Three
When everything feels right again, once I don't feel like I am being squeezed to half my size, I open my eyes and realize that I am on a dark pathway with a large lake in front of me. In the distance, I can see the lights of the castle. I am almost there. I let of go Dumbledore's hand and look up at him.
"We cannot apparate onto castle grounds, so we'll have to take a boat across the lake," he explains.
I follow him a short distance down the shore and a small boat comes into view. I toss my things aside and step in carefully. Sitting on the small bench seat, I clutch Calypso close so that the cat won't be frightened. Once Dumbledore steps into the boat, it takes off from the shore automatically, beginning a steady course across the lake. A few silent minutes later, the boat bumps against the opposite side of the shore.
I climb out and stare up at the castle. I am only a few steps away from going into Hogwarts for the first time. It is bigger than I imagined, and I wonder how long it will take me to know my way around. I also wonder where my father is right now. He is probably dealing with his students and scaring first years, as he is head of Slytherin house. I have no idea how the next few minutes or few hours will go, but I have come too far to give up now. With my things in tow, I follow Dumbledore up to the doors of the castle.
I am shocked to see that the halls are empty and the castle is quiet. All the students have retired to their common rooms and dormitories for the evening. I take in as much of the sights as I can, the moving paintings, the large suits of armor, the endless stone passageways. Everywhere I turn, there is a new detail, and I am trying hard to process it all.
Suddenly, a decrepit, dirty man rounded a corner with a frazzled, orange cat at his heels. The cat arches his back and hisses at Calypso.
"Ah, Filch, could you please tell Severus that he is needed in my office?"
"Yes, sir," the man croaks before disappearing again.
Dumbledore turns to me; "We can't keep this from your father forever. We might as well do this reunion privately in my office."
I take a deep breath and follow Dumbledore the rest of the way to his office. We reach a statue of a large Griffin, and Dumbledore mutters a word, making it spin open. I notice the stairs behind the statue are moving, and I step forward with hesitance. We ride the spiral stairs until we are in a large circular room, filled wall to wall with gadgets and artifacts that I haven't the slightest idea of what they are. Dumbledore instructs me to sit my things down to the side and wait in the chair across from his desk, while he sits at his desk, reading through a roll of parchment. It is only a matter of time before I will face my father. As seconds pass, my heart begins to slam against my ribcage. I am certain that Dumbledore can hear it's pounding, and he looks up over his half-moon glasses.
"You shouldn't worry as you do," he notes, "Severus will come around eventually."
I offer him a small smile, but my heart pounds on. I nearly levitate out of my chair when I hear the heavy office door open again.
I hear my father's drawling voice, "Professor, you needed me?"
Dumbledore doesn't respond, but he nods toward me instead. In a burst of courage, I stand and face my father for the first time in a long time.
"Hi dad," I say, my voice trembling.
My father steps forward, his eyes widening, "Lena! Merlin, what are you doing here? How…"
"She got her Hogwarts letter and arranged with me to come," Dumbledore explains, rounding his desk.
"Albus, you know my feelings about this. You went against my wishes!" Father spits.
"Dad, it isn't entirely his fault. I responded to the letter and went to Diagon Alley on my own," I sigh.
"Lena, you shouldn't have come here. You have no idea what you're doing," he growls at me.
"The tell me! Why shouldn't I be here? I belong here! I am a witch, and I'm your daughter," I yell.
My father grabs my shoulder, "This goes far beyond anything you have knowledge of."
We stare each other down, anger oozing off of us both. Before I can reply, Dumbledore clears his throat.
"Severus, I know this still requires much discussion between you two. However, in the interest of time, I suggest we sort her now so her head of house can be forming a class schedule for her. The less school she misses will be better for her, since she is already behind."
Father narrows his eyes at Dumbledore, and I think I see something in his gaze that shows he knows he has lost the battle.
"Fine," he hisses, letting go of my shoulder.
Dumbledore motions to a stool in the corner, "Sit here, dear."
I feel the tattered hat being placed on my head, and I close her eyes. I can't believe I am finally being sorted into a Hogwarts house. I would finally have a place where I belong. I feel the hat stiffen and then roar to life.
"Mmmm, a Snape, how peculiar. Didn't think I'd every see another mind like this," the hat ponders out loud.
I immediately assume I am going to be placed into Slytherin as a consequence of my last name, and the hat has already compared me to my father.
"Cunning, ambitious, but what's this? Clever, a great drive for knowledge. I haven't seen such a ready mind in quite a while. Better be…Ravenclaw!" the hat calls out.
Once again, my heart hammers in my chest. I am not in my father's house, and I assume that this is something that will only drive us further apart.
"I'll get a note to Filius, should you decide to start classes tomorrow. I'll also pen a letter to her squib caretakers, letting them know she is safe. Severus, she'll have to stay in your chambers for the night."
My father purses his lips, "Very well. Lena, come."
I gather my things and swiftly follow after him, for fear of getting left behind. I try to keep my silence for as long as possible, but I can't keep my thoughts in my head quiet any longer.
"Why are you so adamant to keep me away?" I blurt.
"You're safer away from here, away from me," he mutters, never turning to face me.
"So you leave me in the muggle world with a squib couple who can't protect me, and with me having no way of protecting myself? Yes, that sounds loads safer than a magical school with some of the best witches and wizards of the age!"
Father whirls around, "Lena, you don't understand the circumstances."
"Then help me understand! Dad, I want this. I want to be here, with you, learning."
"This is not the time for me to suddenly enlighten you. However, your actions have made it so that it is now unsafe for you to go back to the muggle world. People know you exist, and that cannot be undone without much damage. So, I have no choice but to keep you here. We'll deal with the consequences when they arise," he sighs.
As I continue to follow him down to the dungeons, I rejoice inwardly, although, I do feel slightly guilty about for forcing my father's hand. I just hope that it will all smooth over eventually.
Finally, we reach the dungeons, and I find them to be very cold and dark. Father opens a door, and we are suddenly in his office. There are books everywhere, from floor to ceiling. Quills and parchment were scattered around the room and all over his desk. I would've thought that he would be much more organized and meticulous, but I suppose that he is organized in his own way. As we walk through the office, I notice an open door that leads to a closet full of potions. The entire area is lined with shelved and bottle upon bottle is neatly sat and organized. It is a large contrast to the messy main area of his office. We reach another door, and he mutters an incantation under his breath. I hear the tumblers in the door slide back before my father snatches the door open. I am surprised to see a small sitting area and then a large bed with curtains draped around it. Everything is either black or Slytherin green, and it actually appears rather homey. There is a small table, a trunk at the foot of the bed, and an armoire. A door in the corner presumable leads to a small bathroom. On the table, I catch a glimpse of two moving pictures. The first looks like an older version of myself but with blonde hair, and I figure that is my mother. Emotion swells inside my chest, and I almost begin to tear up as my mother smiles and laughs back at me. I draw my attention to the second picture to keep my emotions at bay. It doesn't work though, as I realize that the second picture is one of me when I was very small. I sit on a carpeted floor in a green dress, my dark hair in pigtails. I am looking at the camera, clapping my hands a giggling. I didn't expect to find a picture of me on my father's table, but it warms my heart.
My father moves a chair away from the table, and the noise makes me look back at him. With a flick of his wand, he transfigures the chair into a small bed. While I know about magic, I haven't seen much of it, and it still catches me off guard. I know it will likely take a while for it to no longer be fascinating in my eyes.
"You can sleep here tonight. Tomorrow, you'll be moved to your dormitory," he drawls.
He points me to the bathroom, and I gather what I need, sitting Calypso on my bed. Once in the small washroom, I take a deep breath. The hardest part is over with. I am here, and now I just have to try hard to gain a relationship and try not to fall behind in my studies. I change clothes and splash water on my face before timidly walking back into the room. My father glances up at me from where he is laying papers out on a table, but he looks quickly away.
"Are you disappointed that I am not a Slytherin?" I ask.
My father looks back up at me, "Of course not. While it would have been advantageous to have my own daughter in my house, I am proud you are a Ravenclaw. It was your mother's house."
"Oh, I didn't realize," I mutter, feeling suddenly closer to my mother.
In a burst of emotion, I lurch forward and wrap my arms about my father in a hug. I can feel his shock, but slowly and stiffly, he hugs me as well. After a moment, I pull away and smile up at him. I snuggle under my covers and pull Calypso against my chest.
"Good night, dad," I whisper.
There is a beat of silence before my father's monotone voice responds, "Good night, Lena."