Emrys moved her head away as she felt something bumping her nose. The bumping persisted until she opened her eyes and saw Merlin's bright blue eyes looking down at her. He meowed before moving and jumping on her night drawer, tapping her clock. Emrys noted with surprise that breakfast had started fifteen minutes ago. Quickly she got up to get dressed for the day. She was about to leave before looking back at Merlin.

"What am I going to feed you?" she asked. Almost as if understanding her, Merlin jumped down and walked out of the dorms. He mewed and Emrys followed down the staircase until she saw a corner of the common room where all the other cats from the other students were eating bowls of cream and saw with a surprise that each bowl had their name. Two arms wrapped around her she was greeted by the scent of candy and zonkos products...the twins.

"Good morning fair lady."

"Late for breakfast are we?" they said

"Yeah, hey who feeds the cats?" she asked and the twins traded a smile.

"How about we take you down to get your time table and then we show you?" they smirked. Emrys nodded with enthusiasm. After she had gotten her classes and compared them with Ron and Harry -who they all turned out to have the same classes- before being dragged by Fred and George out the Great Hall.

"Guys I haven't even had breakfast yet." she whined.

"Ah, don't worry your pretty little head." said Fred.

"We have our own place to get a special breakfast." George smiled. They went down a set of stairs and down a corridor until they got to a large portrait with fruit. George reached up and tickled the pear which gave a giggle and turned into a handle. With a grin Fred opened the door and Emrys was greeted by the sight of hundreds of house elves running around with platters of food. Some were cleaning the dishes and some were placing food down four large tables that represented the ones in the great hall.

"Whoa~" she said with wonder. Two of the house elves went over to them and gave them low bows.

" twins! How may we help?" they said.

"We have brought over a friend who was curious as to who fed her small kitten." they motioned to Emrys who smiled and waved hello.

"Hello, I'm Emrys Lupin."

"Welcome Ms. Lupin." the bowed. "We always feed the cats and take care of the common rooms when everyone is asleep and the laundry as well."

"Thank you very much for taking care of my cat." she smiled.

"Would you guys mind bringing us some food please? Little Emrys here overslept and didn't have time to eat."

"I would have if you hadn't dragged me out." she mumbled while the house elves scurried to bring the three of them food. Once the three of them had been fed they thanked the house elves.

"What's your first class Emrys?" Fred asked as she took out her schedule. "Charms, Flitwicks a cool professor. Shouldn't be too hard." they smiled as the walked her to class despite having their own class on the other side of the castle.

"What about your class?" she asked. "Won't you be late?"

"Don't you worry about that." Fred said.

"We have many ways to get to places on time." said George. "We'll help you find your classes."

"Why don't you help Ron then?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We like you better." at this Emrys shook her head and laughed. During the week Emrys was surprised and slightly overwhelmed with everything they began to learned. Charms was one of her favorites subjects for sure. Professor Flitwick, a small little wizard who had to stand on top of a pile of books so he could see over his desk was quite fascinating. She couldn't help but laugh quietly when he got to Harry's name during roll call and gave a small squeak, toppling over his books. Her most boring class was History of Magic but according to everyone that was to be expected. Professor Binns was a ghost who died one day and then simply got up for class, leaving his body behind. The subject itself was interesting for her but the droning voice of the Professor was simply too boring so she read her textbook during class with the occasional notes from the Professor to keep her awake. Astronomy was another of her favorites, along with Herbology though it looked like it would be one her more challenging subjects. McGonagall, who turned out to be their head of house was a stern woman who gave them a talk the very first day of class.

"This class has one of the most complex and dangerous forms of magic you will learn at Hogwarts. You mess around in my class, and you will never be back again. You have been warned." she proceeded to turn her desk into a pig and back. Emrys was impressed and excited to start though they realized that they wouldn't be turning their desks into pigs quite yet. Instead they took serious notes on the theory before she gave an assignment. They were given a match each and told to transform them into a needle. So far no one had been able to succeed except Hermione Granger and Emrys. McGonagall had taken both of their matches and shown how they had gone silver and pointy though it looked like Hermione's looked slightly more like a needle than Emrys. McGonagall had even given them very rare smiles. The class everyone had been looking forwards to was Defence Against the Dark Arts; unfortunately it turned out Professor Quirrell was a bit of a joke. The classroom smelled strongly of garlic which was because he wanted to be protected from the wrath of a vampire he had fought. His turban had been a gift from some prince who he had save from a zombie though no one really believed him. His turban even gave off a weird smell that the twins were sure was stuffed with garlic so he'd have extra protection. Emrys was sure she'd have to use her book just like with History of Magic. Friday finally came and this time she finally managed to wake up without Merlin pawing at her face. She sat at the table was was later joined by Ron and Harry and she greeted them with a wave.

"Morning. I see you guys made it to the great hall without getting lost this time."

"You got help from my brothers you cheated." Ron huffed.

"Hey it's not my fault I'm their favorite aside from Ginny." she smirked.

"So what do we have today?" Harry asked as they began to eat.

"Double Potions with the Slytherins, Snape's head of their house. I even hear he favors them."

"Wish McGonagall would favors us." mumbled Harry.

Just then the morning mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to not getting mail since his only relatives were muggles and hated magic according to what he had told Emrys. He didn't talk much about his life with the muggles and Emrys wasn't sure she wanted to pry since she could tell he was not comfortable talking about it. Sometimes his owl whose name was Hedwig would fly down to just nibble in his ear, eat some toast and fly back up to the owlery. Today, however she carried a small note with scribbly handwriting.

Dear Harry,

I know you get Friday afternoons off so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with my at three? I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.

Hagrid

Harry borrowed Ron's quill before writing a reply back and sending it back with Hedwig.

"She's a very pretty owl." Emrys said as she watched her fly off with the reply. "Do you think I could borrow her after potions? I promised mum I'd write but I haven't had the time."

"Sure no problem." he said and she smiled. After breakfast they headed to potions class which was a class Emrys had really been looking forward to. Her mother had a knack for potions and upon Emrys insistence had taught her daughter a few potions once she turned ten. However, she was nervous because she had an inkling Snape did not like her as their staring contest on the first day had proven. She got a great surprise however, when she realised he didn't like her...oh no he hated her and to her utter surprise he hated Harry as well if not more.

Their potions lesson took place in the dungeons, it was slightly chilly and it was creepy enough without the addition of pickled animals all around the room in glass jars. They took their seats with Harry in between Ron and Emrys. When Snape walked in he had the same effect as McGonagall, keeping the class quiet with the same intimidating aura; though even colder than their Gryffindor head of house.

He called roll though when he called Emrys name he said her last name with almost a sneer as if it was some sort of bad joke or disease. Then he proceeded to look at her though Emrys met his glance without a single look of fear. Then he continued and just like with Flitwick he paused at Harry's name though the reaction was quite the opposite of Flitwicks.

"Harry Potter...Ah, yes. Our new- celebrity."

Draco and his cronies sniggered behind their cauldrons and Snape finished calling roll. Then he addressed the class.

"In this room you will all learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. There will be no absurde wand waving in this class. I can teach you how to bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses, bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper, in death- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Both Ron and Harry shared a glance with raised eyebrows while Hermione was at the edge of her seat, looking eager to learn and prove she wasn't a dunderhead. Emrys on the other hand was writing everything he had said about potions. However, because of the cauldron in front of her Snape mistook it for her not paying attention. Deciding to start with Harry first though Snape called him out.

"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry's mind went blank while Hermione, who was sitting next to Emrys raised her hand so fast she missed Emrys's face by an inch.

Draught of the Living Dead. Emrys thought as she wrote everything down. She had already read some of the book and while she wanted to answer she knew what Snape was doing. Everyone could see Snape was only doing this to humiliate Harry.

"Tut, tut," said Snape. "Fame, clearly isn't everything. Lets try again . Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Stomach of a goat. She wrote down and glanced at Harry who was looking more uncomfortable by the second. If he hadn't been so scared of Snape and glanced down he would have seen her writing it down and answered. Hermione still had her hand in the air and gave Emrys a puzzled look as to why she wasn't raising her hand if she also knew the answer. Snape continued to ignore Hermione and sneered at Emrys who was still not looking at him.

"I don't know sir." Harry replied again.

"Didn't think to open up a book did you Potter?"

Behind Snape; Draco, Crabbe, Goyle were now shaking with laughter while Emrys glared at them.

"What is the difference, Potter, between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"

By this point Hermione had risen from her seat with her hand still in the air while Emrys wrote down the answer. They're the same and it's also called aconite.

"I don't know sir." Harry replied. "Though why don't you ask Hermione, she knows."

At this, some of the students laughed and even Seamus winked at Harry when he caught his eyes. Snape however, wasn't amused.

"Sit down!" He snapped at Hermione and then walked closer until he was standing right in front of Emrys and she looked up with a raised eyebrow.

"Lupin! Since it seems you'd rather not pay attention why don't you give Potter the answers in order. Unless of course you don't know either."

They were all silent, even Draco had stopped laughing and was looking at Emrys in an almost worried expression. Since school started he hadn't been able to talk to her alone. Since she was a Gryffindor and he a Slytherin they couldn't be seen together because he had a reputation to uphold just like his father had told him. He watched as Emrys gave Snape a smirk and Harry could see Snape's eyes narrow at that.

"Powdered root of asphodel and infusion of wormwood is part of the ingredients to the potion Draught of the Living Death. To find a bezoar you'd have to get it from the stomach of a goat and it can be used as an antidote to most potions. Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant and it's also known as aconite. Sorry if I looked like I wasn't paying attention professor but I was writing everything you were saying." she said, raising her notebook to show the neat notes she'd written. The entire class was in shock and even Snape was silent for a moment before he answered through gritted teeth.

"That...is correct." she placed her notebook down and clasped her hands together, looking up at him expectantly.

"Anything else professor? Though I have to admit I didn't read the entire book like Hermione probably did."

This brought chuckles from everyone again and this time Snape glared at Emrys.

"One point taken from Gryffindor each Potter and Lupin for you cheek." then glanced at the class. "Well, why aren't you writing this down?"

The was the sound of notebooks opening and quills scratching on paper as they wrote down what Snape had said before. Things continued to worsen for Gryffindor during class as Snape broke them off into pairs and set them off to make a simple cure for boils potion. He swept around the room criticising almost everyone in the room except for Draco Malfoy, who he seemed to like. He commented on the way Malfoy was stewing his horned slugs making Emrys roll her eyes as she continued to work on her potion. Suddenly there was a loud hiss as Neville's potion had melted Seamus's cauldron completely; the potion seeping to the floor and making holes on people's shoes.

"Idiot boy, you probably added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire." Snape drawled as he got rid of the mess with a wave of his wand and Neville whimpered; boils beginning to appear all over his face. "Take him to the hospital wing." Snape spat at Seamus and then rounded on Harry and Ron who had been working next to them.

"You, Potter- why didn't you stop him?! Think to make yourself look good if he got it wrong did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."

Harry opened his mouth to argue but Ron nudged him in the ribs to shut him up. However he didn't have to because someone else spoke up.

"What's your problem?"

The room turned dead silent and Snape whipped his head to look at Emrys who continued to work on her potion but it was clear she was the one who had spoken. Even Draco was looking at her as if she'd lost her mind.

"What was that Lupin?" Snape drawled in a scary calm tone.

"You should have said something to Seamus instead because he was the one working with Neville. Everyone here could have told Neville but we are all too busy trying to keep our own potions from exploding. If you wanted us to keep track of each other then you would be having more people melting their cauldron for not paying attention. Also, you've been picking on Harry since he walked through the door. Also, some of us are doing better than Malfoy and I think it's a bit unprofessional that you're playing favorites." she said and not even once did she stop working on your potion.

Everyone's mouths were wide open, even the Slytherins were in so much shock they couldn't even take pleasure in knowing she was about to get punished by Snape. Snape's eyes flaring in fury; no one had ever spoken to him like this, not even the twins had ever dared.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor Lupin and a week worth of detention!" he snapped while Emrys simply shrugged as she gave him a quick glance to indicate she heard him and then moved her cauldron off the fire before she dropped the correct amount of porcupine quills into the cauldron almost as if to add insult to injury. Snape wanted nothing more than to make her potion disappear but he didn't because it would only make everything she said true. Instead he snapped at the class to continue with their potion. By the end of class everyone was talking about the showdown between Emrys and Snape. Harry's mood was low, because of the two points he lost Gryffindor and ever worse because now Emrys had lost them twenty points and even gotten detention.

"Oh come on Harry don't look so down." Ron said. "Fred and George get points taken off all the time by Snape. Can I come meet Hagrid with you?"

"Sure"he said just as Emrys came out of Snape's office since they had been waiting for her.

"Emrys we're going to see Hagrid wanna join?" Ron asked and Emrys smiled.

"Sure, I want to meet him. And Harry don't look so down." she nudged his shoulder as they walked away from the dungeons.

"You got detention." Harry mumbled.

"It wasn't your fault. Besides, if he hadn't picked on you he certainly would have picked on me too. I was just telling it like it is, he's playing favorites and he was being a bully. I don't care if he's like that with everyone else that's unprofessional of him as a teacher."

"I have a feeling he hates me."

"Don't think like that Harry I hear Snape's nasty with everyone except the Slytherins." Ron reminded him again.

"Yeah Harry cheer up." Emrys said.

At five till three they headed out the castle and down to Hagrid's small wooden house which resided at the edge of the forbidden forest. After knocking Hagrid opened the door once he had forced his enormous black boarhound called Fang away from the door so they could get inside. It was only one room, with a bed on the corner covered by a large patchwork quilt. Pheasants and ham hung on the ceiling while a kettle was boiling on an open fire.

"Make yerselves at home." Hagrid said as he let go of fang who bounded up to Ron and liked his ears.

"This is Ron." said Harry.

"Another Weasley eh? I've had my fair share of trying to keep yer brothers away from the forest." Hagrid said before looking at Emrys and his look turned surprised. "Ye look familiar." he said.

"My name's Ambrose Lupin." she smiled. "But everyone calls me Emrys. My mom's Athena Lupin."

"Ah, now I remember." he smiled. "Yer mom was always getting into trouble, though she was very smart and kind."

Hagrid then gave them rock cakes which weren't exactly delicious to Emrys only took small nibbles. They proceeded to tell Hagrid about their week and were delighted when he agreed that Filch (the caretaker) was a git and his cat who he said always followed him around whenever he was in the castle. Though once they got to the events with Snape, Hagrid waved his hand dismissively.

"Harry he does that to everyone."

"No, but I really have a feeling he really hates me." Harry insisted.

"Nonsense Harry, and Emrys that is no way to talk to a professor."

"He was being a bully!" Emrys protested as she crossed her arms. "He picked on Neville instead of helping him and then picked on Harry for no reason. The only reason he didn't pick on me was because he did not expect for me to know all the answers! I only got detention because I stood up to him and told the truth like it is. Plus, I have a feeling he hates me too. He was glaring at me the first day at the Welcoming Feast."

Hagrid tried to then deviate the issue by asking Ron about one of his older brothers who had already left Hogwarts. Then Harry saw the Daily Prophet newspaper, reading that someone had tried stealing something from a vault.

"Hey Hagrid someone tried to steal Gringotts. It happened on my birthday maybe it happened while we were there."

"I hope they didn't succeed." Emrys said with a frown as she read the article. "It's supposed to be impossible to steal from there."

Hagrid grunted and offered them more rock cakes and Emrys could tell he was trying to distract him. Maybe he knew something but didn't want to tell them. They went back to the castle after a while with their filled with rock cakes they had taken in order to not offend Hagrid. When they were finally inside they were ambushed by the twins who had a look of disbelief on their faces.

"Emrys is it true?"

"What's true?" she asked.

"That you called Snape a greasy git-"

"And that you guys dueled?"

"Well we definitely didn't duel otherwise I'd be dead." she laughed. "And I didn't call him a slimy git...but I did say he was being unprofessional for being a bully."

"That is crazy!" they laughed. "You even got detention in your first week! I think you just broke our record of first detentions with Snape."

"We always get them on our third or fourth time being in his class." George chuckled and then him and Fred proceeded to high five her.

"Never in a million years did we think someone would stand up to him."

"It was about time someone did something." she mumbled. "From what everyone kept saying it's ridiculous no one ever said anything."

"Ambrose Lupin?" everyone turned around and saw a fourth year Hufflepuff boy walk towards them. He was quite handsome and tall, with brown hair and warm light brown eyes.

"That's me." she said.

"Professor McGonagall would like to see you in her office. She called me to come fetch you."

"Time face the music." Fred smirked. "How much do you want to bet she'll congratulate you for standing up to Snape?"

"Sure she will, but she'll still give me detention." Emrys replied with a roll of her eyes. "I'll see you guys later."

With that she followed the Hufflepuff fourth year. After a few minutes of silence he looked down at her.

"Did you really stand up to Snape in class?" he asked in amazement and she couldn't help the blush that dusted her cheeks and her hair to start turning pink.

"Yeah, he was picking on my friends and I wasn't going to let him." she said and the guy looked her hair with a tilt of his head.

"You're a metamorphmagus." he said with surprise. She looked down at her hair and instead of it turning back to black it turned into a softer pastel pink meaning she was embarrassed.

"Uh...yeah..." she said nervously and looked down at the ground. The guy looked at her in amusement, seeing her go from a tough looking girl into a shy one. He chuckled as they turned left on another corridor.

"I think it's cool, people who are metamorphmagus are really rare. I'm glad to have met one." he smiled and she couldn't help but giggle and her hair now turned a bright pink with more embarrassment for being so girly. The guy chuckled again before he extended her hand to her.

"I'm Cedric Diggory." Emrys shook his hand, her hair beginning to go back to black now that she managed to calm her nerves.

"You already know my name, my friends call me Emrys." she smiled. Then she noticed they had stopped at a door. Cedric knocked and heard McGonagall answer a second later.

"Professor I brought Ambrose like you asked." he said as he walked in with Emrys behind him.

"Thank you you may leave." she replied in a curt voice. Cedric nodded and turned to leave but not before sending Emrys an encouraging smile. Once the door was closed Emrys turned to her head of house, her stomach beginning to twist into knots. McGonagall looked at her over her spectacles for a moment before motioning to the chair in front of her desk.

"Take a seat , I promise I won't bite." the small joke put Emrys slightly at ease as she sat down. McGonagall laced her fingers together on her desk and looked at her.

"I received a note from Professor Snape about what happened today during his class. Is it true you spoke back to him and interrupted his class?"

"With all due respect Professor McGonagall." Emrys began. "He was being unprofessional and bullying his students."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

"How so ?"

"I know you and Professor Snape have similar teaching methods, however, he has favoritism towards the Slytherins. He picked on Harry and humiliated him during class because he didn't have knowledge of certain potions that would usually be taught later on. Only Hermione and I knew the answers because we read our books. Harry was raised by muggles so I know his knowledge of our magical world is limited just like any other muggle born attending Hogwarts. He picked on me as well because he thought I wasn't paying attention but in fact I was taking notes. She took out her notebook and showed it to McGonagall. He then tried to blame Harry for a potion Neville ruined when he wasn't even working with him. He wasn't being fair so I made it my business to tell him, he was angry that I actually had the guts to tell him while everyone else is too afraid to say anything because they're scared. I don't like bullies and I will put them in their place, even if they are teachers."

McGonagall listened the entire time with a neutral expression, not saying anything until Emrys had finished.

" I appreciate that you are willing to stand up for your friends and do what is right. Very Gryffindor of you. However, Professor Snape is still your Professor and you should have waited until the end of class to speak with him and had taken a more respectful approach."

Emrys sighed and slumped slightly in her chair. Of course she'd take Snape's side, he was a teacher and she was a student.

"But still, Snape should know better than to pick on students that way." Emrys raised her head up in surprise to see McGonagall give her a thin smile. "He can be very strict, and sometimes he does cross the line. I believe a small reminder on those limits are in order."

"I will still get detention right?" Emrys said with a wry smile.

"Indeed. But instead of a week we'll make it three days. Professor Snape has requested you clean one of unused classrooms without magic. As to which classroom will be up to him."

"Yes Professor."

"Alright, you will be notified on the time of you detentions by Professor Snape during the week. You are dismissed."

"Thank you Professor." she replied with a small bow and exciting her office. As she walked away she was suddenly grabbed by the arm and pulled behind a knight and into a small corridor. She gave a yelp and looked up to meet the smirking faces of the twins. She huffed and slapped both in the arm.

"What the bloody hell guys!"

"So, how's it go?"

"Are you going to be in detention?"

"Are they sending you to the forbidden forest?"

"Are they expelling you?"

"Seriously? Expelled?" She laughed. "Sorry to disappoint, no, I was not expelled. I did still get detention but it was shortened to two days instead. And no I did not get back the twenty points I lost to Gryffindor."

"Twenty?! That's how much the greasy git took away?!"

"Relax, I'll get them back." she smiled and then she groaned as she suddenly remembered something.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I promised mum I'd write to her...and not I have to include my detention in the letter." she whined, letting her head fall. The twins patter her back in consolation.

"Don't worry, if anything I'm sure you'll survive. Lets just hope she doesn't send a howler."

At this she paled and so did her hair.

"That's not even funny don't jinx me!" she snapped while they laughed as they wrapped an arm each around her shoulders and let her down the corridor which she just realized looked more like a tunnel.

"Uh, guys...what is this place."

"This is a secret passageway." they said. "We know every secret passageway there is in this castle and you as our protege will learn our ways."

"Don't you guys have class?" she asked and they tutted.

"Emry have you not learned from us?"

"We will always make it on time if we so desire."

"Now, time to learn." they chorused as they walked down the secret passageway.

By the time the day ended and Emrys was falling asleep with Merlin resting against her head once more only one thought went through her mind.

I have a feeling my first year at Hogwarts is going to be full of adventures.