Author's Notes: I have no excuse for this, except my laziness. I will definitely be more active this school year though. This is what I do instead of homework.

Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed. It was really cool to get 5 reviews for one chapter. Thus, I have a little surprise. Guess what it is? MUHAHAHA! Another three weeks with out a new chapter! Just kidding. It's me, actually writing a four-page chapter! . Enjoy my little twist. And before anyone asks, Samantha is not going to help Harry Potter defeat Lord Voldemort. (I'm going to try to make this his second year at Hogwarts.)

Here we go…

Chapter 4

"Another young one…" The small voice that came from the Sorting Hat spoke brightly to Samantha. Her grip grew tighter as it slowly dug through her mind. "You do have a great mind, little Snape. You could do great in Ravenclaw, you know. "

No! Samantha thought desperately, her hands white and stiff. The Sorting Hat continued to speak to her, "No? You wouldn't do well in Hufflepuff, child, no worries there, eh? What about Gryffindor? It would suit you well."

Her eyes grew wide and she shook her head furiously. The Sorting Hat made a strange noise, oddly like a chuckle.

"How would you like Slytherin, child?" The Sorting Hat seemed to coax Samantha gently, "You would like it very much, wouldn't you? Well then. I've decided to put you in…"

It stopped there, as Samantha froze, her moth wide open in shock as the voice ran out through the Great Hall.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

She gave a small twitch as her heart skipped a beat. She ripped off the hat, wanting to scream out 'Traitor!' to it. Samantha's feet slowly dragged her to a table. Her eyes were shut tightly as her legs turned to jelly.

How come… how come we had to do this here, in front of everyone else? This is so embarrassing, Samantha's face flushed a rosy pink as she sullenly sat down by the only people she knew at the table. She hardly noticed the lack of clapping from her new house as she looked up into Mia's familiar face. Samantha stared intently at the plate in front of her, wishing for the next person to be called.

Even Professor McGonagall seemed to be shaken up, though on her face she smiled proudly, her smug grin being sent towards Professor Snape. Clearing her throat, her green eyes scanned the sheet.

"Tamings, Marisa."

The sorting continued, though Samantha could cense the pairs of eyes that were glaring at her backside.

"Weasley, Ginevra."

Her hand slipped towards a spoon, grasping it firmly. Her pale hand grew whiter and her grip got stronger when the final name was called. Samantha dared herself to take a quick look at the High Table.

Looking up, she could see older people. A large, humble lady was sitting by the end of the table, along with a huge, tall man whom she had seen earlier. Next she could she a blond haired man, who was waving a comb wildly about, whacking the stern woman who had been calling out names for the sorting. She snatched the comb away from him, glaring, while she snapped it and placed it in his hands.

I wonder who that is? Maybe I should ask if I might change houses. Samantha thought as the old man in the middle of the table stood up. I didn't even get to look at, here she gulped, Father.

"Welcome!" His voice boomed out to them. "My young pupils! Welcome to a grand new year here at Hogwarts! I wish all of you to have a merry feast! And now! Tweeds! Pumpkins! Lemonade!"

He sat down quietly as the many staff and students looked up at him with questioning glances.

"Thank you!" He shouted out the last bit and the entire hall (minus a few Slytherins and a small Gryffindor girl) burst into applause.

Samantha looked back at Mia, who shrugged.

"What can we say? A brilliant mind like that deserves no less," Mia told her, "Would you pass the butter?"

Samantha looked down in surprise. Her hand fell to the table in shock, falling in the butter dish.

"Well then. Never mind." Mia turned away to yell at a sandy-haired boy down the table who was munching on a large leg of chicken. "Hey, Seamus! Pass the butter!"

Her eyes took everything in at once, Samantha's arms reaching out for things quickly. The scent of fresh bread tore her thoughts off of Severus Snape and she lunged for a basket of honey-covered bread. Munching on the smallest piece in there (which, surprisingly enough, wasn't that small.) she smiled broadly at Marissa who had a napkin attached to her robes in the front and was bonking Seamus on the head with a chicken leg for putting his elbow on the table.

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Samantha listened to the old man again as he spoke of something called the 'Forbidden Forest' and small list of things not allowed at school. His final words were, "Quickly now! Off to bed! Can't be late on the first day of school, now can you?"

She gave a small laugh, hiccupping quietly to herself. A tall boy stood up and called loudly, "First years, come with me!"

Standing up quickly with the rest of the kids that were sorted with her, she walked to him, forgetting to pick up a long green ribbon she had dropped on the wooden seat when talking with Mia about Hogwarts. He led them into another huge room with staircases everywhere and the group trotted up them, making a loud amount of noise.

Samantha ignored the portraits, which were yelling at them to be quiet and to let them have their 'Bloody sleep!' as one of them had yelled at her. The prefect stood at the top of the eighth staircase, waiting for the slow first years. Dragging her feet up the final stair, she got sight of a huge portrait of a lady in pink, bigger than the portraits where all the staircases where.

"Password?" She asked him, her hand moving towards her head to smooth her hair down.

The prefect's voice was loud and clear as he told her, "Wattlebird."

The lady's portrait swung forward, and a round, hidden hole revealed itself. Samantha waited for the rest to get through then scrambled in herself. Looking around in even more amazement then down at the Great Hall, she spotted the blazing fire first. Her mind worked around the circular room as she watched the older students talking and laughing on couches and a few sitting at tables. One was even using their quill. What ever it was, Samantha couldn't see because the prefect had told all the girls to go up a spiral staircase, giving gentle pushes to the slower ones.

Looking around at where the staircase had led them, she found herself in a smaller room with five beds and a heater. The beds looked cozy and comforting to her as she searched for her trunk around the room. Finding her trunk and bed by a window, she quickly pulled out her pajamas. Undressing out of her robes, she looked outside where the clouds were covering up the full moon. Her heart sank as she could see the small drops of water pelt to the ground.

Just like Father's trust in me to be placed in Slytherin, Samantha thought, slipping into her old, but newly ironed pajamas. She could hear soft snores coming from her left and whispering from the two beds closest to the door. Crossing her fingers tightly, she muttered a small prayer so quiet no one but she could hear.

"Oh, who ever is out there listening, please help me tomorrow when Father comes for me. Please, oh please, oh please, oh please!"

With that, she gave a soft sigh and turned around, her face stuffed inside the pillow. Her emotionless face slowly gave away as she silently drifted off into an uneasy slumber.

I heart reviews!

-Lily