“Melvin Avery!” The first student called forward was a freckle-faced boy.
He tried his best to appear calm, but the slight tremble in his legs betrayed just how nervous he was.
Taking a deep breath, he sat on the stool as Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat upon his head.
Barely a second passed before the old hat opened its mouth and shouted loudly enough for the entire Great Hall to hear.
“Slytherin!” Cheers immediately erupted from the Slytherin table.
Severus, however, frowned almost imperceptibly.
Only the Slytherins applauded.
The students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff merely watched in silence.
None of them even offered the polite applause they had given previous students.
It was obvious that the hostility between Slytherin and the other three Houses was far more serious than Severus had anticipated.
“Christina Alambru!” A timid-looking girl stepped forward.
After only a brief pause, the Sorting Hat made its decision.
“Ravenclaw!” This time, the reaction was completely different.
Apart from Slytherin, all three remaining Houses broke into enthusiastic applause.
Several Gryffindors even let out loud whistles, their triumphant expressions making it clear the display was directed at the Slytherin table.
One after another, the first-years were Sorted into their respective Houses.
Each student hurried toward their new table, where they were welcomed warmly by the older students.
“James Potter!” The confident boy strode forward without the slightest hesitation.
Rather than waiting for Professor McGonagall, he picked up the Sorting Hat himself and confidently placed it on his head.
The hat had barely touched his messy black hair before it shouted its answer.
“Gryffindor!” Thunderous applause erupted from the Gryffindor table.
James grinned broadly.
With exaggerated confidence, he spread his arms wide and gave an elaborate bow in every direction, as though acknowledging the cheers of an admiring audience.
His performance only made the Gryffindors laugh and cheer even louder.
To them, James Potter looked every bit the perfect Gryffindor.
As he walked toward his table, James deliberately shot Severus a smug look.
Severus didn’t even bother acknowledging it.
His gaze remained fixed ahead, as though James simply didn’t exist.
“Sirius Black!” The moment the name was announced, a ripple of excitement spread through the Slytherin table.
The Black family was one of the oldest and most respected pure-blood families in Britain.
Many Slytherins had already assumed the boy would join their House.
Some were even smiling in anticipation.
Severus, however, wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
The handsome boy with slightly curly black hair and aristocratic bearing walked confidently to the stool.
Only a few moments later, the Sorting Hat reached its verdict.
“Gryffindor!” The smiles on many Slytherins immediately froze.
Several wore expressions of open disbelief.
Sirius, however, couldn’t have cared less.
Ignoring the stunned looks from the Slytherin table, he strode straight toward Gryffindor, where James greeted him with loud cheers.
The two boys laughed as Sirius took his seat beside his new friend.
Several more students were Sorted before Professor McGonagall called the next familiar name.
“Remus Lupin!” Remus visibly stiffened.
His movements were cautious, and the nervousness on his face was impossible to hide.
Before stepping forward, his eyes instinctively sought out Professor Dumbledore, who sat at the center of the High Table.
The Headmaster met his gaze and gave him a small, reassuring nod.
Only then did Remus draw a deep breath and walk toward the stool.
As though preparing to face a formidable challenge, he lowered the Sorting Hat onto his head.
This time…
The Sorting took noticeably longer.
The hat remained silent for nearly two minutes, its brim moving slightly as though quietly holding a conversation with the boy beneath it.
Finally, the discussion came to an end.
The Sorting Hat raised its voice for the entire hall to hear.
“Gryffindor!” Relief instantly spread across Remus’s face.
A genuine smile finally appeared as he hurried toward the Gryffindor table, where James and Sirius welcomed him with enthusiastic applause.
Remus took his seat at the Gryffindor table amid enthusiastic applause and warm welcomes from the older students.
Before long, he was already chatting and laughing with James and Sirius.
One familiar name after another passed through Severus’s ears.
Peter Pettigrew, the final future member of the Marauders.
Frank Longbottom and Alice Mitchell, who would one day become the parents of Neville Longbottom.
Dorcas Meadowes, the exceptionally gifted witch whom even Lord Voldemort would later regard as a threat worthy of being personally eliminated.
As Severus quietly matched each familiar name to the face before him, a small hand gently tugged at the sleeve of his robe.
He lowered his gaze.
“Lily Evans.” The moment Professor McGonagall called her name, Lily’s breathing hitched almost imperceptibly.
A trace of nervousness flashed through her emerald eyes.
But the courage that had always been part of her nature quickly overcame her anxiety.
She took a deep breath and prepared to step forward.
“Don’t be afraid.” The whisper was so soft that it was almost drowned out by the noise of the Great Hall.
Yet somehow, it swept away the last lingering trace of unease in Lily’s heart.
She couldn’t help but smile.
With renewed confidence, she walked toward the Sorting Stool, her steps steady and her eyes no longer wavering.
Professor McGonagall gently placed the Sorting Hat upon her head.
As she did, she said quietly, “It seems you have a very good friend, Miss Evans.” Lily blinked in surprise before a proud smile spread across her face.
“I do.” “And I’m very lucky to have him.” The Sorting Hat barely paused before announcing its decision.
“Gryffindor!” The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers once again.
This time, Severus joined in with a few quiet claps, sincerely congratulating her.
Lily smiled brightly at him before taking her seat among her new Housemates.
Moments later, Professor McGonagall called the next name.
“Severus Snape.” Under the watchful eyes of Lily and Remus, Severus calmly walked toward the stool.
There wasn’t the slightest ripple in his dark eyes.
The moment the Sorting Hat settled onto his head, a voice echoed inside his mind.
“Ah…
ambitious.” “Decisive.” “You’re willing to sacrifice almost anything to achieve your goals, save for a precious few people.” “A natural Slytherin.” “And yet…” “There’s also an endless thirst for knowledge hidden within you.” “Ravenclaw would suit you just as well.” Severus answered without hesitation.
“Slytherin.” “I don’t intend to change my plans.” The Sorting Hat seemed almost disappointed.
“Are you certain?” “You may not realize it, but dangerous ideas have been taking root in Slytherin over the past few years.” “You’re a half-blood.” “If you stand out too much, that may become a burden rather than an advantage.” Severus’s expression remained unchanged.
“Then let them come.” “I’d like to see what those so-called pure-bloods have that makes them so proud.” Had anyone been able to hear the exchange between Severus and the Sorting Hat, the entire Great Hall would have erupted into chaos.
Never before had the Sorting Hat been so convinced that a student who had yet to attend a single lesson would become talented enough to provoke jealousy within his own House.
Nor had it ever encountered someone who accepted that prediction so calmly.
Severus himself had never doubted it.
The moment he witnessed the obvious hostility between Slytherin and the other three Houses during the Sorting, the last trace of wishful thinking disappeared from his heart.
He had already made his decision.
He would learn the Dark Arts.
Not because he desired cruelty, but because only by mastering them could he continue creating new and practical jinxes and hexes, fulfilling his long-term plans and steadily growing stronger.
If entering Slytherin meant conflict was inevitable, then so be it.
He would not abandon the path he had chosen simply to avoid trouble.
He would continue following his own principles.
He would stop the bullying and injustice that disgusted him whenever he encountered it.
But if others chose to attack him because of his House…
He had no intention of silently enduring it.
His answer would always be retaliation.
If necessary…
Even harsher retaliation.
Perhaps that would leave him unwelcome among both Slytherins and Gryffindors alike.
Severus didn’t care.
If he couldn’t overcome a group of schoolchildren, then how could he ever hope to stand against Lord Voldemort in the future?
How could he possibly create the Wizarding World he envisioned?
At that moment, the ambition buried deep within his heart revealed itself ever so slightly.
Like the tip of an iceberg breaking through the sea, only a tiny fraction became visible, yet it was enough to distinguish him from everyone around him.
The Sorting Hat fell silent.
Then, as though it had finally reached its conclusion, it shouted its verdict for the entire Great Hall to hear.
“Slytherin!”