Chapter One: Starting Anew
"Mum!" screamed Sebastian as he rummaged frantically through his chest of drawers, in a desperate search for his black cloak.
"What on earth is the matter with you?" replied Hermione, as she burst into her son's bedroom, thinking he was in some sort of trouble, by the frantic tone of his voice.
"I can't find it!" he rushed, as he completely turned over his bedroom, in a vein search for the item.
"You mean this?" said Hermione with a smile, as she handed the silk lined cloak over to Sebastian, who beamed in relief.
"I've been looking everywhere for that-"
"Yes, and I was ironing it. I can't have you turning up like a scruffy Knawertlyhook on your first day now, can I?"
"Mum, nobody will be looking at my cloak and I'll change into my Gryffindor robes the moment I've been sorted-"
"I think not!" snarled a third voice as it stepped into the room.
Hermione and Sebastian turned towards Severus, who was frowning profusely.
"There is no way on this earth, that a Snape will be sorted into bloody Gryffindor!" he snapped.
"Well to be honest Dad, it's up to the sorting hat which house I'm sorted into, and Uncle Harry said-"
"Never mind what Uncle Harry said, young man, you shall be a Slytherin and a bloody good one at that!"
"Septima's a Gryffindor," he answered cleverly as he eyed his Father with a grin.
"Septima was an exception, Sebastian. She spent an excessive amount of time surrounded by her Godparents and your Mother for that matter, thus was brought up in a far too Gryffindor environment for my liking."
"And so was I Dad!" protested Sebastian.
"Trust me son," dismissed Severus, "you will be a Slytherin. It is tradition for Snape men to be sorted into the house of Salazar."
"Severus, give the boy a break," sighed Hermione, before she turned back to her youngest child. "Whatever house you are sorted into Sebastian, you're Father and I will support you."
"Thanks Mum," smiled Sebastian as he kissed his mother on the cheek.
"Hermione, we'll have to leave now, your mollycoddling has already put us ten minutes behind schedule."
"Oh yes of course." Hermione scanned the room for her cloak before placing it over her shoulders.
"Now, Sebastian" instructed Severus, "Hagrid will be arriving shortly to take you to Hogsmede so that you can enter Hogwarts like the other students. Also, Septima will be arriving on the train accompanied by Harry and Ginny, so I expect you to inform her that she has to escort the first year Gryffindors up to school, with the other Prefects."
"Okay Dad, I'll try and remember all that," said Sebastian, mentally rehearsing his plan of action for the evening.
"No Sebastian, you will remember all of that, for it is imperative that you arrive on time and in an orderly fashion. A Snape-"
"- is never late," rung Sebastian monotonously, as he finished his Father's sentence.
"And don't you forget it young man," berated Severus as he placed an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Come Hermione, we must be leaving."
"Yes we must. Now Sebastian, your Father and I will be at the Head Table with the other Professors, and I expect a big smile when you walk in. For now though, just wait here for Hagrid, and behave yourself."
"Yes Mother," replied Sebastian as he rolled his eyes. "Now, haven't you got somewhere to be?"
"Indeed," replied Severus.
Hermione, walked over to her son, who was standing only a couple of inches below her, and wrapped her arms protectively around him. He gazed up at her with his bright green eyes as a sign of reassurance that he was ready for his big day.
"I'll be fine Mum, just go."
Reluctantly, Hermione took Severus' outstretched hand and left their quarters for the Great Hall. If it were possible, she was more nervous than Sebastian!
Severus sat with an all too familiar scowl etched onto his pale face. Albus had decorated the Great Hall in his usual illustrious manner; house badges aloft in the air, floating above their suitable tables, and further above them, the vast ceiling had been enchanted to look like a exceedingly starry night's sky. He felt rather disheartened by the over zealous decorations, purely because it was an unavoidable remainder that Hogwarts was set to house hundreds of dudderheads, all of whom were to inhabit his own classroom at some point in the school year.
Whilst Severus contemplated how horrific the forthcoming year was going to be, students from the second year upwards all sat at their house tables chattering idly, awaiting for the new arrivals. In his many years of teaching Severus had only once found himself excited about the new intake, and that was when his daughter had arrived as a first year. Severus Snape had found himself trapped in a whirlwind of anticipation that day four years previously, and a similar feeling coursed through him today, as he stared at the door at the rear of the hall, waiting for Sebastian's arrival.
Severus' thoughts were interrupted by a sharp elbow into his rib cage. He shot a fierce look towards the culprit seated at his left, but Hermione simply gestured towards the slowly opening doors at the rear of the hall. Severus followed suit, watching and waiting for McGonagall to enter with the new students. Predictably, she entered with long affirm strides, followed shortly by an equally tall young wizard, who sported a nervous smile and dazzling green eyes. Dressed in plain black robes with his black hair falling silkily below his shoulders, the familiar figure followed his grandmother's movements and strode towards the Teachers Table. Unlike the rabble of first years who dawdled behind their new Professor, Sebastian was not so obviously awestruck by the enchanted ceiling and sheer size of the Great Hall; instead he looked unsurely towards Hermione, who winked almost unnoticeably at Severus' right-hand side.
After a few unorganized moments, the new pupils crowded around the Sorting Hat, who was seated on his stool, and the Deputy Headmistress pulled out a long piece of parchment from the inside of her tartan robe, before clearing her throat to begin.
"When I call your name, you shall come forth and I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head, in order to sort you into your respected houses."
"Avery, Fiona!" called the elderly witch and all eyes fell upon the first student to be sorted.
"Hufflepuff!" called the hat abruptly the moment it was placed upon the obviously petrified young girl's head. Hufflepuff house cheered and whistled as they received their first student of the year.
After a mere twenty minutes, only a small group of three remaining students stood before their Professors, awaiting their turn. Severus looked down at his son whose lips turned slightly at the edge, in a brave attempt to form a smile and he felt Hermione tense beside him. He placed a hand on her thigh in support under the table and she seemed to relax slightly at his touch.
"Potter, Lily!" called McGonagall, and the hall fell silent.
Now it was Severus' turn to tense as he heard the familiar name of Lily Potter shouted by Minerva. He closed his eyes and watched the scene play out mentally behind his eye lids. He was a student again, watching from the small remaining group of first years waiting to be sorted, as a young red headed witch slowly stepped forward to be sorted. As she sat down gently upon the seat she turned to an eleven year Severus, and smiled, hinting that whatever the outcome she would still be his Lily Evans.
"Gryffindor!" shouted the Sorting Hat and Severus' heart sank. She was gone. He opened his eyes to find a rather different scene before him, it was his son who looked heart broken that his friend had just been separated from him.
"Congratulations Professor Potter," beamed Hermione, down the table to a teary eyed Ginny.
"Snape, Sebastian," called McGonagall, her voice riddle with pride, and once more the hall plummeted into a myriad of whispers.
Severus looked from the Gryffindor table, where Septima looked exceedingly nervous and was ringing her hands in angst, back to Sebastian, who although was trying to remain calm, looked very nervous indeed.
"Hmm," mused the old hat as it rested upon Sebastian's silky black hair, "I'm at a loss as to where to put you child. You revel in bravery and courage, yet seep cunningness and power from your every pore. A father of Slytherin and a Mother of Gryffindor; the lion battles the snake…"
The hat paused for what seemed like an eternity, but Severus felt moderately confident that his son would soon be wearing his house crest with pride.
"So as not to break tradition young man, I think it's best to place you in…Slytherin!"
Severus felt his lip twitch, as Sebastian turned back towards his Mother and Father at the teacher's table, and swelled with pride. The Potion's Master glanced towards the Gryffindor table where Septima looked slightly elated at the decision and back to Hermione who was spilling tears all over the place.
"I'm so proud of him Severus, our baby is at Hogwarts." She sobbed once more.
"Baby he is not Hermione. He's growing up."
"I don't want him too though Severus," said Hermione as her husband began to sip his wine. "I think we should have another one-"
Severus spluttered his drink all over himself and several Professors eyed him strangely.
"What! We've only just got rid of them Hermione, we need some us time."
"Okay maybe for a year or so, but I still want more!"
"I'm not getting any younger Hermione; I'm fifty five for Merlin's sake."
"Exactly, you're still in your prime!"
"Maybe in wizarding years but what will people think?"
"Even Muggles have children at your age."
"It's easy for you to say Hermione, you're only thirty six, but I'm getting older and it's harder for me to chase after toddlers all day. Sebastian took it out of me!"
"Severus, you are being far too melodramatic, and thus we shall continue this conversation later, when you're in a better mood."
"Yes dear," replied Severus sarcastically as he surveyed the room for his children.
A.N: What do you think? I'm desperate to know so review, review, review! I'm waiting! :)