Review responses:
J. L. Matthews: Crikey, J. L. Matthews, author of Slytherin Rising, likes my story! Great honor. Truly. Yes, the mysteries you pointed out won't be made clear for quite a while, and when they do come to light, it will only cause more mysteries. Yes, an endless cycle, I know. But it'll keep people reading! At least I hope. I'm putting a lot into this story.
Gary: Yes, I'm considering even putting in Professor Binns death. But it definitely won't come in the first year. But in a later part.
In this chapter we find out what Sirius thinks about the Sorting affair, and Dumbledore meets with Professor Lestrange and Mr. Black.
Lauralie Black and the Cloak of Destiny (YEAR 1)
Chapter 3: Accepting Destiny
Lauralie had never seen her father so angry. Livid would probably describe his frame of mind better. He stood in the doorway for a moment, glaring up at the Head Table where Dumbledore sat.
"Is that your father?" Narcissa asked, staring at the man in the doorway.
Lauralie nodded. Trying to suppress the sinking feeling in her stomach.
"Wow, he looks like a taller version of Sirius," Lucius commented.
Severus' eyes however weren't on Mr. Black, but on Lauralie. She looked incredibly frightened. She had been handling everything so well, and it looked suddenly as if that was all about to come crashing down. Mind you, it was amazing how well she had accepted her destiny. Severus was sure that he wouldn't have taken it quite so well if he had been sorted into Gryffindor.
Lauralie looked away from her father as he passed the table. She and Severus met eyes. He wants to hug her and tell her 'It will be OK' but that would be a very un-Slytherin thing to do in public. Plus, he didn't want Sirius and his band of Gryffindor cronies to realize that this was upsetting her. Rule number 14 of Rules of Being a Successful Slytherin (that a Slytherin fifth year, J. L. Matthews, had posted in the common room the night before) was Your real feelings are a precious thing indeed. And they should be better guarded than Fort Knox.
No, better to get her the Hell out of the great hall then to let the whole of Hogwarts see her upset.
"Come on," he said, pulling Lauralie to her feet, "You don't need to stay here, Dumbledore will be able to find you if he needs you."
Severus led her out of the hall and onto the grounds. Ana, Katia, and Narcissa followed.
"Why's he here?" Lauralie asked desperately. "What's he trying to do?"
"I don't know," Severus said.
"Just don't worry about it love. It's not important," Narcissa said, placing an arm around her distraught friend.
"Not important? He's going to try to pull me out of Slytherin," Lauralie sobbed, "And if Dumbledore won't let him. He'll try to pull me out of Hogwarts all together."
"He can't do that!" exclaimed Ana, "Can he?"
Katia was shaking her head in disbelief. "Where else would she go?" she asked, "I mean, if he hates Slytherin he would never send her to Durmstrang!"
"And she'd have to learn French to go to Beaux Batons."
"He's not going to take you anywhere Lauralie," Severus said, "Dumbledore and Professor Lestrange will talk some sense into him."
"Though I daresay that will be an incredible chore."
They all turned to see Professor Lestrange standing in the doorway. She looked down at Lauralie, a slight glint of pity in her eyes.
"Well, come along Miss Black, this won't be fun I'm sure," she said, "But the sooner you get it over with, the sooner we can all put this behind us."
"We'll go with her too," Narcissa said, standing up.
"No, no, you four don't need to miss your first day of classes on account of this," Professor Lestrange said firmly, "So run off to whatever your next class is. Lauralie, come with me, we have to go to the Head Master's office."
Lauralie looked back at her four friends miserably as she was led back into the castle. Severus smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring way. But it didn't seem to reassure her at all. She waved weakly as they disappeared up the great marble staircase.
Anastasia frowned. "Great, now we have to go to McGonagall's class," she said, "I wouldn't fancy missing her lesson anyway. I've heard Transfiguration is hard."
"I'd hate to miss it and have to catch up," said Katia, "Poor Lauralie."
"Wonder if her dad realizes he's doing more harm than good," Narcissa said, "Come on girls, let's go. Later Severus."
Severus paused a moment, watching the giant squid surface in the lake, before turning and going back through the huge doors that gave entrance into Hogwarts. He found himself running headlong into James Potter. Peter Pettigrew hovered a few feet away as Sirius Black helped up his friend.
"Snape, you didn't happen to see where Lestrange took my sister did you?" Sirius asked.
Severus' mouth twisted into an undeniable sneer.
Sirius shifted a little.
"Look, Snape, I know I wasn't exactly open minded about this whole Sorting thing," he began.
"You weren't exactly open-minded. There's either open-minded or close-minded," Severus hissed, "And I'd say you have a very closed mind when it comes to us Slytherins. Especially when we get too close to your sister."
"Yes, listen, about that, I just don't think its good for her to mix with…"
"Slytherins? Well I hate to be the one to tell you this, Black, but she is a Slytherin!"
Sirius looked as if he was ready to disagree, but obviously thought better of it. At least he's got some common sense, Severus thought.
"Listen, Ok," Sirius said, "If she's happy, then… then I guess that's all that matters. Just watch out for her OK. I don't trust the other Slytherins to do it."
"And you trust me?" Severus asked, honestly quite surprised by this revelation.
"Well, you… um, honestly seem to care about my sister," Sirius said, in a voice that was hardly louder than a whisper.
Severus' smile became a bit less bitter. "I assure you, Black, your sister is in good hands," he said, "Now, I must go, I don't want to be late for Potions, though I daresay Professor Lestrange will be late herself."
And without another word, he marched down into the dungeons.
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Professor Lestrange had lead Lauralie through a series of hallways before stopping in front of a large stone gargoyle.
"Professor, is my father really angry at me?" Lauralie asked tentatively, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"No, not really at you dear," Professor Lestrange answered, "More like he's frustrated with the situation."
"Oh," Lauralie said, the knot in her stomach felt as if it had just doubled in size.
"Sugar Quills!"
The stone gargoyle leapt aside at the sound of the password, and the two women stepped onto the moving ramp that would lead to the Head Master's private office. Lauralie could hear her father's voice as they stepped off the ramp.
"No, Albus, not my daughter," he was shouting, "Never my daughter." This was followed by a bang that sounded as if he was slamming his fist down on Professor Dumbledore's desk.
"Wesley, calm down," Dumbledore said, "I would like to sort this all out calmly and rationally."
Professor Lestrange knocked lightly on the door. When it opened Lauralie found herself being examined through a pair of half-moon spectacles.
"Ah, yes, Miss Black, come in," he said, ushering her and Professor Lestrange into his office.
"Lauralie, don't worry dear, I'm going to get you out of that house, and back into Gryffindor where you belong," Mr. Black said, enveloping his daughter in a hug.
"But Dad, the hat says I belong in Slytherin, not Gryffindor."
Her father looked simply horrified at the thought. "N-nonsense dear, that's why I've come here," he said, "So you can try on that daft hat again, and it'll put you in Gryffindor where you belong!"
Before Lauralie could even open her mouth to object, she found herself being pushed into a chair. Soon the hat was over her head, and all light was blocked out as she was now staring at the inside of the ancient accessory.
"You again?" whispered a voice in her ear. "Having a bit of a problem, eh Black?"
It's my father, Lauralie thought, he doesn't believe I belong in Slytherin!
"That so, well, I specifically remember you saying to put you where you would belong, and fit in. Are you not happy in Slytherin?"
No, I AM!!! I've made friends already and all. But you see, my family is made up entirely of Gryffindors.
" 'Fraid not love. There's some Slytherin in you, or I'll eat myself. Tell him he's going to have to deal. You can't switch houses."
Good! I don't want to. But you have to tell him that I belong in Slytherin. Please!
"Listen up you," the hat said, out loud so that all those in the room could hear it. "The founders of this fine school left the responsibility of sorting the students up to me, and me alone. I get the final say. And this young girl here belongs in Slytherin, as I said before. Now if you'll let me get back to my rest, I was in the middle of orchestrating next years song when you all up and interrupted me."
Lauralie pulled off the hat, hoping upon hope that that would satisfy her father. She placed it on the shelf next to Dumbledore's desk. Her father looked livid still.
"My girl can't be a Slytherin, she can't be," he said, "You're not any daughter of mine."
He stormed from the room, slamming the door so hard that the cloth hanging of the Hogwarts Seal that had been tacked to the back of it fell off and rattled to the floor.
Lauralie fought with all of her might to hold back the tears that were forcing their way into her eyes. Welling up inside of her was the sadness that had been forcing to overcome her ever since the Sorting Ceremony. She was in Slytherin, and a disgrace to her Gryffindor family. Sirius hated her, she knew he did. What was the point of existing if no one liked who you really were?
Her father had looked at her with fear in his eyes before he left. She knew it too. Her own father feared her. Why?
She couldn't stand this. She couldn't deal with this. She looked up at Professor Dumbledore, finally allowing the tears to flow.
"Why? Why does he hate me?" she asked, helplessly.
Dumbledore made to rise, but something beat him to it. She caught sight of a flash of red and gold feathers before feeling a weight on her shoulder. Lauralie turned to look at the massive bird, the living definition of beauty. It released a few quavering notes. Lauralie felt as if she'd taken a drink of warm chicken soup, feeling a great deal better with each note.
"Your father doesn't hate you Lauralie," Dumbledore spoke, his eyes sparkling behind his spectacles, "He simply doesn't understand how this has come to be."
"Well, neither do I really," she said, "My family is all Gryffindors. Why shouldn't I be?"
"There are reasons that have dictated your destiny Lauralie," he said, "Things that I am not in the place to disclose to you. At least not until you are ready."
"That's what my mum said too," Lauralie said, "Got a letter from her this morning."
"Well, it's good to see one of your family members has the sense to see past this house animosity," Professor Lestrange commented, "Always knew your mother had a good head on her shoulders."
"You know my mum?"
"Oh yes, we were in the same year at Hogwarts," Professor Lestrange answered, "Different houses of course, but she was always civil. I used to help her with her Potions work, and she'd tutor me in Transfiguration, never was good at the subject. You have her eyes you know. Black, but with a bit of warmth anyway. So beautiful. No idea where you got the blond hair from though."
"Marie?" Professor Dumbledore said, "Perhaps it is time for you to escort Miss Black back to class, I daresay Professor McGonagall will be eager to catch her up."
"Oh, of course, right you are Albus," she said, snapping out of her bout of nostalgia.
Lauralie lifted herself out of the chair, and the grand bird flew back to its perch. Seeing it properly for the first time, Lauralie gasped.
"Blimey, that's a Phoenix," she said.
"Yes, indeed he is," Dumbledore said, "Fawkes is a highly loyal bird, and a fine judge of character. And he seems to like you."
Lauralie smiled, the first true, real smile she'd made ever since the Sorting. She felt better than she had ever since her arrival. She didn't care what her father thought anymore. She was ready to live her life as a Slytherin. And she would prove to her father, no matter how long it took, that Slytherin's weren't all bad.