The rest of the train ride was uneventful. Lily was quiet, even though I tried my best to cheer her up. I told her again and again that I didn't care that she was muggle-born, but she just kept staring at the floor, so I finally decided to give up. After that, the only thing I said was, "We should put our robes on, we'll be there soon."
The brakes shrieked in protest as the train slowed to a stop. Lily and I got our trunks down and joined the mob of students, now in robes, trying to get off the train. Finally, we stumbled off the train and onto the platform. There was a sign that said Hogsmeade, with an arrow to the left. Lily looked over at me.
"What do we do now?" she asked eagerly. Apparantly her excitement was stronger than her hurt feelings. Relieved that she was alright and back to her normal happy self, I started to answer that I didn't know, just as a voice behind me called, "Firs' years! All 'ogwarts firs' years! Come on now, you lot! Folla me! We got some boats the catch!" I turned to see a big hairy… giant. There was no other way to explain it. He was much too big to be a man. He had to be at least three feet taller than my father, I thought curiously. As soon as I had thought it, however, I wished I hadn't. A wave of terror hit me. My father had said he had connections at Hogwarts. Could this giant be one of them? And if he was, how long until her heard how I had disrespected Bella? And how long until he told me father? The Blacks were a very prestigious pureblood family, according to my father. Lucius' father had also told me this, when he was telling us of his son's engagement to Narcissa Black.
As I stood pondering all of this, Lily marched right up to the giant and said, "Hello, I'm Lily Evans," extending a hand. The giant took it in one of his. Half of her arm disappeared in his grip. He chuckled.
"Well, Lily Evans, I'm Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid. Firs' year, are yeh?"
"Yes, sir, Mr. Hagrid."
"Oh, no, no," he laughed. "Jes' Hagrid." So his name was Hagrid. I frantically searched my memory. I couldn't recall my father ever speaking of anyone named Rubeus or Hagrid. Feeling like an idiot, I finally made my feet move and walked over to stand by Lily.
"'ello there," said Hagrid. " 'o might you be, eh?"
"Severus," I told him. "Severus Snape."
"Nice to meet yeh, Sev'rus Snape," he said, shaking my hand. "Well, you two folla me, and we'll go and round up th'other firs' years."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We followed Hagrid, me, Lily, and the other first years, to a lake. There were about fifty of us in all. There were boats floating at the water's edge. They could each fit about seven people. Lily went straight for one of them and I followed her. Lucius caught my eye with a questioning look. I motioned for him to come in our boat. He shrugged and walked over, Narcissa following as always, and Bellatrix trailing behind with an unpleasant smirk. I had forgotten that if I invited Lucius, they came as well. Too late now.
Finally all of us had been seated in the boats and Hagrid had climbed clumsily into ours, filling the last two seats. He raised a bright pink umbrella into the air and the boats all lurched forward. Slowly, we began to drift across the lake. Lucius leaned over the side of the boat and started to play with the water in a bored way. He poked the water a few times, and was about to again, when a huge hand grabbed his arm.
"I wouldn't be doin' tha' if I was you, might disturb th' squid."
Lucius didn't like being told what to do. He yanked his arm out of Hagrid's grip.
"Don't touch me," he hissed.
"He's just trying to keep you safe," said Lily. Oh no… not again.
"Who asked you," said Bella pausing with a malicious grin. "Mudblood?"
"'ey now! There's no need for tha' kind o' talk!" said Hagrid, shocked.
I looked at Lucius, asking him for help silently. He nodded slightly before turning to his fiancé's sister.
"Stop it, Bellatrix," he said firmly. "Just leave her alone." Bella, shocked, opened her mouth to retort. She thought for a moment, closed her mouth and then sat back pouting at her sister's disapproving look. Lucius gave me a look that I clearly recognized as 'let's talk later.' I nodded and turned back to Lily. Her eyes were blazing. She wasn't hurt anymore, she was mad. As I began to ask if she was okay, she gasped.
"Oh, Sev! Look!" she said pointing. Up ahead, coming out of the mist, was Hogwarts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After leaving the boats, we walked up to the castle. It was beautiful. When we got inside, we were met by a woman with brown, graying hair. She was wearing long purple robes.
"Hello, students!" she said. "I am Proffesor McConagall. I will be your Transfiguration professor. As some of you are aware, before we can begin to teach you, we must find you a place to live. Therefore, in a few moments, each of you will be sorted. Just line up and when I call your name, walk to the front. Ready? Alright." She turned away, walked forward, and entered the Great Hall. There were students there already. Hundreds of them, all older. We filed in behind her and waited. She reached the front and made a stool appear. On the stool was a hat. It was torn and old. She tapped it with her wand, and it began to sing. The hat began to sing!
"Welcome all to Hogwarts,
For another merry year.
Of magic and new tricks,
But first let me be clear.
Dangerous times are coming,
All of you beware,
In all you say and all you do,
Please be sure to take care.
But enough of this seriousness,
It's time to start the fun!
Let's sort through the first years,
A new year has begun!"
Thunderous applause broke out, amongst hoots and whistles. Professor McConagall unrolled a scroll and cleared her throat, calling, "Christopher Aron." The sorting had begun. Bellatrix and Narcissa were sorted into Slytherin. I listened as the professor called various names, Sirius Black, Bellatrix and Narcissa's cousin, was sorted into Gryffindor. His parents would not be pleased, but he looked ecstatic. There were also a few others sorted to Gryffindor, as well as some Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs. I heard McGonagall call out "Lily Evans." Lily walked to the front and put the hat on her head. It hadn't even been there for a second when it called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
I was stunned. That wasn't supposed to happen… she was supposed to be Slytherin… she and I were supposed to be in the same house, and be friends. This was all wrong. I had to be in Slytherin… I didn't want to know what my father would do if it was anything else. This was not happening!
Suddenly I heard "Lucius Malfoy." Lucius smirked at me and said, "Slytherin?"
"Slytherin," I replied, still in shock. Lucius was sorted into Slytherin. It was expected. I heard other names called, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Frank Longbottom… it went on forever. Finally, I heard "Severus Snape." I walked forward, still dumbstruck. I sat down, placed the hat on my head and heard the voice of the hat speak to me.
"You are worried about my choice, child?" It said.
"Yes," I replied in my head. I knew it could hear me.
"Well, where would you like to be?" It asked. And without thinking found myself answering,
"Gryffindor." I was shocked. That wasn't the right answer… I had been raised on Slytherin values, Slytherin thoughts… my room was in Slytherin colors... it always had been.
"Child, I feel your thoughts on Slytherin… I feel you would do well there… much better than you would in Gryffindor. I have a sense that you will not get along with Gryffindors very well, but that you already have friends in the Slytherin house."
"I have a friend in Gryffindor, too," I can't help but think, as the hat calls out "SLYTHERIN," and I get up and walk to the table amidst cheers and whistles.
I sat next to Lucius on the bench at our table, still struck dumb. When the sorting ended, Professor McConagall waved her wand and I looked down at my robe. On the left breast, green and silver thread had appeared and was weaving itself into the fabric. I watched as it quickly embroidered a crest with a snake on it. I was a Slytherin… and I was away from Lily.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
That night as the other boys in our dorm drifted to sleep, Lucius came and sat on my bed with me.
"So," he said casually. "What's with the mudblood?"
"Don't call her that," I say, not angrily, just pleading.
"Alright…" he says, confused. He sees nothing wrong with it. "What's going on with her?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I say. I don't, I really don't.
"Do you…" he searches for words. "Like her?"
"No… not like that." I say. "She's my friend, Lucius."
"Alright," he replies. He still doesn't understand. He gets up and walks toward his bed.
"Lucius?" I call quietly. He turns around and looks at me. "… don't tell your dad, okay?"
I can see that he understands. He nods and walks to his bed, pulling the curtains closed and falling asleep. I do the same.