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Chapter 3: The Welcoming Feast

September arrived faster than Hermione could have predicted. Before she knew it, it was time to take Nathan to King's Cross Station so he could board the Hogwarts Express from Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

"Come on, mum! I don't want to be late for the train!" whined Nathan from the door.

"I'm coming, and we won't be late! Are you this desperate to be rid of me?" she asked with a pained voice.

"Oh, mum! Stop that! I'll write to you every weekend; we already agreed on that," he said for what seemed the thousandth time.

"I know, I know!" she said, taking her coat and helping him with the trunk.

Soon, they were at the platform and Hermione was hugging Nathan for the twentieth time. "Mum, I can't breathe!" he said through her coat, where his head was buried on her shoulder. "And you're embarrassing me, as well!" he added.

"Oh, sorry!" was all she could manage through her sobs. "It's better you board the train now, then," she said, wiping some tears away with the back of her hand. "Take care of yourself! Remember everything I told you and you'll be fine. If you need anything, you send me an owl and I'll be there in a minute."

"I'll take care, mum. And I'll send you an owl first thing in the morning," he assured her, then took the handle of his trunk and entered the train. Soon, he found a free compartment and went to the window to farewell his mother as the train started to move.

"I love you," she mouthed to him, and he sent her a kiss in return.

When he looked back from the window, the compartment door opened and two boys appeared at the doorway. "Is there free space for two?" one of them asked.

"Sure! I'm alone in here," Nathan replied. After the boys had stowed their things and were comfortably seated, he asked, "Are you first years, too?"

"Yes, I'm Kevin Brown," said the boy with light brown hair and blue eyes.

"And I'm Anderson Wood, but call me Andy," said the other boy, the one with black, straight hair and honey-brown eyes.

"I'm Nathan Granger, nice to meet you."

"Granger? Are you related to Hermione Granger, the witch who helped Harry Potter vanquish You-Know-Who?" Brown asked.

"Yes, she's my mother," he said, surprised that they knew of her. That was something new to him. He had lived his whole life in the Muggle world, and even with all her mother had told him about her and his two uncles' fame, he only realized its magnitude after the boy's reaction to his answer.

"Wow!" exclaimed Andy. "She's your mother! How cool is that?"

Nathan had his mouth open in the verge of saying what he thought of it when he was bombarded with yet another question.

"Do you know Harry Potter, then?" the first boy asked.

"Yes, I know Harry. He's my godfather, actually."

"Wow!" exclaimed both of them, making Nathan flinch a little.

"You're saying THE Harry Potter is your godfather?" asked an astounded Andy.

"Yes, Harry and Ginny are my godparents," added Nathan, waiting with an arched brow for another exclamation from his new friends, but this time they just stared at him with their mouths agape.

He was just starting to feel uncomfortable when Kevin finally shook his head and found his voice again. "What is he like? I mean, does he tell you stories about You-Know-Who?"

And Andy added, "Does he let you ride his broom?"

Harry wasn't famous only for his defeat of Voldemort. After killing the dreaded wizard, he took what he liked to call 'a vacation' from all the worrisome things and became a professional Quidditch player for a while before starting his Auror Training.

"We don't see each other much, as I live in the Muggle world with my mother, but he visits us on special occasions," he answered. "He doesn't like to talk about Voldemort–" he paused as the boys flinched with the name, and continued, "—and I don't have a courtyard so he didn't bring his broom with him," he finished.

"Oh!" Kevin said, seeming disappointed, and then looked seriously at Nathan. "Why do you speak his name?"

"Whose? Voldemort's?" he said, and the boys flinched again. He just rolled his eyes.

"Yes…" ventured Andy.

"Well, he is dead, and my mum always called him by his name, even when he was alive. Uncle Harry says that to fear a name is to fear the wizard himself. As I don't fear Voldemort, I don't care about calling him by his name," he explained, ignoring yet another flinch at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.

"You're very courageous if you don't fear him. My dad told me that He was a very powerful wizard who killed a lot of people, and that He returned from the dead once. Don't you fear He could be back again?" asked Kevin.

"Oh, no! Uncle Harry told me they destroyed all his soul pieces before killing him this time. There's nothing left!" he said matter-of-factly.

"If you say so," was all the response he got from Kevin.

The rest of the trip passed quickly as the boys discussed Quidditch and got to know each other better. Nathan really liked both of them. At least one of his concerns about leaving his Muggle school was proving unfounded; he would have good friends at Hogwarts. If he could choose, he would like Kevin and Andy to be in the same House as himself. Gryffindor, he added mentally.

As Hogsmeade approached, they changed into their school robes and waited for the train to stop at the station. As soon as it stopped, they took their trunks and headed out.

Reaching the platform, Nathan heard a strong voice calling, "Firs' years! Firs' years, over here!"

It was Hagrid, no doubt! His mother had told him all about the half-giant. He approached the immense figure and asked, "You're Hagrid, aren't you?"

The half-giant looked down at the dark haired boy and answered, "Yeah, and yeh must be a firs' year. Do I know yeh, little one?"

"No, but I heard a lot about you from my mother," the boy said.

"Who's yeh mother?" Hagrid asked, curious.

"Hermione Granger," Nathan supplied, and a big smile filled the half-giant's hairy face.

"Welcome to Hogwarts…" Hagrid paused with an inquiring note in his voice.

"Nathan, sir. Nathan Granger," the boy supplied.

"Nathan," Hagrid finished. "Say hello to yeh mother for me."

Nathan smiled at the half-giant and said, "I will."

In a moment, all the first years were near Hagrid and they headed to the boats to cross the lake and reach the castle.

Arriving at the huge oak front doors, all the first years grouped at the steps and the door flew open revealing a little wizard.

"The firs' years, Professor Flitwick."

"Oh, thank you, Hagrid," squeaked the little wizard.

The first years followed Professor Flitwick though the big door and were led into a small room and arranged into alphabetical order. After a few minutes, the short wizard said, "The Sorting Ceremony will start now. Come with me, please."

The followed the tiny professor into the Great Hall, glancing around the huge room in awe. On a stool in front of the Head Table rested a dirty hat that soon started to sing its annual song. As soon as it finished, Professor Flitwick started to call the students forward. "Artcher, Duncan," and the boy went to the stool and put on the hat. A moment later…

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The boy took the hat off his head, put it back on the stool, and then headed to the Hufflepuff table where he was received with applause.

One by one, the first years put the hat on and waited for it to shout a House name. Kevin Brown was sorted into Gryffindor and a short while later it was Nathan's turn to try the hat.

Professor Flitwick called, "Granger, Nathan."

Nathan walked to the stool and lifted the hat onto his head, oblivious of the dark-haired wizard who had been staring at him from the Head Table since the very moment his name was announced.

As soon as the hat settled, he could hear its voice inside his head, "Hmm, you are a difficult one. Brilliant mind, I see. A great heart and lots of courage, I can feel. You're very talented, as well. Oh, and ambitious… Very difficult."

All the time the hat was speaking in his head he was thinking about his mother, Harry and Ron, and unconsciously asking to be placed in Gryffindor. The hat seemed to listen to his subconscious pleas.

"Gryffindor, eh? Are you sure? You could be great in Slytherin, with your ambitions… If you're sure, GRYFFINDOR!"

Nathan left the hat on the stool and took off to the Gryffindor table. Cheers greeted him as he sat down. He was relieved not to have been sorted into Slytherin. All the other three Houses would be fine, but he was sorted to the best one: Gryffindor! Just like his mother and her friends.

From Gryffindor table he watched Devon Malfoy being sorted into Slytherin, and a nervous Andy Wood join them after being the last Gryffindor sorted that night.

The Headmistress saluted the students and announced the beginning of the feast. Just then, Nathan felt a pair of eyes staring at his back and turned to meet them. Professor Snape and Nathan locked eyes for a moment and the boy smiled. The Professor's response was an arched eyebrow followed by a grimace, and Nathan went back to his food, never losing the smile.

"What are you smiling about?" asked Andy.

"Nothing special," he dismissed. "I was just thinking about something my mum told me, that's all. The food is delicious!"

At the Head Table, the sour Potions master was picking at his food and trying to understand why the Granger boy had smiled at him. First years don't smile at me when I stare at them; they run crying! What's wrong with this boy? Doesn't he know who I am? he thought, grimacing. The boy's reaction to his intimidation was disgusting and intriguing.

Ever since the Charms professor had announced him as a Granger, Severus could think of nothing else. Even the Malfoy boy hadn't distracted him. Granger… he thought. Is he related to her? A nephew, perhaps? That was all he allowed his mind to guess.

He lifted his head to watch the boy once more. He doesn't have that bushy hair, but it isn't straight, either, and not brown in color, but coal black. The boy isn't short, either. He makes a good figure, actually, he considered, curious that he couldn't find strong resemblance of Hermione Granger in the boy's physical appearance, but at the same time he reminded him of her, somehow.

In the middle of his musings, the boy turned his way again. This time, Severus glared at him with his trademark sneer without hesitation, and was answered with an arched eyebrow from the boy. Severus narrowed his eyes in visible fury. Who does this boy think he is? he thought. A low growl formed in his throat and McGonagall turned his way with an inquiring face. As he ignored her, she followed his gaze to the first years at the Gryffindor table and frowned.

"What's your problem, Severus? Already chosen a new Gryffindor to torment?" she inquired. "You should at least wait until the first day of classes and give the other Houses a chance," she added.

"What do you know about the Granger boy?" he asked. "Is he related to that insufferable know-it-all that you used to protect, Minerva?"

"Oh, so that's what you're brooding about," she said, and Severus narrowed his eyes once more. "I believe he's her son, as I was told by Potter."

"Son?" he managed without showing his surprise, and then added with a smirk, "So, I haven't lost my touch in choosing my 'favorite' students after all."

"Oh, Severus, give the boy a chance!" the Headmistress admonished. "You don't even know him! Just because you disliked his mother doesn't mean you have to dislike him as well. Don't make the same mistakes you did with Potter, Severus," she added with a warning look.

Severus went back to his food but found he wasn't hungry anymore. He glanced one more time in the boy's direction and couldn't avoid the memories that invaded his mind. Hermione Granger's son. Hermione… The girl who tormented me the six years I was her teacher, and yet… he couldn't avoid the true feelings remembrance of her always brought, and narrowed his eyes. She was a reminder of things he wanted to forget; things he was forced to do during the war against Voldemort. Oh, he hated having those feelings.

As soon as the feast ended and all the students were in their Common Rooms, his obligations as Head of House were fulfilled and he could return to the peace of his private rooms to prepare for the following day. Oh, how he hated the first day of classes!

Nathan returned his attention to his friends after that demonstration from the Potions professor. Why is he so furious? He's the one staring at me! he thought. But he soon remembered what his mother had told him about the man and dismissed his display of hatred with a shrug, focusing on his new friends once more.

Dessert was served and the feast was drawing to an end, but not before the Headmistress gave some warnings concerning the Forbidden Forest and some recommendations from the caretaker, Mr Filch.

Soon, the first years were gathered together by one of the prefects and were led to Gryffindor Tower. Nathan was fascinated by all the things in the castle. He had heard or read about most of them, but it was so much more that what he imagined. It was… magical!

They stopped in front of a portrait of the Fat Lady, who asked for a password.

"Chocolate Frog," the prefect said, and the lady moved, revealing a passage to the Common Room.

They entered and were led to their dormitories, where they found their trunks by the side of the four-poster beds. Nathan changed into his pajamas and climbed into his bed. He had to write the promised letter to his mother so he could send it first thing in the morning. Then, he fell asleep, wondering what his first classes would be like.

It was three in the morning when Severus Snape finally retired to bed. He couldn't avoid the ghosts haunting his mind… memories of days he thoroughly fought hard to forget, days full of hatred and distress… memories brought back to the front of his mind by Professor Flitwick's call of a name. Granger.

Hermione Granger was part of a time in his life full of bad memories, the worst of them, actually. Memories of events he dreaded; events that took place that blasted year Albus Dumbledore had died by his wand. It didn't matter to him that the late Headmaster had asked him to do it; it didn't change what he felt when he muttered the curse that took the old man's life, the life of the only man who had ever really trusted him, leaving him alone to face his fate. And then…

Then, Hermione Granger, of all people, had trusted him after all he did. Even after the events that took place in the Astronomy Tower, after he had killed Dumbledore. I'll never understand why she kept her trust in me, he mused. He had spent many hours, during many nights before, trying to solve the mystery that was Hermione Granger. The girl stood against everyone and everything to prove his loyalty to Albus, and the true intentions behind his act. No, he would never understand Hermione Granger.

And I betrayed her. He closed his eyes in a pained gesture. What I had to do to save her from the Dark Lord's grip… He couldn't forget. He couldn't forgive himself.

Severus Snape shifted in his bed, and eventually fell asleep; not the restorative kind of sleep that would prepare him for his first day of classes, but a restless sleep full of nightmares from days long gone.