Chapter 8
THE NEXT MONTH SEEMED to fly past, and that only heightened Tom's nervousness. When September First came around, he felt worse than he had when Lily and Severus’s Hogwarts Letters came. In a painful sense of irony, Severus and Lily were both terribly excited to see Hogwarts, and he couldn’t blame them: So had he. He just had to hope that their experiences mirrored his too much. Which, as Narcissa’s fate had shown, was an increasingly vain thing.
But, for Eileen and for the children, he would ride out the storm, no matter what.
“You promised as much,” Eileen reminded him at Nine and Three Quarters.
“And there’s no way I’ll forget,” he reassured her.
The trip to Hogwarts was peaceful at least: Severus tried teaching Lily chess to no avail ("Strategy will help you in Quidditch," Tom had teased her), while Tom tried making conversation with a small, brown haired boy named Remus (all the staff already knew his name, as the Old Man had sent out letters a week beforehand detailing his “predicament”). But no matter how much he tried, the boy wouldn’t open up; though if Tom could’ve been legally killed for his Half-Blood Status, he would’ve stayed quiet too.
When they arrived at Hogsmeade, Tom had an idea.
“Tom!” Hagrid exclaimed on seeing his former friend. “Still taking the Express to work, are ye?” he chuckled jovially.
“Well, I’ve got a good excuse now, Rube. You see those two First Years? Long story short, I’ve been taking care of them, and I’d-”
“If you said you needed a lift, I’d a been happy to give it to ye’, Tom! First Years, this way!” he went on, paying Tom no mind as he slipped down towards the boats on the Black Lake.
“How’d you get here?” Severus asked.
“Old friends,” Tom said after thinking a moment.
The trip across the Black Lake was uneventful as well, minus a surprise appearance of the Giant Squid, and a patronizing look from Headmistress McGonagall that just screamed You should know better ; Tom returned it with a wry smile.
He took his seat on the Staff Table in the front of the Great Hall, ignoring the curious glances from students examining his sudden appearance.
Then the sorting began.
The first notable figure was Sirius Black: He had long black hair and sharp cut features, the signatures of his family. He looked a bit crestfallen to be in front of everyone, probably because of all the news about his cousins, and indeed, Tom noticed Narcissa trying to keep herself hidden among the other Slytherins.
The Sorting Hat took some time with him, before, to everyone’s amazement, it cried out “GRYFFINDOR!” from it’s tear of a mouth.
After the surprise wore off, a bout of applause echoed from the Gryffindor Table, as some of the Pureblood Slytherins gave a series of jeers. The staff table mainly kept silent, Slughorn left befuddled as to how the Blacks of all families would allow such insolence from their offspring, Dumbledore leaving his face emotionless despite obvious pride in his eyes, and Tom going through the motions of clapping while knowing that the boy was bound to get hell for this at home.
The Sorting continued until Lily was up to bat.
That’s when everything fell to pieces.
***
Evans , Lily heard the Hat say, seemingly through her head as no one else seemed to hear it. I don’t think I’ve heard that name before.
I’m new here , Lily thought after a moment.
Good. Hogwarts needs new faces. Did you know I’ve sent nearly four hundred Blacks to Slytherin before today? Terribly boring, I tell you !
Can we think about me no w ? Lily thought impatiently.
Of course! Plenty of knowledge up here, I can see. Just as much excitement as fear. But both bravery and ambition, I see. Now, what am I supposed to do about that ?
Sort me, obviously .
Yes, but where? I tell you, if you had as much loyalty as intelligence, you may have just caused a Hat Stall!
A what?!
Oh, never mind! Let me put it this way: You’ve got plenty of imagination, I can see that. But what if something - someone perhaps - got in it’s way? What would you do?
Well it depends, what are we talking about?
Purely about you, Lily! What if someone got in your way?
It depends why, I guess , Lily supposed. Or who. I mean, my parents get in my way all the time, but I still listen to them.
A virtuous answer, Ms Evans! The Hat concluded. Very virtuous. Yes, I’ll think you’ll do best in-
***
“GRYFFINDOR!” the Hat roared, no doubt in satisfaction, as McGonagall had just walked over to the Staff Table to try and convince Dumbledore to declare a Hat Stall.
“Gryffindor, Gryffindor!” Slughorn complained as the far right side of the Great Hall erupted in applause yet again. “When’s our house going to get some attention? Eh, Tom?”
“Yes,” Tom mumbled, annoyed. “Indeed.” Why that sleaze of a Potions Master had tried befriending him despite their history, he would never know. Especially now .
By the time Tom had brought his attention back to the sorting, the same boy he’d spoken to on the train stepped up to the Hat. If he looked hard enough, Tom saw the boy shaking, and he didn’t blame him. Legally speaking, everyone in the room could have him culled. The Sorting Hat considered for a moment before sending him to Gryffindor, along with two others later on: A short, ferret-faced boy named Pettigrew, and, unsurprisingly, the black haired Heir to the House of Potter. Upon the latter reaching the table, he patted the other three boys Tom had noticed on the back, as if they’d won a Quidditch match, though Tom paid it no mind at the time.
And then there was Severus.
Some of the older Slytherin Purebloods recognized his surname, causing a fair amount of whispers from the left side of the Hall. The rest of the student body remained silent, either not recognizing or not bothered by the boy. The boy himself seemed effectively unnerved, or at least as unnerved as an eleven year-old could be in front of a room full of people.
Before Eileen’s son sat down, Tom gave him the most encouraging smile he could, before leaning back as considered his situation.
If Severus was headed where Tom thought he was, Tom was going to have to jump through hoops of fire for him, when or if something happened. Merlin knew that Slughorn wouldn't help.
He closed his eyes.
He will not be alone.
He will not be alone.
He will not be alone.
***
Plenty of room up here for potions, I see, Mr Snape! Severus heard the Hat say. Just like your mother before you.
You knew my Mum?
I try to remember all the people I meet, Mr Snape, and your mother was no exception. Tell me, is she still thinking so much about potions nowadays?
Well , Severus thought, I’d like to - talk about my Mum, but can you tell me my House first? I don’t like being in front of so many people!
Oh alright, if you insist! Plenty of knowledge, yes, unsurprising really. Quite a lot of certainty about your future too. You remind me of someone I just sorted, really. I guess there’s only one thing for it then!
What? Severus asked, thinking that the Hat had decided.
If someone got in your way to become a Potions Master, what would you do? Would you back down? Find another way of going about it?
Severus thought for a moment before answering.
I don’t think I would, no.
In that case, I’m sure Salazar would’ve been glad to have you in-
***
“SLYTHERIN!” came the Hat’s cry, and the left side of the Great Hall erupted into furious applause after having been nearly completely starved of new students. Some of the Purebloods even feigned approval.
“Just like his mother,” Tom thought aloud miserably.
“Yes, indeed ,” Slughorn mocked him playfully, and Tom was halfway towards reaching for his wand and ending it there and then.
Severus made his way to the Slytherin table, sitting as close as he could to the Staff Table, which thankfully shielded him from the ire of the Purebloods, none of which would dare sit too close to Albus Dumbledore. He gave a wide smile to Tom, who returned it as best he could.
The misfortunes continued.