Sorting
"Grrrf" Severus Snape grumbled to himself as he sat down at the head of the teachers table. He was waiting for the first years to come in and be sorted so that they could start the feast. Severus was anticipating another long year at Hogwarts, especially since Potter was back again, and still as arrogant as ever. Severus had just come from dealing with a 'flying car' incident that Potter should have been expelled for.
Finally the door opened and Minerva McGonagall walked in with the first years trailing behind. Dumbledore put the hat out and it began to sing.
Oh you might think I'm just a hat,
But just a hat I'm not,
I am a thinking cap,
Who's knowledge cannot be bought,
Based on what you know,
And are going to do,
Be patient – I can be slow,
As I find the best fit for you.
There's nothing in your mind,
That I cannot see,
Don't worry, I'm kind,
As I find where you ought to be;
I might put you in Gryffindor,
If you are very brave,
Great deeds will become of you,
Especially in this day and age,
Or perhaps you belong in Hufflepuff,
If you are very loyal,
If you are just then you belong,
With those unafraid of toil,
Maybe you belong in Ravenclaw,
Where they are oh-so wise,
That's where those of learning,
Don't have to disguise,
Or yet you could be a Slytherin,
If you are one who's cunning,
If you have a thirst to prove yourself,
You're not out of the running,
So those four founders placed me here,
To sort you to where you be fit,
But know this upon all of you,
A house is not limited to just those in it.
The hat finished its song, and Minerva began the sorting. A few minutes later Minerva was already at the E's. Sorting is going quicker this year, good thing too, because I'm hungry.
"Entrago, Mark," called Minerva.
"Hufflepuff"
"Evans, Victoria"
Severus immediately got out of his dazed state. Evans was Lily's last name before she married James Potter. Was it possible Lily and this child, Victoria, were related?
As his eyes found the child, similarities between her and Lily were immediately evident. Lily and Victoria had the same eyes, the same hair, the same face-shape, the same nose, and several other casualties in appearance.
Severus bit back a smile, as memories of Lily returned to him. How excited she was at they came in the boats to Hogwarts together, her squeal of excitement when she first saw the castle. He had been excited too, but nothing had been so great as to see Lily's amazement.
Turning his attention back to the Evans-girl being sorted, Severus wondered who her parents were. Did Lily have a cousin? Petunia wouldn't have allowed her own child to go to Hogwarts, even if the girl was magic. Ha, that's funny, Petunia having a witch or wizard for a child.
The hat was taking its time with her, debating which house she was best suited for. Severus found himself willing to give almost anything to know what the hat was seeing. Severus spared a sideways glance at the headmaster, who happened to be staring at him. Why would Dumbledore be staring at me, it's not like this child had anything to do with me…
"Slytherin" the hat finally decided.
Slytherin, Slytherin? Why would that child be in Slytherin? Severus's furrowed his eyebrows slightly, keeping his eyes on the child as she joined the Slytherin table. Apparently many Slytherins were suspicious of her, perhaps aware Evans was the last name of Harry's Muggleborn mother, because the only student who moved to make room for the girl was a third year.
Perhaps I can talk to this child later. She couldn't be muggleborn, like Lily, if she was in Slytherin, but…
"Weasley, Ginny," Minerva called
"Now the sorting is over, you may begin eating" called Dumbledore, stopping Severus's thought before it had a chance to get started.
Sorting was over, already? But Severus Snape was not was not about to complain. After yelling at Potter and Weasley he had become very hungry. He quickly grabbed himself some well-done steak, and a scoop full of kernel corn. As he was eating he noticed out of the corner of his eye, that the Evans-girl was watching him. However, he was too busy eating to think about why she might do that.
After the feast, and Dumbledore's speech, Dumbledore announced that, before they headed off to their common rooms, that they should sing the Hogwarts Song.
"On the count of three, everybody, One, Two, Three!"
Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Hoggy warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be OLD & bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting Stuff,
Four now there bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've for-got
Just do your best we'll do the rest,
AND LEARN TILL OUR BRAINS ALL ROT!
Why do we go through this every year? Severus thought bitterly to himself as Dumbledore dismissed the students. Music, he calls it. I like music, but I had the gibberish that everyone sings! I'm sure someone could come up with a better song then the one we have now. Or perhaps it could just be a piano theme song, with no singing at all.
Everyone was exiting the great hall. Severus made to follow, but Dumbledore stopped him.
"Severus, I'd like to talk to you"
"What?"
"In my office."
Severus grumbled a 'fine' in response. He had hoped to have a change to talk to the Evans-girl tonight, but most first years went to bed right away, so if he had to talk with Dumbledore he would have to wait till tomorrow.
Once in the headmaster's office, Severus sat down on the couch, waiting for Dumbledore to explain why he was there.
"You have, do doubt, noticed we have a new student this year that goes by the name of Victoria Evans?" Dumbledore paused, and when he was sure Severus wasn't going to say anything he continued. "She is Lily Evans's Daughter."
Shock whipped across Severus's face, which he instantly dispelled. He never knew Lily had a daughter. And why was her last name Evans? Lily married Potter, so why wasn't Victoria's last name Potter? His question, however, was immediately answered by Dumbledore.
"James Potter is not her father,"
"Then who is?" asked Severus. He knew Lily was not the type of person who would cheat on her husband, so who could be Victoria's father?
"Although I know the name of the said person, it is something that I am not at liberty to disclose, Severus. Victoria has her father in her, but you must look for him to see it. Most will only see Lily and you must understand that. But things aren't always as they seem…"
With that Dumbledore left Severus, giving him much to ponder.
"Why," Severus mumbled, "must he always be so riddled."
When Severus reached the Slytherin common room, he muttered the password, 'Felix Flexes' and entered through the portrait hole. At first glance the room appeared empty,
After a second look around the room Severus noticed a red-headed girl sitting by the fire.
Upon hearing him come in Victoria swiftly got up and turned around, so she was facing him. "Hello, Severus."
It took Severus but a moment to realize that she had called him by his first name. "Students are to address their teachers by either 'sir' or 'professor'-"
Victoria's laugh cut him off. "Nobody warned me that you talked like a textbook," said Victoria.
She has Lily's laugh…
"Could we talk in your office?" asked Victoria as her laughter subsided.
Severus's office was accessible from both the common room and the hallway outside the dungeons. Once you're in the office you just had to tell the portrait of Douglas Durmstrong - Who happened to be the first Slytherin Minister of Magic - that you wanted into the Head of Slytherin Sleeping quarters and a small room would be revealed. It couldn't hurt anyone letting Victoria in the office so that they could talk.
Once they were in the room Victoria immediately sat herself down in his chair. His chair.
"Have a seat" said Victoria.
The nerve of that girl, thought Severus to himself. Asking me to sit down after sitting in what was obviously my chair. I'll teach her a- but Severus stopped his train of thought when he saw Victoria smile. Hey! That's my smile! How did she get my smile? Severus, realizing he didn't have much of a choice, reluctantly sat down in one of his chairs meant for students and waited for Victoria to speak.
"So," Victoria said, "Severus Tobias Snape, nice to finally meet you."
Thoughtlessly Severus responded, "How do you know my full name?"
"I have my ways," replied Victoria, smiling his smile again.
Severus realized this conversation was going no-where. Perhaps she might let slip some information about her father? "So, why don't you tell me about your parents? What house were they in?"
"Well, if you honestly think I am naive enough not to know that you know more of my mom's history then I do, then you're wrong. But I think you'd be more curious as to who my father is, and to that; nice try."
Though the way she worded things reminded him of something he might say, her quick response, and tone of voice had Lily written all over it.
"You are a lot like your mother."
"So I am told, but my father is evident in me as well, although I have only had one photograph to go off of, until recently," replied Victoria. "Thanks to Dumbledore," she added, with a hint of bitterness in her tone.
Severus considered this. If she only had one photograph to go off of, then that obviously meant she hadn't met her father before now. Severus could not help but think to himself she hasn't met me before now either.
Soon after Victoria excused herself saying she was tired, and wanted some sleep, preferably before tomorrow. And as she left Severus noticed that she walked the same way he did.
But I couldn't possibly be her father, for I never slept with Lily! I'm being silly, seeing things that I want to see.
As Severus sent a moody glance at Douglas's portrait, and it swung to let him into his sleeping quarters, he couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like for him to have a child. She'd be more spoiled than Potter is, Severus thought to himself with a chuckle.