Chapter 3-

Of Gryffindors and Slytherins

Dumbledore had made good on his promise, allowing them private quarters to sleep in until the school term started. They would all be in 7th year. Harry, Ron, and Hermione understood this meant they would be with the marauders…and Snape. Sin, on the other hand, was not privy to such information. All she knew was that the man she had dreamed of her entire life was somewhere in the castle, it was all she needed to know.

The few teachers that knew of their arrival thought, like everyone else, that they were exchange students from America and had welcomed them graciously, if not sternly. Now, on the night they would be introduced to the students and sorted into their respective houses, three of them were dressed in proper wizarding attire. Sin, however, stubbornly transfigured all her clothes to suit her own tattered, but interesting, tastes. No robes, no hats, but she did take the shoes. She hadn't, after all, had any to begin with.

"Why don't you put the robe on?" Ron asked, for the thousandth time, only to be elbowed in the stomach by Hermione. None of the Trio trusted Sin and she didn't trust them. But they were stuck with each other and, so, they were dependant on each other. A fragile friendship had begun to bloom. It had been decided that they would have to find a way back to their time without altering the timeline now. They had all agreed… But Harry and Sin were in agreement. Snape was to be given a true chance at life. None of them wanted to think about what would happen if they failed, Sin had been too serious in her warnings.

There was another thing, too, that bothered them about Sin. At times, when she obviously did not want to be found (such as the times she was playing with Fawkes) she couldn't be found. It was like she was invisible to them and other such things had happened. But what worried them most was that, in their time, she had had no wand but, now, she had one that looked, to Harry, disturbingly familiar. How? He wasn't sure but he had to figure it out. Somehow.

But that could all happen later. For now they were trying, once last time, to get Sin to wear a proper robe.

"What will they say?" Hermione asked, easily finding the crux of the problem.

Sin offered the other girl a small smile, it was one that was usually used on Harry and then only because he was on her side with Snape.

"I will tell them that I was mostly home schooled, which is true, and that it is a requirement that I be who I am. That includes how I dress otherwise the conformity will destroy everything I was taught in a psychological level."

Hermione, to Ron and Harry's utter surprise, blinked. Not as a natural human reflex but because of shock. She even shook her head, clearing it. Then, to the boy's shock, she chuckled and smiled and offered her hand in peace. Sin looked down at that hand, unsure, but she could not say no to it. How could she? When they had no choice but to work as one. When she took it Hermione couldn't help but notice that her grip was like a child's tentative and nervous and scared, but hiding an underlying strength.

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They had finally allowed that she would not be changing into a robe. When they moved to the back of the line of first years, they were met with wide eyes and curiosity. Sin really didn't care. She did, however, place a gentle hand on the top of the head of a little boy, ruffling his hair slightly and indicating to the door. The boy smiled gratefully and turned back around, ready to face the 'horror' of sorting.

When the children entered the great hall they waited behind the closing doors. Dumbledore had said that they would be summoned separately. It took an infinite mount of time, as far as Sin was concerned, and she snuck her hand down into a muggle bag strapped to her to pet the still young phoenix. Before the doors opened again she picked Fawkes, whom she had now named Blaze, onto her shoulder where the young phoenix cooed gently. The golden trio did not protest. It was a good sign.

Then the doors were opening and they could hear Dumbledore's voice booming over the distance.

"Now I would like to introduce you to our new transfer students. They come to us from America." He motioned them forward and Harry stepped through the door first. Everyone was watching, curiously, but his attention was focused on two different places. The first was where the marauders sat, James holding Lily's hand, and the second was at the obviously lonely and seething boy that sat alone at the Slytherin table. Then Ron and Hermione were pushing him forward, Sin bringing up the rear.

That she caused a commotion was an understatement. Everyone began muttering like crazy, the teachers frowned, Filch began moving as if to take her from the room, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled so bright they could have been disco balls. However the four of them reached the sorting hat without conflict or challenge. None of them had yet to notice the phoenix which was, to Sin's relief, cuddling into the crook of her neck neither nervous nor frightened. She looked around, trying to find someone, the man from her dream, but she didn't know where to look. She could feel him though, eyes as dark as night focused on them all.

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It was trying, listening to the same speeches year after year and welcoming new 'death eaters' into their folds. He would be joining soon but it was not for power. It was for respect. It was because not even Lily believed in him anymore. Snape sighed softly and shook his head while the last child was sorted. Into Gryffindor. They would think this a victory of some sort. It had never really occurred to him why they hated the Slytherins so much but he knew why he hated the Gryffindors. They were prejudice and 'courageous', which was just another word for stupid, and taxing and unrealistic. No slytherin would be caught dead with one of their ilk, but oh how he wished she would just look at him again. Like she use to, at the very least. But Lily Evans kept her eyes facing stubbornly forward. Snape had lost her and it was a loss that tore the very core of who he was.

When the last child sat down Snape was readying to ignore Dumbledore's babble but, then, something made him look up. An invisible lightning bolt that made every part of him energized and wary and hoping? Then Dumbledore announced transfer students. This was a first. Snape, like many others, found himself looking at the doors. The first person to step forward was James Potter, or what looked like James Potter. Snape felt himself snigger. Great. Could his life get anymore torturous?

The James-look-a-like turned to him and stared long and hard. Snape glared at him. Then he passed by, followed by two others. Then a girl walked through and Snape, like most other Slytherins, couldn't believe his eyes. The girl was dressed as a muggle with clothes that hinted of a body that rivaled more than one enchantress in the school. But her face was scarred, a strange scar that tickled his mind somehow. As she walked past his table he noticed something small, nearly featherless, but he understood what it was. Almost instantly. A Phoenix. They did not grant such trust easily.

He wasn't sure why he was fascinated by this girl but, when she turned around, he was startled by her eyes. When she had first walked in they had seemed nearly as dark as his own but now, as her eyes shifted across the students and landed only momentarily on his, they seemed almost golden. But it happened to fast for him to decide. His body was thrumming with something. His eyes narrowed on the girl, untrusting and with more than a little distrust.

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Sin should have felt nervous but it was an emotion she had never truly had the capacity to feel. She had been raised better than that, raised to trust and believe in herself because the likelihood of anyone every doing so was slim to none. Her head remained forward and confident, daring anyone to challenge her for any reason. Her hand, unconsciously, touched the wand at her side and it felt like warm fire raced up her hand and into her heart. It was a nice feeling.

Dumbledore, meanwhile, had moved from his podium and invited Hermione to sit down. With a careful movement he placed the sorting hat on her head. It spoke, almost instantly.

"Gryffindor!"

Hermione smiled and stood, removing the hat and returning it to Dumbledore. She did not, however, leave the group. She remained with them, her eyes intense and focused. Ron was next and his was the same, the hat yelling Gryffindor before it had fully settled on his head. Chuckling he stood beside Hermione, reaching down and holding her hand in his. They looked at each other apprehensively. They knew what was going to happen now. Harry sat down.

Hmm interesting. You've got the makings of a great wizard but where to put you? Gryffindor? They will make you brave and strong. Or perhaps Slytherin. You will make your true friends there.

Harry almost chuckled but he knew where he needed to go. Where he had to go this time. And it didn't scare him as it had when he was a first year. No, this time he was happy. It would mean he'd have a better chance of saving Severus and protecting the future.

"SLYTHERIN!" The sorting hat called and, to everyone's surprise Harry jumped down gleefully and hugged his friends. Not in farewell but, rather, as someone who had just won the most fabulous prize. Then it was Sin's turn. She sat down and she heard the voice in her mind.

Hmm enormous power here, young girl. Potential and control beyond any that have passed through these halls. Why is that I wonder? And where should you go? Any one house that has you will be too strong. You tip the balance here. Ravenclaw presents no challenge. Hufflepuff is too kind. Gryffindor has nothing to offer you. Slytherin is something you need not. But you belong here, yes, that is true. Where should you go? Where would you like to go?

I want to go nowhere. I am here in search of someone, to save a life. Perhaps more than one. The house I am matters not. After all…we share the same school. What does it matter what house you are in?

I agree. A very wise young woman, that is true. Well there is no place to put you, no place that is safe. So, then, let us place you somewhere that you can be with your companions. Where your mission can be fulfilled.

Thank you

And the Sorting Hat called out, to the dead silence of the room,

"ALL HOUSES. NO HOUSES." And, whispering to her mind it finished its piece, YOU ARE THE ONE

The hush that fell across the great hall was such that one could hear the proverbial pin drop. Sin sighed softly and removed the hat, stopping to kiss its brim gently before handing it to the Headmaster. Blaze sung a soft melody in her ear and she offered bird her finger. In a sudden shock of flame the phoenix attempted a gentle flap of flaming wings but did not get far. That was fine, and the fire hurt too little for Sin to worry about it. When the blaze died down Blaze was almost four inches longer, covered in flaming

feathers. Dumbledore smiled softly and then turned to the students and faculty.

"I hope you will all welcome these new students into our school, indeed our home, with the utmost respect and generosity."

That he said nothing about the hat's, apparently obvious, confusion was only too much like Dumbledore. Hermione and Ron smiled at Sin, Ron's obviously forced, and moved over to the Gryffindor table. Harry took one long look after them and then at his parents. As if trying to decide if he had made the right choice, and then his gaze fell on someone in particular. Sin followed his gaze and felt a bolt of electricity go through her body. Sitting there, scowling darkly, was a boy about her age with eyes as dark as night. She almost went to him but Harry touched her arm and shook his head. She understood the silent message, offered him an understanding nod and watched as he made his way to the Slytherin table.

Sin turned and looked at Dumbledore before offering him a soft smile, an innocent smile that seemed to send his mind into a whirl of thoughts, before promptly exiting the Great Hall. Leaving the silence in her wake.

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Ron and Hermione moved directly to the marauders and, though they hadn't discussed what they were going to do precisely, Ron burst out, in such a Ron-like way that Hermione could not be mad at him, "Allo mate…You look like Harry. Of course he's in Slytherin now but I suppose, as we have every class with them we'll be able to see him just like always. I'm Ron by the way…This is Hermione. " Hermione smiled tightly and mentally shook her head. With a soft sigh she took Ron's hand and offered them a more sincere smile.

"Well time to go then right? I hope we see you all again." Her eyes seemed to be directed at Peter in a most hateful manner before she, and Ron, left the Great Hall after Sin.

"Blimey mate…" Peter said nervously.

"That." James stated softly, "was weird."

"That. Is an understatement." Sirius replied coolly.

"I agree." Lily Evans said, her green eyes clouded with worry.

"Me too." Remus agreed, his eyes tracking the retreating figure of both the two that had approached them and the newest Slytherin.

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Meanwhile Snape had been staring at the spot where the girl had just been, confused and worried. Something was wrong, he could sense it deep within himself. It was something that made him perfect for Slytherin, his keen insight and logical mind. Another good thing was his ability to sense the presence of others when they were close. And the James look alike was about 20 feet too close for Snape's peace of mind.

"What?" He growled softly, reminding Harry of the man the boy would one day become.

"I just wanted to say thank you, sir, and that I will do my best. You deserve that."

And Harry knew it was stupid but part of him, some silly part of him, had decided that in the off chance that they couldn't save Snape that he would know how he felt. It was important, now, that Snape knew, wh

Snape had the strangest urge to go with them. But then the door closed and the rumors began.