Darkness Falling
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. All Buffy characters and fictional places belong to Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon, all Harry Potter characters belong to J K Rowling.
As Buffy, Harry and their friends entered the Great Hall, conversation died away as everyone turned to look at them. Their conversation died too as first Harry, then Hermione and finally the rest of the group realised that the figure occupying the Headmaster's chair was not Dumbledore, nor was it McGonagall. It was Snape. "Thank you for granting us the benefit of your presence Potter. It appears that Gryffindor will be starting the term on negative points. Let us say, 10 each which would be 50 total?"
Most of the rest of the teaching staff looked unhappy, except Ethan Rayne who sat there looking the same as ever. He gave them a little mocking wave.
At that point Draco Malfoy walked in, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, and Snape did not even bat an eyelid. "Let us now proceed to the Sorting." At this point, the Hat looked like it was about to sing. It must have noticed the look Snape gave it because it obviously thought better of it.
As McGonagall started to call the first name, a hand went up from near Harry and company. "Professor Snape, I would like to be resorted please." The teachers looked shocked, as did the rest of the hall, with the sole exception of Draco Malfoy. He merely looked faintly terrified. The hand, needless to say, belonged to Virginia Weasley.
Since she had left the train, she had been planning this regardless of who was in charge of the Sorting, but the fact that it was Snape made it easier. To spend this year in Gryffindor under her brother's eye would make studying the Dark Arts even harder than it would be anywhere. Slytherin was another story.
Snape recovered first. He called her up to the front of the room and placed the Sorting Hat on her head himself. The Hall waited with baited breath for the result. Ron looked assured of the outcome, while Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances behind his back.
Suddenly, the Hat began to mumble to itself almost audibly. The words "Weasley", "Gryffindor", "Slytherin", and "shadows" could be heard by those in the closer seats who leaned forward far enough. Then the Hat slumped, as if in defeat, and croaked "Slytherin." Ron looked as if he had been hit by Avada Kedavra, although Harry noticed that Malfoy did as well. Ron jumped up and demanded a Resorting for himself. Snape lazily refused and removed another ten points, at which the whole of the Slytherin table, now including Ginny, laughed. Ron went bright red and lunged towards the Slytherin table, but six burly Slytherins jumped up and stood between him and his sister. He stopped, glared at Virginia and spun on his heel. Or at least he tried, as part of his robe got caught on something and he spun three hundred and sixty degrees and fell flat on his face. Everyone, except the Gryffindor table, laughed and Snape looked as if Christmas had come early. "That will be ten points from Gryffindor for disturbing the feast, Weasley, and another ten points for implying that Slytherin is not good enough for your family. Now sit down." Ron did so, although his face was still red.
After the new pupils had been Sorted, Snape announced that Dumbledore was still on holiday, and that, until he returned, he was acting as Headmaster as well as head of Slytherin. At this point, the Slytherins cheered and everyone else looked grim.
"As to the post of Defence against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Dumbledore saw fit to appoint two teachers, one for the top two years and one for the lower school. I, however, decided, with the Ministry's approval, to appoint a third teacher, who will teach the sixth years. Allow me to introduce Professor Ethan Rayne, Professor Rupert Giles and Remus Lupin."
After the Feast was over, and while everyone was leaving for their dormitories, a student staggered into the Great Hall. "Come quickly, she's killed him!" When Professors Snape and Flitwick reached the corridor in question, they found the body of Gregory Goyle lying in the corridor, with Virginia Weasley standing over it, wand in hand.
"Miss Weasley, what have you done?" Flitwick gasped. She said nothing, merely stood there and allowed them to lead her away.
That night, rumours were rife in Gryffindor Tower. It was said that Virginia had killed Goyle or that Malfoy had done it and set her up. The more extreme theories included Imperius by various people, Polyjuice potions or invisibility cloaks. Needless to say, the Dream Team all thought it was Malfoy. "Of course it was him!" Ron said "He's a stinking Death Eater, I mean just look at his dad." The exception was Buffy, who wasn't sure. She had no doubt that Malfoy could kill someone but that look on his face during the Sorting Ceremony still haunted her. As did Ginny's eyes. They flashed black again in Buffy's memory, sucking all light into them. No- one should have eyes like that, no-one. She shivered. Nothing human, at least.
The next morning, the Weasleys were gathered in the Headmaster's study with Professor Snape. Virginia was still under guard elsewhere in Hogwarts without her wand. The basic topic of the discussion had been what was going to happen. The bulk of family opinion was that she had not done it and Snape agreed, but there would have to be a trial. It was the law. Arthur Weasley sighed. "I suppose we will have to pay for a lawyer then. Good lawyers do not come cheap these days, I am afraid."
Snape smiled humourlessly. "No need to worry about that. Your daughter's lawyer arrived earlier this morning courtesy of Lucius Malfoy."
A figure stepped out of the shadows, dressed in a Muggle suit. He offered his left hand to Arthur; his right was a prosthetic replacement. "Lindsey McDonald. I am an attorney at Wolfram and Hart."
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. All Buffy characters and fictional places belong to Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon, all Harry Potter characters belong to J K Rowling.
As Buffy, Harry and their friends entered the Great Hall, conversation died away as everyone turned to look at them. Their conversation died too as first Harry, then Hermione and finally the rest of the group realised that the figure occupying the Headmaster's chair was not Dumbledore, nor was it McGonagall. It was Snape. "Thank you for granting us the benefit of your presence Potter. It appears that Gryffindor will be starting the term on negative points. Let us say, 10 each which would be 50 total?"
Most of the rest of the teaching staff looked unhappy, except Ethan Rayne who sat there looking the same as ever. He gave them a little mocking wave.
At that point Draco Malfoy walked in, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, and Snape did not even bat an eyelid. "Let us now proceed to the Sorting." At this point, the Hat looked like it was about to sing. It must have noticed the look Snape gave it because it obviously thought better of it.
As McGonagall started to call the first name, a hand went up from near Harry and company. "Professor Snape, I would like to be resorted please." The teachers looked shocked, as did the rest of the hall, with the sole exception of Draco Malfoy. He merely looked faintly terrified. The hand, needless to say, belonged to Virginia Weasley.
Since she had left the train, she had been planning this regardless of who was in charge of the Sorting, but the fact that it was Snape made it easier. To spend this year in Gryffindor under her brother's eye would make studying the Dark Arts even harder than it would be anywhere. Slytherin was another story.
Snape recovered first. He called her up to the front of the room and placed the Sorting Hat on her head himself. The Hall waited with baited breath for the result. Ron looked assured of the outcome, while Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances behind his back.
Suddenly, the Hat began to mumble to itself almost audibly. The words "Weasley", "Gryffindor", "Slytherin", and "shadows" could be heard by those in the closer seats who leaned forward far enough. Then the Hat slumped, as if in defeat, and croaked "Slytherin." Ron looked as if he had been hit by Avada Kedavra, although Harry noticed that Malfoy did as well. Ron jumped up and demanded a Resorting for himself. Snape lazily refused and removed another ten points, at which the whole of the Slytherin table, now including Ginny, laughed. Ron went bright red and lunged towards the Slytherin table, but six burly Slytherins jumped up and stood between him and his sister. He stopped, glared at Virginia and spun on his heel. Or at least he tried, as part of his robe got caught on something and he spun three hundred and sixty degrees and fell flat on his face. Everyone, except the Gryffindor table, laughed and Snape looked as if Christmas had come early. "That will be ten points from Gryffindor for disturbing the feast, Weasley, and another ten points for implying that Slytherin is not good enough for your family. Now sit down." Ron did so, although his face was still red.
After the new pupils had been Sorted, Snape announced that Dumbledore was still on holiday, and that, until he returned, he was acting as Headmaster as well as head of Slytherin. At this point, the Slytherins cheered and everyone else looked grim.
"As to the post of Defence against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Dumbledore saw fit to appoint two teachers, one for the top two years and one for the lower school. I, however, decided, with the Ministry's approval, to appoint a third teacher, who will teach the sixth years. Allow me to introduce Professor Ethan Rayne, Professor Rupert Giles and Remus Lupin."
After the Feast was over, and while everyone was leaving for their dormitories, a student staggered into the Great Hall. "Come quickly, she's killed him!" When Professors Snape and Flitwick reached the corridor in question, they found the body of Gregory Goyle lying in the corridor, with Virginia Weasley standing over it, wand in hand.
"Miss Weasley, what have you done?" Flitwick gasped. She said nothing, merely stood there and allowed them to lead her away.
That night, rumours were rife in Gryffindor Tower. It was said that Virginia had killed Goyle or that Malfoy had done it and set her up. The more extreme theories included Imperius by various people, Polyjuice potions or invisibility cloaks. Needless to say, the Dream Team all thought it was Malfoy. "Of course it was him!" Ron said "He's a stinking Death Eater, I mean just look at his dad." The exception was Buffy, who wasn't sure. She had no doubt that Malfoy could kill someone but that look on his face during the Sorting Ceremony still haunted her. As did Ginny's eyes. They flashed black again in Buffy's memory, sucking all light into them. No- one should have eyes like that, no-one. She shivered. Nothing human, at least.
The next morning, the Weasleys were gathered in the Headmaster's study with Professor Snape. Virginia was still under guard elsewhere in Hogwarts without her wand. The basic topic of the discussion had been what was going to happen. The bulk of family opinion was that she had not done it and Snape agreed, but there would have to be a trial. It was the law. Arthur Weasley sighed. "I suppose we will have to pay for a lawyer then. Good lawyers do not come cheap these days, I am afraid."
Snape smiled humourlessly. "No need to worry about that. Your daughter's lawyer arrived earlier this morning courtesy of Lucius Malfoy."
A figure stepped out of the shadows, dressed in a Muggle suit. He offered his left hand to Arthur; his right was a prosthetic replacement. "Lindsey McDonald. I am an attorney at Wolfram and Hart."