Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters and am in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers or anybody else for that matter. I'm trying to get back into writing after some personal issues and a whole bunch of stuff, so I dusted off some of my older fanfics that never got published. I do own the plot, well the AU idea at least, it still kind of follows the book. Sarah who will appear in later chapters is my character. I know that Professor Snape is not cannon at all, but hey, it's fanfiction.

This is an alternate universe in which Professor Snape takes a more active role in the situation.

Harry once again found himself looking around at everyone who was once again looking at him as though he was some kind of monster, due to the "rescue" of Justin, which exposed his parseltongue, the gift he did not even realize he had.

It was sometime after lunch when Professor McGonagall had stopped him in the hall.

"Mr. Potter, Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape," she said the name with some contempt, "And myself would like to see you in the headmaster's office just before dinner."

"Of course, uhm, I've never been there before Professor-" Harry found himself cut off as she raised her hand.

"I will come and collect you at the appointed time, try not to leave the common room, after five o'clock."

It was just after six thirty when the professor came to collect Harry. The walk to the headmaster's office was quiet and something hung in the air, something that shouldn't have been there it felt like. Harry could not help but shiver as they walked along the empty corridor, he wondered why there was no one there, but of course everyone was probably studying, though it did feel strange. He stopped and as if sensing it Professor McGonagall turned around.

"Is there a problem Mr. Potter?"

"Professor, what's going on, have I done something?" She sighed and stopped right in front of him.

"No, you have done nothing wrong; this is simply a waste of time, albeit an important one," she turned, "Now come along."

Harry sat in the chair facing Headmaster Dumbledore with the two Professors on either side of him.

"Harry, has Professor McGonagall told you why you have been brought here?"

"No sir, she just said that I had to come, she didn't say why." Harry looked at her nervously, and then back to the headmaster.

"I see, just as I instructed." He was quiet for a moment.

"Now then, Severus, perhaps you would like to open with the explanation as to why we are here." Professor Snape stood up and after looking briefly at Harry out of his right eye he faced forward.

"Headmaster I wish to do something that has not been done for some time in the history of Hogwarts, and that is to contest the placement of a student in their house." Harry's eyes widened and he looked to Professor McGonagall who stared straight ahead. Harry sat back in his chair; of course, Professor McGonagall would sort the whole thing out.

"On what grounds Severus," Dumbledore's voice was quiet as he asked the question.

"The boy obviously has a trait that is a sign of one of our founders, parseltongue is an important attribute of our founder Salazar Slytherin, and any student who possesses such a gift should be in his house. And seeing as Potter is only excelling in Quidditch in his current house, one wonders if it doesn't have something to do with his environment." Professor McGonagall stood up and Professor Snape raised a hand.

"I simply mean to say that if Potter belongs in Slytherin, than his current Gryffindor environment may not be suited to his needs. Not to mention that last year and earlier this year Harry's life has been in danger and that perhaps being in Gryffindor has somehow contributed to this." Snape looked at Harry and he stared back.

"Harry." Harry's head whipped forward.

"Sorry Professor, uhm, what were you saying?"

"What do you think of the validity of Professor Snape's argument?"

"No, none of it is true, I mean, yes I am apparently a parselmouth, but I'm not doing very badly in my classes, and as for last year, well that had to do with Voldemort mostly, and almost nothing to do with the fact that I'm a gryffindor. And as for grades if that is an issue," he stopped as Dumbledore held up his hand.

"Calm yourself Harry, it is all right."

"I hardly think so." Professor McGonagall rose. "If I may Headmaster Dumbledore, we must to a certain extent consider Potter's welfare. The slytherin house is hardly a suitable place for someone who is not in the best graces of the house, in particular the older members of the quidditch team, not that I would suggest they would ever intentionally severely harm Mr. Potter, and it is entirely possible; accidents happen."

"I must consent that Minerva has an excellent point Severus."

"Hardly, I have all ready consulted quite privately with my house, and I will do so again, I have been given the utmost assurances from my entire house that such an incident would not happen. They will be nothing but gracious to the young Mr. Potter on his arrival to the Slytherin House."

Harry was feeling sick to his stomach at this particular moment, he wished nothing more than to lie down. He felt any minute now that he would puke or pass out, maybe even both. Before either could come to fruition Professor McGonagall once again came to the rescue.

"Professor Snape may make whatever suggestions he likes, but the most basic fact is that he was sorted into gryffindor, and no argument can counter that."

"Which is why," turning to Professor McGonagall he stated "I would like to ask the sorting hat its opinion. It sorted Potter, and is certain to be able to provide something fruitful to this conversation one way or another." He turned to Harry as he said the last bit and Harry swallowed, he was done for. As if Professor Snape could read his mind he was going to do the one thing he'd wanted to avoid. All turned to the sorting hat.

Harry lay in the bed covered up as much as possible, perhaps this was all a horrible nightmare. Perhaps he would wake up in the morning and it would all be over, all be different, perhaps he would see that this was just a dream. He closed his eyes and curled up to himself, willing and wishing with all his being that when he woke up this would all be some sort of nightmare, just like he hoped. But when Harry tentatively poked his head out, the bed covers were still green, the curtains were still green, and from the bed frame to the architecture itself, he was still in the Slytherin common room. Specifically the sleeping quarters, and there next to his bed, was Draco Malfoy's trunk. Harry lay back wanting to cry, vomit, scream, and laugh all at the same time. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do first, although truth been told, he didn't want to do any of them. For the first time Harry questioned Dumbledore and his time at Hogwarts. This was sure to be worse than Dudley, this was sure to be worse than anything he'd ever experienced. And even though Professor McGonagall's words echoed through his head he found little comfort in them.

"You see Potter; this is a chance to prove just how much of a Gryffindor you are. Adversity is the part of life which makes us strong, you are sure to come out of this back in Gryffindor even more sure of your place than you ever were before." Harry sighed.

Today was Saturday and he would have some time before word spread through the school, maybe he could at least eat breakfast without anything unusual, although everyone all ready thought he was petrifying muggle borns, what would they think of this? Harry shook his head as he got dressed, he wasn't sure he'd ever been so nervous in all his life, and all he was doing, was going down to breakfast.