Chapter 2: Bet

"Snape has a what?" Ron asked disbelievingly.

"A niece," Harry whispered quietly, "Her name's Row I think…or, something like that anyway."

"Sorry mate," Ron matched Harry's whisper, "It's just so hard to imagine that mangy git with actual family!"

"Do you think he has a brother or a sister?" Harry wondered out loud.

"I'll bet it's a sister," interjected Hermione.

"Are you crazy?" Ron said as he gave Hermione a look that clearly said he thought so, "I've never known a girl who could stand him!"

"What do you know Ronald? They might be really close!" Hermione began to fume.

"And I might be a blast ended skwert!" Ron said sarcastically.

"Well the resemblance is uncanny!" Hermione shot back. Ron looked terribly offended and his face began to turn the color of the Gryffindor banner hanging in the common room.

"I bet you it's a brother!" he almost yelled.

"Name your stakes," Hermione replied saucily.

"If I win I never have to fight with you about copying notes ever again!"

"Fine," Hermione retorted, "And if I win you have to carry my books for me until Christmas break!"

"Deal!" Ron shouted. They both turned away and promptly began to ignore each other. Harry packed up his stuff with a sigh and (recognizing that trying to solve this argument would get him nowhere) bid his friends goodnight.

"Goodnight Harry," Hermione's smile turned sour, "Ronald."

"G'night!" Ron replied in a huff and followed Harry up the stairs with, "Wait up mate!"

Severus heard his father yelling at his mother. Then his door opened and a scared little Morgan poked her head in. Severus motioned for her to come and she ran into his arms and began to cry. When he pulled back to look at her he realized that it was her in his arms. She clung to him for dear life, mumbling and crying. He kissed the top of her head and she got up and smiled. She started to walk away and Severus began to follow, but he couldn't keep up. Just a few more feet…

Severus woke up reaching into the emptiness of his chambers. He almost swore then he remembered that Row was in the next room on a bed he transfigured from the couch. That would certainly wake her up and she needed to sleep before started her studies the next day.

Why did she have to haunt him like that? He hadn't dreamed about her in ages it seemed. He had taken his potion that repelled his nightmares so how did that one slip through? He walked quietly to the window and stared at the grounds until the sun's rays began to pierce the darkness.

Severus walked Row to the Headmaster's office before breakfast the next morning. He was tired and apparently it showed.

"Uncle Sev? Are you alright?" inquired Row sincerely.

"I'm just tired. I couldn't sleep last night."

"Oh," she paused, "I didn't do anything did I?"

"No, of course not." He couldn't bear to tell her that it was her appearance that had been at fault. Row did look almost exactly like her. So much so that it was disturbing. Before Severus could expand his thoughts any more they arrived at the stone gargoyle.

"Chocolate Frog," he declared. The gargoyle obediently stepped aside to allow them passage. Row tentatively knocked on Dumbledore's door.

"Come in!" came Albus' bright voice.

"You're very cheerful this morning," said Severus gloomily. Dumbldore had the grace not to say anything about Severus' condition and instead focused his attention on Row.

"Before we can assign you any classes you'll have to be sorted into one of our houses," Dumbledore said congenially. Row nodded and the sorting hat was placed on her head.

After almost three minutes Severus began to get nervous. The hat hadn't moved or said anything and even Potter's sorting didn't take this long. Finally Row took the hat off slowly and looked at Dumbledore.

"Sir?" she said tentatively, "It says it won't sort me."

Severus had never seen Dumbledore flabbergasted and to see him so now was almost comical.

"Well," the headmaster began uncertainly, "We'll just have to assign you some classes. Is there a dormitory you'd want to occupy? It could be lonely for a student with no house." Row looked terribly indecisive and glanced at Severus. "Well you can stay in your uncle's chambers until you have met some of the other students and then you can make your decision. I'll have Minerva whip you up a schedule of mixed classes then. Now I'm sure you're hungry so off to breakfast." Row nodded and made her way out the door. Severus however remained behind. "Ah Severus I thought you'd want a little chat."

"What does this mean Headmaster?" he asked, "I've never heard of a student it refused to sort before."

"This has never happened before, you are right there," Albus paused, "But I assure you it will all be fine. Now would you mind accompanying me to breakfast? I believe we can have Miss Noone sit with us at the teachers' table for a day or two until she gets her feet."

"Yes Headmaster."