Chapter 5- Sorting and new faces
Thanks for the reviews although I apologize for making Snape OCC in one chapter then non-OCC. Lol. Sorry it took a bit for the update- I had a writers block I'm still working through and many tests to study for- here's chapter 5, it is going to deal mostly with Autumn coming to Hogwarts but I'll bring Snape back soon never fear!
Summer had drawn to a close and the new term was fast approaching Hogwarts. After a lengthy argument Severus had relented and was allowing Autumn to ride the train.
"Autumn, I don't know why you need to ride the bloody Express, if you haven't noticed you're already at the school!" mumbled her uncle.
"If you want me to have friends at this school this is the best time to make them!" retorted Autumn hotly. Although they had reached a certain fondness for each other over the past month the pair had weekly arguments. To the amusement of Dumbledore and McGonagal the young witch had proved a worthy opponent.
The first of September dawned bright and clear. Autumn had flooed to platform 9 3/4, taking in the sights and sounds around her. Scared looking first years shuffled timidly past while bold seventh and sixth years bounded over to their friends, chatting excitedly. As Autumn boarded the train a wave of nervousness passed over her. 'Maybe I should have stayed at Hogwarts- No! Just find a compartment and don't panic.' The train whistle sounded and the teen frantically searched for a place to sit.
Stopping at the final section she pulled open the door and was relived to see only one occupant. "Mind if I sit here?" Autumn asked nervously. The occupant turned toward her revealing a vivid pair of green eyes and a crop of messy black hair. "No, go ahead the boy said gesturing at the seat across from him. The teen sank gratefully in it studying the boy closely before realizing how rude she was being.
"Err, your not Harry Potter are you?" she asked trying to act casual. The wizard turned to face her again and slowly nodded in an embarrassed way. Autumn, at seeing his uncomfortable face stated quickly "My names Autumn by the way, pleased to meet you." Harry gave her a small smile "Your new then right? Transfer student?"
"Yea my parents have recently passed away and I had to leave my old school." She said softly.
"I'm sorry" replied the teen. He seemed to be studying her closely like she had him a moment ago. "You remind me of someone, vaguely and I can't put my finger on it."
"Really?" asked Autumn absently but inside cursing her Snape family looks. The teen really didn't want to come out as being a Snape at the moment.
"Mmmm, but it doesn't really matter. Hey! Want to play a game of wizards chess?" asked Harry. "Sure!" After three games Harry had won one and Autumn two. They had just started a fourth when the door opened and in walked a boy and two girls.
"Hey guys!" exclaimed Harry. "Hey mate," replied the red-haired boys his eyes going to Autumn.
"This is Autumn" began Harry seeing where everyone's attention had landed. "She just transferred to Hogwarts and going to be in our year. Autumn, these are my friends Ron and Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger. All exchanged Hello's and Autumn found them very welcoming.
They passed the time eating sweets, playing games, and talking. Just as she started to feel comfortable Ron turned to her "You know, you kind of remind me of someone."
"So I've heard" smirked Autumn. Seeing her smirk Hermione nodded, agreeing with Ron "Yes someone, I really can't place it though."
"What's your surname anyway, you never told us." Came Harry's voice.
"Err, well, I technically have two surnames, ones Reiner and the other is Snape."
Silence followed this statement, Harry recovering first. "Sorry, thought you said Snape." He said dazed. "I did" began Autumn nervously "he's my uncle. God you must hate him if you are this shocked." To the teen's relief Hermione laughed. "I wouldn't go right to hate..."
"You wouldn't" Harry interrupted and Ron nodded. "I am nothing like my uncle" pressed Autumn "I am my own person and plus you forgot the fact I just met him a month ago."
Ginny and Hermione smiled, Harry nodded, while Ron just looked blankly at her. "Does that mean you're in Slytherin?" Ron questioned. Autumn shrugged "I don't know but I kind of wanted to be in Gryffindor..." she trailed off with an evil grin. Everyone laughed, Ron falling off his chair. Tension left the room and the teen had a worry-free rest of the journey.
Despite her relationship to a certain potions professor Autumn got along well with Harry, Hermione, and Ginny although Ron seemed a bit uneasy. Stepping off the train the train the teen decided she'd rather ride in a carriage then across the lake and climbed in behind Hermione.
"So," began Ron "What's it like to be the niece of the world's biggest git?" This question earned him a laugh from Harry and a smack from Hermione "Ow! What did I say?" Autumn just laughed. He's really not too bad once you get to know him a bit." Seeing the disbelieving looks on Ron and Harry's faces she added, "Under that cold shell there is something human."
"ok...right..." said Harry. "Sure" muttered Ron. Hermione sighed at the two and struck up a conversation with Autumn about classes.
The carriage rolled up to the entrance and the party exited. "See you at the feast" said Autumn apologetically. "I have to get sorted with the first years."
"See you Autumn!" yelled back Hermione. "Yea, we'll keep our fingers crossed," added Harry which caused Autumn to smile. The teen waited patiently for McGonagal to enter with the first years. "Come along, through these doors." Striding past, McGonagal gave her a small smile.
Choosing a spot in the back of the line Autumn was thankful for once of being short for her age. They walked through the Great hall, past the house tables and stopped before a stool. The hat placed upon the stool opened it's "mouth" and to the teens amazement started to sing.
(Due to my incompetence to write a song for the hat there will be none.)
Applause followed and McGonagal opened some parchment and the sorting began.
"Boot, Rosie" (Ravenclaw)
"Bowler, Justin" (Ravenclaw)
Autumn was starting to get nervous...
"Kinkle, Laura" (Gryffindor)
"Parker, Brian" (Hufflepuff)
Yes, very nervous indeed...
"Scurrler, Don" (Slytherin)
Any day now...
"Snape, Autumn"
Her name sent whispers up around the tables. "Snape? Like as professor Snape?" "That git has relatives?" Her uncle, for his part, glared at the crowd. Autumn slowly walked up and McGonagal placed the hat on her head.
Inside the hat..."Ahh, I was wondering if I would be seeing anymore Snape's here. You are going to be a challenge. Let's see, plenty of intelligence, Ravenclaw is always an option. Of course, we could go with your family tradition in Slytherin. But I see something I haven't seen in another Snape before, yes, yes, I think GYRIFFINDOR!"
Autumn leapt up from the stool flushed and walked to the Gryffindor table. She chanced a glance back at her uncle who looked at first frustrated then slightly amused. The teen turned back to the Gryffindor table and saw Hermione waving her over. As she sat down whispers started again as "Yokel, Jeremy" was made a Hufflepuff.
"Does this mean he's not going to take points off of Gryffindor anymore?" "Your kidding!" "I thought Slytherin for sure." Signing she turned to talk to the trio. Autumn had expected whispers but she didn't have to like it. Food appeared on the tables and the students dug in. The new Gryffindor piled her plate high with everything.
"So," said Hermione "What NEWT's classes are you taking here?" Swallowing her food Autumn answered, "Oh, defense, potions, transfiguration, arithmecy, herbology, and charms." The girl nodded, "We think alike, I'm taking the same, we should be in classes together." Harry spoke up "by some miracle I'm in potions but lucky Ron over here will get to say goodbye to Snape. No offense" he said looking at Autumn. "None taken" she said flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Dumbledore stood up and made a "beginning of the term speech" afterwards dismissing the students.
"Come on" said Harry "I'll show you to the common room, Hermione and Ron have prefect duties." They walked up to a tower stopping before an extremely fat lady in pink silk. "Fizzing Wizzbees" stated Harry and the portrait swung open to reveal a warm, inviting room. Students were milling around talking, playing games, and finish summer assignments. Some looked up with interest at Autumn, some scowled. "The girl's dormitory is up there" said Harry pointing to some stairs, "Hermione can show you your bed when she gets' back." Harry sank into a chair by the fire and autumn followed his lead. He grinned at her "This is awesome."
"What is awesome?" asked the witch. "You being a Snape and being in Gryffindor." he replied laughing, "Snape is now between a rock and a hard place."
The teen smiled but replied "I don't know about that, he's probably be only to happy to take points away from me." At that moment Ron and Hermione came in arguing.
"Really Ron, every year you call them midgets, how do you think it makes them feel?"
"Aww, come on Hermione, it's funny! They really are..."
"Ronald! Grow up!" yelled Hermione as she flounced onto a chair next to Autumn. Still glowering at Ron the witch turned to her. "Do you want to come up and get settled?" Hermione asked. "Sure" the new Gryffindor replied standing up "See you Harry, Ron"
"Bye!" came the two voices behind her.
Hermione brought her up to the dormitory they shared with four other sixth years. There she met Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil who, although shocked by who she was, introduced themselves. Content with her room, Autumn changed into her pajamas and sat on her bed to chat with her newfound friends. They spent awhile discussing everything from school to family to boys until one by one they drifted off to sleep. Autumn lay awake a little longer, worrying about the next day and what it would bring.
Hope you liked it, next chapter will have potions class in it- always something to look forward too...lol. R&R R&R R&R