Chapter 9
McGonagall huffed as she removed the hat, "Really Severus? I thought this entire situation was proof that you were going to put your whole...issue with the girl aside."
Snape rolled his eyes and sneered, "I'm not going to hold the grudge you meddling cat. But I anticipate any number of headaches to stem from this. She's already been nearly killed multiple times this year, and I have no reason to believe that trouble will not continue to find her."
"Er-"
The transfiguration professor raised an eyebrow at Snape, "Oh, and is that a reason to be an ass? Not that you normally need one of course."
"Excuse me-"
"Minerva, I swear to Circe if you-"
"HEY!"
Both teachers whirl to face an annoyed Scorpia.
"Hermione has a question, also, Professor McGonagall, frankly I'd prefer it if you didn't police Professor Snape. As long as he isn't actively hating me I actually like his snark, thank you."
Both professors blinked, and collectively deciding to let the second comment slide they turned to see Hermione holding her hand up as if she was in class, Aquarius looking fondly exasperated beside her.
McGonagall recovered first, and cleared her throat before speaking, "Yes miss Granger? Also, we aren't in class, you don't need to put your hand up.”
Hermione lowered her hand and blushed, "Er...I'd...I'd like to request a resort as well please."
The professors shot each other pensive looks before turning back to face Hermione, McGonagall continuing to take charge, "And why is that miss Granger?"
"I don't feel terribly safe in the same house as Ronald."
McGonagall sighed, she was clearly reluctant to allow a second resort, but at the same time, Ronald had damaged the ability for both these girls to feel safe and they deserved that feeling of safety just as much as anyone else.
Snape however had his own concern, "This is not an ill-advised attempt to follow your friend into Slytherin is it? I cannot stress enough how unlikely such an outcome would be."
Hermione shook her head, "No, I...I know I definitely wouldn't do well in Slytherin. But I just, I don't feel comfortable in the Gryffindor dorm anymore. Not with Ronald there. I know he didn't target me directly this time but he's already proven he will, and...please..."
McGonagall sighed, but nodded, "It shames me that one member of my house has soured it for two bright young witches, but I understand. Severus?"
Snape took a long hard look at Hermione, but after a moment of silence he simply nodded, "I second your approval."
McGonagall swiftly grabbed Seymore and dropped them on Hermione's head, and she was suddenly back in the darkness of the hat.
The voice of the hat echoed in her head, causing her to shuffle uncomfortably, "So, a second re-sort, eh? I assume you're not about to argue with me this time either?”
Hermione shuffled nervously, but shook her head.
"Good, honestly putting you in Gryffindor was a waste! You'll find yourself much more comfortable in RAVENCLAW!"
Hermione's vision returned to her as a somewhat melancholy McGonagall took Seymour back, "I wish you all the best young lady, though I am sad to see you go, both of you. You can both come to me any time, regardless of being in a new house alright?"
Both Scorpia and Hermione nodded, though neither was quite sure if they'd be taking up the older woman on that offer.
At the same time Snape leveled a deadpan look on Aquarius, "You're not intending to try a re-sort, are you? If so I'm going to have to refuse, two is more than enough."
Aquarius shook her head, "No, I-I'm perfectly fine where I am, er...thank you though."
The potions professor snorted and waved his wand, banishing Seymour back to the headmaster's office.
The headmaster's office.
Snape blinked, then frowned fiercely and growled, "Gods dammit."
The children looked at him in shock as Minerva scowled at him, "Severus! Language!"
He sneered, "It's warranted, we forgot to check if Dumbledore was out of his office first, and you know what he thinks of re-sorts."
McGonagall's expression wavered, "Oh. That is going to be a-"
A knocking sounded at the door, and the warm voice of Headmaster Dumbledore sounded through the wood, "Severus my boy? I believe there is a discussion we need to have, may I come in?"
McGonagall and Snape exchanged a look before the transfiguration professor sighed and stood, "I'll get the door."
Snape nodded and turned to the girls, taking a risk (and how he despised that he was but this was important for Circe's sake), meeting each of their eyes and using his legilimency to push the same message to each one.
:Do not meet his eyes, do not accept any candies.:
All three girls looked shocked, but before any of them had a chance to respond McGonagall was opening the door, and Dumbledore was sweeping into the room.
He looked over all of those present, mouth twitching when he saw the obvious closeness between Aquarius and the other two girls before an indulgent smile on his face, settling his gaze on Scorpia, "Ah, Harry my boy, I was looking for you this morning, once we get this little situation settled we can talk about the minor misunderstanding between you and mister Weasley last night."
Aquarius and Hermione both gave Scorpia's hands a hard squeeze as she flinched at Dumbledore's casual address as the headmaster turned to give Snape a disappointed look, "Now, Severus, you know that re-sorts are not a solution to anything, the children are placed in their houses at the beginning of their time here for a reason. I thought you had understood when we had this talk when you sought a re-sort of your own, and look at you now, head of Slytherin! I can understand that there are growing pains and that perhaps some illusions about being away from home have shattered, but mister Malfoy was sorted into Slytherin, and there he should remain. I'm disappointed in you for dragging Minerva into this Severus."
It was Aquarius' turn to draw comfort from the other two as she suddenly found herself under the spotlight of Dumbledore's assumptions as McGonagall spoke up, a pinched frown on her face, "And I've talked to you about the dangers of making assumptions Albus. The Malfoy child is here to support Potter and Granger, who were actually the ones to request the resort, and Severus didn't trick me into anything! It's no shock that neither feel safe after the events of last night!"
Dumbledore's eyes flicked back to the children, none of whom would meet his gaze to his minor annoyance, and back to Minerva, "I see. I apologize Minerva, I did rush into things, it's so easy to get swept up in the moment sometimes after all."
It didn't escape anyone's notice that the headmaster had not apologized to Snape or Aquarius, but no one was about to bring it up either.
Dumbledore turned to the couch with the children in it and gave them a soft, grandfatherly smile as he pulled out a little bag of bright yellow candy, "Lemon drop? They're quite good.”
All three girls silently shook their heads, and Dumbledore shrugged before popping one in his mouth, "The offer's open if you change your minds, now Harry, I understand emotions are high, but I promise you that Ronald regrets his actions, and would like to clear up the situation. Surely a minor misunderstanding like this isn't enough to give up on such a wonderful friendship! And, just so you know, I made sure to explain to everyone that the whole confusion about the uniform was merely a house elf's mistake, and the uniform has since been sent off to Madam Malkins to be repaired, repurposed, and made available to someone who needs it. So there's no reason to worry about that, and we can put this unfortunate incident behind us, no re-sort necessary."
Everyone else in the room stared at Dumbledore in horrified silence as Scorpia fought to keep the tears welling in her eyes from spilling over. He had what? That...it...she had to some degree assumed that Ron had ruined it but this was somehow so much worse.
She cast her eyes to the ground, not wanting to look at him right then, "I-I, no sir we can't. I've already gone through with the re-sort, and I'm happy with the result. Hermione has too, we're not going back."
Hermione nodded, though she looked a bit frightened to so obviously be going against someone with as much authority as the Headmaster, "Exactly sir."
Dumbledore frowned, "Harry, Hermione, I'm disappointed in the both of you, Ronald merely made a mistake, are you certain that you can't find it in your heart to give him a chance?”
They both shook their heads fervently, and Dumbledore flicked his eyes, which had clearly lost their twinkle if only for a moment, consideringly towards Aquaria before looking back at them, "I suppose that I can't force you back into Gryffindor, even if I believe you're both being very shortsighted. Ronald will be left all alone in Gryffindor you know. You will both at the very least speak with him even in your new houses, yes?"
Minerva interjected, "Albus! That is enough! I told you that what mister Weasley did was reprehensible, and they are both well within their rights to choose not to continue a friendship with him! You have said your peace, but we have busy days ahead. I must bring miss Granger to Fillius to help get her settled in, and Severus is to take Potter to Diagon to replace the entirety of the school supplies that mister Weasley destroyed!"
Dumbledore startled and whirled to face the professors, "Of course, of course, though why would Severus be taking Harry to Diagon? Surely that would be a job for his new head of house?"
Snape's drawl was flatter than any of the children had yet to hear it, "I am the child's head of house Albus, and we do in fact have a busy morning ahead of us, so if you would?"
The headmaster's eyes snapped to Snape, and for the first time a steely look of true anger fell across his eyes before he calmed himself, "I see. Well then, I will leave you all to it, have a wonderful day."
With another nod to Minerva the headmaster swept out of the room, leaving everyone feeling like they'd just run a weathered an assault.
Both house heads took a look at the three girls, who'd all been shaken by the interaction, and then at each other.
McGonagall cleared her throat, "Ah, I imagine that miss Granger also has supplies that will be needed with such a large change, I will intercept Fillius to explain the situation to him, I'm sure-"
Snape pinched his nose, "Yes you meddling old crone, I will take all three of them to the alley. Frankly, as little as I care for the extra work of being a babysitter outside of my normal duties, even I can see that it would be best if all four of us were out of the castle for a few hours, now get out of my classroom."
With a smirk and an exaggerated huff the Transfiguration mistress made her own way out of the room as Snape made his way back into his office, "Follow, we'll floo to the Leaky Cauldron and breakfast at a nearby muggle Cafe before we tackle the shopping.”