After what seemed like an eternity, the Hogwarts Express slowed down and came to a stop. Everyone got off and looked around at their surroundings. There were trees everywhere and it was dark. Fred pointed our to Aurora a lake in the distance, telling her of mermaids and grindylows that lived within the waters. The water reflected the moon so beautifully that she had not noticed that everyone had began to move.

"Yer don' wanna get lost," a voice said as a large hand clapped onto her shoulder.

Aurora looked up, seeing a very tall and very large man with long hair and a ratted beard.

"W-w-who are you?"

"Ruebus Hagrid, Keeper o' Keys an' Grounds. Yer?"

"Aurora Winchester, first year."

Hagrid nodded, going to the front of the group of all of the first years. Aurora stood with Ginny, then began to walk with her and the others. They all got into come boats and rode across the lake to this castle that was all lit up, the lights reflecting on the water.

"So," Aurora asked as she turned to Ginny, "are there any teachers that I should be worried about?"

"Hmm...I think the only one that everyone worries about is Snape, the Potions Master."

"Is he that bad?"

"Are you kidding? He's the worst. Ron, Harry and Hermione are lucky to even be passing his course. Hermione doesn't have a problem either way. She the smartest person in her year."

Aurora nodded as they got off the boats and walked up to the castle, going inside. They walked up the stairs and to an older woman, but not as old as Dumbledore. She wore a witch's hat and hunter green robes. Hagrid headed into the great hall as she began to speak.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I'm Professor McGonagall, Head of the Gryffindor House and Deputy Headmistress. Now, in a few minutes, you will be sorted into your houses and you will join your fellow classmates. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Syltherin. Now, if you would follow me, we shall go into the great hall."

She began to walk and everyone followed her. The doors opened for her and all of the students turned to look at the first years. Aurora smiled, seeing the comforting faces of the twins, who both gave her thumbs up, as if she was going to be in Gryffindor. Her eyes then fell on the Syltherin table, where she recieved glares from Malfoy and his band of cronies."So, which one is Snape," Aurora whispered to Ginny as they made their way to the front of the Hall.

"I'll point him out after the sorting."

Aurora nodded as she watched Professor McGonagall pick up a scroll with names on it. The Sorting Hat sat upon a stool beside McGonagall. As she read off names, she picked up the hat and placed it on the students head and it would shout out the House's name. There was a boy named Colin Creevy was placed into Gryfinndor and a girl named Luna Lovegood was placed in Ravenclaw. The group of first years was dindling down and Aurora was looking amongst the teachers, looking for a possible canidate to be Snape. She saw Dumbledore, who smiled softly at her, then went back to paying attention to the sorting. Her eyes moved down the line of the table, her eyes falling on a teacher with greasy black hair, dark eyes and swallow pale skin. She watched him pull his eyes away from the Sorting Ceremony and looked at Aurora, a look of shock on his face.

"Weasley, Ginny!"

Ginny patted Aurora on the back and it broke her attention off of the teacher. She looked around, seeing that she was the only first year left. She gulped, watching the Sorting Hat being placed on Ginny's head.

"Ah," it spoke as Ginny sat there, confident. "the final Weasley. I know where to put you. GRYFFINDOR!"

Everyone at the Gryffindor table cheered, especially Percy, Fred and George. Ginny gave Aurora a comforting smile as she went to join her brothers and the other first years. Professor McGonagall looked down and Aurora and smiled.

"Winchester, Aurora!"

She took a breath, walking very slowly up to the stool. Dumbledore paid close attention to her, as he and McGonagall hoped that she would be placed in any house other than Syltherin. Aurora's eyes fell onto the teacher again as she sat down, then turned to look out at the other students as McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Hmm, this one will be difficult to place. Muggle born, best in class, but not a afraid of a challenge. And she wants to prove herself. I sense something about her. Something...Syltherin like."

The Syltherin Table murmered, along with the other Houses. McGonagall looked at Dumbledore, worried. If she was to be placed in Slytherin House, she wouldn't last a week. The teacher that Aurora had made eye contact was worried to. Aurora wondered who he was.

"But..." the Hat continued, "I know that the Syltherins will make her their own personal dueling bag."

The Syltherins chuckled in agreement, wringing their hands together.

"And she won't ever lose."

The Syltherins stopped laughing as the rest of the Houses snickered, watching the Hat and Aurora.

"So the best place to put her would be...GRYFFINDOR!"

Aurora breathed a sigh of relief as all of the Gryffindors cheered, especially Fred and George, who made room for her to sit between them. She looked towards the teachers table and Dumbledore smiled. The teacher who had looked at her lifted his goblet and nodded, sipping at it. Aurora nodded back, taking her seat between Fred and George.

As the feast began, Aurora loaded up her plate with food, smiling happily.

"I noticed that Snape took an interest to you," Fred said with his mouth full of food.

Aurora looked at him, then at the teacher, then back at Fred. "That was Snape?"

"Yeah. It was really weird. He wouldn't stop looking at you. It was like he knew you from somewhere."

"Creepy."

"Yeah."

"I don't see how he would know me. I've never seen him before in my life."

"Maybe he knows your parents or something."

"Maybe."

The next day was the first day of classes and everyone was buzzing around about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. Ginny and Aurora had all of the same classes together so they walked around together, going from class to class.

"So, who is this new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Aurora asked as they made their way to Potions.

"It's Gilderoy Lockhart, this amazing wizard who did a lot of amazing things. He's so dreamy."

"It sounds like you fancy him, Ginny," Aurora giggled, opening the door to the Potions class.

Ginny giggled as well. "Not as much as my mum. She had every book that he has ever written autographed yesterday when he was in Diagon Alley."

"I would say that's one dedicated fan," Aurora replied, taking her seat in the front of the class, along side Ginny.

Ginny nodded in agreement as the rest of the class began to chat about Lockhart and the other random things about the school. From Peeves the Polterguist to Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, Hogwarts was the buzz of everyone's conversations. Until the door slammed open and shut. The conversations came to an immediate halt as Professor Snape made his way to the front of the room.

"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class," he said, looking around the room at the once excited, now nervous first years. "As such, I don't expect many of you to do well in this class. In Potions, you have to have a talent for it and you have to pay attention."

His eyes fell to the front of the room and onto Aurora, his lip curling. Aurora swallowed some, feeling all of the eyes of the first years fall of her.

"You," Snape said, folding his arms across his chest, looking down at Aurora. "What is your name?"

Aurora looked around, then back up at Snape. "Aurora Winchester, Professor."

"Our newest Muggle Born. Tell me, what was your mother's surname?"

"Why is it any of your business?"

"Oh, Aurora," Ginny whispered. "Not smart. Not smart at all."

"Hmm..." Snape said, moving away from their table and to his desk. "I would watch your tone if you and Miss Weasley want any extra hints in my classroom. And I expect an answer from you before you leave today."

Aurora rolled her eyes, opening her textbook.

"Oh, and the eyerolling...it's five points from Gyrffindor."

She glared at him, then went back to her textbook. The class seemed to pass by very slowly, as everyone made notes of what kind of ingredients there were and how they originated. Aurora made notes in her textbook, keeping track for future reference, certain measurements and specific instructions, to stir and let boil, stuff like that.

"Come on," Ginny said, grabbing Aurora's arm. "Lunch is being served in the Great Hall. If we don't get there soon, all of the good desserts will be gone."

"Go on ahead. I'll be there soon."

Ginny nodded, leaving Aurora alone with Snape. Aurora glanced up from her textbook, then grabbed a piece of parchment, writing something on it.

"That better be your mother's surname, Miss Winchester."

"Don't worry, Professor, it is. Unless you want me to tell you flat out what it is."

"It's your decision."

She got her wand out and said, "Wingardium Leviosa."

The paper floated up into the air as Snape watched Aurora guide the paper to the waste basket. He had never seen a flying charm performed so well by a first year, not to mention that they had never even covered that in Charms yet. She lowered her wand and the paper fell into the bin.

"Miss Winchester," Snape said, standing up. "I don't think I've seen a flying charm performed so well. How...?"

"One thing you will learn about me, Professor Snape, is that I work and read ahead most of the time. And that was the first time I performed that charm."

She gathered her books and started for the door.

"Oh, and by the way, my mother's surname is Watts."

Snape's mouth fell open, falling back into his chair after Aurora left the room. He ran a hand through his greasy black hair, sighing heavily. It was Maria's daughter. It was no wonder she looked so familiar. His heart sank a bit. She had married John Winchester and forgot about him. The only woman that he had ever loved aside from Lily Evans. He opened a drawer of his desk, pulling out a photograph that looked about ten or eleven years old, with a younger looking Snape and a woman who resembled Aurora. It was Maria Watts, now Winchester. And for the first time, in the picture, it looked like Snape was happy.