Chapter 4: Laughter

Row said goodbye to the three Gryffindors and began to make her way to her next class. She was grateful that Uncle Sev had told her where the classroom was last night or she never would have found it. The class was about half full when she arrived and she looked around uneasily for a seat she should take.

"Ms. Noone please sit next to Mr. Malfoy."

Row looked up quickly. It was strange to hear her uncle address her so formally but she took her seat next to the blond boy from before without complaint. She was about to thank him again for helping her when she remembered him telling her not to mention it. She settled for a small smile instead.

"Hello again," she said as she sat down. He glanced up slightly and did not return her smile, but he didn't scowl at her either.

"You're Row right?" he asked. She nodded slightly. "How are you at potions?"

"I'm okay I guess," she said softly.

"With an uncle like Professor Snape I'd think you should be brilliant."

"Well I haven't seen him in about twelve years and potions isn't genetic or anything," she lowered her voice and added, "I hope I don't disappoint him."

"I know how you feel," Draco responded in an undertone as Snape wrote the instructions on the board, "Shall we?"

"Let's do it."

Severus watched Row working with Draco. They seemed to be working together well enough. As Severus watched, Draco said something and Row laughed. Merlin's beard she even laughed like her.

Severus got off of the train as he looked for Morgan. She was going to be a first year this year and he wanted to find her before she got sorted. Suddenly he heard laughter.

"Sev!" Morgan called from behind him, "Sev! Over here!" Severus threaded his way through the throng of students. "This is Row. She's a first year too."

"Nice to meet you," the girl who had been laughing stuck out her hand. Severus shook it briskly.

"Pleasure," he said quickly.

"She helped me while I was lost on the train and she's going to stay with me at the castle too!" Morgan spoke excitedly.

"Be careful with this one," he said to the new girl, "My little sister has a bad habit of disappearing faster than a leprechaun's gold." The girl laughed again, throwing Severus slightly off guard. No one laughed at his jokes except for Morgan.

"Fis' years! Firs' years over here!" came the bellowing voice of the gatekeeper.

"We have to go," Morgan said as she threw her arms around Severus' neck quickly, "Bye Sev!"

"Bye!" the other girl called.

"Severus! Over here!" came a voice from the carriages. Severus looked up to find Darius Diamonte waving to him. Severus joined the fourth year with one small look back at his sister's retreating form.

Severus waited anxiously for Morgan to be sorted. He could see her standing next to her new friend and she smiled at him. She still looked nervous though.

"Ravenaugh, Rowena!"

Severus watched as the girl standing next to Morgan walked up, looking utterly terrified. She tripped on her way up and blushed a crimson almost as dark as the Gryffindor banner hanging over the next table. She sat on the stool and the hat waited a long time.

"RAVENCLAW!" it shouted triumphantly. She smiled back at Morgan and then almost ran to the Ravenclaw table. She looked up and smiled at him slightly before being congratulated by her new housemates. He watched her as a few more people were sorted, applauding with the rest of his house when "Roderick, Roger" was sorted into Slytherin.

"Snape, Morgan!" Severus watched as Morgan got up and walked gracefully to the stool. She had gotten that straight from their mother. The hat waited for a few moments.

"RAVENCLAW!" it shouted. Severus' jaw nearly dropped. His sister wouldn't be with him. How could he take care of her when she was all the way in a different house? Morgan looked at him with a hint of fear in her eyes but gave him a small smile as she walked over and sat down next to Row. She was brave; he had to give her credit for that. She said something to Row and her smile returned in full force with Row's laughter.

"Professor?" Severus looked up to find Gregory Goyle at his desk, "I'm done sir." Severus took the vial that Goyle was holding out to him, careful to seal it permanently. You never knew what would result from Goyle's potions.

A/N: A whole lotta flashback there but there should be more soon. Please review!