Chapter 2: Feasts of Surprises

The Great Hall of Hogwarts was decorated for the Great Feast, candles floating close to the ever-changing ceiling. Reflected on the ceiling was a beautiful starry night sky with not a cloud to be seen. The first years, led by Professor McGonagall, looked around in wonder as they passed by the two center tables of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. The students made their way to stand in a rather large cluster near the front, whereupon a stool sat a slightly ragged looking old hat.

All conversations came to a halt and every head turned to face the front to watch the headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, take his place at the golden lion pedestal to welcome the new special class of first years.

He began his speech by welcoming the students back to Hogwarts, as well as the new students. He cracked a few jokes, proving himself to be a jolly man with a decent "dad humor". He introduced the new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, that the returning students knew would probably only last a year, as had been the way for decades. After a little while longer, Albus moved to introduce the Transfiguration Professor, Head of Gryffindor, and Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, to call the first years up for sorting. She took his place and before she could speak, the entire Gryffindor table, led by the infamous Weasley twins stood up and cheered her name. It didn't take but a few moments of her steel gaze for them to quiet back down with smirks on their faces.

Her lips turned upwards in amusement and pride for her young cubs before clearing her throat and began to explain the process of sorting. "Attention, first year students!" She said with a clear voice that echoed throughout the hall.

Harry stood next to Draco and grinned in wonder at the magical place. Draco just watched him with pride, happy to be the one that introduced him to this world.

Professor McGonagall continued. "Within the next moment or two, all 40 of you will be sorted into one of the four houses. Gryffindor for the Brave. Ravenclaw for the Wise. Slytherin for the Ambitious. And Hufflepuff for the rest." The Gryffindor table laughed at the expense of the Hufflepuffs, who were frowning.

"WE'RE GOOD AT FINDING THINGS!" A Hufflepuff yelled, making them all cheer in agreement.

"Wonderful," Minerva McGonagall sighed. "Then I hope you will find your dignity to be quiet while we continue the feast. Yes, Mr. Diggory?" The rest of the students laughed. McGonagall smiled and turned back to the new students. "Any good deeds and academic successes will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking you will lose house points. At the end of the year, those house points will be calculated and the house with the most points wins what we call The House Cup! Good luck to each of you. To all of our returning students, welcome back for another year at Hogwarts! We welcome you home. As for our returning seventh-year students, may this year be your best! With that, let the Sorting Ceremony begin!" With a clap of her hands, McGonagall summoned a rather long list of student names. Everyone in the hall waited in anticipation for McGonagall to read the first name on the list.

Just as she was about to speak, The Sorting Hat started moving. The first-year students were startled at the sudden movement of what they had thought was a completely inanimate object. A few snickers could be heard coming from the Gryffindor table from none other than twins, Fred and George Weasley.

Severus rolled his eyes in annoyance. The hat began to sing about the noble history of each house. This continued for about twenty minutes before the hat had finished. Once it was done, Professor McGonagall moved towards the pedestal to begin the sorting. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said, adjusting her glasses and reading the first name. "Abbott, Hannah!"

The blonde girl nervously walked up to the chair and bit her lip, nervously, feeling it poke about in her head. "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"

"RAVENCLAW!" The hat yelled once more.

"Brown, Lavender!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Bulstrode, Millicent!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Draco nudged his arm and clapped, giving him a toothy grin. Harry followed suit, clapping loudly. He saw Ron turn around from in front of him and narrowed his eyes. Draco saw him and made a face, making the redhead turn around. "That's our house!" Draco whispered, tugging on Harry's sleeve.

"What if it's not?"

Draco snorted. "I'm a good judge of character. You will be. I know it!"

Harry smiled and pressed closer to Draco, not knowing anyone else around, and continued clapping for the newest Slytherin child.

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Finnigan, Seamus!"

"GRYFFINDOR!

"Granger, Hermione!"

The frizzy-haired girl that had interrupted them on the train, bounced up to the chair and happily sat on the stool.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Draco made a face. "Something about her...don't like her. I mean...what is that name? Muggle?" He sneered. "Muggleborn…"

Harry looked at him. "What's wrong with muggleborn?"

"They're dirty."

Harry gave him a quizzical look but already liked him too much to care. Draco had talked the entire way to Hogwarts. About the school and his family. Harry was too enchanted by his words to care. He didn't need to speak. He was happy to listen.

"Longbottom, Neville!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

This went on for a while until Draco's name was finally called. He turned to Harry. "See you soon!" He grinned and swaggered up to the stool, sitting down. Before the hat was even sat on his head the hat screamed his house.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Lucinda jumped up from the Slytherin table and was clapping loudly until she caught obsidian eyes from the staff table.

Severus smirked at her and winked, making her blush crimson and sit down, waiting for her brother.

Harry clapped loudly, cheering for him. "GO, DRACO!" The blonde boy caught his eyes and winked as he sauntered off towards the Slytherin table where they welcomed him with open arms.

The following students were all of the friends Draco had listed on the train. All Slytherin and all welcomed over at the table. Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Ostrem, and Parkinson.

As it grew closer to time for Harry's name to be called, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious. He wanted to be in Slytherin with his friends, but how Draco explained it, it didn't seem like it went off what the student wanted. Eventually, he heard his name. "Potter, Harry!"

As Harry stepped forward, whispers wrapped around the hall like wildfire.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Harry Potter?"

"The Chosen One, Harry Potter? It can't be!"

"No! I heard he was sitting in the Slytherin car with Malfoy! It really can't be, can it?"

"Come on Harry, you got this!" Lucinda shouted. She couldn't help feeling protective over him and Draco.

He winced and sat on the stool in front of everyone, closing his eyes, whispering Slytherin in his head.

He could feel the hat picking around in his head. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, my goodness, yes...and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"

Not Gryffindor. Please, not Gryffindor.

"Not Gryffindor, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Gryffindor will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that…"

Harry shook his head. Please, not Gryffindor.

"No? Well, if you're sure...better be SLYTHERIN!"

Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. He grinned and let McGonagall take off the hat, letting him race over to the Slytherin table where Draco was clapping, happily. Harry grinned and high-fived Draco, platonically, and felt Pansy Parkinson, the girl from earlier, wrap her arms around his neck.

"WE GOT HARRY!" She yelled, standing up and pointing tauntingly to the Gryffindor table. "SUCKS FOR YOU!" The rest of the students at the table cheered and made faces at the angry Gryffindors.

More student's names were called. Finally, the rest of Draco's friend's names could be heard from Professor McGonagall who seemed almost distraught that she didn't receive Harry into her house.

"Xavier, Arley!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Damnit," Draco muttered. "Fucking knew it. Damn, Hufflepuffs."

"They're really good at finding things," Harry said, making Draco snort.

Draco grinned at him. "Hope they can find their will to leave."

The Slytherin table laughed.

"Zabini, Blaise!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

The table cheered again.

"Zabini, Zuri!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

With her sorting, the ceremony came to a close. And the Slytherin's cheered Harry's name, patting him on the back and laughing, obnoxiously. "Told you, Harry," Draco said. "You belong with us."

Harry smiled. "I'm just glad I'm with you!"

Draco flushed red and turned away, ready to eat. "Yeah…"

Before the feast started, Albus Dumbledore stood. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. "Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not.

"Idiot old man," Draco muttered but his eyes lit up at the feast that appeared in front of them, ready to dig in. "Harry, now that you're with us, even during the summer you'll eat like this every night!"

Lucinda grinned, ruffling both boys' hair "And now I will have no problem keeping an eye on you two trouble makers. Just do me a favor and no duelling in the halls," she winked at them, before going back to her food. Occasionally looking up to the staff table.

"Why would I want to duel my best friend?" Draco muttered, making Harry blush. He had a best friend now...

'Yes, sir. What can I do for you?'

'Getting a little...excited...aren't we?' Severus' eyes teased her with a glimmer of mischief.

'Depends on what you mean by excited, sir' She smirked, licking her bottom lip.

She watched him raise his eyebrows in surprise and run his tongue along his cheek, while trying to ignore Quirrell's stuttering. He chuckled and raised his coffee to his lips, smiling into it.

"Tell him, Cinda!" She heard Draco say, knocking her out of her daze.

"Hm?"

"Tell him he needs a haircut!" Draco said, picking at Harry's unruly hair. "It's not flattering in the slightest and now that he's Slytherin, he needs to look the part!"

"Draco, you're not trying to change your friends, are you?" She said, raising an eyebrow.

Draco turned red. "No! I-I'm just trying to help!" He stuttered, pulling his hand away from Harry's hair.

Harry smiled and ran a hand through his hair. "I mean...it is kind of bad. If I could learn to do something with it, that might be nice…"

Draco smiled. "See?"

Lucinda rolled her eyes "I'll write a letter to mother and see if we can't come up with a charm for your hair to make it more manageable. Now is that all, Drakey?" She chuckled at his red face before catching her best friend's gaze from the Ravenclaw table and she winked at her before turning back to eat her dinner trying to avoid looking up at the staff table and acting on her inner brat.

'I can feel your stares from a mile away, Miss Head Girl. Eat and perhaps you'll feel better. You were looking a little breathless on the train,' Severus' voice whispered in a low, husky voice in her mind.

'Jeez, I wonder why I was breathless, Sir. It couldn't have had anything to do with your dominating personality to my brat would it?' Lucinda stuck her tongue out just enough for him to see but no one else could before giggling to herself and continuing to hold his gaze as she ate.

She watched him choke on his coffee, spilling it all over his lap. McGonagall turned and smiled, whispering something to him, causing him to freeze and glare at her before turning back to try and clean up the mess on his lap. Albus Dumbledore, having heard what she said, jerked his head towards them in horror and opened his mouth to say something but decided against it and turned back to his food. Minerva just nudged her old friend with her elbow and grinned. She whispered something to him that seemed to have the same reaction on Dumbledore who immediately choked on his butterbeer but was graceful enough not to spill it.

Lucinda watched his face turn red as the scalding coffee started to burn his hand making his face contort in pain. Above the Slytherin table, they saw the hourglass appear with green sand as 5 points were added to the score. Lucinda blushed and looked up to see him wink at her before going back to his cleaning.

'I'm sorry love, You're not hurt are you?' Lucinda felt terrible.

'If Minerva makes one more dick joke, I'm leaving Hogwarts for good,' he muttered in her head. 'We are not starting off the year like this...again.'

'Dick joke? Again? You know on second thought I don't want to know. I'm going to bring the first years to the common room care to join me on my rounds afterwards?' Lucinda smiled at him.

'If you answer my question from earlier...yes.'

"Snape is my answer. Am I right?'

Severus raised an eyebrow and pushed his plate back, standing up. 'Perhaps…' He turned to Minerva and Albus, whispering something before leaving the Great Hall before the feast came to an end. 'We have much to discuss…'

'Love, I'm sorry I guess I'll see you when my rounds are done then...' Lucinda let out a soft whimper before gathering all the first years bringing them to the common room and giving the password to Draco. "Professor Snape will be here shortly to deliver the start of year speech, good night I will see you in the morning." She told them before walking out of the common room and starting her rounds.

Draco began gushing immediately to Harry. "I used to visit Lucinda all the time while she was here! Just wait until you see the dorms! Slytherins have the best because they come from the best! No more broom cupboards for you, Harry! You're going to be living in style from now on! Everything you deserve!"

Harry blushed. "I mean...I don't have much so the cupboard wasn't all that bad…"

"None of that!" Pansy said, wrapping her arm around Harry's neck, making Draco scowl. "You're the most famous boy in the world! Everyone knows your name! Therefore, you deserve the best money can buy. Am I right, Drake?"

"I told you not to call me that," Draco sneered, grabbing Harry's arm and pulling him away from her, pushing everyone out of the way. "Make way. Royalty coming through. Move!"

"Oi!"

"Hey!"

"Shove off, mate!"

"Ow!"

"Bloody hell!"

Draco finally dragged them to the front where Professor Snape was now standing. "Slytherin first years, attention. My name is Professor Snape and I am your Head of House. Any problems you have, if you would please come to me and we will get you sorted. Do anything…" He sneered. "...Stupid and I will not be there to dig you out of the grave you so readily made for yourself." He turned around to the stone wall. "Perfectum." Suddenly the wall disappeared and became a doorway that led deeper into the dungeons.

The students followed him inside and gasped in wonder. It was indeed very grand and lavish. Above them the Black Lake was held back by some sort of magical barrier. On the other side, they saw schools of fish swimming and merfolk watching the new students from afar. Harry watched as a couple of seventh years crowded near one of the walls signing BSL to two merfolk, who were signing back, happily.

Couches decorated in emerald and silver sat all over the room where several large fireplaces stood with areas for studying. Tables were set up around with plants and strange succulents on each table. Near the back was a large glass cupboard stocked with snacks and drinks that replenished when someone took one.

"This is the Common Area where you will get to know your fellow students, study, and whatever else you see fit as long as there are no fights, am I clear?" Everyone nodded and he walked to the side where there were two staircases. One going down on either side, deeper into the dungeons. "Dorm rooms are sorted into two. There is enough space for your belongings as well as a desk and bookshelf for each student, a bed, and a door leading to the baths. The staircase on the left is for the young women, the right for the men. Yes, there is a charm preventing you from entering forbidden dorms. For our physically disabled students, the stairs will change into a ramp when needed. I'm sure you are all aware of the point system. So, I will let you get on with whatever you wish this evening. Curfew is at ten. No students out of bed past that time, yes? Please do our house well and represent us as you would your family name. That is all." he nodded his head and disappeared back out of the dorm.

Harry felt Draco grab his wrist and pull him down the stairs. "Come on. You're with me!"

"Oi, Draco! I thought we were together, mate!" Theodore Nott called to him.

"Change of plans!" Draco called back, pulling Harry down the stairs to find the best room. Closest to the bathrooms, so that Draco would have just enough time to make his hair...perfect.

"Bloody hell, we've been replaced," Theo muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Pansy snorted. "We knew that would happen. All Draco could talk about was Harry Bloody Potter for the past year now. He doesn't need us anymore. Did you see how protective he was with him? You'd think they were together with all that!"

Blaise snorted, swinging his arm around his sister's shoulders. "Just watch…"

Zuri looked at her twin and nodded her head.

Lucinda had started her rounds near Dungeons and had already made it to the library When she heard his voice behind her.

"Just where do you think you're going, Miss Malfoy?" She shivered,

"Just doing my rounds sir." she slowly turned around and smiled at him playfully, "Would you care to join me?" she chuckled, winking at him.

"Is that an invitation to do rounds with you or..." He chuckled as her eyes turned wide. "Of course, rounds. Apologies."

She nodded and motioned for him to follow her as she went up the Astronomy tower with a sigh she leaned on the railing watching the stars and the moon in the night sky she almost forgot Severus had followed her.

"I'm sure you have questions…" He sighed. "I'm not sure I can give you the answers you require, but I'll do my best." He fumbled in his robes for his pack of cigarettes. He hummed pulling it out and grabbed two, offering one to her. "This...this conversation may need a bit of nicotine to uncloud the mind."

Lucinda jumped slightly at his voice but turned leaning on the railing taking the cigarette and sighed. "Severus I'm not going to force you to tell me about Harry if you're not ready to. I Just wanted to be away from the hallways and prying eyes. It's a lot you know being the Heir to the Malfoy name... I can't do what I want." A tear ran down her face.

He smiled, reaching a hand under her chin and brushing the tear away. "No...it was I who brought it to your attention in the first place, my dear. I think it's time I unleash some of my demons to you." He lit their cigarettes and breathed in the smoke, letting it burn in his lungs before releasing it into the night sky. "I mentioned earlier today that there was an old friend of mine, correct? A beautiful, powerful witch that enchanted me to my very core." He smiled fondly at the memory of her. "We grew up together. Her father took me in and raised me as his own when my own father was at home, collapsed in a drunken stupor. He was a good man. Kind. Just. Fair...he had his prejudices but in all he was a good man.

"The witch enchanted most who were around her. Even your father." Lucinda looked down taking in all he was telling her as she took a drag off her cigarette. "Your father and her were…" He chuckled. "Well, I suppose it's not for me to say. He may have mentioned her once or twice to you, without naming her. I find it sad that we can't even say her name without feeling the sorrow of her loss." He took another drag and closed his eyes, picturing her beautiful face and bright yet hidden golden irises. "Well, I thought I was in love with her...for a long time. She's captured my heart and respect…

"Not long before she disappeared, we spent an evening together. It was a wonderful evening but at the end of the night we both realized something. I wasn't in love with her. Not in that way and her heart belonged to another. A man she could never have. She had the chance, at one point, but...due to her…" He thought for a moment. "...Condition...she allowed him to slip from her grasp to marry another. But from that night...came a child. A child I never thought would come into this world."

Lucinda looked up at Severus and smiled. "I know of her, yes. My father, even though he and my mother love each other. They miss her dearly."

"We all do...she was a dark woman. Her mind and heart filled with grief, but there was something about her that brought a certain light to this world that no one else could." He chuckled. "She told me of the child and how she refused to keep it. I tried to convince her otherwise but she'd made up her mind. I believed it was dead. Buried. Somewhere far away...next thing I heard was that two people my heart held no love for had adopted a child...they raised him...and then they died protecting him…"

"Was the boy Harry? Severus, why are you telling me this? Are you trying to see if I will run away from you?" Lucinda's eyes, normally silver, looked almost white in the moonlight.

He breathed out a laugh. "Not at all, my dear. On the contrary. I hope you won't run from me." Severus flicked his cigarette off the tower and leaned on the railing. "I don't think it was a mistake. Sleeping with her. I still care for her deeply. I'm not sure what I'd do if I saw her again, but I'm telling you that I abandoned my own child. When his adopted parents died, she tried to push him into my arms and I turned away. I apparated away, hoping just maybe...if I slept...he'd be gone. I didn't want a child. I didn't want to raise anyone! I was just barely reaching adulthood with no source of income. I thought possibly she would care for him and stay…" He wiped his eye and sniffed. "But she didn't...she left him with the worst possible people and ran...like a coward." He looked down at her. "I'll never forgive her for that. Only now do I regret my actions. I need you to look after him, Lucy. I need you to make sure he's okay. I realize that Draco has taken him under his wing...perhaps some day I can find the courage to tell him myself, but until then...watch after him for me…"

Lucinda smiled before reaching a hand up to his cheek wiping the tear away. "I will watch over him as if he was my own pup, on one condition, my love. When you find the courage, you tell him you're his dad. Don't run away again. Even if I did run from you I wouldn't get far...you're taller than me." She brought her hand down, sighing again. She went to leave as to finish her rounds until she felt a hand on her wrist.

Severus wrapped his long fingers around her wrist and pulled her back, hugging her tightly once more. "Oh, Lucinda. What would I do without you?" He whispered, pressing his lips into her hair. "You've been ever so faithful to an old man like me…"

"You're not old, love… Just experienced there's a difference." She looked up into obsidian eyes.

He chuckled. "Old not in age but in experience...I find that I would belong in my hundreds…" His shoulders sagged and pressed his face into her hair, setting his chin on her shoulder. "Whatever am I to do? My first class is with him tomorrow and I can't help but feel ever so...apprehensive…"

Lucinda wrapped her arms around him the best she could "Just don't push him away. We Slytherins stick together right? Treat him like you would Draco or I. I would be in the classroom with you if I could." She squeezed his shoulders and nodded for the door. "Care to walk me back to my room?" She whispered, expecting him to say no she looked down to the stones.

"Of course...my dear…"