Author's Note: As it is highly unlikely that tenth or eleventh-century Britain had established kindergartens, the setting of this story takes place during a more modern time period of developed child care. If you're wondering how modern, then let's just say Salazar Slytherin will be discovering a new, apple green iPod in future chapters.

The Kindergarten of Good and Evil

It was spring. Flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, and in a cozy little schoolroom in Britain, a very special kindergarten class was sitting down for snack time and Show-and-Tell.

Scanning the room for volunteers, the young Miss Blanche noticed a most unusual upraised hand and delightedly surprised, she asked "Salazar! Would you like to be first for Show-and-Tell today?"

"Yes, Miss Blanche, that's what I would like very much," answered the precocious six-year-old named Salazar Slytherin. His bottle-green eyes brightened as he set his sight on a particularly irritating rival.

"And I would especially like to have Godric help me present," Salazar added eagerly. "But only if he wants to."

Across the room, golden-haired Godric Gryffindor gaped in disbelief and then grew wary. His instincts were blaring to him that slimy Salazar was up to no good. Quickly, he turned toward Miss Blanche with wide, imploring eyes.

She smiled at him warmly, but remained completely ignorant of what he was asking for, so Godric slowly stood and trudged forward. Salazar motioned for him to follow into the cubby room, explaining that his presentation was still in his bag.

"I don't trust you, Slytherin," Godric growled as soon as they were out of Miss Blanche's hearing range. "Never will either."

Smirking, Salazar shook a finger at the other boy. "Remember what Miss Blanche said about how we should all be friends. You really should listen to her Godric. After all, you stare at her a lot during class."

His face turning ruddy crimson, Godric stuttered, "I...I just – I do not!" Furiously blushing in the cheeks, Godric changed the subject and snapped at Salazar to hurry up.

With his back toward Godric, Salazar began unzipping his green and silver backpack. That was when the hissing started.

"What are you doing, you weirdo?" Godric demanded.

Salazar ignored him and kept on rasping out the strange, harsh sounds.

"What in Merlin's beard?" Godric wondered and then stared as a snake meandered out of the bag.

"You see, snakes like me," Salazar said casually, extending his arm so the snake could slither up. "They understand me. They do what I tell them to do."

He grinned smugly at Godric.

"The question is: do snakes like you?"