Severus Snape's POV
This past year has been extremely hard on the Slytherin house. My students have been bullied and harassed for being Slytherins by every other house. Ever since the idea of the Dark Lord being back, all the other houses have been extremely prejudiced towards my students. All of these thoughts were going through my head as I was telling Albus how my students were being treated, which of course he tried to act like he cared.
"Albus, my students are being targeted and your obvious favoritism of Gryffindor is not helping the matter. I understand that a certain amount of prejudice will always exist against my house seeing as Voldemort himself was a Slytherin; however, Merlin was also a Slytherin, and he was a magnificently talented wizard. Even though most refuse to admit it, there have also been a fair share of dark wizards in Gryffindor house as well."
"Severus, I think I know how to remedy this problem you are having. We will just have every student be resorted by the sorting hat."
"How is that going to solve anything?"
"You will see, Severus, just trust me."
Scarlett Potter's POV
After everything that has happened this summer and this past year, I am overjoyed to be heading back to Hogwarts with my friends. Despite having practically no contact with any of our friends, Harry and I were overjoyed to finally see them once the Order came to get us from the Dursleys' after Harry's incident with the dementor. We were both ecstatic to see our friends and Sirius. Dumbledore has been avoiding Harry the entire time we have been at Grimmauld Place; however, he has been taking a specific interest in me which I think Harry has been a little jealous of. I find it a bit odd that Dumbledore has been taking an interest in me instead of Harry. He has always favored Harry more than me and him ignoring Harry like this while taking an interest in me has me worried. Harry is the Boy Who Lived, and I am the Girl Who Lived, but it seems that Voldemort has always been more interested and set on Harry than me. It has me worried about what is to come seeing that Dumbledore is taking an interest in me.
"Scar! Let's go, we are going to be late!" Harry yelled from the bottom of the stairs of Grimmauld Place.
"Coming! I'm coming!" I yelled back down the stairs, as I grabbed my trunk and my barn owl Freya and hurried down the stairs. Once I got down to the kitchen where everyone was, I saw Sirius standing there watching all of us hurry around.
"Hey kiddo" He said as I walked towards him. Sirius and I have always had a special bond ever since we met. Sirius was the first adult to make me feel like I was loved and appreciated. He was the first adult in my entire life that I felt listened to me and heard me, not just listened to Harry, and ignored me.
"Hey, Siri" Once I got over to him, he grabbed me into a hug that I gladly leaned into. "I'm going to miss you this term." I whispered as I squeezed him.
"Come talk to me really quick…" He smiled and we walked over to a quiet area of the large house. "How are you doing kid? We haven't really had a chance to talk since you got here."
"I think I'm doing okay. It's kind of worrying me that Dumbledore has been spending a good amount of time with me and talking with me. He's never had much of an interest in me and it's weird to me that he is suddenly interested in me and what I think and how I feel."
"Scarlett, I want you to listen to me, okay? I want you to know that no matter what happens this year you are still the same person. Nothing that happens this year is going to change who you are inside. Okay? This year is probably going to be a little different and things are going to change, but you are still you. There is a war coming and you and Harry are going to be stuck in the middle of it no matter how much Remus and I try to change that. I want you to know that I know, and I love you no matter what."
"Sirius, where is this coming from?" I asked, slightly concerned.
He sighed, looked up, and took a little bit to respond. "I just want you to know that Remus and I care for you and want what's best for you. I know everyone tells you how much you look like your mother and how you are so much like your father, but in my opinion, you act much more like your Godfather. A little rebellious, the underappreciated sibling, and a thirst to prove yourself. I want you to know that you can count on me to be there for you." He grabbed me in a hug and squeezed me tightly.
"Thank you, Sirius."
"Children! Come on now you are going to be late and miss the train if we wait any longer!" Molly yelled from the kitchen.
"Come now, let's get moving before Molly hexes us both." Sirius laughed as we both got up to hurry into the kitchen.
"Alright children, are you ready? Let's get going!" Molly shouted as we all waited by the Floo, getting ready to use it to get to the platform. Once we all got to Platform 9¾ Ron, Harry, Hermione, and I all headed onto the train to find a compartment, after we found one and all sat down, we all started talking about what we think this year will be like.
"Scar, what did Sirius and you talk about this morning?" Harry asked me.
"Oh, he just asked me how I was doing and then said that no matter what happens this year that I am still me. Whatever that means. I think that the adults in our lives know more about what will happen this year than they are letting on."
"What do you think will happen this year? With Voldemort being back and everything?" Ron asked.
"I have absolutely no idea, but I know we are going to find out soon enough." I answered
As more time passed into the trip, we chatted, snacked, joked, until we finally arrived at Hogwarts. The four of us headed to where we met the carriage to take us up to the castle. It only took a few minutes before we were inside the castle, but before we got to go inside the Great Hall the Heads of each house pulled all the students aside. Professor McGonagall took all the Gryffindors into an empty classroom and had us either sit or stand.
"Children, something will be happening tonight, and it's only happened one time before in the history of this school. Tonight, after the first years are sorted all the students, starting with the second years all the way down to the 7th years will be brought under the sorting hat again to reevaluate your house placement. Now the sorting hat will probably tell you that you belong in the same house; however, in the event that the sorting hat decides you would be a better fit in a different house you will be moved there. If this happens there is nothing you nor I can say or do to stop it. If a student gets resorted into our house, you are to treat them with the respect that you treat each of your friends with. Is that clear? Now everyone go into the Great Hall and be prepared."
"What the bloody hell?" Ron exclaimed as the four of us walked to the Great Hall
"There is no way any of us will be resorted into a new house… right?" Hermione asked us
"No, we will all still be Gryffindors at the end of the night." Harry assured her as we continued into the Great Hall. We all were sitting down waiting for the first years to come in for the sorting ceremony. It only took a couple of seconds before they came in looking up to the ceiling in awe.
"Aren't they so adorable? So innocent?" I asked
Once they got to the front and all of them were sorted into their respective houses. Dumbledore then started to read off all of the second years, then third years, then fourth years, and then he finally got to us, the fifth years. Not a single person he had called forward had been resorted into a different house. I had been zoned out until I felt Harry get up from beside me to go up to the front of the hall. It was only a couple of seconds before the hat called out a loud Gryffindor and Harry was walking back towards us smiling proudly.
"Scarlett Potter!" Dumbledore yelled out over the crowd. I stood up and walked towards the front of the hall and to the Sorting Hat. I sat down on the stool expecting the hat to take a quick look and almost immediately place me into Gryffindor once more. What I did not expect was the hat to start speaking like it did when I was 11.
"Scarlett Potter… I never thought I would ever be able to look into your mind again. You have such great bravery in your heart and mind. You are such a good fit for Gryffindor, but there is something else… Yes… There is a thirst to prove yourself… A wish to differentiate yourself from your brother, you know I see that you push that so far down in your mind and heart. Trying to be different is not always a bad thing Miss Potter. Yes... yes... It's all here in your mind, it all fits, everything is right here… yes… yes… Gryffindor was a good start for you, but you need something challenging, something that will help you grow… Yes... Yes... better be… SLYTHERIN!"
I sat there in shock, in absolute dismay. This can not be happening. This can not be real. I am not being resorted into Slytherin. I couldn't move until Professor McGonagall pressed her hand onto my shoulder and motioned me towards the Slytherin table. I looked out towards my friends at the Gryffindor table to see the shock on most of their faces and disgust on some of their faces. I slowly got up off the stool and slowly headed over to the Slytherin table. I sat down at a seat that was separated from almost everyone. Everyone else went under the hat and not a single person was resorted into a new house, no one except me. Once the resorting was done Dumbledore introduced the new Defense professor who was a ministry official dressed in all pink from head to toe. After he finished speaking the feast began but I wasn't very hungry so the food that I did put onto my plate just ended up being pushed around on my plate. It felt like an eternity before Dumbledore released us to go to our dorms, but I honestly was still in shock from being forced into a new house, so I stayed sitting at the table until most of the students had left. Once there weren't many people left in the hall, I noticed Snape walking towards where I was sitting from the entrance of the Great Hall.
"Miss Scarlett, care to have a talk with me in my office?"
I just nodded and followed him down into the dungeons and straight to his office. We both sat down and immediately there was a cup of lavender tea sitting in front of me. Snape motioned for me to take the cup of tea, so I did and began sipping on it while he started speaking. "Scarlett, I know you must be very confused as to what has happened to you, and I wish I could give you an answer. However, now that you are a part of it, I want to let you in on a couple little secrets about Slytherin house. Is that okay?" I nodded and he continued "Slytherins get a bad reputation around Hogwarts, but as Slytherins we look out for our own, that is the biggest rule of Slytherin house. Before everyone went into the Great Hall all of the Heads had a few moments to have a conversation with the students in our houses and all of my students were informed that under strict orders that if there happened to be a student that was resorted into Slytherin that they were to treat them like family. Your new roommates - Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, and Millicent Bullstrode - were already informed that you would be moving into their dorm and were also reminded that you are a snake and to be treated like they treat any other snake. Now do you have any questions at this time?" Snape asked calmly.
"Sir, will I have to go back and get my stuff?" I asked, finally feeling I had enough tea to speak.
"No, your trunk is already in your room along with a few small things. Your owl has been sent to the owlery and your broomstick is right beside you and will be sent to the Slytherin quidditch changing rooms."
"Quidditch?" I asked, slightly excited.
"We can talk more about quidditch tomorrow, but yes I know you have talent, and we definitely could use the talent." Snape said with a grin. "Now I have a little bit of work to do, but I am going to have someone walk you to the common room and show you around a little bit, okay?"
I nodded as we both got up and we walked over to the door of his office. As the office door swung open and we both walked out the door, I noticed a tall blonde Slytherin across the corridor leaning against the wall. Before tonight the only time Malfoy and I even spoke to each other it was to yell and fight with each other. Now we are housemates and are to treat each other like family.
"Draco, thank you for waiting. Now I trust you will show Scarlett to the Slytherin common room and get her settled in."
"Of course, Professor. Let's start heading that way." Malfoy said and gently motioned to the way we would start heading. We walked in silence before I finally had the courage to speak.
"How do I know this isn't some very strange dream or daydream?" I said, only slightly joking.
"No one would want this to happen to them. Getting pulled from their best friends and family to be put into a house that has a reputation of being evil." He said as his glance moved from straight in front of him to look at me. It was only a few more moments of walking before we were right in front of the door to the Slytherin common room. "Before we go in, I wanted to just say that what Professor Snape mentioned earlier about how, in Slytherin, we are all a family and we look out for our own is very true. This being said, I wanted to apologize for how I have treated you in the past. All my life I had heard the stories of you and your brother and all I could think about was being your friend and when that didn't happen I was hurt and upset. Seeing as how we are in the same house now; I was hoping we could start over."
"Of course, we can start over. I'm going to need some friends in Slytherin whether I like it or not. Thank you."
"Do you have any questions before we go in? Or any concerns?" He asked, with his hands on the doorknob.
"You're not going to throw me straight to the wolves, are you?" I joked, but I must have looked pitiful because he grabbed my arm and gave me a very serious look.
"We aren't as bad as everyone thinks Scarlett. We may put on a facade for the other houses, but we really are like family. Inside those walls every snake is safe, okay? I promise you. No one should give you any problems."
I nodded and gave him a quick smile before he started speaking again, "As of right now the password into the common room is 'Unicorn Hair' but like the Gryffindor common room that changes every so often so people can not break in. When that happens, a prefect will notify you of the change or another student if they beat them to it." The door had opened in front of him, and we started walking into an empty common room. The Slytherin common room was much more different than the Gryffindor common room. Gryffindor's was much brighter and louder, with reds and gold cascading down from the ceiling. While the Slytherin common room had much cooler tones, not as loud or bright with lots of green and ascents of silver all around the room.
"I know it's different from what you're used to…"
"It's amazing. I've never seen anything this beautiful. Woah…"
"Come on in, everyone should be up in their rooms. Are you tired? If you are, I can call one of the girls down and have them show you which dorm will be yours."
"No, no I'm not tired. At least not yet. Can I just ask you a few questions?"
"Of course. Ask away." He responded as we sat down onto the couches in the middle of the common room.
"So, this is all very new to me, obviously, but is there anything that Snape as a head of house requires of us? McGonagall kept track of our grades to make sure we didn't fail, but is Snape stricter?"
"Snape likes to keep a check on our grades. He likes to make sure we are all getting good grades. If we have a grade lower than an Exceeds Expectations, he requires that we have supervised study hours either in his office or with a prefect. So, we all usually would rather study and help each other than having him watch us study. The 5th years all usually study either in the library or here in the common room together at least once a week, usually about three times a week."
"Oh, so like a study group?"
"Yes, exactly like a study group."
"Okay, next question, Snape mentioned he had my broom sent to the Slytherin quidditch changing rooms. What did he mean by that? Does that mean I will get to play quidditch?" I asked.
"We do have a few open spots on the quidditch team this year, but there will be a tryout a little later in the year. What position do you play again?"
"I was a chaser on the team, but honestly I can try any position you have open."
"We happen to have an open chaser position for this year, but like I said tryouts will be later. Do you have any more questions?" He asked.
"I only have one more question for you. Why all of a sudden are you being so nice to me?"
"Sigh… So, even though I knew I would be sorted into Slytherin I was honestly a little nervous about making friends here, especially after what happened with you and Potter. I came into Slytherin with a very closed off mind, but when people started being nice and showed that they cared about me it made me start to open up to them. Everything me and Snape told you about the Slytherin house being a family and sticking up for each other is true. There aren't many people who stick up for us, so we must stick together for each other. I don't want you making a similar mistake of not trusting your allies that I did when I first came here."
"Thank you. Even if I didn't want to be here, I can't help but believe that there is a reason and that I am supposed to be here."
He gave me a small, simple smile as he slowly got up from the couches, "Stay right here, I am going to go grab Pansy so she can show you to the girl's dorm rooms. I promise she isn't as bad as she seems. Pansy likes to put up this hard, bitchy front. I mean, yeah, she's still bitchy but you learn that she really cares about you too."
He left the room for only a couple of seconds before he returned with my new roommate. They both sat down on the other couch across from me before Pansy began to speak.
"I know I haven't been the nicest person to you or your friends in the past; however, I want to apologize and welcome you into Slytherin. Quite frankly I've been a bitch to you for no reason and I want us both to start over. I understand that this is something you as well as all of us will have to get used to, but I hope we can be friends.
"Of course. This is going to be a large adjustment for all of us, but I do believe that we can be friends."
"I'm glad you agree. Are you tired? I can show you the dorm room so you can get settled in?" Pansy asked
"That sounds nice." I agreed. We both got up from the couches, but before we headed up the stairs to the girl's dorm, I turned back to Draco. "Thank you, Draco."
"Of course, Scarlett. Welcome to Slytherin." He said with a small smile before slowly getting up and heading down the hall to, where I assume, the boys' dorms are. After he was out of earshot Pansy, and I continued walking down the stairs to the girls' dorms.
"I hope you know that we both mean it when we say that we want to start over with you. Just because Slytherin has a bad reputation doesn't mean we want to follow it."
I nodded and continued to follow her until she stopped in front of the door that I assumed was her- our dorm. Without saying anything she opened the door to what I can only describe to be the most beautiful room I have ever seen. The walls were dark, emerald green with hints of silver cascading from the ceiling. There was green and silver fabric draped from the ceiling hanging on top of four, floor to ceiling windows. Beyond the windows was the depths of the Black Lake. The water was crystal clear. You could see so many creatures that you wouldn't imagine seeing from the top of the water.
"This is gorgeous." I said, still in awe
"It's home. Scarlett, I know you know Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bullstrode, but I thought I would reintroduce you seeing as we are going to be living together from now on."
I turned my head away from the windows to see two girls standing beside their bed. One stunning, tall blonde girl and the other a shorter brunette, both waved and introduced themselves again. Once the introductions were over the three girls started getting ready for bed, while I started to unpack my trunk. It didn't take long for them to be ready for bed, so I put a silencing charm on my section and pulled the curtain around my bed so that I could continue unpacking my stuff. It didn't seem like it took too long before I was done unpacking, but when I peeked out of my curtain all three girls were sound asleep. I wasn't tired yet, so I slowly took out the invisibility cloak and the marauders map. Harry and I always thought it was better to keep it in my trunk because I was less likely to lose it. I slowly walked towards the door and up the stairs back into the common room. Just before I was about to walk out of the common room a voice startled me.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Filtch paces up and down these halls all night. We're the bad kids remember." The voice said.
I turned around sharply to see none other than Blaise Zabini and Draco sitting in the small corner of the common room beside the window drinking tea.
"Where are you planning on going anyway at 1 in the morning? Shouldn't you be asleep?" Blaise continued
"Quit interrogating her Blaise." Draco teased. "Come sit with us."
"Sorry I couldn't sleep. Too much to think about." I said as I walked over to the corner where they were sitting. As I walked towards them, I pulled the invisibility cloak behind my back, trying to hide it along with the Marauders Map. Why didn't I check the Marauders Map before I walked up here?
"So where were you planning on going at this time of night?", Blaise asked again
"I honestly don't know. Maybe the owlery? I was thinking of sending a letter to my Godfather."
"Sirius Black?" Blaise asked, eyebrows raised with concern.
"Oh fuck. Forget I said anything. I wasn't supposed to say anything." I backtracked before Draco cut me off.
"Sirius is my cousin. On my mother's side. She always talks very highly of him whenever father isn't around. She always said he was her favorite cousin."
"He isn't guilty. I know that sounds crazy, but he isn't. It's a long story, but trust me if he actually was the reason that my parents were murdered… Just trust me."
I think they could tell I was getting flustered, so they stopped prodding about Sirius.
"You could write him a letter here. If you have a call or whistle for your owl, they can come right to this window, and it opens up. Do you have any parchment?" Blaise asked
I shook my head no and he pulled a piece of parchment off a nearby table and handed it to me with a quill and some ink.
"Thank you, Blaise." I accepted the parchment, quill, and ink.
"Well, I better head to bed. First day of classes and all tomorrow. You coming?" Blaise asked, turning towards Draco.
"I'm going to stay. If it's okay with you, Scarlett?"
"Yeah, that's fine with me..."
Blaise stood up and started walking down the hallway towards the boy's dormitory. Draco then turned his attention to his tea while I started writing my letter to Sirius.
Sirius,
I know that you know what Dumbledore had planned for this year and I know that somehow you knew that I would be resorted, so I'm not sure why I am even writing you this letter. I've been resorted into Slytherin for the remainder of my time at Hogwarts. Sirius, I know I should be scared and worried about why I'm being resorted and about what inside of me has changed. While some part of me is scared another part of me is relieved that I am not in Harry's shadow anymore. I can only hope that what you said to me earlier today is true and you still love me no matter what. Sirius, what does this mean?
Scarlett
I took a deep breath and laid down the quill onto the table. I laid my head in my hands and took another deep breath. When I released the breath I raised my head to see Draco looking slightly concerned.
"Are you okay? I feel like this has been a long day full of changes and no one has asked you how you are doing or dealing with all of this."
"It's strange… For as long as I can remember I considered Gryffindor my home. All my friends, all my family, everyone I've ever loved was Gryffindor… But despite all of that I never felt that Gryffindor was ever where I belonged. When I was 11 maybe I did belong in Gryffindor, but now I feel like maybe this is for the best."
"You're taking this surprisingly well. Anyone else would be freaked."
"Maybe it's the fact that I truly don't have anyone to disappoint. Harry is the Boy Who Lived. He's the one Voldemort wants. He is everyone's priority. Dumbledore knew there was no way in hell that the sorting hat would resort Harry, at least not now, not with the war looming over us. Dumbledore is just an arse who doesn't know what he's doing just like the rest of us, but everyone follows his every word like he's Merlin." I blurted out, barely taking a breath between words.
"Do you feel better now?"
"A little bit. Sorry for rambling…"
"It's no big deal. I'm going to head to bed. Don't stay up too long, we do have classes in the morning." Draco reminded me as he got up and headed to the boy's dormitory. Once he was gone, I quickly called Freya to the window, attached the letter to her, and told her to take it to Sirius. I watched her fly away into the dark night sky before heading back downstairs to my dormitory. When I got to my bed, I quickly put away the invisibility cloak and the Marauders Map before getting ready for bed.