As the sun rose the next morning the Hufflepuff common room began to fill with students busying themselves with getting ready for breakfast and the first classes of the year. Eleanor and Cynthia had already changed into their robes and were curled up by the fire crackling merrily away. The fluffy white cat Ollie, is a purring ball of fur in Eleanor's lap.

"I wonder what classes we'll have today," says Cynthia, hugging a steaming mug of hot chocolate close to her body.

Before Eleanor can reply a house elf appears in the middle of the common room, looking around for a brief moment, his big round eyes landing on Eleanor.

"Ah Miss," he says in a bright, chirpy voice, "Professor Snape would like to see you in his office before you go to breakfast."

His message delivered the elf leaves the room as suddenly as he had appeared and Eleanor sighs, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"I should probably go now then."

Handing Ollie over to Cynthia she exits the Hufflepuff common room and makes her way down to the Potion Master's office where both Professor Snape and McGonagall along with the Slytherin Prefect Malfoy are waiting.

"You wanted to see me Professor?" She says, knocking on the door to his office, a feeling of dread in her gut that she got whenever she was around the disgruntled potions master.

"Come in, Miss Wicks. I assume you two know each other," Professor Snape says as Eleanor takes the spare seat beside Malfoy.

They both glance at each other, the pale sneering face of Malfoy looking Eleanor up and down scathingly.

"Not well." She says, answering for both of them. "But yes, we are acquainted."

From the side of the room McGonagall steps forward, her face set into her usual stern gaze, "It has come to our attention that the two of you are wanting to pursue alchemy class for your NEWT next year."

Eleanor glances sideways at the pale boy whose pointed face lightens a little at the mentioning of this subject. "I did mention my interest at the end of the year to Professor Snape, but that was only to see if it would even be possible," he says.

Professor McGonagall continues to talk, allowing Professor Snape to continue to sit in sullen silence in his seat.

"Normally we would leave any discussion of NEWT subjects until careers advice later in the year, however, considering the nature of this class we feel it would be best if we make you aware of the requirements now to give yourselves the chance to prepare for your OWLs."

"Therefore," says Snape, finally joining the conversation and cutting off Professor McGonagall, who stares scathingly at him for just a second, "We have decided that you each could improve your grades - Eleanor in Potions and you Draco in Transfiguration and since you will be the only students taking alchemy together it has been... suggested by the headmaster that you each tutor one another in your weaker class, to ensure that you receive the grades required to enter alchemy next year."

Eleanor and Draco each realise at the same time what they're being told, a look of absolute disgust spreading across both of their faces. Obviously sensing refusal, McGonagall steps in again.

"This is not negotiable. If you wish to obtain the passing marks you will agree to tutor one another, Miss Wicks will provide you Mister Malfoy with assistance in Transfiguration and Mister Malfoy will help Miss Wicks with Potions. Agreed?"

McGonagall stares evenly at the two of them over her spectacles as they wordlessly nod their heads in defeat.

"Good, now you may go to breakfast. I trust you will be capable of working out a time to discuss the details further with one another yourselves."

Without another word McGonagall strides from the dark office, Eleanor not long behind her as she leaves a complaining Draco Malfoy with Professor Snape. Entering the Great Hall it doesn't take long to spot Cynthia with her colourful hair still messy from sleep as she adds another piece of toast to her already full plate.

She takes a seat beside her as the head of Hufflepuff house Professor Sprout walks past, handing out timetables for the year.

"Hmm, History of Magic first," says Eleanor, "Then double Defence Against the Dark Arts, Ancient Runes and finally double Potions."

Cynthia scrunches up her face on hearing this last class, "So what did Professor Snape want?"

"He and McGonagall have told Malfoy and I that if we want to get into alchemy next year we need to tutor each other in our weaker subject."

Choking a little on the food in her mouth Cynthia manages to reply, "You and Malfoy? Tutoring each other? But, you're great in class!"

"Well, Potions isn't my best I will admit. Anyway, it mightn't be too bad, I'm not in Gryffindor at least so he won't hold that against me."

"You're way too willing to see the good in people Eleanor, that boy is a stuck up prat if you ask me."

Eleanor grins at her best friend, once again displaying her cynical attitude that sometimes made it hard to believe she had been placed in Hufflepuff. She hurries to eat some breakfast before they head off to their first class where Professor Binns glides in and begins his lecture right away, not really noticing who is paying attention and who isn't - which is all of them.

Every now and then Cynthia will jot down a note or two but mostly she and Eleanor spend their time talking in hushed voices until they are dismissed where they make their way to Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"I wonder what she'll be like," Cynthia says as they approach the classroom.

"After last night, I don't have high hopes."

Professor Umbridge is already waiting at her desk when they arrive, a fluffy pink cardigan accompanied by a smile that seems highly suspect. When everyone is seated, no one says a word, she flicks her wand and neat writing appears on the board beside her.

Defence Against the Dark Arts

A return to basic principals

"Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory?" She asks, her voice agonisingly high pitched.

The class nod their heads in unison, pulling the textbook from their bags.

"Good, everyone will turn to chapter one and read. There will be no need to talk."

In silence Eleanor opens the book and begins to read, realising within a few minutes that this was going to be just as boring as History of Magic - if not worse when the lines begin to blur as she loses focus.

"That. Was. Awful." She says to Cynthia the moment they are well away from the classroom.

"I know, I finished the chapter within the first twenty minutes. Sat there doing nothing for the rest of class, what a waste."

Reaching the end of the marble staircase they head towards the Great Hall when a voice calls out from behind them.

"Wicks."

Turning around, Eleanor comes face to face with Draco Malfoy, his entourage of friends waiting for him further down the corridor.

"Yes Malfoy?"

"Professor Snape suggested we arrange a day to meet to start off this tuition stuff as soon as possible, what are you doing tomorrow afternoon?"

"Nothing I guess."

"Great then we can get this started in the library then." Not waiting for a reply Draco turns on his heel and stalks away to where his friends are waiting.

"Rather you than me," mutters Cynthia to her friend as they continue on their way for food and then off to the rest of their classes for the day.

____

"Did you hear what happened in the Gryffindor Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson?"

"Harry said he saw Cedric die."

"...Fought you-know-who."

The whispers were coming from all directions as Eleanor and Cynthia ate dinner in the Great Hall while everyone around them relayed what they had heard about the scene that had occurred in the Gryffindor class when Harry Potter had confronted the new teacher.

"I don't like her," Eleanor says, looking in the direction of a smug looking Professor Umbridge, "And I'm glad Hermione said something about that book because there is no way we're passing our OWLs based on that."

Beside her Cynthia nods in agreement, "I sucked at that class even with a good teacher like Lupin, now, with her teaching us I've got no hope."

The next day, when Eleanor had no classes left she entered the library, Madam Pince shushing her before she'd even set two feet inside. Scanning the aisles and the desks dotted about she finally found the surly Slytherin Prefect, leaning back in his chair waiting for her.

"I'm here, sorry I had Herbology, came as quick as I could." Slipping into the seat opposite him she waits for him to start.

"I can't stay too long," he finally looks up, "I have prefect duties tonight, but we should establish when we're going to meet to go over each other's work."

Caught off guard by how straight to the point he was without any snide comments Eleanor simply stares for a minute before snapping to attention, "Right yes, well I don't play Quidditch so I don't have any training commitments, just Prefect duties on Wednesday nights."

They spend several minutes lining up their timetables and accounting for Malfoy's quidditch practice before finally settling on two nights a week, Friday and Sunday. With night time quickly approaching Malfoy scoops up his bag, leaving the library without another word to Eleanor who returns to the common room and sleep shortly after.