Chapter five: Hogwarts

"Have you your books?"

"Yes."

"All of them? Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Only fools and charged particles are positive," Severus said, pulling her copy of Magical Theory from behind his back. She'd left it in the basement on her desk in his lab. She groaned and stuffed it into her trunk, giving him the eye. "Now, Lupin is going to take you to meet the others. I have to get to Hogwarts. You have your messenger bag?" Narcissa had insisted she get a purse of some sort and Severus took advantage of this. Dove nodded and patted it on her hip. "Your ticket is in there?" Another nod. "Your money for snacks on the train?"

"Yes, Dad. I have everything. My ticket, my money- both Muggle and Wizarding just in case, a book to read on the way, emergency Floo powder, and my locket." He'd put a charm on the locket to make it an emergency Portkey that would take her to him should she hold onto it and say, 'Filia mea cor tuum.' He didn't tell her what it meant though.

Severus went to answer when someone knocked on the door. "That'll be Lupin. Travelling Muggle for some reason."

Dove ran to fling the door open. "Remus!"

"Hey, Prongslette." He'd called her that when she was a baby, they all had, and he just picked up the old habit. She didn't understand what it meant, just that it was in reference to her father and that it always made Severus twitch. "All set and ready to go?"

"No, she is not." Severus said from behind her. "Do you have your paints? The treats for Hedwig? Your journal? Merlin help me if Narcissa hears you've lost or forgotten your journal."

"Daddy! I have everything. I'll see you tonight." She was too excited for the distance to upset her like last time. Remus flinched when she referred to Severus like that, but understood it. The first time he'd heard her address him he was drinking pumpkin juice and nearly passed it through his nose. James Potter's daughter calling Severus Snape 'Dad.'

"Lupin, look out for her. And don't let her go through the barrier by herself. And keep an eye on that Weasley twin, Frank."

"It's Fred."

"If you say so."

Dove hugged him and followed Lupin out to the cab, him carrying her trunk and she Hedwig's cage.

"Platform 9 ¾? Are you sure that's right?" She asked.

"Hasn't changed in twenty years," he told her, leading her through the crowds. "There's Molly."

"Dove!" Four voices said together. Mrs. Weasley hugged her and introduced the two children she'd yet to meet. Ginny squeaked and hid behind her mother. Dove and Fred exchanged shy smiles and Ron told Dove about the dragon he was told they would have to face.

"Do you think?" He whispered.

"No," she said uncertainly. "Severus would never let me anywhere near a dragon. But, he did refuse to tell me how we get Sorted."

"Dove! Ron!" They both looked to Draco who was waving with his trolley.

"Right," Lucius said. "Shall we?"

"Shall we what?" Dove asked. Mrs. Weasley explained about the barrier and she backed away from it into Remus.

"Percy, you first." Mrs. Weasley said. "Show them how." Percy very nonchalantly jogged into the brick wall and disappeared. Dove and Draco gasped. "Fred, you next."

"He's not Fred," George said. "I am."

"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother."

"Oh sorry, George."

"I'll let Fred take this one," Fred said, sharing a look with his brother. "I can go through with Dove."

George sighed like he was sacrificing himself before lining up with the wall. "Only joking, I'm George." And he ran into the barrier.

Mrs. Weasley gave Fred an exasperated look and gestured for them to go ahead. Remus went first.

"What if we crash?" She whispered to Fred.

"Then we crash, but either way just standing here isn't really an option. We may as well get on with it. Crashing can be fun." They charged together, but instead of feeling the impact of the brick wall there was a cool breeze and Remus was there waiting. She laughed and hugged Remus to say good bye.

"Make sure to write me," he told her. "And I will see you this summer. Behave for Severus."

"I will." She promised.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't." Dove rolled her eyes at the twin.

"Dove, young ladies don't roll their eyes."

"Yes, Aunt Cissa."

"Well," Mrs. Weasley said, straightening all of their clothes- Draco and Dove's included. "You all watch out for each other. Don't get yourselves into trouble. Be sure to write."

"Yes, ma'am." Five voices said in harmony before boarding the train.

The five crammed into one of the bigger compartments and settled in, Dove, Draco, and Ron on one side and the twins on the other.

"So, Little Bird, what House are you holding out for?" George asked. "Fred here is hoping you get Gryffindor so he can get to know you better." Fred's ears turned red and he elbowed his brother hard, but looked interested in Dove's answer.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Dad was in Slytherin and is Head of House, and everyone thinks Draco will be there too, but my parents were both in Gryffindor. So was Remus and you guys. Aunt Cissa was in Ravenclaw. I'll probably be in Hufflepuff."

"No," Draco said, throwing an arm over her shoulder. "You'd never be in Hufflepuff. You'll probably be in Slytherin with me."

"But what if I'm not? You'll be all alone."

"I'll still hang out with you guys, right?"

"Even if we have to kidnap you."

The twins both looked at each other, enlightened and inspired. There was a knock on the door and a plump woman with short gray hair gestured to her cart of snacks and candies. Severus had told her not to eat too much sweets or she'd get sick, but she'd only tried sherbet lemon and pumpkin pasties, which were Draco's favorite. He had Zara make her a 'balanced lunch' along with the treat money. The three Weasley's held up their sandwiches and declined, but Draco pulled out his coins and shared a look with Dove. The two of them went up to the cart, but they didn't have Mars Bars. The two carted back and dumped a mountain of Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs. Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Dove had never seen before or heard of. Draco offered a Pumpkin Pastie to Ron, trying to convince him to take it. Dove merely grabbed two Cauldron Cakes and threw them at the twins with a grin.

"It's not a real frog, is it?" Dove asked cautiously.

"It's just a spell," Ron assured her. "Besides, it's the card you want. I'm missing Agrippa."

"I have two." Draco said. "I'm only missing Ptolemy."

"I'll trade you." Ron offered.

She opened the package and pulled out the card. "I've got Albus! Oops, Professor Dumbledore, I mean." She was supposed to get used to calling everyone Professor, even Severus. That was when the frog came to life and jumped- right out the open window.

"Rotten luck- "Fred said sympathetically.

"They've only got one good jump in them."

Dove shrugged and reached for a box of Bettie Bott's beans. "They mean every flavor," Draco warned her.

"George swears he got a boogie flavored one once."

"I did!"

Dove scrutinized a green bean and placed it on her tongue. "Hmm, grass. I kind of like it."

"There's no way there's a boogie flavored bean, you two are just taking the mickey out of me."

"No, really!" Fred lied. Draco regarded Dove's box of beans distrustfully. She rolled her eyes, knowing they were just messing around.

"Oh! Like that spell to turn Scabbers yellow is real?" Ron questioned sarcastically. Now Dove could tell Fred was trying not to laugh, and so was George.

"Honestly, it works. Try it."

Ron eyed them, but pulled out his wand and cleared his throat. At that moment, the compartment door swung open and there stood a girl already in her robes with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth. She looked around and huffed. "Have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." They all shook their heads, glancing around at each other. "Oh! Are you doing magic? Let's see it then." She plopped herself beside George, who was in a state of bewilderment, and looked at Ron in anticipation.

Ron cleared his throat again, obviously nervous with the new addition to his audience, and pointed it at the unsuspecting sleeping rat in his lap- halfway in an old treat box. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." There was a quick flash and an indignant squeak, the rat scuttled under the seat to safety and the twins, Draco and Dove all burst into simultaneous laughter.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard -I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are all of you?"

Ron and Draco looked stunned, not having read the course books at all. Dove hadn't had that choice as Severus didn't give her a choice. Luckily, she found it rather fascinating.

"I'm Ron Weasley," muttered Ron.

"Fred- "

"-and George- "

"Weasley, at your service."

"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

"Dove Potter."

"Are you really?" Hermione said. "I know all about you, of course- I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. Fascinating book."

"I am?" Dove asked weakly.

"You didn't know?" She inquired, almost scandalized. "I'd have learned all I could if it was me. Imagine a world where everyone knows your name and you haven't read what they have about yourself. Do any of you know what Houses you will be in? I've been asking around and so far Gryffindor sounds the best. I heard Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be so bad."

"Gryffindor." The twins said together, looking at her with something akin to astonishment she could talk so much and so fast, burning through each topic.

"Same," Ron said. That had never really been a question.

"Slytherin," Draco said proudly. Hermione's nostrils flared slightly.

"I don't know." Dove shrugged.

"Weren't both of your parents in Gryffindor?" Hermione asked intrusively. Dove nodded. "Then it's almost a given, isn't it?"

"I suppose, but you never know. Dad says I have Slytherin enough in me, and he's the Head of House. I'm not sure." Hermione gave a strange look and opened her mouth to comment, but George elbowed her gently and shook his head.

"Well," she said instead. "You'd all better change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon." And then she was gone, leaving behind a compartment of dazed occupants.

"Whatever House she's in, I hope I'm not." Everyone grunted in agreement.

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" Hagrid said in his rumbling voice. Dove ran toward him excitedly, Draco and Ron not far behind. "'Ello there, Dove. Boys. Have a good train ride?" They all nodded enthusiastically and he motioned for the crowd of eleven-year olds to follow him. Hagrid led them to a dock of boats on a lake. "No more 'an four to a boat."

Dove grabbed Draco and Ron's hands to make sure they stuck together and weren't separated. The girl from the train, Hermione was the last to their boat. At this, Ron switched seats with Dove to be away from her. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

"Trevor!" a boy, who must have been Neville, cried blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

The door swung open at once and there stood Minerva, Professor McGonagall, wearing her stern face. Dove smiled at her and she twitched the corners of her mouth back.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole of the Dursleys' house in it and almost all of Spinner's End along with it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

Dove felt a swell in her chest and squeezed her friends' hands. They followed Minerva across the flagged stone floor. Dove could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right -the rest of the school must already be here - but Minerva showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Minerva said. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." She paused.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Dove tried to tame her hair, looking to Draco for help.

"You look fine, Dove." He told her. "Mother wouldn't have let you on the train if you didn't."

"But, Dray, please." He huffed and motioned for her to turn around, combing his hands through her hair, braiding it back, and looping it so it would stay in place. She went to thank him but was interrupted by a mocking laugh behind them. The three, and everyone else, turned around to see a dark-skinned boy with a cruel smirk crowded by two chubby ones with unintelligent faces.

"Did your mummy teach you that, Malfoy?" Draco didn't turn red, but his cheeks tinged just the slightest pink which was more than Dove had seen on him.

"Zabini, are they letting just anyone attend Hogwarts these days? I might have to reconsider my academic options."

"You think you're so clever, don't you? And what? Now you're in crowd with the Chosen One? That's a complete turn from the old days of the Malfoy line, isn't it?" He approached Dove and held out his hand to shake. "Blaise Zabini, a pleasure to meet you."

She glanced down at his hand and back up with a stormy face that would have made Draco or Ron stop to consider their actions. "I wish I could say the same."

Zabini didn't look upset, but instead smirked derisively. "One day you will come to regret that decision. Until then, Potter."

"Ahem." She whirled around, almost losing her balance if it weren't for Draco, to see Minerva back to collect them. "We are ready for you. Please make an orderly line and follow me."

Severus watched this year's line of first years walk through the doors and noted the same expressions of wonder as any other year. But this wasn't like any other year where he just zoned out to the end, this year was Dove's first. He spotted her between her two friends and almost smiled. He would be lying if he said he wasn't crossing his fingers under the table, a Muggle habit Lily had influenced, that she be in Slytherin. He knew with almost certainty she wouldn't be and part of him, the unselfish part, was glad. It was a tie to her parents and it would keep her away from the students in his House whose parents were supporters of the Dark Lord. Still.

He watched her green eyes search the table for him tensely and upon finding him she relaxed, sparing him a smile. He nodded just slightly. They had discussed his persona at school and how he would have to maintain it. He watched her and the boys whisper when they realized the hat did the Sorting and Dove glared at him playfully. The names started and he listened on with baited breath and watched Dove. First that he saw her react to, with a flicker of interest from the Malfoy heir, was a Miss Hermione Granger. When she was sorted to Gryffindor, Ronald sagged in disappointment. So, she had already had the attack of first impressions. When Draco went forward, Dove smiled to reassure him, but it was unnecessary. The hat had barely touched his head before shouting, "Slytherin!"

When Dove's name was called, whispers made their way around the Hall in a wave before fizzling into silence. Severus himself sat up straighter than he'd previously been and he felt Quirrell do the same beside him. She shakily, prompted finally by Ron, stepped up to the stool and sat down. The hat suddenly came alive and she jumped.

"Ah! Dove Potter, as I live and breathe." The hat seemed to chuckle at his own joke. "Difficult. A great mind, strong will, soft heart, where should I put you? Slytherin perhaps, but I think not. How about GRYFFINDOR!" And just like that it was done. Dove let out a heavy sigh in relief as the entire Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, louder than any other table or student had. Fred and George stood in their seats chanting, "WE GOT POTTER!" Fred winked at her when she sat down and she blushed.

For his part, Severus sat back in his own reassurance that at least that was one less thing he had to worry about. He made sure only Dove was watching when he smiled at her, just a small one, and gave a nod of approval. Her happiness at that was blinding as Ron was called and shortly joined the Gryffindors as well. The last to be called was Blaise Zabini, whose mother was well known as a bit of a black widow type and liked to circle the Death Eaters in between husbands. Dove glared at the boy and Severus was struck that when she truly was angry she looked almost exactly like James Potter had. Severus' heart skipped a troubled beat at the familiar expression, but had to remind himself she was more Lily than Potter. Dove had found her school nemesis.

Dove was serving herself some potatoes when a ghost dressed in ruffles popped out of the bowl, making her shriek and potatoes to splatter in her hair a little. Fred graciously helped her clean it while he laughed.

"Terribly sorry," the ghost said in a poncy voice.

"It's fine," she told him.

"Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower." Ron gasped excitedly before Dove could answer.

"I know who you are! You're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy -" the ghost began stiffly, but Hermione in her special imperious tone interrupted.

"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

Sir Nicholas looked sullen, pouting slightly. "Like this." And before everyone else could stop him, and they tried, he grabbed his ear and jerked it so that his neck left its spot to rest on his shoulder with just a flap of skin for a hinge. Everyone groaned and Dove grimaced before pushing her plate away.

"Gryffindors! I hope you'll help us win the House Cup this year? We've never gone so long without it, the Baron's been unbearable." He pointed to a ghost at the Head of the Slytherin table with a gaunt face and blank staring eyes, his robes stained with silvery tracks of blood.

"Where did the blood come from?" Dove asked.

"I didn't ask," Sir Nicholas said delicately, though Dove got the feeling he knew anyway. "And you shouldn't ask either." She looked back at the Baron and they locked eyes. Dove smiled a little, copying Severus' smile that almost wasn't one. The ghost furrowed his eyebrow and looked away.

Dove listened in while everyone began talking about their family. "Is it true you live with Professor Snape?" People kept asking, and giving her pitying expressions when she confirmed it.

"He's a good man." She insisted over and over again, getting frustrated each time.

"Well I heard he's a right git to everyone. Thinks he's better."

"Well maybe he is," she said hotly. "And maybe he wouldn't be such a git if dunderheaded students would listen and not be so dunderheaded." No one said anything else and Dove looked back up to the High table at her Severus. He was sitting next to Professor Quirrell, whose back was to her. Severus looked back at her and she gasped as a sharp, hot pain shot through her scar. She clapped a hand over it and squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, Severus was gone.

During the school song, after Albus' strange warning about the forest and third floor, Fred, George and Ron ushered her out of the Great Hall with her clutching her forehead. The twins led them to a side corridor. "It hurts," she gasped. Someone grabbed her from behind and spun her around.

"Are you okay?" Severus asked her worriedly. "I saw you hold your head. What happened?"

"Hey is everything okay?" Draco said as he found them. "I saw you leave."

"Dove, my girl, I need you to use your words. Weasley, Frank! Talk to me."

"It's Fred, sir."

"Who can tell?"

"It's her scar. She says it hurting."

"Is everything alright here, Severus?" Albus looked over his half-moon glasses at them, Minerva trailing behind him. He ushered Dove to her new Head of House and stepped to the Headmaster.

"It's Quirrell." He growled. "You know it, I told you that when you hired him. The man reeks of Dark magic and he is perfect prey for the Dark Lord."

"We have no proof and you know that."

"Albus," Minerva scolded with in her Scottish brogue. "If Severus says he's not who he says he is, then he isn't. Are you going to risk the children? Dove?"

"All we can do is keep our eyes open. We need to keep him close and stop him. Protect the children, but if we call the Ministry then he may get away."

Severus and Albus stared at each other for a moment before Severus pulled Dove after him to escort her to the Gryffindor Tower.

End notes:
For any of you who looked it up and for those of you who did not, 'Filia mea cor tuum' means 'Daughter of my heart' in Latin. This is still Severus accepting her as his without being able to admit it.