Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter along with Scholastic and whoever else. I only own my characters so DON'T SUE!!!
Six Feet and Fallingby Saerry Snape
Chapter 6 :: September 1,, 1995 :: King's Cross Station, London, England and Hogwarts
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley met up outside of King's Cross Station, greeting each other with grins. Ron flushed slightly and Hermione held back the urge to giggle at the tall, gangly boy. The Granger's chatted with the Weasley's for a moment before heading off, leaving their daughter in the care of the red-haired family.
Shoving carts into a line, they hurried into the station and through the barrier to Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters.
"Hurry, dears, or you'll be late!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley.
"Where's Harry?" asked Ron, looking around the platform suddenly for his friend.
"I'm sure he's on the train," said Mr. Weasley in a voice that neither Ron nor Hermione – who was standing nearby – believed. He and Mrs. Weasley then ushered them onto the train and waved goodbye as it set into gear.
"Well," said Fred. "That's that. C'mon, George. We'll leave the Dastardly Gryffindors to find themselves a cab."
"Righto."
The Weasley twins ambled off, Ron shaking his fist after them. Hermione pulled his arm down and said, "C'mon. Let's go find a cab. You coming, Ginny?"
Ginny looked up in surprise then nodded and with that the three of them set off.
* * *
When they finally found a cab, it was occupied by a boy then had never seen before. He looked fifteen and it seemed that if he were standing he'd be even taller than Ron. Jet hair fell to his shoulders, curling slightly at the tips, and with what seemed to be red highlights in it. He was unnaturally pale, the hands folded in his lap long and nimble-fingered. When he turned to look at them as Ginny coughed, it was with the most brilliant green eyes that any of them had ever seen. Not even Harry's eyes are like that, thought Hermione, remembering how green her friend's eyes were. His face was also long, the cheekbones high and his eyes in an almost almond shape, eyebrows arching gracefully over them.
To their surprise, a smile broke over the teen's face as he saw them. They were even more surprised when he spoke their names in a silky sort of voice.
"Hey, Ron, Mione, Gin."
"How do you know our names?" snapped Ron after a moment of confused staring.
The boy frowned at them, obviously confused.
"How would I not? C'mon, you guys, it's me. Harry."
"HARRY?!" gasped the three Gryffindors standing in the doorway.
Harry ran his hand nervously back through his hair, revealing the lightning bolt scar on his forehead that had made him famous. He looked up at them, eyes wide, and asked softly, "Have I really changed that much?"
Hermione nodded, sidling into the cab to settle down beside her friend. She stared up at him for a moment then nodded.
"Yeah. You've changed a lot."
"A lot's an understatement," muttered Ron as he entered the cab, moving aside so Ginny could come in. He closed the door just as Draco Malfoy walked by, pulling down the shade with a snarl. Then, he turned back to his friend.
"Harry, mate, what'd you do?"
"I didn't do anything," replied Harry in a surly tone. "It just happened."
"When?" asked Hermione.
"On my birthday."
"How odd…" said the bushy-haired girl, leaning back into the seat.
Harry chuckled, running his hand through his hair again then twirling the length of dark hair into an instantly unwinding tail.
"You have no idea."
* * *
"Papa. Papa, why can't I just be Sorted before the first years?"
Severus Snape sighed and smiled down at his daughter.
"Because that is the way it has always been done, child. And your Housemates would be rather confused to have a new student among their midst."
Sheyne smiled and said, "Good point, Papa."
"I always make good points, Shey. How is Stephen?"
"Ste? Pretty good. He's still a bit shaky over Mu – the Outlaw's deaths."
Severus turned to his daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Shey, you can call them what you want. They were your parents for fourteen years. Don't let those memories die just because you've found me and they're gone."
"Yes, Papa." Tears pricked at Sheyne's eyes.
"Come here, child," said Severus, pulling the girl into his arms and holding her until the tears dried and she pulled back away from him.
"Thank you, Papa."
"I am always a shoulder to cry on, child. Now…go and get ready for that Sorting of yours."
"Yes, Papa!"
Sheyne dashed out of the room, causing Severus to shake his head in amusement.
* * *
"Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere! Ye alrigh' there, 'Arry?"
Harry swelled with warmth. Thank Merlin, someone still recognized him! He waved enthusiastically to Hagrid, giving the half-giant a thumbs-up. Hagrid beamed in response then turned to the milling first years.
"Were we ever that small?" said Ron in a bemused tone as he eyed the first years.
"Harry was smaller," Hermione said with a grin at her now towering friend.
"I was not short. I was lacking height," said Harry, lifting his chin slightly.
"Same thing!" cried Ron and Hermione, causing Harry to frown at them. Ginny jumped slightly as he did so.
"C'mon! Let's get a carriage and hurry up to the castle. I'm starved!"
Harry laughed as he climbed into a carriage after Ron, ducking his head to avoid hitting the ceiling. "You're always starving!" he said good-naturedly.
"I'm a growing boy," said Ron in such a tone that it set the four of them into a fit of giggles.
After the jolting ride up the hill, the four of them scrambled out of the horse-less carriage and up the steps into the entrance hall. Harry's gaze once flicked across the lawn to the Quidditch pitch and grief flashed across his face. By the time Hermione noticed it, it was gone. But now she made herself a reminder to keep an eye on her friend.
Soon they were sitting and the Sorting had begun. The song was sung and the first years Sorted and Ron had eagerly picked up his knife and fork when Dumbledore made a surprising announcement.
"This year we have a new student, recently transferring from the Salem Academy in America. She will be a fifth year and I hope her House members will treat her with respect."
"Now…may I introduce Miss Sheyne Snape."
* * *
"Snape?"
"Snape has a daughter?"
"I didn't know the slimy git had it in him."
"How can she stand him?"
"I wonder what she looks like."
"Snape?"
"Here she comes!"
* * *
Sheyne and Stephen stood in a small room adjacent to the Great Hall. The girl was watching her nimble-fingered hands as they shook from fright. Then her eyes widened as Dumbledore called out her name.
"Oh shit!"
Stephen smiled warmly up at her and piped, "You can do it, Sheynie."
Sheyne smiled back and swept her adopted little brother up into a tight hug.
"Thanks, Ste."
Stephen simply smiled and Sheyne grasped the doorknob, grinning nervously at the fourteen-year-old, before stepping out into the hall.
* * *
"Well," said Fred, "didn't except that."
Harry chuckled softly as Hermione glared at Ron, who was staring at the dark-haired girl striding across the hall to McGonagall and the Sorting Hat. He looked at Snape to see the man's reaction to his daughter's entrance, but – as usual – Snape's usual sneer was plastered on his face.
Shaking his head, Harry turned back just as Sheyne sat down and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head.
* * *
The Hat covered her eyes, which was rather good as Sheyne was ready to hex everyone who was staring at her.
"Not a good idea, my dear. House points taken on Sorting Night? No, no, no."
Sheyne twitched in surprise then remembered her father telling her about the Sorting Hat.
"Yes, your father. Severus Sadiron Snape, Slytherin, started 1970. A rather bright minded boy."
Sheyne chuckled and thought, Bright minded MAN, too.
Now the Sorting Hat chuckled.
"How true, my dear. Ah! And your mother. Rowena Elsie O'Fillian, Gryffindor, started 1971. A lass with a mind as brilliant as your father's. And a Shifter at that."
The Hat paused.
"And my oh my, if you haven't inherited it. This is amazing. Shifters are only born every eighty years! Ye gods, child, you ARE a find."
Erm, shouldn't you Sort me? It's been a rather long while.
"And YOU, have a rather lot in this melon of yours, Sheyne Amissa Snape. In fact…I already know where to put you… Yes, I do."
"GRYFFINDOR!!"
* * *
"Gryffindor?"
"Snape's kid?"
"Well, that was a surprise."
"That's an understatement."
* * *
Harry, on a sudden whim, stood and waved at Sheyne, who was stepping down from the stool and heading towards the Gryffindor table. Ron started and hissed, "Harry, what are you doing?"
"Inviting her down here," replied Harry calmly.
"Why?"
"Oh, c'mon, Ron," said Hermione. "It's not like she's going to bite."
"She might!"
"Oh shove off, Ron," growled Harry, continuing to wave even as Ron stared at him. Sheyne spotted him and froze for a moment, then began to move again, walking down to him. Silence filled the Hall as Snape's daughter walked down to stand in front of Harry Potter.
"May I sit here?" asked Sheyne as though Harry had not waved her down, gesturing at the empty seat across from him between Hermione and Ginny.
"Certainly," replied Harry good-naturedly, grinning. Sheyne grinned in response and walked around the table to the seat. As soon as she was positioned between Ginny and Hermione, the noise in the Hall began to rise again.
Ron gaped at Sheyne in abject horror and Ginny made a very badly hidden attempt to scoot away but Hermione held out her hand towards the girl. It was a fine gesture even if her hand was shaking slightly.
"Hi. I'm Hermione Granger."
Sheyne took the offered hand, surprising the bushy-haired girl by griping it firmly.
"Hello, Hermione. I think you already know my name being as…" She flicked her fingers towards the Head Table and Hermione smiled slightly.
"Yeah."
Sheyne smiled then turned to Harry.
"And you, sir. Who might you be, the only person at the table known for courage brave enough to venture to wave me down?"
Harry grinned and extended his hand across the table.
"Harry Potter."
"Pleasure to meet you, Harry. According to my father, you're a no good rascal who pays no attention in class and has the brainpower of one of Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts."
Harry arched an eyebrow at her, sensing she wasn't through, while everyone nearby glared at her.
"However," said Sheyne loudly, ignoring the glares pointed her way. "I am not my father. And I believe I shall get to know you – really know you – before I make my judgments."
"Sounds good to me," remarked Harry.
Sheyne grinned and took his hand. The shock that went from her hand to his – or perhaps it was from his hand to hers – surprised the both of them and made them pull away from each other, eyes wide. Everyone else had turned away by now, focusing on his or her food. But Harry and Sheyne ignored the food on the table, staring at each other. Suddenly they noticed what they were doing and looked around, hoping no one had noticed.
No one had.
Sheyne gave Harry a pointed glance and he shrugged. Neither of them knew what had caused that shock.
But they both planned to find out why it had happened.