Los Angeles, California. Creed Estate

It felt strange.

Severus sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, staring at the half-packed trunk in front of him. Back at Hogwarts, packing was routine—books, potions ingredients, robes, his wand—all necessities. Now, half the stuff he once considered essential sat in a pile on the floor, useless. His life had changed so drastically, so quickly.

Two months ago, he had been training relentlessly, earning top marks in his classes, surrounded by the familiar comfort of Slytherin's stone walls. Now, he was no longer a Slytherin, no longer a student of Hogwarts. Just a half-blood boy about to step into an entirely new world, a new school, with new rules and expectations.

And worse, he was still wandless. In all the chaos, he hadn't had a chance to get a new one. No magic. No defense. Just his wits and fists, a duel of a different sort altogether.

He heard footsteps outside the door and glanced up as Rocky walked in. "Need any help with that?" Rocky asked, nodding toward the trunk.

Severus shook his head. "No, I've got it."

Rocky leaned against the doorframe, studying him. "Feeling ready?"

"Not really," Severus admitted, stuffing a few more clothes into his bag. "Feels like I'm going in unarmed."

Rocky chuckled. "Kid, you've been going through life unarmed for a while now. You've done just fine."

Severus tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "This is different, Rocky. It's a new school, a new country. I don't know if—"

"You'll be fine," Rocky interrupted. "You're smart, tougher than most, and you've got that fire. That's what counts."

Severus nodded, closing the lid of his trunk with a soft click. "Yeah... another round." He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in his stomach.

Rocky gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Remember, kid, it ain't about how you start the round. It's about how you finish it."

Severus exhaled slowly, his resolve hardening. "Finish strong, right?"

"Finish strong," Rocky repeated with a grin.

With that, Severus picked up his half-empty trunk, and followed Rocky down the stairs. As they reached the bottom, he spotted his mother sitting on the couch, her suitcase already packed and standing beside her. She looked up, a small smile playing on her lips, but there was a flicker of something behind her eyes—anxiety, maybe, or something else he couldn't quite place.

"What's the suitcase for?" Severus asked, his brow furrowing. "Aren't you coming back after you drop me off?"

Mary-Anne hesitated, biting her lip. "I've been thinking… Maybe it's time for a change, too."

Severus's eyes widened, his grip tightening on the handle of his trunk. "What? W-What are you talking about?"

"I've put my job on hold," she admitted, smoothing out a wrinkle in her dress, "and I'm going to stay near your new school for a little bit, just in case you need me."

"You're giving up everything?" Severus shook his head. "Because of me?"

She laughed softly, getting up from the couch and moving closer. "I'm not giving up anything. I'm just… prioritizing what matters most. And that's you."

Severus swallowed hard. "Mama, I'll be fine. I don't need—"

"I know you don't need me to hold your hand," Mary-Anne interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. "But I want to be there. We're in this together, remember?"

Severus sighed, his chest feeling tight. "I… Okay. Just don't smother me, alright?"

Mary-Anne chuckled. "No promises."

Rocky cleared his throat, a grin tugging at his lips. "Guess I'm dropping both of you off, huh?" He clapped Severus on the back. "You're not going alone, kid. Besides, a little backup never hurt anyone."

Severus finally cracked a small smile. "I guess... thanks."

With that, they headed out the door together, trunks in tow. Severus took one last look at the house, a wave of nostalgia hitting him harder than he'd expected. It wasn't just about leaving Los Angeles or moving to a new school. It was about starting over, again, with his mother by his side—something that scared him and comforted him all at once.

As they got into the car, he leaned back, staring out the window, wondering what lay ahead. New challenges, new people, new everything. And, for the first time in a while, he felt a spark of excitement beneath the uncertainty.

?

Severus soon realized that his mother had come partly to be close to him—but her real reason was something else entirely. "To find a man with the honey," as she'd put it, much to his dismay. Her words, not his.

He exhaled deeply, straightening his tie with a quick, nervous tug. His mother had left not long ago, unable to accompany him further—Muggles weren't permitted inside the school unless it was a designated holiday. Standing before the massive wooden doors, he took a moment to steady himself. He could handle this. He was the son of three remarkable people, after all; a new school couldn't be that hard… right?

As he stepped forward, the heavy doors creaked open on their own, revealing the grand entrance hall of the school. His breath caught as he walked into the vast circular chamber, light filtering through the domed glass ceiling above. The walls were alive with intricate carvings and murals that seemed to shift and move, telling the stories of the school's founders, legendary beasts, and moments in magical history.

His eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light, and he took in the grandeur around him. The massive doors behind him slammed shut with a resounding thud, making him jump slightly. Then, a voice boomed through the room, deep and commanding:

"Step onto the Gordian Knot."

Startled, Severus glanced around, trying to locate the source of the voice. He spotted a second-floor gallery overlooking the hall, where several curious faces peered down at him. The voice spoke again, more insistent this time:

"Step onto the Gordian Knot."

Ahead of him, Severus's gaze fell upon a golden Gordian Knot embedded in the floor. He stepped onto it, and instantly, the light from the domed ceiling dimmed and focused solely on him. As he stood there, the shadows seemed to retreat, revealing four distinct statues around him.

The first was a large bird with its wings majestically spread—a Thunderbird.

Next was a serpent adorned with a softly glowing jewel on its forehead—a Horned Serpent.

To his left crouched a panther-like creature with a sleek, muscular build—a Wampus.

Finally, there was a small, fierce creature with a bow and arrows—a Pukwudgie.

Despite his research, Severus had found no details about the sorting ceremony in any of the books he had consulted. As he tried to make sense of the scene, the Thunderbird's statue suddenly came to life, its wings flapping with a powerful motion. At the same time, the jewel on the Horned Serpent's forehead began to pulse with an intense glow.

Suddenly, the voice from before echoed through the hall. "Choose one."

Severus's eyes darted between the two statues directly in front of him: the Thunderbird and the Horned Serpent. The decision seemed almost impossible, with each representing qualities he valued deeply.

The Thunderbird, with its wings spread wide and fierce gaze, symbolized courage and ambition. The Horned Serpent, with its glowing jewel and slithering elegance, represented wisdom and intellect.

He felt the weight of the choice pressing heavily on his shoulders. This wasn't just about selecting a house; it was about defining who he would become at Ilvermorny.

He took a deep breath, feeling the intensity of the moment. The hall seemed to hold its breath along with him. After a long moment of contemplation, Severus raised his hand towards the Horned Serpent, drawn by its promise of wisdom and the allure of its quiet strength.

"The Serpent."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the Horned Serpent's jewel glowed warmly, casting a soft, welcoming light that filled the room. The Thunderbird retracted its wings and faded into the background, its once-commanding presence now subdued.

With the lights returning to their normal brightness, Severus could finally see his surroundings clearly. The eyes he had noticed before were those of students, all watching him intently from the balcony above as he underwent the sorting ceremony.

Most of the students were clapping and cheering, their excitement filling the hall, while a few simply watched him with curious or indifferent expressions.

The sound of footsteps drew his attention back to the front, where a middle-aged woman stood before him. Her brown hair was neatly pinned into a bun, and a blend of smile and smirk played across her face.

"Welcome to Ilvermorny, Mr. Snape,"