Boring was not a word Ember would use to describe the past few weeks at Hogwarts. It turned out that there was a lot to learn about magic than waving a wand and saying funny words. Every Wednesday night she and the other 1st years studied the night skies. The hybrid actually enjoyed learning about the stars and planets. She felt a strange kindship to those pinpricks of light that dotted the night sky. Almost as if she belonged up there rather than down on Earth.

Three times a week saw the ginger mostly elbow deep in dirt and various plants during the lesson of Herbology. History of Magic was the dullest lesson of all with its teacher being Professor Binns, a ghost. Charms class was interesting when Professor Flitwick could teach, that is. The first time he'd said Ember's name he actually toppled off of the stack of books he'd been standing on!

"I really should change my name", she mumbled, hiding her face in her textbook. Hermione gave her a sympatheic look, patting her on the back.

A week later…

Ember turned her head towards the door when Ron burst through. She turned back to her work as he hurried past the row of desks. "Can't believe I'm late", he muttered.

"He's gonna be in trouble", Ember and Hermione quietly chorused, the pair chuckling at how they had the same train of thought. The girls barely hid their smirks when the tabby cat jumped off the desk and transformed into the Professor.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr Weasley. Maybe if I were to transfigure you into a pocket watch, maybe you might be on time", Professor McGonagall said.

"I...um…got lost", Ron explained.

"Perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seat", Professor McGonagall said. When everyone had completed the notes she'd set, Professor McGonagall moved on to the practical element of the class turning matchsticks into needles. Ember stared at her matchstick wand in her hand and muttered the words that they were supposed to. She smiled when hers turned into a needle. By the end of the class Hermione was the only other person who'd managed to successfully transfigure her matchstick.

Their next lesson was down in the dungeons with Professor Snape. The room didn't have great light, luckily Ember's eyes were a little better than most so she was able to see things just fine. She took a seat next to Hermione as the Potions Master entered the room. While the hybrid wasn't too keen on the hook nosed wizard…something about him just didn't sit right with her…the Potions Master didn't share her sentiment. No, the wizard seemed to be almost…nice toward her during their first lesson…

"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class", Professor Snape stated. He turned to face his students "as such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and the exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few" Snape looked at Draco who smiles "Who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death", Snape said. He eyed the ginger next to Hermione, who appeared to be listening to what he was saying. "Miss Potter. Our new celebrity. I don't suppose you've learnt anything besides how famous you are", he remarked.

"Well…I um…know that the bezoar is a stone found in the stomach of a goat", Ember stammered, a little thrown at being put on the spot like that "uh Monkshood and Wolfsbane are often seen as two different things but they're actually the same plant". The hybrid held Snape's gaze as she finished stumbling through the couple of titbits that she'd overheard Hermione mumble to herself in the dorms that morning.

The wizard nods, seemingly satisfied with her factoids "Good effort Miss Potter. Three points to Gryffindor".

Snape cast the 11 year old a glance before he launched into that day's lesson: brewing a potion to cure boils, the students scribbling notes as quickly as they could.

Everything seemed to be going fine in the potions making until a hissing filled the dungeon. Seamus' caldron had melted! Everyone scrambled to stand on their stools as the potion seeped across the floor. Neville, who'd be working with Seamus, wasn't so lucky as he got most of the potion on him when the caldron fell.

Professor Snape ordered Seamus to take Neville to the hospital wing. He then proceeded to take a point away from Gryffindor, stating mostly to Ron and Dean that they both should've corrected their housemates. Ember smirked at the interaction. She was amused as the Weasley was getting a good telling off, yet she was also annoyed at the same time. How was Ron and Dean supposed to be able to point out to their fellow Gryffindors they were about to make a mistake? They'd only just started to learn how to make the potion for crying out loud! The hybrid wisely decided to hold her tongue lest the teacher decided to tell her off next.

At lunch time Ember was reading her book whilst eating a sandwich when she suddenly felt something brush against her legs. The 11 year old looked down to see a very fluffy ginger kitten sitting there. "Now where did you come from?" she asked, giving it a little stroke. The young feline purred at her touch before jumping onto her lap.

"Aw, she's so cute!" Hermione cooed when she looked away from her homework.

"Um…she's a he", Ember corrected before noticing a note attached to the red and gold collar around the kitten's neck. She carefully removed it.

"What's it say?" Hermione asked.

"Just four words. 'He'll watch over you'", Ember read aloud "and its signed with an anvil of all things".

"Can I see?" the curly haired girl requested and the ginger handed it over "that's really strange", she remarked "you gonna keep him?"

Ember opened her mouth when the kitten hopped onto the table, hissed at Ron and then pinched a bit of his chicken from his plate! The hybrid chuckled as the little feline plonked itself on the wooden surface, eating the stolen food while Ron eyed it unhappily. "You definitely should keep him", Peter remarked, catching the interaction as he passed "And my cat, Einstein would probably be more than happy to show this little guy the ropes".

"I might take you up on that", Ember said, grateful for the offer.

"So…are you definitely keeping him?" Hermione enquired.

The ginger smiled at the kitten. Her aunt and uncle would have well…kittens when she brings this little fella back with her in the summer and to be honest, she didn't really much care. If the fluffy ball of sass can upset Ron in less than 5 minutes, she could only imagine the chaos the tiny feline will cause in that immaculate home that Petunia and Vernon were oh so proud of! "Absolutely", she confirmed "and now he needs a name…" the hybrid paused as she considered what to call her new friend "I think I'll call him…Felix".

Suddenly there was a large flash as the contents of Seamus' cup exploded in his face. Startled, Felix ran across the table and hid in Ember's lap. Hermione waved the smoke away and wondered if their classmate could go one day without having something explode in his face. "Every year's got a pyromaniac", Peter coughed "be thankful you've only got the one".

"Why?" Ember asked, glancing at him "how many do you have?"

"Two", the brunet replied "his brothers", he added, quieter, nodding to Ron.

"Bet they're much more tolerable than he is", the ginger murmured.

"Definitely", Peter agreed.

"Oh, the mail is here!" Ron said happily as several owls swooped into the Great Hall via the rafters above.

"That's my cue. Been waiting on a letter from my aunt", Peter told the hybrid "See you later Em".

"Bye!" Ember called after the Ravenclaw as he headed to another table where his housemates were sitting. All the while parcels and letters rain down from the sky as owls dropped them overhead.

Ember scans the flock of birds, looking out for Hedwig but no sign of her. She shouldn't really be too disappointed, after all it wasn't like the Dursleys would get her anything, much less write to her. As if sensing her disappointment, the newly name Felix rubbed his head against her hand. "Well you were a nice surprise at least", she softly commented, scratching him behind the ears.

"Hey look! Neville's got a Remembrall!" Dean Thomas exclaimed, gaining her attention.

"I've read about those", Hermione said, nodding to the clear sphere in Neville's hand filled with a white smoke "When the smoke turns red…" it did exactly that "it means you've forgotten something".

"The only problem is, I can't remember what I've forgotten", Neville admitted. Ember shook her head and went to turn her attention back to Felix when she noticed what was on the front page of the paper Ron was reading. She reached over and snatched it out of his hands.

"Oi! I was reading that!" he exclaimed. The hybrid ignored him in favour of reading the top story. Uneasiness settled into her hearts as she read how the exact vault, 713, had been broken into the same day she and Hagrid visited Gringotts. Whoever it was wanted the mystery package that the Keeper of Keys had taken. It made her wonder, what exactly was the item? Must've been pretty valuable she thought, scanning the rest of the page for clues as to the what the package was. Unfortunately there didn't seem to be anything to even indicate what it might be.

That afternoon the three Gryffindor's went to their first flying lesson. Hermione glanced back when she heard a noise behind them. She let out a soft laugh when she saw that Ember's new friend was following them. "You've got a shadow", she remarked to the ginger.

The hybrid also giggled as she turned around to see that the brunette was right. "Well, I suppose at least I don't have to worry about him getting lost in the castle", Ember comments, bending down to give the kitten a stroke. She straightened up as their flying teacher, Madam Hooch, a witch with short white hair and yellow eyes walked briskly down the line of students.

"Good afternoon class", she said as she passed them.

"Good afternoon. Madam Hooch", the students chorused.

"Welcome to your first Flying lesson. Well, what are you waiting for? Everyone step up to the left side of your broomstick. Stick your right hand over the broom and say, up!" Madam Hooch instructed.

Ember did as she told and the broom shot into her hand. "Wow", she breathed as she strange feeling came over her. It was like there was a part of herself that was incredibly keen to be soaring through the skies. The hybrid shook her head, chalking it up to her excitement. The ginger watched the other students seeing some succeed and others struggle. "You've got this", she said to Hermione encouragingly "just keep trying".

The curly haired witch nods, thankful of her friend's faith in her. "Up!" she ordered to the broomstick. Hermione beamed when it shot up into her hand.

"Told ya", Ember grinned. She then snickered when Ron's broom whacked him in the nose. "Someone's not worthy", she sing songed.

"Shut up Ember", the boy grumbled.

"Now, once you've got hold of your broom, I want you to mount it. Grip it tight, you don't want to be sliding off the end", Madam Hooch instructed. The class mounts their brooms "when I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground hard. Keep your broom steady, hover for a moment, and then lean forward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle…3…2" Madam Hooch says and blows her whistle.

Neville immediately takes off, his broom soars upwards. "Ah! Help!" he cried. Ember watched as the boy was being lifted higher and higher by the broom. He gets smacked into a wall before soaring towards a statue. Neville's cloak gets caught on the spear whilst the broom travels on leaving the poor boy to dangle. He cried out as the cloak ripped, catching on a torch before Neville slips out and lands hard on the ground.

Everybody runs forward. "Oh dear, a broken wrist", Madam Hooch said quietly as she carefully helped the whimpering boy to his feet. "Everyone's to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understand?" she ordered "If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will be out of Hogwarts before they can say Quidditch". She then walked away with Neville.

Not long after they'd left, Draco picked up the Rememberall that had fallen out of Neville's pocket. "Did you see his face? Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he'd have remembered to fall on his fat ass", he sneered.

"Give it here, Malfoy", Ember demanded, stepping forward. Felix hung back, eyeing the boy with dislike.

"No. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find", Draco hopped onto his broom and pushed off from the ground "How 'bout up on the roof?" he called hovering several feet above the group. Seeing that Ember hadn't followed him, he said "What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?"

With those words the hybrid mounted her broom "Ember, no!" Hermione cried "You heard what Madam Hooch said! Besides, you don't even know how to fly".

"Someone needs to knock him down a peg…or off of a broom. Whichever comes first", the ginger states before pushing off into the sky.

"I hope he doesn't know you off your broom", Hermione muttered, worried for her friend.

"Give it here, Malfoy, or I'll knock you off your broom!" Ember threatened as she and her platinum haired enemy hovered several feet in the air, facing one another.

"Is that so?" Draco taunted, not believing her for a second. He was mildly surprised when the hybrid rushed at him, only just avoiding a collision by twirling around his broom in a 360. "Have it your way, then!" Draco said before hurling the Rememberall as hard as he could. Ember sped after the glass sphere, determined to catch it. Seeing the Rememberall hurtling towards one of the school windows, she leaned forward to make the broom go faster. Just before it hit the window, she snatched it out of the air.

The hybrid stared at the Rememberall in her hand, her hearts pounding in her chest at the sheer adrenaline rush she was feeling. In all honesty she had no idea how she managed to do what she did. It was almost like it was instinct. With much reluctance, she tucked the Rememberall into her robe's pocket and flew back down to her classmates cheers. Draco was nowhere to be found as he was currently being chased by a tiny ginger kitten.

The celebration was cut short when Professor McGonagall appeared and called for Ember to follow her. She did so, half expecting to be punished for what she'd done. However they didn't go to Professor McGonagall's classroom, instead the transfiguration teacher led Ember to another classroom. A Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom where Professor Quirrell was inside teaching. The hybrid waited outside while Professor McGonagall went inside. She came back out a moment later with an older boy.

"Potter, this is Oliver Wood", she said introducing the boy to Ember who nodded politely, unsure as to what was going on. "Wood, I have found you a Seeker!" Professor McGonagall added sounding rather excited which confused the ginger quite a bit. What on earth is a Seeker?