Disclaimer: It's J.K.'s world, I just play in it.
A/N: This idea is mine in the sense of the plot line, and use of the characters, (even though I had to borrow them from Miss Rowling.) The idea behind the plot line, however is an ancient piece of literature. I can't be sure who wrote it, because I don't remember, but let's just credit it to Shakespeare or Ernest Hemmingway or someone popular from a long time ago. Enjoy.
The Great Hall buzzed about with a ton of noise. It was the start of a new term, and all the first years had just been sorted into their houses, but the sorting hat remained on the stool. Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet as Professor McGonagall clinking a spoon against her glass. "Your attention…" and the hall fell silent at her words.
"Ah…this year promises to be a most eventful year for we have, for the first time ever in Hogwarts history, and yes Ms. Granger this one will be making the books," he smiled knowingly over at head girl Hermione Granger who blushed as Gryffindor table laughed. "As I was saying, we have for the first time ever in Hogwarts history, a student transfer from another school." A mix of hushed gasps and cries fell across the tables, particularly from the Slytherins. "She is an incoming seventh year student from Durmstrang Academy and I will expect that everyone here at Hogwarts make her feel welcome as this will be her new school. Students and teachers alike," the old wizard gave a glance around to the high table, his eyes lingering on Professor Severus Snape for a moment longer then the rest. "Now may I present to you Miss Tonya Morgan of Durmstrang."
A tall lanky girl stood from the high table, she had been seated next to Professor McGonagall. Her skin was pale and her hair a dark brown bordering on black, falling just below her shoulder blades. She was pretty in her own mysterious way but not conventionally so. Headmaster Dumbledore smiled and turned to face her, shaking her hand before she walked in front of the high table and sat on the stool to be sorted.
Professor McGonagall walked around and stood behind the girl, placing the sorting hat on her head. The great hall was completely silent, so much so that you could hear a pin drop. "Mmm difficult…" the hat murmured as it bounced from side to side on her head. "Ah both you would do well in…your mother would school you well there…and ah…your father would be proud there too…" it was hard to tell but the girls cheeks were turning red as the hat spoke aloud.
Many students watched on in awe, most had never heard the hat speak this much before. Only the class of seventh years had gotten that privilege when the hat had made the difficult decision between Slytherin and Gryffindor for the infamous Harry Potter. "Hmmm…" it drawled on. "I suppose a girls tastes would suite you there…Gryffindor!" it bellowed and a sea of red and gold erupted in applause as the hat was removed from her head.
She stepped down from the stool and rushed over to the Gryffindor table, looking back up towards the high table between Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall. They both smiled and clapped for her, the latter seeming particularly excited. Even head girl Hermione Granger beamed from ear to ear, that her house had been fortunate enough to receive the new girl.
Professor Severus Snape had not joined in the celebration however, he looked dismal and scowled. He had strained his ear to hear just exactly what the sorting hat had said. Slytherin had been her other choice.
~*~
Dinner was dismissed and the students and teachers alike had headed upstairs, respectively, to their dormitories. Tonya was walking slowly, straggling behind the rest of the Gryffindors and when the masses turned left to continue up to Gryffindor Tower, she turned right and headed down the dark corridor. She would need to gather the few things she had brought with her from her initial stay three nights ago.
Approaching the door where she had stayed, she knocked with caution and then entered quietly, closing the door quickly behind her. The room was dark, save for a few candles and she smiled, feeling like she was home. Her eyes focused on the large wooden desk at the window, more importantly the woman hunched over the desk, scrawling furiously on a piece of parchment.
"Mom?" she called out.
The woman sat up with a start and turned around to face her. "Tonya! You scared me girl, I didn't hear you come in." Immediately the woman stood and crossed the room to her daughter. "I am so very proud of you, I knew you would make Gryffindor," she beamed and embraced the girl tightly.
Tonya smiled back at her. "Like mother like daughter I guess…" but her smile faded.
"Why dear, what's the matter?"
"Oh it's nothing…well something actually…" she breathed deeply as they walked over to the couch by the fire. The woman sat and held her daughter in her arms as she spoke. "The sorting had said that I'd do well in Gryffindor…but it also said that I could have done well in Slytherin…my mother would school me well there…and my father would be proud there too…" she looked confused.
"Ah my dear…" she stroked her hair softly, "Don't fret…you are in Gryffindor now…that's all that matters…"
"But mom…why would it say my father would be proud there?" The woman remained silent as she stared at her daughter, the young girls eyes glowing brightly in the dimly lit room. "Mom?" She sighed and looked away from the girl. "Mom what is it now?"
"Tonya you know what it is."
"I'm sorry mom, but how can you expect me to grow up and live my entire life never knowing my father's name? I mean I don't have to know him, but it would be nice to know what he looks like, his name even," the girl looked agitated and her eyes were cold. "I mean every I try to bring him up you dodge the subject… it's almost as if you are ashamed of him…ashamed of me…"
The woman grasped her firmly on her shoulders. "Don't you ever say that. I am not ashamed of you. Oh Tonya…how many times must we go through this…" she sighed as her square glasses slipping down her nose. "I was young, so was he, it was one night of wild passionate love…he doesn't even know you exist. And he cannot know…he would only bring you pain and suffering…"
Tonya sighed. "But I-
"No more buts Tonya…"
"But mom!"
"Tonya I said-
There was a knock at the door and both of the women stopped quarreling and gazed toward the door. The young girl looked scared and her eyes widened as the door opened. A long silvery white beard appeared in the doorway, attached to a kindly old wizard beaming from ear to ear, bright blue eyes twinkling behind half moon spectacles.
"Oh Albus…" sighed the woman. "You frightened me…"
"Sorry Minerva, sorry…I just came to see if our student Miss Morgan had made her way up to Gryffindor Tower yet." He glanced over to Tonya as she sat on the couch, Professor McGonagall rose to usher him into her office. "Having a discussion with your new Head of House I see?" She nodded politely. "Well then Minerva…" he turned his attentions to his colleague, "If everything's in order here, I shall be on my way…"
"Thank you for stopping by Albus, I'll see to it that Miss Morgan gets settled into Gryffindor Tower just as soon as I finish discussing her schedule with her. There seems to be a bit of trouble in arranging Potions and Transfiguration."
"I see…why not place her with the Advanced Potions class? I'm sure she would do well there, and that would open up a block in which she can take Transfiguration, would it not?" The older woman nodded. "Very well, I shall leave you to your scheduling then, Minerva, Miss Morgan," he nodded to them both and shut the door behind him as he left.
Professor McGonagall heaved a great sigh and returned to her daughter on the couch. "Where were we?" The girl shrugged her shoulders. "Well you're about as bloody good as I am then." She crossed the room to her daughter and sat down again beside her. "Anything else before you go?"
"Is he evil then?"
"What?" she asked, caught off-guard by her daughter's question. "Is who evil?"
"My father…you said he'd only bring me pain and suffering…and that's the only reason I can think of as to why the sorting had would say I'd do well in Slytherin…if he were evil."
Minerva McGonagall blinked her eyes several times, feeling the tears well up within them. She looked away from her daughter and her breath hitched in her throat as she tried not to sob. "Oh mother I don't mean to upset you…but surely you must understand my…nevermind I'm sorry." She wrapped her arms around the woman and hugged her. They embraced for a moment, seventeen years of guilt streaming down her face in her tears.
"You should get your things, the others will wonder where you are…" she smiled, the moment of sorrow now ended. "I'll be around to do a Gryffindor bed check, and I'll stop by to see if you've gotten settled in. If there's anything you need…I'm sure Miss Granger will be glad to assist you."
"Alright, I'll go…" she stood and kissed her mother on the cheek. "I love you mom."
"I love you too Tonya," the girl turned, picked up her trunk and left the room, leaving Professor McGonagall standing alone in the light of the fire.