A New Beginning, pt. 3

By now, the sun was just above the horizon, casting a warm glow into the cabin. The sky was a soft orange color, which made Lily’s dark hair seem lighter, and filled Snape’s hollow black eyes with light. The four watched the sun dip below the horizon, leaving the sky hot with its dying flames. Witnessing simple things like a sunset made Harry feel small and insignificant, not to mention out of place. When was the last time he had seen a sunset? The ordinary, but spectacular sight of it made him homesick, thought he didn’t understand why.

The train was only dark for a moment before the lights inside turned on. The color outside deepened to a dark blue, reducing the outside terrain to a rough black blur. No one talked leading up to when they arrived at the station, but somehow the slowing down of the train snapped them out of their trances. 

“Well, this is it,” Harry said, when the train had come to a complete stop. Lily smiled and stood up, as did the other three. Far ahead of them, Harry caught a glimpse of his father laughing with Sirius. His heart wrenched at the sight for a number of reasons, but he decided not to dwell on it and concentrated on his new surroundings. 

It was dark outside, but with the help of the lanterns, the path was visible through the night. A couple first years gasped at the sight of the school in the distance, and, as always, Harry felt a familiar warmth spread through him, despite the cold of the night. This was his home. And he never had a proper seventh year anyway, right? 

A younger version of Hagrid gathered all of the first years and brought them down a narrow path that Harry knew led to the lake. Sure enough, just as he remembered, there were boats docked by the shore. It was truly a magnificent sight: the black, glassy expanse of water cut through the trees and mountains, leading up to the great castle that sat above its edge. Everyone gasped at the stunning view, cutting through the still of the night. 

“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called as everyone eagerly headed toward the little boats. Severus, and Lily both clambered into the one closest to them. Harry went to join them, but for some reason, Raven hung back. She looked awkwardly around at the other canoes, but they were filling up fast. 

Harry backtracked and asked her quietly, “Aren’t you coming with us?” 

Raven shook her head. “You don’t need to…to be nice to me.” She started forwards toward a sullen group of stragglers. 

“What? Why…”  

She turned to face him. “Because—because I know I’m going to be put in Slytherin, and you guys are all going to be in Gryffindor, or at least not in the same house as me.” 

“You don’t know that!” Harry looked around. “It doesn’t matter. The other boats are full. Let’s go.” Raven hesitated, looking around to make sure he was telling the truth, then followed him silently to the boat. He couldn’t figure out what she was so concerned about, they had already sat as a group on the train, and it wasn’t a big deal.

On Hagrid’s shouted command, the fleet of boats began sailing forward across the lake. It was perfectly silent, except for the occasional light sound of water lapping against the boats. The air was becoming steadily more chilled, and more and more stars began peeking out of the sky. Everyone looked up in awe at the castle that towered above them, lights gleaming in the windows.

The boats docked and the new students crowded around the rocky shore until all of the first years had gathered. They all wordlessly walked up stony steps to the castle. Hagrid knocked loudly on the huge doors, and immediately Professor McGonagall opened them. Her stern face was exactly as Harry remembered, minus a few wrinkles.  

“Thank you, Rubeus. I will lead them the rest of the way.” She ushered them in, and as soon as they entered, the silence was broken and excited whispers broke out. The high ceilings, enchanted staircases, and moving portraits overwhelmed them. It truly was a spectacular sight, even to Harry, who had seen the view many times. 

I’m home, he thought in disbelief for a second time. Harry couldn’t help sharing a grin with Severus. He felt the smile more deeply than he had in a long time.

The buzz of hundreds of voices could be heard from where Harry knew was the Great Hall. The professor led them away and explained Hogwarts to them, just as she had done so many years ago. Except, he was with a whole different group of students, and while he appeared to be eleven, he was seven years older.

As soon as the Professor left, the expected apprehensive conversations broke out. As Lily and Severus exchanged guesses about what the sorting would be like, Harry and Raven hung back.

“Do you know about the sorting?” He asked her.

“Yes, my father told me about it. Do you, too? I don’t want to spoil the surprise.” 

“Yeah, I know what happens. I read about it somewhere. At least it’s not a test, right?” 

Raven nodded mutely and looked up in slight surprise as ghosts burst out of the walls, deep in discussion. Harry didn’t react, maybe he should’ve acted at least a little surprised, but no one would notice him over the confusion and screams. He wondered if the ghosts like to do this annually: scaring the heck out of the little kids, but acting as if it was no big deal. 

Finally, the ghosts noticed the timid first years.

“Ah, new recruits! I hope you will be in Hufflepuff!” The Fat Friar exclaimed. He retained an optimistic smile even after this statement was met with snide mutters of those who will no doubt end up as Slytherins. 

Professor McGonagall came back out and ordered the ghosts to join the other students in the Great Hall. As the spirits floated away, she organized the students into a line and told them to follow her. Harry was behind Severus, eye level with the space right above his neck (or what was his neck beneath his long dark hair) with Raven behind him. 

There were more gasps as they entered the Great Hall. It was extravagantly decorated as usual for the first day of term. Heads turned toward the incoming eleven-year-olds as they surveyed the room in awe. However, Harry wasn’t looking at the thousands of candles suspended in the air, or the enchanted ceiling like the rest of the. He was scanning the staff table, picking out familiar faces. There was Professor Slughorn, Professor Flitwick, Professor Dumbledore—Harry froze. He hadn’t thought about the Headmaster at all. He wished he had before, to offset the shock he was in now. Out of everyone else, Dumbledore looked most similar to what he would look like in twenty years, which didn’t help his pain. 

Harry couldn’t believe he was actually tearing up in front of everyone. He forced his gaze away from the incredible man, the one who had taught him so much, who had protected him even when Harry didn’t know. He was just another person to add to his growing list of people he wanted to save. 

While Professor McGonagall organized the new students and briefly explained the sorting process, Harry looked for more familiar faces. There was Hagrid (Harry’s spirit lifted), Professor Sprout, and Madam Hooch. The other teachers he didn’t recognize, but at least the main ones were familiar.

His attention was caught again by the Sorting Hat, who was just preparing to sing: 

“I am the famous Sorting Hat,

I’ve been around for centuries

Sorted many just like you.

Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws,

Gryffindors and Slytherins.

I’ll do my best to place you,

Don’t fret about where I choose—

Be proud of your house, for each is unique:

Maybe you are a Hufflepuff, 

Home to the friendliest of folk, 

Who never abandon their friends.

Perhaps you are a Ravenclaw,

Where your thoughts are highly prized

And only the cleverest are chosen.

Though, there is of course Gryffindor:

Where the brave and loyal dwell,

Along with the daring and good-hearted.

Or perhaps you belong in Slytherin, 

The home of the ambitious and cunning,

Those who can overcome all obstacles.

No house is better than another,

Each are different, yes, but none superior—

So don’t be shy! Try me on!

And remember: my choice is always true.”

The hat was giving him every sign that its choice was final. Through the applause, Harry was struggling with one troubled thought: when the hat had placed Severus in Slytherin, had seen everything about Snape. Surely it had known about his capacity to love, how he would end up on the good side. Or did it? 

The noise died down and Professor McGonagall stepped forward again, holding a roll of parchment. “When I call your name, you will place the hat on your head to be sorted.” The hat waited on the stool, which overlooked all of the nervous children. 

The Professor called the first name, one Harry didn’t recognize, and the girl went forward to be sorted into Slytherin. Harry knew there weren’t going to be many people he’d know; his parents had him when they were twenty, younger than the parents of most students he knew. However, he could see the blond head of Lucius Malfoy at the Slytherin table, wearing a prefect badge. 

Soon the names reached the E’s, and Lily was up. “Evans, Lily,” She walked quickly to the stool. Harry glanced at Severus, who was staring at her, frozen. Harry could tell Severus knew that she was not going into Slytherin. The hat hardly skipped a beat for Lily; it sat on her head for only a moment before proclaiming “GRYFFINDOR!” 

Harry could almost hear Snape’s heart drop to his beat-up shoes. His face fell and the light was put out in his eyes. Lily gave him a sad smile, which he tried to return. His face twitched in vain, just making his grief more pronounced on his already solemn features. 

Now was Harry’s last chance to save him. He took a deep breath and shuffled closer to Severus. 

“Listen,” he began in undertone. Snape sighed and slowly turned toward him. He glanced at Professor McGonagall, who narrowed her eyes at them. 

“When you put on the hat, you can ask it to put you in Gryffindor. It will listen to you.” Harry continued quickly. The Professor suddenly shushed him, so he was forced to stop talking. He would’ve anyway; “Faralyn, Raven” was called next. 

Raven walked steadily up to the stage and put the hat on. Being close to the shortest of the first years, the hat slid well over her eyes. She remained impassive until something the hat had communicated to her made her blink in surprise. Then its mouth opened and it yelled: “GRYFFINDOR!”

Raven’s face lit up brilliantly and she went over the Gryffindor table next to Lily, still smiling broadly. Harry thought she looked over at the Slytherin table with a look of triumph. She must have really not wanted to be placed in Slytherin, maybe in the way that Sirius didn’t want anything to do with his family.

After what seemed like no time at all, “Snape, Severus,” was called. For a moment, Severus was rooted to the spot, but he regained his senses and shakily took a few steps forward. Then he fearfully looked back at Harry. 

There was no mistaking what Harry said. He mouthed the words, “For her,” and glanced toward the Gryffindor table where Lily was now seated. 

Severus, for the first time, seemed to honestly take Harry’s advice into consideration. Maybe it was because he had thought, somehow, Lily would be placed in Slytherin, or that in the end it wouldn’t matter because they’d stay friends. Or maybe he thought he wouldn’t mind terribly to be separated. Now, having felt the actual despair when she was put into the house he had so many prejudices about, he was torn. 

Severus walked up to the chair, sat down, and carefully placed the hat upon his head.