I have been reading Harry Potter fanfic for over 10 years... About time I write my own! Enjoy :)
Albus Dumbledore. Every annoying aspect of his life could be traced back to Albus bloody Dumbledore. Severus spent most of the afternoon pacing, dreading the start of the new term and an inevitable request- double potions lessons. As if he had the time to give double potions lessons to a new 7th year student. Who changes schools in their last year of magical education? Albus had mentioned that the new student was bright and wanted to pursue a career as an Auror, hence the lessons. But why would he need to give up his spare time for some brat he had never met? Scoffing, Severus stormed out of his chambers to the great hall, door slamming behind him.
"Alright, Severus?" Minerva asked, smirking at him. "You're never one to be excited for the start of term.."
"Fine." Severus snapped, placing himself between Minerva and Flitwick.. Her grin made him scowl in return. "Shouldn't you be grabbing the guppies?"
Before she could respond, the doors opened and the second through seventh years flooded through, taking their appropriate seats at their house tables. Severus gazed through the students to see if he spotted a new face, but nothing. "The new student must be with the first years to be sorted." Severus thought.
"Hagrid is bringing them for me this year." Minerva said. "Albus said that since he was bringing our new 7th year with him, he could make the journey alone this time."
Rosie was terrified. A new country, a new school, a new life... All in her last year. She choked back tears, wishing things were different. She missed her old life.
"Les go, Rosie." Hagrid bubbled. "The first years ar' likely waitin' fer us. Arrived no 15 minutes ago."
Grateful for the distraction, Rosie quickly followed after the giant from the train station. Rounding the corner, Rosie stopped, mouth gaping.
"HAGRID!" she breathed. "Is that... Is that Hogwarts?"
Chuckling, Hagrid clapped the girl on the back. "That it be. And now it is your home. Welcome to it, Rosie."
Rosie had to remind herself to breathe as the trekked up the paths to the castle. Her school in America had nothing on this beast! As the neared the front doors, she heard young voices on the other side. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Rosie attempted to calm herself. "It is going to be fine, it doesn't matter where you're going to be sorted." she told herself.
"Hagrid!" a young boy shouted. "Finally, you're here. Who's that?" he asked, focusing his eyes on Rosie.
"Hello there, . Nice to see yer there! Spittin' image of yer dad, ye are." Hagrid said. "This is Rosie, a new 7th year student. She also needs to be sorted.
"Cool." was the young boys simple response, shifting his eyes back to Rosie.
"Rosie Dumbledore" Minerva called.
Oh shit. Shit. Shit. SHIT. She screamed internally, forcing herself up the cold stone steps to the wooden chair. Rosie met Albus' eyes, catching his wink, before turning and sitting. Slowly, the hat was placed over her brown curls. She frowned in discomfort- it was a bit too- oh. The hat magically expanded to fit her head. For the first time through the sorting, Rosie smiled. Cool.
"A Dumbledore," the hat breathed within moments. "It's been nearly a century since I have been placed on such a head... Interesting, very interesting."
"What's interesting?" she couldn't help asking, trying to look up over the huge hat flaps.
"The mind. Your mind. Every Dumbledore's mind." the hat continued. "You possess one of the sharpest minds I have come across. You're witty, brave, loyal, and cunning... Difficult, very difficult."
"Please, not Gryffindor." she clenched her eyes shut. "Anything but Gryffindor."
"Not Gryffindor, eh? Are you sure... It is the house your ancestors call home."
"Yes, anything but Gryffindor." she repeated firmly.
"Well, if you're sure then... Better be..." The hat said slowly. "SLYTHERIN!"
The Great Hall went silent.
Severus nearly spit into his goblet. This new 7th year was a Dumbledore, and she was in his house? Glancing down the table towards the headmaster, Severus studied the old man. He had a polite smile on his face, clapping lightly for his kin. But he knew that look- this bothered him.
"Now that sorting has been taken care of, I have the great honor of wishing you all a magnificent new term. Study hard!" Albus called out across the hall, breaking the silence. One small clap, and the tables were covered in food.
Severus turned his attention back to the new student. She was tall, with light brownish-red curls that fell down to the middle of her back. She had Albus' piercing blue eyes, from what he could see. She seemed both shy and confident. Taking a sip from his goblet, he was glad that, if nothing else, he surely wouldn't be blown up in private potions lessons by a Dumbledore.
Rosie sat at the opposite end of the Slytherin table as the first years. A few 7th years shoved a few of the younger kids down to make room for her. Biting back a remark, Rosie took her place. Glancing around, she noticed their eyes boring holes into hers. "Hello," she stiffly. "Could you pass the chicken, please?"
The blonde girl across from her snapped out of her staring spell, quickly handing the chicken over. "I am Gwendolyn Nott." she offered. "Call me Gwen."
"And I am Elizabeth Pretty," another girl chimed in, smiling softly.
"Thomas Malfoy," grumbled another.
The rest just nodded their heads at her, seemingly accepting her presence in their circle.
"So, you're a Dumbledore." Gwen asked. "What's the relation?"
"Yup." she answered, mouth full of chicken. "Albus is my uncle."
"So you're..." Elizabeth asked, eyes narrowing. "A half-blood?"
Rosie immediately dropped her chicken, causing her plate to clink loudly, drawing the attention of several others down the table. "I am a pureblood, not that it is any of your business, Pretty. My mother was a Black."
"Ah, so there's the Slytherin heritage." a boy grinned. "We must be cousins somehow. Nice to meet ya. My name is Rasmus Black."
"Nice to meet you, Rasmus," she smiled, extending her hand and placing her attention anywhere else but on Pretty.
"What brings you to Hogwarts in your last year?" he asked.
Growing quiet, she looked at her plate quickly, blinking tears back. Get it together, Rosie. "My father passed when I was a baby. My mum was just recently killed in a potions accident," she whispered, her blue eyes meeting Rasmus' black ones. "So Uncle Albus took me in."
"I am sorry to hear that." he said sincerely.
Rosie nodded her thanks, turning back to her plate in silence. She missed her mum. If she closed her eyes and thought about it enough, she could smell her earthy scent. She always smelled like a mixture of potions ingredients and flowers. So lost in thought, Rosie barely heard her uncle dismiss them for bed.
Please let me know your thoughts! I am excited to get to work on this. :)
