A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the multitude of OC's never mentioned by Rowling, but none the less taking part in her masterpiece of a world. Also, I am looking for a Beta for this story if anyone is interested. I hope to publish a chapter once a week and it would help the security of that if someone could edit each chapter. I've never had a beta before so I don't really know how the process works. Feel free to pm me with any interest in the position. Thanks to who ever is reading, it feels good to write again, especially when I actually have an idea of where this is going and all interest shown further motivates me to figure out each and every detail. Thanks again!
"First years, follow me please!" Neville called out the to numerous eleven and ten year olds before him. "Alright, you will be going into the Great Hall where you will be sorted into your houses. This sorting can have a great impact on your future so it should not be taken lightly. The others in your house will become like your family. You will go to class with those in your year, you will eat with them, and you will share dormitories with them. Lastly, your housemates may become your greatest assets or perhaps liabilities as you will join them in competing against the other houses for points. These points can win you the house cup, which is a title of honor that is envied by every house. Now remember, once you are sorted you may sit with the other members of your house. Your names will be called out alphabetically." Neville explained.
As head of Gryffindor house, and also the most junior member of the staff at Hogwarts he was given the job of preparing the first years for sorting, since the other professors had all declined. This, however, he did not view as a chore because there were many children whom Neville knew personally this year. There was Albus Potter, Rose Weasley, the Scamander twins, and even his own daughter Amelia. Neville believed that seeing a familiar face would help ease the nerves he knew many first years were under. It did seem to be working on Albus Potter, who waved at Neville with a large smile on his face. Neville winked back as he ushered the first years by.
Seeing Neville did nothing to comfort Rose though. If anything it made her even more nervous. He was just another person who Rose thought she had to impress. He knew how smart her mother was and how funny and loyal her father was, and he would likely expect such characteristics from her.
"Annabelle Finnigan!" Rose's eyes shot up as she realized the sorting had already begun. "Gryffindor!" The hat shouted after mere moments. Rose's palms began to sweat, but she took a few calming breaths as there were many more students left before they got to 'Weasley'.
Scorpius examined the Great Hall as he waited for his name to be called. Each round of applause did nothing to distract his observations. The room seemed to go on forever, with four humungous tables evenly spread out within it. The Slytherin table seemed to be far less occupied than the other houses'. Scorpius knew that students had some input into what house they were in, and he believed that most tried to avoid Slytherin and the stigma that came with it. Gryffindor was surely the largest house, although Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw didn't fall too much behind. Already, the Ravenclaws had five new first years from the sorting.
"Damian Flint!" Scorpius looked up at that name. Marcus Flint had been the Slytherin quidditch captain when his father was on the team. Damian and his parents had visited his house a few times over the years. The two boys had never seen each other to become friends, but their father's got on well enough since they both had to survive in a world hell bent on punishing them for the actions they had committed as youths. "Slytherin!" The hat announced and despite its size the cheers from the Slytherin table sounded throughout the room as they greeted their first new student.
The next student, Tess Goyle was also sorted into Slytherin. After her was Professor Longbottom's own daughter, which meant Scorpius would be soon to follow. Amelia was sorted into Hufflepuff, just like her mother Hannah had been, and Professor Longbottom looked quite proud. The girl slipped off the stool and smiled as she practically skipped to the Hufflepuff table. She was quickly followed by Ryan Macmillan.
"Scorpius Malfoy!" Scorpius' stomach dropped. Oddly enough the hall did not become silent like he had expected. Maybe his father was wrong about what other students thought about the Malfoy name. Scorpius looked back until his eyes landed on Rose. She was starting at the stool ahead of him but looked a little lost in her own head. Scorpius turned back and slid up on the stool as the hat was placed over his head.
"Ah a Malfoy, it's about time. So where to put you. You've got your mother's brains that's for sure, but your father's resourcefulness as well. Definitely a determined and clever young man. Hmm… a hard decision. You would do well in Slytherin; you don't have to worry so much. However, Ravenclaw would suit you as well. Hmm….Ahh but then you wouldn't be able to prove yourself in the way you desire. No, Ravenclaw wouldn't work for that. Gryffindor would help you…but perhaps not. Your peers may not be as accepting there. No it's best if you go somewhere else. …..I know where you belong! Slytherin!" The hat shouted after what seemed like an hour of debate.
Scorpius let out his breath that he didn't realize he had been holding. Unexpectedly, he felt relieved to be in Slytherin. It was the right decision. The other Slytherin's shouted their greeting but as he walked toward his house he heard words that felt as though they physically slapped him.
"Big shocker. Future death eater right there if you ask me, just like his father." Scorpius' face lit up like a flame in embarrassment and some anger. He wasn't sure who had said it but from the harsh stare's he was getting from James Potter, he thought he has an idea.
Scorpius sat down with the other Slytherins and received many pats on the back and congratulatory words. The feelings of acceptance overtook him and he couldn't help but give a small smile. He actually felt at home.
After Scorpius, Iris Nott joined the Slytherins. Then, it was Albus Potter's turn. Here, Scorpius noted enviously, the hall did quiet down, just as it had two years earlier when James Potter was sorted. Everyone was anxious to know where Harry Potter's clone would be sorted.
The hat seemed to barely grace his head when it shouted out, "Gryffindor!". The cheers from Gryffindor House were immense as they welcomed one of their own. Once it was over though, the sorting continued as usual.
However, Potter's sorting was followed by an unexpected turn when Lorcan Scamander was sorted into Ravenclaw while his identical brother Lysander was sorted into Gryffindor. Both boys looked quite dejected when they found out they would be separated for the first time in their lives.
"It's not that uncommon you know, identical twin being separated." Scorpius looked to his right to see that Iris Nott was speaking to him. "My dad said that in his year two girls were separated too. He said it was because the hat not only puts the student in the best house for them, but it also tries to get the same amount of girls and boys in each house. In fact the Weasley twins, Fred and George, were the only recorded identical twins to be in the same house in all of Hogwarts history. The amount of boys and the amount of girls in each house is always the same. The amount of students across houses usually varies though. Slytherin has always had the least amount of students, because it's so selective."
Scorpius found that quite strange. As he observed the first years that had already been sorted he noted that Ravenclaw now had twelve first years, more than any other house so far. It also had six boys and six girls. Scorpius examined the remaining students to be sorted. If what Iris was saying turned out to be true, the rest of the sorting would turn out to be very eventful.
As Jemma Thomas slid off the stool and went off to join the other Gryffindors, Rose Weasley's heart began to race. This was it, the moment that would decide her fate for the next seven years, and many more years after that.
"Rose Weasley!" Her name rang out and Rose slowly approached the stool. She gingerly moved onto the seat and waited anxiously for the verdict.
"Ah another Weasley. Will there ever be year without one of your lot? Well there was that decade after the battle without Weasleys….Hmm…So where to put you, that's a tricky question. You don't even know where you want to go I see. Oh no, you know where you believe you should go, even where you think it would be okay to go, but not where you belong. Surrounded by family every day of your life, always in the shadows of your cousins or even parents. You love them, but don't want to be them. Yes…your father had similar struggles. Ah a pang of fear I feel…oh that's interesting." The hat went on and on, Rose felt. It was as if it was reading her every thought and feeling. She didn't think it had spent as much time on any other student. "You will do great things Rose Weasley. Well, I know where you belong. Better be Slytherin!" The hat shouted out.
As the words rang out Rose's heart stopped. The great hall grew silent. Neville took a moment to regain his senses but then shook himself out of it and took the hat from Rose's head.
Rose looked over to the Gryffindor table and saw the shocked expressions on all her cousins' faces. Out of the two younger members, Rose was not the one they doubted would be in Gryffindor. Even if she wasn't, Ravenclaw was seen as much more plausible than Slytherin.
Scorpius saw the terrified look on Rose's face and knew he had to do something. The silence of the room was eating away at him and he knew it was probably much worse for Rose. Their parents may have issues, but from their brief meeting, Rose seemed like a perfectly nice girl and didn't deserve to not feel welcome in her own house.
"Woohoo! We got Weasley!" Scorpius stood up and shouted as he clapped his hands together loudly. Everyone's eyes turned to him and he could feel the heat rise to his face, but he kept on cheering. He nudged Iris next to him and after a moment she stood up and started to clap with him. Not wanting to feel left out Tess and Damian joined in. Soon enough, the other Slytherins also began to cheer just as they had for all the other first years.
Rose stood shocked in the front of the room. Neville gave her a gentle nudge.
"It's all right Rose, go on. Sit with your house, they're waiting for you." He whispered. Rose slowly moved toward the Slytherin table and hesitantly sat down next to Scorpius.
Neville called out the next name and made the sorting ceremony move on without any further ado. The Slytherins quieted down as the next student was sorted.
Rose looked up at Scorpius. She didn't smile, but the gratitude could be seen brightly in her eyes. "Thank you." She almost whispered.
"Anytime Rose. That's what housemates are for, right?" He said with a grin and he stood up to cheer as the last student was sorted into Slytherin.
After dinner, Rose and her housemates followed the prefect to their common room in the dungeon. She found the dark green walls to be more calming than creepy. It reminded her of a cave she had explored with Albus near Shell Cottage. The plush green and silver furniture reminded her of the Herbology section in Flourish and Blotts. Out one of the green windows Rose swore she saw a dark figure move by but in a blink of an eye it was gone. The room as a whole was nothing like the dark and dreary place her father and uncle had talked about.
"Alright first years, the boys dormitories are on the left down the hall, First Years are in the farthest room at the end of the hall. Girl dormitories are down that stairwell and are the last room to the right. The password for the next two weeks needed to get in to the common room is Nigellus. It will change every two weeks and the new password will be posted there on the memo board. Don't forget the password or you will be sleeping in the hall. Professor McPherson, who teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts is our head of house. Any questions? No? Alright, your things have already been brought to your rooms, your schedules are there as well. Have a good day." Georgina Harper finished her job and left the first years to their own devices in the common room.
"Well I claim the bed closest to the window!" Ralph Zabini shouted as he raced to the boy dormitories. Scorpius smiled and then raced after him.
"He can have it. I think I'm going to be seas sick." Damian grumbled as he followed slowly behind.
"Well come on girls, let's see the room." Iris said as she went to the spiral stairs. Rose and Tess followed.
The room was much larger than Rose had expected. For only three girls it was huge. Rose had always had her own room, since it was only her and Hugo growing up, but her room was much smaller than this. The room was round with five windows, one on each side of every bed. Every bed was large with green velvet drapes surrounding them and had a trunk at the end. A small table stood the left of each bed with about two meters between each bed.
"Can I have the bed farthest from the door?" Tess asked cautiously. She was a small skinny little girl with straight dark brown hair and eyes. She had thin square frame glasses that she was constantly pushing back up the bridge of her nose. She reminded Rose a bit of a mouse with her twitchy nose and rapidly blinking eyes.
"It doesn't matter to me. Rose?" Iris said.
"Huh? Oh, no I don't care." Rose said.
"Alright it's decided then. Tess can have that bed, Rose can have the middle and I'll take the door." Iris declared and walked over to her newly claimed bed and hopped on to it.
Rose moved her trunk that had been placed in the middle of the room toward her new bed and began to unpack.
"So we're all going to be friends right? I mean it's only us three here and if two of us were friends, well the other would be left out. That's not fair at all. We're not like the other houses that have five or even eight girls per year. We have to stick together so that we can win points and beat everyone else. Slytherin hasn't won the house cup in almost a decade. That's just unacceptable." Iris said as she unpacked. Rose rather liked the girl already and couldn't help but smile.
Rose could see that Iris was a take charge type of girl who wouldn't let anyone boss her around. She had the leadership qualities of a true Slytherin through and through. Her curly black hair and dark green eyes matched the Slytherin dungeon as well, both color and aura.
"Sounds like a good idea to me." Tess said.
"Me too." Rose agreed.
"Alright well I'll be back, I've got to write my parents and tell them what house I'm in. My dad will probably be happy that I'm in the same house as him. My mum's not a witch at all so this whole experience is exciting for her." Iris said as she walked out of the room with parchment in hand.
Rose's stomach dropped as she realized what she still had to do. A sense of dread filled her as she thought of her father's disappointment when he heard that she was in Slytherin.
As if knowing she needed it, Orwell appeared out of nowhere and jumped up onto Rose's lap burrowing into her skirt. Rose immediately felt better with her cat there, but it didn't stop her stomach from feeling like a ball of lead.
"You have a cat?" Tess said excitedly. "Can I pet it? My mum is allergic to cats so we can't have any in the house." She explained.
"Sure. His name is Orwell." Rose said as Tess came over and began petting the cat gently.
"I wanted a cat, but my dad got me an owl instead." Tess said. She looked up after a few minutes and adjusted her glasses. "Your parents saved my dad's life you know." Tess said.
Rose was surprised. She knew that a lot happened during the battle but never knew about before.
"My parents never mentioned him. They don't like to talk about the battle much." Rose said.
"It's alright, my dad doesn't like to either. My mum went to school with them too, but was a few years behind so she didn't know your parents all that well. She said that after the battle he was a lot different. It probably had a lot to do with his friend dying. Mum said he used to be a bully in school but after that day he was a lot nicer. She said if it wasn't for your parents saving him, in more ways than one, they likely would have never gotten together." She said as she went to her own trunk and pulled out her Slytherin tie and robes.
"I'm surprised that you were sorted into Slytherin, Rose." Tess said as she got changed.
"You aren't the only one." Rose said grimly as she too took out her new tie and ran her fingers over it cautiously.
"It'll be fine though. Iris seems nice and Scorpius seems to be friendly too. We met briefly over the years, me and him, but were never very close. Are you two friends?" Tess asked.
"No. We just met on the train."
"Well it must have been some meet then. I don't know anyone who would stand up in the great hall like that for me. The whole school looking at him and staring like that." Rose bit her lip as she remembered what had happened.
"Yeah, it was very nice of him to do that." Rose said as she slipped the tie over her head and pulled it tight. It felt somewhat like a noose.
"Well I'm off to go and find my classrooms. I don't want to get lost on the first day. Do you want to come with me?" Tess asked as she turned around, looking like any other Slytherin.
Rose knew she had to write her parents soon. They would be wondering what house she was in and how she was doing, as long as one of her cousins hadn't written home already. In fact, Rose thought, there was a pretty good chance they already knew. Giving them, and by them she meant her dad, time to cool down, was probably best.
"Sure I'll come." Rose said as she quickly changed her robes and followed her new friend out of their room.