My Parent's Mistake

Chapter 25 - The Sorting Hat

1st January 2004

How have I got a 5 year old? A bright, beautiful and bouncing five year old.

It seems only yesterday I welcomed Aubrey into the world and she has changed my world beyond belief. I still stare at her at night when she's tucked up beside me in my bed and wonder how I made such a beautiful little girl.

She is the perfect mixture of her parents. She has his eyes, his dark mysterious, beautiful eyes and although I wished she'd had his hair – sleek and straight, again she has the perfect mix – my curls but his sleekness that makes them perfect curls with no frizz. She's a lucky girl – she has the best of both of us.

I always think of Severus on Aubrey's birthdays. I wonder where he is now. I haven't heard much about him in the five years since he left Hogwarts. Ron and Harry may know something but they don't tell me and I don't want to know at the moment; it still feels like yesterday he told me to leave.

I always wonder what our lives would have been like if I had told him, If I had blurted out my secret when he told me to leave but I can't dwell on that now I have to concentrate on Aubrey.

She wanted a princess castle for her birthday and of course the birthday girl gets what she wants. Harry and Ron have spent all of last night building and charming the princess castle we brought her. Molly and Arthur brought her dress up clothes and a few dolls to go with and Ginny brought Aubrey more new clothes. She is truly spoilt by her family.

After a party at Harry's home Aubrey is tucked up beside me as I write this. Her dark curls fan the pillow and she's clutching her new doll. The picture of perfection, my daughter...

You may ready this one day, I'm not sure. I suppose if something was to ever happen to me you would read this. If you do, I want you to know how much I love and adore you my baby girl. You are my everything and I treasure every second with you. I love you my darling girl, love mummy. xxx

Aubrey walked out of bedroom dressed in a simple grey dress with her black formal robe around her. She didn't know what one wore to see the sorting hat but she imagined as all her family and Draco were attending it would be more of a formal event.

'Good Morning.' Her father said stood at the fireplace looking pensive.

'Morning.' Aubrey replied hoping her father did not pick up on her nervous tone.

'Nervous?' He asked which made Aubrey swear inside. She'd definitely not hidden it well.

'A bit.' She replied as she sat down in her father's favourite arm chair.

'You have nothing to be nervous about.' He replied looking at his beautiful daughter.

'What if I'm a Gryffindor?' She asked as she looked down.

'What do you mean? What if?' He asked. 'I don't care what house you're in Aubrey, nothing chances because of what house your sorted in to.'

'But what if I'm not in your house?' She asked as she looked up at him timidly. 'What if I'm a Snape who isn't Slytherin?'

'Then there will be a Gryffinfor Snape. Your mother was a Gryffindor, you've been brought up by Gryffindor's and I expect you will be one. I loved...I love a Gryffindor and I'd love another.' He said as he smiled at his daughter.

'I love you too Dad.' She said as she smiled up at him.

Aubrey and Severus entered the Headmistresses office to find Harry, Ginny and Ron stood around the headmistress talking.

'Good Morning Severus, Aubrey.' The headmistress said as she greeted them.

'Good Morning Minerva.' Severus said as he nodded towards the Potter's and Ronald.

'Do we wish to start straight away?' Minerva asked as she looked between Harry and Severus.

'Not yet.' Aubrey spoke up. 'Draco should be here any second.'

'Mr Malfoy?' Minerva asked as she arched her eyebrow.

Aubrey nodded and looked towards the doors of the office.

'I'm sure he'll be here.' Ginny said coming to hug Aubrey.

'He will.' She said as she hugged her God-mother.

Five minutes later, Draco burst into the office red and sweaty from running down the halls of the school.

'Sorry I'm late.' He said between trying to catch his voice.

'If you were still a student Mr Malfoy, I'd be taking point from your house.' The Headmistress scolded the young man.

'My apologies Headmistress.' He said nodding his head.

'Right, now Mr Malfoy is here, let's get on with it then.' Minerva said as she picked up the sorting hat. 'Take a seat Miss Granger.'

'Granger-Snape.' Aubrey replied as she sat down in the wooden chair which was placed in the middle of the room.

Minerva placed the sorting hat upon Aubrey's head and stood back as the sorting hat began its magic.

'Hmm, difficult. VERY difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. A talented and bright mind. There's talent, oh yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you? A Gryffindor Mother...A Slytherin Father...The Head of Slytherin...Brought up my Gryffindors...Such courage, bravery but such ambition, such leadership and maturity. ' The hat muttered.

Harry, Ron and Ginny stared at their young neice. Ginny grasped the hand of her husband and her brother. She felt such proudness of Aubrey and felt tears building up in her eyes.

'A brave heart, a broken heart, a heart that has experienced loss...SUCH LOSS. Where do you want to be little one? Do you even know?' The hat questioned.

Severus and Draco looked at one another. Had the hat ever taken this long to decide upon a house they both thought to themselves.

'I know...'

What do you think? Slytherin? Gryffindor? Ravenclaw? Hufflepuff?

Thank you.