Author's Note: This story starts near the beginning of December and will continue until I feel my muse has stopped. Mind you, that all characters, except for Ashley and any other original ones, belong to J.K. Rowling. Enjoy the Sequel!!!!

Changing Winds

Chapter 1

Ashley Snape walked into her potions classroom with her friends. Her hazel eyes were alight with laughter as Ron showed her a letter from his older brother about a mishap with a certain dragon. Her shoulder length brown hair was in its customary ponytail she wore for potions. It whipped Harry in the face as she turned her head to face the teacher of the class, Professor Severus Snape.

"Well, Ron, if you count the number of times Norbert burned Hagrid and you three, Charlie should know by now not to trust him around any parchment." Ashley laughed.

"I know, but the letter was from my mum and, boy, was she sore. She sent him a howler because he was so careless. Boy, do I hate her howlers," he said in a low voice.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the famous quartet," a drawling voice was heard from behind them.

The four ignored Draco Malfoy and continued towards their seats. They didn't want to get any points taken off or a detention. The look on Malfoy's face was priceless as he noticed that he was being ignored.

"Class, we're going to be learning about a potion that is very difficult to brew. So, I want you all to copy down the ingredients and start to research what each would do and how they work together," Snape said as he revealed the Wolfsbane potion on the board.

Ashley looked at the ingredients and just about passed out. She knew that she wouldn't be able to brew the potion without getting sick. But she wrote down the ingredients and started her research, even though she knew the concoction by heart.

By the end of class, most of the students had the first three ingredients researched. There was a total of eleven ingredients to be researched before they began to brew the potion. She needed to speak to her uncle so she stayed behind after everyone else had left, the trio leaving reluctantly, knowing the problem.

"Uncle Severus, can I speak to you for a moment?" Ashley asked.

"Okay, but I know what you are going to ask and I want you to know why I'm doing this project," he said. "I'm trying to find out which ingredient is making you pass out during and after your transformations."

"How do we explain why I'm not going to making the potion? I have enough trouble with drinking the brew," Ashley said with a grimace.

"I have something to ask of you," he stated. "I would like to announce to this group about you being a werewolf. I know it will spread throughout the school, but for this project to work, the others will need to know why and try to work harder to achieve a successful solution."

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Ashley was stunned by what her uncle had asked of her and was in her room, trying to figure out if she should allow her secret to come out in the open. She worked so hard to be accepted when she arrived that she had the comfort of the friendship of the Gryffindor House.

She hadn't told Harry, Ron, or Hermione about her uncle's request and she didn't know why. She felt like she needed to speak to someone, but she didn't know who would understand. Then the perfect person popped into her head.

Professor Lupin! Surely, he would understand her predicament. Maybe he can counsel her on the problem. He has been there whenever she needed him and he also carries her back to the infirmary each morning after the full moon.

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Ashley walked to the door of Professor Lupin's classroom. She was able to hear him finishing up the lecture he was giving some seventh year students. She waited at the door as he gave a homework assignment and dismissed the class.

The students all filed out of the room and Ashley entered to watch Lupin gather together his supplies. He looked up to see her in standing in front of his desk.

"Anything I can help you with, Miss Snape?" he asked kindly.

"Can I ask your opinion about something?"

"Sure. Come into my office. I'll prepare some tea for our discussion," he invited.

They walk into his office and she sat in a chair opposite from the desk. He gathered cups and the tea service and prepared the tea. All this was done in silence as Ashley tried to think of a way to broach the subject that had her all worked up.

"Professor, I had a talk with my uncle and he wants to tell my potions group about me being a werewolf because we're working on finding a solution to my problem with the Wolfsbane potion. I'm all muddled on whether or not I should let them know," Ashley spoke out in a rush.

"Well, Ashley, he spoke to me about it also and I think that you should because you will need to explain why you are not going to be working on brewing the potion," he said. "I know that the rest of the school will find out, but maybe your true friends will stick by you."

"I know, sir, but, I'm very scared that the friends I have already made will shun me as a result."

"Does anyone besides the teachers know about you being a werewolf?"

"Yes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I told them after my second transformation here at school."

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This is it. I hope you enjoy the first chapter.