querencia; remus lupin

one

Throughout my seven years at Hogwarts, I'd gotten into plenty of trouble. Nothing too serious — just little pranks that made me famous amongst my classmates, but landed me in detention for a week or so. I was not unfamiliar with Professor Snape's office. All too often I'd find myself there, listening to his lectures while I awaited my newest punishment. However, I'd never gotten myself into trouble this early before. The Sorting hadn't even started before I'd found myself once again in Snape's cold dungeon, sitting on one of his cold stools, trying to match his even colder stare.

"Miss Williams, this is your seventh year at Hogwarts. You've been here for quite a while. So long, I think, that you should be familiar with the rules by now. Don't you agree?" Professor Snape murmured, his voice cruel and low as he stared at me from behind his desk. I stared back at him without answering. After a moment, the vein on his forehead started to throb. "That was not a rhetorical question."

"I'm sorry, sir," I replied, my response carefully calculated and dripping with sarcasm. I was the only one to ever dare to challenge Professor Snape, and I got quite a lot of respect for it. "Of course. I know the rules."

"Then why, may I ask, did you think it acceptable to let off fireworks on the train?"

"Well, you see, sir... I was quite bored."

Professor Snape blinked. I could see his jaw tightening, like he wanted to say something to me but knew better. "You were 'quite bored'?"

"Yes, sir. Those train rides can get pretty repetitive, don't you think? Year after year, the same old junk? Everyone wanted a show. It is my seventh year, you know. Wouldn't it be a shame to go out without a... bang?"

"I am well aware that it is your seventh year, Ms. Williams, and thank Merlin for it. I am sick and tired of your attitude. Had it not been for the fact that you are in my House, and I hold some respect for the Slytherin name — unlike you — I would have had you expelled years ago."

"Professor McGonagall would never let that happen, sir. I think we both know that."

Snape's gaze went from cold to freezing. I wanted to look away, but refused to let him think he won. "Very well. You will serve 4 detentions for your firework shenanigans, and 2 for your attitude tonight. Is that understood?"

I nodded minutely. It wasn't the worst punishment I'd received.

"You have caused us to miss the Sorting. Please return to the Great Hall and do not make any detours on the way. If you do, I shall know. You should make it back in time for the feast — or, at least, in time to tell your... admirers... about your most recent disappointment of a 'prank'. Go."

I got up from the stool I'd been sitting in and walked out of Snape's office. I felt better as soon as I was away from the dungeons and didn't have to shiver with cold. As I walked back to the Great Hall, I got a bit lost in my thoughts about the previous encounter.

Professor Snape was notorious for showing favoritism towards the Slytherins. I'm living proof that that was not the case. I couldn't pinpoint one moment in the last seven years that Snape had showed me any sort of kindness. The head of your House was supposed to be a mentor for you, but Snape was an enemy. I regarded Professor McGonagall with twenty times more respect than I did Snape — which was why I was grateful that Snape, as Head of my House, always had to be the one to punish me. I wasn't sure I could handle seeing the disappointment in Professor McGonagall's eyes.

My relationship with Snape reflected my relationship with the rest of my House. I wouldn't say any of the Slytherins "disliked" me. They appreciated and laughed at my pranks just as much as the rest of the students at Hogwarts. However, most of the time, I felt like I just didn't fit in with them. I assume I ended up in Slytherin in my first year because I had more Slytherin qualities than any other House. However, I felt as if I truly belonged in Gryffindor. I enveyed most of them. They all seemed like a big, happy family... and in Slytherin, I just felt lost.

It didn't take long to get back to the Great Hall. Snape was right — the Sorting was over. As I walked in, I saw some new faces at the Slytherin table, and I smiled at them. Around the Hall, a few people nodded in my direction. Some grinned or giggled. I knew that everyone had probably been talking about my firework antics. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fred and George Weasley smirk and nod at me. I smiled back at them.

I sat down at the Slytherin table, answering all of the questions I was automatically bombarded with. People who weren't there to see it in real life always wanted to hear the story retold, and everyone who was there always wanted to know what kind of punishment I'd gotten stuck with this time around. Eventually, everyone was satisfied with the tale and my answers, and left me alone to eat.

I started to dig into my steak when I heard Draco Malfoy, a table away, start to brag about something. I tried to tune him out, until I heard something interesting.

"—so Father got me a new racing broom, and said something about a new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher? I dunno, I think Snape should have gotten the job, personally, but, oh- There he is now! ...Wow, quite shabby, isn't he? Maybe he does need the job..."

I looked up. A new teacher was walking up to the others at the High Table. Professor McGonagall smiled at him. The first thing I noticed about him were his robes — they wore tore in some places, and looked very worn out. Draco was obviously referring to the fact that it looked as if the man didn't have much money. I scowled at Draco, and then went back to my steak, drowning out the laughter of the other Slytherins at the new teacher's clothes. I saw the Gryffindors all chatting and laughing at their table. I knew, however, that their source of humor was probably much more innocent than ours.

I thought about, for the second time that night, how I wished I'd been sorted into a different House on this same night exactly 7 years ago.