"Arden, Emily!" Emily's racing heart didn't slow down as she made her way up to be sorted into her house. She ignored the hundreds of eyes following her up to the rather tall bench that was presented before her. Quickly she did her best to free her hands from the layers of her robes and a low chuckle rang throughout the room as she grabbed the back of the stool to pull her small frame up. Unlike the other children who were more able to manage, Emily was simply too small.
"Hello hello… a interesting case I see. A Slytherin by your family's birth right, the pure blood that you are… but no, a good mind, a great mind in fact, Ravenclaw would suit you well, as it did your brother, but your cunning has been surppressed far too much, and you're brave, but you might need a that push… I think I know what to do with you…GRYFFINDOR!" Had Emily been fully listening she would have heard which house she had been placed, but she had completely stopped listening upon hearing what the hat had said. A brother? In Ravenclaw?
"Miss Arden, you may take your seat." The strict witch said, looking down at the small child.
"Umm… which…house?" She asked, looking up at the woman.
"Gryffindor… to the table cheering" She said. The little girl nodded, and quickly made her way to the welcome of the other students. Her long black hair was down to her waist and a bit unruly from her travels. Her blue eyes were wide, in shock and for the rest of the sorting; she kept her eyes on her lap. This did not go unnoticed by the headmaster sitting at the head table. He watched the young and newly sorted Gryffindor as her mind filled with turmoil. She acknowledged the people around her, but he could see that she did not enjoy the mindless ease that accompanied the welcoming feast.
At the conclusion of the evening, the students were led up to the common room. From there most of the first years dispersed themselves up to the dorms, and a few sat around on the floor by the overstuffed chairs at the fire. Many of the older students were in an animated conversation about their summers and various other things.
"Oye, did you hear that there's a new kid in Ravenclaw? From Durmstrang!"
"Dumrstang academy in Bulgaria?"
"Yeah, they study dark arts I hear, I bet the new kid knows all about them, I reckon he should be in Slytherin, not Ravelclaw."
"How would you know, Ronald, have you met him?"
"No! But it's obvious, Hermione."
"You shouldn't be so quick to judge people, I'm sure he's quite normal." The busy haired girl spoke.
"Well, he's in Ravenclaw, but I heard they do some pretty wild stuff there in Bulgaria, and the headmaster doesn't stop it."
The conversation continued and Emily thought back to the Ravenclaw house. She remembered what everyone had told her about the different houses and she was really quite curious to see what was so bad about Slytherin. She looked up as a boy with green eyes was regarding her. Emily stared at him for a moment, then she quietly left and retired for the evening.
Xxx
"Father?" Severus looked up to see his son donning his blue trimmed robes.
"How was your reception this evening?" he asked his son, as he sat down at his office chair. A tea service appeared before the two wizards.
"Somewhat mixed. They seemed almost afraid because of durmstrang's reputation… but it was otherwise relatively normal I suppose. There were mostly interested in hearing about Durmstrang itself."
"Good. You do remember what we discussed about my general… demeanor?"
"Yes, I understand… Father, what do I do about…"
"For now the death eater children have very little to report home about. Keep yourself neutral, and being in Ravenclaw, makes it much more difficult for anyone to consider our connection.
"Yes, of course. Although I do wonder what the others will say when they arrive."
"Yes, simply keep with the story, and I cannot complain if it means I get to see my boy." Severus said with a smirk, and his son blushed a bit as he set down his tea.
"Here's a note to allow you to return to your common room. Do not start the year off with a detention." Snape said as he handed his boy a piece of parchment. He looked into the boy's bright blue eyes and he could see his beloved Sarah for a moment, before he gave his child a squeeze and sent him on his way.
Severus sat again for a moment and considered all that had happened for the summer. It was a mixed move bringing his son here. The stirrings of the dark lord meant the death eater children at Durmstrang had begun to advance their dark arts study. It was addictive he knew, and upon hearing about the strides the students were taking, Severus knew he needed to remove his son from such influences. Dumbledore did not turn a blind eye on Dark Arts study as Karkaroff did at his school. And even with the jepoardy of exposing the existence of his son by their proximity, it was crucial that he kept his boy close. The last thing Severus Snape needed was for the ranks of the death eaters to be aware that he had a son, and a son that he had no intention of allowing anywhere near the dark arts. He stared down at his class register for the fourth year Ravenclaw class and he saw his Sons's name listed as Alexander Prince. His son attended durmstrang under the false surname for protection, but now Snape's only fear was that someone would put the pieces together. He would die before he let anything happen to the only child he had left.