The Silver Trio – An Unexpected Sorting

Summary: Harry wasn't the only one with the traits worthy of a Slytherin, his best friends were in possession of them too, as hidden as they were. The Sorting Hat sensed them and decided that the snake's pit was their true home rather than the lion's den. The tree of them, half lion, half snake, found each other and became what people would one day call them, the Silver Trio.

Disclaimer: As this story is published on fanfiction. net, I am relatively sure that I do not own Harry Potter.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Harry clapped along with the rest of the hall. The verse about Slytherin didn't sound as bad as he expected it to be, the hat didn't mention even once something about Dark or evil. But about real friends, though the 'use any means to achieve their ends' didn't sound particularly nice to Harry's ears. Quickly he let his gaze wander over the Slytherin table again.

Most of them were watching the new students curiously and some whispered quietly to their housemates. There was less laughter than in the other Houses but it was there. Maybe, Harry thought, they weren't all that bad, like Hagrid had said.

"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to Harry who was jolted out of his thoughts. The red-haired boy, however, did not notice and continued. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll." Harry managed to smile weakly. Trying on a hat was much better than fighting a troll but he still felt very nervous. The whole school would see him being Sorted!

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," Professor McGonagall said, now holding a long roll of parchment in her hands.

"Abbott, Hannah!" she loudly called out.

A girl quickly went to the stool, sat down and put on the hat. There was silence which was broken seconds later as the hat shouted: "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table on the right, which Harry assumed must be the Hufflepuff House, cheered and clapped loudly, welcoming their newest addition. This procedure was repeated over and over with every student. Harry numbly wondered when it was his turn. He felt a little sick.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Finally it was her turn! Quickly she hurried off to the stool and jammed the hat on her head, eager to know in which house she would be Sorted in. Her bet was Ravenclaw, she wholeheartedly shared their values, although Gryffindor wouldn't be that bad either, one of the greatest wizard Albus Dumbledore had been Sorted there too.

My, my, you're a rather smart one, aren't you?

The hat could talk to her, she was sure that it wasn't mentioned in any book that she had read, not even in 'A History of Hogwarts'!

Well, it wouldn't be good to spoil the surprise.

Hermione didn't know until now that hats could actually express amusement, there were always new things one could learn as strange and wondrous as they were.

Yes and I'm sure you will learn a lot more strange and wondrous things here in Hogwarts. But back to business, in which House shall I Sort you?

Hermione immediately tensed, the hat's choice would influence her future years at Hogwarts, possibly her whole future and career…

Don't be nervous, I am sure you will do fine regardless in which House I put you, with that clever mind of yours.

She couldn't help herself but blush, luckily no one could see as the hat covered most of her face.

Such intelligence would fit perfectly in Ravenclaw and you are also very studious, it seems. But no…

What did that mean, wasn't she clever enough for Ravenclaw? Disappointment and shame made her eyes turn wet. Were the children in the Wizard Word really that much smarter than her? She had tried to overcome the advantages they had with consuming all the books about magic she could lay her hands on. Hadn't that been enough?

That was more than enough. And it seems you misunderstood me. You are a very bright witch who could made Rowena proud but I think that though your mind is Ravenclaw, your heart is not. And this is what matters most.

Relieved at the hat's words that she was not stupid, she asked in her mind, knowing that the hat could read her thoughts: So will you Sort me into Gryffindor? That house had been the one she wanted to be in the most, its reputation had been easily the best.

All houses are equally good, no matter what people say. It would be good if you keep that in mind. And no, I will not sort you in Gryffindor, although your heart is one of a true lion nor Hufflepuff, despite your hardworking, loyal and kind nature. No, I think-

But didn't you just say that the heart matters the most and that my heart is that of a true lion, then surely that means that I'm meant for Gryffindor! Hermione thought, too panicked to care that she might have been rude to the hat for interrupting him. The hat couldn't consider putting her into Slytherin, their dark reputation was infamous, You-Know-Who, the most terrible Dark wizard, had been a Slytherin!

Didn't I just tell you that every house is equally good which also means that they are equally bad? There are Slytherins who did bad things but there are at least as much good Slytherins as there are bad ones, and far more I am sure of. And the other Houses too produced their fair share of Dark wizards and witches, (even Dark Hufflepuffs weren't unheard of) although Dark also doesn't equal evil….

But, but, Hermione stammered, for once at a loss of words. She couldn't disagree with the hat's reasoning. But for heaven's sake! She didn't act like a Slytherin and on top of that she was a Muggleborn. And that clearly did not mix well with the Slytherin's belief of pure blood supremacy. The bullying she would have to endure would most likely be far worse than the one she had to face at her old primary school. She had never understood why the girls kept harassing her, no matter, how nice she was to them or how many times she had helped them out, they'd still make fun of her…

And this could change once you are in Slytherin.

But I'm a Muggleborn and in every book I have read concerning the Slytherins it is clearly stated that they believe pure blood wizards to be superior to the rest!

Yes, they do but I have often Sorted students into Slytherin who did not come from a pure wizard lineage. This also includes Muggleborns and though they were first frowned upon they eventually were respected if they have truly proven themselves to be true Slytherins.

But I'm not even a true Slytherin!

Yes, you are. You are cunning, determined, ambitious, achievement-oriented, resourceful, clever and though you hate to break rules, I can see that if the need calls for it you'd undoubtedly do so. Qualities which make you undoubtedly a Slytherin, though your cunning side rarely ever had any opportunity to show itself but I am sure that will change in the future.

So you will sort me into Slytherin. Hermione barely managed to hold back the sigh threatening to escape from her mouth. Well, if you say so, then it ought to be right. I will definitely prove them then that Muggleborns are as good as everyone else, Hermione thought, with a grim determination blinking in her eyes.

I am sure you will. And if hats could smirk smugly, it would now. You were one of the tougher one to sort, Gryffindor would have also suited you very well but nevertheless the better choice is… "SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted out the last word.

To her immense relief she could hear that her new House was applauding not as cheerful as she hoped it to be and some were even shooting disbelieving glares at her but there was still clapping so it was still a start. She quickly placed the hat on the stool again before she hurried off to her new home, here in Hogwarts.

"Well, she is irritating enough to be a slimy Slytherin, despite being a Muggleborn," Ron muttered, torn between relief of not being in the same house as her and pity for her that she was Sorted into Slytherin, a house which hated Muggleborns with a passion.

Harry decided it best not to answer. A horrible thought struck him. Would Ron, the very first real friend (except Hagrid) he had ever made, still like him if he was Sorted into Slytherin? The bushy-haired girl had been Sorted into Slytherin too and she seemed to be pretty nice although she was a bit bossy so Slytherins could really not be all that bad. But could Ron understand it or would their friendship be abandoned? Harry felt a pang of pain at the thought of Ron not being his friend anymore, though they didn't know each other more than a day, Harry had already started to really like Ron.

A nudge to his rips made him aware again of his surroundings. Ron looked at him and with a movement of his head gestured to the stool where Professor McGonagall was waiting, who was frowning disapprovingly at Harry that he didn't even notice that his name had been called. Fighting back a blush, Harry smiled sheepishly before he went to the stool, ignoring all the whispers about him. At that moment he only wished to be anywhere else but there.

Luckily he didn't have to see more students looking at him or rather at his lightning-shaped scar as the hat was dropped over his eyes.

Hmm. Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent. Ah, my goodness, yes- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting…So where shall I put you?

Harry gripped the edges of the stool he was sitting on rather harshly, making his fingers hurt. He took a deep calming breath before he steadily said in his mind: I don't care. Just sort me in whatever House you think I'm good in. A nasty voice in his mind said that there was no such house, he tried to ignore it.

You give yourself far too little credit. Well, if you do not care, then you won't mind to be Sorted into Slytherin, will you? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt.

Slytherin doesn't sound bad but I actually don't want to be great, just normal like everyone else.

This, I think, is impossible. The hat sounded almost sad. But being great means that you can do great things which could help many people.

Well, if you put it this way, Harry thought, forgetting to ask the hat what it had meant with its first statement.

Then Slytherin, it will be?

Harry considered it for a while. He really did not want to lose Ron as a friend and possibly disappoint Hagrid but if Slytherin was the right house, he had to go there. And true friends stuck to each other, no matter what happened, didn't they? Harry wasn't really sure as he never had any true friends or even any kind of friend but people did say that often, so it had to be right.

Harry gulped before he said the one word which would change his entire life.

Yes.

So be it. May I also add that you have also many traits of a Gryffindor too but nevertheless I think that better be …"SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted, breaking the silence which had reigned in the hall since Harry was put on the hat.

However, after the hat's shout the silence continued, people being too gobsmacked to even say one word. The Slytherins too sat there petrified, not even one applauding for him. Harry, feeling terribly nervous at the lack of reaction, put the hat carefully back on the stool, before he practically ran to the table where the Slytherins were seated.

Malfoy, the boy he had met at the train, gave him a calculating look. Another student, he had met before on the train, the bushy-haired girl, gave him a reassuring smile which he returned. At least someone was glad to have him in Slytherin. The girl, Hermione was it (?), quickly made room for him on the bench. Grateful, Harry took a seat next to her.

After a while, Professor McGonagall coughed, trying to direct the students' attention to the Sorting again. To Harry's dismay it didn't work that well, many students were still looking at him and after they had recovered from their shock of Harry Potter being Sorted into Slytherin, they had started to whisper. Harry tried to make him as small as possible, though knowing it was futile and tried to avoid catching Ron's or Hagrid's eye. He couldn't cope with seeing the disappointed and perhaps betrayed looks on their faces.

Maybe, Harry thought, Slytherin wasn't a good idea. But then he remembered the hat's words and that Slytherins weren't all that bad. Being in Slytherin doesn't change me, I'm still Harry.

The fact that nobody from Slytherin seemed to say anything against Harry's presence at the table, including Malfoy who simply continued to stare at him, or rather didn't say anything at all made Harry feel optimistic. Or, again the nasty voice in his mind said, they would save it for later.

Trying to not do anything which would attract even more attention, he watched the Sorting going on. He stubbornly ignored the staff's table, although he could sense that some of the teachers must be staring at him, of fear that he might have to see Hagrid's disappointed look.

"Weasley, Ronald!"

It was his turn. He knew that his face must be green by now. Why did he have to be one of the last students to be Sorted, couldn't he have been somewhere in the middle? His brothers would forever tease him if he landed in Hufflepuff or worse Slytherin! He still couldn't believe that Harry Potter, who seemed to be a decent bloke, was a slimy Slytherin! Maybe he had been wrong that he could make friends with him.

He barely registered that the old hat was put on his head, he nearly jumped at the sound of a voice in his mind.

Another Weasley, huh? Your family has the tendency to be Sorted into Gryffindor but I think I will make an exception for you.

Eh, Ron thought intelligently.

Yes, I think, the hat sounded at that point nearly malicious, I will Sort you into Slytherin.

"What?!" Ron shouted.

Hush! You probably gave everyone a big shock just now! And there is nothing wrong with Slytherin.

They are evil, all of them are mini death eaters! And my whole family was in Gryffindor, you can't put me in Slytherin!

Family has nothing to do with the House you will be Sorted in. And Slytherins are not evil, how can you know? Surely there are Slytherins who are bad but not everyone is. Look at, for example, your friend Harry and the girl I assume you've met before Hermione. They would have made fine Gryffindors but the Slytherin house seemed more appropriate for them. And if you haven't realized it, I am about to sort you into Slytherin too but that doesn't mean that you are evil, does it?

Ron opened his mouth to retort but quickly closed it again, the hat had a point. But I'm not even a Slytherin, I'm not cunning or believe in that' being a pureblood is the best' crap.

You do not have all the Slytherin traits, that is true but still enough. You are ambitious and seek greatness, you want to surpass your brothers, make the people look at you in awe. Something which is a feature of a real Slytherin.

This, this is, Ron tried to protest but he knew that the hat was right. He did want to be better than his brothers and make the people look at him and not them. But that still didn't make him a Slytherin.

Ron could hear the hat make a sound which resembled a sigh.

You really are stubborn. Don't you realize that by being put in this House, your dreams might come true?

I would rather have none of my dreams fulfilled if that means to be put into bloody Slytherin!

You are not being truthful and you know that. Don't deny yourself your wishes because of such a ridiculous prejudice.

This is not a prejudice. This is the truth!

Maybe I should also point out that you are very good in analyzing and in making up strategies which will guarantee your success which you have often shown by playing Wizard's chess. Another fine Slytherin feature.

It's just a play and doesn't mean anything!

Fine. If you do not believe me then maybe first-hand experience will change your mind. Maybe it will also convince other people that Slytherins aren't evil.

You can't do that, Ron was horrified. If I don't want to, you can't put me in there!

I can and although it would be against the Founders' wishes I know that you actually want it but simply deny it because of all the things people have told you.

I DO NOT WANT IT!

I can read your mind, every part of it so I think that I perhaps know it better than even you.

Before Ron could say anything, he was interrupted by the hat's loud shout: "SLYTHERIN!"

Ron was shocked, incredibly shocked, his face even paler than Malfoy's. As though someone else controlled his movements he slowly walked to the Slytherin table and sat next to Harry who had made a bit of space for him to sit on the bench and smiled weakly at him, unsure what to say.

Ron decided not to say or do anything, deeply engrossed in his denial. He barely noticed the applause which followed after another student was Sorted into Slytherin.

"I wonder what that old piece of rag was thinking. Sorting a Mudblood, a blood traitor and Harry Potter into Slytherin," an annoyingly bored voice drawled. It was the bloody git Malfoy with whom he had to spend seven years stuck in the same House! Ron felt even more terrible if that was even possible and he couldn't find it within him to argue as he too was wondering the same thing.

"Maybe it was some kind of prank Fred and George tried to pull on me, wouldn't put it past them, making me feel that sick," Ron muttered to himself and for the perhaps first time in his life he hopefully turned to the twins, hoping to see the two of them cracking up with laughter at the face of their little brother.

But what he saw destroyed that little hope he still had. The two of them looked shocked and horrified at him and even Percy looked terrible.

Ron slowly hid his face in his arms, tuning out every noise. "Great, just great. I'm a slimy Slytherin."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it and perhaps leave a review. I'm sorry for any grammar and spelling mistakes, English isn't my native language although I do try best. Hopefully you will like the future chapters too :D