Foreword: Having watched too many videos with Severus' tragic ending, I wondered if one thought could have altered Lily's course.
I own only my original characters named, none at all of those you recognize, and this Hat's song I spent three hours composing, with elements from the originals. This story is for me and those who like to read plot bunnies that get out of hand. I make no profit from it whatsoever; the only way I could is to make a Polyjuice Potion. As I am Muggle…that's impossible.
Warnings: AU.
Serpensortia
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. –Anatole France
Two dozen girls and boys stood uncertainly in a line outside large, almost forbidding doors. Not an unusual sight for the time of year; term was starting, and all across the country, boys and girls were waiting for class. What set these apart, however, was their heritage: they had magic.
Of these two dozen, only two were talking, hushed whispers that had marked their friendship from the beginning. One, fiery-headed and with a temper to match, was looking more and more worried the longer they stood; the other, with hair as dark as night, was reassuring her, though by his pallor he was just as worried.
"It'll be all right, Lily," he was saying. "You are meant to be here." His small, pale hand reached out to meet hers and squeezed gently. "We're magic, after all."
"But what about Tuney? I left her! I left her behind!" Lily's eyes shimmered in the candlelight.
The young boy lowered his head and thought for a moment. She doesn't need to cry over that Muggle. "She didn't even say good-bye, " he reminded her. "She left you."
Lily's eyes shimmered even more. "Sev, that was a mean thing to say!" With a huff, she yanked her hand from his and turned away. As she turned, however, Severus caught a glimpse of tears, small and silver.
As he had before, he'd messed up. Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut? She was allowed to miss her sister, as he was allowed to miss his mother. Stifling a grumpy sigh, he faced the doors just as they opened to let a tall, stern woman through.
"I am Professor McGonagall, " she said, peering down through square glasses. "Welcome to Hogwarts. This will be your home for the next seven years; your Housemates will become your family, whether you are in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin."
"Being a family, you and your Housemates can earn points - or lose them. The House with the most points earns the House Cup at the end of the year, so it would be wise of you to pay- close- attention." She emphasized these words even as she glared at two boys whispering near the front. They turned red, one especially about the ears. She cleared her throat. "You will go through these doors and join your classmates. Follow me." Professor McGonagall turned smartly on her heel, plain cloak swishing quietly behind.
Meanwhile, Lily was crying as silently as she could, mindful of the others around her. Why did Sev say that? Petunia came! She just didn't say anything. But she still loves me, I know it! We're sisters!
Lily couldn't stop the memories of the summer, however, even as she cried over her sister: Petunia hissing "Freaks!" whenever Sev visited, the cold silences at the dinner table, the refusal to sit next to the "freakish one"…was he actually right?
The noise of the Great Hall interrupted her reverie, as the woman who had introduced herself as Professor McGonagall led them, single file, to the front, where a large, ratty hat sat on a stool.
She faced the new students, who looked back apprehensively. "Prepare to be Sorted-and good luck. " She gestured toward the Hat, who began to sing out of a large tear near the brim.
Oh, I am the fairest hat
that you will ever wear,
even if your shoes don't match
where I fit your hair.
For it's not that I am on your head,
it's what I see inside,
No thoughts will be left unread,
From me you cannot hide.
So put me on and set me straight,
and wear me proud and tall,
For I am the only Hogwarts Sorting Hat
to ever grace this Hall.
For those who are full of heart,
to the Lion you will remain,
Bravery, and chivalry
live in your domain.
The hardy and the just
will hold the Badger's claw,
Loyal are these friends,
They are the best I ever saw.
If it's knowledge that you seek,
then to the Raven's nest you fly;
Keen of mind, the books you'll creak
sound your lullaby.
But in the Serpent's coils
are wonders to behold,
Cunning, pure and powerful,
your ends are what you mold.
Are you a Lion of Gryffindor,
Or a Bird of Ravenclaw?
Is mind or heart that leave you sore,
but your enemy in awe?
You could be Serpent of Slytherin,
or Badger of Hufflepuff-
Do your friends go in the bin
Or are they just enough?
One more thing before I'm through,
And before your ears go numb-
A message to the foolish few
who listen to all I've sung.
Take this wisdom, I now here lend,
From a hat that's seen it all:
It's you who choose your end,
It's you who makes the call.
"Finally!" Severus heard someone nearby (oh, the Black boy- his Mum had explained once their connection to Princes) whisper even as they applauded the Hat. He grinned, trying to catch Lily's eye; she would not look at him, but instead stared straight ahead, chin lifted. The tears had stopped, he noticed; she must have gained resolve. He began to hope, even as he impatiently shifted.
The Hat bowed, (very graceful for a head decoration, he thought) and the Sorting began.
"Abbott, Charles!" called Professer McGonagall, reading from a long parchment. A lanky boy, with equally lanky hair, moved forward to sit upon the old stool. The Hat was settled and a moment later- "HUFFLEPUFF!"
He jumped down and eagerly joined his new Housemates, who cheered loudly at receiving the first to be Sorted.
Lily felt, rather than saw, Severus try to catch her eye. She couldn't let him; she was determined to prove him wrong, that Petunia was really all right for a sister, and that it was her fault Tuney didn't like her.
She had listened to the song, sort of- she caught the last lines anyway, having finally managed to stop crying. It's you who choose your end…what does that mean, anyway? What end? We're just beginning here! We haven't been here long enough to have an end!
It didn't matter, she was going to the House that sounded the best- Gryffindor, Mum always did say she had a lot of heart. More focused, Lily paid strict attention to who was being called.
"Black, Sirius!" A tall boy, between her and Sev, muttered something Lily couldn't catch, before striding confidently to the Professor. He smirked as she placed the Hat on his head. It was a full minute of silence before-"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily heard gasps come from both the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables, but she couldn't figure out why. She'd ask Sev later, she supposed, and clapped absently. She watched as Sirius, still confident despite the gasps, stride assuredly to the Gryffindor table. There was only scattered applause.
When the next name was called, there was an audible sigh of relief.
"Candell, Emilia!" An extremely curly haired girl (had she seen a brush today? Lily thought snidely, thinking vainly of her own, pretty straight hair) bounded to the stool with much more energy than Charles. Smiling hugely, she plopped the Hat on her head, and instantly it roared "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table stamped their feet in approval, as "Candell, Emilia" bounded again in their direction.
Two more were Sorted ("RAVENCLAW!" and "HUFFLEPUFF!" ) before it was Lily's turn. "Evans, Lily." Lily lifted her chin proudly, and stepped up to accept the Hat.
For a moment, her eyes were covered as the Hat's large brim flopped down. She nearly panicked before she realized it was indeed the brim.
Settled? said a voice in her head.
Yes! She thought back, indignantly. It was the Hat's fault for not keeping track of his own brim!
The Hat chuckled. I see a lot of spirit in you. Bravery…spirit…a Lion you may be…Lily felt her heart swell. But what's this?
An image of Petunia, in her worst apron, begged forgiveness, and perfect loyalty to her alone as a sister. Not all agree with you these days, hm…
That's private! She squashed the thought- where did it come from anyway? She had been focused on being in Gryffindor. It must have been left over from the tears.
Nothing's private here, warned the Hat. I see all to decide where you'll go. And that is very interesting indeed.
I don't care if it's interesting! I want to go to Gryffindor! See, you said so- when you finished your song!
So I did…but you could be great, you know. Very, very great. The Hat showed her what else was in the image. Sev, at her side, with Petunia serving him dinner.
All the hurt that Lily felt while her sister treated her best friend with disdain surged forth; Lily's hands grew so tense her knuckles were white where they gripped the stool. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could get along? If she and Sev could be proper friends, without sneaking around away from her sister's prying, accusing eyes?
…but wouldn't that be throwing away years of sisterhood? She remembered giggling with Tuney while picking flowers to surprise their mother, bedtime stories with pillow fights…Lily felt torn. The Hat said nothing, only waited as the struggle between Lily's desire to have her sister back, and her desire to be with Sev, wore at each other.
"She left you." Severus' words echoed in her mind; and Lily remembered Tuney-Petunia- shrugging her off at the station, nose risen; she said no goodbye. When Lily had turned away, hurt, she had caught a glimpse of Sev, by himself, waiting patiently. He had waved cheerfully.
What would it take to be with Sev? Instantly, Lily felt her loyalty shift, though it would be in later years she could describe that was what happened. She only knew before wearing the Hat, she was desperate for Tuney; after, she would do whatever it took for to be with her best friend. Even if that meant treating Petunia (never Tuney again) with disdain; she would return blow for blow. No, not just blow for blow: Lily had magic and could do even more.
She was better than Petunia. She had a best friend, and she had a world, all her own.
I thought so. From the lift of the brim and a sudden streak of light, Lily knew the Sorting Hat was grinning. That puts you in-
"SLYTHERIN!"
There was only polite applause; her back stiffened and her chin inched higher as she made her way to the green-clad table.
Severus' jaw dropped in astonishment. From the beginning, he had felt Lily would be too good, too pure, and would be put into Gryffindor. Where else could someone like her go? She was so pretty, with that straight red hair and wide green eyes- that had looked almost grim as they slid beneath the Hat's brim- it was almost a crime for her to go elsewhere.
Craning his neck at the polite applause, he saw he was not the only one who thought so. Two older boys looked disappointed, there at the Gryffindor table, and the Ravenclaws nearest the Hat looked stunned. Keen of mind they may be, but even they did not judge the Sorting aright. Down at the Hufflepuff table were some whispers that were hastily hushed as Lily sat, looking-
Regal. She looks regal.
Severus knew where he was going, as his heart was lost to her completely when, finally meeting his eyes, she nodded ever so gently.
-to be continued-