The Boy Who Lived:

Lucy wasn't ready when the time came for them to return to the castle. Though she originally regretted her choice to move to Cokeworth, she had made a friend in Michael. There were no friends waiting for her at Hogwarts. If she let them, she knew the Weasley twins would include her in their pranks, but she still wasn't interested. Maybe if they were a little more controlled this year she would reconsider. Tonks never wrote to her.

She quickly settled back into the room she first knew as her own. Her paintings she had hung on the wall were waiting for her. She had done similar at the Cokeworth house. She decided it would be fun to decorate her rooms to add some color. Severus apparently didn't like art, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it in her own space.

That evening, the students would be coming back. Severus was grumpy when they returned so she was relieved when he went to his lab to finish some last minute brewing he needed to finish before classes resumed.

xXx

Severus wasn't ready when the time came for him to face the new students. Or rather, one new student. Lily's son would be coming to Hogwarts. He wondered if he would take after his friend or his enemy more. As he decanted a potion into a vial, he sighed. His shoulders had never felt more heavy as they did now.

Albus had already reminded him of the dangers that his return to the wizarding world could bring. His boss was rather adamant that the times of peace were brought on by the boy's childhood with the muggles. Snape sneered as he reminisced on his memories of Petunia Evans. She had been a remarkably mundane girl with a streak of viscous jealousy - not unlike his own. She never handled the fact that out of three Evans daughters, she was the only one born without the gift of magic.

The Evans family further confirmed his theory that muggleborns were actually products of long diluted wizard bloodlines. Severus found it hard to believe that it was random when two girls born to muggles turned out to be witches. If he hadn't witnessed the plainness of the Evans, he might've suspected that at least one of them was a wizard in hiding.

Severus released some of his stress as he stoppered the last of the vials. Finally, he was done preparing potions for the hospital wing. Now, he had to face the other Evans orphan.

xXx

Lucy had chosen to sit with the Hufflepuffs for the Welcome Feast. She recognized a few faces, but she only really sat there because of Tonks. The Hufflepuffs felt like the safest option, though, and she really wanted to see what the Sorting ceremony was like before she had hers next year. Most of the professors were already sitting at the head table, but Professor McGonagall was missing. She had left to get the new students.

After a moment, the door opened and Professor McGonagall led a line of the new students into the Great Hall. They looked a mixture of anxious, excited, and scared. Lucy felt the same as she watched them move toward the head table. McGonagall put a stool down in front of the new students, upon which she placed a pointy brown hat. The hat twitched and a seam near the brim opened.

The hat sang:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might be Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Lucy was startled from her trance as the Great Hall broke out in applause. Hufflepuff was loyal - and Slytherin cunning? She knew one of each that she wasn't sure fit the descriptions. She looked at Severus, but he was staring into the crowd of new students, as if was looking at someone he hated very much. She wasn't sure which of the children had already found themself on the bad side of Professor Snape, but she pitied them.

xXx

Potter. The dark-haired boy was every bit of James Potter as he could be. Only the green eyes showed any evidence of his mother. Severus could not take his eyes off the boy who reminded him of pain he liked to pretend was behind him. As if having a spitting image of the Evans girls was not enough, now he would get the pleasure of teaching the Potter boy, too.

As Minerva called the names of the new students, Severus watched as the boy anxiously awaited his own sorting. With the parents he had, there was no doubt in Severus' mind that he, too, would be sorted into Gryffindor. The redheaded boy next to him looked to be the latest Weasley boy, undoubtedly another Gryffindor.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

The blond boy swaggered to the stool, and as soon as the Sorting Hat hit his head, it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"

Severus watched as his new student went to meet his fellow housemates. Another boy who Severus wondered which parent he most took after. Taking his attention back to the Potter boy, he waited impatiently for his turn.

Finally, Minerva called: "Potter, Harry!"

The room was suddenly devoid of all sounds except the whispers of curiosity. As the boy sat with the Sorting Hat over his speckled eyes, Severus held his breath. After what Severus swore was a near Hatstall, the Sorting Hat called out his decision.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Severus closed his eyes as the next student was called to the front. There would be no surprises this year, it seemed.

xXx

Lucy struggled to see much with the excitement growing as more students were sorted, but she could feel the mix of emotions in the Great Hall. Now, in addition to fear and excitement, there was also a growing wonder. She didn't know who Harry Potter was, but everyone seemed to find it amazing that he was going to their school.

From what she could see, he was a skinny brunette boy with glasses. He looked a little sickly as he approached the Gryffindor table. She couldn't tell for sure, but it looked like he might be shaking. So much for being brave.

Finally, the last student was called. "Zabini, Blaise!"

Lucy watched as he was sorted into Slytherin, Severus' House. Her guardian looked every bit the mean professor she often heard students describe him as. Though he clapped as Blaise Zabini walked to the Slytherin table, his eyes were daggers aimed at the Gryffindor table. By how excited the Gryffindor Prefect had been when he welcomed Harry Potter to his table, Lucy thought maybe Harry was from an important family. Perhaps not getting someone from the Potter family was a loss to the other Houses.

"Welcome!" Lucy flinched as Dumbledore's greeting distracted her from her theories. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

Lucy deadpanned as the Headmaster thanked the school for listening to his nonsense. Most everyone applauded him. Lucy wondered if anyone else had experienced the side of Albus Dumbledore that she had. Perhaps he saved that for those he deemed unworthy of a place in the castle.

Food appeared before Lucy, but suddenly she wasn't hungry. She sat in silence as she overheard some nearby students she vaguely recognized from last year enthusiastically theorizing about 'The Boy Who Lived' and 'You Know Who,' both of which Lucy had not heard of.

"Sorry, but who is 'The Boy Who Lived'?" Those close enough to hear her quiet question turned to her, with looks of horror and shock on their faces.

"Are you being serious? Professor Snape never told you about Harry Potter? He defeated You Know Who during the war! His parents were murdered but he was powerful enough to defeat him as a baby!" The girl spoke almost quicker than her brain could produce the words and she stumbled over a few.

A brunette boy spoke up, "Surely he wouldn't want to get into it and have to tell her his allegiance."

Several students smirked or scoffed, though some had the decency to attempt to hide their amusement. Lucy had no idea what 'allegiance' the boy referred to, but she could tell the students were not fans of her guardian.

"That's mean, Cedric. If he really was a Death Eater, Dumbledore wouldn't let him teach here. Hogwarts is a safe haven." The first girl pointed her finger at him like Lucy had seen Professor McGonagall do in the hallways when students were misbehaving. She brushed her blond hair back as she sat back in her place.

Cedric shrugged, and turned back to his friends. Lucy didn't ask any more questions, afraid of what she might be told.

xXx

Severus had put all his attention toward the food on his plate, but somehow Quirenus Quirrell did not receive the hint.

"M-marvelous that w-we have the p-p-pleasure of t-teaching t-the young Harry P-potter, isn't it?" The man was different this time around. Before his sabbatical, he was much more stable. Though he didn't wish to discuss whatever had happened, Severus suspected he was in no shape to teach any kind of magical defense.

"No doubt." Severus looked past his stuttering colleague, locking eyes with Harry Potter. The boy brought his hand to his head as if Severus had struck him. Looking away, Severus listened to the babbling between the rest of the staff. Surely one boy did not warrant the excess attention the rest of the staff seemed hell bent on doling out. He watched Lucy sneak out of the feast early, wishing he was permitted to leave.

Alas, he had to stay for arguably the worst idea Dumbledore had ever publicly had.

"Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Severus noticed that Mr. Potter was one of the few students to laugh at Albus' warning. He wasn't sure if his laughter was born from cockiness or ignorance.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"

Severus involuntarily sneered as his fellow professors forced their smiles.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!" Albus somehow never ceased to express great joy in terribly cringeworthy displays such as the brutalization of the school song.

Still, Severus begrudgingly participated:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with knobby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest.

And learn until our brains all rot."

As if the Weasley twins knew Severus could not be permitted to leave until after the school song, they drew their version out in a slow funeral march. As they finished the last syllable, Severus made his departure. The night wasn't over yet, but he had a little bit of time before the Slytherin students would meet him in the common room.

xXx

Lucy heard Severus enter their quarters later in the night, but she stayed in her own room while he moved above the living room. She couldn't stop thinking about what Cedric had said about Death Eaters. Whatever they were, they sounded like something to stay away from. For some reason, Cedric was under the impression that Severus was one of them.

She didn't share the blond girl's trust in Dumbledore. But Severus was not a Death Eater. Death Eaters sounded like the bad guys. Severus had saved her from her burning house. If he really was so bad, why would he have gone through the trouble of doing something so good?

She heard him move to his room as she debated his character based on what she witnessed and what she heard. She found it difficult to believe that so many people would share the same disdain for him and it not to be deserved. At the same time, she heard the vast majority of students speak highly of the Headmaster.

Yet again, Lucy had a sleepless night in the castle.