Severus Snape grinned sardonically as the flood of first-years swept cautiously into the Great Hall, the pattering of their feet completely concealed by the older students' animated chatter about the previous summer. Professor Minerva McGonagall, a stern-faced, but still kind and powerful witch led them, her pointed hat and the grim line her mouth seemed to permanently rest in revealed not only her status as Deputy Headmistress but also her power in wielding magic.

Behind her the pathetically small first-years stumbled around each other, not used to the gathering masses of people and their fears expanded even more by the upcoming test of their personality. Severus had to admit that it wasn't an easy time. Even he had been nervous when he was first at Hogwarts; but still, he couldn't help but feel disdain and scorn for the little ones who seemed so helpless, so pathetic. As much as Severus knew it was true, he liked to pretend to forget those days and instead concentrate on the things at Hogwarts that had shaped his life into what it was today, as painful as it was.

Severus had to admit that they had quite the interesting group of incoming students this year. There was quite the crowd- of course, there was the famous Harry Potter, known for defeating the Dark Lord. Severus wasn't sure what he felt about Harry. He had, of course, believed the Dark Lord was evil; power can go too far, and in Voldemort's case it had gone straight to his head and had shown itself through the devastation his wand brought. But at the same time, Severus had been and was now in the Dark's Inner Circle, practically Voldemort's right-hand man in everything. It scared him, and he was known to a few as a spy for the Order of the Phoenix; but as more meetings continued and the Wizarding World had continued to fall into a never-ending rollercoaster ride of turmoil and pain, Severus couldn't help but blaming Harry Potter for the demons he- and the world- faced. If the boy would have only been dead, if the boy had only completely killed Voldemort, the threat would be gone. But that was not meant to be, and Severus did not question it. He hated it, but he did not try to change it. History often repeated itself, and a time of trouble was often followed by a time of prosperity and peace. All Severus could do was wait it out, fight all he could, and strive for that inevitable peace that the people needed so badly.

Draco Malfoy was also part of the crowd, a small but athletically built blonde boy who came from one of the oldest but yet the most dishonorable family line. Malfoy. Just the name signified deceit, and Severus had wondered as the boy grew up what he would turn out to be.

Neville Longbottom also stood among the others, barely recognizable to Severus except from a similarity reflecting from his baby picture that many had received just days after his parents had been tortured to a place beyond insanity. In truth, Severus felt for the boy. Losing your parents- perhaps not in death, but then again insanity was perhaps worse than death- was inevitably hard. The boy was left alone, and Severus could relate to it. However, the Dark in his mind rebelled, and he could not bring himself to feel sorry for the boy.

Severus could recognize a few other people in the crowd, but none of them were any more than mildly relevant. Flaming red hair signified yet another Weasley- Severus sighed at that; a few more children of Death Eaters, that Severus already felt sorry for; and then a girl with bushy brown hair and brown eyes who already looked obnoxiously smart to Severus.

He sighed. It looked like it would be a fun year.

The Sorting commenced, and almost everything was just as Severus had expected. Harry Potter was in Gryffindor, just like his parents; as was Neville Longbottom, also following in the footsteps of his own parents. Draco Malfoy and the other Death Eater children were Sorted immediately into Slytherin, almost before the Hat touched their head.

The one that surprised him the most, however, was the studious girl. Hermione Granger, a Muggleborn. Severus had expected her to be in Ravenclaw, maybe Gryffindor- but no, that was not the House the Sorting Hat called.

Hermione Granger was a Slytherin.

Hermione Granger sighed quietly to herself as she rearranged her books in her dorm and headed off to the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, she let out a startled scream as she saw that the person looking back...

Wasn't her. Wasn't anything like her.

Both Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore were in the Headmaster's office when Hermione burst in, her anger fueling the password in a way that Dumbledore didn't even know was possible.

"Sir! What is wrong with me?" The girl sobbed, turning her face to look at the two men.

Both Dumbledore and Severus gasped.

Dumbledore because she truly did look different.

Severus because he recognized her.

Updated 5/16/12 for grammar, spelling, and word choices.