Heredity and Houses

All characters and settings you recognize belong to JK Rowling the Great. I just play with them a little, and make no money from doing so, although I enjoy it enormously.
No smut in this chapter. I wrote it at my office, and couldn't get in the mood.


CH 2 -First Day


Next morning- outside the Great Hall

"Fred, I wish we could all eat together."

"I know, Alice. I do too. But you and I have classes together, so do T and Ginevra."

"Yes, but we can't sit together, even there."

Tobias and Ginevra joined them in time to catch that last. "Are you sure?" asked Tobias. "I mean, CAN we sit together in class? Is it not allowed or just not done? Fred?"

"Don't know."

"Well, then, we'll just have to try it," this from Ginevra. "T, we've got your Dad for first class. He won't get mad. He'll think its funny to stir things up. Alice, you and Fred try sitting together in your classes. The worst the Professors can do is tell you to move."

"Yeah, right after they take off house points," Alice muttered.

The Dungeons- Potions classroom

Tobias and Ginevra were among the first in the classroom. It helped to know the school well. They took seats at a table front and center, and started getting things out of their packs. It took a few moments as the other students filed in for the silence to sink in.
As they looked around the other students were glaring at them, Slytherins on one side, Gryffindors on the other.

"Hey- get over here," a Slytherin boy hissed at Ginevra. "We don't sit with THEM."

"YOU don't, I DO." Ginevra sneered at the boy.

The door banged open and Snape stalked in. His eyes took in the scene, with the two groups on the two sides of the room, and Tobias and Ginevra in the center. His eyebrow rose.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Ruff, Mr. Snape?" Snape addressed this to the Slytherin boy and Tobias.

It suddenly sunk in to the boy that the Gryffindor at the center table really WAS the son of his head of house, and that questioning him sitting with a Slytherin was probably NOT the smartest thing he had ever done. "No, sir," he muttered sullenly.

"Then take you seats. Quickly now."

With Tobias and Ginevra at a table together, the remaining students couldn't all fit at the remaining tables. A Gryffindor boy was quickly pushed forward and sat next to Tobias, but the Slytherins milled around like a bad game of musical chairs. Finally a girl looked disdainfully at the rest and came forward to sit next to Ginevra. Her hair was long and blonde, and her face screamed "pure blood".

Snape met his son's eyes and his lips switched slightly. Then with a swirl of robes he advanced to the front of the classroom. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began.

The Great Hall- right after lunch

"How'd it go? Did you sit together?"

"It was cool, Ginevra," said Alice excitedly. "Professor Flitwick was so busy asking after my parents that he never even thought about us being in different houses. And the rest of them couldn't very well complain with the Professor being so friendly."

"We got a few glares, though," said Fred. "I'll bet the Slytherins didn't like you two together."

"No, they didn't," said Tobias. "Will it cause you trouble, Ginevra?"

"I can handle any of those gits. And not all of the Slytherins feel that way, anyway. This'll sort out the ones who are still nose-in-the-air snooty."

Transfigurations classroom- that afternoon

Tobias and Ginevra again took seats front and center together, and some of the other students didn't like it a bit.

"Come on, Snape. You sitting with her throws it off for us all."

"Potter, get over here. We're not sitting with Gryffindors." This from a Slytherin who then tried to pull Ginevra from her chair. Tobias jumped from his seat and started for him, Ginevra had her wand out...

"My, how nice to see such new and smiling faces." Professor McGonagall walked into the room, ignoring the almost-a-fight. "Take your seats, please. Hurry, now. Miss Potter, it was so nice to meet your parents in Hogsmeade last weekend. We had such a pleasant dinner, please tell them how much I enjoyed seeing them again."

"Of course, Professor," Ginevra murmured, with a smile.

Another Gryffindor was "sacrificed" to the seat next to Tobias, while the same blond girl took the seat next to Ginevra. She looked back and forth between Ginevra and Tobias with the beginnings of a smirk. Under cover of the students taking out pens and parchment Ginevra whispered "T, this is Cassiopeia Malfoy. Cassiopeia- Tobias Snape"

"Yes, I know. And its Cassie. I like you mixing up the seating. I don't want to sit with any of those fools, anyway."

As the Malfoy girl turned to look at Professor McGonagall Tobias gave Ginevra a raised eyebrows look. Ginevra just shrugged.

Same afternoon- Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom

Fred and Alice took seats together in the center of the classroom. This time their fellow Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws hardly seemed to notice as they filled in the seats around them.
The Professor walked to the front of the class and looked around with a smile which faded as her glance fell on Fred and Alice and noted their house colors on their ties. A frown replaced the smile.

"Mr...?" She said, looking pointedly at Fred.

"Weasley," he supplied after a moment.

"Yes. Mr. Weasley. Perhaps you can enlighten me why you are sitting on the Hufflepuff side of the classroom."

"I didn't know there were "sides", Professor," said Fred innocently. "I'm not the only Ravenclaw on this side."

"Yes, well, we must have order, now, mustn't we? Kindly move to the right hand side. Any other Ravenclaws on the left, please move; Hufflepuffs to the left."

Several students shuffled their belongings to the other side, and the Professor surveyed the room again. This time the smile remained in place and she began her lesson.

On the grounds- after supper

Many students were taking advantage of the lingering light. It was pleasantly cool after the stuffy rooms indoors. Fred, Alice, Tobias, and Ginevra lounged together looking out at the lake where a slight breeze ruffled the surface.

"So," said Tobias. "How as the first day? Everybody like Hogwarts?"

Choruses of "yes", "yeah", "I guess".

"Not everybody's going to like the way we want things, T," said Fred.

"Well, we knew it would be that way, didn't we? Some people don't like changes. But they'll get used to it."

"I don't know," said Alice. "Professor Stearns looked angry. And there's a bunch of Slytherins over there glaring at us right now."

Ginevra turned and waved to the Slytherins, with a fake smile on her face. "Your house doesn't seem to care much, Alice," she said.

"Ravenclaw doesn't, either," said Fred. "Its the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. I always knew my Dad and Uncle Harry didn't like your Dad, Tobias. But I thought it was personal, not because of the houses."

"Well, my Mom was a Gryffindor. And she married Dad. Professor McGonagall didn't mind us sitting together. They'll all just have to get used to it. Its almost time we have to back in our houses. Come on, then." They all climbed to their feet. Tobias put out his hand. "Good day?" he asked, starting their longtime childhood mantra. He looked at Ginevra.

She put her hand on top of his. "Good day." she said, firmly, and looked at Alice.

Alice looked resigned as she added her hand. "Good Day."

Fred added his. "Good day."

They all added their free hands on top and chorused "Even better tomorrow."


AN- thanks, Catysmom. Hope you like further chapters. I'll try to speed things up.
Utopia- Is this a little easier to follow, I hope? I like dialog to read fast, and tend to write it that way.