The Half-Blood Prince: Year One
Disclaimer: See first and second chapters.
Author's Note: Later (when they finish this year at Hogwarts and Severus goes back for his second) I may ask for some help. I might need to ask for help thinking of the plot. I know what I'm doing for this fic, and the seventh one (his last year at Hogwarts), but for his second through his sixth, I don't know. I haven't really thought a plot for them yet. Well, I do have an idea for the third……. hums Enjoy!
Chapter Three: The Sorting
Professor McGonagall led them through the Entrance Hall, and through a pair of doors into the Great Hall. There were "oohs" and "aahs" from many of the first years as they saw the ceiling. Severus knew that it was enchanted to look like the night sky, so he wasn't very surprised. But he had to admit, it did make for a nice view.
There were four large tables, each of which seated one house's members. Lucius nudged him and nodded toward the Slytherin table with a smile. Severus smiled slightly back. He hoped he wouldn't be separated from Lucius—he was the only friend he'd ever had.
McGonagall told them to form a line near the large staff table at the front, and they did so nervously. McGonagall placed a three-legged stool in front of them, and on top of it, a patched and frayed black hat. Suddenly, its mouth open, and it began to sing.
His mother hadn't mentioned that. Apparently Lucius's parents hadn't either. When Severus looked over at him, Lucius gave him a bewildered look, and shrugged.
"When I call your name," said McGonagall, "come over here and place the hat on your head."
The sorting began when she called out, "Black, Sirius". Lucius leaned over and whispered to Severus, "The Blacks are a Dark Arts family, like mine." Severus nodded.
"But isn't that the boy who was standing beside Potter?" he whispered back. Lucius blinked.
"Yes, actually." He sounded rather irritated. "Lost another one to the 'Light Side.'" The way his tone changed when he said "Light Side" did not escape his notice, but Severus chose not to comment.
The black-haired Sirius walked forward to sit on the stool, and put the hat on his head. It looked as if he were unhappy, but then he smiled. Only a second later, the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Lucius looked more annoyed, but not surprised. More students followed him, but Severus wasn't paying attention as they were called.
He looked up at the staff table, looking at the teachers. There were a few rather eccentric-looking teachers, but some looked sensible. He looked at the man who was sitting in the middle, obviously the headmaster. He had long, silver hair and a long silver beard. Severus could see his bright, twinkling blue eyes. They turned towards him, and suddenly Severus felt another wave of foreboding feelings.
Suddenly Lucius nudged him, and Severus turned towards him.
"Look at her!" he said. Severus looked over at the place where Lucius was staring.
It was a girl, with red hair and the most beautiful emerald green eyes. Severus tapped Lucius on the arm, and Lucius suddenly scowled again. They were not the only ones to take notice of her—farther down the line, James Potter was staring at her, his mouth open.
"Her name is Lily Evans," a boy beside them told them. "She's a real beauty, isn't she?"
Neither Lucius nor Severus answered him. After a few moments, the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" Lily was the first new Ravenclaw.
There were a few more names called, and then a boy with the last name "Goyle" was made the first new Slytherin. More names were called, most of them going to Hufflepuff. Suddenly Severus's attention was brought back to the sorting as the next name was called.
"Malfoy, Lucius." His blonde friend gave him a smile as he began to walk forward.
"Get Slytherin with me, Severus." Then he sat on the stool, and put the hat on his head. It had been there for little more than a second before shouting out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Severus grinned.
The next name was called, and soon Severus stopped paying attention again. But then the short, fat boy that had been with Potter and Black went to sit nervously on the stool.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled. He ran off still wearing the hat, and made it to the table before realizing that he had to give it back. He handed it to Potter with a smile.
He, too, was placed in Gryffindor. Severus knew he wasn't going to like anyone in that house.
Severus's name was one of the last to be called. But eventually, McGonagall called out, "Snape, Severus". He stepped forward and put the hat onto his head.
"Hm…." the hat said, his voice whispering in his ears. "What have we got here? A half-blood… Your mother was in Slytherin…"
With all his might, Severus thought "Slytherin. Slytherin. Slytherin." The hat chuckled softly.
"You would do well there… Plenty of ambition, and love for the Dark Arts… Yes, I think so… SLYTHERIN!" It yelled the house to the entire hall, and then Severus stepped off of the stool and lay down the hat.
He walked calmly over to the Slytherin table, and sat next to Lucius.
"Way to go!" congratulated Lucius. He was smiling, and Severus smiled back.
When the sorting ended, the headmaster stood up. "That's Albus Dumbledore," whispered a seventh year to no one in particular. "He's stark raving mad."
The blue-eyed man gave them a smile, and began to speak.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone! I wish to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is, of course, forbidden. There is to be no fighting in the corridors between classes, at the request of Mr. Filch," he said. "Now, I think we are all very hungry, so, tuck in!" Food suddenly appeared before them, and Severus blinked several times in surprise.
"Go on," said a fourth-year. "It's not poisonous."
Severus smiled. This was definitely a whole lot better than being home, with his father.
After the feast ended, Dumbledore said goodnight, and the prefects began to lead them to their house dormitories.
They went down with the Ravenclaws into the dungeons, and many of the Ravenclaws smiled at them as they walked toward their dormitories. Lily Evans was one of them.
They stopped before a part of the wall, and the girl prefect said, "Snakes." The wall vanished to reveal a door. They opened it, and entered the Slytherin common room.
There weren't any windows (not that Severus cared—he would've died of fright if they'd had to live in a tower), but there was a large fireplace, around which there were padded, high-backed chairs. There were several leather couches around the room, as well as wooden tables.
"Everyone, gather around," called the boy prefect. "My name is Andrew Nott. I'm a fifth year prefect."
"My name is Emily Carver. I'm a sixth year prefect."
Andrew began speaking again. "I want you all to know something: while we may not get along, we must always project an image of unity while out in the school. The moment we walk out that door, we are the closest of friends."
"We look after our own," Emily continued. "If you have a problem tell one of us. If you have any questions, ask one of us."
"Here's a helpful tip: if you get into a fight, and you're caught, say you fell down, or make up some other excuse. We will not be known as 'squealers'," said Andrew.
"Now that the introduction is over…" Emily smiled at them. "Welcome to Slytherin."