Chapter Four

Snape backed away from himself in utter terror. His mind was scrambling to know what was going on. He didn't remember this, and he was fairly sure that this was a real memory. What was going on?

"Severus…" Hagrid growled, "leave these kids be and be gone with yer!" Snape simply scorned and tightened his grip on the wand.

"My orders are clear. Now step away from the children…" The expression the younger Snape was making made the older Snape want to vomit. He didn't even know that he could make such a face. It wasn't his usual sadistic face, it was much worse. It was a face of evil, and desire to kill. The face of Voldemort.

"You'll take them over my dead body!" Hagrid cried, the children whispering in fear behind him. Snape let loose the face once more before crying, "Petrificus Totalus".

Hagrid went stiff and fell over screaming for help. Snape quickly put the children under the Imperio curse and led them away.

The older Snape was dumfounded and horrified. He didn't remember this incident, nor did he know what was going to happen next. So he followed his younger self, using a special spell to follow the Apparition.

The younger Snape instantly showed up in one of Voldemort's many hideouts with the entire group of first years. The Dark Lord was standing in the center of a dark room, and smiling evilly at the sight of the children. He looked, not to be vulgar, but very much like a pedophile.

"Thank you, Severus…" Voldemort said in a raspy evil voice. He led the group through a large door and down a dark hall, and the older Snape followed. The corridor was long, and seemed familiar to the older Snape.

"In there, that's where we'll do it," Said the dark lord commandingly to the younger Snape. The Death Eater obeyed and led the children into the room. Older Snape slid in behind them, and his jaw dropped. Death Eaters stood all around holding out their wands in preparation for the plan-whatever it might end up being. Older Snape felt sweat trickle down his face and he closed his eyes in total fear.

"Severus?"

The calm voice of Professor McGonagall made Snape open his eyes. He was back on the train, and all the teachers were staring at him.

"I…" Snape mumbled, highly embarrassed that he had been caught like that.

"What happened? One moment you were talking to us, the next you 'fainted'. You looked totally lifeless…" One of the teachers announced. Snape felt his face turn hot. He definitely didn't want to tell what he had seen, especially to the people he considered "friends".

"I'm not sure what happened, but obviously it's over now…" Snape said in his too-cool-for-school voice, and all the teachers shrugged and went back to talking.

Snape put his head in his hands. What just happened? Suddenly, Snape felt as if something was missing. He looked at his hands and saw that they were…empty. The rock had fallen onto the floor! Snape quickly swiped it up, and looked at it closely. Could it have been the cause of the memory? Surely that would be impossible…right?

The train screeched to a very loud halt and Lee's heart leapt. During the trip over, everyone except for Neji and Shino had gotten pulled into talking. Shino because he was always quiet anyway, and Neji because he was embarrassed by his random outburst.

"I-Ireni!Come on, we must go!" Lee tugged at Ireni's arm to get her moving. Ireni pulled Kankuro, and Kankuro pulled Shikamaru (the two had gotten fairly close during the trip). "Let us find my father, full with our youthful vigor! YOSH!"

The traffic leaving the train was awful. Children from 11 to 17 were all pushing forward at the exact same time, the result being a colossal mess. Luckily, they were all ninja's so escaping was fairly simple.

Once outside, Lee dragged the chain of shinobi all over the place looking for Snape. He pushed and pulled his way throughout the crowd with Ireni, Kankuro, and Shikamaru ramming into countless individuals.

"L-Lee! Stop! He's over th-there!" Ireni attempted to show her boyfriend where his father was before he broke every bone in her and their friends body's.

Lee turned around, and ran over to the Professor, while Ireni trailed behind, catching her breath.

"Hey, Lee…I think I'm gonna go ahead?" Ireni attempted to tell Lee where she was going, but he was deep in conversation with his father, so Ireni shrugged and trotted off towards Neji and Shino.

Ireni smiled happily as Hagrid called for first years. Since she had been before, she had to use her cousin's invisibility cloak to get on with her friends. She sat on Lee's lap (it had been arranged before-hand) and looked up at the moon shining brilliantly down on the lake. The castle looked huge and magical, and she felt in awe even after seeing it so many times before.

Ireni felt Lee's breath grow shorter and she turned to look into his eyes. He was staring in utter disbelief at the surreal edifice known as Hogwarts Castle. Ireni grinned- the look on his face was hilarious.

Shikamaru and Shino (the other two ninja on their boat) had very similar gawks, and were transfixed in its impossible structure. Soon, the boats all reached the shore and Hagrid began to speak.

"Now follow me! We'll be goin' into th' Great Hall, where ye all will be sorted!" the Half-Giant announced, his voice booming around to all the boats. Excited whispers arose and we all followed the large man up towards the castle.

Snape was used to starting a new school year-he had done it God knows how many times before. He knew the feeling of dread from a whole new batch of hooligans just waiting to drive him mad; he knew the feeling of annoyance that the Feast gave him. But what Snape didn't know, and hadn't expected was excitement and anticipation. It wasn't about food or his job (though he did rather enjoy his new class). He was excited for his son. Snape realized that he couldn't wait to see how Lee would do. His heart was pounding and he felt…an alien emotion. Snape…liked it.

As the Professor sat down at the banquet table with the other teachers, he searched the room for his son, and smiled softly when he saw the boy standing over by the door, one of the first ones. He was brave.

Hagrid led the first years over to the side of the platform on which the sorting hat rested. Lee had a look on his face that screamed what he wanted. He was determined.

After the song and Dumbledore's first words, the Headmaster began calling out names. Snape saw a small smile creep across Lee's face. He was…confident.

"Shino Aburame!"

The boy with the sunglasses walked up to the sorting hat and allowed it to be placed on his head. He instantly felt his brain being pried at. No, he wouldn't allow it. Shino fought back with all of his strength-no article of clothing would discover his secrets.

Such a feisty boy, a voice spoke into his head, but don't worry, I will not look into your mind. I'm only looking at your traits. I need to know what house you belong in.

For your information, Shino mentally spat back, I'm in Gryffindor-I happen to be one of the Ninja's!

Oh, all right! The hat almost laughed. "Gryffindor!"

And without one thought, Shino walked over to the Gold and Scarlet colored table and sat down.

"Neji Hyuuga!"

Neji walked up to the dingy looking hat with his usual expression: bite me. He plopped down in the seat and put on the hat before anyone could do it for him. Immediately he felt the hat delve into his mind. What did he care? He had nothing to hide.

Ah, another ninja, the hat said mentally, But such a tense mind. What are you hiding?

Nothing! Neji replied.

Are you positive? The hat teased.

"WHAT DID YOU SEE YOU PIECE OF WORN OUT FABRIC?" Neji threw the hat off and pointed at it accusingly, his face beet red. The entire room grew dead silent, and Fred and George laughed their butts off. The sorting hat was silent too, but then began to laugh.

"That's bravery if I ever saw it! Gryffindor!"

Neji slowly turned around and almost fainted at the amount of eyes had witnessed his outburst. He practically crawled towards the table, and immediately put his head down.

"Shikamaru Nara!"

Shikamaru awoke from his nap as his name was called. He had been dreaming that he was a cloud, but apparently even the best dreams were still only that.

The deer boy trudged over to the sorting hat (still rumpled from Neji's explosion) and put it on with a loud yawn. After at least three minutes of utter silence, Shikamaru almost fell asleep again.

My, my…what a mind, the hat finally murmured in Shikamaru's head, It's a pity you're only a spy. The things that this mind could be capable of…

What a drag…why do they always take the longest on me? Shikamaru thought that he was having a private thought, but the Sorting Hat heard him.

Don't be so lazy. You have an amazing mind, and if you were a real wizard you'd be in Ravenclaw in a heartbeat. But since you are a Ninja…

"Gryffindor!"

Shikamaru scooted over to the table and fell asleep. Enough said.

"Professor Dumbledore? There seems to be a problem with this name."

"What about it?"

"There's no…last name? All it says is 'Kankuro'!"

"Well," Dumbledore replied to the announcer, "Make something up then." He had an amused smile on his face and the announcer turned red.

"Ex-excuse me?" He asked. Dumbledore shooed him, and the announcer turned back to the First Years.

"Kankuro…..OLAF!"

The entire room grew quiet for the umpteenth time that evening and the announcers face flushed. Kankuro had a very small grin on his face and trotted over to the stool. Dumbledore was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Well sorry for being a Series of Unfortunate Events fan…" the announcer huffed.

Kankuro slipped the hat on, eager.

Hmm, I like this one. Definitely strong. Smart. Boy, let me be the one to commend you on your well-rounded skill. However you are just another ninja so…

"Gryffindor!"

Kankuro shrugged and ran over to join his friends.

"Rock Lee!"

Lee ran over to the hat, his excitement practically overflowing from his body. He snatched the hat up and threw it on, his heart pounding.

I will make him proud…Lee though whatever it takes, I will make my father proud!

Is that a promise?

Lee's neck hair rose as he felt the hat speak into his mind.

Y-yes! I will make my father proud! That is a promise!

Hmm…I think I just might hold you to that. And of all the ninja…I might just be the most impressed with you. Your determination, bravery, and confidence far outmatch anyone I have ever seen before. Use this incredible ability as well as you can. Also, Lee. I have a warning for you…

"Gryffindor!" The hat called. Lee pulled it off his head with a look of fear on his face. What the hat had told him was chilling. Lee stumbled over to the table in a half-daze, and sat down next to Ireni (who had taken off the cloak).

"Are you okay?" Ireni asked moving close to him.

Lee fake-smiled. He would absolutely not frighten his girlfriend, "I am fine! Why wouldn't I be?"

Ireni smiled back and clapped as another Gryffindor was named. Lee went back to looking at his feet. He didn't have Neji's eyes, and he had no idea what was coming. All he knew was that it wouldn't be easy at all.

***** HAHAHAHAHA KANKURO OLAF! OHHH MY SIDE.

Okay, sorry. As you know (since I've made it VERY clear) this story is at least two years old, and so I'm just rereading it after all this time. I had forgotten about my old love for Series of Unfortunate Events, so I'm...cracking up XD.

By the way, I just want you all to know that out of the kindness of my heart I'm totally deleating as much Ireni as I can, because I know from my own experiences how annoying OC's can be sometimes. I had to cut out a whole freaking kissing scene of this chapter...It was...ugh...I can't describe...why was I such a weird little Middle schooler? Why?

Okay, so yea. R&R (haha! Im learning FFN lingo yessssssss) and Thanks for all the youthful reveiws!