Avice settled nicely into her bed at Hogwarts. She didn't unpack or arrange any of her space, leaving it off for the morning. As soon as she saw the bed she gleefully slid under the covers and into a deep sleep. It was not that the bed was more comfortable, her bed at home was much larger and much softer. Though the dorm was full of other girls, not all of whom were sleeping nor even quiet, she found bedtime at Hogwarts to be very peaceful. She knew that she would be uninterrupted until it was time for breakfast, when, she would likely need to be pried out from under the bedsheets. There was no strict bedtime at home. Here at Howgwarts, even when she put off sleep, she could count on being uninterrupted by the authorities until morning...

She did not even realize that she had been sleeping until she heard the scream. Avice was awake immediately all senses heightened save for her sense of balance. She tumbled out of the bed while excuses for her behavior tumbled out of her mouth... "I'M SORRY! I won't do it again I-I-..." 

She realized that she was still at Hogwarts. She wasn't at home where Sorin might be playing a trick on her or her father might be rousing the whole household with his temper... She was still in the Slytherin dorm, and she wasn't dreaming, everyone had heard and been woken by the scream. 


Avice flushed red, hoping that no one had heard her babbling or seen her fall in the darkness. She followed the others to the bed of Amelia Yaxley, the source of all the fuss. 

"OH! I know her!" Avice pushed through the gathering students and sat herself on Amelia's bed reaching for the girls cool pale hands. "Ameila! Do you remember me? I'm Avice Black! Our mothers are great friends. Did you have a nightmare? I can see how the castle might be a bit scary, but, you will get used to it in no time! What did you dream about?"