Professor Snape led Charity through the corridors in silence. Only when they reached the entrance to the Slytherin Common room did he speak.
"You will need a password to enter the Common room," he told her without looking at her. "Slythae Ingardia," he said. Without warning, the grey stone wall split open to reveal a wooden door. "Imperius." The wooden door swung open and he led Charity into a room full of brilliant green statues and cloth. She continued to follow him toward another doorway and when they reached it, he drew his wand from his robes and traced a serpentine type line along the wall. Once again, the stones parted to reveal a large office, filled with shelves upon shelves of jars.
He muttered something and flicked his wand as they walked by the fireplace, causing a fire to magically appear. Skeletal candles lit as he walked past. He led her to his desk and motioned for her to sit in the chair before it, whilst he took the seat behind the desk.
Charity took her seat nervously and it was quite sudden when he caught her eye.
"I must admit Miss Riker, I was utterly shocked when the Sorting Hat pronounced you fit for Slytherin House," he began. She didn't reply. "Seeing as you are to take seventh year classes, the Headmaster feels it neccessary for you to recieve extra lessons to cover what you have missed. Of course, it is by choice that you take these lessons. If you do not wish to do so-"
"I will do whatever is expected of me, sir," Charity cut in, her face expressionless. Snape's eyes narrowed briefly, for he was not accustomed to being interrupted.
"Please refrain from speaking until I have finished, Miss Riker," he said sternly, releasing her gaze. "That is my first rule."
"I apologize, sir."
Severus chose to ignore this statement.
"Now," he began again, with a stern voice. "Being as you are in my house, you will obey my rules and respect all that I and others may ask of you. Slytherin House is known for being the house of pure-blooded witches and wizards-which you are not."
"I am aware of that, sir."
"I suspected you might be," Snape spat back sarcastically. "I notice that you have obviously already been subjected to calling your elders by 'sir' or perhaps 'ma'am', for which I am grateful. Far too many of my students refer to me as 'Professor' on a regular basis. This I don't mind, so long as it is not constant; though for many students, it is. As I was saying before, because Slytherin House is known for being home to pure-blooded students and you are in fact Muggle-born, you may find that you are looked down upon by your housemates." He tried to catch her eye, but she looked away.
"Just as I feared," she muttered.
"You cannot fear in Slytherin, Miss Riker."
She looked up at him quickly. "Everyone fears, sir. Including you and your Slytherins."
He stood up and walked around his desk to stand beside her chair.
"You are my Slytherin, Miss Riker," he whispered in her ear as he leaned down. "You mustn't forget that."
"I belong to no one." She said this more sharply than she had intended, causing Severus to give her an icy glare.
"Thus I have seen the first sign that you may fit into my house," he replied, moving away.
She returned the glare as he said this. "I had no desire to be placed in your house. When I read about this school, I learned that Slytherin is more often than not, the house from which dark witches and wizards emerge. I felt myself a Ravenclaw."
He snorted in response to this proclaimation.
"Well, you must have felt wrong! Now, do you desire to find your sleeping quarters, Miss Riker. You are, after all, a Slytherin."
He stepped back and made a sweeping movement with his hands, signalling that she should go before him. Charity stood up and left the office to find the common room still empty.
"The girl's dormitories are to your left, Miss Riker," Snape called from his office, a slight sneer in his voice. "You will find your possessions in one of those rooms."