Author's Note: This story is based off of events and conversations as found throughout the Harry Potter series as written by J.K. Rowling. Most of this work will contain original prose and dialogue, but references will be made in specific chapters where Rowling's exact words are used. This is written purely for recreational purposes; I do not own any rights to Harry Potter or affiliations of Bloomsbury Publishing.
Additional Note: Part of this chapter contains dialogue as found in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling, Raincoast Books, 2007 pp. 538-9
Chapter Four: The Wizarding World
In the end, Severus and Lily did not end up going to Diagon Alley together. When the Evanses received no reply from Mrs. Snape and her son, they found their own means of reaching the wizarding commercial district. Severus found this out around mid August, and with a pang of disappointment, only went with his mother.
Eileen Snape only had a small amount of inheritance money left over, but was only able to buy her son some decent supplies and wear for the school year; over half of what he had to use was handed down. It was a great day for Severus, for he had never been lavished upon with such luxuries before. When he asked if he could have a broom as well, however, the dream ended. She gave him her brooding silent treatment, and no more wondrous things were purchased.
When they returned to the Muggle world, they were once again poor and alone. Tobias Snape never returned home. Severus accepted it as plain (and somewhat delightful) truth, but Mrs. Snape was far more distraught over this news. Severus asked her: You have more wizard money than we had Muggle money—why not move away? She never gave him an answer, and it was years before he understood, but she never would move away. Instead, a week before Severus was supposed to be off to Hogwarts, she got a job in the tea parlour he and Lily had frequented in the winter, just to cover living expenses. They still had to try and pawn off a lot of their old things to buy food.
The day came that Eileen woke up her son and told him to get ready. "Your train leaves at eleven—hurry." He had so many butterflies in his stomach he may as well have been floating.
He had never been to King's Cross Station, so the sight of it was enough to leave him in awe for weeks. He never thought so many people could be in one place at one time, and that that place could be so huge. Eileen had told him that the entrance to the platform was hidden in the barrier between two platforms, so each barrier they passed, he watched after longingly, wondering which one would hold the gate to his new life. Finally, Eileen steered her son toward platforms 9 and 10, and Severus was beside himself in delight.
"Slowly now," she warned unenthusiastically. They strolled forward to the barrier, trying not to direct attention to themselves, but Severus was becoming increasingly nervous. As they closed in on the barrier, he took a short jog at it, shoving his trolley forward. Before he noticed the transition, he had passed through to Platform 9¾, and his trolley continued to carry forward with the force he had put behind it. He desperately struggled to slow down before he struck the barrier opposite the entrance.
When he looked behind him, he smiled to see the wrought iron archway that read Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Finally—he was here. When he looked back at his mother, his smile faltered, for the sour frown that had been permanently set in her face since his father left was enough to make him feel a bit guilty for being happy.
She led him along the platform where the grand scarlet train sat, steam billowing from the stack on the engine car, with hundreds of students scattered along its length, bidding farewell to their families and greeting friends after a long summer apart. Immediately his eyes wracked the platform for a glimpse of dark red hair—any sight of Lily. Halfway down the platform, after weaving through a dense crowd of extremely excited fourth year girls, he spotted Lily, her sister Petunia, and Mr. and Mrs. Evans.
He halted immediately, and with a bit of confusion and annoyance, his mother stopped with him. Lily and Petunia were standing a bit apart from their parents, having an apparently heated discussion. Lily grabbed for her sister's hand, but after a few words exchanged, the older girl tugged it away defiantly. Severus heard something along the lines of "nosey wizards," and with that, Petunia tore away from Lily and hid behind her mother's skirts, trying to hide from her sister, whom now had tears in her eyes.
"Come along," Eileen said shortly after watching the scene herself. She did not know that the red-headed girl was the one Severus had grown so close to over the better part of the year. He decided not to divulge this information with her.
After she had seen his things on the train, and the second warning whistle had blasted, Eileen offered her son a nod while patting down the front of his coat. "Change before you get there."
"I will."
With another nod, and a twitch of her lips which made her frown deepen, Mrs. Snape walked away and headed back to the entrance of Platform 9¾. Severus watched her go with something vague gnawing at the pit of his stomach. Why hadn't she said goodbye? They had never had the need to before, and so he couldn't quite comprehend the feeling he was missing out on something important.
He boarded the train, sat down in a semi-empty compartment (another boy was there with a giddy grin plastered on his face and a silent nature about him) and waited for the train to leave. When it started to crawl along the tracks, he could see and hear students leaning out the windows and calling their final goodbyes to their families. Even the silent boy leaned out his window to wave vigorously at a pleasantly plump witch. Severus remained in his seat and watched all the families pass him by, waving and smiling, and pretended that some of them were doing it for him.
After the station had been left behind and rolling hills surrounded them, Severus eagerly changed into his new wizard's robes. Suddenly, he was transformed. No longer was he the boy in the dirty smock, the short jeans, the large jacket—he was now a respectable Hogwarts student. Severus spent the better part of ten minutes simply moving his limbs around and relishing in the feel of the cotton and satin against his skin. He felt he was decked in lavish finery.
He wasted no time searching for Lily next; through the hustle and bustle on the platform, he did not get the chance to talk to her. He looked into every compartment as he passed, some curious faces glancing at him as he all but pressed his face against the glass. Compartment after compartment he went, becoming increasingly aggravated the longer he did not find Lily. Finally, at the very end of the cab, he found her in the last room. There were some boys in there already, chatting idly and not paying her much attention. She was leaning up against the window, hiding her face from view.
Severus slid open the door and sat down opposite Lily. She gave him the slightest of glances before staring out the window again. Her eyes were pink from crying.
"I don't want to talk to you," she said, her voice strained.
"Why not?"
"Tuney h—hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore."
He thought of the soft envelope and the glittering ink, and how he had convinced Lily they should read it. "So what?" he said, instead of searching for comforting words.
Lily's eyes narrowed and her lower jaw stuck out slightly—that was how she always looked when Severus said something stupid and insulting. "So she's my sister!" she huffed.
"She's only a—" Severus cut himself off quickly, remembering her birthday. Speaking of Muggles derogatorily had not gone over well in the slightest. Lily wiped at her eyes and did not test him on what he was about to say.
"But we're going!" he added hopefully, all his pent up excitement from his entire childhood gushing in his voice. "This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"
Despite still looking miserable about her sister, she offered a small smile, nodding while giving another wipe at her eyes. Severus felt small relief at seeing her cheer, if only a little.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," he added with zest. He knew he was going to Slytherin—his mother had told him that all the Princes, back and back, had been in Slytherin, except for a few bad eggs. They were resourceful and cunning, he'd been told. Lily was pretty smart, and he thought that meant the same as cunning, so they must be Sorted into the same house together.
"Slytherin?" she repeated, and just as Severus was about to explain to her how he thought she fit in to the house, one of the other boys in the compartment turned and snorted.
"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" The boy turned to his companion, who was sprawled out on the seat opposite.
"My whole family have been in Slytherin," he replied, sounding somewhat morose.
"Blimey," the first said, "and I thought you seemed all right!" To this the second grinned.
"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"
The boy threw up his hand, pretending to clutch something. "Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad."
Severus scoffed quietly like he just had the misfortune of stepping on something unpleasant. The first boy, sitting next to Severus, turned and glared. "Got a problem with that?"
"No," he decried, his lip curling. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy—"
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" the second boy added harshly, still stretched out over the seat like he owned the compartment. The first boy guffawed with more gusto than seemed necessary. Lily burst up from her seat, utter disapproval bordering on contempt on her face as she looked between the two boys.
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."
"Oooooo..."
The two boys mocked her as she passed, and the first attempted to trip Severus as he followed.
"See ya, Snivellus!" one of them shouted as he slid the door shut behind him. Severus stuck his face close to the window to find out which one of them did it, but Lily grabbed him by the arm and led him along. "Just ignore them," she said.
"Stupid... arrogant..." Severus started to mutter a few choice words, which made Lily tug on his sleeve and shake her head disapprovingly.
They found themselves a semi-quiet compartment in which a gaggle of Ravenclaw girls entering their sixth year were enjoying their new textbooks. Lily had Severus run through the process of arriving at Hogwarts several times, asking for minute details and fawning over the possibilities. She asked about all the other houses, about the history of each one, and then asked about the past of the school in general. Severus shared all he knew, occasionally pulling information out of the air when he wasn't quite sure on the answer. They munched on a few Pumpkin Pastilles, Liquorice Wands and Chocolate Frogs, and the two collected Bertie Bott and Cercie cards. Her sister long forgotten, and the two boys no longer a lingering concern for him, the two were able to enjoy the rest of their trip through Scotland.
When the train finally came to a halt at their destination, Severus and Lily stuck side by side, not wishing to leave the other in this strange and unfamiliar place. As soon as they clambered off the car, a booming voice echoed over their heads, making the two friends jump.
"Firs' years, to me!" the voice bellowed. They searched for the source, but neither had to look long. A gigantic man, at least twice as tall as any ordinary person (and who knows how much wider), was standing on the other side of the platform, holding a lantern. The last thing any of the first years seemed to want to do was go over to a giant who could squash them like Flobberworms, but Lily beckoned Severus forward after a few moments consideration.
"No one would hurt us at Hogwarts. You said that yourself, remember?" she said. "Come on. He doesn't look so bad."
Severus followed after her eagerly, trying to put a spring in his step to convince her he wasn't in the least bit afraid of a giant. About one hundred children surrounded the big man, most looking up fearfully at him. He was wearing clothes made from an assortment of skins, and his large boots were covered in fur, making them appear as small bears. He had long, bushy black hair and a matching beard, but despite his rough appearance his beetle black eyes twinkled as he smiled at all of them. The large man looked around himself, then said: "Righ', this should be the lot of yer. Follow me—to the boats. Come, now."
They all scuttled behind him like little hatchlings following their mother, all the way down to the shore of the lake. The moon was waxing, nearly full, and it lit up part of the water like it was full of shining gems. The other part of it was still, black, and haunting. His mother had once told Severus that a giant squid lived in this lake, and Severus had to repress a shiver as to not look fearful beside Lily.
"Look at that," she said wondrously, pointing up at the castle which loomed over the lake. Severus looked up with her, and pretended not to be as surprised as her. If King's Cross Station had left him in awe, Hogwarts Castle left him breathless. Lights glinted out the windows of each tower, of which were silhouetted against the starry sky; it stood at the top of a foothill, and behind it towered a mountain, making the castle appear formidable and elegant. Its stone walls looked to be made of the moon itself, for it glowed just as brightly. He had seen a picture once, but it did not do Hogwarts justice.
The giant man led them in pairs into the small boats which dotted the shoreline. Lily and Severus, of course, got into the same one, refusing to be split apart. Almost as soon as they sat down, the boat began to glide across the surface of the lake on its own accord. Lily gasped, clutching the side, watching the lake with wide eyes.
"Don't worry, it's enchanted to take us across the lake," Severus said, but he too had felt a small jolt of panic as the boat set off. She nodded and loosened her grip on the boat but did not let go of it.
After a twenty minute ride, their boats glided through a large outcrop and through a veil of ivy. It finally came to a stop in an underground harbour. Lily climbed out tentatively, but after considering the boat as Severus climbed out, a wide smile spread across her face. "That was actually quite fun," she said. "Do we do that every year?"
He shook his head. "Just the first time."
"Oh, well. I wonder what we get to do next year?"
The giant man led the troupe of children up a path towards the school. The pair joined the masses and climbed the steps that eventually led them to a pair of grand double doors, where a stern looking witch wearing square frames stood. Her jet black hair was pulled tightly into a bun, and her tall hat was so pointed it looked to be lethal. "Thank you, Hagrid, I shall take them from here."
"Professor," the giant said, tipped an invisible hat, and walked from the room, his footsteps shaking the marble floor beneath them.
"If you will follow me," the witch said promptly, turning and leading the group down the hall towards another pair of double doors.
Lily turned to Severus as they followed her. "She doesn't seem very nice," she said.
Severus shrugged. "Teachers don't need to be."
The witch pushed open the doors, which creaked and groaned ominously. Inside were hundreds of people sitting at four long tables, with what looked like at least one candle for each person floating in midair; the ceiling looked like it blended in with the sky, and shooting stars streaked across it. Both Lily and Severus let their jaws drop.
The first years were herded forward to the front table, where all the teachers sat. They all lined up in front of it, and as they scanned the table to get a look at all the teachers, Lily waved excitedly behind Severus. A man with a great bushy white moustache waved back. Then the stern witch stepped in front of them, suddenly holding a stool and a very old hat. Severus tapped Lily on the arm. "That's it, that's the Sorting Hat."
Lily watched on with the utmost anticipation as the woman set down the three-legged stool and plopped the hat on top of it. Then, without much warning, a mouth appeared on its front, and it began to belt out a song.
Another year, of which we begin
On September the first at Hogwarts.
While this be your first, this shan't be my last
For I have Sorted for centuries past.
For those who may know, though many would not
This school was founded on friendships four,
And while their deeds were most distraught
They happened many a year before.
For on this cool night, one millennia ago,
The very first Sorting was I intended for.
Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor:
A thousand years running, to a thousand year more!
To the first, fair Rowena, the cleverest of all,
Who sought right from wrong and prized the wise,
House Ravenclaw did Hogwarts befall
And forever unto knowledge reprise.
And to Humble Helga, more fair and just
Than all the rest, we praise her humility
For without her virtue, Hogwarts must
But resign to pride and forfeit tranquillity.
Salazar, to ambition we owe,
He stove for glory, success, and gold,
Without his zeal and without his flow,
Surely Hogwarts would have since gone cold.
Not forgotten is audacious Godric,
Who stood out amongst the rest,
For with fortitude and perseverance
Did this wizard Hogwarts attest.
Though these noble witches and wizards
Did all their best for all of the rest,
Their friendships did deny a certain
Quality of seeing eye to eye.
Torn apart, leaving all aghast,
The spirit of Hogwarts remained.
All their values and hopes and dreams
Live on through their houses, for all to see.
Though I be old, worn and torn, I'm far from
Done my calling. When I am through with you
(Or you are through with me) you will see that
Hogwarts is, quite clearly, all enduring!
A burst of applause followed the hat's recital. Lily turned to Severus. "You never told me it could do that," she exclaimed.
"I'm sure I did," he replied, but in actuality he had no idea it could sing songs.
The witch unfurled a roll of parchment and began to speak before the applause died down. "When I call your name, step forward to be Sorted," she instructed, then read the name: "Adams, Jerry!"
Severus was barely listening to all the names listed off. His mind was buzzing, eagerly awaiting Lily's name to be called, for she would be Sorted long before he was. Short ways down the list, however, the name "Black, Sirius" was called, which Severus only caught interest in because of the individual who climbed on top of the stool to have the Hat dropped on his head. It was the indolent boy who participated in mocking him and Lily on the train earlier that day. He narrowed his eyes and hoped the Hat would give him a good munch on the head.
"Gryffindor!" the Hat bellowed. With a small, satisfied smirk, the boy clambered off the stool and strut over to the cheering Gryffindor table. Severus sneered.
An assortment of names were called after that, including a Callingsworth and a Deidrick, which sounded vaguely familiar to Severus, but not noteworthy enough to dwell on for long, for shortly "Evans, Lily" was called for.
Lily gave Severus a nervous smile before weaving her way through the crowd to the front, her knees trembling. She gave the black haired witch an uncertain smile before seating herself on the stool. Severus crossed his fingers and held his breath as the Hat was lowered on to her head...
"Gryffindor!" the Hat said once more. Severus let go of his breath in a disappointed groan. Now grinning from ear to ear, Lily handed back the Hat, then slid off the stool and made her way to Gryffindor table, which was roaring with approval. On her way, she gave Severus one of her "Don't worry" smiles, which she usually offered whenever he griped or groaned about something he was apprehensive about. When she sat down on the edge of the bench, the Sirius boy shuffled over for her. Upon looking at his face, she slowly turned her back on him, crossed her arms, and glowered. This, at least, served to lighten Severus's spirits.
It took twenty more minutes for the rest of the first years to be Sorted. The other rude boy from the train, named James Potter (Severus clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes, committing the name to memory) was put into the same house as Lily. He sat on the opposite side of her from Sirius, and she stared at the table, seemingly intent on not looking at either one of them. Someone by the name of Simmons was called just before Severus; when the severe-looking witch called his name, he flinched, having nearly forgotten what he was doing there.
The excitement of being Sorted had tragically worn off once Lily had been placed in his rival house. He knew without a doubt he'd be in Slytherin, and already he was running through scenarios in his head about how she would denounce his friendship within a fortnight. He lowered himself onto the stool, and before the hat had touched the tops of his ears, the Hat shouted for the entire hall to hear: "Slytherin!"
A small grin spread across his lips, but still the effect of being Sorted had been significantly dimmed. He slid off the stool and strode over the Slytherin's table, which was clapping for him politely as he sat. A tall boy, much older than he, with long, straight, platinum blonde hair patted him on the back and gave a slim smile, which would have been friendly had not his face been waxen, sharp and gaunt.
After the last student (one Odessa Zabini) had been called and Sorted into Severus's house, the man he recognized as Dumbledore stood from the head of the table and smiled down at them. He had long silvery hair that cascaded down his back, and a beard that nearly touched his belt. His midnight blue robes were billowing and flowing, and a bit of a train ran across the floor behind him. Dumbledore placed his hands on either side of his dinner set, and everyone fell silent instantaneously.
"Welcome, first years! Not only do you begin your journey as new students this night, but I as well begin a new career as Headmaster. I do believe it shall be quite the bumpy, thrilling ride. Alas, I do not wish to keep your hungry bellies from their meals much longer. Before we begin, I wish to impart with you this wisdom: Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus. And with that, let the Feast begin!"
Dumbledore clapped his hands and spread them in a wide arc, and suddenly food appeared on all the gold platters and plates on each of the tables. There was a chorus of delight from all the first years, and then everyone dug in to their meals. Severus was stunned beyond comprehension; he had never seen so much food in his life, and everything that was set before him made Mrs. Evan's dinner look like a peasant's supper. The boy next to him scooped out some baked yams and then handed the ladle to Severus, who took it with a bit of wonderment still lingering on his face.
"Made by all the house-elves here. It's not half bad, but ours have made much better." He offered his hand when Severus was done dishing out his plate. "Lucius Malfoy."
"Severus. Snape," he replied hesitantly. He could count on one hand how many times he had traded introductions with someone like this.
"Good to have you on the right side," Lucius said, throwing a glance over the hall before cutting a piece of pork and delicately placing it on his tongue.
After the meal was finished, Dumbledore stood again, and motioned for quiet. "Your classes will begin tomorrow; timetables will be distributed by your Heads of house tomorrow morning during breakfast. Please note that there are two particular areas of interest you would be wise to keep clear of: the Forbidden Forest, which lies on the outskirts of the grounds (and is named as such for a reason), and a newly planted willow tree, which has a meaner bite than its bark. Oho! Excuse me. While not quite full grown, the Whomping Willow is still dangerous; it is planted in the middle of the grounds, in between the Black Lake and the Castle. You have been warned.
"I now ask the Prefects to please lead your first years to their dormitories. Off to bed with you, quicker snapper!"
The entirety of the Great Hall rose at once, and all the students began to clamber to the great double doors. As Severus followed Lucius in the line he had formed of eleven year-olds, Severus wondered what the Whomping Willow was. That was one thing his mother definitely did not tell him about, and not for lack of memory—she had told him about everything else in varying detail over the years, and not once about the tree. It must have been a new addition in the last few years.
As they left the Great Hall, Severus searched desperately for Lily, but could not spot her dark red hair amongst the herd of hundreds of children. Instead he was whisked away to the dungeons and into the Slytherin Common Room (to which entry was given to the password "E Plurubus Unum") which was richly decorated but somehow a little off-putting. Lucius directed the boys to their dormitories, which was down a winding staircase, deeper into the dungeon. Severus's room was with three other boys; their room was a sizable square, with Slytherin crests adorning the walls and cozy looking four posters angled from each corner. In the centre of the room was a small pool, and the water seemed to emit a faint aquiline glow. Their trunks and things were placed at the foot of each bed.
"Sleep well, gentlemen," Lucius said, bidding them goodnight. The three other boys chatted excitedly as they all changed into their pyjamas. Through conversation, Severus learned that their names were Dunsen, Gallagher, and Richier. He was wary of talking to them, since talking usually was what lost him friends, but he hoped that before long he would be chummy with his new roommates.
Severus lay down, pull the covers over his head, and tried to go to sleep. With a great, heaving sigh, he wished desperately that Lily would stay his friend after this, and closed his eyes.