Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own a thing. Would love to be the proud owner of a Snape, but JK Rowling got there first. She owns all of the characters, settings etc. But you knew that.

-Chapter Three Musings and Reminiscence-

Severus Snape strode towards the Entrance Hall, Jane at his side. Without saying a word to her, Snape led Jane through a series of corridors and up a number of irritatingly mobile staircases until they reached McGonagall's office – the office which, only a little while before, had belonged to Dumbledore.

"Scottish Highlands." Snape muttered the new password and then ushered Jane onto the spiral staircase which slowly progressed upwards.

"Oh, gosh," Jane commented nervously. Snape found it odd that someone who was not scared of a darkly-clad stranger approaching her and whisking her away was actually frightened of a spiral staircase. He snorted slightly, leaving Jane to purse her lips in a McGonagall-esque fashion. Severus snorted once more at the similarity between her and the new headmistress.

"Here we are," Severus eventually murmured as he knocked on McGonagall's door.

"Come in," called Professor McGonagall distractedly.

"This is her." Snape raised an eyebrow. "Can you fill her in please? I really haven't the time."

McGonagall tutted but agreed nevertheless. "Come and have a seat, Jane," she beamed in her kindest voice, which startled Snape somewhat as he was not used to hearing it.

Snape turned to leave but thought better of it. "Where will she be staying?" he enquired with a sigh.

"We're going to have a mini-Sorting Ceremony for her tonight, Severus. Please attend. We'll decide where she stays once we have determined which house she belongs in," Minerva replied promptly.

Having gained an answer, Snape turned to leave, though he was stopped short again, though this time not voluntarily; Jane said in her soft voice, "Good bye, Professor Snape." Snape turned to face her and said, as genially as he could manage (which was not particularly genial at all), "Good bye Miss. Dashwood." He then left, this time not turning back.

The door of the office closed, and McGonagall turned to face Jane, who was shaking ever so slightly.

"Well, Miss Dashwood, it's lovely to meet you at last," McGonagall smiled, holding out a tartan biscuit tin. "Please help yourself. You look like you haven't eaten in days."

Jane took a biscuit gratefully and thanked McGonagall.

"Not at all, not at all," McGonagall laughed slightly. "Anyway, I have a lot that I need to tell you. I hardly know where to start, in fact, but I'll do my best to fill you in on…well, everything." Minerva paused for breath. "You are, as you may have gathered by now, a witch. This is Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I am Professor McGonagall. I'm the headmistress, but I'm also the Head of Gryffindor house until we can find a replacement. Our headmaster – Albus Dumbledore, one of the greatest wizards the world has ever seen - died a short while ago, but he told me before he died that he had received news that your mother had sadly passed away, leaving you without a guardian. This is why you are here now; we feel it's our duty to look after you. Dumbledore also informed me that you will grow to be an extraordinarily talented witch, and we are therefore presenting you with the opportunity to spend this summer holiday finding out all you need to know about the wizarding world, your school subjects, and then, after you have taken a series of exams, you will be able to attend this school. You are going to have to work exceptionally hard if you want to attend, though, because you will be entering in your sixth year if you succeed in your O.W.L. examinations."

Jane paled slightly. "Oh, gosh," she stammered. "I've only got five weeks left to learn five years worth of magic?"

Minerva tilted her head to one side sympathetically, sighed, and then replied, "Yes, but Dumbledore hardly ever made a mistake, and he told me that you'd be able to manage this. It might be hard for you to believe that you can do it, but if you had known Professor Dumbledore, you'd understand how reliable his word was, and still is. Professor Snape will teach you all you need to know, Miss. Dashwood. If you do not pass the exams, we'll work something else out. You will not be left on the streets again, rest assured."

A relieved sigh was let through Jane's heart-shaped lips.

Minerva smiled at this. "In two or so hours there will be a feast and a Sorting Ceremony for you. The majority of the teachers will be attending. You mustn't be scared of any of them; they are all very kind people. Professor Snape may seem a bit sharp, but he is a good teacher really. He is Head of Slytherin, another of the houses."

Jane looked thoughtfully at McGonagall and asked curiously, "What are the names of the other houses?"

"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Professor Flitwick is Head of Ravenclaw, and Professor Sprout is Head of Hufflepuff. Anyway, before the Sorting Ceremony, we must get you some new robes; I think a trip to Hogsmede is in order." Minerva stood up and pulled a sack of coins from her robes. She investigated the contents before smiling, obviously satisfied, and proclaiming, "Yes, yes, I do think we'll be able to get you quite a few pairs of robes! Dumbledore was wise enough to say in his will that any money from his back account should be spent lavishly on Hogwarts and, if necessary, the pupils."

"It sounds as though he was really rather kind," Jane mused, smiling at the portrait on the wall which had a plaque underneath it saying "Albus Dumbledore". The man in the portrait had twinkling blue eyes, half-moon glasses, large quantities of white hair, and an air of eccentricity about him.

"He was," reminisced McGonagall, chuckling. "Well, let's head to Hogsmede then, to get you these new robes."