New Beginnings
Author's note: I really wanted to try my hand at a full Sorting Ceremony, complete with a song and a list of new students' names. Please humour me!
Students' voices buzzed around the newly rebuilt Great Hall like thousands of bees. Many older students, having seen it utterly destroyed, looked around in awe at the thick carved walls, the grinning gargoyles and the magnificent stained glass windows. It was, indeed, hard to believe that such a colossal work of magical reconstruction had been accomplished in just a few months. Disappointment passed like a fleeting shadow on some faces when they realized they could actually see the ribbed vaults of the ceiling, as there had not been enough time to cast the enchantment that made it look like the sky. Protective enchantments had been much higher on the priority list.
Another heated topic of discussion was, of course, the Headmistress' staff choices. Severus could feel the glares, ranging from suspicion to plain hostility, flying back to him like so many bothersome midges. Horace Slughorn was, not very subtly, attempting to keep him distracted by discussing his Potions class planning with him. Severus barely listened to him, scouring instead the sea of faces, meeting their stares head-on. He would let no-one, let alone a band of teenage nitwits, intimidate him on account of his past actions, which concerned himself alone now that the Ministry had cleared him. He noticed Potter, deep in conversation with his fellow Gryffindors, and tried to catch his eye – the boy had better keep what he knew about his own feelings for Lily to himself, or Severus would make sure his seventh year would be a living hell. Having drunk a couple of drams at the Hog's Head together did not give the brat a free pass to divulge his professor's secrets, after all. Mercifully, both the Daily Prophet and the Quibbler had only reported that all charges against Severus had been dropped, without giving much detail – although he had heard that the obnoxious Skeeter woman had been trying to learn more, the members of the Council seemed to have been extremely discreet.
A loud knock shook the door to the Entrance Hall, and it swung open under the strong hand of Hagrid. A fresh intake of nervous-looking first-years were led to the front of the Great Hall by Pomona Sprout. The Sorting Hat, having been magically repaired, was waiting for them on its usual stool. Minerva rose, stately as a queen, and clinked her glass. The buzzing murmurs quieted down and the students looked up expectantly.
"I am happy beyond words to welcome you all here at Hogwarts." Her voice was unwavering, dignified; but Severus, sitting close to her as he was, could see the slightly trembling hands, the crease between her eyes, and knew she was deeply moved.
"Last year has been harrowing for all of us, but the courage and resilience you displayed brings honour and pride to our school; indeed, to the whole wizarding community. My hope is that we can all heal and grow this year – together." She paused, letting her gaze travel across the crowd of young people.
"In order to celebrate our victory over the dark forces that sought to destroy everything beautiful and good, we will hold a beginning of term ball next Saturday night, which is why each of you has been asked to bring dress robes." This was met with happy cheers and relaxed the atmosphere somewhat.
"To all new students, a very warm welcome. Now, let the Sorting begin," the Headmistress declared.
As if on cue, the Sorting Hat seemed to stretch itself taller on its stool, and started to sing.
After a year of pain and strife
I welcome you all here
Hatred and divisions had won
Confirmed my darkest fear!
What will become of our school
Which was destroyed and ruined?
Yet my frayed heart rejoices to see
Students united to rebuild.
May past grudges be left behind
With hope our scars can heal
As young witches and wizards
Together learn with zeal.
Wizarding tradition must stand
Inside your mind I will see
Hidden traits that will decide
In which house you should be.
Red and gold is Gryffindor
Were we welcome the bravest;
All clad in blue, is Ravenclaw
For you who are the smartest.
Good old Hufflepuff in yellow
Where loyal friends reside;
While emerald green of Slytherin
Favours ambition and pride.
Young witches, young wizards
Do not fear and try me on for size:
Without fault I will yet tell you
Which House will be your prize.
As Pomona unrolled the parchment listing the new students, Severus leaned forward, keen to see which ones would end up in his old house. Besides, he had always prided himself on knowing each of his students by name from the first day.
"Abergel, Sarah!" A slim witch with glossy dark hair and fine features sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. "Hufflepuff!" the Hat declared. The young girl was greeted with broad smiles and hugs.
"Aubrey, Jonathan," brown-haired and broad-shouldered, became the first Gryffindor. Potter himself gave him a welcome pat on the back, which made the young boy blush with pride.
"Belby, Charlotte," was the second Hufflepuff, and "Blumenthal, Lucas," a chubby boy with a mop of blond curls, was assigned to Ravenclaw and welcomed with cheers.
After Lucy Cattermole, James Cornfoot and Maxwell Davies had been assigned to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, respectively, a skinny lad called Edward Flint came forward, and as the Hat touched his brow, it clamoured, "Slytherin!"
Severus held his breath, as, seemingly, did the whole school. The Slytherins remained silent for a few long seconds, then clapped their hands and invited the boy over. A few hisses and jeers from the other students were shot down by an icy glare from the Headmistress.
Frederick Edgecombe had already been sorted in Hufflepuff by the time Severus' gaze came back to the Sorting Hat, and Debbie Entwhistle went to Ravenclaw, soon joined by Amy Goshawk, Davinder Kaur, Glennis Rees-Jones, Ophiuchus Sharp, Paulus Thistlewood and Sophie Waddleton.
Shrook Farad, Emil Goddard, Persephone Hipworth, Ewan Murray, Karam Saddik and Astrid Treadwell went to Gryffindor; while Aliyah Jackson, Florence Malone, Oliver Nettles, and Eridanus Rakepick ended up in Hufflepuff. As for the Slytherins, they were joined by Gregory Hopkins, Maponos Mc Millan, Lugus Ollerton, Cassiopea Prewett, and Winifred Sprottle.
Severus surveyed the faces of the new Slytherins. Despite refusing Minerva's offer to be Head of House again, and letting Horace keep the office instead, Severus still felt protective of them, somehow. Of all those sorted in the green-and-gold house in 1991, only four remained: Draco Malfoy, his face even paler than usual, Theodore Nott, sitting straight and proud, unblinking, despite the scornful looks coming from the other tables, Millicent Bulstrode, who was trying – unsuccessfully – to make her bulky shape appear as small as possible, elbows tucked against her sides and head lowered, and Tracey Davis, who was chewing the inside of her cheek. The younger Slytherins looked, for the most part, nervous and uncertain, especially the first years. Severus pondered how extreme circumstances brought out the worst in people, no matter who they were. He had seen students practise the Cruciatus curse on their fellow students under the Carrows' orders, and had seen the fleeting but unmistakable enjoyment on some faces: the pleasure derived from yielding such power over another, the satisfaction of hurting someone they held a grudge against. What riled him up the most was that he had seen students of all four houses succumb to that awful urge, but only Slytherins faced reprobation. It had been so easy for the other students, afterwards, to absolve themselves: "They made us do it!" Such amnesty had not been granted to Slytherins. Severus recalled Dumbledore's irksome comment one day, "I think we sort too soon" – as if being a Slytherin made you a villain by default.
Minerva clinked her glass again. "I have a few announcements before we can enjoy the feast. Professor Sprout, who you all know, will be my Deputy Headmistress. We welcome some new members of staff: Miss Penelope Dawson will be your new Transfiguration teacher, as my duties as Headmistress will leave me little time to teach, and Muggle Studies will be taught by Mrs Concordia Rowles. Professor Slughorn will resume his post as Potions teacher and Head of Slytherin House, and Professor Snape will teach Defence against the Dark Arts."
At this, voices started their angry buzzing again.
"I am not finished." Minerva barely raised her voice, but her inflexible, iron tone commanded silence from her students.
"Professor Snape, as no doubt you know, has been investigated and tried by the Ministry of Magic. It has come to light that he had been acting as a spy for our side at great personal risk, at Professor Dumbledore's request. In order to maintain his cover for as long as possible and ensure our victory, he did some things that are, indeed, questionable. However, he was acting on the former Headmaster's orders the whole time, and very narrowly escaped death. Enough evidence was provided, in short, not only to clear Professor Snape of all charges, but to recognize him as one of the heroes of this war." She paused as the students regarded her gravely, silently. Severus felt grateful she did not mention Draco. The lad would have enough to deal with as it was.
"Professor Snape has my full trust and respect. Therefore, I expect all of you to respect him as you would any other teacher, and I will not tolerate any hostile behaviour against him. I hope I made myself clear."
"Moving on to practical matters: as older students well know, the Dark Forest is forbidden to all pupils unless they are accompanied by a member of staff and on a specific errand. The magical creatures who dwell in there can be deadly dangerous, so I suggest you take this warning seriously. In addition, I remind you that the use of magic is forbidden outside classes."
"Quidditch trials will commence next Saturday afternoon. Those who wish to enrol in their House team can speak to either Mrs Hooch or myself. And now, as our beloved former Headmaster Professor Dumbledore would say on such occasions… tuck in!"
As mouth-watering dishes appeared in front of them, students seemed to forget all other considerations, and soon the Hall resounded with cheerful chatter again.
As Severus was pushing away his empty plate, the Headmistress leaned towards him, a smile on her face.
"I was wondering, Severus, whether miss Duncan has suitable dress robes for the ball?"
Severus was puzzled. "I cannot see why she would need dress robes, as there is no reason for her to attend the ball, Minerva. After all, she has no connection to the school."
"Well, I thought you would want to take her," McGonnagal beamed.
"Why on earth would I want to take Morag to the ball?" Severus scowled.
"I thought you might want to show her off. I could –"
" – show her off? Show her off?" Severus exclaimed. "She is not some costly ornament to be paraded around. She is a witch, and an exceedingly talented one at that. The very idea of showing her off like a vulgar trophy, is an insult to her –"
Severus stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the knowing grin on Minerva's face.
"You really are quite taken with her, aren't you, Severus," she stated.
"I hold her in very high esteem indeed."
Minerva chuckled.
"I – oh, all right. I do like her a lot. And I will take her to your confounded ball. Happy now?"
"Severus, that is simply marvellous," the Headmistress beamed. "I have a silk gown I used to wear as a young witch that will look perfect on her – emerald is definitely her colour. It will have to be altered a bit to make it more fashionable, of course, but – "
"Spare me." Severus snarled. "Do whatever you like, Minerva. I doubt Morag will mind either way."