The boy shivered as he entered the Great Hall for the first time. Seeing the starry night sky as he walked towards the front of the room where a stern-faced teacher stood wearing emerald robes, a raggedy hat in her hand.
"Promise me we'll stay friends," The little girl beside him asked, the only one who would even consider talking to the boy wearing the raggedy clothes that were two sizes too small, exposing his ankles and barely threaded knees. "No matter where we get placed? I don't want to lose you as a friend." She pleaded with tears in her eyes.
The boy nodded his head, murmuring a soft "I promise," before looking at each of the four tables they passed. The students at the tables looked identical in their robes, only their robes and behaviors giving away their differences as he saw those with the yellow ties sticking to themselves, laughing as they acted goofy and ignored the ceremony about to take place. The ones wearing the blue ties talked amongst themselves, occasionally one of them pulling out a piece of parchment or opening a schoolbook. The boy looked on at the table of students wearing red ties, seeing them laughing as they playfully shoved each other before looking on at the green ties at the farthest table from them. They appeared to be a more elegant group, one the boy knew he would never fit into as he watched a dark haired girl sneer her nose in disgust at the young students entering the room, pointing to different random students as she whispered with a long blonde-haired boy with a firm face and structured jaw nodded his head, paying close attention to what the girl was saying. He wore a special badge as he stood straight, reminding the new boy that he was one of power.
The new boy shuddered again, hoping he wouldn't be placed in the one place that he knew he didn't belong as he heard the other kids names be called out, each one being sorted into a different house.
"RAVENCLAW!" The worn hat called out for a little blonde girl, one who looked too tiny and petite to even be in the school. The boy guessed she didn't look any older than eight, although he knew she had to be at eleven in order to be placed into a house. "GRYFFINDOR! SLYTHERIN! HUFFLEPUFF! GRYFFINDOR! RAVENCLAW!" The hat continued to call out, each student going to their designated house as the group at each table cheered as their own house was called out and a new member joined.
The quiet boy quickly noticed only the most proud and proper wound up going to the table on the end, the boy with the stern face greeting each one with a quick nod and a handshake before they sat down in utter silence. He couldn't help but wish, as he looked down at his worn robes that his mother had once worn and books that already had notes scribbled into the bindings, that he wouldn't be placed in such a serious house. He knew that wasn't where he belonged.
The room went silent as the older professor in the front of the room called out the lonely boy's name. Holding his breath, he silently walked up the three steps before setting down on the stool and looking over at his friend who was sitting on the edge of her seat at the Gryffindor table. "Very interesting," The ragged hat said as soon as it was placed on his head. "The strong, silent type. Not giving away much, are we?"
"I...I'm not strong." The boy answered, keeping his thoughts of the beatings at home and nights without dinner deep inside his own mind, locked away from the hat's view.
"Ahh but you are." The hat answers, "There's not much that I can't see, and this I can't see. Mysterious. Interesting."
"What is?!" The boy asked, fearful that the hat had seen something.
"Very secretive, ahhh yes. I know exactly where to put you." The hat answered.
"No, no.." The boy started but it was too late as the hat had already hollered out it's decision.
"SLYTHERIN!" It screamed into the silent crowd as the Slytherins clapped, none of them standing up as they watched the boy looked down at his feet and shuffled his feet over to the table, sitting across from one of the older girls, this one wearing her robes with pride as she sat with her hands in her lap and her back perfectly straight. Her hair fell down her back in beautiful white and black ringlets.
"Don't be so scared." The girl said, placing her hand on the young boy's as she stared ahead at him. Out of the corner of his eyes, the boy saw the stern-faced upperclassman's face turn beet red with fury. Despite the older boy's fury, the first year couldn't help but feel comfort in the girl's gentle touch, feeling a little less left out as her flowery perfume surrounded him and her warm hand reminded him of being home with his mother. "We won't bite." She said in comfort as the upperclassman nudged the dark-haired girl who quickly stood up, walking over and sitting down next to the the student now comforting the young boy.
"Awww Cissy," The girl with black hair laughed, her hair in kinky curls as it sat down her back, her white complexion adding an even more erotic look to her beauty. "Who is this one? Smells like fresh meat." She laughed, her laugh almost having a manic tone to it.
"Leave him alone Bella," The girl named Cissy who the boy had taken comfort in said softly, "Can't you see that he's already scared. Let him be."
"What's your blood status first year?" Bella asked, her eyes peering at the young boy as he stammered.
"H- Half-blood." He said softly, unsure if that was the proper answer.
"H-Half-bl-blood." Bella mocked as the boy developed an instant distaste in her. "Hear that Lucius?" She laughed manically, looking over at the blonde-haired, stern-faced boy with the badge. "W-We have a ha-half-blood mutt in the group." She said, giggling fiercely as she put her forehead against the table. "I-It's okay m-m-mutt." She laughed, picking her head back up quickly. "So long as you have your shots." She snickered.
"Narcissa's right, Bellatrix." The stern-faced boy named Lucius said, standing up. "Go sit. Let him be. I will deal with him." He said as the first year gulped heavily. Lucius sat down next to him, eyeing Cissy's heart melting with his concern for the new boy. "Malfoy," He said, holding out his hand to the first year. "Lucius Malfoy, and you are?"
The first year looked from the girl who had comforted him back to the stern-faced boy with fear before seeing the spark between them. There was something there, even if it wasn't known yet, the boy thought to himself. She can keep them from picking on me.
Softly the boy took the upperclassman's hand, "Severus Snape." He answered, trying to put some strength in his voice before adding. "Sir."
"He called me sir," Lucius said coldly, a hint of a smile raising in the corner of his lips. "Think I like this choice Narcissa." He said, looking over at the girl.
"Well, I didn't...I didn't..." She started, looking nervously at the young child in front of her. "He's...he's just a boy."
"It's fine Narcissa," Lucius answers, his voice stern as he put his hand on hers and raised his eyebrows slightly in a flirtatious fashion. "I have a few jobs in mind for him. I promise, I'll keep him safe. For you."