Purebloods
Severus sighed, staring out from a window in the Hogwarts library.
Any second now, hordes of students would arrive and go to the Great Hall.
Along with nervous and excited first-years.
He was here because of his mother, Eileen Prince. After marrying Hugh Crothe, another pureblood, she gave birth to a boy.
Severus Prince. They decided to keep the Prince last name because of its deep history.
However, Severus, though born into a pureblood family, was a squib.
Not that they minded. The Crothe family was a light family and didn’t mind squibs and muggles. The Prince family, though a bit old-fashioned, grew to love the charm of the magic-less boy.
So here he was, at Hogwarts, as a helper. Being a squib, he didn’t get the letter to study at Hogwarts. No, instead, his mother had been given the opportunity to be the potions professor and she took it.
Severus, being ever so curious, asked to see how she taught. He loved potions. He wanted to see how to teach potions.
His mind went back to the first time he met Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, a week ago.
Severus hid behind his mother as they entered the strange office behind a gargoyle, having to have said a password to enter: Jelly slugs.
There seemed to be four people standing and one sitting.
The people standing were the heads of each house at Hogwarts.
Minerva McGonagall was the head of Gryffindor, the house for the brave and daring.
Horace Slughorn was the head of Slytherin, the house for the sly and cunning.
Filius Flitwick was the head of Ravenclaw, the house for the wise and witty.
Pomona Sprout was the head of Hufflepuff, the house for the loyal and dedicated.
His mother was a Slytherin. His father a Ravenclaw.
He’d never know what he’d be, considering he was a squib.
The one sitting down was Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. His long beard hidden under the desk and his eyes twinkled under his half-moon spectacles. His eyes went to Eileen and then Severus, sparkling even more, if that seemed possible.
“Hello, Eileen. I see you’ve brought a little guest.”
His mother chuckled and pat his head.
“Yes, headmaster. I hope it isn’t too much trouble. Severus loves potions and he wants to get experience in teaching from a young age.”
Flitwick spoke up, curiosity in his voice.
“Ah, I see, Eileen. But shouldn’t he be coming in a week later? On the express train?”
Severus’ hands tightened on his mother’s robe. He sucked a breath and huffed out.
“I’m a squib. I didn’t get a letter and I’m not here to study.”
Suddenly, everyone in the room except for his mother and the headmaster looked at him with pity.
Slughorn was next to speak, voice turning monotone as if losing interest. Rude.
“Ah, I see. Well, what are you here for, boy?”
Eileen giggled, ruffling Severus’ fluffy(poofy) hair. He had washed it five times before coming to Hogwarts because he didn’t want to seem like a slob. His hair was naturally poofy, only that he never had the right materials to wash it; in the original.
“Sev is here to watch me teach. He’s interested in getting teaching experience from a young age. He’s a potions prodigy!”
McGonagall perked up at the mention of potions.
“Potions? There could only be so much an eleven-year-old could do, no?”
Sprout nodded along, seeming a bit skeptical.
“What has he been able to do?”
Eileen grinned.
“I caught him making Draught of Peace with a textbook open. He wrote instructions that improved it.”
Severus turned pink from the attention and averted his eyes.
Slughorn caught interest again, his voice booming.
“Ah, of course! Taken from his mother, I see! Never expected less from a Prince. Such talent must be inherited!”
Severus stared at the head of Slytherin with a flabbergasted look. The nerve of this man-
Dumbledore cleared his throat, everyone’s eyes on him now. He smiled at Severus.
“Welcome to Hogwarts, my dear boy. No matter what, whether you’re a student or assistant, this place can be called your home.”
Severus nodded, feeling a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
A sudden voice startled him.
“Ah, a squib! Coming to Hogwarts! How charming!”
The Sorting Hat had awoken, it’s “mouth” moving.
Severus furrowed his brows at it before huffing out without regret.
“The sorting is stupid.”
Everyone except the headmaster stared with disbelief.
Eileen nervously giggled, patting Severus’ head.
“Now now, Sev, that’s a bit rude…”
“But it’s true! Why is there only four houses with four traits? Why is the house rivalry taken so seriously? Why does it have to separate potential friends? What if someone wants to be nuanced?”
There was silence. Then, clapping. Albus Dumbledore laughed, his melodious laughter booming through the office.
“My boy, you’re certainly unique! I’m honored to have you teaching at my school.”
Severus blinked before turning a lovely shade of pink.
What an odd person.
Yet such a comforting presence.
Severus looked forward to more interactions with this man and the staff.