Chapter 3
Severus tried to keep close to James and Black, who were nonchalantly strolling through the enormous castle as if it were no less strange than a path in the woods. Severus and Remus were awestruck at everything. The sheer size, for one thing. The roof over there heads stretched many feet above the wondering 11- year old's head. And then were those wonders that could only be classified as- well, magical. The portraits on the wall, they were moving. He watched one fat old man ponder unhurriedly from one painting to the other to converse with a wild looking woman wearing an extremely large feather in her bonnet. Severus gave a small smile. He could like it here.
The women who lead them turned around and said to them all in a voice that brooked no nonsense, "We are now about to enter the Great Hall for the Sorting. I will call you up by name. Approach the stool and put the Hat on you head. Any questions?"
Severus did not see how her explanation led to any questions whatsoever, and said as much to Remus. The other boy smiled, and Severus wondered, not for the first time, why the other boy looked so down.
All thoughts of Remus were struck from Severus' mind when he entered the Great Hall. The ceiling was doing a funny trick, sure, but he had other things on his mind. So many people…, he thought as he swayed sickly and worked his hardest not to pass out. He knew he was being illogical and freaking out, but he became convinced that his father was hiding in this massive crowd, and when he went to bad that night, his father would be there…
The world swayed as Severus hit the ground in an undignified heap.
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The world certainly took it's time coming back into focus. At first all he could see were peach things who murmured in low whispers. Then they coalesced into different face. It was Remus and Sirius. He also realized he was in a bed, in what he recognized as an Infirmary. He was very thirsty, so he meant to ask for a drink of water, but all that came out was a caw. They both turned to him.
"Severus, you ok? You took a nasty crack off the floor." Said Remus, with a worried tone.
"Yeah, I feel ok… wait, did I miss the Sorting?" Said Severus in near-panic. A horrible image rose unbidden to his mind: him sitting alone on a small table in the Great Hall, separated from all the other students, houseless. Alone.
Sirius glanced at the clock on the wall. "Yeah, you were out for a few hours. They'll probably do your Sorting now, now that they know you're up.
Severus was relieved, and was about to say so when a women entered the room from a little office, and Severus saw, or thought he saw, a quill writing all by itself.
"Ah, good, you're awake. How are you feeling?," asked the women, who was wearing a sort of nurses outfit, if you can get that feeling from robes.
"I feel fine. I'm sorry for causing trouble…" Said Severus, feeling guilty of having other people bother with his problems.
"No problem at all, dear. You aren't the first one to get a little nervous at their Sorting. I remember my own, thought I'd melt right into the floor. If you're up, you can get out of that bed. A simple fainting, you don't need more than a couple hour's bed rest." She said, all in one breath, it seemed. As Severus was getting out of the over-large bed, he asked Sirius, "What are you guys doing here? I'm sure you have better things to do than watch me sleep."
Sirius shrugged. "Not really. It's the first night, no homework to pretend to do, right?"
Severus nodded, and then a thought struck his mind. "What House are you two in?"
Remus answered for both of them. "Me, James, and Sirius are all in Gryffindor." Seeing the look on Severus' face, he was quick to add, "I'm sure you'll be in there as well."
Sirius nodded in agreement, as a voice spoke to them from the doorway. "If we are curious to that fact, we can attend to that matter right away."
Severus looked, and saw the oldest man he had ever seen in his life. He had moon shaped glasses, and the longest beard Severus had ever seen. He looked like a picture of that old wizard, Merlin.
"As you were not present for my opening speech, let me introduce myself. I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of the school. If you would accompany to my office, we can attend to your Sorting," said the headmaster. "Mr. Lupin, Mr. Black, you may work your way back to you Common Room. Remember, if you get hopelessly lost, just ask a portrait. They should point you in the right direction, if you ask them politely."
Remus and Sirius left, looking excited at the chance to get hopelessly lost. The headmaster turned to the nurse and asked, "Just a spot of nerves, then, Poppy?"
"Yes, Albus, no other signs of reactions." said the nurse.
"Well, that's fine. Come along, Mr. Snape. I think we'll have an easier time of it than your friends, although who can say? Even I do not know all of Hogwarts secrets." said the headmaster, as he and Severus walked out of the door.
In the halls, Severus was more used to the sight of the moving portraits. They walked what seemed to Severus miles and miles, and his eyelids were starting to droop. He began to miss the bed he just left. Finally, they reached a stone gargoyle that the headmaster stopped at. Severus nearly ran away when the thing spoke.
"Password?," it said.
"Funions," said the headmaster cheerfully.
The gargoyle sprang out of the way, revealing a stairway. Severus stared at the headmaster. "Excuse me, sir, how do you know about Funions?"
"I have a fondness for Muggle food, Mr. Snape. I must admit, it is an eccentricity that few in the Wizarding world understand." said the headmaster, who began to climb the stairs. Severus followed.
At the top of the stairs stood an open door, and what Severus could only assume was the headmaster's office. A rather large desk predominated the room, but there was many other interesting things to look at in this office. A magnificent bird with bright red plumage squawked at him from it's cage. A battered old hat sat on a three legged stool. Dumbledore went over to this hat and picked it up.
"Do you know how the Sorting works, Mr. Snape?" Severus shook his head. He had no idea how any of it worked. "Well, you are going to place the Sorting hat on your head, and it will tell what house you are to be in. Simple, yes?"
Severus had to agree. The Headmaster gestured to the stool, and Severus took his seat. As Dumbledore set the hat upon his head, he heard him mumble to the hat, "No need to shout, remember. It's just me."
After a couple seconds, he heard a voice inside his head. Ah, our little fainter, is it? Not to worry, not to worry. Let's see what we have in here… hmmm, oh ho, someone is going to prove themselves, eh? Not a bad mind, but not enough for Ravenclaw… Hufflepuff is all wrong for you too, my lad. So, that leaves Slytherin and Gryffindor, but which one will it be?
Severus grasped the chair and thought, My new friends, they are in Gryffindor. Please, let me go there! The hat didn't say anything for a few seconds, and Severus got the uncomfortable feeling that it was scanning his mind still. Then, it simply said, Gryffindor it is, then. The hat must have said it out loud, Because Headmaster Dumbledore was taking the hat off his head. He said, "well, now that that's sorted out, time for bed! You'll have a very busy day tomorrow, I'm sure. Dumbledore then took out his wand and pointed it at a teakettle, which began to boil. And since Dumbledore was the first teacher he had time to talk to, he brought up the one subject that was really bothering him.
"Headmaster, I don't have a wand. Are we going to be using them much for a bit, until my mother is able to save up enough to buy one for me?"
The headmaster looked down on him and smiled. He seemed to do that a lot, Severus noticed. "Not to worry, Mr. Snape. The school has a fund for those in your situation, and over the weekend, we shall arrange a trip to Diagon Alley to get your wand. I assume you don't have any other supplies?" He didn't say it cruelly. He seemed honestly interested. Severus shook his head no.
"Not to worry, my boy. You're not the first to need this kind of help, and certainly wont be the last. Any other matters, Mr. Snape?" Severus shook his head again. "Then let us get you to the Gryffindor Common Room." As Severus and the Headmaster went through the school again, Severus was thinking. He was happy that he would know some people in his house already, and was greatly relieved that the school would cover his supplies. He had thought that the best he could hope for was some kind of indentured servitude to pay for his books and things, but the thought of getting a wand was exciting. He also thought about what the Headmaster said, not the first. The nurse had also said something along these lines. It was comforting to know that he wasn't doing anything that hadn't been done before.
They reached a portrait of an enormous lady in a pink dress, who curtsied when she saw the Headmaster. "Password, Headmaster?"
The Headmaster smiled. "Fezziweg."
The portrait hole swung inward. The headmaster said, by way of explanation, "This is your Common Room. If you don't have classes, it is place to relax and study. You will be able to gain your bedroom through the Common Room, the stairs on the right. Ask your Prefect, he should be able to show you were your room is. Good night, Mr. Snape."
The Headmaster walked back down the hallway, humming a tune. Severus took a deep breath, and climbed up into the Common Room.
The Common Room was comfortable. There were large couches and desks scattered everywhere, a fireplace with a warm fire, and pillows randomly thrown everywhere. He took a few steps into the room, when a raucous voice called out to him. "Oi, first year, what are you doing out of bed!" A tall boy with red hair was making his way towards him. He had a bright, shiny badge on the front of his robes with a "P" on it. The girl he was talking to chided him, calling out, "Now, Arthur, play nice. He probably got lost, poor little thing."
Arthur the Prefect looked at him, and said, "Oh. You Snape?" Snape nodded, and said, "Headmaster Dumbledore said you could tell me where my room was?"
Arthur The Prefect laughed. "Hell, kid, don't tell me what Prof. Dumbledore said. I know where your room is, follow me. He walked up to the stairs, stopping to give the girl he was talking to a kiss. "Was that nice enough, Molly my dear?"
The girl whipped back, "As nice as I'll get from you, Arthur Weasley." The people around her laughed appreciatively, as Arthur turned away in mock defeat. They went up the stairs, and Severus started to cry. Partly because he was really tired, and partly because he had never been friends with anyone like that. They kept going up, until Arthur the Prefect turned, started to say, "Here's your ro-". Then he saw Severus' face. "Aw, hell, kid, don't worry about it. You'll get used to it in a couple days, ok?" Severus nodded. "all right, kid. Listen, you want to talk about it, just find me. It's my job, ok?" Severus nodded again. Arthur clapped him on the shoulder and went back down the stairs. Severus opened the door, and was immediately struck by three pillows. The barely concealed laughing gave them away as Sirius, James, and Remus, and Severus picked up one of the pillows and discreetly wiped the tears off his face as he picked up one the pillows and looked for his roommates.