UPDATED 7/30/16
Once again, Severus was pacing. This time, however, it was back and forth along the platform as he waited for the train that would deliver Miss Wilson. He finally heard the Hogwarts Express's whistle and as he looked up, it pulled up to the platform. Severus waited for one of the compartments to open and became impatient when not a single one of them did. Was the girl waiting on him to come and get her?
Suddenly there was a noise at the engine and Severus turned to see a girl stepping down with the help of the engineer. "Thank you, Thomas. That was amazing. I never knew so much about steam engines!" The girl said, smiling. When she turned slightly, Severus caught a glimpse of her smile. It was brilliant, bright, and lit up her whole face. It nearly knocked him back.
Even he, who didn't pay all that much attention to women since the lost of Lily, was stunned by her looks. Where Severus was darkness, this girl was pure light. Her hair was an almost-white pale blonde, her eyes were a strange golden color, as though they'd been backlit by the sun. She was dressed in an ankle-length, long-sleeved set of witch's robes in a dove gray color with a fur-lined cloak in deep royal blue overtop. She took in her surroundings and smiled when she spotted Severus. Making her way over to him, her feet crunched on the freshly snow-powdered platform.
"Hello! Oh, you're him, aren't you? Professor Snape? I was just reading the most fascinating article in Potions Monthly that you'd written. How did you think of adding fennel fronds and wortwood to a simple anti-nausea potion to make it stronger and last for a longer period of time?" She asked, her voice soft but strong. Severus had to admit her American accent was different, but kind of endearing. It sounded so different from the voices he heard every day from the rest of the student body.
He grimaced. It was cold, and he was practically frozen. "Perhaps we can discuss it some other time instead of out here on a frozen platform. Where's your trunk?" he said briskly.
He saw a blush touch her cheeks as she answered, "You're perfectly correct, forgive me, I forgot that you have probably been waiting on me a while. Accio trunk!" She said softly, and her trunk appeared. She took out her wand and shrunk the trunk down into a size where she could easily fit it into her pocket.
"Ready when you are, professor," she said as she smiled at him and held her hand out. He sighed and grasped it, surprised at how strong it was for such a young girl. She gripped his hand tightly, squeezing it in a way that felt comforting. Snape felt himself feeling oddly, not at all his usual growling, snarky self. Without another thought, they Apparated to the gate at Hogwarts.
Allyna gasped when she saw the castle. It was so much bigger than she expected. "My goodness, it's huge!" she said softly, but Severus nonetheless had heard her.
"Yes, one of the biggest in England, and other than Buckingham Palace, probably in the best state of repair. Amazing what magic can do," he said, surprising himself. Why was he suddenly so verbose?
He realized that he was still holding her hand and released it. Suddenly, he felt like his normal self again. "Come along, Miss Wilson. Dinner will be starting soon and Headmaster Dumbledore will be wanting to have you sorted into your house."
"Yes, sir."
Without another word, they walked through the gates of Hogwarts beside each other. Severus was surprised when Allyna had no trouble keeping up with him, it was as if she was almost gliding along beside him. As they drew closer to the school, Allyna's vision was caught by a group of Gryffindor students in Quidditch outfits leaving the Quidditch pitch and running towards the doors.
"Do you play?" Snape asked.
"Oh no. I'm not quick enough on a broom. A fact my father was quite upset about since he was hoping I'd be the next Greely Goddess on a broom." Allyna said laughingly, but something in her eyes shuttered closed. There was some pain there, he wondered from what. Her inability to play, perhaps, when most students her age were obsessed with the sport?
He pushed open the large doors to the castle and motioned for Allyna to follow him. She did so, and was surprised to see the hallways empty. "The students are waiting in the Great Hall. The Headmaster's going to prepare them for the sorting. I don't believe we've ever had a student come in after the start of term before," Severus said, feeling oddly kind towards the girl who seemed suddenly nervous. He was surprised when he looked down and saw that her hand was almost pressed against his. He pulled away and suddenly felt like his normal self again, snarkiness intact.
"Come along, we're going to be late," he growled and Allyna hurried to follow him. She was surprised when they stepped through the doors of the Great Hall. Suddenly, all eyes were on her. She felt herself blushing and forced the fear back into her gut where it churned. A kind-looking old man was standing in front of a podium, hands raised for silence.
"Students, I wish for you to welcome a new student, Allyna Wilson. Miss Wilson comes to us from America, a transfer from their esteemed school Ilvorney. I'm sure you will all realize how difficult it is to transfer in the middle of the school year and will do your best to help Miss Wilson find her way around Hogwarts, no matter which house she is Sorted into. Come forward, please, Miss Wilson," Dumbledore waved her forward to a tall stool where a rather ancient-looking wizard's hat was placed. Dumbledore picked up the hat and Allyna sat down, careful of her dress and cloak. As he placed the hat on her head, Allyna closed her eyes, trying to push back her nervousness.
A voice spoke to her, startling her a little. "So, so, so. This is our new student. Brilliant you are, brave as well, and resourceful. But also cunning. Hmm…where to put you..." Severus Snape suddenly flashed in her mind. She desperately wanted to learn from him. Potions fascinated her and had since she'd brewed her first one as an eleven year old student. Suddenly there was a shout from the hat, "Potions, hmm? No one better to learn from than our Potions Master. You'll do best in Slytherin!" The ancient hat shouted the last word, alerting everyone to her placement in the house of Salazar Slytherin.
Allyna's eyes flew open, taking in the response from the staff and students. Shock registered on some faces, while the entire Slytherin table was politely clapping. Speaking softly, Dumbledore said, "Join your table, Miss Wilson." She nodded and sitting down at the Slytherin table, was immediately surrounded by appraising classmates.
When Severus joined the staff table, and took his seat beside Dumbledore, the old man turned to him. "Quite interesting, don't you think? I was certain the hat would put her in Ravenclaw, from her tests results from her old school. She's quite intelligent according to her former teachers. Her test scores are quite high. So, I wonder what made the hat decide on Slytherin?"
Severus merely frowned. What, indeed?