Recently, I've had some free time, so here we are again.

Let's start with the customary greetings. Hello everyone, I'm KaleidoMirror. For those of you who don't know me yet, it's a pleasure to be here and share my work with you.

As I've mentioned before, this story is going to be a long one, so I ask for your patience. I would love to hear your opinions so far. I know it may seem a bit heavy or even slow to some, but personally, I've read other crossovers that often fail to explain the foundational aspects or follow the theme that Shirou has already transmigrated and possesses plot-driven abilities without providing an explanation or addressing the powers of the new world clearly. That's why, in this story, Shirou has a well-founded reason for being here, and while it's obvious that he will change the plot, I will try to follow my vision of what would likely happen if Shirou actually arrived in the magical world. After all, that's the reason I wrote this fanfic in the first place.

I truly appreciate your patience and continuous support. At the end of this chapter, I would love to know in the comments which story you would like me to prioritize for quicker updates. Your comments and suggestions are vital to me, and I take them into account to improve and adjust the narrative according to your preferences.

"Harry Potter" and all its literary installments, as well as the original film adaptations, belong to author J.K. Rowling. I also drew inspiration from "Fate/Stay Night" and its various adaptations and visual novels, originally created by Kinoko Nasu and Typemoon.

Are you ready?

Enjoy!

– Gryffindor Tower, Dormitory Number 7 –

In the days that followed, Shirou found himself mentally absent most of the time.

The situation had pushed him to his limits, but he found a way to unwind at the end of the day. Within the safety of his room, he took his time to admire the beautiful yet unfamiliar landscape outside the castle window.

To be fair, this was an activity he enjoyed having to himself. He took the necessary precautions, waiting until his roommates were deeply asleep to avoid awkward moments and explanations he preferred not to give.

This night, gazing at the full moon, he couldn't help but reflect on his deepest uncertainties and fears, those he had avoided facing until now.

"How did I get here? Why me?" he whispered to himself repeatedly. His shoulders felt heavier, moving with a certain lethargy. His expression remained partially stoic, but the weariness was evident in his sighs and the hidden anguish in his golden eyes.

It was inevitable; he was only an eleven-year-old boy. Staying up late took a toll on his young mind, which constantly spun as he tried to remember the exact moment he awoke in this unfamiliar world.

"Everything feels so unreal, like I'm in a dream or maybe the beginning of a nightmare I can't wake up from..." he murmured, clenching his hands in frustration, lowering his head as he realized nothing had prepared him for this.

The change had been too abrupt during the sorting event. He felt overwhelmed by the torrent of emotions as he noticed the volatile differences in everything around him: from fear, relentless loneliness, total abandonment, and complete anxiety, but above all, a deep confusion about what he was witnessing.

"Is this really magic? Am I still dreaming or is all of this painfully real?"

Who could have imagined it? Now he found himself in a completely unknown world, surrounded and captivated by the fantasy that enveloped everything related to the miracles happening before his eyes. However, he also understood that he was surrounded by wizards, potentially dangerous beings he had only heard about in legends and myths.

It took every ounce of his willpower to continue fighting to adapt to this new reality, despite trembling with fear and dealing with constant revelations that shattered everything he knew about the truth of the world.

"I must adapt. I have no other choice!" he told himself, trying to convince himself that he still had control over his destiny.

At that moment, he felt a kind of resonance that made his darkest thoughts fade. The incredible capacity of human adaptation became evident; he needed to behave to avoid suspicion, determined to keep a low profile, trying to be just another student among the new ones.

But now, with each passing day, the facade of "Shirou Smith" began to crack and twist.

"How much longer can I keep this up?" he wondered, staring at his tired reflection in the window glass.

Shirou's mental stability was on the verge of collapse, in a constant struggle against uncertainty and fear.

"None of this makes sense. How am I supposed to go on?"

As a result, it was not surprising that he became increasingly introverted, although it might not seem so at first glance. The unanswered questions tormented him, and in the solitude of the night, he allowed himself to release these pent-up emotions.

"Coo~" The white-gray owl announced its presence as it flew down to perch on his right shoulder, playing with his hair. Elius, his owl, tried to cheer him up in her own way.

"You're right, little one. I can't give up now!" Shirou responded, feeling comforted as he scratched the owl's neck. Elius closed her eyes contentedly at the touch. "There must be a reason for all this!" he told himself, clinging to hope.

Because deep down, he hoped for a small miracle, starting to think about how to keep that hope alive. Despite facing a situation beyond his expectations, without knowing exactly how to proceed, Shirou refused to let himself be defeated.

– Third Floor Corridors –

In the following days, Shirou's behavior didn't seem unusual to those around him, but that soon changed.

The small group of friends noticed the change to varying degrees. To Ron, Shirou seemed more distant. Hermione noticed a strange worry in his eyes. Harry tried to understand what was happening to his new friend. The situation reached a breaking point with Shirou's awkward mistake during the last History of Magic class.

That afternoon, as they walked to the library as usual, Hermione decided it was time to address the issue. She gripped her bag tightly, steeling herself, and stopped abruptly.

"Hey, Shirou, can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Sure, what's up?" Shirou replied, feeling a strange discomfort in the air.

Hermione took a moment. "Shirou," she said softly, looking directly into his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied immediately, but his nervousness was evident as he scratched the back of his neck. "But I don't understand, why the sudden question?"

"Nothing... just curiosity," Hermione tried to sound serious, but it was difficult.

They stared at each other for a moment before Shirou sighed deeply, deciding to be honest. "Alright, I'm sorry if I've worried you... I think it's just my behavior lately... maybe I'm just hungrier than usual and it's making me a bit withdrawn, that's all."

"Really?" Hermione stepped closer, but Shirou took a step back, which only confirmed her suspicions.

"As far as I'm concerned, that's not the reason. I've noticed you've been a bit... distant lately, Shirou," she said, trying to hide her concern.

"Really, it's nothing you need to worry about, Hermione," Shirou responded with a forced smile, avoiding her gaze.

"You know?" Hermione continued, ignoring his poor excuse, "It's not like you to make mistakes like that, especially after showing so much interest in Godric Gryffindor's sword. Even Professor Binns didn't know how to react when he docked five points from our house today."

"I'm really sorry, Hermione. I haven't been at my best lately," Shirou said, his voice a mix of sincerity and exhaustion. "I think it's just stress, but a few hours of sleep should fix it. I promise I'll see Madam Pomfrey if it persists."

Hermione, always perceptive, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's all? Because you seem... a bit different to me."

At that moment, a battle of wills ensued. The intensity in Hermione's brown eyes made Shirou reconsider his honesty.

"Alright, you're right this time," he admitted reluctantly, frowning. "It's just... I'm still trying to adjust to Hogwarts. You know?"

"Come on, Shirou, we all have bad days. I've seen how hard you've worked these past few days," Hermione said, smiling slightly. "After a few study sessions with me, you won't make such silly mistakes again."

"I don't know," Shirou sighed. "I felt guilty seeing everyone's disappointed faces when we lost house points."

Hermione felt conflicted, but knew it wasn't time for more studying. Her friend needed support.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure we recover those points," she said, trying to stay calm. "Maybe we should use this as an excuse to relax this weekend. Harry and Ron have been begging us to take it easy. I think we all need a break. What do you think?"

"That sounds great," Shirou replied after a moment, still hesitant. "But everything about Hogwarts and magic is overwhelming to me, to the point of feeling deeply pressured by it all."

Turning, he leaned against the wall, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders as he confessed the real issue. "There's just so much I don't understand, and with everything that's happened, I feel like I'm always a step behind everyone else."

Hermione nodded understandingly. She too felt insecure and overwhelmed as a first-year student.

"It's complicated. To be honest, I can't know exactly how you feel, but I can imagine it," she said, nervously playing with her hands. "We've received lots of advice and warnings from our professors about how studying here can be intimidating at first."

Running a hand through her hair, she felt a bit annoyed when it tangled with her fingers. Shirou noticed but suppressed his laughter enough to avoid a scolding look from Hermione.

"But we were also encouraged to step forward and pursue our dreams," she said, her voice growing stronger. "I assure you, we all go through this, some faster than others. Even I feel like this most of the time, though it might not seem that way."

Shirou raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Really?" he asked, showing a different expression from the melancholy of recent days. The irony in his tone made Hermione smile. "As far as I'm concerned, you've shown a gift for learning in our classes. It's obvious to everyone that you have the potential to become one of the brightest students here."

"You're just saying that to embarrass me, Shirou," Hermione said, laughing and giving him a playful shove, the start of a friendly exchange.

Shirou tried to dodge the playful hits but ultimately both ended up laughing together.

"But I won't deny that you've helped me a lot with studying," he said, a bit embarrassed but honest. "I've seen how hard you work to get the best results."

Hermione stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

"But I do feel a bit envious seeing how quickly you progress in practical skills, making it look so easy," Shirou admitted, lowering his gaze and sighing. "To the point where... you always seem to have everything under control."

Hermione didn't say anything but gave him a reproachful look, understanding his feelings. "Trust me, it's not always like that," she said, her expression softening. "You remember the first time you messed up the basic transfiguration mantra? I made an emergency compilation just for you."

"I don't get it, what do you mean?" Shirou asked, confused.

With some difficulty, Hermione pulled out what seemed to be a dirty book full of notes, clippings, and a few images sticking out of its pages. "I don't know how much effort I put into this, but it's a rushed job. I hope you like this surprise gift, even though it's not finished," she said with a smile and a noticeable stammer.

Shirou was speechless, surprised by Hermione's gesture of friendship.

"What are you waiting for?" she asked, slightly annoyed by his lack of reaction. "Is my best friend someone capable of showing such disregard for something like this?"

Hermione knew a bit about Shirou's personality from their time in the library, but even she felt nervous when he still looked confused.

A brief silence fell between them as passing students gave them curious looks.

Unable to take it any longer, Hermione gave him a moderate push on the chest, letting out her frustration. "You're simply incredible, Shirou! You're so insensitive and clueless about how to make a girl nervous and offended," she said with a bittersweet smile, murmuring before storming off. "Just remember you can count on me for anything you need."

At this point, Shirou finally reacted, feeling a strange mix of emotions.

He regretted not being completely honest with his friend about what had happened, but he could handle it. At least initially, this whole adventure had been fun. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to express that just the first week at Hogwarts made him aware of his inadequacy in this new world, a constant struggle to adapt to an unfamiliar environment.

His only solace was enjoying the daily activities he was involved in, making them significant enough to show genuine emotion.

But unknowingly, Hermione's gesture was the spark he needed to start changing his mindset. He would definitely apologize later and prepare a suitable gift for her when he had the chance. Watching her head to the library, he murmured gratefully.

"Thank you so much, Hermione. You've helped more than you know, and I promise I'll be fine soon."

– Gryffindor Tower Dormitory Number 7 –

(Days Later)

As expected, the group of friends began to notice a significant but clearly positive change in Shirou. This new development left them feeling relieved to varying degrees. For his part, young Smith enjoyed the experience and began to seriously consider what it truly meant to be a wizard in this new world, calmly trying to find his place at Hogwarts.

For instance, influenced momentarily by the ideas of the Weasley twins, Shirou took the opportunity to use the levitation charm to briefly make Scabbers float above his palm. Ron's rat seemed to look at him with curiosity, just as it had since their first meeting.

With this prank in mind, Shirou decided to observe the animal closely while testing this small trick. But just as he was preparing, the rodent made a mistake, causing it to hide under a book. At the moment he cast the charm, both the book and the rat floated simultaneously above the canopy level of the beds.

"At least this time it was progress," he bitterly congratulated himself for the small error, feeling guilty for the previous mess he had caused throughout the room. He definitely had a lot to clean up after practicing. Meanwhile, Ron and Harry heard the loud noises inside as they returned, so they hurried in.

What they didn't expect upon entering was to see their dormitory completely disordered. Harry almost thought he was in the wrong place and was about to ask questions, but Ron saw his pet in the air above a book trying to get upright.

"Oh no! Scabbers! Come back here!" Ron shouted desperately, trying to reach him. Due to the unexpected intrusion, Shirou couldn't maintain his concentration, ending the spell abruptly. This caused the rat to fall onto Neville's bed and, after a few quick steps, scurry out of the dormitory. Ron continued calling out desperately, chasing after it.

"Shirou, could you explain what happened here?" Harry asked, looking at his friend who was sitting at the table, wand still raised but noticeably embarrassed.

"I was just trying to practice the Wingardium Leviosa spell," Shirou said with a guilty tone. It was clear he wasn't going to deny it, especially because his conscience wouldn't let him. "But as you can see, I might have had a little accident..."

Harry glanced in the direction Ron had disappeared, chasing after his pet. He could imagine how angry Ron would be when he returned. Knowing him, he doubted Ron would think this accident was small at all, but Shirou truly seemed remorseful. Finally, Harry sighed helplessly.

"It looks like we'll be spending tonight catching mice," Harry said resignedly.

– Honeydukes, Hogsmeade Village –

(Near Hogwarts)

Fortunately, the situation didn't turn out as bad as Harry had feared.

In the following days, despite Ron being in a foul mood due to Shirou's small mishap, Shirou's sincere and mature attitude—admitting his actions and genuinely apologizing to both Ron and Scabbers—helped mend things. Much of this was also thanks to Harry, who actively persuaded Ron to forgive him.

What sealed the deal was Shirou subtly promising to buy Ron his favorite sweets, along with some treats for Scabbers as a way to make up for his mistake. At this point, the redhead felt extremely grateful to Harry and even promised to clean Hedwig's cage later as a token of appreciation.

With no more school distractions, the trio visited Honeydukes sweet shop in the afternoon. True to his word, Shirou treated his friends to a selection of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans to start their sugar indulgence.

"Oh no! Rotten egg again!" Ron complained, grimacing as he spat out the candy. "Is there no way to avoid these?"

Harry laughed, watching his friend's expression, trying but failing to suppress his own laughter. "I got an earwax-flavored one. I'm not sure if that's better or worse."

"Sorry, guys," Shirou said with a shy smile. "Maybe we should have picked something safer."

Ron, still annoyed but a bit more relaxed, looked at Shirou with newfound appreciation. "Well, at least you're trying to make it right. And these beans are always a fun gamble."

Harry chimed in, "Yeah, and at least we have the blueberry and mint ones to make up for it." It was amusing to see him try to ease the playful tension.

"And I've got chocolate frogs for Hermione!" Shirou added, pulling out a package he had saved. "I hope she likes them."

In the end, they all settled at a secluded table in the shop, enjoying each other's company with laughter and sharing some anecdotes from their recent days at Hogwarts. They talked about their thoughts on some of the teachers and Shirou's aversion to the lack of cleanliness in their dorm room, which had become a sort of inside joke.

"Shirou, you're like a super cleaner," Harry joked. "We could rent out your services to the other students."

Ron laughed. "Yeah, you could make a fortune."

"Come on, you're exaggerating!" Shirou excused himself, visibly embarrassed but feeling the sincerity behind their compliments.

"But seriously, Shirou, how have you been feeling lately?" Ron abruptly changed the subject. "I know you didn't mean to isolate yourself these past few days."

"I feel much better," Shirou shrugged and smiled, trying to downplay the issue. "Sorry if I worried you," he added with a hint of doubt in his voice. "It's just... I'm still trying to fit in and find my place at Hogwarts."

A brief silence fell among the friends, softened by the bustling noise of other customers in the shop.

"I mean, I still get nervous sometimes, but it's getting less frequent," Shirou continued, his gaze reflecting a calmness that reassured the others. "I'm just starting to understand how things work here."

"We all had our own fears and insecurities at first," Harry admitted after a moment of thought. "I remember being completely nervous during the sorting ceremony. Everything was so strange but fascinating at the same time. Especially our first class with Professor Snape, which I already hate."

"And it will be like that for everyone," added Ron. "But in a good way."

Ron surprised Shirou by reaching out and giving him a fist bump as a sign of friendship. "Besides, don't think no one's noticed—you've really improved, Shirou. It's just a matter of keeping at it. After all, hanging out with my brothers is rubbing off on you."

"Thanks, guys," Shirou said, feeling relieved by his friends' support. "Having you around makes everything easier."

"And don't forget, Shirou," Harry added, popping another bean into his mouth, "you can always count on us to practice spells. We don't want another Scabbers incident."

Ron nodded, briefly frowning. "You got that right, that's the last thing I'd want to happen," his expression softened as he patted Shirou on the back. "Besides, we're friends," he looked at Harry, who mimicked his actions, making everyone look at each other with firm confidence. "And friends help each other, right?"

"Exactly," Shirou replied, pulling out a Pepper Imp from his bag and eating it. His breath released some sparks and a bit of smoke, causing more laughter among the group. "I promise, guys. I'll do my best."

The friends exchanged fist bumps, moved by Shirou's words, communicating their unspoken pledge to support each other whenever necessary.

Later, in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione, who had heard about the incident, bluntly teased Ron for caring more about a rat than a friend. Harry intervened, explaining that Shirou didn't do it on purpose and highlighting that Scabbers was very important to Ron as a family pet.

At this point, Hermione defended Shirou, who only wanted to practice a bit, but she finally understood that it was too reckless and could have caused more than just a simple incident. In the end, she was relieved that the two friends had resolved their differences. However, this didn't stop Hermione and Ron from ending up in an argument, leaving Ron angry once again.

Ron became increasingly worried about Scabbers, feeling that someone wanted to harm his rat, and started bringing him to classes in secret. Meanwhile, the rodent stayed hidden from Shirou whenever he was present but looked at him menacingly at every opportunity.

– Fifth Dungeon Corridor –

(Near the Potions Classroom)

It wasn't until Friday morning of the second week when Harry received an invitation letter from Rubeus Hagrid that Shirou's life began to change.

Of course, there were good and bad news.

The good news was that the group was eager to go. According to Harry, Hagrid might look huge at first sight, which wasn't surprising considering he was a half-giant, making Shirou a bit anxious but also excited to meet him.

Besides, Hagrid had the role of Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, so he definitely couldn't be a bad person—well, ignoring the special case of Argus Filch, the caretaker. Shirou had developed a certain dislike for the man after wandering the halls last weekend and nearly getting caught, saved only by a stroke of luck. Not to mention that, for some strange reason, Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, seemed to dislike Shirou, even attempting to scratch him during their first encounter.

Leaving that aside, the bad news was that they had to attend two Potions lessons with Slytherin that Friday, which quickly dispelled Harry's good morning mood.

"It would be nice if I could skip our morning classes," Harry said, visibly frustrated as he walked with the group.

"Remember, we're dealing with Snape!" added Ron, his voice filled with dread. "Besides being the Head of Slytherin, he's definitely got it in for us. Shirou, remember what George told us about being extra careful not to cause unnecessary trouble..."

In the corridor, the group discussed some rumors and opinions they had heard. Shirou and Ron trusted the older Weasley brothers, as well as some details provided by Madam Pince, which confirmed certain suspicions among the boys.

"Is that so?" Hermione, who had been quiet until now, chimed in. "It's not that I don't believe you, but what Madam Pince said about Snape seems a bit doubtful. Don't forget that Professor McGonagall is also our House Head, and so far, I haven't seen her show any obvious favoritism."

"You're wrong, Hermione," Ron countered. "Many older Gryffindor students say the same." Harry nodded, eager for more details.

"Don't you see the obvious? Snape always wears those long dark robes. There are even rumors that he used to be a Death Eater..."

As he mentioned the rumors, Ron lowered his voice to avoid being overheard.

"That's impossible," Harry denied. "Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't allow a Death Eater to teach magic here."

It was evident that, although Harry felt a strong dislike for Snape since the Sorting Ceremony and during their first Potions class, the other professors had shown a great attitude and passion for teaching them.

The problem is, no matter how bad Snape is, it's definitely going to be tough for the Gryffindors...

Hermione, debating each of Ron's points, finally fell silent, and Ron looked to Shirou for support.

Shirou was trying to regain Scabbers' trust with some Bertie Bott's Beans without much success. The only thing he had achieved was making the rat stay very still, but it strangely felt like he was being analyzed by the creature. He finally snapped out of his reverie upon hearing his friends argue. He looked at Harry with a complicated expression before saying:

"I can sense it, but I don't think Snape is targeting Gryffindor in general, but us specifically."

Harry looked at Shirou, confused, trying to grasp what he meant.

"Are you saying Snape hates Harry?" Hermione asked, frowning, guessing Shirou's implication.

Shirou admired Hermione's intuition but didn't know how to express the ambiguity he felt about Snape. "I'm not sure. It was just a feeling I had last week when we were leaving his class. Maybe I was just imagining things."

– Potions Class –

As the crowd gathered towards the fifth dungeon, it was evident that everyone was heading to Potions class. The atmosphere was so dense that even light conversation felt uncomfortable.

As soon as the group entered the classroom, Harry and Ron wasted no time in believing that the rumor about Professor Snape being a Death Eater might be true.

The classroom wasn't particularly spacious, but it was dark and damp, with heaps of contraptions sealed in cabinets and shelves that looked ancient. There were even jars with brightly colored liquids containing parts of animals submerged within.

Moreover, the fact that the place was underground gave it a sinister touch. If they weren't at Hogwarts, Shirou would have sworn they were in the secret laboratory of a dark wizard, just as the rumors suggested.

Shirou looked around, trying not to appear too anxious. "Why is it so gloomy down here?" he murmured, trying to ignore the shiver running down his spine.

"Snape does it on purpose," Harry nodded, his voice low but firm.

Hermione frowned, "I don't think it's that bad," it was evident she was trying to be the voice of reason. "Maybe he's just... strict."

"Strict? My brothers have told me he's an ogre!" protested Ron.

At that moment, young Weasley had no doubt about his brothers' warnings. He quickly led Shirou, Harry, and Hermione to their seats, not wanting to give Professor Snape any excuse to deduct points from Gryffindor.

"Get to your seats, remember we have to be extra careful in this class!" Ron whispered as a final warning.

However, for Shirou, suspicions about his teacher began to materialize. To the point where Snape would actually try to find an excuse to criticize them, even when the Gryffindor students behaved impeccably during his class.

A few minutes passed before all the young wizards from both houses took their seats, just as the gloomy door suddenly swung open with a bang, hitting the wall and echoing throughout the classroom.

Shortly after, a slender figure entered the room. At first glance, his sallow skin and long black cloak stood out. His indifferent eyes scanned the young wizards, briefly stopping at Harry. With his hook-like nose, he looked like a giant bat in human form, Shirou thought, a thought that had accompanied him since his first class.

"No one will wave their wands or perform foolish spells in this class!"

Professor Snape strode to the front of his desk and surveyed the class before speaking:

"Many of you may not appreciate the value of the science and art of potion-making, but only a select few..."

Shirou swallowed hard, feeling that every word Snape uttered carried an implicit threat, but he obviously noticed the slight eye contact Snape had with Draco Malfoy, who was in the front row.

"...I will teach how," his voice deepened as he moved his dark cloak, "to master the mind and enchant the senses. I will tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death."

With a masterful flick of his wand, the curtains automatically closed. Without sunlight entering the dungeon, the classroom grew darker and colder, intensifying the gloomy atmosphere.

As the light dimmed, Shirou noticed Snape's tense expression relaxing slightly. After all this, the Potions Master looked at the young wizards, who were paralyzed by his aura, as he took attendance.

"I will call out your names, and I hope no one vanishes in my class!"

Snape's low but icy voice resonated in the room, silencing even the bravest and most mischievous students, except for Draco, who occasionally chuckled.

"Neville Longbottom."

"Shirou Smith..."

...

"Harry Potter..."

Snape's flat tone fluctuated slightly as he said his name, even more so when mentioning Harry's.

"Ah, almost forgot," Snape said expressionlessly, but with an evident touch of sarcasm. "It's been only a week, and our celebrity continues to shine in the school!"

All the young wizards looked at Harry, while Draco and his cronies snickered discreetly.

Those words certainly unsettled Harry, but this was just the beginning.

Snape glanced warningly at the rest of the students.

"Since you are here, I will give you the opportunity to learn the delicate and exquisite techniques of alchemy and its derivatives."

Snape paused and then, with fascinating relish, used his wand to conjure three flasks of strange liquids in front of him on his desk.

"Let it be clear that I will not teach fools here. Although many of you show painstaking efforts, you will be given the necessary guidance to make your dreams come true through magic. Although I do not expect you to understand the beauty of precise changes during potion-making."

Holding a dark-colored flask for a moment, he looked disdainfully towards the third row.

"Though perhaps some of you have come to Hogwarts with formidable skills, confident in not paying attention..."

Hermione, next to Harry, subtly made him stop writing and look to the front.

Snape continued.

"Mr. Potter," he descended from the platform to the seats, never taking his eyes off Harry, "What would you get if you added powdered asphodel root to a wormwood infusion?"

Harry, completely blank, tried to understand the question. He looked at Ron for help, but he too was perplexed. Hermione raised her hand, but Snape ignored her.

"No idea?" Snape shook his head in disappointment. "Then tell me, where would you look for a bezoar?"

"I don't know," Harry said, anxious but empty-toned.

"What is the difference between aconite and wolfsbane?"

Harry could only stammer. "I don't know, Professor."

Hermione kept raising her hand desperately.

Shirou, sitting near Ron in the second row, watched with disgust at the unfair treatment Snape was giving Harry. He could only support his friend by tightly holding his hands, wishing this torture would end.

"Pathetic," Snape said before turning away and continuing to talk about the importance of perseverance and discipline.

At this point, Shirou's curious mind was activated.

It was inevitable to remember the frequent lessons with his friend over the past two weeks. Even on this occasion, she showed absolute confidence in knowing the answer. So he also tried to reach his own conclusion in support.

Now that he thought about it, Hermione herself had been amazed by his ability to interpret Latin, something he wasn't very clear about at the time, but now made him suspect there was a deeper reason behind these questions. He analyzed if they had a deeper meaning.

The most obvious at first glance was that thinking about "Asphodelus" led to thinking about some kind of "lament to death", which resonated with "Artemisia absinthium", meaning "regret and pain".

It was hard to comprehend or maybe give it a real meaning. As he ruminated, he found himself reminiscing about what usually happened during their lessons. Mostly because he enjoyed watching her eat her much-anticipated chocolate frogs, although ironically she remained reading undisturbed with a keen eagerness characteristic of her.

At least that's what he thought until he finally heard his teacher shout:

"Smith!"

"Shirou Smith!", Snape was furious and pointed his wand at him. "You will answer these three questions right now!"

The class looked at him fearfully, and even Draco laughed loudly at his mistake. From their seats, Hermione looked at him scared while Harry felt bad for him, knowing he had been put in a difficult situation.

Though stunned, Shirou sighed and tried to stand firm, but Snape's intense gaze watched him with contempt, so he decided to answer as quickly as possible to avoid causing more trouble.

"I'm not sure if correct... but for the first question, if we add powdered asphodel root to a wormwood infusion, it will produce a colorless and tasteless potion called 'Draught of Living Death', or also known as a powerful sleeping draught. As for... the second question, a bezoar is a concretion of undigested material that forms in the stomach or intestines of mammals, in our case, we generally use the one from a cow. Now, with the third question, although I'm not entirely sure... the difference between aconite and wolfsbane is that in the Muggle world, it's a rare plant, but in the magical world, it has sought-after properties for brewing potions."

"Correct," Snape said, his tone dripping with disdain.

Expectations for Shirou weren't high, but everyone in the room looked at him strangely, creating an awkward silence. Even Snape watched him for a moment before muttering something incomprehensible. "As I would expect from Rodol."

Snape briefly smirked with disgust before once again ignoring him and turning briskly towards Harry, looking at him mockingly.

"It's clear that fame isn't everything, is it, Mr. Potter?"

Harry looked around the class, but it was evident that no one dared to contradict the professor. However, he felt a surge of confidence when he saw his friends, who despite appearing powerless, never doubted and even went so far as to be on the verge of doing something.

"An apology is not enough," Snape retorted. "Do you understand, Potter? It seems that not all first-year wizards are as foolish and ignorant as you..."

"Professor, I..." Harry stood up angrily, but Snape cut him off abruptly.

"Potter! For your insolent behavior, I deduct... Five points from Gryffindor!"

Speaking as if delivering a verdict, Snape turned away mercilessly to continue teaching, while Hermione pulled Harry back, his cheeks flushed with anger.

Shirou, feeling guilty for being caught in the middle of the confrontation between his professor and his friend, was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. Although he now felt Snape's occasional suspicious glances, his first priority was to give Harry an apologetic look before silently resuming his attention to the potions class.

Unfortunately, we've reached a somewhat anticlimactic end to this chapter. I got carried away, and in fact, I already have the next chapter ready. However, let's wait to see your opinions before deciding whether to make any changes. For now, I assure you that you can't miss it; we're about to see Shirou's first major step in this new world. So please, let me know your thoughts.

I've tried to improve the interactions within the golden trio, and while they've changed a bit, I'm striving to respect their personalities as much as possible, as described in the books. I would greatly appreciate your feedback on this.

The outcome of this chapter is: "Looking for My New Place at Hogwarts." As you'll notice, I've left more clues about Shirou, so I hope to see if you can discover them.

Additionally, it's gratifying to see that we've received a total of 41 reviews, along with the support of 212 favorites and 308 followers.

Before I say goodbye, I'd like to address some comments received about the previous chapter:

Marco Martinez: I understand your concern, but I'm really laying the groundwork for understanding Shirou's impact on the magical world.

Saka157: I apologize if the characters seem a bit out of character (OOC). I would like your opinion on how they compare to the originals so that I can correct them and achieve a better adaptation. Keep in mind that Shirou is only 11 years old, so I tried to reflect a certain childish aspect. Additionally, the prologue of this chapter was designed to explain why Shirou doesn't remember everything clearly, or at least is not fully aware of it, as well as to show what was going through his mind in his first week at Hogwarts.

Harkiratsinghh2: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you very much for your support.

467ajonathanhernandez: I greatly appreciate your comment. Thank you very much, friend.

Vinayakdj1: Your comments have helped me better frame the interactions and give them a better interpretation. Although English is not my native language, due to my work, I am constantly improving. I will do my best to improve according to the demographics of the students.

Mysticalvoid111: The names I use for Shirou are connected to other stories of mine. In another fanfic, I addressed that, but I wouldn't recommend reading it unless you want to spoil yourself. I really appreciate your comment.

Coronadomontes: Thank you for the support, friend.

Guest: I considered putting Shirou in Ravenclaw or even Slytherin, but we'll get to that point in the story. It won't happen exactly like that, but we'll see what happens. The anime doesn't explore Shirou's most important monologues, and that's why that part couldn't be developed.

Darth Kyuubi Kurama: I immensely appreciate your comments. You've been a great support from the start. Thank you very much, friend.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude for your words and reviews. Your support has been essential to me, and I am truly grateful to you.

For now, I bid farewell as KaleidoMirror, but I look forward to our next encounter in the next update.

See you soon!