It wasn't long before they were departing the train, one by one. Severus was never more nervous in his life. He just hoped he would be sorted into Slytherin. He didn't know what his friends would say if he was sorted into a house like Gryffindor.

"All Firs' Years, Over 'ere!" a booming voice called from somewhere over the crowd. Severus looked above the heads of the kids in front of him, and saw a giant figure over near a lake. The man must have been at least fifteen feet tall, Severus thought. Nevertheless, Severus pushed his way through the crowd of students, and was followed by Haley and Jessica. They all gathered around the man, and waited until the rest of the first years to arrive. Every once in a while, the man would call out for the first years again.

"'Ello there! The name's 'Agrid, and I'm the Gamekeeper around this school," the man told them, shaking Severus' hand. His hands were huge, just like the man himself, and he just about crushed Severus' hand as he shook it.

"I'm Severus Snape," he told the man, trying to regain feeling in his hand.

"Why don't you go 'head and grab a seat in the boat 'ere," Hagrid instructed them, and they did so gladly. They grabbed one of the boats for themselves, and took a seat in it. They waited patiently for the others to arrive. When everybody had filled in, Hagrid got in the back, and began taking them across the huge lake.

"Guys, I know this is the wrong time to tell you this, but I'm afraid of water," Haley said, grasping hold of the boat and holding on for dear life. Severus just rolled his eyes and acted like he hadn't heard anything, but Haley poked him in the shoulder. "Severus, look!" she said, pointing at something in the water. It was a giant blue squid, and it had popped its head out of the water, with many of its tentacles showing as well. On instinct, Haley stood straight up to get a good look at it. When she did, the boat rocked, and Severus toppled right on over the side of the boat.

"Ahh! The water's freezing!" he yelled. He was completely drenched, and he was very angry with Haley for causing him to fall over the edge. Though it wasn't long before he felt something pushing him out of the water. He was on the top of the squid, and it was trying to push him back into the boat. He fell right over into the boat, and took his seat again. He watched as the squid sank once again, and Severus thanked it for getting him back into the boat. He was shivering now, because the water was freezing cold. Haley came over to him and sat down next to him. For a moment she didn't speak, but then she let out an apology before becoming silent once again. Severus was still not speaking to her when the boat landed ashore.

"Oi! C'mon, Sev! You can't ignore me forever, you know!" Haley whined, tugging on the back of Severus' waterlogged cloak as he stalked forward, frowning.

His normally greasy hair was dripping and hanging in his pallid face, and he shivered dangerously.

"Alrigh' Mr... Snape, is it?" Hagrid said, walking up behind the new students as they stood on the steps, waiting to walk inside and be sorted. Severus looked up at him closely. His round face was framed in burly, tangled masses of brown hair, and he was atleast as tall as two or three grown men.

Something was wriggling curiously in his breast pocket as he stomped his baby dolphin sized feet on the steps, cleaning them. Severus sneered. He had to have giant in him, and everyone new that giants were horrible and a monstrosity to the wizarding world.

Hagrid looked down at him, his eyes crinkling kindly as he smiled and cuffed his trashcan lid sized hands on one of Severus' rather thin shoulders.

"You seem ratha cold, dun'ye?" He asked. Severus just stared at him coldly. What would his father say if he saw him associating with half-breed? It would be disgraceful. Haley and Jessica stood behind him, staring up in awe at Hagrid, their mouths hanging open. Hagrid's eyes darted around uncomfortably at Severus' refusal to answer.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Hagrid shrugged and noticed that Severus was trembling still. He shrugged off his moleskin coat and draped it around Severus' shoulders. It made Severus look even smaller than he was; he could get lost in the coat. He cringed and slid out of the coat rudely, sneering at Hagrid.

"I don't need help from halfbreeds, thank you." He said smartly. Haley and Jessica raised their eyebrows at him. They would have atleast accepted the coat to keep warm. Hagrid stared down at Severus and bent down, picking up his jacket. He turned around, shaking his head and muttering something about "ruddy kids, thinkin' they're betta than e'erybody else. Merlin."

Severus shrugged and whirled back around, facing the huge oaken wood doors that opened into the castle.

Footsteps could be heard on the other side and soon the doors opened, revealing a thin woman, who's graying hair was coiled in a tight bun. She had square glasses, and her mouth was set in a thin line. She looked very strict indeed. She stepped forward, and clasped her hands in front of her, staring down at the students.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. Now, before you go inside, there are a few things I do suppose you need to know. Upon entering the castle, you will make your way through the foyer and up the steps onto the stage. This is where you will be sorted."

"I heard you have to perform ten spells to get in, and that's how they sort you! Ten spells!" Jessica whispered hurriedly. Haley's eyes widened. Severus rolled his eyes; hadn't any of them read Hogwarts: A History?

The older witch's gaze locked in on Jessica, Haley, and Severus, and she gave them a piercing glare. Jessica straightened up, and piped down quickly.

"Now, I am Professor McGonagall. I am head of Gryffindor house. Gryffindor is one of the four houses that you could be sorted in. The other three are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and... Slytherin." She frowned heavily, and she appeared to have just swallowed something rather nasty tasting. She continued.

"Each of the four houses have qualities that they look for in each student. Whichever house you are best suited for will be your home for the next seven years.

Your house is like your family. Good deeds will award your house points, but any wrong doings, will certainly lose your house points." She paused.

"Alright then, follow me and the sorting will begin momentarily."

Severus, Haley, and Jessica walked close together, down the long hallway, following the sharp clip clapping's of Professor McGonagall's shoes. Haley looked at the ceiling and gasped.

"Look! The castle has no ceiling! You can see the sky!" Jessica glanced upward, and gasped too.

Inky blackness filled with twinkling stars was up above them, along with swirls of misty clouds. The girls found it very exciting and beautiful.

Behind them, other students were oohing and awwing at the magical ceiling. Severus sighed.

"You guys, it's -"

"Bewitched." Another girl said at the same time as he. Severus glanced back at a tiny eleven year old girl who had flaming red hair and emerald green eyes. She smiled at him, as she realized they had both spoken at the same time. Severus sneered.

Definitely a Gryffindor.

He turned back to Haley and Jessica.

"Anyway, there IS a ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. Honestly." He explained, rolling his eyes.

They walked onto the stage, that overlooked the rest of the students. There were four long tables that were jam-packed with students in black robes topped with black pointy hats. They were all looking at the stage in silence as the first years lined up. One table in particular was sneering at the whole lot. Severus glanced down it. Had to be Slytherin. He grinned, inspite of himself. He'd be sitting there soon.

Professor McGonagall placed a stool in front of them, and upon that a tattered, dingy hat, that had a wide rip in the front, that rather resembled a mouth. All the first years looked at it curiously.

Then the rip opened up, and the hat started to sing.

"Way back in the beginning, when this school
was at it's start,
Four founders came together to teach children
all the arts.

They built the school, with it's many stones,
by magic that they had come as
they had grown.

They're no longer here, but the magic is,
It'll be what's used to put you all to the test.
The years have passed, and I still remain,
to choose for those, who are now remembered
by name.

I am old, this is true,
but I still sort those that come here new.
I am the wisest and the best,
I'll beat any hat in the East or West.


It's very simple, to see me work,
just put me on, it won't hurt,
I'll read your mind, hear your thoughts,
I'll listen to your needs and wants.

Then I'll speak back, inside your head,
but really, dears, there's nothing to dread.
I'll sort you out one-by-one,
until this years Sort is over and done.

So I ask, let me see,
the dwellings in your head,
ask some simple questions
Before you all head to your warm beds.

Will you be in Ravenclaw?
Who's knowledge is
rivaled as the best?
They may keep their noses in their books,
But they'll most likely triumph over the rest.

Or could it be dear Hufflepuff, where
you'll lay your head.
Innocent and kind,
It's here where nice ones will find their beds.

It just might be in Slytherin,
that you'll find all new friends,
Cunning, and mischievous,
They'll get what they want in the end.

Lastly, you may be in Gryffindor, where the
bravest often reside,
You'll be tested of your heart and courage, and
what's deepest hid inside.

Now, I've sung my song, what's done is done,
there's not much left to see.
So, try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be."

All the older students lept up from their tables to give the hat a standing ovation. The hat was still again, and looked rather normal, even though it had just sung in front of the whole school. Professor McGonagall stepped back up.

"Now, I will call each of you up, one by one, and you will sit on the stool. I will place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be promptly sorted." She paused, tapping the scroll in her hand. The scroll flew up in front of her face, unrolling itself and paused, floating, for her to read the names.

"Abelini, Sarah." She called out. A scrawny girl with short blonde hair stepped forward. She giggled nervously, and if it hadn't been for the fact that she was eleven, she would have looked very drunk indeed. She sat down on the stool, and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her round head.

It was only moments before the rip at the brim of the sorting hat opened up again.

"Ravenclaw!" It called out. The right table in the middle applauded their newest member. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and read the second name, and the third, and the fourth.

"Black, Sirius." She called curtly. Sirius stepped forward, glancing at Severus coldly. Severus returned the stare.

"Gryffindor!" The sorting hat called. Sirius lept off the stool, a look of great relief on his face.

More names were called, including the girl with the vibrant red hair ("Evans, Lily."). She had been sorted into Gryffindor as well.

After ten minutes or so, only a few students remained. Severus himself, the kid with the black hair he had seen with Sirius, and a chubby boy that was standing beside him with mousey blonde hair and a pig-like appearance, plus some others that Severus didn't pay much attention to.

"Pettigrew, Peter" was called, and the boy with the blonde hair stepped forward and waddled to the stool. Severus was very surprised when the hat announced "Gryffindor!"

A few more names were called, and then finally Severus'. He breathed a sigh of relief and impatience and walked up to the stool calmly. Haley and Jessica were both sitting at the Slytherin table and they waved at him. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head. A voice entered his head, the hat was speaking to him.

"Oh, well... look at this, another Snape, eh? I sorted your father you know, he was rather easy to place. Had all the cunning for Slytherin. You appear to be just like him, in fact. Stunning, really." Severus closed his eyes and began mentally speaking back to the hat, wondering it it would work.

"I am not like my father." He thought. The hat was silent for a moment.

"Well, you two have all the same traits, really. But, if you insist. Now, to place you. I'm sure I've kept you long enough. Let's see, here. Hmm... how about -"

"Slytherin!" The last word was heard by the entire school, and a rupture of applause came from the Slytherin table.

Severus opened his eyes and hopped off the stool, appearing as if nothing had fazed him. He sat down between Jessica and Haley and waited for the last remaining students to be sorted.

Empty golden plates littered the house tables, glimmering in the light from the ghostly candles that floated in the air, flickering in the wind. Food magically appeared on the tables, loading the plates with piles of chicken, and tarts, and potatos, and all sorts of assorted dishes. All the students dug in. A while later, Severus, Haley, and Jessica were talking softly, their heads close together so as not to be disturbed.

Suddenly, Severus screeched and shivered worse than he already was from the lake. A shimmery, pearly-white body came through him, making him feel as if ice cubes had settled into his stomach.

The Bloody Baron floated across the table, and sat down regally in front of Severus, his blank eyes seemingly boaring into his own. Severus shivered again. Haley and Jessica stared curiously at the sight. After all, it wasn't everyday that they saw a ghost travel through their friend.

Another ghost floated overhead, pausing in front of Severus and grinning widely.

"Oh, hullo young student, please excuse the Bloody Baron, he thinks he owns the place." Severus stared at the ghost in front of him. He had curly hair and a goatee with beady, beetle-black eyes and a large ruffle around his neck that he continuely adjusted. Severus' mouth was hanging open. he had never seen ghost before. The ghost smacked his forehead and laughed to himself.

"Do forgive me, I'm Sir Nicholas, and you are?" He said, grinning benignly at the three Slytherins. Jessica and Haley had identical shocked looks plastered to their faces.

"S-Severus," He swallowed, "Severus Snape." He said. The friendly ghost turned to Jessica and Haley, waiting for answers. Minutes ticked by.

"That's Jessica and Haley, my friends." Severus answered. Sir Nicholas smiled and nodded. Then, Jessica spoke.

"I know who you are! You're Nearly Headless Nick!" She exclaimed. Nearly Headless Nick sighed and rolled his eyes.

"I'd prefer to go by Sir Nich-"

"Sod off you fat, dead oaf. Go back to the Gryffindor table; you're cluttering our view." A voice spoke up behind Severus.

Severus whirled around to see who it was behind him.

An older boy loomed above him, his arms crossed over his chest haughtily. Severus studied him curiously.

There were several boys gathering behind him, ranging in ages from other first years, and second years and some third years. The boy that had spoken, extended his hand sharply in Severus' face as a greeting. Severus stared at the hand that was an inch from his face before reaching up and shaking it cautiously.

"Avery. Third year." He said curtly. Severus nodded once and stated his name for the group to hear. Each boy nodded, standing similar in pose as Avery, with their arms crossed, and their noses stuck in the air. Each boy spoke his name.

"Black. Regulus Black. Also third year." The boy beside Avery stated. A girl with flowing black hair and chalk-white skin stepped forward and spoke to Severus luridly.

"Bellatrix Black. First year, and this gits cousin." She said, pointing at Regulus. The only other girl stepped forward, bumping Bellatrix out of her way.

"Narcissa Black, second year." She said in a very squeeky voice while twirling her finger through her bleached blonde hair. Her arm was wrapped loosely around the shoulders of a tall boy with sleeked, white-blonde hair that hung to his shoulders. The boy coughed purposely and stepped forward, Narcissa stumbling slightly.

"Now, now, Narcissa. I'm sure he remembers us. We met on the train, lest you forget. He said, raising his eyebrows. Severus nodded.

"You're Malfoy, correct?" He said, placing a sneer on his face that matched the other older Slytherin's.

Narcissa shrugged and continued hanging off of Lucius, treating him like a king. The last boy stepped forward. He had been staring at the back of Bellatrix's head the entire time, but took his turn in saying his name.

"And I'm Rudolphus Lestrange, third year." Severus bent his head in Rudolphus' direction, before turning to Jessica and Haley who had been sitting quietly by his side, feeling rather neglected.

"This is Jessica and Haley, fellow first years." He spoke with an air of supiority.

They were interrupted by a sudden hush that fell over the Great Hall. The sorting had ended and an aging man, with a flowing white beard that almost reached his belt stood up gracefully, his blue eyes twinkling behind half moon spectacles.

It was the Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore.

"Welcome new students and welcome back to returning students! I sincerely hope you enjoy another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, before I begin my old-man-ramblings, let's ring off the new year with the school song." He said in his gravely voice before flicking his wrist and pointing his wand in the air. Eerie green smoke wavered into the air, forming notes and words.

"Go on. Pick the tune to follow and sing at the top of your lungs!" The headmaster said jubiliantly. The voices of students, staff, and ghost bellowed out, following different chosen tunes.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

The low rumbling voice of Nearly Headless Nick was the last one heard as he finished the song to the tune of a slow funeral march. Dumbldore waved his wand in the air, conducting the school. When Nearly Headless Nick had finished, Dumbledore cleared his throat and clapped his hands to re-gather attention.

"Isn't music a blessed thing at Hogwarts, students? Now, just a few start-of-term notices and then it's off to bed to prepare your noggins for learning bright and early tomorrow!" A low grumble filled the Great Hall making Professor McGonagall rapt lightly on her goblet for their attention.

"Now, now, first years need to note that the dark forest at the edge of the grounds is strictly forbidden. No student shall enter the forest unless you want to suffer a most painful death." Severus' eyes grew wide at the last statement, as did several other students.

"Another thing, is Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has added to his list of outlawed items, which has now reached a grand total of 52 items. To view this list, please go to the door of Mr. Filch's room.

"I do suppose that that is all the announcements I have to make, then again I am a codgery old man, and have possibily forgotten something," He paused to allow the students a good chuckle that rang out into echoes that bounced off the walls.

"That is it. Off to bed, off to bed. Good night."