"Okay, I'm ready now, Sev," Sable brushed her hair back from her face and walked over.
Sable was 11 and just going into Hogwarts. She was still smaller than most people her age, but her brains made up for it. She still enjoyed running around Hogwarts with Peeves and playing tricks, but she only did that when the students were gone. Severus had decided she was old enough to stay home alone, so she mostly just explored the land around. Her black hair was down to her mid back, but she didn't wan to cut it because it would curl. Her eyes were still sharp blue and curious, and after a successful prank they were full of glee.
"Hello, Severus," Sable looked up as she heard Hagrid's voice. "Ah, Sable, I have a present for you!"
"A present?" Sable walked forward, trying to peek into a box that Hagrid was holding.
"Aye," Hagrid smiled. "Or rather two. Here, take a peek."
Sable lit up as she took the box and looked inside. There was a small raven in one half. In the other half (separated by a stretch of cardboard) was a little red fox. She smiled and reached in to pet the raven, who scrabbled around warily. The fox kit yipped at her and stood up on wobbly legs. Sable grinned and picked the kit up, laughing as it licked her chin.
"You like them?" Hagrid smiled and pulled in another box full of pet supplies. "I figured you would, what with your snake and hyena."
"No, more animals," Severus groaned. "A snake and a hyena is more than enough Hagrid!"
"Ah, you like the snake!" Hagrid peered into the little cabin where there was a large tank with a black snake in it. "What's its name again?"
"Brone, meaning Sorrow," Sable smiled at the snake, who was watching with interest.
"Aye, I remember now," Hagrid frowned. "Why sorrow?"
"Because he's black," Sable grinned. "He's a Black Racer."
"Ah," Hagrid glanced outside, searching. "And what does the name of your little hyena mean?"
"Doyle means Dark Stranger," Sable smiled as she watched the fox kit peeking into the box at the raven, who scuttled around nervously. "Do you see Doyle out there? I wanted to say goodbye to him. I don't know when I'm going to be able to come out here to see him."
"No, I don't see him," Hagrid picked up the little raven, letting it perch on his hand. "Don't worry, I'll take care of him for you."
"Thanks, Hagrid," Sable smiled and reached to pet the raven.
"What are you going to name these little ones?"
"I think I'll name the raven Brendan, which means Little Raven," Sable grinned then looked at the fox kit. "And I'll name this little kit Keishin, which means Wise Truth, Wise Mind, Wise Command, Grow Wise."
"How do you remember names and meanings so well, Sabe?" Hagrid let the raven perch on Sable's hand.
"Well, I wanted to use Brendan for Brone, but it didn't fit. Then I wanted to use Keishin for him, but he just doesn't look like a Keishin," Sable shrugged.
Severus cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt you, but we must be going soon. I will bring you here to visit sometimes."
"But what about Brone and Doyle?" Sable frowned. "I'll miss them. And they need to be spent time with. What if they think I've abandoned them?"
"Don't worry, Sable," Severus glanced at the snake. "I will be moving into Hogwarts now that you are there, and I will bring Brone with me. We'll figure something out for Doyle. As it is, I don't know if they will let you have a raven and a fox. They generally only allow Cats, rats, or owls, and only one. Which reminds me, where did you get these creatures, Hagrid?"
"I've been taking care of the raven since it fell out of its nest when it was real little," Hagrid stroked the raven's head. "I found the fox kit yesterday, the whole fox den had been attacked and it was the only one that had been overlooked."
"Aw, poor Brendan and Keishin," Sable stroked Keishin.
"Aye, but they're not so poor anymore," Hagrid grinned. "I knew you would be a great owner for them. And I also knew Severus here hadn't taken you to get an owl or anything, so I figured little raven here would work. Then figured you'd like the fox here while your raven was gone."
"Of course," Severus sighed in exasperation. "No matter if it's against the rules."
"Look, it's Doyle! Hagrid, can you hold Brendan and Keishin?" Sable handed them to Hagrid, then ran over to Doyle.
Doyle laughed (hyenas make a laughing sound) and pounced on Sable. He wasn't as big as a normal hyena. Hagrid had found Doyle wandering around in a forest and gave him to Sable. Someone had imported Doyle from Africa and Doyle had escaped. Hagrid supposed the only reason Doyle had been caught in Africa was because he was young and the runt.
"Sevvy, I'm gonna miss him," Sable frowned and stood up, stroking Doyle's head. "Can I just not go to Hogwarts?"
"Sable, you will get to see him," Severus sighed.
"But I won't get to see him everyday," Sable smiled as Doyle jumped until she picked him up.
"Don't worry, we'll figure something out," Severus glanced at Brone. "At least you'll get to see your snake whenever you want. I'll tell you as soon as I'm moved into Hogwarts and you can visit."
Okay," Sable kneeled to set Doyle down.
"We should be going now," Severus sighed. Grab your animals and your supplies for school. Hurry or we'll be late."
"Okay," Sable kissed the top of Doyle's head. "Bye Doyle, I love you. I'll miss you. I promise I'll come back to see you."
Sable took her animals from Hagrid then gave him a hug. She grabbed her things and walked outside. Severus led the way to Hogwarts, not wanting to have to Apparate all Sable's stuff there. Doyle whined and trailed beside them until Severus commanded him to go back. He yipped and ran back, turning to watch Sable once in a while. As they approached the school, Dumbledore came out to greet them.
"Hello Severus, Sable," He smiled warmly. "One of the students has arrived here early, his father dropped him off."
"Who?" Severus frowned. Nobody was supposed to know that Severus had raised Sable.
"Draco Malfoy."
"Oh," Severus frowned even more. Draco's father was a Death Eater, and Voldemort could not find out about this. He would want Sable to become a Death Eater.
"Someone... My age?" Sable looked up at Dumbledore.
"Yes, Draco Malfoy is in the same year as you are," Dumbledore nodded, glancing at Severus. "Go ahead and go meet him. I shall be talking to Severus about things. And don't think I didn't notice the presence of two animals. That little fox in your robes has peeked out a few times."
"Sorry," Sable grinned and pulled Keishin out. "Can I keep them both? Please?"
"I will discuss this with Severus," Dumbledore smiled and motioned for her to go inside. "Go see Draco. He is in the Great Hall."
"Ok, bye Sevvy, bye Headmaster!" Sable ran off, excited at the idea of someone her age.
Just before reaching the Great Hall, Sable slowed to a walk. She wiped the grin off her face and replaced it with indifference. The expression was familiar to her as she used it when she was around people she didn't know or people close to her age. She had learned it from Severus and had stuck to it most of the time since she was 9. At times like these she had a bit of trouble keeping herself from running around excitedly. She had never been around anyone her age before, the closest she had was Peeves.
"Sable!" Peeves voice boomed from everywhere. Laughter filled the air as Brendan screeched and flew from Sable's shoulder into the Great Hall.
"Peeves!" Sable ran after Brendan. "You're not supposed to pull pranks on me! We're partners! Come back, Brendan!"
"Guess I forgot," Peeves grinned and followed along behind Sable as she darted into the Great Hall.
"Bloody hell!" A slim boy with platinum hair and grey eyes was staring at Brendan, who was perched on his arm tightly. "Get this thing off me!"
"Brendan!" Sable walked over and moved the frightened bird onto her own arm, noticing little spots of blood on the boy's arm where Brendan had clung. "Sorry about your arm. Peeves, you almost gave my bird a heart attack!"
"I did not!"
"Yes, you did," Sable frowned and stroked the bird's feathers, whispering calming words to him. "Save your pranks for other people or I'm going to refuse to help you."
"Fine fine," Peeves sulked in a corner. "Limit my life to the lower beings. It's not like I care. Oh, I sense a teacher prime for the pranking! Want to come with?"
"Maybe later Peeves," Sable smiled apologetically.
Peeves shrugged and flew off. Keishin, who had hid in Sable's robes when Peeves appeared, peeked his head out. Satisfied that Peeves was gone, he crawled up to Sable's shoulder. Brendan eyed him warily. Keishin snapped his jaws at Brendan playfully, yipping happily as Brendan scuffled away. Sable rolled her eyes and picked the little fox up and placed him on the table top. He immediately trundled over to investigate the boy, who she assumed was Draco.
"You have a raven and a fox?" Draco asked, reaching out to pet the little fox. "How? I was only allowed an owl."
"I'm special," Sable barely held back her grin at his face. "The little fox you're petting is Keishin, and the raven is Brendan. I also have a snake named Brone and a hyena named Doyle, but I wasn't allowed to bring them."
"Keishin?" Draco raised an eyebrow. "What kind of name is that?"
"Keishin means Wise Truth, Wise Mind, Wise Command, Grow Wise," Sable shrugged as she watched Keishin pounce on Draco's hand. "Brendan means Little Raven. Brone means Sorrow, and Doyle means Dark Stranger."
"I suppose your name, whatever it is, means something also?" Draco asked dryly.
"My name is Sable," Sable shrugged. "Sable is a color. Dumbledore told me your name is Draco, and Draco means Dragon."
"How would you know?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I have a book," She pulled Keishin back from the edge of the table he was about to fall over. "Not to mention it's pretty obvious."
"Yeah," Draco nodded then handed Keishin to Sable as they were called from far away.
"Coming, Headmaster!" Sable called as she walked out of the Great Hall to the front of the school, Draco not far behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Brue, Sable!"
The Sorting Hat watched as a small girl stood up and approached. She walked boldly, not showing the nervous feelings most did when they were about to be sorted. She sat down in the chair and he was placed on her head. He immediately dug into her head, hmming to himself at her memories and feelings.
An orphan, hmm... An orphan raised by Severus Snape! He couldn't help being surprised. You don't want to be in Hufflepuff. Don't worry, you're not innocent and happy enough to be put there.
Where are you going to put me? She spoke to him meekly in her mind.
Don't get ahead of yourself, Sable.He hmm'ed to himself. Tell me, Sable, where do you want to go?
Anywhere but Hufflepuff.
This is a bit hard. You would fit in well in any of these, even Hufflepuff in some ways. You're kind, caring, sneaky, ambitious, brave, loyal, smart, and learn easily. He frowned to himself. I think you would fit best in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. If I put you in Slytherin, only Slytherins would talk to you for the most part. If I put you in Ravenclaw, you will not be talked to by Slytherins. This would not be bad, except that the Malfoy boy you were talking to is most likely going to be in Slytherin.
He was aware of the students and teachers staring at him. Vaguely aware that 5 minutes had passed, he continued to wrestle with his thoughts. He wondered where she would go best if she would fit well in all. But she would not fit in completely in any of them, because she had too many traits of all the others. She would be considered too sneaky in Gryffindor, too brave and loyal in Slytherin, she did not study enough to fit in that well with Ravenclaw. Where would she go?
Put me in Slytherin.
Slytherin? You're sure? You most likely won't be accepted by any other houses as a friend.
That's okay. I'll still try anyway.
Okay. Good luck, Sable Snape. He grinned at the smile he felt Sable wanted to let show as he used the last name.
"Slytherin!"
He grimaced at the sound of uncertainty in his voice as he announced it. Sable stood up and made her way to the table for Slytherins. He hoped he had made the right choice by putting her there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Ah. The Sorting Hat wondered what House Draco would be in. Would he be in the same one as Sable? Did he realize he was the first person Sable had ever met that was her own age? He was soon placed on top of Draco's head, sifting through thoughts and memories.
"Slytherin!"
Well, that was easy.