The loud sounds of King's Cross station assaulted their ears as they made their way towards the docking station. Severus carried a large black and gold trunk and Harry had a grey cat carrier that occasionally mewed as a small white paw would poke out of the bars. As they came to a stop Lily knelt down in front of her son and began fixing the collar on his shirt. Her green eyes looked bright against the redness that invaded her eyes as she held off tears.
"The ride is a few hours long so if you get hungry eat something, I don't want you to faint. And make sure you find Neville and Draco, I don't want you to be alone. Some of the older years can be nasty to the littles," Lily's lips began to tremble and her finger tightened on the lavender jumper layer she insisted he wear, ("It's supposed to be nippy today and when you cross the lake it'll be worse. You know you're fragile in the cold").
"Lily dear, he'll see us in a few hours at the feast," Severus placed a hand on her trembling shoulder.
"I know, I know. It's just my baby is growing up too fast." She pulled Harry into her arms and he fought off a grimace of embarrassment. After she pulled back she cupped his face and smoothed down his hair, looking at him for a minute before standing up and letting out a deep shaky breath.
Severus looked down at his son and placed a hand on the back of his neck, reminiscent of how he used to hold Harry's head as an infant. His son looked up at him and gave a small sideways smile before adjusting the cat carrier and picking up the trunk. They didn't say anything, they didn't need to. Many thought that Harry was closer to his mother based on the fact that she was more outwardly affectionate, but the bond that he and Severus had was stronger and just by looking at each other all the words that needed to be said were conveyed.
Harry turned around and started towards the train, only looking back as he was boarding. As he disappeared inside, Lily leaned heavily into her husband and he into her.
It didn't take long for Harry to find the compartment that Neville and Draco had claimed as theirs. After placing his trunk on top and Soren's carrier on the floor, he flopped down onto the plush red seat and buried his face into the Malfoy scion's neck grumbling.
"I'm afraid I don't understand mumble Harrison," Draco drawled out, petting the dark hair with perfectly rounded nails.
"She cried. My mom actually cried." Harry lifted his head so that it was leant again Draco's cheek and facing Neville. "She'll be seeing me later tonight, and if I'm a Ravenclaw she'll be my Head of House, and she cried like I'm going off to war." He moaned out.
"Well from what I've heard Uncle Sev say about some of the Gryffindors, you may as well be going off to war," Neville snorted at Draco's comment.
"It's not funny. Did your moms cry?" The young Prince pouted. Draco took the offending lower lip between his thumb and forefinger and pulled before responding,
"My parents and I said our official goodbyes at home, and I won't be seeing them for months so of course my mother cried. But she's been crying my entire life."
"I honestly think my dad was closer to crying than my mum," Neville put in with a shrug.
"That's because Aunt Alice is a badass."
The journey went on with them bantering and talking, though there were a few close calls with Trevor, Neville's toad (it was gift, shut up Draco), trying to escape from his terrarium. When the prefects went through to give the ten minute warning, the boys changed into their plain black school robes and tidied up the compartment. Harry didn't want to leave Soren alone in compartment when they went to the castle, but he also knew he couldn't take him with him and that the house elves would look after him. So with as heavy a heart as his eleven year old self could manage he left with Neville and Draco, the latter pulling him along by his wrist.
Stepping off the train they were greeted by a tremendous sized man who called out,
"Firs' years!" and loaded them into boats by fours.
"That must be Rubeus Hagrid," Harry whispered to his friends. "My mom's stories did his size no justice."
"What justice could be done? He's an oaf, in size and manner," Draco sneered, only to be knocked over the head by Neville. "Well I'm not wrong."
"Draco darling, I'm afraid that if it started to rain you would drown." Neville said to the younger in an impressive imitation of Lady Malfoy's voice.
When the castle came into view they were all left speechless. The marble and stone against the bruised night sky, all illuminated by floating candles and brightened stone windows. It's reflection against the trembling black lake left the children reaching out to touch the water, as if touching even its reflection would let them feel its majesty. Reaching the shore and moving to the front entrance of the castle, everyone's excitement peaked. Chatter scattered around them, and they shook with anticipation. Then the doors opened.
Severus sat at the head table in direct view of the Slytherin table. A couple seats down his wife sat in direction of her Ravenclaws. Ever since arriving to work early that day he'd been on edge. Being back in the castle, surrounded by people he had seen die in such vivid detail and students whom he'd seen grow up; it was almost too much. He hadn't been able to look Dumbledore in the eyes yet. And to top it all off Professor Quirrell returned from Romania twitchy and stuttering. He hadn't been that way last term and it brought back memories of the dream school year of 1991.
So lost in thought Severus almost didn't hear the first years come into the Great Hall. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Lily sit straighter in her chair and lean forward to look for their son. He easily found the boy out of the small bunch, his slight figure and odd features standing out. He was towards the front of the pack with Draco wrapped around him, staking claim his to the other children around. Even with friendship the child didn't know how to share. It's a miracle he and Neville learned to tolerate each other, let alone become friends.
Then everyone quieted as Minerva cleared her throat and the sorting began.
The boys stood in the crowd of first years, Draco hanging onto Harry's arm and Neville standing slightly in front. Harry wasn't at all surprised by the appearance of the great hall, having basically grown up at Hogwarts. So as his yearmates wondered in awe at the charmed ceiling, he picked lint off the back on Neville robe. He, of course, was also avoiding making eye contact with his parents. He knew they both wanted him to be in their houses, and Slytherin and Ravenclaw were the ones he considered fit him best. But there was a small fear in him of disappointing them. He knew it was probably irrational, but his eleven year mind tended to drift in such directions. It was Professor McGonagall's voice that brought him from his thoughts and to the present. Neville was called first.
"Longbottom, Neville", his friend made his way to the stool, and when he sat down McGonagall dropped the old ragged hat on top of his head. The brim covered his eyes, and made him appear smaller than before. Though Harry supposed it did the same to everyone, and would probably have a worse effect on his smaller frame. After a moment of contemplation the hat straightened up and yelled,
"GRYFFINDOR!" Oh poor Neville, he thought. He'll never get a good night's sleep. But his friend made his way to the Lion's table and promptly shook hands with presumably a Weasley. Percy, judging by the Prefects badge on his chest. He was one of the better behaved Weasley's from what his parents said. And not long after Neville was sorted, Draco was called.
"Malfoy, Draco", he sauntered up to the front and before the hat had properly touched his head it shouted,
"SLYTHERIN." which wasn't a surprise to anyone really. And soon enough Harry's name was being called.
"Snape, Harrison," he walked to towards the Professor and stool, ignoring the chittering of the students. Of course it was a big deal when a child of a professor came, but a child of two professors was a spectacle. Especially if the child is that of the Dungeon Bat of Slytherin. But Harry paid them no mind and calmly sat down (or rather hopped up) on the old wooden stool and almost flinched when the hat obstructed his vision and a voice sounded in his head.
"Ah, Mister Snape. The school has certainly been waiting for your arrival as a student." Harry cringed. "But no matter, let's take a lot at you," The hat started to hmm to itself and wiggly slightly on his head, making his fringe crinkle on his forehead. "You've got quite the brain here Mister Potter, very intelligent, intuitive. Also loyal, though not to many. Bravery… yes I see some there. You aren't afraid of doing what you believe is right… even if it means going about it in a less than appropriate way. Now… where to put you?"
Harry shut his eyes waiting, his mind racing and hoping that wherever it was he would be happy.
"Ah, is that so? Well then, better be RAVENCLAW".
The hat yelled out and Harry sighed as it was removed from his head. As we walked to the Ravenclaw table, he looked at his parents. His father nodded to him, a small smile playing at his lips. And his mother was practically bouncing in her seat. Unfortunately for him, he thought, there was no escaping his parents while at Hogwarts. But honestly, he didn't think he minded.