Disclaimer: so yeah iv still not got the rights to own these characters SHES still got them…….I think I might cry but never mind she's letting me play with them so its good for now
AN: hey look at this im actually updating 2 yes people 2 chapters at the same time….I think im ill. :P anyhow enjoy and get back to me on the story
-Alex's thoughts-
-Severus' thoughts-
-normal-
-sorting hat-
Alex tumbled out of the fireplace spluttering "Stupid bloody floo. Never did like it." He looked up when he heard a snort.
"I take it that you're not too fond of the floo net work either?" smirked Severus
Alex smiled "Well no, but who is? Its bloody difficult to land right out of them?" He pushed his hair out of his eyes.
"What's that?" asked Severus sharply. Alex quickly tried to cover it with his fringe.
"Oh its just a scar from when my parents died."
Severus looked at Alex sharply as though he didn't believe his very vague story but dropped it.
"Anyway I need to go to Gringotts first then every where else. That ok with you?" Alex quickly changed the subject.
Severus smirking replied simply "It is adequate."
Just as they were coming out of the apothecary there was a cry of "Snape!" they turned to see a pretty girl with bright auburn hair, a pale yet freckled face with almond shaped stunning emerald eyes. Eyes that were identical to Alex's. Oh god. Mum? Alex felt a tightening in his chest that had every thing to do with the fact that he was finally getting to see his mother alive and in his living memory. She looks so young and ALIVE. God to think she's not even going out with dad yet. And to think in only 3 years time she'll be dead.
"Evans, what are you doing here and screeching my name for the world to hear?" Severus sneered.
"Oy!" Lily thumped him on the arm. "I'm here because I need my books and stuff. Who's your friend?" Lily was now looking curiously at Alex. Alex smiled and held his hand out to her.
"Hi, I'm Alex Finley. Nice to meet you."
"Hi Alex I'm Lily Evans. How do you know old Snapey here?" Lily jerked her thumb at Severus as Alex snorted.
Severus growled, "I've told you not to call me that obscenity. I do not appreciate 'nicknames'."
"And we only just met. I'm a new transfer to Hogwarts." Alex added smiling at Lily and Severus' bantering.
"Well I'd stay and chat but mum and dad are waiting for me. We're going to take Petunia to her ballet recital. She's been really working at it hard lately. See you in school Alex, Snapey." With a wave Lily was gone. At the mention of his aunt Alex was quite taken aback. From what he had gathered the two sisters were not very close but if that show of obvious anticipation at the prospect of being able to see something that her sister had been working on hard foe some time was to go by the Evans sisters were close. Well close as far as mums concerned.
"Bloody Gryffindor." Was heard from Severus as he shook his head.
"From your reaction I'd say you're a Slytherin?" Alex said with amusement in his voice.
"Yeah." Severus sighed then looked up suddenly, "How did you know that?" his eyes sharpened.
Alex grinned sheepishly. Oops not supposed to be able to tell the difference. "Well you see my parents had tow friends who were always fighting. One was from Slytherin. He was called Steven and then there was Raul who was from Gryffindor. They always insulted each other and the others old house. It was quite funny cause you could tell they didn't really mean it. Well there was one time – but I wont bore you with it."
Severus merely raised an eyebrow and nodded. Something just doesn't add up with this guy.
I've got to be more careful with what I say. Severus is a sharp guy. If he doesn't think something's up yet then I'm a house elf!
"Come on we still need to go to Blotts."
The next three days Alex mainly spent reading his books or talking to Severus and once with Dumbledore. Alex was quiet surprised at how well he and young Severus got on. Now that Alex took the time he was finding potions intriguing and Severus was a well of information. They spent hours talking about potion theories, defensive spells and politics and human and magical creature morals. On the whole it was an enjoyable three days and Alex was almost disappointed when it came time for him to go meet the first years with Professor McGonagall.
Alex was to be sorted after the first years and as he stood with them he gave them encouraging smiles while in exchange they gave him curious ones. Alex had a pretty good idea already where he was going to be sorted. But he knew one thing he wasn't going to interfere this time. When they were told to line up Alex proceeded to the end of the line so that no complications should occur.
The hall fell into silence as the first years plus Alex walked into the hall. The first years were visibly shaking as they lined up in front of the teachers and the students on the other side of them. Alex stood calmly as all eyes turned to the hat sat on the three-legged stool. The rip near the brim opened and the hat began to sing:
"You come to this place of learning,
You stand there timid and afraid,
But do not fear I know your yearning,
To be with those of you're kind,
Courage and stubbiness,
Set you in Gryffindor,
Wit and learning,
For you in Ravenclaw,
Loyalty and kindness,
If you be Hufflepuff,
And cunning and slyness,
For you Slytherin's,
I will sort you nothing more,
For that is what I am for,
This is all I am,
This is all I do,
All you will need,
Is you."
There was a burst of applause from the house tables and the professor's. Professor McGonagall pulled a scroll loose and started to call the names of the first years. As Alex waited patiently for the first years to be sorted he looked out over the tables.
First he looked at the Slytherin table. There was Severus looking attentively at the sorting but his eyes wondered to meet Alex's and a small smirk formed on his lips. Alex just smiled at him then moved on up the table. He saw a very familiar head and had to take a closer look. For a moment he thought that he was seeing Draco Malfoy. However on closer inspection he saw that it was actually Lucius Malfoy and next to him Alex saw Narcissa and Bellatrix Black. There other familiar faces but he couldn't at this distance place who they were.
On the Gryffindor table he first saw Lily who smiled and did a small wave. A little farther down the table were the Marauders. There was Remus and Sirius, Alex's heart did a little black flip when he saw his godfather unaffected by Azkaban and laughing at something that Peter had just said. Peter, Alex felt anger boil to the surface when he saw the traitor. However he quashed it and he even felt some pity for the boy who would one day betray his parents. The next to Peter was James. James Dad he too looked young and carefree and just like when he saw Lily his chest clenched. Alex admitted that he had felt ashamed when he saw Snape's memory of what had happened in their fifth year but he was thankful that he was getting to meet his father in his seventh year when he had started to finally mature thanks to Lily. Mum really had a good effect on dad. I'm just sorry that Severus had to go through what dad did before he grew up. As he looked at the rest of the Gryffindor table he saw a girl that looked a lot like Neville. That must be Alice Longbottem……well at the moment she's…oh what was it? Oh yeah Hunter. There were like on the Slytherin table faces that were vaguely familiar but Alex couldn't be sure who they were.
It was the same on the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. There were some faces he was sure he recognised but just couldn't place.
Just then the last first year was sorted into "Ravenclaw" and Dumbledore stood at the teacher's table. "now we have one more student to be sorted. This is Alexander Finley. He was home schooled in Rome but is joining us for his final year and N.E.W.T.'s." Dumbledore smiled at Alex then sat down. Alex sighed in relief. Dumbledore had not given them anymore then where he used to 'live' and what year he was in. It meant that Alex could shape things to his own liking without having to remember what Dumbledore had already said about his immediate 'back ground' Alex smile still plastered on his face turned to the stool and sat as the hat descended onto his head.
As soon as the hat was over his eyes a little voice could be heard in his ear:
Ah Alex Finley or should I say Harry Potter?
Alex smiled Hello Fearghas. Would you mind keeping my identity secret?
Not at all. Now, I did place you in Gryffindor last time or next time if you like but this time I see that you do not intend to interfere.
That's right.
Well then you know where you'll be?
Alex did a mental nod and heard Fearghas yell to the all "Slytherin!"
AN: Fearghas is a Gaelic name that means supreme choice I mean come on people the irony was just there I had to exploit it…. I thought that seeing as Hogwarts was built in Scotland and I have a feeling Godric Gryffindor was Scottish an old Scottish name seemed to fit….the added bonus is that Gaelic is some times used in very old spells and so on so it's a 'magical' choice