The next morning Ana wakes up and grabs her things for a shower. On her way to the showers there are a few looks and plenty of whispers, but she pays them no mind. As she is leaving she greets Daphne “Good morning.”

  “Huh, oh. Good morning Ana,” Daphne sleepily responds.

  *I guess she's not a morning person,* Ana thinks.

  After returning to the dorms and putting on her uniform Ana decides to head up to breakfast.

  When Ana gets up the great hall she notices that students don't have to sit at their house tables. Seeing Hermione and Gsses eating together she goes over to join them.

  When she approaches the pair they look up and upon seeing her they both frown and Gsses asks,”Is there something you need?” In a slightly aggressive tone.

  “I was hoping to eat breakfast with some of the few people that have been nice to me. But if that's how you're gonna be, maybe I misjudged you,” Ana says before starting to turn to leave.

  “Wait, I'm sorry. We shouldn't judge you just because of what house you're in. I should know better given how much I tend to get judged for being muggleborn. You even protected us from the Dementors,” Hermione says.

  “Yeah. Sorry,” Gsses mutters.

  “Thank you,” Ana says, before sitting down and grabbing a pte and some food.

  A few minutes goes by the trio quietly eating their food until Ron walks up. Upon seeing Ana he frowns and says ,”Shouldn't you be over with the other snakes?”

  Ana opens her mouth to respond, but before she can speak Hermione excims,

  “Ron! Don't be rude!"

  “But shouldn't she? Who knows what they've been telling her,” Ron says.

  “She was nice enough yesterday and she even protected us from the Dementors,” Hermione says.

  “Right, sorry,” Ron says as he begins grabbing his own breakfast.

  “If you'd like to know. They've been warning me not to associate with you three. There were a few veiled threats about it actually,” Ana says, “Obviously I'm not listening to them. I can make my own decisions.”

  Ron stares at Ana for a moment before saying, “I can respect that,” and going back to his breakfast.

  “Also, I was wondering if any of you would be able to help me figure out where all my csses will be. I neglected to join the first-years’ tour st night,” Ana says.

  “I can help with that. The first year tour doesn't really go over the css locations. So you didn't miss much,” Hermione says before gncing at the boys and continuing, “Did you two want to come along?”

  “I've got to find Oliver and get the Quidditch practice schedule,” Gsses says.

  “I'm going with him. Gonna see about trying out this year. Been practicing all summer,” Ron says.

  “That's wonderful Ron! I know how much you love the game,” Hermione says.

  “Yes, you seemed very passionate about it on the train. I hope you make it,” Ana says.

  “Thank you, both of you,” Ron says.

  Gsses finishes his breakfast first and waits for Ron. Ron decides to mimic a vacuum and inhale the food more than eat it. Once the two are done they excuse themselves and leave the hall.

  *Curious, Gsses didn't eat much at all. He's probably not a breakfast person. I get that.* Ana thinks.

  "I'm done if you'd like to head out. We have a bit of ground to cover,” Hermione says.

  “Sure,” Ana responds, “Where to first?”

  “I was thinking of showing you the main way to get to the upper floors of the castle, the Grand Staircase. You would've passed through there to get to the Slytherin common room st night.” Hermione says, standing up and grabbing her things.

  “Oh, yes, that. Although, I didn't get much time to admire it. Too many students needing to get out of the way before the first year tour. After you,” Ana says, getting up with her.

  The two make their way out of the great hall and to a nearby hallway. Before they go to the archway at the end Hermione pauses. She turns to Ana and asks, “I know you grew up in a magical home, but did you ever see the outcome of the work of a master enchanter?”

  “Sorry to disappoint, but yes. My Mum is a grandmaster enchanter,” Ana responds.

  “Oh,” Hermione says, a little confidence leaving her, “I hope this is impressive regardless, the stairs are the work of two of the school founders.”

  Hermione leads them both into the very rge stairwell that Ana had passed through the previous evening. Ana takes a second to fully take in the area. The walls in this area are absolutely covered in living paintings. Figures moving from one frame to the next as if there's a whole world behind them. Although, the stairs are much more interesting. The sets of stairs move. Shifting from one ptform to the next seemingly at random.

  After taking a moment to let the view sink in Ana says, “Interesting, very complicated runework going on. Very impressive, this must've taken months to complete. Even for a pair of master enchanters.”

  “The books say it took Rowena Ravencw and Sazar Slytherin both somewhere between 3-5 months to complete,” Hermione says.

  “Sazar Slytherin was an enchanter? Why didn't he do the enchantment on the dorm stairs for Slytherin then?” Ana asks.

  “I don't know, the books don't really say why each founder chose what parts of the school to help with. Those were done towards the end of building the school. So he may have just been busy with… other projects at the time,” Hermione says, “This is one of my favorite pces, it's the most obviously magical part of the school. Although the stairs can be a pain sometimes. It's impossible to predict their movement as far as I can tell. Back to the tour now.”

  The two make their way across the stairwell and out the otherside. A short walk ter Hermione points to a rge set of double doors and says, “That is the hospital wing. I'd show you inside, but Madame Pomfrey, the school’s mediwitch, has strict rules regarding visitation. Doesn't let anyone in unless they need medical attention or are visiting a patient during visiting hours.”

  “I'm not usually one to get into scraps, but it's good to know in case I come across anyone who needs it,” Ana says.

  “Over that way Is the faculty tower where the teachers sleep and that way is the Gryffindor tower,” Hermione says, indicating to the right and then left of the hospital wing doors.

  The next area Hermione guides Ana through contains the cssrooms for Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. As well as the offices for those professors. *Efficient design, pcing all the cssrooms that may need reinforcement for spells gone wrong in one area,* Ana thinks.

  After that the pair travel across what Hermione calls the Transfiguration Courtyard into another section. “Up those stairs is the Arithmancy and Rune Theory cssroom. That way is the Herbology greenhouses. This way is my favorite pce in the school, The Library,” Hermione says, taking them through a set of doors as she finishes.

  The library is, as expected, filled with books. Two levels, to more easily separate more advanced texts, according to Hermione. The more interesting thing is that there are many books floating around. Appearing to go from a desk towards the back of the library and to their spot on the shelf and visa versa. *I can see why Hermione likes it so much. It's very clearly a magic library,* Ana thinks, as Hermione leads them back out.

  “I didn't want to spend too much time there Madam Pince, the librarian, doesn't like students hanging around without reason,” Hermione expins, “Did you want to take a look at the Greenhouses before we move on? I'm not one for magical pnts personally, but they can be interesting to look at.”

  “I think I can wait until my herbology css for that. So where to next?” Ana says.

  “This way, to the st important area,” Hermione says, guiding Ana into the next area of their tour, “Over that way Is the Divination Tower. The cssroom is all the way at the top. That way is the potions cssroom and that bridge leads to another courtyard outside the Great Hall. That would be the end of the tour, unless I missed something.”

  “I don't think so. Oh wait! I am taking Care of Magical Creatures. Do you know where that css meets?” Ana asks.

  “Oh dear, I completely forgot that part. It's over by the Transfiguration Courtyard. I can show you if you don't mind the walk back. Sorry about wasting some time,” Hermione says.

  “It's perfectly OK Hermione. I don't mind spending more time with one of the only nice people I've met here,” Ana responds.

  As the pair pass through a small hallway past the Transfiguration Courtyard Ana notices something. She quickly flicks out her ebony wand and releases a quick burst of magic to deflect the spell sent at the pair. “It's not polite to attack a dy when her back is turned,” she says, a hint of menace in her voice.

  “If I see one I'll be sure to remember that, blood-traitor,” Crabbe says, Goyle standing next to him.

  “Insults usually work better when I know what they mean. Expelliarmus,” Ana says, firing off a disarming charm at the boys.

  The two boys dive to the sides dodging the charm. Hermione, having drawn her wand, fires a leg-locking jinx at Crabbe, hitting him as he's recovering from dodging. The boys fire off two more spells at the girls, Crabbe missing wildly, Goyle sending a spell at Ana again. This time Ana dodges and responds with a leg-locker of her own, hitting Goyle as he doesn't react in time. Hermione uses a tickling charm to take Crabbe out of the fight. Ana is about to do the same to Goyle when she hears a voice say, “Now what is going on here?”

  Turning around Ana sees a man in all bck robes looking menacingly at her and Hermione. “Ah, Professor Snape, good timing. These two attacked us for no reason. Tried to cast a spell at us from behind and then kept casting when that didn't work,” Ana says as Hermione shrinks in on herself, seemingly trying to hide.

  “It's not true professor, these two attacked us out of nowhere. We were just walking by and then they attacked us from behind,” Goyle says.

  Professor Snape stares intensely at Ana for a moment. Ana feels a presence brush the edges of her mind before pulling back as he turns his gaze to Hermione. After another moment he says, “10 points from Gryffindor for getting involved in a fight on school grounds and 15 points from Slytherin.”

  *So the feud between the houses extends even to the teachers. One of the ‘greatest’ wixen schools my butt,* Ana thinks.

  Professor Snape turns to leave as Ana says, “That doesn't seem exactly fair, three Slytherins lose 15 points and only a single Gryffindor gets 10 taken.”

  Hermione gasps in apparent shock as the Professor quickly rounds on them, an intense look in his eyes. “I could add a few detentions if you think the punishment is not harsh enough,” He says.

  “Given I'm quite sure you know what happened I don't see a problem with the instigators getting more punishment,” Ana says, looking the Professor directly in his eyes.

  A tense moment passes before Professor Snape, without breaking eye contact, says, ”Crabbe, Goyle, detention next weekend,” before turning and walking away.

  Hermione lets out a breath after he is out of sight. “Shall we get out of here now?” Ana asks.

  Hermione nods and the pair continue their walk to the Care of Magical Creatures css area. A few minutes ter, after the pair has left the castle through the West Tower, Hermione asks, “How did you notice the spell coming our way? I didn't even notice them following us.”

  “I didn't know they were following us either, but I sensed the magic coming towards us. That usually means a spell of some kind,” Ana expins.

  “What do you mean you sensed the magic coming? I've read about it, but I couldn't find anything on how to get it,” Hermione says curiously.

  “Do they not teach you about your Magic Sense here?” Ana asks.

  “No, none of the professors mentioned it in my first 2 years,” Hermione responds.

  *Another nail in the coffin. Why did my moms even send me here with how terrible the staff seem to be? Not even teaching about Magic Sense,” Ana thinks.

  She then says, “It's not something you have to acquire, it's something all wixen have innately.”

  “If I already have it, can you expin how to use it?” Hermione asks.

  Ana thinks for a moment before saying, “It's a good thing we're out of the castle. I have an idea, but there's too much magic in there for it to work. First off, close your eyes”

  Once Hermione does so Ana takes a few steps around her and pulls out her wand. Ana sends a small burst of magic through it and asks, “could you sense that at all?”

  “I don't think so,” Hermione says.

  “Alright, let's try it for a bit. You may have been unconsciously blocking out the sense because of how much magic there is inside the school,” Ana says.

  The two try the exercise for a little while longer before Hermione excims, “There! Just to my left and behind me.”

  Ana moves her wand, releases another burst and says, “And now?”

  “To my right at hip level,” Hermione answers.

  “I think you've got it. Just keep paying attention to it and try not to forget it's there. I should also mention, don't expect much detail from it. It's kind of like your peripheral vision, you can get a little information, but don't expect to be able to tell exactly what spell someone is casting,” Ana expins.

  “Okay, Thank you, genuinely thank you. I'm sure this will be helpful in some of my csses,” Hermione says before her eyes go wide and she says, “I completely forgot. I need to go see Professor McGonagall about…something for my csses. Is it alright if I leave you here?”

  “I think I can manage. I'll do some exploring on my own. See you at lunch?” Ana says.

  “Of course. Thank you for helping with the Magic Sense thing. See you,” Hermione says before rushing off back to the castle.

  *Now off to see a blonde idiot about a warning,” Lilliana thinks as she walks back towards the castle with a dark smile on her face.