Severus watched the new students enter the Great Hall, shivering as they followed the towering half-giant. He noted which students flinched away when someone touched them accidentally, which students wouldn't make eye-contact, which ones looked as if they'd been crying.
He absently noticed that one of those children had messy black hair and wide green eyes....
******
Harry swallowed as he heard people whispering. He kept his head down as he walked up to the stool and sat down. McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on his head.
Oh, dear, the Hat sighed. I told Albus not to give you to Petunia...
Harry froze. You -- you know who I-
Oh yes, child. Let's see... Albus told me to put you in Gryffindor no matter what, but putting you in Gryffindor would be a terrible idea. No manners at all, don't know what personal space is, and Merlin, the noise!
Harry giggled.
Hufflepuff might be an option, they are very supportive, but they can also be too affectionate. Besides, you don't really trust people all that much.
Ravenclaw... you are very intelligent, but many of the Ravenclaws are incredibly rude. No, not for you, I think.
Slytherin, of course, is perfect. They protect their own, and they won't butt into your business if you don't butt into theirs. And their head of House is very protective. What do you think, child?
Ron said all Slytherins are evil, Harry thought worriedly.
Oh, RON said, the Hat snorted sarcastically. Yes, the eleven-year-old who has never met a single Slytherin in his life said they were all evil, so obviously they are.
Harry tried, and failed, to muffle his giggles.
I also didn't ask what Ron thinks, I asked what you think, the Hat continued in a much gentler tone.
...Slytherin, Harry decided.
Very well, child. "SLYTHERIN!" the Hat bellowed.
Dead silence. Harry flinched.
Then the Slytherins began cheering and clapping, and Harry sagged in relief, handing the Hat back to a shocked McGonagall. Keeping his head down, Harry walked over to the Slytherins. Immediately, Draco Malfoy scooted over, and Harry sat down.
It was lucky that he hadn't looked up, because he would have seen the Gryffindors' furious glares. Of course, it was also unlucky, because he didn't see Severus giving the lions a look that said Do not glare at my snakes!
-----------
Severus entered the Slytherin common room just as the prefects finished their speech. The only first year who noticed him was Blaise, Draco's friend. He gave the boy a little nod.
"Professor Snape will now explain the rules of Slytherin House," said the sixth-year prefect, Hestia Carrow.
He stepped out of the shadows, causing several of the first years to jump and yelp. A few of them paled dramatically, including Lily's son, who immediately looked down as if expecting to be punished.
Severus made a note of that.
Ignoring the amused, fond looks from the rest of his snakes, he said calmly, "Welcome to Slytherin House. As a Slytherin, many people will call you evil, Dark, and a Death Eater." Draco rolled his eyes, and Severus shot him a sharp look. "Dark and evil are not the same, as many of you know. But very few outside of the Slytherins will accept you for this. The prefects will provide a list of those in Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor who are accepting of the Dark if you would like to know. Which leads us to the rules.
