Disclaimer: I only own Sofi.
Chapter 9:
Settling In
"SLYTHERIN!"
Sofi released a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding onto.
She took off the Sorting hat and went to sit at the Slytherin table. Sofi grinned when she saw Severus move over to make room for her. 'It's nice to have a friend.'
"I'm glad you're in Slytherin," Severus said as Sofi sat down.
Sofi beamed at him. "So am I. So am I."
When the last two students were sorted into Slytherin, Sofi cheered along with the rest of the table.
Dumbledore stood up and said, "I won't keep you waiting any longer. Eat well!"
As soon as the Headmaster sat down the food appeared on the tables. Sofi noted that there wasn't much difference between now and 1994 in the available food selections. Chicken, roast pork (which Sofi ignored), sausage (Sofi also ignored this), mashed potatoes, and much, much more.
"So Winegrove, why were you so delayed in attending Hogwarts?" a blue-eyed fellow fourth-year girl asked.
Sofi swallowed the bite of chicken she had been chewing. "I'm a transfer student from the Salem Witches' Institute. What's your name?"
"Joni Harper and this beauty sitting next to me is Tiffany Burke."
Burke swallowed her food, smiled and said, "Hello."
A dirty blond boy with yellowish eyes leaned around Severus and said, "I'm Scott Mulciber. What's your blood status?"
"You know, in the US it's not polite to ask such a question."
Mulciber's eyes narrowed and his lips began to sneer.
"But I'll satisfy your curiosity anyways," Sofi continued. "My mother was a witch and my father was from a long line of Squibs."
"Well that's rather embarrassing," a boy with tangled brown hair said.
Sofi scoffed. "Only if you're ignorant of who he's descended from."
"Oh?"
Looking around, Sofi realized that she had the attention of everyone around her. Smirking she said, "Ever hear of Warlock Aaron?"
Severus' eyes widened. As did another boy with blue eyes and a rather large mouth.
"Who?" the boy with tangled brown hair asked.
"I'm John Wilkes," the blue-eyed boy said eagerly.
"Who's Warlock Aaron?" the boy with tangled brown hair demanded.
"How is it that Wilkes knows who he is yet you don't, Avery?" Severus asked.
"Just answer the damned question!"
"Warlock Aaron was an extremely powerful wizard from nearly three thousand years ago. It's rumored that he rivaled Merlin in his abilities," the blue-eyed boy said in awe.
Mulciber sputtered. "Th- three thousand?! Quit trying to confound me Wilkes!"
"He's not," Severus said before Wilkes could talk. "Hell, even the Muggles are aware of Aaron. Although they think he was merely a priest."
Sofi rolled her eyes. "He wasn't merely a priest. He was the High Priest of the Jews."
"Sweet Merlin," another girl said. "Hi Winegrove. My name is Dorean Selwyn."
"Hi. It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, no. The pleasure is all mine."
Sofi grinned then shrugged. "You know, it's actually not all that impressive. Me being a Cohain, I mean. There are a lot of us out there. Not to mention, even if the Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt, I won't be able to actually do anything. Women aren't allowed. And I can't pass the title onto any children I might have."
Now everyone was gaping at Sofi in disbelief.
"Seriously? Your family goes back to before Merlin and you say that that's not impressive?!" Mulciber said.
Sofi simply shrugged and continued eating. She nudged Severus with her elbow and nodded to his plate when she noticed that he was staring at her intently. With a start he resumed eating as well.
Soon enough the usual deserts appeared and the conversation turned towards classes.
When all the food had disappeared and the dishes were left a sparkling gold the Headmaster stood up to give his annual start of term announcements.
Later in the girls' dormitory, Sofi was putting her clothes into her bureau when Narcissa came into to check on her.
"Class schedules are handed out at breakfast tomorrow. If you have trouble finding classes, just ask a Slytherin or prefect. The house ghosts will also help if you see them. Try to avoid Peeves. If you need anything just ask me."
"Okay. Thanks. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow?"
"You will. How about I walk you up? We can meet in the common room around eight?"
"Sure, Narcissa. I'd appreciate that a lot," Sofi said with a smile.
"Great! I'll see you then! Have a good night."
"Good night."
Sofi woke up at six o'clock in the morning with tears rolling down her cheeks. She thought back to the memory turned nightmare:
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ba dump. Ba dump. Ba dump dump. Ba dump. Ba dump. Ba dump dump.
'Doctor Allen Allendale. Paging Doctor Allen Allendale. You are needed in Cardiology.'
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Patient has gunshot trauma to the stomach. It's healing nicely. The sutures are almost dissolved and Doctor Bard expects to be able to remove the stitches by the end of the week."
"When will be able to talk to her?"
"We're bringing her out of the medically induced coma as we speak. She lost a lot of blood, though. It's rather amazing that she didn't die. There's no telling how much she'll remember."
Groan.
"Joanna. She's waking up."
"Excuse me Special Agent Jethro."
"Certainly."
Groan. "It hurts."
"I know sweety. Just try and open your eyes okay?"
"Kay."
Brightness.
"Her eyes are responding properly."
"It hurts," Sofi cried.
"I know sweety… I know… Jack, get me some intravenous Methadone."
"You'll feel better soon."
"Here, Joanna."
"Thanks."
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Two days passed in a haze of pain. Then she turned on the TV.
"You can see behind me the horrifying destruction caused by a Neo-Nazi terrorist group. The blast was a mile wide, and has had a devastating effect on New Jersey and the United states as a whole. FBI agents say that the explosion happened shortly after noon on the 27th during a funeral for a family that had been murdered in New York City on the 21st. Authorities say that more information will be coming forth as the investigation continues. President Ronald Reagan has responded."
"Sofi," came Tziporah Kippur's voice an hour later. "I'm so sorry you had to find out that way."
"I have no one left, do I?"
"No. No you don't."
"Why?!" Sofi sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed onto her stomach. "Ow. Can I at least get some of my things?"
"I'm sorry, but no. Everything is part of the investigation. And… Well… The higher ups decided to record you as dead and-"
"Dead people don't get to inherit or keep anything," Sofi said dully.
"I'm so sorry."
Wiping her tears from her eyes, Sofi stood up, canceled her silencing charm, and got dressed. Grabbing her defense book, she decided to head down to the common room and wait for Narcissa.
Breakfast was a rather quiet affair. Sofi received her schedule and noted that it was the same as in 1994. 'Damn it! Transfiguration first. I hate Mondays.'
Severus, who had sat down next to Sofi when he came into breakfast said, "Looks like I'll discover why you can't stand Transfiguration."
"Yeah. I guess you will."
"No need to sound so enthusiastic about it."
"Oh, come on Snape. You shouldn't be sarcastic to the lady." Sofi snorted in amusement. "She might stop being your friend if you continue with that awful behavior," a grey-eyed third year said with a grin.
At Severus' stricken look Sofi quickly said, "Don't be ridiculous. I completely understand sarcasm and wouldn't ever stop being Severus' friend. Besides, I'm hardly a, how did you say it? Lady."
Severus looked rather relieved at Sofi's declaration.
"But aren't you related to Warlock Aaron?"
"Yes. But that doesn't mean anything. Trust me. I am not a lady."
The boy looked doubtful. "If you say so," he said. "I'm Regulus Black, by the way."
"It's nice to meet you. Are you Narcissa's brother?"
"No, he's my cousin," Narcissa said, joining in the conversation.
"You see that sod with the shaggy black hair at the Gryffindor table?" Regulus asked as he pointed.
"You mean the sleazebag Sirius?"
"Oh. You already met him." Regulus said.
"Yep. The first thing out of his mouth was some sort of ridiculous pickup line," Sofi replied.
"Typical," Narcissa muttered.
"Well, I have the dubious pleasure of being his younger brother."
"Poor you."
"Indeed," Severus agreed. "Can I see your schedule, Sofi? I want to see what classes we have together."
"Sure."
A moment later he exclaimed, "I don't believe it! We have all of our classes together."
"Brilliant! You can show me around then," Sofi said. Her reply was met with a raised eyebrow. "Well… if you don't mind that is."
"Oh come on, Severus," Narcissa said. "It's not like you'd be going out of your way to help her."
"I was going to say yes," Severus said defensively. "Come on, McGonagall is a bit of a hard arse. We don't want to be late."
'No kidding. I think I know just how much of a hard ass she can be,' Sofi thought bitterly. 'At least I have friends now.'
A/N: Sorry about the shortness of last chapter. I just felt that where I ended it was a good place. Also, I know that turning High Priest Aaron (Moses' and Miriam's brother) into a wizard is quite blasphemous. You don't have to worry, though. My father (who is actually a descendent of Aaron) already yelled at me. :D Also, anything else related to the Cohaneem (High Priests) is accurate (to my knowledge), unless I say otherwise.
Thank you so much to vbt22220, KizuNii and Squishy97 for being so kind as to review last chapter. Please review. It helps keep me inspired and writing!
