all aboard
September 1st, 1975
The hustle and bustle of Platform 9 & 3/4 was the same as any year. Children ran about the platform in search of friends, parents of first years held each other tight as they weeped into soggy tissues, and the sounds of all types of pets blended together like a poorly conducted orchestra.
Severina looked around and sighed.
“Isabelle, are you sure you’ve packed all your clothes? Nikolai, how have you already dirtied your collar. Come here.” Eileen Snape snagged the boy by his jumper and pulled him towards her. His freckled face crumpled in disgust as her mother licked her finger and attempted to scrub away the stain.
“Maman- don’t do that, you’re embarrassing me!” Nikolai complained, as he attempted to swat her hand away. Isabelle stifled a giggle behind her hand, but Severina could still see a hint of anxiety behind her little sister’s eyes. She planted Élodie, who had been tangling her fingers in Severina’s hair, onto the floor, where the three year old immediately locked her hands in her big sister’s cloak.
She then placed her hand on Isabelle’s hair, straight and black like hers, and the young girl turned to face her.
“You are worried, Sabine?” Severina asked.
The eleven year old’s face crumpled slightly, her deep blue eyes starting to shine with tears. “What if they don’t like me?” She said hesitantly. “What if they think I’m a weirdo and nobody wants to be my friend and-“
“Who couldn’t like my beautiful little sister, hm? You are one of a kind, and they will see that, just like I do. Ils vont t’aimer, autant que moi.”
Nikolai chimed in. “Yeah, and if anyone doesn’t, they will have to deal with me.” He mimed punching the air, missing another parent by inches. Isabelle, happier now, giggled again.
“Kolya!” Eileen exclaimed. “Behave yourself. No picking fights this year, I had enough letters home last year.”
“But Mama-“
“No buts. Behave.”
Eileen Snape tried to put on a mask around her children, to not let them see how worried she really was, but Severina had seen her mother at her lowest, and saw straight through it. The woman fiddled with her limp dark brown hair, and repeatedly patted down each of her children to make sure they were looking pristine. Severina reached for her hands and held them in hers, whilst her younger siblings entertained Élodie in a game of ‘Simon Says’.
The steam from the Hogwarts Express clouded the air, but Eileen Snape’s anxious eyes stayed locked on her eldest daughter.
“Ne t’inquiète pas, Maman,” Severina said softly, her hand squeezing her mother’s. “I’ll take care of them.”
Obsidian eyes locked in a gaze with deep blue as Eileen calmed at her daughter’s reassurance.
Eileen let out a breath. “Remember, Sevka, you’re the one they look up to. Watch over them, alright? Make sure Nikolai doesn’t get into trouble, and Isabelle—well, she’ll be alright, but don’t leave her behind.”
Severina smiled at her mother and turned to face her siblings again. “Say goodbye now, the train is going to leave soon.”
Nikolai and Isabelle planted a kiss on their baby sister’s head before almost tackling their mother with a hug. Severina scooped up Élodie into a hug, and fixed her bow back into her hair properly.
“You be good for Maman, Lodie. No trouble, you hear me?” Severina tapped her on the nose.
“Bye-bye Rina! Je t’aime!” Élodie giggled.
“Je t’aime aussi, Lodka.” Severina kissed her pale forehead before handing her off to her teary eyed mother. She then picked up her luggage and ushered her siblings towards the train doors.
“And Severina, you promised to write every week, remember? I don’t care how busy you are—just a letter once a week, yes?”
“Je sais, Maman. I love you.”
“I love you too, mon soleil.” Eileen and Elodie watched as the three siblings boarded the train, ready for a new year of excitement and unexpected journeys.
——————
The Hogwarts Express began to chug forward, leaving the familiar station behind. Severina found herself in a carriage with Isabelle, after Nikolai had darted off in an attempt to find his friends. Both sisters had pulled out a book to read in silence, to take their minds off the upcoming year. The silence between them was comfortable, with only the soft rustling of pages and the occasional whisper of the wind outside. Identical dark curtains of hair fell across their faces as eager eyes scanned each page. The only discernible difference between the two girls at this moment was their size, though both girls were rather small.
The entire family had inherited their raven dark hair from their father, Alexei Tobias Snape, a formidable Russian man that wasn’t home often. Severina took most of her traits from him, including her larger lips and black eyes, but her younger siblings were lucky enough to look more like her mother.
Nikolai and Isabelle had Eileen’s blue eyes, Élodie her small button nose, and Nikolai had inherited wild curls from her as well. Severina had Eileen’s pale complexion, whereas the younger three were tan like their father. They all had the same smattering of freckles across their nose, like a constellation was drawn on them, copied directly from the stars themselves.
Severina sighed again, before turning to face the window and watch city turn into countryside.
“Are you alright?”
Severina startled at the voice. “Hm?”
Isabelle placed her book down on the table between them. “That’s the fourth time you’ve sighed, and we’ve only been on the train for nine minutes.”
Severina smiled at her observation. Isabelle had always been attentive, an eagle-eyed child who always paid attention to anything she could see. “I am fine, Sabine, don’t worry. Just… weary for the year ahead.”
“Maman looked so worried,” Isabelle murmured, not glancing up from her book but breaking the silence. "I don't want to leave her. I know it's silly, but I don’t like the thought of her being upset."
Severina let out a soft sigh, reaching out to rest a hand on Isabelle’s arm. "She’s just nervous about us being away. It’s normal. You’ll see, once you’re settled, she’ll be fine."
Isabelle bit her lip, her deep blue eyes reflecting a mix of uncertainty and yearning. "But what if I don't get settled? What if I don’t make friends?" Her voice was small, barely above a whisper.
Severina glanced at her, seeing the faint shimmer of doubt in her little sister’s eyes. She squeezed Isabelle's hand gently. "You won’t have that problem, Sabine. You’re a wonderful person. Everyone will see that."
Isabelle shifted uncomfortably, her eyes flicking back to the window as if searching for an escape. "I know I said this already, but what if they think I’m weird?”
"Who could think that about you?" Severina said with a smile, trying to reassure her. "But I understand how you feel. You’re going to be great, I know it." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice soft but firm. "Maybe you should go meet some of the other first years. You know, talk to them, make some new friends. If you don’t like it, you can always come back here. I’ll be right here waiting."
Isabelle looked at her, hesitant. "You’ll be alright? Alone?"
Severina gave her a gentle smile, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "I’ll be fine. And I’m only a carriage away."
Isabelle nodded slowly, her brow furrowing in thought, then finally relented. "Okay. I’ll try."
She watched as Isabelle stood and made her way toward the door, still clutching her book in both hands. There was a weight in her chest. She’d always been protective of Isabelle, and the thought of her venturing off alone was enough to make her nervous, but she knew it was the right thing to do.
With a sigh, Severina leaned back in her seat, running a hand through her hair. She was just starting to lose herself in her thoughts when the compartment door swung open with a sudden force, making her jump.
"Sev!" A loud, familiar voice rang out.
Before Severina could react, she found herself tackled into a hug, her breath nearly knocked out of her.
"Lily—!" Severina choked, trying to push the redhead away. “Can’t—breathe.”
Lily Evans pulled back immediately, a sheepish grin on her face. “Oops, sorry. It’s been way too long since I’ve seen you.”
Severina scowled, though there was no real heat in it. “It’s been three days.”
“Three days too many!”
"Evans, really?" A sharp voice cut through the moment, and Severina’s stomach immediately tightened. “Can’t you have a normal conversation without trying to suffocate someone?”
Severina’s eyes met Sirius Black’s from across the compartment. He stood in the doorway, arms folded, his usual mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He looked completely unbothered by the fact that he was intruding.
Lily rolled her eyes. “It’s good to see you too, Black. How’s life treating you? Still getting into trouble, or have you finally figured out how to keep your nose clean?”
Sirius flashed a grin, unrepentant. “Trouble’s never far behind, Evans. You know me. But I don’t need to go searching for it when you and Snape are around.”
Severina’s eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening. “You’ve got an awful lot to say for someone who can’t seem to mind his own business, Black.”
“And miss out on bothering you, Snape? Never.” he said, a teasing gleam in his eyes.
Lily shot a bemused glance at the two of them. “You two are exhausting to watch, you know that?”
Severina ignored her, her eyes not leaving Sirius. “Well, since you’ve so thoughtfully barged in, are you planning to stay here the whole ride, Black?”
Sirius smirked, his dark eyes glinting. “You know me, I can’t resist an opportunity to annoy you. But don’t worry, I’m just passing through.”
At that moment, the door to the compartment slid open again, and Charity Burbage popped her head inside, looking relieved to find the tension not quite as palpable as it could have been.
“Am I interrupting?” she asked, her eyes flicking between Severina and the others.
“Of course not, come on in,” Severina replied, pushing aside her earlier irritation as Charity settled in across from her.
Sirius stood a little straighter as Charity entered, his smirk widening. “Ah, the intellectual. A pleasure, as always.”
Charity arched an eyebrow but didn’t rise to his bait. “Please, Black. Let’s not go down that road again.”
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving soon,” Sirius said with a lazy wink in Charity’s direction. “Wouldn’t want to ruin your scholarly atmosphere.”
“Since we all know that’s exactly what you’re not.”
“Luckily, all I need to get me far in life are my handsomely good looks.”
Severina shot him a look, the words already prepared on her tongue, when Charity leaned toward her, speaking in a quieter voice. “How’s Isabelle doing? I saw her leave the compartment earlier.”
“She’s nervous,” Severina admitted, her tone softening. “But I’m sure she’ll be fine. She just needs a little push.”
Sirius, who had been listening in from the doorway, raised an eyebrow. “The baby of the family, huh?”
Severina shot him a glare, her voice cool as she spoke. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. She’s my responsibility, and I’m looking out for her.”
Sirius didn’t flinch, his smirk only deepening. “I’m sure you are. Always the big sister.”
For a moment, the words stung more than Severina cared to admit, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, she turned her attention back to Charity, ignoring Sirius’ unspoken challenge.
“Well, we’ll have to see if she finds her feet," Severina said, her voice carrying an edge of finality. "In the meantime, how’s the first year treating you?”
Charity smiled. “Better now that I’m not being cornered by Black here.” She shot him a teasing smile, and Severina allowed herself a breath of relief as her two friends chatted around her.
——————
The night air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and the faint chill of autumn as Severina stepped off the train. Above, the sky stretched endlessly, a deep, velvety black punctuated by glimmering stars. Lanterns swung from posts along the platform, casting flickering pools of golden light over the crowd of students. The faint hoot of an owl echoed somewhere distant, mixing with the chatter and excited squeals of first-years as they were herded toward the waiting boats by Hagrid.
Severina adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and scanned the sea of faces for her siblings. Nikolai was easy to spot—already surrounded by a group of Slytherin second-years, laughing a little too loudly. Isabelle was nowhere in sight, and a pang of worry twisted in Severina’s chest before she reminded herself that Sabine would be fine. She’d promised she would be fine.
“Firs’-years! This way!” Hagrid’s booming voice carried over the noise, and Severina caught a brief glimpse of Isabelle’s dark hair bobbing amidst the crowd of tiny students before they disappeared down the path toward the lake.
The older students began moving toward the carriages, the lanterns at the front glinting off the skeletal, winged forms of the Thestrals. Severina’s gaze lingered on the creatures for a moment—she’d seen them for years now, though she rarely let herself dwell on why. She hoisted her bag higher and made her way to an empty carriage when—
“Severina!” Charity’s bright voice cut through the noise. The Hufflepuff girl jogged over, her blonde curls bouncing as she offered her friend a warm smile.
“Charity,” Severina greeted, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
“Heading up to the castle already?” Charity asked, tucking her hands into her cloak pockets.
“Better to get out of the cold,” Severina replied. “You should catch up with your housemates before you get left behind.”
Charity rolled her eyes but grinned. “You sound like my mother. I’ll see you inside?”
Severina nodded, and Charity turned to weave her way back toward a group of yellow-and-black-clad students, where Mulciber and Rosier were seen chatting animatedly. Severina’s gaze lingered briefly on Mulciber as he spoke, his brow furrowed as if in deep thought. He caught her eye for a split second, offering a crooked smile before returning to his conversation.
She shook herself out of her thoughts and climbed into a carriage. The ride up to the castle was quiet, save for the faint creak of the wheels and the sound of distant laughter from other carriages. Hogwarts loomed ahead, its towers glowing with warm light against the night sky, reflecting off the lake’s smooth surface.
——————
The Great Hall was alive with flickering candlelight and the murmurs of hundreds of students settling into their places at the house tables. The enchanted ceiling mirrored the night sky, inky black with stars shimmering overhead. Severina slid onto the Slytherin bench near Mulciber and Rosier. Across from her sat two girls from their year—Viola Travers and Celeste Avery. Viola’s sharp eyes were already scanning the room like a hawk, while Celeste toyed with a strand of her sleek black hair, her lips pursed in something between boredom and amusement.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Snape,” Viola drawled, her voice low and syrupy.
Severina arched an eyebrow at her but said nothing as she reached for a goblet of water.
Mulciber leaned back, folding his arms over his chest. “Travers, do us all a favor and save your commentary for after dinner.”
Viola smirked but fell silent, though her sharp gaze flickered back to Severina occasionally, lingering just a little too long.
The Sorting Hat’s song came to an end, and Professor McGonagall began calling the first-years forward. Severina sat quietly through the ceremony, her fingers drumming lightly on the edge of the table. When ‘Snape, Isabelle’ was called, her breath hitched slightly.
Severina’s gaze drifted briefly to Nikolai, who was seated further down the Slytherin table with his year-mates. Last year, his arrival at Hogwarts had caused a quiet stir—most of their housemates had been stunned to learn that Severina Snape, so carefully composed and fiercely private, had a younger brother. She had never spoken of him, never let slip even a passing mention. Only Lily had known, because of their shared childhood in Cokeworth, and Mulciber, whose friendship had grown deep enough over the years that some secrets naturally spilled into the quiet spaces between them. But everyone else had been blindsided, their surprise manifesting in poorly concealed whispers and sideways glances. Nikolai, for his part, had never hidden the fact that he had a little sister, so when Isabelle had stepped forward tonight, the reactions were far more subdued. Severina supposed she preferred it that way—fewer eyes lingering on the people she loved most.
Isabelle approached the stool hesitantly, her head held high but her shoulders drawn tight. The Sorting Hat was lowered over her head, and for a moment, all Severina could see was the back of her sister’s small frame.
“Ravenclaw!” the hat finally called.
The Ravenclaw table erupted into applause as Isabelle hopped off the stool and hurried over to her new housemates. Severina watched as her little sister was guided to a seat by a friendly-looking older girl. Relief washed over her, though it was tinged with something bittersweet.
“Ravenclaw suits her,” Mulciber said softly, his voice barely audible over the applause.
Severina turned to him briefly, surprised by the gentleness in his tone, but said nothing.
Once the final first-year was sorted, Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet, his presence commanding instant silence.
“Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!” Dumbledore’s voice rang clear through the hall, warm and steady. “Before we begin our feast, let me remind you of a few essential rules—no magic is to be used between classes in the corridors, the Forbidden Forest remains, as always, forbidden, and Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the list of prohibited items has been extended to include—”
Severina’s attention drifted slightly as Dumbledore continued. Her gaze swept across the hall, lingering on Lily Evans, who was laughing at something Mary Macdonald had said. A few seats down, Sirius Black leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too confident as he exchanged words with James Potter.
He caught Severina’s gaze mid-sentence, his smirk sharpening. She held his stare for a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line before she turned back to face forward.
“…and now, let the feast begin!”
With a sweep of his arms, the golden plates filled with food, the rich scents of roasted meats, fresh bread, and spiced pumpkin wafting through the air. Severina filled her plate methodically, tuning out Viola’s shallow commentary and Celeste’s airy laugh. Mulciber and Rosier had fallen into a conversation about something Severina couldn’t quite follow—something about an advanced potion they wanted to try.
The warmth of the Great Hall wrapped around her, and for a brief moment, she let herself breathe. The weight of the year ahead lingered at the edges of her thoughts, but for now, Hogwarts felt—if not safe—then at least familiar.
As dessert appeared and students began to chatter more freely, Severina caught Regulus Black’s eye down the table. The younger boy gave her a small nod—calm, measured, and meaningful. She returned it, her expression unreadable but steady.
When the feast ended and the students began to file out, Severina walked alongside Mulciber and Rosier toward the dungeons. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows along the stone walls, and the echo of their footsteps filled the silence.
“Another year begins,” Mulciber said softly, almost to himself.
Severina glanced at him briefly but said nothing. Whatever lay ahead, she could feel it looming—something heavy and inevitable.
“Welcome home,” she murmured as the Slytherin common room door swung shut behind them.