A/N: This story is set 3 years before Harry's arrival at Hogwarts and will be more or less following canon articles wherever applicable, but when not its all original fiction guys.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters created by JKR soooo, don't sue, thanks.
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Caroline stared out the window as they followed the path around the grounds of Hogwarts. As the carriages settled in front of the main entrance to the castle, Bill hopped out and held out a hand for her to hold as he helped her out of the carriage. Before Caroline's foot touched the ground a hoard of girls had spied Bill's flaming red hair and rushed to be around him. He gave her a helpless shrug and was carried away by the throng of girls. Caroline was annoyed that they had taken away her interesting companion but was more interested in finding that dark teacher again. Something about him drew her to his presence.
Professor McGonagall stood in the open doorway searching for the new student. Since she wasn't a first year she wouldn't be coming in with Hagrid, and her parents had insisted that she be free to decide. According to what Dumbledore told her about them, they seemed willing to bend to any desire their child should make yet were strict about the terms of their daughter's wish. What an odd sense of balance they have, I certainly wouldn't allow my daughter to roam without guidelines. Sifting through all the faces she recognized she found the new student with a calculating gaze set on her features. She seemed intent on some course of action, but what it was Professor McGonagall could only guess at. As she continued to stare at the new student she saw her lips move, following her gaze she tried to pick out who her target was but couldn't find anything. Suddenly some rapid movement caught Professor McGonagall's eye and she saw a group of third year girls scream and swat at their hair which was crawling with spiders.
Laughing hysterically at their pained expressions she let them go undoing her curses. Disappearing into the crowd again she stepped out from the shadows standing next to Professor McGonagall.
"Young lady we do NOT perform ma—"
"Magic? What magic? I was merely laughing along at those girls who got a ton of spiders in their hair, unlucky fellows they were."
She beamed a broad and very enchanting smile whose effects did not deter Professor McGonagall's experience in dealing with smart mouthed witches. Quickly pulling her into the castle they walked towards Dumbledore's office.
"Minerva, ah, I see you've found her, though, no need to drag the poor girl like that. You'll pull her arm out of her socket."
"Albus, if you had seen the way she treated a group of young girls just now you'd do the same."
"All the same. Please, sit. Have a tart."
He motioned for her to sit but she only took a few steps forward crossing her arms.
"If you don't mind I'd like to get this over with. Just let me know what my classes are, where I'm going to sleep … that sort of thing."
"Ah for that, you will have to go through the sorting hat, I believe the first years should be arriving at the back door soon, you will come in with them and wait your turn to be sorted. Professor McGonagall will take you there."
"Whoa whoa, hold on, I am NOT a bloody first grader or however you people do the grade levels here. I'm perfectly capable of entering with my peers."
"I'm quite sure you are, Miss Black, but that is how we do things around here, now, Minerva please take our newest student with you to meet the first years."
Dumbledore said with his usual air of calm and sincerity. Minerva, gently this time, tugged at Caroline's sleeve and led her out to where the first years were gathering. Quieting them down she showed everyone the way to the Great Hall where the food would be served. As each of the first year students' names were called Caroline waited in the back looking bored, all around she could hear whispers from the surrounding tables as more students took notice that she certainly didn't look like any first year they had ever seen. Hah, I bet I could take you all on and beat you with one hand tied behind my back. Caroline grinned demonically to herself. At last all the names were called, leaving Caroline alone in the back glaring at anyone who would dare meet her gaze. Dumbledore stood preparing to speak.
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After Bill finally was able to get rid of the swarm of girls, he had lost sight of Caroline in the crowd. He searched the throng of people entering the castle looking for dark honeyed colored hair and confident set of her shoulders, awfully nice shoulders they were, he mused to himself. Disappointed at not finding her he made his way to the Great Hall and sat among his Gryffindor friends, surrounded by masses of giggling girls from all the houses. Yep, this is going to be a good year, Bill thought to himself as he picked out some of the prettier girls in the group that stared at him. As he was pondering which girl he would like to do during the upcoming weeks he spotted Caroline standing next to Professor McGonagall with a sour look on her pretty face. He sympathized as he saw she was being made to come in with all the first years. He watched as one by one the younger students were called first and saw Caroline's face flicker between extreme boredom and annoyance. He was about to call out to her when Dumbledore rose to speak.
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"An announcement! I am pleased to welcome with us, a new student to the sixth year class. Miss Caroline Black, please come forward to the Sorting Hat."
Caroline nodded once in polite acknowledgement and, in a few long strides, covered the distance to the lone stool where a disgusting old hat sat. Stiffly proud, she sat with arms crossed as the hat was placed on her head.
"Ah HAH! Oh my, what a mind, what a mind," the Sorting Hat bellowed across the room.
"What the fuck! Are you going to be shouting to the whole world what's in my head?"
"What's that? You want to strangle me? Ahahaha! My dear, I am but a simple sorting hat, why would you incur such wrath upon me? Oh, I see, what a cunning plan you've thought up there, kill me with my own words? Clever indeed. Good for either Slytherin or Ravenclaw…but wait! Such bravery which lies dormant in your heart. Perfect for Gryffindor … Wait, what's this? An avid herbologist! Why Hufflepuff's Head of House would be pleased…"
"I'll ask again, please, is this all being said out loud? What are these houses and who are their 'Head's?"
"Thank you, Miss, for the politeness, no only you and I can hear this, once a decision on which house you will reside in is made I will tell it to the entire room."
The Hat spun Caroline around to show her the Heads of the different Houses.
"…Professor McGonagall you've met, she is Head of Gryffindor house which leaves Slytherin for last which is Professor Snape, the Potions Master."
She intercepted a glare from Professor Snape which only made her glare back. It was the man from the train who had sent shivers up her spine when she watched him punish that younger student.
"Hmm, does he always look like that? He looks unfriendly and would most likely hand out caustic remarks like candy. And if Potions is anything like Chemistry this should be an entertaining teacher indeed. Put me in his house."
"Very well then, are you sure? You are excellent for any one of the houses, perfect even. Why would you choose to be with the slippery Slytherins when you could bring out the courage of self within your heart?"
"I'm sure."
"Alright then, to SLYTHERIN!"
Loud applause greeted her ears as she gracefully stepped down from where the Hat stood to slip into one of the available seats.
"Welcome all the new students, but for now, we feast! Dig in!"
With that an amazing banquet of food appeared on the table which stood bare only minutes before. Any talk about the new girl was soon dispelled with the sight and smell of delicious treats. After everyone had had their fill the food vanished and they were led to their respective house dormitories. Caroline, eager for adventure, hid behind a stone outcropping as the groups passed. As soon as she left her hiding spot a hand came down on her shoulder spinning her around. What faced her was pure black clothing and a crooked sneer.
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Snape looked up as Minerva swing the main doors open to the Great Hall and watched as a large group of young students entered. Each one had their eyes wide open in shock as they caught the glint of floating candles near the ceiling. At the head of the pack, immediately behind to the right of Minerva was that girl who had watched him on the train with pleasure as he reprimanded a rather stupid younger student. He saw Dumbledore rise to give his speech.
"An announcement! I am pleased to welcome with us, a new student to the sixth year class. Miss Caroline Black, please come forward to the Sorting Hat."
He saw her disgruntled look at being made to wait as all the younger students went ahead of her and chuckled inwardly, I see she means to get down to business right away and lose all the trivialities of ceremony. Snape watched Caroline march her way to the lone stool near the teacher's table and gracefully sat as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. He saw the Hat spin her around to face each of the Heads of the houses and when the Hat turned her towards him he thought angrily, I bet the Hat is as partial to Gryffindor as Dumbledore seems to be and is going to sort her into that house. If it does then she's just a lazy, stupid Gryffindor. The last thing Snape expected was for the Sorting Hat to bellow out his house's name. He surreptitiously watched her while he ate dinner, saw as she ate very little instead choosing to eat a small salad and drink water. When it came time for all the students to proceed to their dormitories he kept an eye on her and followed just a few paces behind and watched as she ducked behind a stone outcropping just outside the main doors. He waited a bit, watching the last of the students go before he decided to appear behind her. He reached out a hand to spin her around. The look most students gave him when they were discovered by him was priceless and deeply amused him. But Caroline's face showed something more than simple shock at being discovered. Underneath the mask of surprise was something more akin to delight at being caught. Somehow it pleased her to see that it was him who had stopped her from pursing whatever agenda she had written up.
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"So soon you have arrived and already looking for some way to get into trouble. I'm afraid that simply won't do if you are to be in my house."
Caroline gulped, "Well, uh, I'm actually kinda lost; I didn't catch which way my 'house mates' went and everyone is wearing the same color robes."
He looked at her in disgust, "Very well, come with me and I shall show you where your dormitory is."
Among swirling black robes Caroline followed him through the castle, winding their way downward to the lowest parts: The dungeons. They finally came to a stop in front of a smooth stone wall with a gothic archway etched into the stone above it. For all intents and purposes it looked like a fake door. Before Caroline could say anything, Snape uttered the phrase, "Unicorn's Blood" making the smooth stone wall swing inward.
"There you are. You are to learn the new password from one of the Prefects each week before you leave the common room. Make sure this is the last time you ask for my help."
And with that he was gone, his billowing black cloak blending in perfectly with the darkened hallway. A cold draft blew onto Caroline causing her to shiver; well I better go in before this damned door closes on me. Entering the common room she spied the brightly lit fireplace and picked one of the more comfortable looking chairs in front of it. It wasn't yet late but she figured she better learn where it was she was supposed to go tomorrow for classes so as to avoid looking like a forlorn newbie. She asked one of the nearby third years where the Prefects were, seeing as how she was older than them they pointed one of them out and left. The Prefect was a tall blonde girl with pale blue eyes. She instructed Caroline on the proper procedures for tomorrow and left to join her friends. Caroline, unable to care much about the Prefect's rude behavior decided to turn in for the night. She went up further down the hall to the girl's dormitory which the Prefect had been so gracious to point out before her abrupt departure. She walked down the hallway almost to the end and opened the door to the left. Inside she found an empty bed with her trunk in front. Next to the bed was another with another girl's belongings, the owner sat on her bed brushing her hair before going to bed. At the sight of the door opening she paused, waiting to see who entered. Caroline closed the door behind her gently and made an effort to be nice.
"Hi, well, obviously we're going to be room mates so let's introduce ourselves, my name is Caroline Black. You've probably been here longer than me so I would really appreciate any help you could give me to help settle in easier." She smiled.
"Oh, hey there! My name's Meagan Foster, sure I'd be glad to help. First off I want to dispel the notion that all us Slytherins are bad folk, we really aren't. It's just those snooty Pureblood Wizards that go and ruin our reputation."
"Actually I'm not even FROM here, I come from America."
"Oh yea that's right! Cool, a foreign exchange student."
With that they both laughed and began to talk about everything and anything that popped into their heads until it got so late they would both be sporting a neat set of dark circles the next day. In the morning Meagan woke up Caroline, who, unused to the absurd daylight hours that are 7am was a zombie until her shower. Together they walked to the Great Hall for breakfast sitting down to full platters of all sorts of things to eat for breakfast.
"OhthankyouGOD! They have warm meals!" Caroline exclaimed a bit too loudly.
Meagan frowned at her, "You know, we're not savages."
"Yes I know but it's just so fucking FREEZING here!"
"Watch your mouth there missy! You're liable to get some points deducted from us, and its high time Slytherin House wins the House Cup."
"Yea well, I don't care too much about that. I'm more interested in our Head of House, I saw him on the train on my way over here and he was really menacing, no way someone can be like that twenty-four seven."
"Well, he's looking at you right now!" Meagan giggled.
"Really?" Caroline turned around
"NO! Don't look!"
Too late. Caroline spun around and stared Snape right in the eye and gave him as flirtatious a wink as possible before turning back to Meagan. They finished their breakfast and got up with the rest of the tables of students and headed off to class.
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Snape entered the Great Hall through one of the back doors that lead to the teacher's table and took his seat. He searched up and down the closest table until he spotted her coming in chattering away with a blonde haired girl. He must have been staring too long at them because he saw the blonde haired girl nod in his direction making Caroline turn around and flash him a very provocative smile. Oh yes, she's going to be trouble…
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Bill swaggered into the Great Hall surrounded by his buddies, they had spent a majority of the first night back catching up on their summers and unpacking their things. He glanced over at the Slytherin table and caught sight of Caroline avidly conversing with a blonde haired girl when he saw her nod behind Caroline in the direction of the teacher's table and saw the tail end of a very alluring smile sent to Professor Snape. Bill saw Snape's expression change from a deeply pondering one to a mild shock. Bill laughed quietly to himself as she confused Snape and shook his head. He would definitely have to get her alone with him again, something which was easier said than done, seeing as how he is essentially the most wanted male Gryffindor among all the female counterparts in the castle.
"Hey man, what are you staring at so hard?" said Jeremy Avery, one of his best Gryffindor buddies poked him in the ribs hard enough to jar him back to the present.
The look on his face was enough for his friend who merely shook his head and grinned, "Now she DEFINITELY has to have made an impression on you if you're daydreaming about her."
"Remember that new sixth year from last night?"
"Yea, nice legs, why?"
Bill punched him in the arm, "She's more than that! She's fascinating I can't get her out of my head."
Jeremy paused, "You do know she's a Slytherin now right? Can't trust that lot, no matter how hot she is."
"I don't think she'll become one of them, she's got too much spunk, besides, I won't let her, not while I've got something to do about it." Bill grinned widely.
"Alright mate, you want us to give you some alone time with her then?"
"You read my mind."
They got up to leave with the rest of the students and headed to their most loathed of subjects, Potions. Unfortunately for them, it was also double potions and as usual Gryffindor was paired with Slytherin.
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