I've got my eye on you, Maria. "She's so mysterious!" Like you didn't have something to do with her disappearance
So! seems like the Ministry has decided to leave it up to the class to decide their pairings. Don't you just hate it when you have to pick your own people for a group project?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the current active students are...
Lilac Shimmer
Stripes
Dynasty Queen
Burning Heart
Lady of the Lake (haven't seen them post in a good while, may be inactive)
Ethereal Rose
Lupin
So it should be easy to form three groups of two, and add Nessie to one of them if they start posting again.
Depending on how Burning Heart answered, Stripes could be interested in buddying up with them. Alternatively, she wouldn't mind getting in touch with Lilac or Lupin who are fellow Fable bearers, with a slight preference for the new kid as she seems quieter. Stripes would do everything in her power to avoid pairing up with Ethereal Rose or Dynasty Queen, as they are both legendary grimoire holders with a love for flapping their jaws . But if she HAD to pick one of the, she would pick Dynasty Queen as she doesn't come pre equipped with an oversized minion that saps more of her power away. Lady of the Lake is in a weird place because while she represents a lot of things Stripes hates, I do see her being okay working with her.
Though Stripes also seems like the type that would just kind of wait till the last second unless approached by someone else. So if Burning Heart answers unwisely, she could end up with anyone.