Hatred

The Sorting

The train had arrived and the students had entered Hogwarts. Harry hadn't been paying attention for most of the sorting, only tuning in when one of Draco's friends were called or when Draco nudged him.

Draco had only nudged him twice. The first time was when the wild-haired scruffy girl from earlier had been called. The second time was for the ginger weasel. Both had been sorted into Gryffindor, and Harry had snorted right along with Draco as it happened.

Crabbe and Goyle had been sorted into Slytherin, and the remaining members of Draco's group all clapped for them.

Eventually, "Malfoy, Draco!" was called. The blonde flashed a smirk at his friends once he reached the hat, which had barely touched his head before declaring, "Slytherin!" The remaining trio cheered for their friend as he proudly went to Slytherin table. The blonde sat across from Crabbe and Goyle, leaving the seats beside him empty.

"Parkinson, Pansy!" was soon called, quickly followed by, "Slytherin!" Pansy, like Draco, proudly took her place at Slytherin table, occupying the seat to Draco's right. Slytherin table were clapping along with Theodore and Harry.

When, "Potter, Harry!" was called, a pin falling could have been heard. Harry suddenly became very nervous, but calmed some at Theodore's reassuring smile. Seeing his Slytherin friends mirroring Theodore's smile helped, and Harry anxiously approached the sorting hat.

"Harry Potter," the hat murmured, "Slytherin? Or Gryffindor?"

Harry blinked at the voice in his head. "What? Gryffindor? Anywhere but there!"

"But Gryffindors are brave, Mister Potter, like you," the hat replied.

"That may be," Harry retorted, "but please place me in Slytherin."

"As you wish, Mister Potter. Best be... Slytherin!"

As Harry, relieved, removed the hat and neared his friends, the silence was deafening. Apart from Slytherin table, that is. Draco and his friends had cheered, as some of their fellow Slytherins politely clapped. There were some Slytherins who remained quiet, but overall they were clearly more enthused about Harry's sorting than the other houses.

Half-way through the feast, the heads of house began patrolling.

"Who's that?" Harry asked, gesturing toward a dark-looking man at the end of their table.

Draco rolled his eyes, mumbling, "Should've listened earlier."

Harry huffed, having not deemed Dumbledore's welcoming speech at all important may have been a slight mistake. But, he had Draco.

Draco scoffed at Harry's pathetic look. "Fine. That's Severus Snape. He's our head of house and my godfather. He's nice once you get to know him, but until then, don't worry. He favours Slytherins."

A few minutes later, Draco had restated the important bits of Dumbledore's speech, and provided one-sided introductions regarding the professors. The blonde brightened when the dark-haired, ivory-skinned man neared them, his cape dramatically billowing as he moved.

"Hi, Uncle Sev!" Draco exclaimed, pulling an eyeroll from said man.

"Mister Malfoy," he responded, "you are aware that you must refer to me as Professor Snape in school."

"Sorry, Professor," Draco cheekily replied, not looking at all sorry.

"Well, are you going to introduce me?" Professor Snape inquired, raising an eyebrow at his godson.

"Of course!" Draco answered, gesturing to his respective friends as he introduced them. Though Professor Snape had already been aware of most, if not all of Draco's entourage.

However, at Draco's last introduction, Professor Snape asked, "Harry Potter? However did you come across him?" Snape proceeded to turn his questioning gaze on Harry, even though his question was directed at Draco.

"Mother helped him find the platform earlier. He was raised by muggles," Draco replied, his disgust toward muggles obvious.

"Lily's sister by any chance?" Professor Snape asked.

"Yes, sir," Harry responded.

"Horrid woman she is," Snape replied with contempt. "Let me know if she ever... hurts you."

"Yes, sir," Harry replied, surprised that someone seemed genuinely concerned over him. "But, if I may ask, sir, how did you know? About Petunia," Harry clarified.

"I was," Snape paused, "good friends with your mother. If you ever wish to know more about her, my door is open."

"Thank you, sir," Harry said, a smile lighting his face.

Once Professor Snape had walked away to greet the other first years, Harry turned to Draco. "You're right, he is nice."

Some of the upper-years were gaping at Harry's statement. "What?" Harry muttered in self-defence.

Draco just snorted and shook his head. Harry and the others went back to their previous conversations, not paying the shocked fourth years any mind.