Chapter 2

Severus Snape and Maria Ruiz were still discussing in the white empty room.

"I'm telling you! We must talk to Dumbledore!" the brown-eyed girl insisted.

"No way! I don't trust the old twat!" spat Severus. That confession surprised her. Why wouldn't he trust 'the old twat' as he put it? He had spied for him. He had even died for him. Raising an eyebrow, Maria inquired, "May I know why is it?"

"I have my reasons," was his vague answer.

Knowing she wouldn't get a more concrete answer she sighed in defeat and gave in, "Fine, we won't tell Dumbledore, at least for the time being. However, he is a wise man, we must be extremely careful. We should make up an excuse..." She pondered about it for a few seconds and suggested, "We can tell him you found me near the school, you saw I was a witch and decided to bring me to him. I'll say I have amnesia, and he will probably accept me as a student. Does that sound good to you?"

He nodded. "There's a flaw, though: your robes."

Maria grinned slyly at that. She cluthced her wand and rapidly transfigured her uniform into muggle clothes from the 70s she had seen in old films. Normally, transfiguration required a lot of concentration and Severus had to admit it wasn't his best subject. Hence, he was truly impressed by her flawless technique and speed of the incantation, but he neither uttered a word nor showed any expression on his face. It was clear she wasn't stupid.

"Is it good enough?" Maria asked bewildered by his lack of response.

"I guess… Are you going to tell me now how to stop the war?"

She bit her lip and shook her head. "It's complicated… I think we've done enough for today. We can't plan how to stop a war in one night. We'll go step by step. I believe it's the most rational thing to do, don't you agree?"

Severus clenched his fists in irritation at her answer. There was nothing else he desired more than saving Lily's life. Nonetheless, deep down he knew she was right. Thus he took a deep breath to calm down and nodded.

"We should go. The sorting ceremony is over."

Surprised, Maria cried out, "Wait, what? Sorting ceremony? You didn't mention you were skipping the bloody ceremony! Dumbledore will be surrounded by students and teachers then, still eating in the Great Hall. If I appear there, people will get suspicious."

"That won't happen because it's already past curfew," he replied rolling his eyes and showing her his watch to prove his point. Without wasting more time, they got out of the Come and Go Room. The contrast of the lighted room with the dark corridors unsettled the teenagers, who whispered at the same time lumos. At this, brown eyes and black eyes met. They stared at each other. There was something about those obsidian orbs that seemed to drawn Maria. Snapping out if it, she muttered, "Let's go!"

Snape immediately parted towards Dumbledore's office, wondering why he had stared at her in the first place. He wasn't usually affected by girls, and even less if they weren't Lily.

"Wait! Not so fast! My legs aren't as long as yours and I don't want to get lost," Maria protested. Sighing loudly and without masking his frustration, Severus took her hand and nearly dragged her along until they found themselves in front of the office door. Maria gulped soundly.

"Are you ready?" he asked in a low voice.

"As ready as I can be," she answered truthfully, although she looked a little jumpy. In that moment, Severus noticed he was still holding her hand. Embarrassed, het let her go. She hadn't seemed to notice it. It was either that, or she didn't let it show on her features. Severus felt a little disappointed and he couldn't explain why. They had just met, for Merlin's sake! Maria took a big breath and added, "Let's do this."

Severus knocked. A few moments later, an old man with long beard opened the door. Totally ignoring the girl's presence he said,"Good night, Mr. Snape. I don't remember seeing you in the Great Hall. May you tell me why?"

"I wasn't there. I missed the train. When I finally reached Hogwarts's grounds, I found her. She was lost, sir. I thought it would be best to bring her to you."

During his explanation Severus kept a cold face, emotionless and stoic. It was as if he was wearing a mask.

"I see… What's your name, young girl?"

She swallowed her nerves and answered, "Ruiz, my name is Maria Ruiz."

"Spanish? Interesting… How did you get to Hogwarts, Miss Ruiz?"

"I don't know… I don't remember it…" she replied with a trembling voice, shaking her head.

Frowning, Dumbledore enquired, "What's the last thing you remember, Maria?"

"I… I was with my parents when someone attacked us. My parents… Th…They're gone," she stuttered. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes and she seemed to be hyperventilating. Dumbledore looked at her with pity and Severus couldn't believe his eyes: the twat was buying it! He had to admit Maria was a pretty convincing actress. No wonder she was slytherin.

"Next thing I remember is this boy…" she trailed off and started sobbing, hiding her face.

The beardy man put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. "I'm sorry, Miss Ruiz."

A few moments passed and Maria appeared to have her breath slightly under control.

"Where have you been studying magic?"

"My father taught me. I was home-schooled, but now…" she stopped mid-sentence, but everybody understood what she meant. Giving her a sympathetic look, Dumbledore offered, "Would you like to study here?"

Maria looked at him with wide eyes of astonishment and threw her arms around the man, nodding her head and repeating thank you over and over again. All this time Severus stood awkwardly. All this sentimentalism was too much for him. She pulled away mumbling an apology.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, child." She smiled and wiped her tears with her sleeve. "We'll get you sorted. Severus, stay with her." And with that said Dumbledore left the room.

Once they couldn't hear his steps, Snape whispered, "How the hell did you manage to cry like that?" She just gave him a sad look and shrugged, "When something has really happened to you, it is easier to act it out. The best liars always tell the truth... That's what they say." Noticing his condolatory look she hurriedly added, "They're not dead, but they're definitely gone. My parents are younger than us right now…"

Understanding invaded the seventeen-year-old boy as another tear fell down Maria's face. They waited in tense silence until Dumbledore returned. He was holding the sorting hat in one hand and the uniform and sleeping robes in the other. He put the clothes on the desk and motioned for her to sit down.

"Please, take a seat, Miss Ruiz."

She obeyed and immediately felt the pressure of the hat on her head. Before it could utter any word, Maria thought, "Slytherin, please. Sort me there."

"Are you sure? You could be better off in Ravenclaw… You certainly have the brains for it…"

"I am cunning, ambitious and resourceful. And I want to be with Severus…" she kept on thinking.

The sorting hat seemed to ponder this and finally shouted, "Slytherin!"

Maria let out a sigh of relief and smiled gently at Severus, making him slightly blush. He didn't know what to make of her. Nobody except Lily had ever smiled at him… It was not something he was used to and it made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Dumbledore gave her the clothes and Maria muttered a sweet thank you.

"There's only one thing left. Please, select the subjects you want to pursue for your NEWTs." The old man handed her a list and Maria did as she had been told. Severus was able to see askance as she marked the subjects of Charms, History of Magic, Ancient Runes, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Alchemy and Transfiguration, of course.

"Perfect. Please Mr. Snape, if you would be so kind to show Maria her dorm..." Albus requested politely.

"Follow me."

"Thank you for everything, sir."

Once they were out of ear, the headmaster whispered distrustfully, "What are you two hiding from me?"


Severus and Maria made their way silently to the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons. Images of the future he had seen kept passing by the black-eyed boy's mind, keeping him distracted and filling him with doubts.

"Everything I saw through legilimency… That was muggle, right?" Severus wondered once they were in front of the door.

After some hesitation, she replied, her voice only above a whisper, "Yes."

"Are you…?"

"Yes, I am muggleborn. But I'm not stupid. I'll pretend I'm a half-blood. It'll make our job considerably easier. Promise me you won't tell anybody," she begged fearfully.

There was something about her eyes that made him promise her just that, despite being a total stranger. Then he proceeded and muttered the password, "Parseltongue."

The door opened and they stepped in.

"I already know where my chambers are. Have a good night, Severus."

Maria left to the girl's dormitories before she heard Severus murmuring back,"Good night, Maria."

She went upstairs and found that nearly all rooms were full, so she took the free one and lay on the bed. Thoughts of the life she had left behind and would never have again haunted her for hours. Exhausted, sleep finally called her.

On the other side of the dungeons, Severus kept tossing and turning on the bed, thinking of Maria Ruiz, possibly the only muggleborn slytherin witch. She was one of a kind, he was sure of it.