These Deep Solitudes

Chapter Four - The Sorting Hat's Song

"Some of necessity go astray, because for them there is no such thing as a right path."

-- Thomas Mann

Arthur Weasley arrived at the Leaky Cauldron while Rain and Remus were still at breakfast. He saw them and came over, cup of coffee in hand. He was smiling, but his pleasant face bore lines of worry and exhaustion. Though the Ministry officially denied Voldemort's return, they had people working almost around the clock to deal with the increasing troubles.

"Mr. Lupin! It's a pleasure to see you again, my good man. I must say, I'll rest easier knowing you're back at Hogwarts. I know people say You-Know-Who is afraid of Dumbledore, but he can't do everything, you know. It's good to have a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who knows his stuff."

Rain found herself warming to him. Remus smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Weasley. It means quite a lot to have your confidence. May I introduce to you Rain McGonagall, our new History of Magic professor?"

Arthur reached over and shook her hand. "Miss McGonagall, pleased to meet you. Congratulations on finally ousting old Binns." He grinned. "And are you any relation to Minerva?"

"Cousins," Rain said, smiling. "And please, call me Rain."

"In that case, I must be Arthur to you both," he replied, eyes crinkling warmly.

"Arthur," Rain said, remember that his eldest son had gone missing with Harry and the Malfoy boy, "Have you had any word of Bill?"

He looked surprised. "Oh, you know Bill, do you? Well, yes, as a matter of fact--" He leaned closer. "We've been looking for an opportunity for him to conveniently vanish. He's been sent into cover; someone's been watching him, and he wants to learn who it is. Dumbledore assigned you both high security marks, of course, or I wouldn't be able to tell you any of this."

Remus was nodding. "No one will hear of it from us," he said. "Does Ron know?"

Arthur opened his mouth, then hesitated. "I'm afraid he suspects," he said at last. "I couldn't tell him anything officially, and we're having to be extremely careful of dinner table conversations these days, but--I believe George might have told him, yes. Now." He glanced at Remus. "I understand that Dumbledore sent some papers for me." He sat back in his chair and looked expectantly at them.

Rain was surprised when Remus nodded again and took a roll of parchment from his robes--the same parchment, she realized, that Sirius had given him in Hunter's Combe. "Be very careful with this, Arthur," he cautioned. "This is the roll of the Order of the Phoenix, and as Dumbledore may not have told you, it bears the same enchantment as the Hogwarts rollbook; whenever someone becomes a likely Phoenician, his or her name appears on the list. Many lives are at stake if this is lost."

Arthur nodded, a serious expression on his face. "Worth all the gold in Gringotts," he said, and tucked it inside his robes. "Remus, may I ask--"

"You and Molly are on that list, as are--your children." Rain wondered why Remus hesitated, and if Arthur had noticed.

He had. "Percy?" he asked, his voice hungry.

Remus hesitated again, then shook his head slowly. "Not at this time, Arthur. I'm sorry."

Rain didn't recognize the name, but Arthur bowed his head, took off his glasses, and rubbed finger across his eyes. "Yes, well," he said, not looking up at them. "I should have expected it...After old Barty Crouch..." He trailed off and stared at the bar.

Remus sighed softly. "Percy's intelligent and good-hearted. But if the Minister of Magic keeps denying Voldemort's return, many more intelligent, good-hearted people are going to be deceived. Arthur, it's got to stop."

The other man nodded sadly. "Thank--" He broke off and cleared his throat. "Thank you." He looked at Rain. "Percy is my son," he explained. "He--does not believe You-Know-Who has returned."

Understanding and sympathy filled her heart. "I'm so sorry," she said, putting her hand on his. Remus smiled at her.

Arthur nodded. "Well, then." He sat up straighter and patted her hand. "Remus, please tell the Headmaster that everything is on schedule and should be ready by Hallowe'en. I'll be out to Hogwarts soon as an official Ministry guest to the Muggle Studies lessons. I hope I'll see you both then."

He stood and nodded politely to them both, smiling. As he left, however, his shoulders were slumped.

"Percy worked for Bartemius Crouch," Remus said after a moment. "The Ministry official who vanished last year. You'll remember he was on track for the Minister's seat, back--"

"I remember," Rain said quietly.

Remus stared at her for a moment, then flushed and looked away. "I'm sorry," he said after a moment.

Barty Crouch's son had conspired with the LeStranges to restore Lord Voldemort. The LeStranges had been the ones who killed Esme. The grief had ended long ago, but the void left in her life by her elder sister's death had never fully healed. So much would have been different. Every decision Rain had made as Lady McGonagall was prefaced by the question, "What would Esme have done?" Of course, there had been the two years when she hadn't cared what Esme or Lily or Minerva or anyone would have done--

She shook her head. The past was the past. Now she had a new start--a new start with Remus, and Hogwarts--and this time, no matter what, she wouldn't let that get away.

~*~

When September First finally arrived, Remus was both relieved and anxious. He was looking forward to teaching again, and he was grateful that his mission as a professor would have such a clear-cut objective: prepare those who were the future of the wizarding world to fight against Voldemort and all other creatures of the Darkness.

On the other hand, he was nervous about Rain's first day. He was already certain Hermione would like her, and he suspected Neville Longbottom would appreciate Rain's compassionate nature. He was more concerned about Harry and Ron's reception of her...and that of one other. Remus had an idea that Rain would either be loved or hated by one particular young man, and he suspected she would hold an unexplainable magnetism for Draco Malfoy.

Of course that was just one of the many reasons Dumbledore had hired her--Remus suspected another was the headmaster's inordinate fondness for playing matchmaker--but it could well be the most important reason. Twenty years ago Rain--with her significant social standing and her stubborn refusal to give up--had reached out to Severus Snape. Now, hopefully, she could do the same for Draco Malfoy.

Remus and Rain had missed the seemingly endless round of conferences and meetings that preceded the start of a new term at Hogwarts, largely because Dumbledore wanted them on the Express to keep an eye on things, and Remus had seen no reason to complain. As they slid through the barrier onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Remus had one hand on his wand. It would make no sense for Voldemort to attack King's Cross; he couldn't possibly have built up enough strength for such an open move, not in a single summer. All the same, there were more than a few Death Eaters with more enthusiasm than sense, and he refused to be caught by surprise.

They chose an empty compartment near the back of the train and settled back in silence. Remus watched out the window while Rain kept an eye on the aisle. She was trying to pretend she wasn't nervous, but he could see her nibbling her nails when she thought he wasn't looking.

Out the window Remus saw Hermione appear through the barrier, followed by her father, who was pushing her trolley, and her mother, who looked like a slightly older version of Hermione. Her parents, looking awkward, kissed her goodbye and turned to go. Before they reached the barrier, she must have said something, for they turned back quickly. She threw her arms around her father, who held her tightly; Remus recognized in him a desperate desire to hold on to something precious that must be released. Then the girl turned to her mother and took her hand, looking into her eyes for a moment. Her mother bowed her head and dabbed at her eyes suddenly, and then laughed and nodded. With a final wave, the two Muggles turned and left the platform.

Hermione turned and trudged towards the train, pushing her trolley without much energy. On top of the trunk sat the orange bandy-legged cat Crookshanks, exuding triumph and a certain regality. Remus grinned faintly; he owed that cat a great deal--he and Sirius both. As Hermione neared the train, a tall youth with sandy hair approached her and helped her with her trunk. A shiny badge flashed on his chest, matching the one Hermione wore.

"That fellow's Seamus Finnegan," he told Rain, just before the two disappeared from his sight. "Oh, bother. Well, never mind, you'll meet him. He's the other Gryffindor prefect."

A few moments later, Hermione and Seamus appeared with her trunk. She saw the teachers before Seamus did and stopped walking, causing Seamus to drop his end of the trunk on his toe. He stifled a curse and blushed when she shot him a look. "I'm sorry, Professors," she said, and started to withdraw.

"Wait, Hermione," Rain called. "It's nice to see you again."

The girl came back, smiling. "Thank you, Professor Rain," she said, "I hope you're well."

"Quite," Rain said, and Remus sighed inaudibly. She had suddenly become the Lady again. "And you?"

"Quite well, thank you. Oh, Professor, this is Seamus Finnegan. He's a prefect for Gryffindor."

Rain nodded at him and smiled, and he grinned at her affably. "Pleased to meet you," he said in what Remus knew was a brogue thicker than usual. "I had no idea we were getting in pretty exchange students this year."

Rain quirked an eyebrow at him and laughed. "This one is a prefect? Oh, seriously!" She threw a glance at Remus, eyes dancing with the old pun. He coughed.

"I quite agree, Rain; it's a serious offense."

She looked back at Seamus, who was laughing at himself now. "I imagine I'll be seeing you in History of Magic," Rain told him. "I'm the new professor."

He stared at her in frank astonishment, then laughed again. "S'pose I look a bit of berk then," he said, and winked brazenly at her. "If you fine people will all excuse me." He tipped an imaginary hat and vanished through the open compartment door.

"Honestly!" Hermione exclaimed, sitting down next to Rain and shaking her head. "I don't know when Seamus turned into such a flirt!"

"Have you looked in a mirror?" Rain asked, amused.

Hermione flushed and Remus realized that she was a pretty young woman. She wore her hair in a single plait, and her eyes sparkled. "Have you decided what we'll be covering in History of Magic, Professor?"

Rain laughed at the change in topic. "Sort of. I thought we'd start out with Hogwarts: A History, which should give me time to sound out the strengths and interests of each student. I'd like to tailor the class to meet each student's needs. You, for example, might enjoy a study of famous Muggle-born witches, while Harry and Ron would be more interested in studying the history of Quidditch."

Hermione laughed. "Oh, Professor Rain, you're already better than Professor Binns!"

"Making up to the teachers already, Granger? The little Mudblood has to get an early start."

The drawling voice and casual contempt didn't sound any different to usual, Remus thought, as Draco Malfoy stepped into the compartment. The boy looked paler than usual, though, and there were faint shadows under his eyes. What had happened to Draco and Harry for those two days?

Rain didn't move, but she caught Draco's eye all the same, and seemed to sit a bit more regally. "That word is unacceptable, Mr. Malfoy," she said coolly. "Be grateful I don't take house points for it. The next time I will."

Draco seemed to recognize her--or something in her, perhaps. He started back, eyes widening ever so slightly. Then he regained his balance and put his hands casually in his trouser pockets. "You of all people I didn't expect to favour Gryffindors and Mudbloods," he drawled, emphasizing the slur. "I would've thought you would take after your father. They say it runs in noble families like yours."

Twenty years ago, Rain would've fallen apart at that, Remus thought. Now she just leveled her gaze at Malfoy, never moving, not even bothering with a reply. After a moment, Draco backed down.

"We'll talk later, Mud--Granger," he muttered, and vanished. It was only then that Remus realized he had been there without his usual flanking thugs.

Hermione was staring at Rain in awe. "I've never seen anyone intimidate Malfoy," she breathed. "Oh, Ron's going to love you!"

At that moment, Ron and Harry came bursting into the compartment. "Wonder what had his knickers in a twist!" Ron was saying. "He looked even nastier than usual!"

"With Malfoy, who knows," Harry said with a shrug. Then they both saw the professors. "Lupin!" Harry exclaimed, obviously surprised. Then he grinned. "Wow, does Sirius know you're here? He didn't tell me!"

"Harry, shh!" Hermione hissed. "We're supposed to call him Snuffles, remember?" Remus choked back a snicker.

Suddenly Ron gave a low whistle. "Wow, Hermione, you look...wow."

Remus saw Rain cover a smile with her hand as Hermione blushed again. Harry, Remus noticed, seemed less surprised than Ron, and almost a bit amused.

"Well, if you'd met me in Diagon Alley like you were supposed to--" Hermione said loudly. She was interrupted by an explosive sigh from Ron.

"Hermione, I told you already, my dad's office had some sort of emergency and they needed him. Mum was off visiting her sister and wouldn't let us go on our own. Especially not after Fred and George got on her bad side." Remus raised one eyebrow at Rain; were the boys lying to Hermione, or just waiting until there were no professors about?

Ginny appeared in the door then, hanging back shyly. "Is it alright if I join you, then?" she asked. Fred and George leaned in over her shoulders.

"Come on, Ron, let us in!" they exclaimed, lifting her up and carrying her into the compartment. She squealed and swatted them, but she was laughing. Harry, Remus noticed, was studying her face rather carefully.

"Budge up, there's a good fellow," George said to Remus, who smiled and made room for the twins and Ginny. George grinned good-naturedly back at him and offered him a sweet, which Ginny confiscated.

"Trust me, Professor, you don't want one of these," she said, giving her brother a dirty look. He shrugged and waggled his eyebrows at her, and she snickered.

"Want to play a game of Exploding Snap?" Fred suggested, leaning over to tap Ron on the top of his head.

"Might as well," grunted Ron, pulling a deck of cards out of his pocket. The train lurched and began to roll slowly northward, gradually picking up steam.

Remus was careful to make hourly patrols of the corridors, trying to be unobtrusive, but wanting to observe the other students. On his last pass, he walked slowly up the length of the train. They were less than an hour from Hogwarts, and the trip had been uneventful, though the train seemed far more lively than usual. He wondered if it was a relief to return to school from the frightening world outside. Though it wasn't widely known--or believed, at any rate--that Voldemort had returned, Dumbledore had announced it at the end of term feast last year. Many of these students had had a summer of fear.

Returning to the compartment, he was about to go in when he heard something that made him pause.

"Percy actually asked Mum why they were letting us come back to Hogwarts. He said he figured old Dumbledore had finally cracked."

Hermione gasped. "What an awful thing--ooh, I always liked Percy! What did you do, Ron?"

"Ginny let him have it, didn't you, Gin?" Ron said, a note of pride in his voice. "Scorned him good for running Dumbledore down."

"Good on you, Ginny!" Harry exclaimed.

"I thought you were staying with them then, Harry." Hermione's voice was thick with suspicion. Remus raised his eyebrows. Would they lie to her? Sometimes he wished Harry wasn't so secretive. Then again, that was a bit of the pot and the kettle, coming from him, wasn't it?

"Well, it was before I came down for breakfast, wasn't it?" Harry said.

"Yeah, you know how keen Percy is on his work," Fred piped up. "Gets up before Dad, even."

"Ginny's the only one who can stand him anymore," George added. "She gets up early to fix him his toast."

"Oh, I do not," Ginny protested, without much heat. "I just like mornings. It's the only time you lot are ever quiet."

Remus snickered. Just then something touched his shoulder and he jumped. Rain stood behind him, a finger to her lips. Her eyes were shining with laughter. She beckoned him down the aisle. "Eavesdropping, Professor Lupin?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"I beg your pardon," he said with dignity. "I don't see any eaves around here."

~*~

Minerva had been right, Rain realized, as she looked at the first years lined up for the Sorting. It had been difficult to tell on the train, with students running up and down the corridors, but this year's incoming class was definitely small. The Sorting Hat's new rhyme was a bit of an eye-opener, too.

When times are dark, as these times are,

Hogwarts has a greater need

For students who will stand their ground,

Of a hardier breed.

The strength to meet a challenge

And the heart to fight the foe,

To find a place against the dark

And serve a lofty goal.

For sheer courage, those brave and bold

Gryffindors are called.

And Hufflepuffs with hearts of gold

Steady us against a fall.

The cleverness of Ravenclaws

Ensures the dark will lose,

And as for those of Slytherin--

Each one of them must choose.

So put me on and do your part

To fight the enemy.

I'll see your thoughts and read your heart--

The Sorting's up to me!

From her place at the head table, Rain looked for Harry, Ron and Hermione...and then Draco. He looked stunned. He stared at the table before him as if not seeing it. Rain had an idea that, though he might express scorn or hatred, he rarely expressed any other emotion. 'And as for Slytherin--Each one of them must choose.' She looked quickly along her own table towards Severus. Perhaps it had never occurred to Draco that he had a choice.

As Minerva began calling out names, Rain recognized more than a few of them. 'Abbott, Juniper' became a Ravenclaw, and 'Bones, Helen' went to Hufflepuff. When 'Bulstrode, Maria' also became a Hufflepuff, a flurry of whispers ran the length of the Great Hall. A cry of dismay came from the Slytherin table, and Maria threw off the hat--triumphantly, it seemed to Rain--and ran to the Hufflepuff table, which belatedly burst into applause.

Professor Sinistra leaned over. "That one has an older sister in Slytherin. Strange--I've only ever seen one other person escape from a family of Slytherins." She looked pointedly at Rain and turned her attention back to the hat.

'Matherton, Eustace' produced a stir of a different sort when he was pronounced, in ringing tones, to be a Slytherin. Rain heard a murmur of surprise around the head table, and looked over to catch a look of open horror on Professor Sprout's face. Rain didn't recognize the name, but she imagined there were other Mathertons at the school, who were not Slytherins.

One Slytherin, a second year by her size, stood up to watch when Minerva said, "Pennington, Henrietta!" Upon Pennington's identification as a Gryffindor, the Slytherin burst into tears. "Sort me again! Sort me again!" the second year called before her housemates silenced her.

At last, with the placement of 'Zabini, Lachlan' into Ravenclaw, the Sorting was over. Judging by the reactions alone, Rain reckoned at least fifteen of the placements had been a surprise. While Zabini took his seat, Dumbledore rose and tapped his knife gently against his goblet. It was an unnecessary gesture; the Great Hall was preternaturally silent.

"Well, we have reached the start of another year," he said. Rain could see the twinkle in his eyes and thought that if he was surprised, he was hiding it well. "I am certain you have all had an exciting and eventful summer. Rest assured, however, that we will not require an essay on your activities." Rain thought he glanced at Harry.

"I am also certain that returning students have not forgotten the events of last June. For the sake of our first years, I shall explain. No," he said, smiling as someone's stomach rumbled loudly. "There is no time. Let me sum up. Following the Third Task of the Triwizard Cup last year, Lord Voldemort has risen again." A quiet whisper ran through the hall like the sigh of wind. "As I pointed out last term, some of you may have family members who deny this--" Rain followed his gaze to the Weasleys-- "but I assure you it is true, as the Sorting Hat itself reminded us. Students, I implore you: Take advantage of this time afforded you, to arm yourselves against the Dark Lord."

Everyone fell silent. Dumbledore's words had been an earnest entreaty, and even the Slytherins seemed to take him seriously. "Now then," he continued after a moment. "I will quickly reacquaint you with Professor Lupin, and I will introduce to you Professor Rain McGonagall, our new History of Magic professor."

A small cheer went up from the Ravenclaw table, startling Rain. She smiled warmly at them.

"Very well," said Dumbledore, smiling. "Tuck in."

~*~

Severus caught up with Rain just before she reached her rooms. "Lady McGonagall," he said quietly, and she turned, smiling.

"I thought I had settled this already," she chided. "You called me Rain once, years ago, Severus. Can you not bring yourself to do it again?"

He hesitated. "As--you wish," he said stiffly, and she felt reproached.

"It wouldn't do for the students to know of my title," she said gently.

He blinked. "Yes."

They were silent a moment. "Will you come in, Severus?" she said, and to her surprise he gave a curt nod. "Esmerelda," she said to her door, and they went in.

"I saw--an associate this week, Rain." How stiff her name sounded, coming from his lips. She nearly laughed, until she realized what he must mean.

"Oh. You--"

"Be careful," he interrupted, his voice harsh. "They know more about you than I had expected. You are not safe."

She laughed, though she was troubled. "Oh, poppycock! I'm at Hogwarts! How unsafe can I be with Dumbledore here?"

"There are Hogsmeade weekends," he said sourly. "And holidays. You should have someone with you."

Rain grinned. "Are you asking me to walk out with you?"

His black eyes flashed at her. She had forgotten how dangerous it was to tease Severus Snape. "I am perhaps the last person you would want with you," he snapped.

"Oh, no, Severus. It isn't--"

"Use that famed Ravenclaw intelligence, Katraina! If I am often seen with you, They will ask me even more about you! Being near me is not safe, for you or for me."

"Oh," she said, chastised. "Yes, of course."

He turned to go and she touched his wrist carefully. "Severus? I'll need more of the potions, at the end of the week."

He nodded without turning. "Be careful, Katraina."