20 years later
Chapter 2: Sorting
Hogwarts
9/1/2018
The castle is fairly quiet, eerily quiet. As Minerva McGonagall performs her rounds making sure all of her professors are settled in, she can hear her own footsteps echoing through the halls. Making her way to the Headmasters office, she whispers the password: 'Cleopatra' the eagle stops, allowing her to step off onto the platform outside his chambers.
"Headmaster Snape, Deputy Headmistress Snape, are you in?" She asked, although no one is present, the protection charms will alert the habitants of a visitor.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall, you're welcome in." Hermione's voice bounced off the wall like a loud speaker.
"Good afternoon, Hermione, Severus. How was your trip?" Minerva inquired.
"It was long, and uneventful." With response, Severus takes a seat in his large green chair. Hermione sat beside him, laying a gentle hand on his arm.
"We dropped off the kids, Amelia is so excited, but nervous. Which is to be expected. I was too when I was her age. She has the upper hand, because she already knew about magic, I didn't know I had magical powers until you and Dumbledore came to my house to explain what was going on." Hermione said, the mention of Dumbledore, Severus shivered at the name. All three did. Knowing what he did to Severus and to Harry, in the pensieve all those years ago, lost all respect for the man. It still haunts Severus some nights while he sleeps. Minerva broke the silence.
"Look at you now, Hermione, all grown up with a family and successful career. Who would've thought you'd be here now. Who would've thought I'd still be here." Minerva reminisced.
"Your retirement is coming up pretty soon, is it not?" Hermione grinned.
"That it is."
"You deserve it Minerva, it's time to enjoy life and not be controlled by spawns of hades." Severus exclaimed.
"Now Severus, they aren't all bad. Maybe some, but not all. I will miss this place." With a somber tone.
"You're more than welcome to visit. You're not banned from the grounds." Severus turned to her.
"Very kind of you Severus." She said with a cheerful tone.
"Oh, Minerva, do you have the new list of first years for the welcoming ceremony?" Severus addressed.
"Yes, I do, I have it here in my pocket. We have quite a few." She handed it over to Severus, he examined the list. There is a name on here that is familiar.
"Who is Bailey Dursley? The only Dursley's I know are Vernon and Petunia, Mr. Potter's aunt and uncle." Severus queried.
"I noticed that too. They have a son, correct?" Minerva seems pondered.
"Yes, Dudley I believe. He was a right bully to Mr. Potter."
"Harry said he was constantly mentally tortured by him. He married a witch?" Hermione's curiosity peaked her.
"I would assume so. With his family being so anti-magic I'm surprised they'd accept his wife into the family." Minerva raised her brow.
"Maybe Dudley didn't even mention his wife was magical." Hermione theorized.
"Honestly, I don't know if they're on speaking terms. Do you know if Harry knows?"
"He hasn't had any communication with Dudley since the war, when he turned 17." But I can write a letter.
"I wonder who his wife is. Out of curiosity." Hermione's itching now to write to Harry.
"Love, curiosity kills the cat." Both ladies stared at Severus for his sarcastic remark.
"I'll write to Harry, informing of this new information. I'm sure I'll hear of it soon." Hermione turned to him.
"Great analogy Severus." Minerva smeared.
"I always aim to please Minerva."
"Hagrid should be coming pretty soon with the first years. I'll head down, Hermione, would you care to join me?"
"Of course Minerva, give me just a minute."
"Of course." Minerva nod, turning on her heels, she exited the office to wait for her. Severus stands up and extends a hand to Hermione. She accepts it and he pulls her into him.
"The calm before the storm my dear. You'll be fine." With his index finger and thumb, he tilts her chin up so he could look into her eyes.
"Have I told you how much I love you, Hermione?" Hermione closes her eyes for a moment, with a smile on her face, with a soft sigh.
"I love you too, Severus. I feel like today will never end." Placing her right hand on his hips, pulling him closer.
"It's almost over, once the welcoming feast ends, we will have our alone time." He assured her. Soothingly, rubbing the small of her back.
"I know love, it's just. I know you're here, but there are times where I just… miss you. You know what I mean?" Her face pressed along his strong chest. Listening to his heart beat, his breathing is even and smooth, for now."
"That I do. I miss you too. Just being close to you, with no one else around." Severus whispered. Another moment paused. She looked up at him with her big brown eyes, bending his head down he gently placed a loving kiss on her lips. That loving moment, came and went when Hermione had to break away.
"Minerva is waiting on me. We have new students to sort."
"We do. I'll meet you shortly." He confirmed. Hermione nods and the distance between them grew bigger as she leaves the room.
HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS HG/SS
Outside the Great Hall
Minerva and Hermione marched together, side by side as they look upon the new wave of students. Full of hope, dreams and aspirations. The first years all look up to their superiors, wide eyed, not really knowing what to expect.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began.
'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." She paused for a moment, taking in all of their facial expressions.
"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. '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. We will return with you shortly." Minerva nods, and she and Hermione turn on their heels to leave momentarily. Someone in the back broke the silence after Hermione and Minerva left.
"You must be the Headmaster's daughter!" A male voice shouted as he made his way to Amelia, who is standing up front with Bailey and Teagan.
"Who wants to know?" Amelia asked. A boy with caramel brown hair, slicked back with light blue eyes came into view.
"Name's Casey Stone. These are my boys, Rhineheart and Byrd." Casey sticks out his hand, waiting for Amelia to shake it. Her gut told her not to.
"I am the Headmasters daughter. But, I believe I wouldn't want to catch any germs coming from the likes of you." Amelia's sneer would be something her father would be proud of.
"Daddy's little girl, I see. You may want to rethink about befriending these two—you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sorts." He glares towards Teagan and Bailey, his eyes glancing back to Amelia.
"I appreciate your concern, but I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks." With a half-smile. Casey rolled his eyes turning back on his heels creating a distance between him and Amelia.
Not a moment later, Minerva and Hermione returned.
"We are ready for you, please follow me." Minerva demanded. The group of first years follow their mentors into the great hall. The majority wide eyed at the spectacular ceiling view of the night sky.
"Oh look! It's been bewitched to look like the night sky, I've read it in 'Hogwarts: A History'" Hermione heard a young girl say. She smiled because she remembered saying that as she herself, walked into the great hall for the first time. Walking up the aisle, new students take in their surroundings, as current students watch the first years.
"Headmaster Snape will begin the Welcoming banquet with a few words." Minerva gazed over the sea of students before taking a step back and allowing Severus to step forward.
"Good evening." He began slowly. His eyes skimmed over to the Gryffindor table, his son: Alex sitting with a bunch of red heads, then over to Slytherin table where he notices Scorpius, Mallory and Albus.
"I'd like to welcome back to returning students, for another peaceful year at Hogwarts. Prefects, once the feast ends, lead the first years to their dormitories, and explain the policies and procedures before you retire for the evening. As you can see, we have new staff members. Professor McGonagall will be stepping down as Deputy Headmistress and in her place is the new Deputy Headmistress-Professor Snape. Professor McGonagall will still remain as your Transfiguration Professor for the year until Deputy Headmistress Snape completes her apprenticeship and will take over. We have a new flight instructor as well, please give her a warm welcoming; Professor Delphi Diggory. And your new Defense Against the Dark Arts: Professor Stefan Perrot." There is a pause before the students clapped for their new professors.
"Now, a few rules before I turn it over to Deputy Headmistress Snape. No student is allowed in the forbidden forest. Always respect curfew, curfew is 9pm on weeknights and 10pm on weekends. No magic in the corridors, only third years and above are allowed to go to Hogsmeade on certain weekends. With permission from your parents, an up-to-date physical from Madam Pompfry, and a signed consent form from your Head of House, first years now have the ability to try out for their house Quidditch teams, so long as your grades remain Exceeds Expectations in all of your classes. Now, turn your attention over to Deputy Headmistress Snape for the sorting." Severus paused, watching his beautiful wife walking up to the podium with a scroll of names in her hand.
"Good evening, Hogwarts. Most of you know the sorting hat, has a tendency to perform a poem before the sorting ceremony. The floor is yours." She smiled broadly. Once the hat was finished she stands up again, unraveling the scroll she read the first name:
"Byrd, Felix" The first year went up, the hat screamed "Gryffindor!"
"Dursley, Bailey." they heard "Slytherin!" along with Teagan, and Matilda. Julia Weasley went into Hufflepuff.
"Snape, Amelia." Hermione read. Beaming proudly at her daughter as Amelia shyly walks up. The room fell silent as Severus leaned in a little further. Sitting next to James Potter, and Lily Potter, the twins: Jacob and Isaac Weasley, Chase Longbottom, and Arthur Weasley, Alex Snape leans forward just a little to hear where his sister is going to be placed.
"Ah, difficult…very difficult. Your mother and brother are Gryffindor's and your father is a Slytherin. You are smart, I can see all that. You would do well in Ravenclaw. But your kind heart, a strong sense of justice, but you are also loyal and you would do wonderful in Hufflepuff."
'Not Hufflepuff…please…not Hufflepuff.' Amelia whispered.
"Not Hufflepuff? Afraid you'd show disgrace to the Snape name do ya? Ah—I can see it all—in your head. Your dreams and aspirations. Better be…." There is a long-drawn-out pause. The entire Hall is silent, waiting for an answer. Severus is on the edge of his seat, trying his best not to show any sort of emotion. His right leg is shaking with anticipation.
"SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherin table cheered with delight as Severus is overflowed with emotions of pure pride and joy for his daughter. Standing up and clapping his hands as he watches his daughter, her smile so bright that it could blind the ghost, hopping off the stool and making her way over to the Slytherin table. Hermione on the other hand, smiled of course, but on the inside, really wanted her daughter to be in Gryffindor. But, she is still very proud of her daughter and the house of Slytherin.
A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait! Thank you for being patient! Life has been very busy. I've been trying to write the chapters in advance. But I keep forgetting to actually post it. Please let me know what you think! Thank you! I apologize for any grammar/spelling issues. I do not have a beta.