Author's Note; All known characters belong to JKR while Ashley belongs to me and me alone!

Chapter 5

When they entered the Headmaster's office, Ashley saw the large black dog that dragged her out of the woods standing off to the side. She went over and hugged it in thanks for helping her out that morning.

"Good afternoon, we'll make this quick as four of you have classes to attend. Sirius, you can make yourself known," Dumbledore said.

With a faint *pop*, a man stood where the dog was a few minutes ago. Ashley jumped back with a startled yelp. She backed off as Harry rushed over and gave the gaunt man with black hair a huge hug. His eyes were shadowed and haunted while his long hair was in disarray.

"Harry, I need to tell you that Peter Pettigrew was sighted near Hogsmeade," Dumbledore stated. "Which means that Voldemort is also close by. Harry you'll have to stay near the castle and the rest of you be careful, okay?"

"Sure, sir," Harry replied, "where was he sighted?"

"In a muggle village near us, so I want you four to be alert."

"That means, co sneaking out," the man called Sirius told them, "I'm going to patrolling the grounds daily, so don't try to sneak off."

"Okay, Sirius," the three said.

"Get to class. Tell Professor Snape that Professor Lupin will bring Miss Snape down as soon as we're done," Dumbledore said as the trio left the office. "Now, Miss Snape, this is Sirius Black. He is an animagus and a good friend of Professor Lupin. We would like to know if you want any of your new friends to know about your being a werewolf?"

"Not right now, sir. I'm not too comfortable yet in my own house, let alone with any transformations," she answered.

"That is something else we wanted to talk to you about, Miss Snape. What made you run like that this morning?" Professor Lupin asked.

"Well, I woke up early and went to the common room to write to a friend in the States. There were two redheaded boys bent over a piece of parchment. They didn't see me come in and I didn't feel like socializing. When Hermione came down and greeted me, the two boys looked at me with a dirty look and walked out," she said. "Then another boy called me a spy because my uncle is Head of Slytherin."

"The two redheads are Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George, they are usually easy-going, and I wonder what is wrong with them?" Professor Lupin wondered aloud. "We want to know that you are wanted here. You have no enemies here. Now, next week is the full moon. I'll await you in the Entrance Hall, okay?"

"Thank you. What will you tell any one who sees us?"

"I'll say we are working on catching you up with the DADA because you didn't take it at your old school." Lupin explained.

"Okay."

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When Ashley arrived at the Potions room with Lupin, she had herself worked up in a frenzy. She had heard that he was the meanest teacher in the school. He promised to tell the Potion Master that the Headmaster takes the blame for her being late.

They went in and her uncle turned towards them. His glare told her that he wasn't in a good mood. She shivered as he came sweeping towards them.

"So, you think that as my niece, you can show up whenever you want, Miss Snape. Well, you'll see that I'm not very nice to tardy students. Detention tonight! Now sit!" he positively snarled in her direction. "What do you want, Lupin?"

"To tell you that the Headmaster wanted to see her and that is why she is late, she would have been here on time, but he kept her longer than he thought, Severus," Lupin replied kindly.

"She is here, now get out of my classroom," Snape growled.

Lupin left and Snape pointed to a seat in front of his desk. She sat down and looked at the board to see what ingredients she need for the potion she was making. When she saw the list, she knew right away what they were brewing. She made in her fourth year in her old school.

"Miss Snape, you'll be working alone. This is a complicated potion that will be poison if brewed wrong."

Ashley took out the proper ingredients and started to work on chopping and crushing. She didn't ask any questions as Snape moved throughout the class, looking over everyone's shoulders. He was giving compliments to the Slytherins and criticizing the Gryffindors.

"Longbottom! The potion is supposed to be yellow by now, not a bright blue. You added the salamander eggs to soon, idiot boy," Snape bit out, "fix it by the end of class!"

After this, he came over and peered at Ashley's cauldron and noted with surprise that it was at its proper color. He glared at her and moved on as one of the Slytherin's potion exploded.

Everyone ducked as the potion flew all over the room. Several students cried out in pain as the Corrosive Potion hit them. They were all trying to get out of the way as there was a panic that filled the room.

Professor Snape yelled for quiet as he aimed his wand at the mess. He told the students who were injured to go to the Hospital Wing and others to leave the room. He then turned to the offending Slytherin.

"Mr. Malfoy, what happened?" Snape inquired.

"I…I don't…kn…know, sir," Malfoy stuttered, "it just exploded."

"Well, clean it up the mess. 15 points from Slytherin and detention with Miss Snape tonight."