A/N: Here you are, everyone! A special thanks, again, to Amanda for her collaboration over the next few chapters.

Chapter Five: Introductions

"Delaney, Rhiannon."

The name echoed through the head of Severus Snape like a ghost which had the audacity to rear it's head again after a long absence, mocking him.

"Delaney, Rhiannon."

The name meant, 'great queen,' in the tongue of her mother's people. And he had no doubt who that girl would have called, "Mother."

"Delaney, Mika."

The name was not one he had ever heard before. The girl was small, with almond-shaped eyes that were a striking blue-grey...or was it grey-blue? Her slender form mingled perfectly with the first-years she was being Sorted with, though he had heard she was a transfer and would be taking classes with the second years. She looked something like a china doll, pale and fragile, but with a strength inside that he found impossible to ignore...

Shaking his head clear of such thoughts, the Head of Slytherin saw to it the Prefects had done their duties to the new students, and then, in the privacy and sanctity of his office, Summoned a file.

"Delaney, Rhiannon."

He had heard, known even, the girl's mother was dead. And yet how was it possible that she had come here?

Snape perused the file.

Name: Delaney, Rhiannon Jane

Date of Birth: 6 January, 1999

Parents: Delaney, Mika: Deceased

Father Unknown...

For a moment, he paused. The two words, in cold black and white, made him taut as a statue in his fury, gripping the desk until his knuckles were white. How could she have not known?

And then the word beside Mika's name came into play...Deceased.

Deceased meant dead.

An entire decade or more of searching, only to find his worst fears confirmed. Mika had indeed passed on from this life, and had not the common courtesy to even bid him farewell.

Brilliant, Mika. Brilliant, indeed, after everything they had been to each other.

Burying his head in his hands a long moment, Snape fought back the tears which attempted to stain the file, deep breaths helping him regain his control.

The file went on.

Birthplace: Unknown

Current Residence: Princeton Asylum for Orphans
27 South Street West
Brighton

So..she'd been living in an orphanage, with no clue as to her abilities or her parentage.

History: Display of magic at early age. Teased by peers at P.A.F.O...

The file went on to list to the many accidental, and sometimes purposeful, displays of magic that had occurred when she was teased, threatened, or at the worst downright abused by the other children. Snape went over each one, tampering down a mixture of both pride and indignation. Magic was not something to be used indiscriminately, but somehow he had an inclination these particular Muggle children weren't exactly innocent of wrongdoing toward the girl herself.

It was almost looking in a mirror.

Closing the file with a sigh, the Deputy Headmaster looped his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair, considering what it would be best to do. Did the girl know? He dismissed that thought almost at once. There as no way she could have known...

Unless someone had told her.

Finally, the explanation came. Looking down again at the girl's file, he saw another name. The name of an old enemy, and an ally to the girl's mother. He was surprised that she hadn't been frightened out of her wits of him by now; as far as Snape knew, he hadn't had Wolfsbane in some time.

Maybe it was finally time to put out that proverbial olive branch, and then twist it to his advantage.

The next morning, Rhiannon awoke to the sound of the other three girls who shared her small dorm room chattering. She quietly made herself ready, and went up with her fellow Slytherins to breakfast.

Or so she thought. With a sigh, she turned, finding herself right back in the corridor in the dungeons where she had started. She turned right quickly, giving a cry and she and another student collided. Landing flat on her backside, Rin immediately began stammering apologies, looking up to see a Slytherin girl about her age getting up slowly. She had pretty blonde hair, olive green eyes, and a sweet complexion. Her figure was slight, but she was a bit taller than Rhiannon.

"I'm sorry," stammered both girls at the same time, "I didn't look where I was-"

The pair of them paused a moment, looking at each other, before bursting into a flurry of giggles.

"Let's try this again, huh?" said the other girl, "I'm Cassopeia Malfoy; you can call me Cassie. What's your name?"

"Rhiannon. Delaney. Call me Rin...pretty much everyone else does."

"All right Rin...now, are you just as lost as I am?"

"I think so...but I think you were on to something heading up that way..."

At breakfast, the two girls were chatting like old friends. That is, until a runaway goblet of pumpkin juice splashed the both of them. Glaring, they turned to see the perpetrator of this particular offense.

She was a First-Year too, judging from her height and build. Her dark hair was cropped neatly in a short style, and her hazel eyes flashed with amusement and a touch of superiority.

"Oh...soooooo sorry, you two," she said in her most insincere voice, "I must learn to be more careful, musn't I..."

Her voice trailed off easily as she went and took a seat between a dark-haired boy and a sallow-skinned girl.

"Right," muttered Cassie with murder in her voice, "she's soooooo sorry. I'd watch her, Rin. I met her on the train. That's Emily Zabini. The boy with her is Brendan Goyle...the other girl is Cerasi Nott."

Rin nodded, memorizing each of their features. Cerasi had dark red hair plaited into a braid, with a long face and large doe eyes. Brendan was not overly handsome, but his dark hair and eyes gave him something of a interesting look for a boy. She mused over the incident, doing her best to hold her temper.

Rin's anger quickly cooled when she saw hundreds of owls coming in through the high open windows. She had heard about owls carrying mail for wizarding kind, and had seen her godparents use them before, but had never seen quite so many in one place before. She was even more amazed when a large grey owl left a parcel with several large holes in it next to her plate.

"But...I don't...huh?"

Rhiannon gently removed the piece of paper from the leg of the parcel, and read.

My Dear Rin-
I hope you'll consider this kitten as a decade worth of birthday presents from your godfather and me. Good luck at Hogwarts!
Love
Circe

Eyes wide with anticipation, Rhiannon opened the box, revealing a solid black kitten, which mewed with fright, but soon began to purr as it felt the warmth and safety of its new owner's chest and hands.

"Well, hello," said the girl with a grin, gently stroking the kitten's glossy fur. It pawed at her fingers affectionately, making the girl laugh as she thanked the owl. It hooted back, looking at her as if it was waiting for something. Rhiannon quickly realized what it wanted, gently allowing the kitten to perch on her shoulder while she wrote a reply.

Dear Circe-

Thank you very much for the kitten! I think I'll name her Avery...she seems to like me already. I'll write again soon!

Love
Rhiannon

Gently tying the piece of parchment to the owl's leg, she sent it off again. Rhiannon arranged things for the kitten in her own bed, and quickly hurried back to join her fellow first-years in the annual ritual of getting lost.

The first class of the day turned out to be Charms with a little wizard called Professor Flitwick. He was also head of Ravenclaw House, the House of "smart" people. The very first lesson involved the levitation of a feather.

In the garden later, Rhiannon sat with a book, musing over her new life, when she spotted Emily Zabini. The other girl approached, with clear malice in her eyes, glossed over with a touch of superiority.

"Better watch yourself, Delaney," she said, "you know, blood traitors are quite looked down upon in Slytherin House. Oh...wait...I've heard about you, Delaney. You don't even really know who your family are...do you?"

Despite her manners, being reminded that she was the daughter of a powerful witch, and everything else that would have held her back, Zabini's tone and condescending manner made the girl's blood boil. Before she knew what had happened, her hand had flown and the other girl was screaming and holding her cheek, a few red drops of crimson staining the palm of her hand. A nearby Prefect came over, taking each girl by the shoulder.

"Ah—a couple'a Snakes," he said, "Right then...Professor Snape it is."

…to Hogwarts posthaste, or as soon as your duties permit. We apparently have...

Professor Snape's brief missive to get some answers from the one person who might have them was cut short by a polite knocking at his door. Impatiently, he opened it, seeing a Hufflepuff Prefect with a pair of Slytherin girls. Both girls he knew well.

"Sorry to interrupt, Professor," said the Prefect, "but these girls were in the garden. I heard a scream, saw the blood, and took Miss Zabini here to the Hospital Wing. Afterward, I brought them to you, since they're in your House."

"Thank you, Mr. Diggs," replied the Potions Master silkily, "you are most considerate to allow me to mediate matters among my own students. You may go."

Once the young man had made his exit, Snape closed the door to his office, warding it against intrusions and eavesdroppers. His black robes billowing around him, he faced the pair of girls.

Emily Zabini's face had not been badly damaged, it appeared, or Madame Pomfrey had already seen to fixing it. Rhiannon Delaney did not look as if she were afraid of what was coming, merely resigned to her fate.

"Explain, Miss Zabini," drawled Snape, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at the pair of them with a great deal of disapproval. With all the skill of one who has been trained to manipulate the truth, Emily told her tale.

"Indeed," he said when she had finished, raising a quizzical eyebrow, "and now, Miss Delaney, I should like to hear your side of the matter."

When Rhiannon spoke, he instantly was jolted back to another time...another place...another occasion...

"I didn't start it, Sev," she said with a certain amount of defiance, "but really, they didn't leave me any choice..."

Looking at the carnage; three boys all in various states of distress, Severus Snape laughed.

As Rhiannon finished her story, Snape briefly shook his head clear, bringing himself back to the present.

"Very well. Miss Delaney, I shall warn you to keep your temper in future. Miss Zabini, I will remind you that I am on rather...favorable terms with your parents, and allow me to make you both aware I will not tolerate another incident like this one. As it is, you two are to return to your dormitories and remain there. If you attempt to disobey me, I shall know, and you will both be scrubbing out bedpans in the Hospital Wing and cauldrons after class for a month, without magic. Your behaviour is certainly not going to clear up any ill-repute Slytherin may have gained over the years, and is a disgrace to myself and your House. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," chided both girls.

"Good. Be off with you both."

That evening, Severus Snape finished his letter and owled it. A reply awaited him at breakfast.

But of course, Severus. How kind of you to remember me. I'll see you this evening.