Charity Riker sat alone in her section of the Hogwarts Express train, staring out the window. She was the child of Emera and Saber Riker, two muggles who had no previous knowledge of the wizarding world. She was seventeen years old when she had recieved her letter of acceptance into Hogwarts and had thrown it away in belief that it was nothing more than a hoax. Only when she had recieved it a second time mere minutes later, did she show it to her parents.
"I can't believe I'm actually doing this," she muttered to herself, tearing her gaze away from the window. Because of her age, she was expected to take seventh year classes and know seventh year material. This she was not fond of. What if she couldn't perform any of the spells she was asked to perform? What if she was shunned because she wasn't the same? What if she got terrible grades? Her parents would surely ground her for that.
Oh, how she wished she could have just gone back to her regular boarding school!
The train screeched to a halt about a half-hour later. The students began filing off of the train, looking both nappy, bothered and scared. She noticed that the younger students seemed to be the most nervous. Possibly because they were new as well. Thinking of this, she followed them.
"Firs' years, this way!" came a booming voice to her right. She whipped around to see an enormous man with scraggly looking dark hair that blended into his beard. She didn't know whether she should continue to follow the first years or not. Just as she decided to go with the older students, a woman's voice called her name.
"Charity Riker!" she called, looking through the crowd. Charity stopped moving when she reached her. She was an older woman and she wore a tall, pointed hat with her hair pulled into a tight bun. Once the initial shock wore off(which was rather quickly), she shook her head and nodded to signal that she was Charity Riker.
"Ah, Miss Riker," the woman said with a kind smile. "So wonderful to finally see you here at Hogwarts! I am Professor McGonagall--now, if you would be so kind as to follow me, we will get you sorted into your House in no time." She smiled again and ushered Charity away from the rest of the students. They reached two very large doors and entered the castle.
"M-my luggage-" Charity stammered when she saw a bunch of trunks stacked up against the wall.
"Don't worry dear," Professor McGonagall cut in. "Your luggage will be transported to your rooms once we get you Sorted." Charity nodded slightly and followed the witch into a small office. Three other people were there. One was a man with an incredibly long, silver beard and a pointed hat, another had short brown hair with flecks of gray in it(making him look much older than she presumed him to be) and the third was a man who had jet black shoulder length hair with very dark eyes and long black robes.
"Miss Riker!" greeted the man with the beard cheerfully. "Professor Dumbledore-Headmaster of Hogwarts." He smiled and shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you," she replied with a faint smile. She caught the dark haired man out of the corner of her eyes. He looked rather annoyed.
"This is Professor Lupin and Professor Snape," continued Dumbledore happily. The man with the brown hair gave her a bright smile, whilst the other simply nodded in acknowledgment. "If you will please take a seat on this stool-" He gestured to a stool to her left. She did as she was asked. Professor McGonagall appeared beside her, holding a battered brown hat in her hand. She set it on Charity's head and explained that it would sort her into the correct House.
She figited with her hands nervously and nearly fell off the stool when the hat spoke.
"A newcomer I see," it began in a raspy voice. "Muggle-born eh? Difficult to place because of your age...plenty of courage I see, though hidden well...stubborness will always be good in Slytherin-but-no. Stunning collection on novels of the Muggle world-you'd do well in Ravenclaw with that. Yet, very dedicated to your studies, determination and yet more courage...Hufflepuff, possibly...Gryffindor most likely. Yet I feel compelled to place you...no-you're not a pure-blood...Not Ravenclaw...forgive my actions but...SLYTHERIN!" The last word made Charity start again. She saw Professor Snape's eyes widen slightly at the hat's placing.
Professor McGonagall removed the hat immediately. As she looked around the tiny office, she noticed that none of the Professors seemed as cheerful anymore. With the exception of Snape, but one would not have called his actions 'cheerful'. Dumbledore spoke quietly to him and then turned to Charity.
"Since you have been sorted into Slytherin House, you will go with Professor Snape to find your dormitory. You will find that your luggage is already there. Once you are finished discussing arrangements for your training sessions, you may return to the Great Hall for the Beginning of Term feast." Charity looked at him in slight confusion, but he simply smiled dully and left. Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin did the same, though before he left, Lupin glanced back at her with disappointment in his eyes.
She sensed someone near her and turned her head slightly to see Snape standing nearer to her, gesturing with his hand to follow him. He swept out of the office and Charity followed obediantly, though she had a difficult time keeping up.