Random Fact: Severus sincerely regrets missing the party mentioned earlier…it was a great one.
16 years later
Severus sat in his chair, surveying the line of first years anticipating sorting. The newest Potter was in line, as was the Weasley/Granger child. The Malfoy was already sitting at the Slytherin table, as expected. Minerva, though Headmistress, still maintained several of her duties from the time 22 years ago, when Albus was still Headmaster and she was simply a Professor of Transfiguration. Minerva still taught Transfiguration, and she stilled called the first years to be sorted. If Minerva ever became unable to sort the students, she delegated Severus to that "honor." He had been quite worried, due to the fact that Minerva had been away for nearly a week. No one knew where she had gone. She had finally returned, just before the students.
She had brought a student back with her. This student was to be sorted last. No one else had seen the student, and Minerva had not given any information on this student. The other students knew nothing about this, and the professors all waited for the last student to be sorted, so they would know who he or she might be and why everything about him or her was kept secret.