TRIGGER WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE

A/N: I've come to the realization that I have two writing modes:

MODE 1. Feel super inspired and write next chapter almost right away. Edit and post it in a reasonable time frame from previous.

MODE 2. Have an existential crisis/mental breakdown fueled by imposter syndrome, call my writing shit, and take 2-3 months to write and edit one fucking chapter. Take another 2-3 months, and throw in another mental breakdown until I feel confident enough to post it!

Why am I like this?

If you're still sticking around despite my BS thank you so much, you absolutely mean the world to me! It's during MODE 2 that I remind myself that there are actual people out there who are enjoying this story and waiting for the next chapter. That's motivation enough to push through my own self-doubt and criticism. I'm sorry that I don't really interact in the comments, I'm neurodivergent so I'm a huge overthinker and get scared I might comment the wrong thing or inappropriately overshare.

Ok, enough of this A/N, on to the story!

SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1993 - HOGWARTS - THE GREAT HALL - EVENING

Ilvermorny could not compare to Hogwarts, how could it when its very castle had been inspired by this original!

What little Rose got to see on the way down to the Great Hall was enough to let her know that efficiently navigating this school would not be easy, she was definitely in for a real treat tomorrow once classes started. Hogwarts was a beautiful medieval monstrosity with many twisting and turning corridors, vanishing doors, and staircases that moved on their own accord; Rose had nearly missed a step and would have fallen through had it not been for Professor McGonagall magically pulling her onto the moving staircase in time. Although Ilvermorny had magic, Hogwarts was magic. Rose could feel its vibrations deeply embedded into its stone masonry as she followed Professor McGonagall down to the Great Hall.

Voices boomed full of excitement and became increasingly and increasingly louder the further they descended until the Professor's thoughts became completely incoherent as they were lost amongst a hundred other inner voices. Rose tried to clear her mind with a quick round of breathing exercises but her nerves prevented her from focusing and effectively clearing her mind. To add to it, something had happened on the train involving Harry that many were gossiping and thinking about.

It was amazing how quickly she became worried about her little brother, this new sisterly instinct something she was not accustomed to just yet. She opened her mouth to ask McGonagall about the train incident but they were suddenly approached by the matron who hastily whispered into McGonagall's ear.

"He's at the entrance with Granger and Weasley, the poor child looks deathly! I told Albus this was a terrible term to agree on!" She whispered as quietly as she could yet her own thoughts betrayed the secrecy she was trying to achieve.

Apparently, Harry had fainted on the train when the Dementors had boarded. This would have worried her further had it not been for the assurance from the matron and the student's thoughts that he was very much alive and walking into the school as they spoke.

"I'll bring him up immediately, Poppy," McGonagall had replied under her breath before turning to Rose once the matron had walked away.

"I suppose you heard all that," she stated, one corner of her thin lips lifting up slightly.

"Not intentionally," Rose replied holding back a smirk. "Will Harry be staying in the hospital wing tonight, professor?

McGonagall smiled sympathetically at her concern, "I'm sure there's no need for that however we still want Poppy to have a look at him before he joins the feast. Dementors have such a nasty effect, particularly on those with deeply troubled pasts." She eyed Rose up and down at this, vowing right there to keep her as far away from the Azkaban guards as possible for which the young witch was grateful. Dementors were terrifying, that much Rose had learned in her studies and through her father and that was enough for her to want to avoid them. Judging by the protectiveness her new Transfiguration professor felt over her it was clear she had had a close relationship with Rose's mother made more evident by the few glimpses of archival footage she had seen earlier. Lily Evans had been one of her favorite students, the professor was proud to have had her in Gryffindor and she was looking forward to having Rose join her House tonight.

Rose tried to swallow down the pressure she felt at these expectations.

"I must go collect him and Miss Granger before the feast," McGonagall went on to explain. "Now where is Filius?"

"Go on, Minnie, I'm right here!" Squeaked a voice behind Rose that belonged to Professor Flitwit as he walked into view. "Heard what happened. Poor boy, what a horrible way to begin the term."

McGonagall nodded in agreement and then left immediately, the small professor beckoned Rose to follow him the remaining distance to the Great Hall stopping at the very entrance to address her one last time.

"Ready, Miss Potter?" He asked with a gentle smile.

'Poor thing must be wrecked with nerves,' He thought sympathetically.

He was definitely not wrong, in fact, he was so correct that Rose could only nod in response as she felt her stomach might come out of her mouth if she dared to open it.

Professor Flitwick placed a reassuring hand on her forearm, "Sorting takes only a few minutes unless the Hat decides right away. You'll go first then we'll proceed with the First Years. It'll be over before you know it!"

Rose remained silent only giving a small nod.

'Please don't let me go through this alone,' she gently pleaded in her mind hoping to hear his voice.

"Right then," said Flitwick giving her arm a gentle pat. "Let's get it over with, shall we?"

'Please! I need you right now!'

There was no answer, he had never abandoned her like this before not even when she angered him. Clearly, this time he was beyond upset and determined to teach her a lesson.

'Fuck you then!' She thought resentfully.

Still, there was no reply, she had been hoping to get a rise out of him out of desperation but he was not taking the bait when he knew her intentions as she felt and thought them. She would just have to go through this the "normal way" with the addition of hundreds of judgemental thoughts blasting in her head at the same time. It was nothing she wasn't used to she assured herself ignoring the wild beating of her heart and the cramping in her abdomen.

'Stop!' She mentally yelled at herself. 'You've dueled in front of thousands, given interviews, and done photoshoots. You'll be fine!' She tried not to dwell on the fact that when dueling she had one focus and one focus only, her opponent; the audience could have been on another planet for all she had cared in those moments. It was also a hundred times easier to don a confident and pleasant persona when she was in a professional setting but this was not a photo shoot or interview. She wasn't dealing with photographers, reporters, and staff that catered to her every need and want but with a traditional British boarding school whose residents had no problem picking her apart. This wasn't Ilvermorny where she had been left alone as her family name did not have the same significance and reverence as it did here. She was a hundred times more famous, a curiosity and, therefore, being left alone was not going to be an option given to her this time around.

'You're the omitted member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight!' Rose reminded herself repeating the same words the voice has used to motivate her not long ago. 'You belong here and much as they do so fucking act like it!'

With that Rose took a long deep breath gathering her courage and followed the tiny professor into the bright and bustling Great Hall with her head held high. A hundred pairs of eyes instantly turned in her direction as she made her way down the aisle in the very center of the Hall. Keeping her eyes on the professor's table elevated at the end of the room she ignored the unfamiliar faces that followed her and the thoughts that were coming in all directions.

'She's here, she's actually here!'

'Here comes the American!'

"Fit, famous, rich, and a Potter! I'm going for it!"

'There's the slut!'

'Wonder if she fucked Malfoy and Flint?'

'Oh, look it's Gryffindor's new princess."

'Of course Dumbledore would give the wizarding sweetheart her own personal sorting ceremony! Some please Avada Kedavra me!'

'Is she prejudiced like the purebloods she spent her holiday with? Would she date a Muggle-born like me?"

'Would it be weird if I asked for an autograph and picture during the feast?'

'Lucky bitch, famous for no reason just like her brother!'

'Please be in Hufflepuff! Gryffindor is so overrated!'

'I wonder if she is willing to teach me that stinging curse she threw at Hiro! Holy fuck was that something!'

'Why is he looking at her like that?!'

'Hope Harry doesn't mind if I become a little friendly with his dear ol' sis."

'She's so pretty!'

'She holds herself like she's some kind of wizarding royalty, the nerve!'

'Ugh, look at them drooling after her as if she's the most beautiful witch on earth!'

'Is it even safe to think around her?'

'I wish I was cool enough to be her friend.'

'We might just have a chance at the Championship this year!'

'Does she think she's being edgy with that hair colour?'

'Please don't have me lose out to Flint, Potter.'

The familiarity of the last inner voice stuck out, instantly Rose turned her head in the direction it had come from and she was met with a pair of brilliant blue eyes and a gorgeous face that belonged to Evan Rosier.

Seated between Cassandra and Marcus at their House table, he shot her a dazzling smile and waved as she passed by. Rose instictively returned the gestures but instantly regretted it as her actions sparked a whole new wave of thoughts and, not to mention, an impressive death glare from Cassandra.

'Stay away from him, slut!'

'Rosier too?!"

'He's with Warrington, does she have no self-respect?!'

'Typical celebrity taking what she wants!'

'He's going to dump Warrington for Potter, I'm betting it now!'

'Of course, she'd only be into the rich, but Rosier?! That family is bad news, all of them!'

'So unlike Harry.'

'Forgot about Malfoy that fast, did she?'

"Why Slytherins?! They're the very people who helped kill her bloody parents!'

Rose internally cursed herself and quickly averted her eyes away from Evan. However, a very familiar shade of blonde caught her attention only a few seats away from the handsome Slytherin. She tried to hide her surprise a the sight of relaxed and unslicked blonde hair that took her back to beautiful Malaga which now seemed so long ago.

'Scared, Potter?' Draco communicated, one eyebrow raise teasingly, and his infamous smirk plastered on his face. 'For Salazar's sake, change your bloody expression! You look like a scared little cruppy that just got caught soiling the floor. This isn't Ilvermorny, they'll eat you up alive and spit out your bones if you show weakness here.'

Instantly Rose relaxed her facial muscles to appear unbothered but internally berated herself for allowing her true emotions to display on her face. This would have been so much easier had the voice been with her, instructing her and soothing the terrible nerves she felt. She chose not to react or acknowledge Draco, it's what the voice would have instructed, simply returning her attention forward knowing that he would know why she had to ignore him. Regardless, it still sparked a new flurry of thoughts from her new peers.

'Moves on rather quick, doesn't she?'

'Naughty, naughty little witch!'

'I knew Draco meant nothing to her!'

'Ha, guess he was just a summer fling after all!'

'He's too young for her! What did he expect?'

'Goal post is clear! Not like that little shit ever had a real shot!'

'Don't you dare come near him again, whore! Cassandra was absolutely right about her! Nothing but an ugly, social-climbing little half-breed!'

'Tough luck, Malfoy!'

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they had reached the front of the Hall and stopped at a stool that had an old, patched, and worn hat set on top.

"Stand over there, Miss Potter," instructed Professor Flitwick pointing to the far right side just in front of where Uncle Remus and Professor Snape sat. Rose did as she was told, sending a secret smile at her uncle as she made her way to the spot. When she turned to face the students she made sure to keep her eyes set forward and above the faces that gawked at her.

It was just another minute before the Headmaster stood up from his spot at the center of the teacher's table, walked to the ornate gold podium, and brought his hands up to quiet the students down. it took a few seconds for the audible chatter to die down but once it had an eerily silence fell upon the Great Hall. If only the same could be said about their minds.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts," Professor Dumbledore announced warmly, smiling as he looked around the Hall. "I hope all of you are feeling recharged and excited for the year ahead despite a few changes! As most of you have come to realize this year will differ from previous due to unfortunate events but we will get to that shortly once everyone is sorted and settled. Now before we begin the first year sorting we have a new student joining us. In fact, she is our first transfer from Ilvermorny in over one hundred years yet she is someone we are all very familiar with not only for her family's name but for a spectacular performance in this year's Dueling Championship. Please join me in welcoming Miss Rose Potter."

Applause burst all over the Great Hall, a few students cheered and hollered including two very loud redhead twins seated under the lion banner. Both simultaneously winked at Rose when they caught her attention. She tried her best not to blush from embarrassment or from the fact the twins were really cute and were now sending flirtatious looks at her. Thankfully, the Headmaster was on a tight schedule.

"Now Miss Potter," Dumbledore said turning to her. "It is a Hogwarts tradition for sorting to take place in front of the rest of the school before the feast on the first night back. It is an experience every Hogwarts student must go through and we not ones to break tradition so if you please." He then gestured at the stool with his hand where McGonagall now stood holding the hat from its tip; she must have slipped through one of the doors behind the teacher's table during Dumbledore's introduction.

Rose approached the stool and sat down doing her best to ignore the very eager faces that peered with curious excitement at her. Thankfully, she was spared from having to further endure these looks as the hat covered her eyes once it was placed on her head. To her astoundment, the moment the hat touched her head everything went silent, there were no incoming thoughts or emotions.

'Ah, Rose Potter, the one, as they say, who got away!' Came an unfamiliar voice in her mind that did not belong to the permanent resident that already lived there.

Had Rose not been mentally preparing herself for something unusual to happen once the hat silenced her ability she would have jumped in her seat. Still, she was suddenly very worried about what, or should she say, who, the hat might see while in her head. This must be what it was like for others to be around her, terrified at what secrets they could accidentally and unwillingly expose to her.

'Don't fret Miss Potter,' the Hat assured. 'I only look for what I need to sort you into the right House. I do not judge or reveal whatever else I might see in this brilliant labyrinthian mind of yours.'

That still did little to ease her thoughts or make her comfortable. There were so many dark and hidden secrets in her mind that she had no intention of revealing to anyone, person or magical object.

'Interesting,' mused the Hat. 'Very, very interesting. Like your brother, you have plenty of courage and talent! Loads of ambition, intelligence, and loyalty. You would be a fine addition to any of the four Houses but not every House is right for you. Your compassion and hard work are admirable but there's ruthlessness in here and a certain coldness to outsiders that not even the kindest Hufflepuff could thaw. Although wise and vastly intelligent, you can be driven by emotions that impede that wisdom and, at times common sense, which are the pride of the eagle. You have many traits of what makes a great Gryffindor; bravery and a strong need to help others. But there's something here, something different than Potters before you; something I've only ever seen in another long ago. Although prone to emotionally-driven decisions you are far too calculated than the charging lion. Such cleverness and, although they're few in numbers, there's a fierceness to protect those dearest to you no matter the costs. There's so much determination, resourcefulness, ambition, and a strong drive to achieve your ends. Slytherin will surely help you on the way to greatness! I see you already have made friends amongst the clever snakes. Yes, the snake pit is where you'll find your true kind.'

'No!' Rose thought her heart beating wildly at the reality she was now facing. Theorizing and joking about it had been one thing but now realizing what the Hat was actually considering was another that Rose was not prepared to handle nor wanted to. 'Not Slytherin!'

'Why not?' The Hat inquired. 'It's a great and respectable House with an unfortunate reputation but still great! Why, even Gryffindor, himself, knew and recognized the importance and greatness of House Slytherin. Oh, what sadness befell him when dear Salazar left us! Oh, how he wept knowing his closest friend had chosen his pride over friendship! But still, it brought us where we are now and it does not take away the fact that many great witches and wizards have been proud Slytherins. Why, even Merlin himself!'

'Thanks for the history lesson but I know all this already and it's not the point! The point is they'll treat me differently. Harry and everyone else but especially Harry! So many here already think the worse of me. This needs to go as smooth as possible, please, for my fucking sake! I'm a Potter, you know where I fucking belong! Everyone knows where I belong! Please just let me have something easy for once, I have to be with my brother!'

'You have to be where you rightfully belong,' replied the Hat. 'I was swayed once on my decision with a Potter and regret it to this day, why should I be swayed again? So very rarely do I have the opportunity to sort a more developed personality, after all, so much can change within oneself between eleven and fourteen.'

Rose felt the frustration building up and she was not one to beg a stupid hat.

'If you don't do as I say I swear to all Four Founders I will Incendio you until there's nothing left but a fucking scorched mark in whatever moldy, dust-filled shit hole it is they keep you which I can easily find out! How's that for a more developed personality?!'

"HA!" bellowed the Hat aloud, this time Rose did jump as did half the student body at this unexpected and uncharacteristic outburst. Curiosity and anticipation only peaked to great volumes that had it been solid matter it would have not fit inside the enormous Great Hall.

'You truly have his spirit! This shall be interesting, two fragments of a greater whole. Perhaps this is exactly what Hogwarts needs to finally unify. Thread carefully now, the road ahead is slippery with dark temptations and things are always not what they seem. Trust your instincts and stay true to yourself. Good luck, Rose Potter!'

With those final and incredibly unhelpful words, the Hat shouted its decision.

GREAT HALL - SEVERUS SNAPE POV

Trust Albus to make a spectacle out of the girl's arrival and sorting; for Melin's sake, the Headmaster could have gotten the latter done in his office and would have spared them all from this ridiculous delay. Severus should have known the old man would take the opportunity for theatrics particularly when it came to his beloved Potters. As if the sentimental reunion with the werewolf hadn't been nauseating enough to endure now he had to sit through this unnecessary sorting ceremony and the hundreds of gawking faces that could not get enough of their newest celebrity.

He sneered at the palpable anticipation that clouded the Great Hall as if it was such a mystery as to which House the girl would end up in! Dumbledore should have just sat her at the Gryffindor table and called it a night instead of going through the grueling process of parading her to the entire school!

Although, Severus had clapped for the briefest of seconds during her introduction for appearance's sake so far Rose Potter had failed at making a positive impression on him. Apparently, he was the only one as all the professors had been completely charmed by their very brief encounter with her. He, of course, had not been so easily fooled. Although the girl presented herself very well displaying all the social graces and politeness that only come to those from wealthy backgrounds, Severus could easily see through it all for what it was; an act. Meeting her had only reinforced his belief that she was exactly like her brother and late father. The audacity at having used that insubordinate tone with the Headmaster over rules that were in place to protect her and her brother, special rules at that!

The smallest hint of a smirk appeared on his face, he had been right all along. The girl was a spoiled and entitled brat made worse by her wealthy and doting adoptive parents! After today shallow and selfish could also be added to that list. Severus had not missed the way the girl's eyes had lit up upon spotting Rosier. It was so sickening it reminded him of watching Potter react to Lily's presence. Add to that the fact that Rosier was in a relationship and how callously the girl had ignored Draco only strengthened the similarities between father and daughter. Bloody Potters always lusting over what they can't have and disposing of those they have used. There was absolutely nothing of Lily Evans in Rose Potter!

True, the physical resemblance to Lily was painstakingly undeniable still, Severus was glad that he had spotted several differences during his own recent encounter. To those who only knew Lily superficially, it was only the eye and hair color that set the daughter apart from her mother. Whatever or whoever had given the girl the idea to change her hair color was a godsend. It was so much easier dissociating Rose from Lily when she sported the same shade of black as her late father regardless of the many facial features shared with her mother. Yet there were still differences there, the girl's face was sharper, more pointed, and less heart-shaped than Lily's. The fullness in Lily's face that had made her so beautiful was missing in her daughter's high and slightly gaunt cheekbones. Her eyes were also just a bit rounder than his former best friends and her frame, although petite, was broader around the shoulders and much more athletic than Lily had ever been. All in all, Rose Potter was the perfect amalgam of James and Lily Potter. He could see both of them in their daughter and it fucking killed him!

Severus watched Rose Potter stop to stand in front of where he and Lupin sat, rolling his eyes when she smiled at the werewolf but content when her eyes did not even bother to look over at him.

Suffice to say his plan to stay clear from the girl had started off well. So far it appeared the girl had been put off by his less-than-enthused response to their official meeting. He had instantly recognized the disapproval and avoidance in her eyes during their interaction so unlike the way she had smiled and reached for him all those years ago in St. Mungos. No doubt the girl had hoped to charm him as she had with the other teachers and holy Salazar, how he had enjoyed watching that shit-eating grin fade away when she had not received the response she craved. Hopefully, this calloused nature of his would be enough to keep her out of his NEWTs class!

He watched with the others as McGonagall placed the hat on top of the girl's head, half of him expected the thing to shout Gryffindor as soon as it touched her but that was not the case.

1 minute

What could possibly have kept the Hat from making an instant decision?

2 minutes

Most students were sorted within the minute, how complex could Rose Potter possibly be?

3 minutes

Since the Hat had not shouted out Gryffindor by now that only meant it was considering the other three Houses! Or maybe it was stuck between two Houses. Perhaps the girl was suited for either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw and the Hat was deciding between those two or between either of those and Gryffindor. Yes, that had to be it!

'Not Slytherin', he mentally begged the universe. 'Please any other House but Slytherin!'

4 minutes

Were they about to witness a Hatstall? He glanced over Dumbeldore who sat watching intently than at Lupin who was wringing his hands nervously under the table with clear anxiety, he wasn't the only one. The anticipation and confusion were high amongst students and teachers alike, some were whispering in their neighbor's ear speculating what everyone in that room was wondering, why was the Hat taking so long to sort a Potter?

5 minutes

"HA!" The outburst from the Hat made more than half the Hall jump in fright. He quickly exchanged concerned looks with Minerva who stood next to the stool, hand over chest as she had just instinctively jumped back after being taken by surprise by the said outburst. In all the years Severus had attended and taught at Hogwarts, he had never heard the Hat speak aloud much less laugh during a sorting. What had it seen or heard inside the girl's head to make it have such a reaction?

His own nerves began overtaking his body and mind and he tried his best to push down the curiosity that was peaking at such an unusual sorting.

The six-minute mark was rapidly approaching when the Hat finally shouted its decision and, in that moment, Severus wanted nothing more than for one of the Dementors outside to swoop in and take his soul away from this torture for there was no doubt now that he was in purgatory.

'Fuck me!'