Minerva walked into the study room. This was a nice room that no one was in. She found a table and opened her astronomy book. She needed to figure out what she was going to look for next for their term challenge. She enjoyed looking for the shapes in the sky. It was fun and relaxing. Minerva looked around the room. This was the calmest she had been all term. What a nice place to find to be alone with thoughts and books she smiled. It wouldn't last long, but it was nice for a short time. She hoped others were using the room to do studying as well. We needed the points, she didn't want to be last again this term.

Ella walked over to the large wood table and glanced up at the portraits covering the wall. These witches and wizards had obtained glory by working hard. She wanted to do the same. Ella smiled, noticing an older girl studying nearby. "Hi!" She sat down and took out her transfiguration book. She was eager to do some studying on the subject as she really wanted to make a good impression in that class.

Minerva looked at the first year and smiled happy to see others wanting to work hard. "Hello, what are you studying?"

"Transfiguration. It's a really interesting subject but I feel a little behind. I thought it would help to read a little before the next class! If I'm being honest, I should read up on just about every subject at this point. I don't know much." She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "What are you studying?" Ella felt like she was forgetting something when she realized she hadn't introduced herself. Duh, El. You should have done that first! "I'm Ella, by the way."

Minerva smiled "I'm Minnie. I love transfiguration it's a great subject. There are some great books in the library as well." she smiled at the first year. "You will be fine just got to class, take notes, and do exactly what your doing now." this first year made her think of herself last year. "The classes have practice rooms as well. I love going to the transfiguration practice room if you ever want to go let me know and I will help you." she looked down at her book. "I'm studying Astronomy for our term assignment. Trying to learn as many constellations as I can."

Justin walked into the study room to work on the Astrology challenge....He was clueless when it came to that subject. When he entered he saw Minera sitting there and walked over and quietly asked, " Do you mind if I join you? I haven't a clue as to what I'm supposed to be doing with this Astrology stuff."
He smiled a little grin as he waited for her to answer.

Ella was relieved to hear that she was doing exactly what she needed to do. She smiled as the older girl offered to practice with her. "Thanks, I really appreciate that. I could use all the help I can get." She laughed. "I've never been into astronomy. Add that to the list of things I need to check out!" She grew quiet as an older boy approached them. The way he was looking at Minnie told her that they had a history of some sort. "I'd better get back to reading. I've got a lot of studying to do!" She smiled and looked back down at her book.

Minerva listened to the Ella. "I just have a hunch you will do great. You remind me of me last year. Just practice and do exactly what the professors say, oh and have some fun." Her smile got bigger when Justin came in. "Oh hey Justin, this is Ella. Ella this is Justin he's a second year as well. Don't be afraid to ever ask any questions if you need anything." Minerva looked at Justin and pulled a bunch of books out of her bag and put them on the table. "You ready to learn about stars?"

" Well, Hello, Ella. Pleased to meet you. " Justin addressed the first year girl.

" Right then. You've got a challenge in me ya realize? " he joked as he took out his books and sat down beside her.

Minerva opened the first book. "Well what is it that is giving you trouble Justin?" she turned the page and opened to the October constellations assuming he might be wondering about that.

" well, everything really. I've never been into the stars or Astronomy. Why do'nt we start with what you've got there. " Justin said with a puzzled look on his face. He had no idea what all the little dots on the page meant.

Minerva smiled "Well for our term assignment we have to identify stars and constellations. This book has been helping me find them. When you go and look at the stars check where you are and what latitude degree you are at." She looked to see if Justin was following. "Now since it is October you may want to look at the month to see which constellations you will find the easiest for example the Octans is a constellation that is found in October and it is shaped, well kind of like a spaceship. See this picture

" Yeah, okay. yeah I see it, but what does that have to do with anything? I see stars all the time and none of it makes sense...They are just taking the brightest stars in the sky and seeing a ...What did you call them, Constellations? Can't you make your own piture based on what you see your self or do they have meanings? Like an omen of fortelling? " Justin was getting more confused by the minute.

"Well scientist have studied this stars and constellations for many years and they have made the names of certain ones. Like the one I just showed you the scientist have named it Octans because the octan was how scientist measured the position of Polaris, which is right near the constellation right there" Minerva pointed in the book. "I know it looks like a space ship, so as long as you put the correct name down in your journal if this is one of the constellations you find then I don't think it matters what you and I call it if we would see it together one evening." she smiled at Justin hoping he would understand.

" Oh, okay. Yeah, I see. " said Justin as he looked to where Minnie was ppointing on the page. " I'd like to look at the stars with you, Min" he smiled as he put his hand on hers as she explained more to him.

Minerva smiled and blushed a bit when his hand was on hers. "Well for this project we have to actually look at the stars. As long as we don't do the same constellation or the same answers we could probably go out together so then I could help you, if you want. This is my journal so far." blushing again showing that she of course had jumped right into the project. She didn't know why her bookworm side always made her uncomfortable around her friends. She hid it so long last year. She opened her journal and three sketches were seen

Pavo

Pegasus

Octans

Now you can see in this journal I have written what I have seen and then did a sketch of what I was looking at.

" Oh, neat, Minnie. That seems easy enough. " he smiled as he squezed her hand gentley
" I don't know where I'd be without you, Min. " Justin said as he kissed her on the cheek. " You're a lifesaver! "

Minerva smiled then Shrugged. "You would find some other girl to help you study that's all." She gave him a wink and closed her journal. "Now if we are going to go out to see the stars and do this work the you might want to look this book over." she handed him a book out of her bag. "This book has the constellations by month. Where the book mark is, is the October constellations. These are going to be the ones you can see very well this month." opening the book Minerva pointed to the list.

October

Aquarius
Cepheus
Grus
Lacerta
Octans
Pegasus
Piscis Austrinus

"Look these over and maybe tomorrow evening we can go and see what we can find. Does that sound like a plan?"

" Alright, Min. Thanks. And just so you know....I couldn't stauy with any other girl, just you. " he smiled . Then he looked at the book and looked at the constellations. " Hmmmm....Interesting. Tomorrow night sounds good. "

Minerva smiled "You would have found someone else, but thanks. Ok here take the book and let's go to the lake tomorrow to do the project. Want to head out of here and get something to eat?" Minerva gathered her books and stood up."See ya later Ella" she said tot he first year that was studying at the other table.

" Sure, how did you know I was hungry? " he smiled as he stood up and stuffed his Astronomy book in his bag.
"It was nice to meet you, Ella. " he smiled.

Ella looked up from her book and smiled. "Bye! It was nice to meet you!" She meant it, Minnie seemed like a great person to know for advice and guidance.

Ella smiled at Justin. "Nice to meet you too!" She was happy to be meeting so many new people.

Alyssa had decided to work on her homework at the Hufflepuff Study Tables after the Common Room started to get busy. She took out the paper she had drawn the designs and took out her drawing pencils. She had to modify her designs to make the decorations on her frame a little less lob sided. So she erased some of the lines and redrew them again. This time she made sure that the designs on each of the sides were aligned with each other and all arched and curved and looked a little like a French Man's mustache. Then Alyssa took out her wand and picking up the paper she traced a square on the paper concentrating on the designs that she had drawn on the paper, and said "Statua Habitum".

The paper in her hand changed into a photo frame. This time the designs looked balanced but somehow the photo frame looked blend. Like boring. So Alyssa decided that she needed to work a little more on the design of the photo frame. Picking up her wand, she said "Reverto" changing the photo frame back into the paper.

Ella returned to the study tables clutching her Arithmancy text book. Not only was this subject mind boggling to her, her head of house was the professor! Ella was beyond nervous about their first lesson and decided a little studying couldn't hurt. She flipped open her book with a little more force than was necessary and reached in into her bag for a quill and parchment. It wouldn't hurt to start taking some notes. She began to read, stopping every so often to write down something of interest or something that confused her.