Ok, I know that the last chapter was a bit rushed, but this one will HOPEFULLY be more detailed.
Please R&R, but if you don't like the pairing than don't read and honestly I mean if you don't like the pairing in the first place than why would you search for them? Just saying…
Also I used the Sorting Hat's song from '95. Also i might use songs/phrases that are current (like 2011) but this takes place whenever J.K. Rowling wrote it and whatever time period it was.
DISCLAIMER: i own nothing. If i did i would make Snape SOO much hotter ;)
They gaped at me. Not that I expected them not to.
"Are you sure?" Ginny urgently whispered leaning closer to me with a worried look.
"Yes," I said looking down, "My parents have that same mark. The skull with the snake tongue coming out. I remember that my parents would always leave on business trips when I was younger, and they became more frequent these past few months. And every single time they left they would clutch their arm, where the tattoo was, in pain. I would ask but they just said it was some muscle problem."
They were silent a moment and Neville spoke up and said, "When You-Know-Who calls his death eaters, the tattoos move and it causes tremendous pain. I know because…well I don't really like talking about it," He paused before continuing saying, "Anyway, if you really think that your parents have the dark mark on them, you should probably tell Snape,"
"And why the bloody HELL should she do that?" Ginny said exasperated and leaning back in her booth, "Snape betrayed Dumbledore, Neville. You know that. What do you think he would do, anyway? He probably already knows that her parents are Death Eaters,"
Neville stood and paced around the room before looking at me and saying, "Did you parents say anything about anyone at Hogwarts, or wizards in general?"
I paused before answering truthfully, "My mom and dad told me about the Weasley's, and that they will explain more to me about the wizard world, and she told me to trust Severus Snape."
Ginny spoke up saying, "Ok, well my parents don't have the Dark Mark, so I'm guessing that your mom is either a spy for You-Know-Who and decided to switch sides, or she didn't want you to be wrapped up in all of the evil stuff and sent you to Hogwarts where she hoped you would live normal."
I raised my eyebrows at her and said, "How would you possibly know what would be going on in my mom and dad's heads?"
She shrugged and said, "Lucky guess?"
I just rolled my eyes. After a few moments of awkward silence, Neville looked up at me and said, "Well, what are you going to do about it? I mean, how are you going to deal knowing that your parents support a mass murderer,"
"First of all you don't know if my parents do or don't support this You-Know-Who, and neither do I. So why don't you just hold your God forsaken tongue and stop just assuming that my parents go out and kill every living thing!" I shot back glaring at him. I have a short temper if you haven't noticed.
He shot back in his seat and stared at me in shock. Damn. Maybe I was a little too hard. I sighed, pinched the bridge of my nose and said, "Ok, look. I don't really know what I'm gonna do about it right now, Ok? I just found out and I am not in a mood to think of it now. The most important thing for me to focus on is my academics so I can move up a few grades and not be stuck with a bunch of eleven year olds. Not fun. Unless you're eleven…anyway just promise me you won't tell anyone. I don't want to be kicked out or sent to prison. Wait. Does this wizarding world have a prison or is it just like regular prisons?" I asked, getting a bit off topic. I do that a lot.
"Yeah, there is a prison. It's called Azkaban. It's pretty terrible. I never went, but I know people who have, and they say it's indescribable. In the bad way."
I nodded. There was so much for me to know about this whole wizard world. And on top of that I have to figure out if my parents are like, not completely evil.
Neville smiled softly as if to except my apology that I never made.
"So what houses are you both in?" I asked conversationally. We continued to talk for the next hour or so, and we laughed and chatted the whole time, and we didn't say a thing about this You-Know-Who and his little creepy followers for the entire ride.
"You should get your robes on," Ginny instructed when the train stopped, "You and the other first years are going to be on boats that will sail across the lake, while the other students go in on carriages.
"Why aren't you going on the boats?" I asked as I put my robes on. I looked extremely dorky. Great.
"Because the first years come in through the front of the castle and the rest are already there. I'm guessing it's for like, more of a dramatic effect. Everyone goes into the Great Hall from there,"
Just as she finished the doors opened and a student that looked around their age came in. She had white blonde hair and a distant look on her face.
"Hey guys, sorry I didn't sit next to you. I couldn't find you and after the Death Eaters came and searched us, I didn't really want to get up and look around. Oh, who's your knew friend?" She asked in a soft voice.
"LUNA!" Ginny and Neville exclaimed and hugged her. Goodness. Brits are so touchy. (A/N: NO OFFENSE TO ALL OF YOU BRITISH READIN THIS! I just want to make Trixie seem more like a jerk so she…well you'll find out)
After they settled down, Ginny said, "This is Trixie Rayner. She's American,"
I smiled and extended my hand, and she smiled and shook it saying, "Luna Lovegood,"
I smiled, she seemed nice.
After a few more minutes of chatting, we got up and headed off the train. Luckily, no one said anything about how my parents are Death Eaters…well; I think they are at least.
But what I didn't tell them, and what I would never tell a soul knowing how I would be treated, and probably sent to this Azkaban was this: I had the same tattoo on my arm as well.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (hee hee)
Ginny and Luna hugged me, and they both said that they hoped that I would be sorted into Gryffindor. But I had a terrible thought that I would be sorted into Slytherin. Though, Slytherin doesn't seem too bad.
"FIRST YEAR COME WITH ME! FIRST YEARS!" Came a bellowing voice. I looked though the crowd of tiny people and saw an enormous man calling for first years. Since I was about two heads taller than everyone else, I had to crouch down so I wouldn't be noticed. I don't like to stand out. Well, in the bad way of course.
"FIRST YEARS COME WITH ME!" I followed him along with all the tiny people. If I was going to have to crouch down for the rest of the years to come, I am probably goin to become hunched.
My trunk was apparently already sent to my room, so I just followed him and hopped onto a boat with some more midgets, and sailed across the lake.
After we crossed the lake, and everyone was out of the water, the tall man said, "I am Rubeus Hagrid, but ya can jus' call meh Hagrid. I'm Keeper of the Keys, and I am here to escort you from the train to Hogwarts. Severus Snape will lead you in to Hogwarts, and he will bring you into the Great Hall," Hagrid left, but he sneered Snape's name out when he said it. Goodness, what on earth could this man have done to make everyone hate him?
You know, except the fact that he killed to other Headmaster. Hmmm. Maybe that was it…
Just then, a silky voice said, "Come with me," but he sneered. For some reason I think he disliked these younger children as much I probably would. Lovely.
We followed him into the school, and DAMN was it huge! It was like one of those medieval castles from like, the 14th century!
But I kept my face neutral and bored. I didn't want to seem like some awe-stuck child like these idiots.
"Hey," one of them called my way. I didn't turn, in case they weren't talking to me. I made that mistake before. Twice.
I felt someone grab my arm and I turned in frustration. Goodness. Some people need to learn manners. I guess I was just a bit grumpy because I would have to be sorted in front of everyone. And I'm sixteen.
"Hey, I'm Arabella James, but call me Bella. I realized that you seem a bit older than everyone else."
I smiled despite myself. Just grin and bear it as my father said.
"I am. I'm sixteen. Unfortunately, Snape or whatever, wants me to start out as a first year,"
"Just realized you were a witch?" She asked sympathetically.
"Yeah," I said and laughed awkwardly.
"It's ok, Professor Snape put me with the first years, too. I'm fourteen."
I smiled and said, "I'm Trixie Rayner. Call me Trix." I extended my hand and she shook it saying,
"Nice to meet you. Are you American, too?"
"I am," I smiled, at least some other person here is from the US.
"I live right outside D.C," I could tell she was going to say something else, a silky voice said, "Alright; I am Severus Snape, Headmaster. You are to address me as Professor Snape. I will lead you into the Great Hall, and when Minerva McGonagall calls your name, sit on the stool provided and you will be sorted by the Sorting Hat."
Bella and I exchanged worried looks before following everyone else into the Hall. Snape dramatically opened the two doors and strode into the Great Hall. Let me tell you, when they said great, they weren't exaggerating.
There were four tables, decorated with different colors, and stretched over two hundred feet. I looked up and I saw the ceiling was moving. Is that even legal?
I remembered that I didn't want to stand out, so I crouched down and managed to walk over hundreds of feet without some people staring. I am about 5' 5'' (5 feet 5 inches), and everyone else was about 4' 10', except Bella she was closer to my height, so we both continued to crouch as we all stood before Snape and all the other teachers. Or professors. Whatever.
An old woman in her late sixties stood up and walked over to us. Well, not before sneering at Snape. Her look was priceless.
"When I call you name you will sit on this stool and you will be sorted into your proper house. But first…" She must have been Professor McGonagall.
The old woman paused and took a few steps back . The hat on the stool moved, then began singing. Hold on. Let me say that again. It began singing! What the CRAP?
"In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
'Together we will build and teach'
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest.'
Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest'
Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name.'
Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same.'
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the Houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
and we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin."
I resisted the urge to clap at the song. Pretty good for a hat that sings only once a year I'm guessing. McGonagall went to the front of the crowd and said,
"Caine Wright,"
A boy in front of me visibly stiffened and paused, but after a few hoaxing jesters from other students, walked up to the stool and sat down. McGonagall placed the hat on the boys head. It almost covered his eyes. It was adorable.
The hat paused saying, "Hmmm. Smart. Smarter than most of the students here…Brave, too…hmmm…GRYFFINDOR!"
The table that was decorated in the colors scarlet and gold erupted in applause and cheering. The boy smiled, took the hat off, and ran to the table.
"Arabella James," The woman called.
Arabella lost all color in her face, and after I elbowed her in the guts, she walked over to the stool and sat down on the stool, and the woman placed that hat on her head.
"Smart. Very smart as well…but not like most…cunning…SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherin table decorated in green and silver clapped loudly and cheered as Arabella smiled and skipped over to the Slytherin table. She mouthed "Good luck," and I rolled my eyes and smiled.
"Erin Johnson," the woman called.
A timid looking girl stepped from the beginning of the swarm of children and sat on the stool.
The hat said, "Alright, then…hmm…ok…yes…RAVENCLAW!"
The table in blue and bronze also clapped and cheered loudly. The girl blushed deeply and walked over to the table and sat down next to a group of girl who instantly began whispering and laughing with her.
"Trixie Rayner," The woman called. SHIT!
I took a deep breath, and I grabbed the top of my sleeve with my fingers, so no one would be able to see my tattoo. I knew they couldn't see it anyway, put it wouldn't hurt to hold it.
I made my way through the swarm of children and sat on the stool.
The sorting hat paused before saying, "Hmm…Pureblood…hmmm….the purest it can get…I don't believe you have a single drop of muggle blood in you…you have a dark secret…on your—"
"DON'T!" I warned. Oh, my GOD. If he said anything about my tattoo…
"Hmm…brave, too. But where to put you," It mused, "How about…SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers and applause. I smiled, and said to the hat, "Thanks," Knowing what I was talking about it nodded. NODDED!
I walked over to the Slytherin table and sat next to Bella. "I knew you would be in Slytherin." She winked. I laughed and watched the rest of the first years get sorted into Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.
After everyone was sorted, McGonagall sat down and Snape got up and said, "As all of you know, or should know, I am the Headmaster. I have decided to stay Head of House for Slytherin. Alecto and Amycus Carrow are our new Professors for Muggle Studies and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Classes begin tomorrow. Your schedules will be in your rooms."
When he mentioned their names, a man and woman stood up. I would have thought they were married, but the way they both looked at the students with hatred and how they both shared a similar sneer, I knew they were siblings. You inherit that kind of crap as my mother says.
With that we were dismissed, and the Head of House for Slytherin led us down into the Dungeons, where our dorms were.
Arabella and I shared a room and we immediately went up to check it out. Our trunks were there right by our beds, and we sat down and talked while we unpacked.
"So what do you think of the Carrows?" She asked while she folded up some regular jeans and tee shirts.
"They seem a bit creepy," I replied.
"What I really hate though, is that whenever people think of Slytherin, they think of You-Know-Who and how everyone in Slytherin supports him. I don't! And I don't think you do either!"
"No I don't" I said. I was going to tell her about my mark and how my parents had it, too, but I decided to wait until I could put my full trust in her. And I really didn't support him. I have had this mark for as long as I can remember. And that's a long time mind you. And I'm not evil, either! And I don't support murders, even if my parents do. If.
"Oh yeah, what was you 'dark secret' thing about?" She asked and sat down on the bed.
"I'll tell you later, okay? I don't really feel like telling anyone right now," I lied.
She laughed and said, "You don't trust me do you?"
I gaped at her, "How did you know? Oh, and it's not that I don't trust you, its—"
She just laughed and said, "Chill out. I wouldn't want you to trust me right away anyway. I don't put my full trust in people until they have proven it. And besides," She said matter-o-factly and ate a grape, "If it's important I'll find sooner or later,"
I laughed and rolled my eyes and took some of her grapes. We talked for at least an hour later, talking about family and such. She was raised as a witch, and her family taught her potions and charms, so if I needed any help, I could just ask her.
"And I really didn't get what the Sorting Hat meant when he said, 'Smart, but not like most' or whatever,"
I paused, ate a grape, and then answered, "I think he means like logical. You know when to do the right thing. But since he said cunning, he means the right time to pull a prank or something,"
She laughed and said, "I'll take that as a compliment. What classes do we have tomorrow?"
I got up and walked over to my trunk. My schedule was attached to it.
"I have Defense Against the Dark Arts at 10, Charms at 11, and Potions at 2. What about you?"
"Since we both are in first year, we have the same thing. And good thing too, I don't want to be alone,"
I laughed and said, "Well I know absolutely nothing about magic not including the fact that we use wands. I hope they have a library or something,"
"I think they do," She said and yawned, "Ok, I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning. And can you set your alarm, I'm too lazy."
I laughed, got up, and set the alarm for 8, "I call taking the first shower,"
She groaned and replied, "That's fine, and you have to wake up earlier,"
"Hey man, don't blame me if I take all the hot water,"
She threw a pillow at me and laughed, "Fine. I liked cold showers anyway,"
I rolled my eyes, gave her pillow back, and fell asleep. I hoped with all my heart that you could get this tattoo surgically removed or something.
Ok, first of all if I got stuff wrong about the Carrows, the Houses, or any other thing just CHILL! I didn't feel like reading all 7 books again, so I looked it up. So blame Wikipedia, not me! And it will all work out in the end…I hope. Lol!
Please R&R and no flames please! I'm a huge softy! But if you have any ideas for this story please tell me! I know how this story is going to end and I know some facts in the middle, but for right now I'm playing this by ear and just writing things as I go along.
Hope you enjoyed, and Chappy 6 is on the way soon!