Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
1st September 1991
Sorting Feast

Sitting quietly at the Head Table, slowly sipping at his tea, Severus Snape idly wondered what the Sorting Hat would say during its song this year. During his first few years teaching at Hogwarts, the Hat gave messages intended to help with the war by promoting unity within. After the fall of the Dark Lord, the Hat’s songs became happier. That is, until recently, when they started turning darker once more.

He was pulled away from his musings as Professor McGonagall led the new First Years into the Great Hall. He groaned softly when he spotted the trademark bush of messy, jet-black hair – a Potter was entering Hogwarts. ‘Has it really been ten years since Lily and James were killed?’ he thought as the Hat sang its song. He had lost all interest in it.

“Abbot, Hannah!” McGonagall called.

The Hat thought a minute before announcing, “Hufflepuff!”

Severus idly watched as “Bones, Susan”, “Boot, Terry”, and “Finnegan, Seamus” were called and became a Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor, respectively. He scowled at the sight of a bushy-haired brunette girl.

“Granger, Hermione!”

‘Granger... how... common!’ he mentally sneered.

Evidentially, the Hat thought her mind to be anything but common, as it sorted her into “Ravenclaw!”

Next was a pair of boys, followed by a pair of twins. He watched interestedly as his godson, “Malfoy, Draco!” was sorted into “Slytherin!” almost the instant that the Hat was placed upon his head. Finally, the moment Severus had been dreading arrived. “Potter, Harry!”

Harry walked up to the stool and sat as McGonagall placed the Hat on his head. It appeared that he was arguing with the Hat for several minutes before the Hat finally, audibly, sighed and called out, “Slytherin or Gryffindor. It’s your call, Headmaster.”

The entire school gasped. Never before had the Sorting Hat failed to make a definite decision on where a student should be placed. As one, the students and staff turned their heads to face the Headmaster, who was staring in shock at the Sorting Hat upon Harry’s head.

Minerva McGonagall strode over to Dumbledore and whispered urgently into his ear. Dumbledore came out of his shocked trance and turned to McGonagall, who repeated her question. He nodded in response before saying, “Mr. Potter and Professor Snape, if you two would join Professor McGonagall and me in my office after the feast...”

Severus nodded, noticing Potter do the same, and turned back to facing the line of First Years yet to be sorted as McGonagall walked back over to the Sorting Stool. He saw McGonagall lean over and whisper something in Potter’s ear. Potter then took off the Hat, handing it to McGonagall, and scurried over to the Gryffindor table.

~-~-~-~

After the rest of the students had been sorted, Severus looked up long enough to hear Albus’ pre-feast speech.

“Before we dine, I would like to say just a few words,” Albus said. “Nitwit, oddment, blubber, tweak. Dig in!”

As the Headmaster finished speaking, food appeared on the long House tables, as well as the Head Table. Severus glanced around the Hall, noticing his godson seated between Crabbe and Goyle, both of whom were stuffing their faces as if food were going out of style. ‘Ugh. First thing tomorrow, I need to get one of my older Snakes to teach those two manners,’ he thought. He then glanced over to the Gryffindor table. He noticed immediately that Weasley was trying to get Potter to eat, while Potter was doing his best not to. ‘Hmm... He probably thinks he is too good for our food,’ Sev thought. ‘Well, we’ll fix him of that real quick.’

The feast went by at a snail’s pace, until finally, Dumbledore rose to give the usual start-of-term notices.

“As usual, the Forbidden Forest is, alas, forbidden. Some of you would do well to remember that,” Albus said with a glance at the Weasley twins, Fred and George. “Mr. Filch has asked me to tell you that Fanged Frisbees, Dungbombs, and muddy shoes have been added to the list of banned items. The list in its entirety may be viewed at the table next to Mr. Filch’s office. Also, the Third Floor corridor, left hand side, is out of bounds to anyone not wishing to die a horribly painful death. Now off to bed, all of you. Mr. Potter, Professor Snape, if you will?” Albus finished, motioning for them to follow him.

Severus rose and strode quickly to the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster’s office and quarters. He turned to see where Albus, Minerva and Potter were. He saw them coming up the corridor, so he turned and muttered the password to the gargoyle (“Goobers!”) and stepped to the right to allow the other three to precede him into the office.

As the four of them stepped off of the revolving staircase, they heard the sound of Phoenix song sounding from within the office.

“Ah, Harry, my boy. I would like you to meet Fawkes, my phoenix familiar,” Albus said. “He is as old as time itself. Every few years or so, he goes up in flames and is reborn from the ashes. His tears possess healing qualities, and his song... my word, his song is undoubtedly the most amazing thing about him! It can calm people, excite them, depress or encourage them, sadden them or lift their spirits up. Music is beyond any magic we teach here at Hogwarts, yet Fawkes’ song makes any other music pale in comparison!”

“Headmaster, much as we are... enjoying the history of Fawkes here, we do have something rather important to handle, and soon,” Minerva said, motioning towards Harry.

Both the Headmaster and Severus glanced over and noticed that, despite the probable hardness of the straight-backed chair that Minerva had conjured for him, Harry was dozing off. Severus knew he wouldn’t be able to do so.

“Ah, yes. Mr. Potter,” Albus addressed Harry directly this time, causing him to jerk fully awake. “It seems that we find ourselves in a quandary that has never occurred before in Hogwarts history. The Sorting Hat failed to select a House for you.”

“Well...” Harry started.

“Let me explain, Headmaster,” said the Sorting Hat.

Severus’ head snapped up to stare at the Hat. He didn’t know it ever talked outside of the Sorting Feast each year.

“Upon first glance of Mr. Potter’s mind, immediately Slytherin popped up as the best choice. However, Mr. Potter put up quite a fuss over that. Delving deeper, I found qualities that would place him in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. However, they were outweighed by his Slytherin qualities. Delving deeper yet, I saw an image from when Mr. Potter was an infant. He was being held by his mother while in the Potter family vault. The family tapestry was visible, giving the reason I cannot place him. Simply put, Harry Potter is the direct blood heir of both Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin!”

“Yes, actually. That is the one thing my aunt is proud of,” Harry said.

“Your aunt? You were raised by your godfather,” Severus snapped.

“Yes, I was raised by dad. His cousin and her husband, Narcissa Malfoy née Black and Lucius Malfoy were over enough that I consider them my aunt and uncle. Aunt Narcissa has always been proud that her ‘nephew’ was the true Heir of Slytherin. Uncle Luc didn’t believe it at first, because of the whole Dark Lord thing. After the Lineage Potion was brewed, it was found that I am the Heir of Slytherin and Gryffindor through my father, James Potter, and the Heir of Atlantis through my mum. I am also the 271st in line for the Muggle throne of England,” Harry explained.

“With you being the direct blood heir of two founders, the two who outright paid for the property and building of this school, that makes you the owner of Hogwarts!” Minerva exclaimed.

“It also makes you eligible to stay in either the Gryffindor suite by the tower or in the Slytherin suite in the dungeons,” Albus said. “Of course, you lucked out, schedule wise. The Gryffindor and Slytherin classes of 1998 are paired together.”

“Well, I will try out both suited before picking one permanently,” Harry said diplomatically. “However, I need to speak with Professor Snape, so I do believe I will stay in the Slytherin suite tonight.

“As you wish,” the Headmaster said, his eyes twinkling.

‘Damn,’ Severs thought. ‘Every time the old coot’s eyes twinkle like that, it means he has something up his sleeve.’ “Let’s go, Potter. I haven’t got all night.

“Good night, Professor McGonagall, Headmaster,” Harry said.

“Good night, Harry,” they both said as Harry followed Severus out the door.

~-~-~-~

Severus strode quickly through the castle towards the suite his schoolyard rival’s progeny would be occupying. Upon arriving in front of the portrait of Salazar Slytherin, he turned around and jumped a foot into the air, not expecting Potter to be right behind him. Scowling, he turned around again and started to address the portrait. Before he could get any words out, however, Harry chirped, “Hi, Sal!”

“Hello, Harry. I see you’ve arrived in one piece,” the portrait said.

“Wait a minute...” Sev said quizzically. “You two already know each other?!?”

“Yes,” Harry and Salazar said at the same time.

“You forget, Severus, that I have frames elsewhere I can travel to,” Salazar explained. “Including one at Black Manor, where my heir resides.”

“Yeah!” Harry said cheekily. “What he said!”

“Now, now, Harry. Don’t be a brat. You do remember that you need to talk to Severus about... you know, right?” the portrait reminded Harry.

“If you open the blasted door, we could go in and talk,” Severus growled.

“Very well. Harry, see me in the morning about setting a password so the professors, Headmaster and Matron can get in to help you if necessary,” Salazar said.

“Okay, Sal. Now open up!”

“Alright, already! Geez! Touchy fellows, aren’t you?” With that, the portrait swung open and Severus followed Harry into the suite.

“It’s late, Potter, so make it quick,” he said.

“You know my godfather and his mother raised me, right?” Harry started.

“Yes. So?”

“They have trained me well beyond what they probably were supposed to. However, that is not what I desired to talk to you about.”

“Then get on with it!”

“I really love potions and know most of the first and second year material,” Harry said in a rush. “Could you mentor me? I would like to become a Potions Master some day.”

‘Merlin! A Potter who likes potions? Albeit, he is only a Potter in name, seeing as he was raised by Sirius and Walberga Black... oh, what the hell? I’ll give him a chance,’ Sev thought before saying, “I will, of course, need to observe you in class, as well as discussing this with your guardians.”

“Of course. Parents’ Day is next month, and they will be there, Professor,” Harry offered. “You could talk to them then.”

“Alright, Potter. You have one month to prove you are worthy of my time. Now go get some sleep, and I shall have your timetable ready for you at breakfast. Sit with the Slytherins,” Severus said silkily.

“Yes, Professor, and thank you!” Harry said before throwing his arms around the Professor. He then ran off to get ready for bed.

With that, Severus walked out of the suite, offering Salazar the Portrait a ‘good night’ and retired to his quarters.