When no one is watching

1 The beginning

'I am going to Hogwarts!' I yelled as I ran through the hallway to hug my father tight. It was my dream school and ofcourse me being the daughter of a teacher would make it obvious that I would get in, but still I was so happy. My father looks down at me and smiles 'You'll go to the Diagon Alley tomorrow and buy you the stuff you need with Claire.' She has been my best friend since we were 4 years old.

The next day I walk through the Diagon Alley with Claire and her parents buying all the stuff in the list my father gave us. 'I still can't believe we are going to Hogwarts together in 4 days,' Claire says 'I'm so excited!' she takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. 'Yea, but I am also nervous, I mean there are so many things that could go wrong.' I tell her, I got anxious after seeing all the other kids buying their stuff, there were just so many. 'I mean we need to make a good impression we wouldn't want to embarrass ourselves.' I continue. Claire looks at me and sighs, she knows I always overthink about everything even the even the dumbest things 'It'll be fine Lelia, we have each other, don't we?' she says as she puts an arm around my shoulder. I nod. 'You're right-' I say and open my mouth to say something else, but I get interrupted by Mrs. Woods Claire's mother 'I think we have everything, we should head home it's getting late and I know Severus is not going to be happy if you come home late Lelia.'

3 days later

'Lelia! I need to leave, come downstairs already,' my father yells. He is standing in front of the door, the teachers always arrive one day before the students do and so does he. I walk down and smile. 'You have everything packed right?' He asks me and looks at me with a cold face. It may seem like he doesn't really care about me or if I have my stuff packed to other people, but I know my father, he is nervous and he definitely cares. 'Yes, I do, now leave you are already late!' I answer his question. 'And whose fault is that?' He jokes and we laugh before saying goodbye.

I'm now alone in the house, it feels empty. Normally I would live with Claire while my dad was gone, but tomorrow I will also go to Hogwarts so that wasn't necessary today. I make myself some diner before going through the packing list again to make sure I don't forget anything. When I'm done I get ready for bed. Tomorrow I will be the day, I'm finally going to my dream school.

I'm standing on platform 9 3/4 as I watch Claire say goodbye to her parents. Her parents are the nicest people I have ever met. When I lived with Claire her parents treated me as their own child and spoiled me with love and affection. When Claire was done hugging her parents her mother looks at me and lays her hand on my cheek knowing I am nervous. 'Don't worry you are going to do great Lelia and you can always write us you know that,' she says while brushing her thumb over my cheek. I smile and feel my eyes watering a little, I'm going to mis them... We hug and say our last goodbyes before we walk towards the train.

In the train we search for an empty compartment, but everything seems already full. 'Do you mind if we join?' I ask two girls who were sitting next to each other. They seemed nice and Claire and I decided that this was our best option. 'No please sit down,' the blond girl says. Her voice is soft and dreamy. We take our seats and I introduce us 'My name is Lelia Snape and this is Claire Woods.' The brown haired girl answers 'I'm Brin Rivers and her name is Luna Lovegood. We are first years, you guys too? I'm so excited! We are definitely going to be friends! Want some candy?' The brown-haired girl talks so fast it is difficult to follow. We all laugh. We keep talking and I forget all my worries.

'We have arrived,' Luna says, her voice is so soft you almost can't hear it. I look out of the window and see everyone walking out of the train. We grab our stuff and follow the other kids. We gather around Hagrid, I had been to Hogwarts multiple times because of my dad and Hagrid always played with me. He tells us we are going to Hogwarts with boats and we need to make groups of 6. Two boys join us as we step in the boats. It is dark and the sky is clear, the stars reflect in the dark water and I see the castle, it's truly magical. When we leave the noise of the other first years talking disappears and it becomes peacefully quiet. We talk a little until we arrive, but I can tell everyone is a little nervous.

An hour later we are all in the grand hall. It is very noisy, because everyone is talking and laughing, but it slowly becomes quiet as the teachers walk in. When my dad walks in I see his eyes search for me, when he finally sees me he smiles satisfied at me and sits down in his seat. Dumbledore comes on stage and tells his story. Claire grabs my hand when it is finally time for the sorting ceremony. He asks Luna on stage on puts the sorting hat on her head . The sorting hat mumbles for a minute but then he says: 'Ravenclaw' and the Ravenclaw starts to cheer. When Luna sits down at the table, Brin comes on stage 'Hufflepuff'. Then its Claire's turn she looks at me, I can see she is scared. I nod at her and she walks to the sorting hat 'Slytherin' she smiles and walks to the table.

I'm the last one, everyone already sat down at their table. 'And now, Lelia Snape.'