"What was that all about?" Ron asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
Any other teenage boy would probably have been embarrassed to admit that his father had been worried about him, but having been deprived of that kind of loving parental concern for so much of his life, Harry had no problem in explaining to his friends as they made their way down to the Great Hall.
Once there they took their seats amid a cacophony of warm greetings and Harry instantly relaxed. Things had been fine at his party of course but he had still been worried that things might still be a little off between him and his housemates once they all returned to the school as a result of his newly discovered heritage as the son of their most hated Professor. The feeling of relief was short-lived however as the greetings quickly turned to questions about the incident on the train, Harry groaned – news travelled really fast here. Then just when he thought the embarrassment couldn't possibly get any worse, Pansy Parkinson called out to him from across the room in mock concern causing her entire table to erupt into laughter.
United as one, the Gryffindors glowered at them, but that didn't stop them cackling away to themselves like a pack of feral Hyenas, the sudden appearance of his father a moment later however did.
Severus swept onto the dais with a scowl, if only the students could comport themselves a little less boisterously his job would be so much more tolerable. He smiled slightly in the direction of his little Snakes as they noted his entrance and settled into a courteous hush but then he spotted Harry and belatedly realised their sudden silence was probably not a sign of respect after all, but a self-preserving reluctance to be caught tormenting his son.
Frowning again he took his seat, and then groaned inwardly as he realised he was seated beside the very man he had hoped to avoid; Remus Lupin.
"Hello Severus." His former classmate greeted him amiably.
"Remus." He spat back with as much civility as he could muster, taking note of the man's haggard appearance with great satisfaction before reluctantly thanking him for assisting Harry on the train.
"My pleasure," The shabby man replied beaming.
Severus glared. Part of him wanted to tell him to stay away from his son but how could he, he was Harry's teacher now and instead settled on remarking how fortunate Harry was that they had been travelling in the same compartment.
"I was asleep when Harry and his friends decided to join me in my compartment." His new colleague explained coolly, recognising the thinly veiled accusation.
"You're looking a little peaky alright! Severus acknowledged, "I could probably help with that…" Lupin looked up, eyes full of hope only to be crushed by what came next, "…. if I wanted to."
Severus smirked triumphantly, Snape one, Lupin zero, he thought to himself, when his new colleague surprised him by changing tack. "I had the pleasure of meeting Lily and Evan on the train too," he told him smiling.
That gave him pause, where was he going with this? Was it a threat? Or was he just making conversation?
"I was struck by how remarkably unlike you they are."
The timely appearance of the Headmaster saved him from having to dignify that comment with a response. Dumbledore greeted them warmly as he swept past, smiling dotingly at them, a look that Severus easily translated to mean play nicely boys, but not Lupin, who continued unabashed with his strike, "They obviously favour their mother!"
Severus cursed himself, why couldn't he have just been civil. He could manage it with the Dark Lord, why not Lupin? It would have been better to get him on side, he knew that. He might even have been able to answer a few questions for him but he just didn't trust him, couldn't trust him, no matter what and he was exceedingly annoyed with Albus for putting him in this position.
For all he was beholden to him though Lupin still hadn't finished; "Harry told me that you were 'sort of' married, I wasn't quite sure what that meant exactly though..."
Severus frowned, wondering what else had he tricked Harry into telling him before blankly explaining that he was separated.
Surprising him even more, Lupin seemed genuinely sorry to hear this. "You thought that would please me?" he asked sadly.
"Well doesn't it."
"No Severus." He replied with a sigh, "Look, I know things weren't great between us when I was here before, but that was a long time ago, couldn't we start again?"
Severus deliberated for a moment, before finally agreeing that he would consider it, but not until Sirius Black was back behind bars where he belonged.
Lupin began to protest that he hadn't had anything to do with Black for nigh on twelve years but was forced to quieten when Minerva finally bustled in with the first years.
About time Severus thought to himself as he eyes scanned the crowd for the twins, offering them a small nod of encouragement.
Harry was surprised by how small and nervous they all looked as they huddled together in front of the dais. This was the first sorting ceremony he would witness besides his own as he had missed out on last years after arriving late in Mr Weasley's flying car.
He spotted Lily and Evan in the huddle and gave them a little wave, just as the sorting hat began to speak, making them jump back in surprise. Harry chuckled, the song the hat sang this year was slightly different to the one he remembered from his own sorting, but its effect was just the same. Once it finished the hall erupted into a chorus of cheers, as each of the four houses vied to be the loudest, then as the noise finally died down Professor McGonagall called the first kid forward: Nicholas Avery.
Unsure of what was going to happen next and obviously half expecting some kind of assailant to leap out of nowhere Avery stepped forward cautiously and took the offered stool with an expression of grim determination.
As both Harry and Ron had correctly guessed from his name, the boy was placed in Slytherin and the next kid, a girl called Isabel Banks was called up. He was having a great laugh trying to predict where each student might be placed but still it seemed to take an eternity for her to reach the twins.
It was perhaps good that they were among the last students to be sorted though as the great hall unceremoniously filled with the deafening whispers of incredulous students the moment she reached Evan and they heard the name Snape,
"Snape, did she just say Snape?"
"You don't think he's related to Professor Snape do you?"
"He could be his son?"
"He doesn't look anything like him."
"Lucky for him!"
"Nice for Potter to have some other family I suppose."
"He doesn't look anything like him either…"
"What's the bet he will follow his Death Eater Father into Slytherin?"
Harry was furious, especially when he overheard the last and shot the whisperers a withering glare. Poor Evan was nervous enough without having to listen to that kind of nonsense and to make matters worse the stupid hat seemed to be taking forever to make up its mind.
Harry glanced up at his father, his face was set in its usual expressionless mask but he could tell from the rigid angle he held himself at that he was nervous too.
Eventually the hat made its decision, Ravenclaw, and the room slowly started clapping. They were surprised, everyone had obviously expected him to go to Slytherin because of his name, and Harry couldn't really blame them, he had made the same presumption with the Avery boy, but anyone who knew him at all knew Ravenclaw was a perfect fit and Harry was so happy for him.
Removing the hat he walked confidently over to the Ravenclaw table, and quickly greeted his new housemates before turning his attention back to Lily as she was called forward.
The whispers started up again, most of the students were unaware that their Potions master had any family other than Harry.
"Another Snape?"
"Are they twins?"
"Her, a Snape? She couldn't be…"
"Is she his daughter?"
"Well did you see Snape when the first one was sorted, he actually smiled!"
Trying to just ignore them Harry looked over at his brother and gave him a thumbs up, he knew how worried the boy was about being separated from the sister, he had spent almost every waking moment with since the day they were born but then he heard one of his own housemates, the infuriatingly arrogant Cormac McLaggen say something that made him see red; "I wonder what daddy dearest would think of someone dating his precious little daughter, might make him regret some of the unjustified detentions he gave eh, who's with me."
He had made it halfway across the table, fully intending to throttle him, as plates and goblets clattered to the floor before Ron and Seamus managed to pull him back down into his seat.
"Not in the Hall mate." Ron hissed bringing Harry back to his senses. The entire room was staring at him, including Lily who was still perched awkwardly on the stool at the front waiting for the hat to make its decision.
He mouthed an apology at her and sheepishly set about putting to table to rights.
A moment later she too was placed in Ravenclaw and beaming with happiness she skipped down to join her brother. Harry was overjoyed for them and though he didn't dare look up at his father after the disturbance he had just caused, knew he would be happy too.
There were just another three students to be sorted now, and Harry couldn't wait for the feast to actually begin but his heart dropped when the last student, another Ravenclaw by the name of Timothy Walsh took his seat and Professor McGonagall came striding towards him instead of heading for her own seat at the staff table.
"What in heavens name was that about Mr Potter Snape?" She asked crossly as she towered over them.
"It wasn't Harry's fault professor." Ginny jumped in defensively, "He was provoked."
"I don't doubt that Miss Weasley." She said, shooting a disappointed look at McLaggen, "but that is no excuse for such behaviour, fighting in the Great Hall in the middle of the sorting, could you believe it? Such an embarrassment! Five points will be taken from each of you and you will both come to speak to me before you leave the Hall, understood?
Harry nodded mournfully, muttering an apology as she continued to shake her head in disbelief but Cormac only scowled, obviously still believing he hadn't done anything wrong.
When his head of house finally did take her seat Professor Dumbledore stood up to formally introduce Professor Lupin as the new Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher and then to the amazement of the whole student body informed them that Hagrid would be taking over as the Care of Magical Creatures teacher.
Hagrid had been expelled before finishing Hogwarts himself after a young Voldemort framed him for the death of Moaning Myrtle but then it was discovered last year that Voldemort himself had been the one who opened the Chamber before and Hagrid had finally been able to clear his name and have his wand restored.
"I should have guessed when he gave me that book for my birthday!" Harry said to Hermione excitedly before Dumbledore called for them to settle themselves and continued with his announcements; a sharp warning about Sirius Black and the Dementors that would be placed around the grounds until his capture and the usual reminder of the school rules etc. until finally he wished them luck for the year ahead and with a click of his fingers made the food appear.
As Harry and his friends greedily filled their plates with a little taste of everything, the conversation turned to how incredible Harry's party had been and questions of how each had spent the remainder of their summer.
Harry was embarassed to keep talking about the pageantry of his birthday celebrations though and since he had already told them all about Cokeworth and the Seaside he didn't really have anything much to talk about, well nothing he felt comfortable talking about at least – he knew his classmates would be intrigued by the ups and downs of the confusing relationship their Potions Master had with his estranged wife and younger children but he wouldn't betray his father like that.
Nonetheless, he was interested in hearing about what the others had done, and listened intently until Lavender started going on and on about her new pet rabbit and he turned his attention instead to the Ravenclaw table.
The twins seemed to be settling in nicely, chatting animatedly to all around them as they joyfully indulged in the feast. Like his own year there were ten new Ravenclaws, five boys and five girls. He knew one of the boys; Chester Boot to be Terry Boots brother and he suspected William Clearwater to be related to the girl Percy Weasley was sort of dating but he didn't know anything about any of the girls. They all seemed friendly enough though so he didn't think Lily or Evan would have any difficulty making new friends.
When finally everyone had had their fill the prefects rose to escort the first years to their new houses with most of the older students following closely behind. The celebrations could continue more freely in their common rooms away from the supervision of the staff. Harry however would have to linger in the Hall until he had spoken to Professor McGonagall. Smiling apologetically to Ron who was eager to go Harry glanced up at the staff table and heaved a sigh. He couldn't possibly go and speak to her while his father was still there, It was unusual for him to hang around after dinner like this, usually he was one of the first to leave, but there he was sitting up between her and Professor Lupin wearing the face of a bulldog chewing a wasp. Was it him he was annoyed with, he wondered, or was it Lupin?
Harry turned again to see if McLaggen had left yet but he too was still there. Unlike Harry though his friends had abandoned him and he sat staring sullenly into his goblet as he swirled the contents round and round. He was clearly bored out of his mind but despite his tendency towards acting like a right idiot, even he knew better than to go anywhere near the potions professor after clearly having insulted his daughter.
Harry glanced up at the staff table once more, mentally willing his father to get up and leave and then to his utmost surprise he did.
He turned to Hermione astonished, was it possible that he might possess another innate magical power?
But then the sickening sound of footsteps brought him back to reality, his father wasn't leaving, he was actually heading right for him.
Harry groaned and sank down into the bench, willing his father to keep walking but to no effect. His father came to a stop directly across from him and he cleared his throat loudly forcing Harry to look up.
He smiled weakly at him as he grappled for something to say.
"Are you waiting for something?" his father asked darkly and to his surprise the boy said yes - McGonagall had told them not to leave until she had spoken to them again about the incident earlier.
He turned to look at his colleague and she nodded knowingly at him but continued her conversation with Lupin. Her friendliness towards him made Snape sick but then he should have remembered that he was always one of her little pets, him and his friends, the gallant little Gryffindors who everyone always found so admirable despite their impishness. "To commend you no doubt." He remarked frowning, still thinking of the marauders. "Professor McGonagall must encourage such displays after all considering how frequent an occurrence they are at this table.
"No sir, I can assure you she is quite furious." Harry retorted bravely but extremely mindful of his manners, as the others blinked at their Professor incredulously. The little lions were always quite loyal to their lioness but they knew better than to rise to his bait.
"Very well, since you are in her house I will leave her to discipline you as she sees fit, but know that if I ever witness you conducting yourself in such a deplorable manner in the Great Hall in front of everyone again you will be incredible sorry."
"Yes sir." His son replied solemnly but he could see from the gentle pull at the side of his mouth that he had understood – He should continue to defend his siblings as necessary, but he shouldn't allow himself to get caught.
"As for you McLaggen, you had better hope that I never find out what you said about my daughter. You will stay away from her or you will live, or not, to regret it. As inept as you and your friends are at brewing I would only have to turn my back on you for a minute or two for you to cause irreparable injury to yourselves though your own stupidity." He warned softly as he towered over him menacingly causing the boy to cower. Satisfied then that he had made his point, he turned on his heel and stalked off, his robes billowing sinisterly behind him until he disappeared through the doors with a bang.
Everyone still remaining in the hall was staring at them, sniggering, but for once Harry didn't mind. It was Cormac's fault anyways and he had certainly gotten retribution. The stupid idiot looked ready to wet himself and Harry could help grinning triumphantly.
Ron elbowed him in the side, McGonagall had been watching too of course and she was now coming towards them again with Professor Lupin in tow. Harry quickly schooled his face into a more acceptable expression but from the look she gave him he guessed she had most definitely noticed his earlier smirk.
She chastised them both again for their misconduct and assigned them detention with Professor Lupin after dinner the following evening, he needed help setting up his classroom apparently.
It was on the tip of Harrys tongue to protest, to inform her that his father wouldn't be happy with him being left alone in Lupin's company but he silenced himself. What better way to find out more about the new professor and what he had done to make his father detest him so much than to help him unpack his things and besides this was quite lenient of her really. She could have given them detention tonight, making him miss the start of term celebrations in the common room, but she hadn't. So he sat there nodding compliantly as she continued to lecture them on their transgression until finally she released them and he hurried off up to the tower with his friends before they missed out on something exciting.
