III: The Sorting

Author's note: Thanks to JKR for some wonderful characters. Thanks to Daedalus Plum for beta reading.

Chapter III: The Sorting

Severus was the first of the teachers to arrive in the Headmaster's office where Dumbledore was standing by the window, evidently amused by something he was watching on the grounds below.

'Ah, good evening, Severus,' Dumbledore greeted the Potions master and beckoned him to join him. 'I just let Fawkes out for his evening flight. It looks like he has made a new friend.'

Severus peered out the window and caught sight of the Phoenix flying in and out of a veil of mist that kept changing colours, and he had to step closer to the window to see who was making the colours change. It was Morgaine.

She was lying on her stomach on one of the stone benches, the setting sun causing her chestnut hair to shine in a warm, golden-red tone. And every time the Phoenix disappeared in the mist, she made the colours of the mist change with a flick of her wand. She seemed to be having just as much fun as the bird. Severus imagined hearing her laugh. If her laughter was anything like her smile, it must simply be adorable.

Then he frowned. Why on earth was he thinking about how the girl's laughter sounded? How had this thought come to enter his mind?

Dumbledore seemed to notice his confusion. 'An enchanting little witch, isn't she, Severus? Her great-grandmother had the same powers.' He smiled mysteriously.

Severus scowled and turned away, secretly wondering if Dumbledore would think it inappropriate if he asked how he had come to father a child. But before he could even decide whether to ask or not, there was a knock on the door. The other teachers had arrived to discuss Morgaine's abilities.

'My dear colleagues, welcome.' With a sweeping motion, Dumbledore pulled up chairs for everyone. 'Do make yourselves comfortable.'

Then he walked towards the door.

'Aren't you joining us, Albus?' McGonagall wondered.

'Alas, no, my dear,' Dumbledore replied. 'I am dying to find out how it feels to run through coloured mist.' And without any further explanations, the he left the office.

Severus observed his colleagues from his place by the window. Despite the Headmaster's mystical answer, nobody seemed to besurprised. They were all used to him being a little peculiar at times.

'Well then, we all know what we are here for,' McGonagall started. 'We have all tested Morgaine over the last two weeks. I for one think that she has done a wonderful job, and I do not object to her admission to our school.'

Professor Sprout burst out in praise: 'I simply love this girl! Her knowledge of plants is so extensive. I do hope she will be sorted into my House.'

Professor Flitwick agreed and was, if possible, even more pleased with the girl's achievements than Sprout was.

Severus, however, was not. Why do they have to be so annoyingly positive? he wondered silently. He for one would keep his praise to himself. Certainly, Morgaine had done her homework well, and to be completely honest, he was impressed by her skills. But he didn't deem it necessary to share his thoughts with his colleagues. They seemed all rather smitten by the girl anyway, and he had no intention of contributing to that.

'Well, your verdict?' Dumbledore asked as he re-entered his office. He didn't seem to have noticed that his white beard was tinted with green and blue specks. Or maybe he just didn't care.

'Gifted, simply gifted,' Professor Sprout exclaimed.

Severus raised an eyebrow. This woman had absolutely no idea about how to restrain herself. The girl had certainly performed well, but this was no reason to flip out like that. Thankfully, McGonagall was showing more self-control.

'She is curious and willing to learn,' she said. 'I think the only thing she'll need is a bit of tutoring in the beginning.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'And what do you think, Severus?'

'I agree with Professor McGonagall,' Severus replied in a sober voice. 'The girl has potential.' He didn't deem it necessary to say more.

Dumbledore nodded again. 'Then I think we should let her know.'

He opened the door and beckoned Morgaine to enter his office. She looked serious, and Severus noticed a flicker of insecurity in her eyes. And again, she was chewing her lip. Severus frowned. Why did this habit of hers annoy him so much?

Professor Sprout couldn't hold herself back. 'Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss duLac, welcome.'

Morgaine's face lit up with a smile, and she turned to look at her great-grandfather.

'Yes, welcome to Hogwarts, my child. You have done well.' Dumbledore gave her a quick hug. 'Tonight, you will sleep in your House dormitory. But for that, you will need to be sorted first.'

McGonagall had already taken the Sorting Hat from its shelf. Everyone looked excited. Everyone but Severus, that was.

What a no-brainer, he thought as McGonagall put the Hat on Morgaine's head. With her brains, the girl would do well in Ravenclaw, but considering her family tree, she would undoubtedly be sorted into Gryffindor.

He had barely finished his thought when the Sorting Hat announced its decision.

'Slytherin!'

Severus raised an eyebrow in surprise. Had he just heard right? Had Dumbledore's great-granddaughter just been sorted into Slytherin? How had that happened?

He was not the only one who was surprised. He noticed that his colleagues looked slightly taken aback as well. Only Dumbledore was smiling as he took the Sorting Hat from Morgaine's head.

'You will do well, my child.'

Morgaine nodded, but there was a sceptical look on her face. Obviously, she had not expected this decision either.

Then Dumbledore turned to Severus. 'Severus, as her Head of House, I put Morgaine into your charge. I expect you to help her in any way you can. May I now ask you to escort your student to her dormitory?'

Severus inclined his head in acknowledgement and then turned on his heels, wordlessly beckoning Morgaine to follow him.

They went down the stairs without either of them saying a word, and it was not until they had arrived in the Slytherin common room that Severus turned to look at his new charge. There still was a puzzled look in her eyes. And she was chewing her lip again.

'You should really stop that annoying habit of yours,' Severus hissed at her.

The girl flinched, and Severus realised at once that his words had sounded unnecessarily harsh. Hence he tried to find something else to say. 'It is not good for your teeth.'

Morgaine raised an eyebrow. Then she grinned. 'Not good for my teeth, sir?'

Severus felt himself blushing, and swiftly turned around and strode towards the door that led to the girls' dormitory.

Not good for your teeth. What a stupid thing to say, he thought, inwardly rolling his eyes at himself. But the comment had made the girl smile, and he had to admit that he liked her smile.

In the girls' dormitory, he pointed towards the bed closest to the wall.

'Your belongings have already been brought down. Make yourself comfortable and rest,' he instructed. 'You will meet me tomorrow morning for your first tutorial, and I want you to be in a good condition. My office, eight thirty sharp.'

Morgaine nodded, and Severus gazed into her eyes. He could see that she was still trying to figure out what had happened up in Dumbledore's office. But there was something else in her eyes, the same look she had had in his classroom earlier that day. A look that suggested that she was waiting for something, that she had something to tell him. Severus couldn't quite put a finger on it, but this look made him edgy. And he quickly turned to walk towards the door.

'Have a good night, Miss duLac.'

And without looking back, he left the dormitory.

He retired to his private chambers where he, with a flick of his wand, lit a fire in the fireplace and then poured himself a glass of wine.

This had certainly been a strange day. When Morgaine had entered his classroom on Thursday afternoon, all he had seen was a young girl from whom he hadn't expected much. But she had proven to be knowledgeable and eager to learn more. And now she was suddenly a Slytherin. Severus shook his head. Dumbledore's great-granddaughter in Slytherin. He still couldn't really believe it.

His eyes fell on the phial containing the Headache Potion Morgaine had brewed in the afternoon. How could she have known? Sure, that he had been suffering from headache wasn't the most difficult thing to figure out. But how had she known which potion he usually brewed? And why had he all afternoon had the feeling that she was looking at him?

~ ~ ~

Slytherin. I had been sorted into Slytherin. Was this good or bad? I didn't know what to think. From what I knew, there had not been a single dark witch or wizard who had not been in Slytherin. And now, I had been sorted into this House, too.

My mind told me to turn away and ignore both his eyes and his whisper. But my heart came to choose otherwise.