I apparated in front of the great castle, a little way off due to the spell that prevented Apparition within Hogwarts' boundaries, and just ahead I could already see Snape and Dumbledore waiting.
I waved in their direction and gave a small smile, starting to pull my trunk along with me until I was near them.
— I've missed you! — I went straight to Severus; he didn't like hugs, but I allowed myself that luxury. I only felt his hand on my head as I hugged him. When I turned to Dumbledore, he looked the same as always, as if he would eternally be somewhere between a hundred and two hundred years old. — Headmaster.
— Hello Kate, was the trip pleasant? — he asks.
— As pleasant as Apparition can be — I joke with a half-smile — Is everyone already there?
— It's the end of the last class right now; dinner and your Sorting will be done in a few minutes, as soon as we get there.
— Let's leave your trunk in my office until your house is decided — Snape informs — Though I already imagine where the young lady is going.
— Don't say what you're not sure of, Severus — Dumbledore says, starting to walk.
We walked through the corridors and passed a few students. Dumbledore said goodbye to us and went to his office while I followed Snape through the corridors until what seemed like the castle dungeons.
In the Potions professor's office, we left my trunk and I took out a uniform to wear, but in my own way. Just the white shirt, a black tie since we still don't know my house, a fitted black pencil skirt, black tights, and combat boots, for a change. I put on the cloak too, which still has no colors, just the long, heavy black fabric.
I ran my hand through my wavy hair that naturally sports a color like coagulated blood and a white streak right in front, framing my face in a way that always draws a lot of attention.
I left as soon as everything was in its place and realized Snape wasn't right in the corridor, but further ahead, speaking somewhat heatedly with another professor whom I identified as Remus Lupin.
When I was about to take a step, I heard louder sounds; apparently a class had ended and students were coming in that direction. Snape still seemed focused on something like cursing his fellow professor, and I just stayed beside his office, waiting silently.
No one said I couldn't be seen, after all.
— Oh my Merlin, look at that hair! — I close my eyes upon hearing a loud voice calling my attention.
Apparently I wouldn't have peace even here.
— And who are you? You're not wearing any house uniform. — another voice, now male, says.
When I looked, the girl had short, straight hair, her face was somewhat different, and I noticed she didn't seem to look at me as if I were strange but as if she found the mix of colors coming from my head wonderful. The boy next to her drew attention on his own: almost white-blond hair, gray eyes like a storm, and pale skin. There were two more boys right behind, one dark-haired with rebellious curls and deep green eyes clearly bored, and the other had chocolate-colored skin and an expression of a haughty warrior.
— And are you the headmaster to think you can demand information from someone? — my brow arches, the girl's eyes widen slightly, and the two boys behind seem to hold back laughter.
All in green robes bearing the proud Slytherin emblem.
— Clearly you're someone who doesn't know how things work around here — the blond shows a crooked, ironic smile on his face — Need help knowing who to trust? You can start with us, I'm...
— Already trying to intimidate someone else? Leave the girl alone, Malfoy! — A girl with wavy, bushy brown hair scolded the blond; she was on the other side of the corridor with a redhead right behind and...
Harry Potter.
— Emphasis on 'trying' — I point out — After all, it doesn't work on me.
— Go back to your corner, Mudblood, no one wants to smell your rotten stench here! — the now-revealed Malfoy curses at the girl, and my eyes widen slightly.
— Ah... Let me guess — I take a step toward him; the girl and the other two are a step back, but he seems to want to face me and doesn't move — Slytherin... Full of followers to drool behind your back... Using ridiculous little words like that insult of yours... And as my new friend here tipped me off... A Malfoy. — I smile, placing the sharp tip of my nail under his chin and lifting it slowly — You must be a Sacred 28 supremacist who'll become a Death Eater one day, right? — his eyes widen — Tell me, kitten, which cousin or sister will you marry to keep your 'blood purity'?
He doesn't answer, swallows dryly, I see his Adam's apple move slowly, and the corridor goes silent. My smile grows, and the group near him seems unwilling to help their friend. Beside me, the cold with the girl who had defended me seemed speechless.
— Miss Katherine. — I hear Snape's voice; I step back, softening my expression, and turn to him, who didn't look too happy — You must come with me now.
— Of course Severus, sorry. You seemed busy earlier and I was... Making friends. — I smile; he knows it's a lie, he knows me better than anyone and knows how much I love a good chaos.
I start walking toward him but turn before opening a great distance, focusing on the curly-haired girl.
— You can call me Kate! Thanks for the help.
— Hermione Granger! — she smiles shyly — I hope we can be friends.
— Certainly, Granger!
I walk out beside Snape; he guides me without haste to a room adjacent to the main hall where there was only a table with a few chairs and a shelf of old books.
— Don't create problems right from the start; you know how fragile everything is. — he comments briefly; I just sigh and nod, it was no use arguing, I knew him well enough.
There he left me and said he would soon come to get me after Dumbledore's speech. Curious as I am, I opened a crack to hear what the headmaster was saying.
— Good evening students and teachers! I have a brief announcement about an exceptional action I will be taking tonight, something with few precedents — the students seem more interested as he continues — Through the Durmstrang exchange between schools, from today we will be hosting a new student, who arrives at Hogwarts already older.
— No need to make me sound thirty, headmaster... — I mutter to myself.
— Please, Miss Katherine Gaunt, come forward so the Sorting Hat can indicate your new house!
I smiled and left the small room, nodded to the professors, and went to where Dumbledore indicated, a wooden stool, and in his hands was the Sorting Hat.
I sat down and soon felt the weight on my head.
— Well, there's no difficulty at all in indicating a house for you, my dear, I see your bold heart and your ambitious mind, you will certainly be the protagonist of great deeds thanks to your determination, just like your ancestor, this lineage will remain in the house that does it justice... — The hat made a slight suspense and then shouted — SLYTHERIN!
The weight was removed from my head and I smiled at the applause that began coming from the house in the corner. With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore changed my robes to a green and silver striped tie; inside, my cloak now had the green coloring, and the house symbol was displayed on my chest on the dress shirt and on the cloak.
I descended the steps and headed to the table where they made room for me without problems. The girl from earlier who spoke about my hair smiled and extended her hand.
— Pansy Parkinson.
— You can call me Kate — I shake her hand.
— Sorry if earlier it seemed like I was speaking badly about your hair, but it's just so different and striking! I thought it was wonderful! — she explains.
— It's all right — I just wave my hand as if it were nothing.
— Who would have imagined... I didn't even know there was a living member in the Gaunt family. Even more so our age. — the other boy from earlier, the one with rebellious hair, says in a low voice; he was cute — I'm Theo. Nott.
— Nice to meet you, Nott. — I say, perhaps making the second intentions in my voice too clear, but he was too handsome to avoid — Yeah... The last known members were Morfin and his son Corvinus... That one had a quick relationship with an unknown witch that resulted in me. — I briefly tell what everyone nearby wanted to know, I hate information games — I never met her, and he died when I was a few months old, so I lived my whole life with my godfather.
— Who would that be? — Pansy asks quietly while serving herself some juice.
— Severus Snape.
— What a terrible childhood you must have had — Nott jokes.
— He's nice once you get to know him better... Much later. — I smile, I see the other boy, dark-skinned, much more serious. — And you would be?
— Blaise Zabini. — he nods as he identifies himself — So you didn't know your mother, Gaunt?
— Not at all. — I pay more attention to the food now. — But after annoying Severus a lot, he told me that some brief research led him to the Black family.
— What a mess, you're a mix of Sacred 28 families, very important to some. — Pansy concludes and I shrug while serving some things on my plate. — Gaunt and Black, raised by a Snape.
— And with the surname Nott one day, who knows... — I hear the brief flirtation and look at him, letting a small lascivious smile out.
Dinner passes without haste. The blond, Malfoy, was nearby but apparently avoided comments; I saw him talking nonsense to two other chubby boys who laughed at everything he said. I comment to the group about how it was at Durmstrang, where I studied for two years, and they tell me about Hogwarts. They were clearly involved with all that blood supremacy thing, but perhaps because they had seen me earlier, they avoided that subject with mastery.
At the end of dinner, instead of the prefect, Pansy offered to