A Second Soul

Chapter 7~in which~ A Lion and a Snake Become One (With a goat too, I guess)

The boys awoke the next morning to an awkward silence, not really sure what to say.  Avoiding eye contact, they quietly packed their school bags in preparation for the beginning of classes and, still stuck in his Gryffindor mindset, Harry is the first to break the tension. 

"Did you plan on going to the  great hall for breakfast?"

Severus turns to look at Evan, stance much more proud than the previous evening. It is as if he had spent the night building walls inside himself, though, Harry suspected, it was not an offensive strike against him, but rather a defense against the masses. The boy in front of him stood,  back straight, shoulders stiff, demeanor reminiscent of his counterpart in Harry's universe, though with all of the prideful decorum and lacking in vicious intent. It appeared that maybe Severus was a bit more like Snape than he had previously concluded, although the sudden change had his green eyes widening in surprise.

Unbeknownst to Harry, Severus had spent the night doing exactly as he had imagined, building up walls. It had become routine for Severus to keep to himself the first night back, lost in the shift between the abuse left at home and the abuse awaiting in the halls of Hogwarts. He allowed himself that first night each year to hide behind his books, but by morning he would force  himself to become strong once again. It had always worked before; often others were too busy the first night to bother him...until last night when the new boy had brought the attention of the entire student body crashing down upon them. While he didn't blame Evan, he did feel mortified at his excessive display of emotion and vulnerability.

He finally replied, sarcastic in tone but lacking any true bite to his words.

"No. I thought I'd go dine in the potions classroom." 

"Yeah. Nothing nicer than a fresh cup of liquid death to warm you up in the morning." Harry managed, straight faced, before cracking a small grin.

Severus appeared slightly surprised at Evan's joking return to the comment, but, as they began their descent to the great hall, Evan would swear he saw a slight upturn of his companion's ever-present frown.

~*~

Approaching the great hall, both Evan and Severus noticed the confused expressions of the crowd ahead. Reaching the doors, they understood why. Directly in front of them, between the Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables, was a new table, turned the opposite direction of the surrounding tables, making it even more the center of attention than it might have been. The hall had expanded to allow room for the newly introduced object, decorated like a centerpiece, drawing all eyes to it.  

The table differed from the surrounding tables in size, only a quarter the length of its brothers, possibly even less. It's coloring was that of a silvery gray pearl and the legs of the table were formed with artistic craftsmanship, yet still appearing sturdy. On either end of the masterpiece was an attractive table linin, seemingly representing a nonexistent house. The border was a molten silver and the base a gorgeous, cloudy opal. Most striking was the rose-tinted golden creature placed proudly at the center of each strip of hanging fabric. As the crowd of curious students pressed closer, but did not enter as they awaited an explanation to the shocking addition  in the great hall, both boys were able to identify the creature- a chimera, part lion, part snake, and with the head of a goat thrown in for good measure. It was poised in a dignified and noble stance, almost alive in its reflection of the candle-lit ceiling. 

"This can't be a coincidence, can it?" Evan addresses Severus without turning his eyes from the spectacle.

"No, it can't. Maybe if it had just been a new table, but the silver and opal? Plus look at the place settings."

Harry did as Severus demanded, stiffening with realization. Where as the other four tables contained hundreds of place settings, this new table contained only two. Each plate sporting the now-common opal, rims dipped in pure silver, that seemed to have become Hogwarts' favorite choice in color scheme. On either side of the plates sat rose gold flatware and a napkin, expertly folded and bearing the prideful chimera, was set upon each plate.

"This is bloody insane. I've gotta be dreaming, right?" 

"Unfortunately not. How is this even possible?"

"Maybe the castle? I've heard it does have a mind of its own. Or Dumbledore?" Harry finished his question after meeting eyes with the headmaster, everyone turning towards his sudden appearance, waiting.

"Good morning to all of you. I'm sure we're all famished but, before we begin breakfast, it seems I have an announcement to make. I invite all of you to enter and take your places while I continue to explain as best as my abilities allow."

Students shuffle in around the two dark haired boys, but neither make any move forward. This was like a nightmare, one where the teacher signals you out in front of the class for a mistake made on the latest paper, only worse as this was very much  not a part of one's fitful sleep, but, instead, reality.

Blue eyes flitted across the crowd of students, mischievous smile firmly set on his face. "As you all may have noticed, we have a new addition to Hogwarts. It appears the castle has formed a new house, feeling that some students were not properly placed."

Although it was easy enough for all of them to assume there was a new house, based on the evidence directly in front of them, no one quite believed this to be the case until announced by their headmaster. An audible gasp echoed from the walls as students sat, dumbfounded. 

Evan and Severus  were about to step back from the entrance, seemingly unified in thought without even a glance spared at the other, when Dumbledore directly addressed them.

"Boys, please take your seats at our newest house table."

Without any choice involved, both students sulkily approached the lonely table and heavily dropped into their seats.

"I would like to introduce you all to the house of Virbius."