Reminder
Andrea pulled at her black silk robes so they rested over her shoulders. They left just enough movement for her arms as it fell down her back gracefully. She turned in the mirror, She looked well enough for the first day. Her hair was curled and spilled over her shoulders, her clothes hung close to her body and revealed just enough of her womanly figure not to be inappropriate.
Severus came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "You look perfect." He said meeting her eyes in the reflection of the mirror. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "You're not nervous, are you?" He asked with a smirk.
Andrea smiled, "Of course I am." she said, turning in his arms. "Are you going to be alright?" She asked, placing both hands on his chest.
The man shrugged, "I don't know. Probably not." a heavy silence lingered for a moment as several thoughts ran between the two of them.
"At any rate, once dinner is over I'll be more than happy to make you forget everything for a few hours." She smiled, trying to bring some light to the dark expression that lingered in his eyes. Lowering his gaze back down to her, he smirked. "Oh really?"
"Always." She said, pulling him down for a sweet kiss. "I love you, Severus. Don't forget that." She added seriously. He placed a hand on her chin, holding her in place as he lost himself in her dark eyes. Nodding, he lowered his lips back to hers for a moment before straightening them both. He grasped her hand as they crossed the chambers to the door. She squeezed softly before letting go as he opened the door and the two slipped out into the hallway.
They placed some distance between them as they neared the great hall. Andrea entering ahead of him and crossing the crowd of chatting students to the head table.
Climbing the few steps to the platform that elevated the staff table, Andrea met the eyes of Albus and Rolanda and smiled, taking her usual seat beside the woman. Severus followed, taking the seat on her other side which placed him beside Professor Quirrell; the man shaking like a leaf. To her surprise, the professor immediately engaged Severus in conversation over the DADA curriculum.
On her left, she joined in on the conversation between Rolanda and the headmaster over the summer holiday, but before long they all heard the rumble of feet approaching the great hall. The professors and students all fell silent as Minerva led the large group of first year students through the entrance doors.
Andrea's eyes drifted from student to student as they all gasped in the shock of the grandeur surrounding them. Mouths hung wide as they glanced up at the enchanted ceiling above them, she watched as they whispered to one another and pointed at the candles that floated over their heads.
She smiled slightly, turning her gaze to Rolanda as they shared in the amusement. Minerva advanced up the platform and stood beside a small stool, the same one she had conjured for Andrea when she had been sorted. The school ghosts slipped in behind the group of students and were now hovering near the ceiling.
Minerva placed the sorting hat on top of the stool and turned silently to the group as the hat began to sing in its croaking old voice. Once its song was over the faces of the crowd here staring at the ratted fabric with amazement. The hall applauded politely at its conclusion, and Minerva spoke up now, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat to be sorted."
Andrea watched as a redheaded girl was the first to approach the stood at Minerva's call. Student after student was called and the hat sorted each very quickly. As the first Slytherin was sorted, she watched from the corner of her eye as Severus applauded louder than normal.
She smiled softly as she continued to clap politely for each and every student. When Minerva called "Malfoy, Draco." a small boy with strikingly blond hair approached the stood with a swagger about him. The hat barely brushed the top of his head before it shouted "Slytherin." As the boy took his seat, she watched as he nodded to Severus, before turning to the others around him.
As Minerva made her way down the list, she called "Potter, Harry." The room went silent for half a second and then burst out in hushed whispers as a boy with brown, messy hair stepped forwards. He wore glasses and new, black robes, but Andrea could just make out the bottom of a lightening shaped scar over his eyebrow.
She could feel Severus tense up beside her and stare as the boy hesitantly approached the stool and sat, balanced on the edge. Even Dumbledore leaned forward slightly as the sorting hat was placed on his head. Andrea could see the lip of the hat twitching but could not make out any sounds that it made.
Finally, after a few long moments, the hat twitched again shouting "Griffindor!" The table of students that wore red lion emblems on their robes all rose to their feet, exploding in applause. A smile plastered across the boy's face in relief as he hurried towards the table next to several red haired boys. She smiled, and clapped her own hands as did the rest of the table, Severus more stiff than normal.
As the other students were sorted, Andrea gently placed her hand on his knee out of the view of the rest of the table. She barely noticed Albus stand and say his own words as she tried to share her own calming magic to him through their touch.
The food appeared in front of them all and Severus ignored any more of Professor Quirrell's comments and finished his meal, when the last of the desserts disappeared from the table, the headmaster rose again. Everyone was silent as he spoke, "A few housekeeping announcements," he began. "Firstly, I would like to welcome back Professor Quirrell to the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." The students clapped politely as the professor nodded shakily.
"And second, our very own Professor Seguro will be taking over for Professor Flitwick as Charms Mistress." The hall broke out in a loud applause at this and Andrea stood, nodding her head politely.
"In other notes, please remember that the forbidden forest is indeed … forbidden, as is the third floor corridor. " He said facing the student's with a stern look. As soon as the headmaster had dismissed them all, Severus rose among the instant chatter and headed towards the door, his black robes whipping behind him.