"Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but its what is in between that really counts."

--Hope Floats.

Gideon and Vladimir's best guess was that you could tell that most of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry history was on displayed on it's walls. Akemi had never seen history so alive as it was when she walked up the stone steps of the school into the entrance hall. Albus Dumbledore looked down and kept smiling at the girl's expression. Her eyes were wild and excited but her face was a cool mask. She had her lips pressed tightly together, trying not to be overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the school, that she nearly jumped into his arms when Peeves dropped a rubber bat on her head. They had arrived on Halloween, after taking a brief stop at Diagon Alley to pick up some things she would need. Unlike Hecate, at Hogwarts the student was responsible for supplying their needs. She had asked where was her money coming from to which Dumbledore revealed she had a small trust waiting for her in Gringotts. It wasn't much but it did buy her a brand new wand of yew and phoenix feather. Ollivander had said it was a peculiar blend that symbolized death and rebirth. Then he added as a sort of morbid undertone it would work well with Dark Magic. Akemi was certain she didn't like that wand maker.

"Now, for the time being you will be housed in Gryffindor." Dumbledore explained, smiling when Akemi pushed a little closer to him. "But in two weeks we're moved you to another House, then in two weeks to another until you find a house that suits you. Apart from Gryffindor, there is Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin."

"At Hecate, there are seven ranks for students." Akemi said, studying the school's crest. "We are divided based on merit and talent. How are students divided here?"

"The virtues each student holds most dear."

She made a face. "So how do you decide whose the best?"

Dumbledore smiled, already getting an idea on which house would best suit this girl. He winked at her before pushing opened the great doors to the Grand Hall. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

The Great Hall was even more beautiful because it was decorated with huge Jack O Lanterns, hovering bats and tables filled with all assortments of candy. Akemi ran a hand through her multicolored hair and chewed on her black nail nervously.

"Excuse me." Said a girl from a corner table. She was about Akemi's age, dressed in the plain school robes Dumbledore had taken her to buy, except on the girl's robe was a blue and bronze crest. "I've never seen you before."

"I'm new. Direct from Hecate."

"My name is Fiona, what's yours?"

"Everyone calls me Akemi."

"Well, Akemi where are you sitting?"

Dumbledore spoke then. "You can sit with Fiona during the feast, just make sure to follow them." He pointed to a table wearing gold and red crests. "When it's time to leave."

"Yes sir."

"Call me Professor."

"Yes sir."

He was about to do a double take but thought better of it. Instead, he bowed and walked towards the staff table. Minerva McGonagall was the first of all the teachers who noticed the new arrival to speak. "Who is she?"

"A new discovery, I've been watching from some time."

"The latest prodigy to be discovered by the famous Professor Dumbledore." Teased the silky voice of Severus Snape. He smirked genteelly at the Headmaster. "Where on earth do you find such," He paused, noting Akemi's distinct hair color. "Oddities."

"America."

"Ah," Snape replied as if that answered all his questions. "Of course."

"Oh don't be so biased Severus." Dumbledore couldn't resist. "She's a force with Potions. She may surprise you yet."

"Nothing surprises me, Headmaster."

"Ah," Dumbledore mimicked mildly. "Of course."

Fiona handed Akemi a plate of chicken. "What classes do you enjoy?"

She shrugged, still too entranced by her surroundings to give room for chat. "All of them but Charms I'm really good at and Potions is my favorite."

"That'll change here." Fiona joked.

"Why?"

"Him." Fiona was pointing towards a black clad man who was scanning the room like a hawk. "That is out Potions Master, Professor Snape."

"I know."

"You've met him?'

"No." She replied. "But he helped develop a potion that allows werewolves to retain their identity during the full moon. It revolutionized they were Lycanthropes reacted to the moon." She noticed Fiona staring at her strangely. She bit her lip. "Sorry, Potions are a little bit of an obsession for me."

"Not a prob." Fiona grinned. "I'm like that with Transfiguration."

"Your have to help me then. I suck at it."

"Fred! George!" Screamed a boy with brilliant red hair, wearing horn rimmed glasses and looking very angry. He stalked into the Gryffindor, searching the room. "What did you do with my star map?"

Akemi, who was sitting in the corner flipping casually through her schoolbooks, looked up just as a set of twins jumped from their seats looking innocent and a little hurt.

"Why Percy." The twin nearest Akemi said. "We were just going over it."

"Modifying it!" Chirped the other twin. He threw a smile at Akemi. "Weren't we Fred?"

Fred slipped something into Akemi's book before inching towards his brother. "I'm not going to answer that. If Percy can't trust us, his own brothers, I feel ashamed to be called Weasley. I'm going to bed."

"Me too." George said, following his brother. He favored her with a wink before disappearing. She was left with a very steamed Percy who barely noticed her. He demanded, "Who are you?"

She looked up. "Akemi, I'm staying in the fourth year dorm for two weeks and you're Percy right?"

"Yeah." Percy said, walking towards her and sat down beside her.

She leaned over and handed him his map back. "I'm afraid you're going to have help me though, I'm not familiar with the constellations: Snape's Nose Minor and Major."

Akemi learned three things in her first day at Hogwarts: McGonagall's class ran circles around the Hecate class, Mallory ran circles around Quirrell and most importantly: the English were way too serious when it came to wearing the school uniform. Although Dumbledore had granted to her permission to wear her beloved jeans during classes the teachers didn't mind and during her free time, he warned her that she would be wise to wear school uniform for her Potions class. So, when her Potions class came, Akemi was dressed in her school uniform with her hair pulled back (she had dyed a multicolored blend of mainly black with blue, green, dark purple, and gold.) She had also changed her eye color from green to hazel. She had been wearing contacts for most of life due to too many late night reading sessions.

"Today I will be grading your Wit Sharpening Potions," Professor Snape murmured in a dull soft voice. He began to patrol the rows of his classroom. "As for you Miss…" He chuckled softly. "I forget you don't have a last name, do you believe you can perform this potion without the lecture? If not I'm sure you can make it up in detention."

It occurred to her that she had nothing to earn detention but she remained silent. She could allow that little injustice. She smiled coyly. "Where do I sit?"

"Next to Mr. Weasley." The Potions Master whispered and she took a seat next to Percy.

The boy smiled at her sheepishly and she noticed his ears turn pink. "I can help you…if you need it."

"No problem." She said, pulling out a pocketknife from inside her robe. It was a simple flip out knife with an obsidian hilt and a silver dragon stretched out over it. She saw his expression and smirked nervously. "I'm very picky about my tools."

"You like doing this?"

"Love it. Back home, I used to help with first years."

"Your really something…" Percy whispered then began again. "Listen, tonight is the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff game and I'd love…I mean..."

"I've never been to a Qudditch game between houses. We play against other schools."

"Really? That's wonderful! I mean, that means…"

She smiled. "I'd like for you to take me to the game."

"Well, that was a masterful performance, but not on my time." Snape's soft voice interrupted again. "Mr. Weasley, five points will be taken from your House and another ten if you insist on continuing with your shameful flirtations." The laughter in the room turned Percy into a raspberry. Then Snape turned his attention towards Akemi. "And as for you Miss, I suggest you get to work- because after you're done you will be cleaning the cauldrons."

She opened her mouth to contest but closed it after some time and a whole lot of discipline. She turned her attention back to the scarab beetles. She didn't think she liked Professor Snape at all.