Author's Note (new)
This chapter...Chapter Twenty-one...is a REPOST. Several times over the last couple years I've opened this document and felt like I wanted to write. At some point I wrote more and then stopped. Time isn't what it used to be. I used to be a stay at home mom and now I work two jobs, six days a week, and rarely have time for writing. It makes my heart ache, but...that's just where I am at the moment. I hope that someday I will be able to return and be as prolific as I once was.
So...this chapter...you've probably already read it. It was chapter 20, but I've rearranged a bit. I've added a new chapter 19 (so go back and read it)...and so chapters 19 and 20 are now 20 and 21 (to make space for the new 19). Make sense? I can only hope.
On the bright side of this little rearrange, I'm nearly done with chapters 22 and 23 (to be added within the week).
Original Author's Note
*wonders if readers actually read "author's notes."*
Please note that...this chapter, Chapter Twenty, has A LOT quoted material in it. I have marked this by putting it in italics, which I regularly use for emphasis. I'm still using italics for emphasis here and there (quite a bit, actually), but...well, I'm hoping it's clear which parts are from the books...as they're sort of in chunks.
Further, for the Sorting Hat song. The beginning half (first 32 lines) are from the first book...the second half (next 20 lines) is MINE! It's not fabulous, I suck at rhyming (and I did it wrong), but...it came out okay.
Warnings: Hmm. None, I don't think...just, I guess loads of original characters.
Word Count: 4,936
Getting Sorted (1 September 2008)
Standing together, the large group of first years watched as the door swung open at once, revealing a tall, witch with gray-streaked black hair who was wearing emerald-green robes. She had a very stern face and there wasn't a student there whose first thought wasn't that this was not someone to cross.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid. "I mean, Headmistress."
The older woman pursed her lips. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
Pulling the door wide, the headmistress gestured her new students into the entrance hall. It was so large that many were glancing around, awestruck. And that included all six of the black-haired children whose father had once walked this very hall. Though four of the six knew more than a bit about Hogwarts—being raised with the knowledge of magic and all—it was still quite a bit different to see it for yourself. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the celieing was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
Following the headmistress across the flagged stone floor, the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right could be heard. But they were showed into a small, empty chamber off the hall instead. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Headmistress McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up a much as you can while you are waiting."
The older witch's eyes raked over the lot, lingering on a few students. One boy scrambled to fasten his cloak, while another brushed a smudge off his nose. Headmistress McGonagall's eyes stopped on the small group of black-haired kids she knew to be Severus Snape's children. And all six of them looked at one another nervously—even Seveena—and none of them saw their headmistress' look. It was unusually soft.
"I will be sending someone to fetch you when we are ready for you," said Headmistress McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
With that, she left the chamber, causing the first years to sigh with relief.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Hunter asked, to anyone who knew the answer.
"Some sort of test, I think," Evanius answered. "My cousins said it hurts a lot, but I...think maybe they were lying."
Seveena snorted. "You think?"
Evanius frowned. "What do you know?"
Seveena rolled her eyes. "It doesn't hurt," she said. "I promise. It's no big deal."
"How do you know?" another boy in the crowd asked, clearly nervous too.
Seveena scowled at the boy and didn't answer—but Septimus did.
"Our mother and father are teachers here," he said.
A few students sighed with relief. It was obvious a great many were worried.
"Anyway," Seveena continued, arms folding over her chest, "you need to stop listening to those cousins of yours, Evanius. Twats, I tell you!"
Evanius grinned. "Totally."
Seveena smiled a bit too, but looked away so that no one saw it.
Septimus and Sevaria did though and glanced at one another in surprise.
"All right now. Time to get you lot Sorted," came a voice.
Everyone looked up, a few gasping.
"Are...are you...Bellatrix Lestrange?
The witch scoffed. "Certainly not!" she said. "She was my sister and...thank Salazar, she is gone. Dead and gone!"
Several eyes widened with surprise. A few of the first years nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly—because they knew the history—others looked relieved. One girl, however, glared. But the middle-aged witch ignored it and continued.
"I am Andromeda Tonks and I will be your Transfiguration professor. I am also Deputy Headmistress. There are four of us this year. Along with myself, Headmistress McGonagall has appointed one from each House; Professor Vance from Hufflepuff, Professor Sinistra from Ravenclaw, and Professor Avery from Slytherin," she informed the group of curious children.
Seveena snorted her disgust—and received an elbow from both Septimus and Sevaria, as well as a stern look from Professor Tonks.
"Hey, if Professor Avery is representing Slytherin," a dark-haired boy spoke out, "then...why did you say, 'thank Salazar' before?"
Professor Tonks pursed her lips and sighed. "I was Sorted into Slytherin myself, but this year I'm Head of Gryffindor House."
Several heads bobbed in understanding, though a few kids frowned.
"That hardly seems right," the girl who'd been glaring said.
Professor Tonks gave a slight nod. "I understand your confusion, but it is what it is, dear," she said, eyeing the pale, thickset girl with concern, then looking at the group at large. "Now then, let's get moving. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." She smiled at them. "Please, form a line," she told the first years, "and follow me."
Pushing a little, to get into the line, everyone followed the dark-haired witch out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Almost everyone had heard stories of Hogwarts, had even seen pictures of various rooms, but seeing the Great Hall for the first time was always something that every student would remember for the rest of his or her life. It was unimaginable! Such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor Tonks led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, there were ghosts, which shone misty silver. And above them, there was a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. Someone had been going on about it, saying that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. It was hard to believe though, that there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens.
After giving everyone several moments to get settled, Professor Tonks silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
The first years all stared at it. In fact, everyone in the Great Hall was staring at the hat. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth—and the hat began to sing:
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
But WAIT, my dear, eager learners!
There's something new, I see.
In this crowded room of murmurs,
are six who share a tree.
From where I sit, little first years,
this hexad may need aid
Please pitch in everyone, all peers;
so friendships can be made.
I know it's hard, when divided,
into Hogwarts' Houses four
Our Founders might've been misguided,
but let us shut that door.
So when all join this night to sing
our lovely Hogwarts tune,
with any hope, we can bring
all together soon.
But first it's time, to separate
Horrid as it seems
Remember that, it's only time
—make it one of dreams!
For a moment there was silence—and then the whole hall burst into applause, many students screaming loudly, everyone grinning and nodding. And then the hat bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
"So we've just got to try on the hat," Evanius whispered, clearly relieved.
Standing beside him, Seveena's dark eyes narrowed. "Don't worry, as soon as I get into my Common Room, your cousins will get a hex from me," she said, elbowing her new brother.
Evanius smiled. "So sure you'll be in Slytherin, are you?"
Seveena grinned. "Absolutely!"
Evanius turned his gaze back to the hat and eyed it dubiously. How could a hat know anything? he wondered.
But it seemed they were about to find out. Professor Tonks now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. Smiling, she looked at the first name on the list. "Ackerley, Jarek!"
The dark-haired boy who'd previously questioned Andromeda stepped forward with haste, clearly used to being first, and put on the hat, which dropped over his shining blue eyes. A moment's pause—
"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.
The table second from the left clapped as Jarek went to the table; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with him as he joined them.
"Addison, Willow!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
This time, the table on the right cheered and clapped as Willow, a pretty girl with strawberry blonde waves, went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Avery-Snape, Septimus!"
Frowning slightly, at the addition to his surname, Septimus squared his shoulders and went forth, taking the hat and sitting down before placing it on his head. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited—and was not at all surprised to hear, "RAVENCLAW!" Smiling, he threw a look over his shoulder at his parents—who were sitting at the top of the Great Hall at a long table—then smiled and went to join his new House.
"Avery-Snape, Sevaria!"
Sevaria gulped. She'd avoided looking at her parents and wished Septimus was still standing next to her. Before she could take a step though, she felt a hand slip into hers—and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was Seveena's, squeezing reassuringly. Feeling stronger, Sevaria clutched for a moment, then advanced on the stool.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat boomed, and smiling, Sevaria happily scuttled off to sit next to Willow Addison.
"Avery-Snape, Seveena!"
Confidently, Seveena walked forward and picked up the hat, placed it on her head, and sat down. She'd expected this to be quick, but—it wasn't.
"Ahhh," said a small voice in her ear. "A lot going on in your head, girl. Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent too, oh my goodness, yes—and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"
Seveena smirked, waiting as patiently as she was able. She refused to influence the hat—she'd heard that was possible—and sat perfectly still.
"Not willing to show your desires, eh?" said the small voice, making a chuckling sound. "Sneaky. But that shows plenty, you know."
And she did know. Still, Seveena didn't move.
"Well, that's fine then. Guess it'll be..." he paused—for dramatic effect—then shouted "SLYTHERIN!"
Looking smug, Seveena stood up and headed to her House table, without so much as a look back at her parents. She did glance at Evanius though and mouthed an I told you so, then glared daggers at his cousins.
"Bell, Falon" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers. The next two went into Ravenclaw, then another into Hufflepuff, then three more Ravenclaws before Hufflepuff received another. Next came three Slytherins, followed quickly by a gaggle of lions and badgers.
And then, her eyes wide and disbelieving, Professor Tonks stared at the list, then glanced up at her sister at the Head table as she said the next first year's name. "Lestrange, Belynda!"
Andromeda saw her sister flinch. Clearly she was not the only one who'd had no knowledge of this Belynda Lestrange. Tearing her eyes from her shocked sister, she watched the thickset girl approach the stool. She looked less confident than Seveena Avery had, but not by much. And her impatience showed vividly in her dark eyes.
But the girl did not have long to wait, for the hat had barely touched her head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" causing Andromeda Tonks and Narcissa Malfoy's eyes to meet in worry once again.
For the next few names, Professor Tonks was in a bit of a fog. There was a Ravenclaw, a Hufflepuff, and another Slytherin, but if she'd been asked to give names, she wouldn't have been able. And then a name that brought her back.
"Salvatore-Snape, Evanius!"
Andromeda looked at her sister again, noticing the blonde witch perk up. Salvatore. This one was related to the Malfoy family; the boy's mother was Lucius Malfoy's cousin.
Standing between Hunter and Savannah Snape, Evanius glanced at them and gnawed on his lip. Suddenly, he was feeling a bit sick. A horrible thought struck Evanius, as horrible thoughts always do when you're very nervous. What if he wasn't chosen at all? What if he just sat there with the hat over his eyes for ages, until Professor Tonks jerked it off his head and said there had obviously been a mistake and he'd better get back on the train? That would be...mortifying!
But slowly, in part because his new brother and sister were smiling at him encouragingly, he nodded. This is it, he said to himself.
Taking the hat, Evanius slipped it over his head and was plunged into darkness.
"Oh! Another hyphenated Snape!" came a small voice in his ear. "But different. Hmm. Don't be like that, boy; that name is synonymous with greatness! Have you not read the histories?"
Evanius gave a clipped nod and the hat continued.
"You should be proud to wield that name," it said. "Though, I dare say, I cannot put you in the same House. No. Hmm. You've lived through hard times and...well, there might be some more ahead of you, but I do see a lantern at the end of the corridor, so don't fret. Allow those around you to help; friends and family always come through in the end."
Frowning, Evanius nodded again.
"And so, because it is the House that all should want to be sorted into—and because I would love to see your father roll over in his grave—I send you to..." the hat paused—just like it had for Seveena—then bellowed "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Not sure how he felt about it, Evanius removed the hat and jumped off the stool, then went and joined Sevaria Avery-Snape at the Hufflepuff table. She was grinning happily and he could not help but return it. Sitting beside her he also returned the hellos from his new housemates.
The next two—Evanius didn't catch their names, because of the chit chat at the table—were sorted and next came another sibling.
"Snape, Hunter!" called Professor Tonks.
It was fast. The hat had barely touched his long-ish black hair when it shouted out, "GRIFFINDOR!"
Knowing his twin was next, Hunter held the hat until she reached him, then motioned for her to sit and placed it on her head. A ripple a laughter went through the room—which they ignored. Hunter walked off to join his House and Savannah Snape waited.
"Ahh, the last of the sextet," the hat said in her ear. "And a feisty one, I see. Hmm. Honestly, girl, you'd do well in any House. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin...what shall it be?! Like your father, you'd do well in Slytherin, but...I think not! Not quite. Instead, and be strong, my dear girl, with a head like yours, it has to be RAVENCLAW!"
Pulling the hat from her head, Savvy smiled—but it was small. She hadn't really been expecting to be separated from her twin, but, with a glance over at him—he looked as surprised as she—she put on a happy face and joined her table. Septimus Avery-Snape made a space for her next to him and beckoned her over. Grinning at him, and everyone around them, Savvy lowered herself to the bench, then turned to find out where the rest sorted. It seemed she'd missed a couple.
"Turpin, Jaylene!" was next.
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted, causing Savvy's table to erupt with cheers.
Then "Vaisley, Thane!" went into Slytherin.
The next four went Gryffindor, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Slytherin—and then they were down to one.
"Zeller, Upton!" said Professor Tonks—and when the boy came forward, he was made a Hufflepuff.
Rolling up her scroll, Professor Tonks took the hat away and moved to sit at the long Head table. By this time, Headmistress McGonagall had risen to her feet. Beaming at everyone, she raised her arms.
"Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. Just a few, mind you." She paused, then continued. "Welcome!" she said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Let us all have a wondrous term." And with that everyone's empty dishes filled.
Everyone clapped and cheered and dug into their food: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.
"So, you guys are twins, yeah?" a boy next to Savvy said as he ate. "I'm Lance Bradley."
"Um. No," she said. "My twin is over there. In Gryffindor." She pointed at Hunter with her fork, then waved when he smiled over at her—and wondered how this Bradley character had sorted into Ravenclaw. "This is Septimus," she continued. "One of my other brothers."
Lance Bradley frowned, then blushed. "Sorry, I'm afraid I was a bit preoccupied after my own sorting. See, my older brother, Lash," he pointed to the Slytherin table where a raucous group of older boys were behaving quite immaturely, "thought it would be funny to envelop me in a charm so that I couldn't hear anything around me. As soon as I sat down...nothing," he explained.
Savvy laughed, but was embarrassed for her housemate. "That explains a lot. You missed almost everything then, Lance."
"I'm used to it," the boy said with a shrug, then nodded between Savvy and Septimus. "So, not twins then."
They shook their heads. "She's a twin, but I'm not," Septimus said. "I'm a triplet. My sisters are in Hufflepuff and Slytherin." He pointed them out—and laughed to himself because Seveena was standing several places down from the first years, hands on hips, scolding Evanius' older cousins.
Lance wrinkled his nose. "Awful, those snakes."
Savvy laughed. "They can't all be."
Septimus grinned. "Well, you've met Evanius' cousins and...now you know Seveena," he said to her, then looked at the other boy. "They might very well all be horrible."
Savvy giggled—and slapped his arm. "Be nice. She's our sister."
Septimus rolled his dark eyes.
"So, if you don't mind my asking, how are you two siblings if you're in the same year but not twins?" another boy asked—and suddenly they had the attention of several Ravenclaw first years.
"We have the same father," Savvy said.
"And so does Evanius," Septimus added.
Several kids frowned—then someone said, "Had, you mean?"
Septimus frowned, but Savvy had no intention of letting their housemate's rudeness slide. "Not that it's any of your business, Ackerley," she snapped, remembering the first boy to be sorted, "but, while our father is deceased, he is still our father, thank you very much!"
"I...ahh...you're right. I'm sorry," the boy said in a rush. "I didn't mean anything by it. Really."
Savvy sighed and looked down. "I never met my father...not really. He died when I was young. I guess...I'm a little sensitive."
Jarek Ackerley nodded. "I know the history. I shouldn't have said that. Sorry."
"It's fine," Savvy said.
"Our father got around, apparently," Septimus said, grinning. "But I didn't know him either. Same situation as Savannah and Hunter...sort of." He frowned, because...well, the situation was quite different. "My mother's Professor Vector-Avery. She's married to Professor Avery," he said, nodding up to the front of the room. He noticed that both his parents were watching him and his sisters worriedly. "I always thought he was my dad."
"He is your dad," Savvy reminded him, taking his hand and squeezing.
Septimus nodded, but frowned. "I know. Hey, I shouldn't be unloading all this on you," he said, looking between the two other boys they were talking to. Both Jarek and Lance shrugged. Most others had gone back to their own conversations.
XoXoXoX
Over at the Gryffindor table, Hunter had settled in. He was talking to the other four boys who'd apparently be in his dorm—Chase Jordan, Gannon Hooper, Kellen Towler, and Merrick Johnson—and eating ravenously. It's not like he'd ever gone without a meal, but this was just...cool!
He'd experienced a brief moment of jealousy, however, when he'd seen Savvy so close to Septimus. That had always been his place! She was his sister! His twin!
But food and conversation had quickly distracted him. He'd had similar questions—and nosiness—to deflect, but had done it well. And, without his twin sister there to worry about, he didn't even consider it becoming a fight. That was certainly nice. An entirely different experience.
The first year Gryffindor girls were an interesting bunch, all huddled together as if they'd always been friends. He eyed them warily, as if they might poison him.
"They're not all horrible, you know?" Chase Jordan said, leaning in. "And yes, they've all known each other for years. That's this year's pack of lionesses."
Hunter laughed. "O-kay."
"No, really. All of them are related to people in Harry Potter's generation. That's Ashlyn Wood, Falon Bell, Octavia Sloper, Talitha Kirke, and Vanda Vane. Be cautious of Vanda though, her cousin dabbled in love potions. The others are safe. Probably."
Hunter nodded, then looked over at his twin sister again. Whatever he'd seen brewing there seemed to have calmed. He was glad, because he didn't fancy having to leave his table to defend her...not on the first day, at least.
He'd also been aware of Seveena's troubles over at the Slytherin table. She was very much like Savvy, except that she seemed to be an angrier version. Savvy was hot-tempered, but she was also a fun-loving girl. Seveena sure seemed to be more of the former. Hunter had watched some, but, in the end, decided to let Septimus handle any troubles with that one. For now.
And, over at the Hufflepuff table, Hunter couldn't help but worry about Evanius and Sevaria. Well, only for about two seconds, and then it was absolutely clear that they were where they belonged. Both had seemed so timid, but their housemates had instantly caused them to bloom. It was wonderful to see. Of course, it was only a tiny bit, but it was only the first night.
Later on, when everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate éclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding...
As Hunter helped himself to a treacle tart, the talk turned to their families.
"So...what's your story, Hunter?" a girl asked. Ashlyn Wood, he believed. "You're American."
He nodded. "Well, I lived there. My mom's from England. My sister and I were born in London, but we've spent most of our lives in the U.S."
Three of the five first year girls giggled. "I love your accent," the one called Octavius said.
Hunter chuckled. "Now see, I only hear you all having an accent."
The girls all giggled again, causing a few of the boys to roll their eyes.
"Oh Merlin," an older boy said, shaking his head, "flirting already, Snape? They're making them young these days."
Hunter blushed. He hadn't meant to flirt with the girls—they were all only eleven, after all—but...well...flirting actually came easy to him. Savvy too. Apparently they'd gotten that from their mother, because he'd read all about his dad and Severus Snape was not a flirter.
"Anyway," Chase Jordan cut in, glaring a the girls. "America...blah, blah...tell us something else."
Hunter shrugged. "I...ahh...like baseball. Savvy does too. She's a great pitcher."
Everyone stared at him blankly. "What's baseball?" someone asked.
"Oh. It's the best sport ever!" said Hunter. Then, looking around at everyone's blank expressions and realizing he would probably never get to play baseball again, his face fell. "And I guess I won't ever see a game again...let alone play.
"We have Quidditch," Ashlyn Wood told him. "My uncle used to be the captain of the Gryffindor team...back before the war. Maybe you'll like that."
Hunter nodded. "Maybe," he said, his eyes going over to Savannah—and wishing he could go sit with her.
XoXoXoX
"My mother's a Muggle," Savvy blurted. "Hunter and I didn't know there was any such thing as magic until a few weeks ago."
Jarek and Lance grinned. "Really?" they said in unison.
"Yep. This is all new to me," she said. "Thank goodness Septimus and Seveena showed us a few spells on the train."
"That's good," Jarek said. "But I'm sure you'll do fine though. Most of us don't know a whole lot when we first get here, despite growing up with magic."
Lance nodded. "True that. Magic's not really allowed outside of school, so..." He shrugged.
A pretty blonde girl leaned in; she'd clearly been listening. "You'll learn fast. You wouldn't be in Ravenclaw otherwise," she said. Then she offered her hand. "I'm Jaylene Turpin."
Both Savvy and Septimus smiled at the girl. "Nice to meet you. I'm Savannah Snape and this is one of my brothers, Septimus."
"There certainly are a lot of you Snapes," the girl next to Jaylene said. She was blonde too. In fact, she had a mass of hair and dreamy silvery gray eyes. But she already seemed to be distracted by something else.
"That's Xanthe Lovegood," Jaylene whispered. "Odd, but...gotta love her."
Savannah and Septimus just nodded—then looked up as, at last, the desserts too disappeared, and Headmistress McGonagall rose to her feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. Please, older students, let's remember this, because I will not be taking any shenanigans from any of you.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all htat no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Further, like always, Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"That is all, everyone. Good night!"
"Hey! What about the school song?" one of the professors called out from the far end of the Head table. This caused the headmistress to purse her lips and glare down at the red-haired man. It was Bill Weasley, but Charlie Weasley was sitting there chuckling.
"Professor Weasley, you know full well that I've ended that nonsense," she said, her eyes going from Bill to Charlie. "Don't you two start in."
"But the Sorting Hat said—"
"Never you mind, Charlie Weasley!" the Headmistress snapped—then corrected herself, "Professor Weasley, when everyone agrees to a tune...in choir, then we will sing it all together in the Great Hall. But not until then!"
The two men laughed. "Fine then."
"Now, off to your dormitories, everyone," the headmistress called.
XoXoXoX
Note: The block quotes come from book one, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer/Philosopher's Stone (chapter seven, "The Sorting Hat"), by J.K. Rowling.
Repeat Note: This chapter was reposted, because I slipped in a new chapter (new 19th chapter), so go back and read it if you read this fic a long time ago.