Following the directions that had been included in the letter sent to the orphanage in which she had been staying, Severinn walked through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 to arrive on platform 9 ¾, where the Hogwarts Express gleamed in the rare ray of sunshine.
All around, parents and children rushed about greeting friends, frantically giving advice and boarding the red locomotive. Severinn immediately headed towards the last carriage in order to give up her luggage, only to find out that there was no extra compartment for that purpose. Seeing that the last compartment was empty though, she set her heavy trunk under the seat and her little knickknacks on the seat beside her. Throughout the first half an hour, students wandered in and out of her compartment, none of the staying long except to ask her who she was. The answer was always the same: "6th year." Then three other 6th years, two boys and a girl decided to stay.
The first boy plopped himself down onto the seat across from her and introduced himself and his friends. "My name is Harry Potter, this is Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."
Severinn looked at him with a strange look on her face. "I am Severinn Thompson, new student from America."
"Which state?" Hermione asked.
"California, pretty much in the desert."
"Why did you come to Hogwarts then?" The boy who had been introduced as Ron exclaimed disbelievingly. "California is supposed to be wonderful!"
"My mother died." And more, she was not willing to tell.
"Which house do you think you will be put in?" Hermione asked to change the subject. Rinn gave her a small smile for her efforts.
"I am pretty sure that I will be in Slytherin, my mother told me all about Hogwarts and my father was in it."
All three looked surprised. "Why did they . . ." Ron began before Hermione elbowed him in the ribs to be quiet. Now Rinn really had to smile.
"So what house are you three in?"
"Gryffindor." Harry answered with hint of pride.
"Well, congratulations, other than Slytherin that is supposed to be the best house from what she told me. She herself however, was in Huffelpuff."
"But you still think you will be sorted into Slytherin?" Ron asked in surprise.
"Yes, you see, my father was a Slytherin and I was always told that I am just like him." Rinn answered and silence fell onto them for a few minutes.
Suddenly, the door to the compartment opened and a tall boy with silvery white hair and pale features stepped in, accompanied by two, even taller, stockier boys who looked to be as dumb as mud.
"Ah, Potter, Weasley and Granger. Have you found another mudblood to join your crew?" The boy, who she judged to be about her own age, studied her intensely while she did likewise. "But no, her eyes are too calculating and full of knowledge. Fair lady, I am Draco Malfoy. Behind me are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. I invite you to grace us with your fair presence in our compartment." The trio was surprised that Malfoy could prove to be civilized. They swung their gazes to Severinn to see how she would react.
"I am Severinn Thompson." Why did everyone look startled at her name? "I thank you for your kind invitation, but we will be arriving at Hogwarts soon. I am sure, however that I will see you again once we are there." She told him politely.
Disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he nodded to her courtly, sneered at Harry, Ron and Hermione and left the compartment.
Rinn stood behind the first years, waiting to be sorted. All who saw her were startled that a 6th year would stand among the newbies. When her name was called out though, everyone leaned forward in surprise.
"Severinn Thompson!" Cool, with her head held high, she walked up to the stool, sat down and McGonagall place the sorting hat on her head.
"Ahh, you are an easy job. Cunning, intelligence, beauty and courage, good combination for . . ."
"Slytherin!" Rinn stood up gracefully and sat down at the first available seat at the Slytherin table. The sorting continued and finally food appeared so that the students could eat. Severinn was halfway through her fish sticks when someone cleared their throat behind her. Setting her utensils down onto her still halfway full plate, Rinn turned to find Malfoy behind her, his two goons to his immediate left and right.
"Good evening, Draco." She said politely. "What might I do for you?" Draco's cheeks turned a slight shade of pink before he asked:
"Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to our common room after dinner?" Rinn was quite frankly surprised.
"Thank you, I would appreciate that. Please, don't bring your two friends though. It is not as if we need supervision." Now Crabbe and Goyle turned red and abruptly turned away, Goyle looking as though he would like to have hit her.
"They didn't like that." Draco muttered.
"Who cares? It is not as though they had asked me to accompany them and I don't feel like being followed the whole time." She answered curtly. Draco smiled slightly.
From the long table in the front of the Great Hall, two coal black eyes followed the dark haired girl and the pale blond boy at her side as they left the Great Hall.
He had watched the girl throughout dinner and had come to the conclusion that she was a typical Slytherin. Cool, calm, collected, he couldn't wait to see her in action during class.
This girl interested him, even though he couldn't say why. She reminded him greatly of Maristha Thompson, an old acquaintance. It was no wonder though, since Severinn was her daughter.
Her name did disconcert him though.
Rinn breathed in deeply as she entered the potions classroom with Draco. She felt as though in heaven with the smells of herbs assaulting her nose. Just like her father, potion making was her favorite hobby.
"Crabbe," Draco told the boy on his other side. "Go find somewhere else to sit, this seat is taken." Rinn looked at the other boy to see a flash of anger in his eyes.
"No, that's okay, Draco. This is Crabbe's seat. I'll sit somewhere else." Rinn said, looking around the room. To her surprise, she saw the seat next to Harry Potter unoccupied. "See you later." She said to Draco and walked over to the table where the Gryffindor sat.
Harry looked up in surprise as she approached his table.
"Are you alone?" she asked him.
"Yes, surprisingly I was able to get an 'Outstanding' in my potions OWL, while Hermione and Ron weren't. How I managed that is beyond me though." He said with a smile.
"Would you mind being my partner this year?" she asked him. Harry was startled and looked over at Draco who stared at them, fuming.
"Sure." They both got out their ingredients, knives, cauldrons and note books. For some reason, Professor Snape was late this day. "How do you like being in Slytherin so far?" Harry asked. "Are they treating you decently?"
"Oh ya." Severinn answered. "There are of course, a couple of bitches in my 6th year dormitory, but that is nothing I can't deal with."
"Let me guess, Pansy Parkinson?" They grinned at each other just as Snape stormed into the room.
"There is nothing to grin about in my classroom." He said sharply. Harry's smile immediately faded, but the one adorning Rinn's just grew wider. "Today we will be working on the dreamless sleep potion. The instructions are on the blackboard. Since you all made it into advanced potions, I assume that you all will have perfected this potion within the next two hours. Please Begin."
"So Harry." Rinn began. "How has it been in Gryffindor so far this year?" All the while as she spoke, her long, slender hands maneuvered her knife expertly, slicing first the sassafras root and then mincing Dragon's Sword.
Harry, just as quick with his own herbs, replied: "Oh, nothing unusual. Fred and George turned a couple of first years into canaries, Hermione spent the evening reading our new transfiguration book and Ron got into an argument with Seamus over their favorite Quidditch team." Harry shrugged as he poured the Sassafras root, Dragon's Sword and pickled frog legs into the boiling water of his cauldron.
"That sounds great!" Rinn said while stirring her potion. "I will have to come visit one of these days."
Harry looked at here in surprise. "You are welcome by me anytime. There might be a few problems with the others, but they'll come around."
"Mr. Potter! This is a potions class, not a chat room! Snape said angrily, towering over their table. The Slytherin girl promptly burst out laughing.
"Ms. Thompson, might I ask what you find so funny?" Snape spat out furiously.
"Chat room!" She choked out and broke out in a fresh gale of laughter. "I didn't know wizards had the Internet." Now Snape's features twisted in confusion, while Harry lifted his eyebrow in surprise and likewise broke out in laughter.
"Detention, for both of you!" Was all the angry professor was able to say in edgewise before going into his office behind the potions classroom.