"At last, when only a dozen students remained to be sorted, Professor McGonagall called Snape."
~Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Prince's Tale
"Gryffindor!" called the Sorting Hat.
With just the hint of a smile on his pale face, Severus walked down off the stool to the bench where Lily Evans was sitting. She beamed at him. "Isn't this great, Sev?" Lily whispered to him excitedly.
"I suppose so," Severus muttered back, with one last longing-filled glance at the table to his right, decorated all in green, before tearing his gaze away and turning to Lily once more. Suddenly, Dumbledore's booming, yet gentle, voice broke over the room of chatter:
"Welcome, everyone, but especially our first-year students," Severus could have sworn Dumbledore smiled, just at him. "A reminder that the forest is off-limits to all students. Now, enjoy the feast!" Lily was not the only one to gasp in amazement when trays of food materialized on the long rows of tables.
Between mouthfuls, James turned to Severus with half a smile. "Guess I was wrong about you," he said. "If you and your friend over there" Here he winked at Lily. "ever want to hang out with us, feel free to." He held out his hand for the other boy to shake.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort for me are, thanks." he said coolly.
James Potter did not go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his cheeks. "I'd be careful if I were you, Snape. I've heard about your parents, all the Dark things in your past... and that might have been a bad idea."
Lily turned back to her pork chops, pink-faced and teary-eyed.