Chapter Text
Kings Crossing Station was busy. It was so busy that Alyssa pressed closer to her dad, Severus Snape. He wore his usual dark clothes while Alyssa wore her new school robes. She had been so excited when they got back to Hogwarts with her new robes that she instantly put them on, did a spin, and tore them. Luckily there was a mending spell for that and they looked brand new as she walked towards platform 9 ¾.
As they passed through the wall her eyes grew wide. She had seen portraits of the train but she never expected it to be so grand. She had begged her father to let her ride it instead of joining the rest of the students at the lake side. She didn’t want any special treatment even though she was the child of a professor.
“Alyssa,” Severus said, not bothering to look down at her. He was staring ahead looking at the children on the platform. Some of them recognized him and they were speaking quietly to one another.
“Yes?” Alyssa asked, noticing some of the students she had seen before. During the summer she lived at Spinner’s End with her father in their family home, yet during the school year she stayed at Hogwarts. Severus was very protective of her and Dumbledore had agreed that it was best she stayed there during the school year as well.
Before he could reply a man with a sharp face and long blonde hair strode over to them. Behind him, obediently following, was a small blonde boy with his hair slicked back. His face was blank but when they stopped and his father started speaking to hers he eyed her.
It was clear he was sizing her up with his grey blue eyes that looked like her favorite gobstone. Her dad had given her the ones from his mothers set when she got to be eight. She had spent hours practicing and was becoming nose blind to the scents the stones gave off.
“Alyssa,” Her father said, tone soft yet serious. “This is Lucius Malfoy and his son Draco. He is your age.” He explained. Alyssa had heard that tone a few times, and knew it was one of warning.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Alyssa said, smiling at Draco and his father. The older man was looking at her like she was made of diamonds. He pushed his son over to her with his snake headed cane.
“Alyssa, Draco, the two of you should sit together on the train,” He said. There was something smooth about his voice, the way he spoke like oil slipping through someone’s fingers. It sent a chill down her spine, but she knew that the rest of her life would be full of people who sent chills down her spine.
“Father,” Draco muttered, his voice pitching up in a whine. It was clear he already had better plans. But, Alyssa wasn’t going to rock any boats, not on her first day.
“I’d love to,” She said, quickly. She flashed one of those award winning smiles that had Pomona giving her extra Shrivelfigs to snack on. Of course she shared them with her dad since he loved them, but she also ate them in secret. They were one of her favorite treats.
“Wonderful,” Lucius said, using his cane to guide her away from her dad. He didn’t move to follow, and, as she looked back over her shoulder, all he did was wave. She was now on her own embarking on the first steps to her new journey.
Soon she found herself in a train car with Draco and two rather ugly, brutish looking boys named Crabbe and Goyle. They were Draco’s childhood best friends. It made Alyssa feel sad that she didn’t have any childhood best friends but, she also had to remember that she was lucky to have such a good childhood.
“I hear Harry Potter is in our year,” Draco said. He was lording over a stack of treats he had bought from the trolley. Crabbe and Goyle were stuffing their already bloated faces with the treats while Alyssa ate her single pumpkin pastie.
“Who’s that?” Crabbe asked, mouth full of a cauldron cake. He must have been raised in a broom closet with the lack of manners he had.
“Harry Potter is the child who thwarted he who must not be named,” Draco said, rolling his eyes. “My dad said it was just pure dumb luck. He’s nothing special but everyone is going to treat him like he is,” Draco added.
“No one should be treated special,” Alyssa said. Her voice was quiet but it cut through the room like a knife. The three boys turned to look at her like three lethifold’s. Each of them leaned in to see what she had to say. They wanted to make sure that she said the right thing and Alyssa knew that, but she didn’t know the right thing to say.
“People should be judged on their merits, not their reputation. Someone can have a bad reputation because they are quiet and shy but they can be the kindest person you know,” She said, and that was not the right thing.
“It shouldn’t matter the merit of the person. If they aren't a pure blood they aren’t worth wasting time on. In fact, all the mudblood children should be taught at a different school or not at all.” Draco said.
“Blood status doesn’t matter,” Alyssa said, quickly. She felt her blood boil on her chest anytime someone talked about blood status. It was wrong, and anyone who believed in that was wrong.
“Severus never had a wife so what is your blood status?” Draco asked. “You’re clearly some orphan he took pity on and raised,” He added, as if it would sting her in the chest. As if he could take away the fact that Severus was her father. Well, he couldn’t.
“I’m a pure blood. And no, you can’t know my family name. I was adopted by my father so I am a Snape.” She said, her voice firm. She wasn’t going to yield her point.
“Then you should be rooting for the purity,” Draco said.
“No, I should be using my status to push for more people to have access to the wizarding world,” Alyssa snapped. Her voice was sharp like jagged glass and she stood up. She looked at all three of the boys then opened the door.
“I’m going to find somewhere else to sit,” She said. For a second she stood there looking at them and the stupid smirks they wore on their faces. She glanced at the pile of snacks and grabbed the crystallized pineapples before exiting.
“Hey!” Goyle called, but Draco shut the door behind her leaving Alyssa alone in the corridor. As she looked left and right she saw a girl with bushy hair standing in a doorway.
“Since there’s only two of you-“ Alyssa heard her say before she vanished. Alyssa’s heart jumped and she rushed towards the door she saw the other girl vanish into. With a breath she slowly opened it and came face to face with the boy she had just heard Draco taking about.
Her dad hadn’t talked about the boy who lived much. He said that he was the son of his friend Lily who had died protecting Harry. He left most of the details at that but over the years she learned that he was dark haired, wore glasses, and had a lightning bolt scar.
“Hi uh, can I sit here? I have pineapple. I mean you do too but…” She trailed off. The other three were staring at her, but that only lasted for a moment.
“Come in,” The girl said, grabbing Alyssa’s hand and pulling her down next to her.
“I’m Hermione Granger, and this is Ron and Harry,” She explained, pointing to the boys. “Are you excited to be going to Hogwarts?” Hermione asked Alyssa.
“Well it’s exciting to be going home,” Alyssa said.
“Oh, are you not a first year?” Hermione asked. She looked at Alyssa and saw her robes weren’t house specific.
“Not exactly,” She said. “My dad is a professor and I spend the school year there. So, it’s basically a second home to me.”
“That makes perfect sense,” Hermione said.
“Who’s your dad?” Ron asked, looking Alyssa over. She could tell he had some thoughts of who it was and she was about to disappoint him with the answer.
“Professor Severus Snape is my father,” She said, smiling. The look on Ron’s face said everything she needed to know. It wasn’t impossible for her to figure out who his family was. He looked just like all his brothers but it’s seemed he was a middle ground between Percy and the twins.
“Oh,” Ron said. Harry and Hermione looked between the two of them and before Harry could speak Hermione jumped in.
“Probably best we make our own assumptions.” She said, with a large smile. Alyssa smiled back, it was easy to be around this girl. Though, she could tell from her overall attitude she would most likely be a Ravenclaw. Ron would be in Gryffindor and Harry well she didn’t know him. She wanted to, badly, but the morbid curiosity was not good for her.
Before a new conversation could come up, the train slowed to a halt. An excited buzz rushed through the train as if it had been struck with lightning. Alyssa could feel it all the way down into her toes.
It didn’t matter how often she had been to Hogwarts she got excited just to be there. As they exited the first years were greeted by the sight of a large, broad shouldered man with wild wiry hair that flew around his face in the breeze.
“Hagrid!” Hardy greeted. Alyssa looked at him, wondering how he had met the grounds keeper. But, she didn’t have time to ask as they were now moving like a herd of cows towards the boats.
Each boat moved on its own, across the black lake towards Hogwarts. Alyssa could hear gaps echoing around her as the sprawling castle, a mass of turrets and towers against the twilight sky, materialized before them.
To Alyssa it was a place of magic, whispered secrets, and endless wonder. She was excited to share the secrets she knew with the other students in her house. She knew exactly where she would be put but that didn’t mean she wasn’t excited to have the sorting hat placed upon her head.
As the first years reached land they were ushered up the main staircase and around a corner where they were met by a closed door. Alyssa knew that behind that door was the Great Hall. It was still decorated in blue and bronze from last year when Ravenclaw won the house cup. It was gorgeous and the scent of dinner was already escaping the doors.
“So it’s true,” Alyssa heard Draco say. He pushed his way threw the crowd and stood in front of her, Ron, Hermione and Harry. His grey blue eyes locked on Harry’s green ones and he smirked.
“Harry Potter has finally come to Hogwarts. I’m Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” He said, extending his hand. Crabbe and Goyle who flanked him as two incompetent bodyguards got no introduction.
“Shove off Malfoy,” Alyssa muttered.
“Sorry but was I talking to you? Blood traitor.” He spat. Alyssa looked at him and before she knew what was happening her body was moving. She stood in front of Draco, a breath apart to be exact. She looked at him with eyes so dark and full of anger it was a wonder worn clouds didn’t burst from her ears.
“Miss Snape,” Came a cold yet firm voice. Alyssa looked up to see Professor McGonagall. She had a tight angular face that was framed by a tight bun of dark black hair. She gave Alyssa the we will talk about this later look and she stepped back to stand next to the trio.
“Now in a moment you will be stepping through these doors. You will then be called up, one at a time, to be sorted into your houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.” She said, observing the students. Instantly they started whispering to one another.
“I think I’m going to be in Ravenclaw,” Hermione said softly. It was clear to Alyssa that was a secret just for her. So, she looked at Hermione and nodded. She hoped that Hermione got her wish because there was no other person Alyssa could think of who embodied the spirit of Ravenclaw the way Hermione did.
Slowly the whispering stopped and McGonagall turned walking into the room with them. Alyssa felt everyone’s eyes on them as they walked. She looked up at the teacher table and smiled seeing her dad there. Just knowing he was watching made her excited.
McGonagall took her place as the crumpled black hat started to come to life. The rest of the first years around her gasped and Hermione pitched forward on her toes to get a better look.
“Before the feasts and friendships, the spells and the studies, lies the crucial task of placing you where you truly belong. For within each of you, a spark resides, a hidden potential waiting to be kindled. Some possess a bravery that burns like dragonfire, others a loyalty as steadfast as the ancient stones of this castle. Some carry a wisdom that echoes through the ages, and others a cunning that weaves through shadows. Fear not the unknown, for the choice is yours, even as it is mine. Let us begin!”
McGonagall didn’t miss a beat. She quickly started to call names. Hermione was the first of them to go up and for a second the hat sat there. It didn't say anything at all and just sat there with an amused smirk. He was thinking very carefully and Alyssa could see it. Hat stalls weren’t common, but as she was thinking about this the hat made his decision.
“Gryffindor!” He roared, sending a wave of cheers through the hall. Alyssa had gotten it wrong? Suddenly her entire view of the world spun on its head. If she wasn’t a Ravenclaw then maybe Alyssa wouldn’t be put in Slytherin. Was this hope she was feeling? Was this a hope that she hadn’t felt since she was a child?
“Draco Malfoy,” McGonagall called. He sauntered up to the stool drawing everyone’s eyes to him. He carried himself with an air of pride and knowing. This was his destiny to stroll up to the hat, have it sat on his head, and be sorted.
“Slytherin,” The hat spat, like the word itself was poison. The cheers that went up from the Slytherin table were deep and guttural almost like a growl. It was a show of their strength and ferocity.
Draco made his way over to the long table and Alyssa could see Marcus Flint, captain of their quidditch team, give a wide toothy grin. His teeth were disgusting and Alyssa knew that if he could he would ruin everyone’s life just to get on top. He embodied all the aspects that gave Slytherin a bad rapt.
Once Draco was seated Alyssa could see Harry’s fist clench and his jaw was set. He was muttering something that she couldn’t hear. Carefully, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay.” She said, “You’ll be okay. The hat won’t put you where you don’t belong.” She explained. Harry looked at her and repeated the phrase so this time she could hear him.
“No Slytherin.” Alyssa felt her heart drop. Harry was going to never be her friend because she was destined to be in Slytherin and she knew that. She went to explain, and tell him not everyone in Slytherin was as bad as Marcus and Draco, but it was too late.
“Harry Potter.” A hush fell over the entire room, and Alyssa saw everyone lean in. Whatever house Harry was sorted into would be the one to watch. Alyssa could feel that he was destined for greatness. After all, he had been the one to defeat her father as an infant. What power would he hold when he was a fully trained wizard?
“Gryffindor!” The house shouted. A roar of joy erupted from the other side of the room. It was so loud it shook the inside of Alyssa’s bones. Her eyes glanced up to her dad and she could see he was frowning. Had he expected Harry to end up in Slytherin?
“Alyssa Snape,” McGonagall said. There was a small hint of pride in her voice. She knew that she wasn’t going to have Alyssa in her house but she was still so proud of her. McGonagall had been the first person Alyssa told about the Salazar wand. It would have been her dad but McGonagall had been the one to find her coming out of Salazar’s hidden study.
Ever since then McGonagall has been teaching her a few, harmless, spells. Lumos and Nox were the two she had taught her and they had come in very handy in the last year. She mainly used them to read at night before bed but there were other times they came in handy.
Alyssa sat down on the chair and felt the hat land on her head. She didn’t know what to expect next but it wasn’t the sound of a chuckle. A warm and happy one at that. She thought for sure it would be a repeat of Draco, but it wasn’t.
“It’s clear to see your heart is pure. You want to do right by the world and you will. But, you can’t do that if you're not where you belong.” The hat said to her before yelling out Slytherin. But this time, the word wasn’t poison, it was full of pride and joy.
Alyssa took her seat next to a dark haired boy with an angular face. He pat her on the back, smiling a charming smile and introduced himself as Lucian Bole. She smiled back, though she felt sad. Harry, Ron and Hermione were all seated at the Gryffindor table surrounded by smiling faces and a sea of red hair.
She knew this was where she belonged, being the heir and all. But, she just wanted to be with her friends. She would worry about that later because right now dinner was appearing on the table and her dad was smiling, actually smiling, at her.