Samantha glanced around the Great Hall from her seat at the Slytherin table. She couldn't believe she was really here! She had sat her O.W.L.s and the results were much as her father had predicted. She had received an E in Defense Against the Dark Arts; an O in Transfigurations and Muggle Studies; an A in Arithmancy, Potions, and History; and, surprising to them all, an A in Charms. Having discussed her schedule for the year with her father, she decided to continue with Potions, Defense, Transfigurations, Arithmancy, and Charms. Professor Flitwick had been kind enough to offer her extra lessons in Charms.
So, that was how she had gotten to where she was sitting today. Her father had brought her to King's Cross Station under the guise of her guardian. She didn't bother trying to find Harry on the train as it would soon be known that she was already Sorted and it would be beyond odd if the two were seen together.
Instead, she sat in a compartment with a handful of first years. An hour into the ride, she was already tired of their incessant babbling. Eventually, she left her things and went to wander through the train. She caught a glimpse of Ron chastising some Hufflepuffs, but she didn't linger.
The trip to Hogwarts seemed insanely long, but eventually they had pulled into the Hogsmeade station. She had been directed to go with the first years as they approached the castle by boat. Since she was obviously older than the first years, she had received quite a few stares from the older students.
She had been introduced after the last of the first years had been Sorted as simply a transfer student who would be in Slytherin. That introduction earned her the immediate distrust of most of the members of her house. Draco Malfoy had done nothing more than glance at her appraisingly and order a student sitting across from him to move so that Samantha could sit. That gesture on Draco's part seemed to reassure her fellow Slytherins, but it made Sam nervous for some reason.
Glancing at the High Table, she saw her mother and father seated side by side. Her mother was absorbed in a conversation with a professor Samantha didn't recognize. As she watched, a silvery form glided to the High Table and then her father had risen and left the Great Hall. Minutes later, the doors to the Hall opened again and she turned to see Harry entering with a bloody face, followed by her father who returned to his place at the staff table.
Across from her, Draco chuckled as he told how he was the one who had broken Harry's nose. The other Slytherins chuckled mirthfully. Samantha, in an effort not to glare at the arrogant blond, turned back to gaze at the professors. She noted her mother's high collared, long sleeved robes and thought it unlike her mother's usual style of clothing. Then she realized that the robes were probably chosen to hide the collar and tattoo her mother was forced to bear.
Turning back to her food, she half-listened as Dumbledore spoke about restricted items and Quidditch tryouts. She noticed her fellow Slytherins weren't listening to him at all. Draco was making his fork dance in midair as the girl next to him made noises of approval.
It wasn't until Dumbledore introduced their new Potions professor that the Slytherins perked up. Samantha followed their gazes to see a portly, bald-headed man with a large silver moustache standing up at the staff table. Muttering broke out throughout the hall and increased in volume as Dumbledore went on to say that Professor Snape would be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The Slytherins cheered as the angry mutterings from the other three tables rose in volume. Samantha herself was surprised. Her father hadn't mentioned a change in his role here.
Dumbledore waited until the hall was quiet before beginning to speak again. Then he launched into a short speech on the danger of Voldemort. This was also ignored by the Slytherin table, many of whom were now focusing on Draco.
Draco's attention, however, had now focused on Samantha. "So, you're a transfer student, huh?"
Placing her spoon beside her empty custard dish, she gave him a small smile. "Yes. I was home schooled by my parents. They died," she said in a tone designed to demonstrate that she wouldn't answer any questions about it. "My guardians decided I would be well served by attending Hogwarts."
"Your guardians?" he asked, ignoring the fork he was playing with so it fell to the table with a dull clang.
Giving a negligent shrug, she gestured towards the staff table, "Professor Snape was apparently some distant cousin of my father's. He and his wife," she said, ignoring the gasps from a handful of students near enough to hear her, "are my legal guardians until I turn 17 in May."
A handsome black boy seated at Samantha's left stared at her, "Snape's wife? You're kidding, right?"
"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," Samantha said, turning to look directly at him.
"Blaise Zabini, and you didn't answer my question," the boy said, openly appraising her.
Draco snorted, "Snape's not married. The chit next to him is his pet."
Samantha resisted the urge to punch Draco and instead focused on Blaise, "Pet or not, he's legally married to Professor Smith. And…" she paused dramatically, "She's pregnant with twins."
All sorts of invectives met that pronouncement as every head at the top of their table swiveled to stare at their head of house and the professor beside him. Samantha gave her father a too-innocent smile before using the distraction to glance across the hall. She met Harry's gaze and gave a brief smile before Dumbledore's speech ended and everyone began rising from their seats.
Samantha rose with the others and followed the Slytherins to their common room. Upon arriving, she found that her father had somehow beaten them there, even though he was still seated when they had left the Great Hall.
"First years stay down here, everyone else is to return to their rooms," he said, hovering over all of them. "Miss Parkinson, show Miss Johnston to her room."
"C'mon, then," the girl said from beside her.
Samantha nodded and followed the other girl down a hallway situated to one side of the common room. They walked nearly to the end of the hallway before the other girl turned right and opened the door.
"Here we are," the other girl said, entering before her.
Samantha glanced around, noting five identical beds around the strangely circular room. Each bed had a trunk at its foot and Sam easily picked out her own trunk at the foot of the bed on her immediate left. At the right side of each bed was a small night stand with two drawers. It certainly wasn't much, but it would do.
She turned to the other girl, "Thanks Miss Parkinson."
The girl laughed, "Call me Pansy."
Samantha quickly appraised the girl before her. She recognized her as the one who was seated next to Draco at dinner making doe-eyes at him. The girl was not very attractive. For one thing, her nose was too small for her face and her eyes were too narrow. "You can call me Sam if you wish," Samantha offered as the other girls entered the room behind them.
Pansy took it upon herself to introduce the other girls of their year. "That there," she pointed to a black haired girl rummaging through her trunk, "Is Millicent Bulstrode. And that," she pointed to the only blonde in the room, "is Tracey Davis. And finally, we have Daphne Greengrass." Daphne was a short, rather plump girl who gave an honest smile to Sam before she too moved to her trunk.
"Oi, Samantha," Tracey said, moving to her own trunk, "Professor Snape wants you downstairs in five minutes."
Sam grumbled under her breath. "Where's the toilet?" she asked, running a hand through her hair. She had no idea what her father wanted or how long she would be, so she decided it best to finish her tour of her new home.
Daphne piped up as she turned away from her trunk, toiletries in hand, "I'll show you."
Sam followed her from the room and to the bathrooms. The other girl showed her where the showers were before moving off to prepare for bed.
Sam left the bathroom and headed for the Common Room. A flood of first years passed her as they headed for their rooms. She entered the Common Room and faced her father, "Sir? Miss Davis said you wished to speak to me?"
His eyes narrowed, "Yes, Miss Johnston. If you will follow me to my office." He turned and swept out of the room, his robes billowing behind him.
Samantha followed him, full of trepidation. She couldn't read her father's mood at the moment, and that bothered her. She took note of where he was leading her, automatically cataloguing the small landmarks around her so she could find her way back to the dorm.
They drew to a stop outside a familiar corridor. She realized her father's rooms were only one door further down. This must be his classroom door, then. He muttered the password too softly for her to hear, and then they were striding through the classroom and to his office. Once in the office, he opened the door which connected the office to his rooms.
"Hello Samantha," her mum said as she rose from the couch and headed over to join them.
"Mum!" Sam rushed to her mum and hugged her.
Her father huffed, "A little dignity, if you please, Samantha. It isn't as if you hadn't seen her a couple days ago."
Samantha laughed, "Can I see your rooms, mum?"
"Yes, but only briefly. I don't want you out after curfew," her mother responded, sounding very much like her father. Samantha frowned as she followed her mother. Perhaps having both of your parents at school with you wasn't such a good thing after all….