His Half Blood Princess 2

Darling

•••

"Good evening, darling." Severus greeted Scarlet as he held his hands by his back. "Good evening, Sev" Scarlet replied and kept on snapping her fingers to a little rhythm. The two waited patiently for the new students to arrive for the Sorting Ceremony. Standing at the solid marble floor behind the Great Hall's door, they both smirked to themselves mischievously. "So... I've heard Miss Roberts is being engaged? Care to tell me why I haven't heard this from you?" Severus said first. She looked at him with a small smile. "Actually, yes. I was supposed to tell you later." she answered calmly.  "Scarlet, to tell you the truth, it never ceases to amaze me that I am still alive. Tell me, why am I in love with you again?" he joked playfully that Scarlet pretended to take it offensively and played along. "Pedophile?" she said and laughed hysterically at his reaction. It was still that way, when she forced it to stop once other students began to glance at them suspiciously.

"Oh is that it, why not a little punishment for that matter -" he said at her furiously, while she pushed his left shoulder, telling him to settle down. "I'm kidding, Severus! Can't you take a little joke? You are, after all, a gentleman. But I can't answer why're you in love with me. It took me by surprise when you actually returned the feelings." He listened intently and stared into her eyes for a moment...

Both snapped back to reality as the sound of loud, but small, footsteps bounced along the walls. The sound of Hagrid's knock went through the door three times, and Scarlet gently pushed the door gently. It swung open to reveal Hagrid and the nervous-looking first years. The first years were looking at the pair curiously. All of them seemed to be quite scared of the tall, dark, creepy and greasy-haired man in front of them, that it seemed safer to look at the brown-haired witch, who was rather more welcoming, instead. "The firs' years, Professor Carter and Professor Snape." Hagrid said sweetly.

"Thank you, Hagrid. We'll take them from here." Scarlet told him and watched as the half-giant went off. The two teachers stood in front of everybody, and Scarlet seemed to be a little tensed as she caressed her left hand with the right. Grabbing her confidence, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she started camly, "The start-of-term banquet shall begin in a few minutes, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting Ceremony is very important because while you are here, your houses are like your family within the school. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your respective house dormitory and spend free time in your common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor (❤️), Hufflepuff (💛), Slytherin (💚), & Ravenclaw (💙). Each house has its own unique history and has produced outsanding witches and wizards. While you are in school, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking or trouble-making will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor indeed, isn't it Mr. Wood? Please pay attention! For the past 3 years, Hufflepuff is building a record. I hope each of you will be credited to whichever house becomes yours."

Severus opened his mouth to speak. "The Sorting will begin in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all prepare yourselves as much as you can while you wait. And do not be mistaken, yes, half of the students here? I know at least one or both of your parents. So let us not hope that one of your guardians shall receive a letter of you misbehaving on the first day."

And both left the lot, leaving the afraid and nervous first years trembling at the sight of a moving gargoyle guarding it's post.

Later, the pair arrived again, holding long pieces of parchment and gesturing for them to follow. But before Scarlet can do what she was about to, more than five ghosts floated into the entrance staircase, causing one short girl to scream. They were all having a deep & busy conversation about a somewhat stranger named 'Peeves' until they stopped their pearl-white bodies at the sight of the first years.

Nobody said a word, when -a ghost as to whom they call- Fat Friar clasped his hands together happily. "New students!"

"About to be sorted, Severus?" asked a ghost called The Bloody Baron. Severus nodded his head mutely. Finally, Scarlet took out her wand, waved it to the door and the double-doors of the Great Hall opened slowly to reveal the room packed once again with familiar 2nd to 7th years, watching their professors lead the way to the front.

"Oh wow, we're gonna learn to do that?" A muggle-born asked the half-blood beside her. "Well, honestly, more than that."

"Silence." Severus hissed, making everyone shush themselves and waited for the silence to occur. When it did, he opened his mouth to speak. "Follow." The loud footsteps made by their feet drowned the noise of the students, silence once again.