Disclaimer: I don't own the characters as mush as I wish I did. Description for the Hufflepuff Common room is snippets from the Wizarding world website: writing-by-jk-rowling/hufflepuff-common-room.

Chapter 3 – Keep your chin up Evans

"Congratulations on making it into Gryffindor, it was bound to happen" I smiled at both Fred and George. They both grinned at me, individually pulling me into a hug.

"Thanks, it's a shame you didn't get in, Hufflepuff is still great though" Fred placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Maybe I'm just not brave enough" I joked half-heartedly; in all honesty I was a little disappointed in not making it into Gryffindor. Charlie gave me a one-armed hug and a gentle pat on the shoulder.

"Your Mum and Dad would be proud anyway Mickey you know that" Fred reassured me. The other students began making their way towards the prefects as the called for order.

"Hey Evans, come on we got to go" Cedric waved at me from the Hufflepuff group. I nodded and turned to the three people I called family.

"See they're calling you Evans already" George chuckled as they all pulled me into one last hug.

"I'm always here for you Mickey, no matter what house you're in" Fred hugged me the longest and I buried my face in his shoulder. It was going to be weird not having him around all the time, but it was something I was going to have to get use too.

"Thanks Fred" I pulled away and gave him one last smile before making my way over to Cedric and the other Hufflepuff's. We followed the prefects towards the Hufflepuff common room, Cedric chattering away as we went. I nodded my head to make it look like I was listening, but I was in a world of my own. It was weird not having some one I knew, who knew my condition.

"Michelle are you even listening?" Cedric asked sounding slightly annoyed.

"Sorry, just a little distracted that's all" I tucked some hair behind my ear and looked up at him he watched me carefully as if he was afraid that any moment I would just break.

"I know it's a scary thing being away from family, but you'll still get to see them" He smiled and patted my shoulder. What is it with everyone either patting me or touching my shoulder, I'm not a dog…oh wait. I sighed and carried on walking with the rest of the house to the common room. It felt like forever before we reached the entrance which consisted of a stack of barrels. I tried to listen carefully to what the prefect was saying.

"To enter the common room you must tap Helga Hufflepuff on the barrel two from the bottom and the middle of the second row, if you tap the wrong barrel you will be smelling like vinegar for the rest of the day" He spoke clearly, raising an eyebrow at the group.

"That seem fairly simple" I muttered to Cedric, who I noticed had step closer to me his arm brushing mine.

"Well best make sure we get the right barrel eh?" he chuckled "Stick with me you'll be fine". The prefect tapped out the password and the barrel opened revealing an earthly passage similar to that of a badger's sett. We travelled down the passage until it opened out into a large room decorated in hues of yellow and black. Honey-coloured tables were situated in the middle of the room surrounded by wooden chairs cover in patch-work quilts. Two large round doors lay at the far end of the room leading to the dormitories. I looked around in awe, feeling a smile creep onto my face.

"Amazing isn't?" Cedric watch my face light up as I looked around.

"Magical" I laughed my eyes flicking back to his. I raised an eyebrow at him "What?"

"Nothing"

"So why are you staring at me?" I asked curiously. I was used to being stared at because of my scars but this was different. This was almost like he liked me? 'That's impossible' I told myself, nobody could like me, well except the Weasley's but they were family.

"Sorry, it's the way you glow when you smile" He ran a hand through his hair, a red flush crossing his cheeks. Was he blushing?

"Um, thanks…I think" I bit my lip and looked away suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"Boys dormitories to the left, Girls to the right, all your luggage has been brought up from the train and placed by your beds along with your new robes and schedules, classes will start tomorrow so take this time to relax and get to know your fellow housemates" The prefect concluded with a wave of his hand, like he was dismissing us. I made my way towards the girl's dormitory along with the others, once again marvelling at the decoration as we opened the door. Inside lay a series of four poster beds, each with yellow curtains, the walls were decorated like the main common room in the same yellow and black scheme. I noticed Snowy's cage on top of a set of draws, my case propped up next to them as well. She squeaked when she saw me, and I couldn't help but smile. I wandered over to the bed, making a mental note that it was the closest one to the door, that must've been Dumbledore's doing. On the bed lay a tie, jumper, headband, scarf, gloves and robes all in the Hufflepuff colours, next to them lay my schedule and an envelope. I firstly picked the schedule up scanning over the cursive to find that most of my lessons would be with the Gryffindors, I inwardly sighed with relief at the knowledge that the twins would be part of them. Next, I picked up the envelope, the green writing formed the words 'Miss Evans', I looked up to see that no one else had a letter and were to bust chatting with each other. I placed my new clothing items neatly in the draws and gave Snowy a treat before sitting down on my bed. I felt myself sink into the mattress as soon as my weight hit it. The parchment of the envelope was thick almost like card, flipping it over I noticed the same wax seal that graced the back of the acceptance letters. I quickly glanced around me again before opening the envelope, pulling out a single piece of parchment. The letter held the same green cursive writing as the envelope, it read:

Dear Miss Evans Potter

This letter is address to Miss Evans on the event one of your fellow students decided to pick it up. Molly Weasley has informed me that she told you about the measures we have in place to help with your monthly transformations. Remus Lupin has provided you with the potion that helps making the transformation slightly easier, that can be found in the bottom draw in a brown box. It has a disillusionment charm on it so that nosey housemates won't find it. For three days a month you will be excused from your classes, the day before, during and after the full moon, this is to ensure your safety and that you are of health to once again attend the classes. All your teachers have been informed and will help you catch up on anything you have missed during this time.

I have it on good authority from Mrs Weasley that her son Fredrick or Fred as I believe he likes to be called, has been the one to help you through these stressful times over the last few years. Now as she has already told you, Mr Lupin will be meeting you but as a promise to both Mrs Weasley and yourself, I will be allowing young Master Weasley to help you as well.

She has also informed m that you know of the name change, purely for your own safety as well as that of your brothers. The wizarding world may believe that Lord Voldermort is gone, but I am of the firm belief that he is still out there and he will come for the two children that evaded him, the one that defeated him and the one that hid. Tread very carefully Miss Potter, Hogwarts is a safe place, as safe as a place could be but the outside world is dangerous.

To conclude this letter, I welcome you to Hogwarts and congratulate you on being sorted into Hufflepuff House, house of the loyal, hard-working and kind. I know you must be disappointed about not being sorted into Gryffindor, but the Sorting Hat chooses accordingly. I for one think you are very brave, not many 11-year olds have to go through what you do, but your kindness and loyalty to your family is what makes you who you are. Should you need to ask me anything, you are welcome to visit my office, the password is lemon drops.

My best wishes to you Miss Potter

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster.

I must've read and re read the letter a few times before finally grasping what it said. Dumbledore basically confirmed my fears that he who must not be named is still out there lying in wait and all I could hope was that Harry was safe with the Durselys. On the flip side I was grateful to be excused from classes for three days a month, as I needed the time to prepare and recover. I was also extremely grateful that Fred would be with me as well as Remus. Over the last three years Fred had taken his time perfecting ways to calm me down when I transformed. He tried everything, music, spells, potions, but nothing would work, until one day he tried talking to me in a smooth calming voice and miraculously it worked. The wolfsbane potion that Remus had given me helped to ease some of the pain of the transformation, but it didn't help with the memory loss. You see when you transform back from being a werewolf your memories don't follow, so you could harm your best friend, but you wouldn't remember. I remember Remus telling me stories of how, Dad, Sirius and at the time their friend Peter would try to turn themselves into Animagi so that he wasn't alone during the full moon. He also told me that was how Mum found out. She had followed them one day, curious as to why they would disappear during the full moon. When she found out, she apparently laughed at what they turned into: A stag, a dog and a rat. Remus said that's when she understood why they were called, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs and that she also discovered that they had created The Marauder's Map. A map that would show the entirety of Hogwarts school, from secret passageways to who was where at what time. I always wondered what happened to that map, thinking it would be nice to have a part of my parents' history with me.

"Um, Hello?" I looked up to see a small, dark-haired girl looking at me nervously.

"Hi" I smiled a small smile placing the letter back in the envelope and putting it in the bottom draw with my potion.

"I'm Eve, I wanted to see if you were okay, you looked upset" she seemed very timid and almost…scared?

"I'm okay just a little out of sorts I guess" I sighed. I wasn't the easiest person to talk to but when someone actually tried to talk to me, I appreciated it.

"That's understandable, it is scary being away from home" she fidgeted as if she was trying to find some way out of the conversation.

"It's fine you don't have to talk to me" I lowered my head to look at my hands. She shuffled away quickly, making her way back to the giggling group of girls in the far corner of the room. I discreetly wiped a tear from my eye and made my way out into the common room to find Cedric. He was sat in one of the sunshine coloured armchairs near the fireplace, book in hand and a concentrated look on his face.

"Mind if I sit here?" I asked timidly feeling very alone and unwanted. His snapped his head up to look at me, a smile crossing his features as he realised who it was.

"Of course…are you okay Michelle?" He asked concern filtering through his voice as he spoke. I wrapped my robe around me and flopped into the chair next to him.

"I'm used to being talked about and laughed at but when it's the people you have to spend the rest of the year with, it's a little hurtful" I whimpered trying my absolute damndest to hold back the tears that were brewing.

"Hey Michelle, it's okay you've got me and I know it's our first year but I'm here for you and I'm sure the Weasley Twins will look out for you as well" He closed the book he was reading and lent forward to place a hand on my knee. I looked up at him feeling the tears spill over and trail down my cheeks.

"I always thought being her would feel like home but now I just…I don't know" I sniffled letting my head fall into my hands. Cedric must've moved because I felt arms wrap around me in a hug. He just sat there with me letting me cry it out until he decided it would be better if I went to sleep and started fresh in the morning. I nodded and made my way back to the dorm. The gaggle of girls was still in the corner laughing and joking about something. I ignored them and changed into my nightwear, pulling the curtains around my bed for some privacy. I fed Snowy a treat before pulling back the cover and climbing between the feather soft sheets. Day one of being at Hogwarts and I already felt alone and scared.

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