. My father is a pure-blood maniac obsessed with blood status. So then what do you think that means when another pure-blood family made themselves known to us with a daughter my age?"

Sebastian's jaw dropped when he started putting the pieces together. "You don't mean..."

His blind friend nodded. "Raven and I were betrothed as children. I didn't think much of it at the time. It was my family's decision, after all. But when I got to know her..." A happy sigh escaped him. "She was the first person to treat me so kindly, and the first person I could trust and call my friend. Obviously I grew quite fond of her. Even her parents were welcoming of me, so in a way, I couldn't wait to marry her one day and become a part of her wonderful family." The nostalgic smile on his face faded. "But things began to change once our magic developed. I saw less and less of Raven, till one day, her parents passed and she left with her grandfather. I didn't see or hear from her after that. I honestly thought I'd never find her again."

"So that's why you were so eager to talk to her," Sebastian concluded. "And? Do you still care about her?"

"I do. Sadly, I fear the Raven I knew may be gone. You saw how she acted this morning, Sebastian. She couldn't seem to get away from me fast enough."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"What do you mean?" Ominis questioned.

Sebastian couldn't hold back the sly grin that tugged at his lips. "Despite her behavior in the common room, Raven's been looking your way during class. More than once, too."

"That...doesn't make any sense." The blind boy began to pace as he often did when frustrated or thinking. "She didn't want to speak to me. But then why... I don't understand. You're certain she wasn't looking at something else?"

"Positive. She even glanced at you before our duel."

Ominis shook his head. "Something must be wrong, but I don't know what it could be." He paused, then proceeded to take out his wand and leave. "I have an idea. Thank you for the valuable information."

He was already leaving before Sebastian could get a word in. There was something amusing about Ominis of all people obsessing over a girl. He never thought he'd see the day when his best friend would actually choose a classmate over magic practice with him. Nevertheless, he wished him luck.