Chapter 2
"Lucy Angstrom," calls the new Deputy Head, with whom Lucius is apprenticing. Professor Capshaw took over as Ravenclaw Head of House after Flitwick retired, and is planning on retiring himself when Lucius achieves his Mastery. Becky hopes it will be the longest apprenticeship in the history of magic, because she does not want her prat of a brother assigning her homework.
"Gryffindor!" the Hat proclaims, and the Lions' table erupts in cheers and applause. Mum and Uncle Neville exchange a smile at the head table. Aunt Pansy and Daddy watch from the back of the hall with the other spouses and younger children of staff.
Several more Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws are Sorted, but still no Slytherins by the time Capshaw calls, "Augustus Longbottom."
Unlike most of the first years, Gus seems completely at ease as he crosses the hall and sits on the stool. And why shouldn't he? Hogwarts has been his home since birth, and he's watched every Sorting since he was old enough to remember, just as Becky has. Please let it be Hufflepuff, Becky thinks, though she knows it won't. It will be either Gryffindor or Slytherin. Everyone says so.
When the Hat cries, "Slytherin!" Aunt Pansy shoots Uncle Neville the kind of smug, insufferable look Lucius wore for nearly a week when he beat Mum's NEWT scores. She leans over and whispers something in Daddy's ear, and the two exchange the wickedest of grins.
"Cassiopeia Malfoy," says Capshaw, and every male eye under fourteen, and a few of them over, is riveted to the platinum-haired vision that floats toward the Sorting Hat. She perches delicately on the stool, and the Hat proclaims, "Slytherin!"
"Oi, Cass!" Gus shouts, waving her over to their table. Becky sighs. She knew there wasn't much chance of Cass Malfoy going anywhere but Slytherin, but it's still a blow. For about the ten thousandth time, Becky wonders how a man as wonderful as Uncle Lucius can have such a beastly cow for a granddaughter.
When the Deputy Head calls, "Rebecca Snape," Becky takes a last look at Severus and Pansy, and heads for the front of the hall.
Hmm, she hears. She can't actually hear it with her ears, but in her head. Slytherin father, Gryffindor mother, Ravenclaw brother. If I put you in Hufflepuff, where you so clearly belong, little Badger, your family will be the perfect balance of all the Houses. Most auspicious indeed.
But you won't if I don't want you to? Becky thinks.
You are your mother's daughter, aren't you? Actually, I thought both your parents would have been better off in Ravenclaw.
Becky is devious and cunning enough. She knows she is. She just has to convince the Hat. She thinks hard about the sneakiest thing she's ever done.
Oho, what's this? A Time Turner? Why you little…
Snake?
Actually, I was thinking it was rather bold, rather daring…
"Hatstall!" a voice shouts. Becky recognizes it as Arthur, George Weasley's youngest son. "Hatstall!" other voices join in chorusing.
Oh, gods, you're not going to put me in Gryffindor?
No, little Badger.
Becky slumps. Hufflepuff then.
You'd be happiest there, the Hat warns.
Please, please, please Sort me into my father's House.
The Hat falls silent, and the murmurs of Hatstall become so loud that when it finally does speak, the Hat has to shout to be heard over the din. "Slytherin!" it thunders. When Capshaw pulls the Hat from her head, Becky looks at her father, whom she expected to be smiling. Instead, he looks grim, and Becky has the sudden, sick feeling that she's just made a terrible mistake.
There are only three first year Slytherin girls. Cass Malfoy and Delilah DeWinter, who met only that day, immediately pair off, leaving Becky odd man out.
Becky and Cass have been thrown together all their lives, what with Mum and Daddy being Scorpius's godparents and Draco and Astoria being Lucius's godparents. Everyone just assumed the two girls would be friends, but as hard as Becky tried—especially for Uncle Lucius's sake—it just never happened. Somehow, in her desperation to follow Gus into the dungeons, she pushed aside the knowledge that it would mean rooming with that platinum-haired harpy for the next seven years.
Becky leaves Cass and her new BFF whispering and tittering behind the curtains of Delilah's four-poster bed and goes back to the common room. Gus is playing exploding snap with a group of other boys, both of the other first years, Zabini and the Russian boy with the unpronounceable name, and a few second years. They're absorbed in the game, so Becky drifts away, finding a place on one of the sofas near some second and third year girls. She knows all of them slightly, having lived at Hogwarts, and one of them well. Rose, the first Weasley Sorted into Slytherin in more than a century. Weasley or no, Rose is as cool and self-assured as the rest of the Slytherin girls, and though she gives Becky a smile, it's a You're an okay kid but don't think I'm going to stick my neck out for you kind of smile rather than a Don't worry, I'll show you the ropes kind of smile.
Becky goes back to her room and, ignoring the other girls, climbs into her bed and pulls the curtains shut. There's a small gray blanket lying on the bed with a note on top of it. She breaks the seal with the entwined double S and unfurls the scroll. It's addressed Dear Piglet, with Piglet crossed out and Rebecca written above it, and signed Love, Daddy, which is also crossed out and replaced with With fondest regards, Father. She looks at the throw, which is made of the same plush gray fabric as the toy she didn't dare bring lest the other girls see and make fun of her. When she touches it, it's soft but doesn't feel flat like a blanket. It's lumpy and has bits that shouldn't be there. She picks it up and runs her hands over it, and although it looks like her fingers are stroking flat fabric, what they feel are ears, muzzle, and a tail. Eeyore. Daddy must have Charmed him and had one of the elves bring him here. Casting a Muffliato, Becky collapses onto the bed, buries her face in the worn, familiar velveteen and lets the tears come.