The sorting hat

"Peter Pettigrew," Professor McGonagall called loudly. He did not like the attention. He was oddly aware of his fat cheeks that were definitely glowing tomato red. The great hall looked large and looming. His heart was beating fastly in his chest.

He quickly stumbled to the front and sat down. He felt the weight of the sorting hat on his head. "Hmmm, Gryffindor is your wish? It would be such a shame, you could do so well in Slytherin."

He looked at the Slytherin table. "No," Peter thinks. "What would his father say? He had been all too clear that he wanted Peter to be in Gryffindor, like he was. Then he would be in the same house as Sirius and probably James as well as his whole family had gone there. What could Slytherin ever offer him?"

The sorting hat chuckles. "It could make you a better person, instead of the worst version of yourself."

Peter shakes his head. He knew exactly who he should be and he could never find that in Slytherin. His dad always told him to stand up for himself. To hit back. To not run away cryingly when other kids were making fun of him. He looked at the boys he had met on the train: Sirius and James. They had just seemed cool and funny. Exactly the types of guys that would be popular. And they had been nice to him and Remus. He glanced at Slytherin. His father would be disappointed. How could that house ever change him for the best? No, he would just stay chubby and weak and belong to a hated house.

"Are you sure?" The sorting hat whispers to him. "There are more traits admirable than being brave."

Peter hesitates shortly. How would he know? He was only eleven after all. His dad had seemed very dismissive of the house and so did Sirius and James for that matter. His mother had been in Hufflepuff, but he knew she would not care where he was sorted, as long as he would be happy.

Peter then became aware of the muttering of all the students. He shifts uncomfortable. He feels a cold hand on his shoulder. The strict voice of professor McGonagall sounds clearly through the great hall. "Peter Pettigrew here is having a hatstall, I had one myself as well when I was sorted. This means he has traits that would fit him well into more than one house and his sorting requires a little more time."

Then the sorting hat again spoke to him. "You will always stay cunning, but you could grow to become so brave if only you'd go to Slytherin." Peter then catches Remus eyes, who smiles warmly at him. His mind is made up. He wants to go to Gryffindor. "If you are sure." Peter nods, feeling unsure. The sorting hat normally took into account what the students wanted, he could not do it this time. "SLYTHERIN"

Peter felt shocked. His mouth was hanging wide open. He quickly shut it. The sorting hat had already been lifted from his head. He had not noticed it. He quickly stands up and sits down at the Slytherin table. On his way he overhears James telling Sirius that they had thought him to be alright. Dejectedly he sat down at the table, but felt a little better when Remus offered him a small smile and a slight wave of his hand. Maybe Remus would still like to be his friend. "Daniel Greengrass," the boy next to him then haughtily introduced himself. "And you are?"

"Peter Pettigrew," he answered hastily.

Daniel looked severely unimpressed. "I cannot believe we have to share dormitories with him, can you Corban Yaxley?" He put slight emphasis on Corban's last name. "How about you, Anna Burke?" Again there was a slight emphasis on her last name. "Or you, Tim Fawley?" He then laughed.

One girl was ignored by Daniel. She looked a bit hesitantly at Peter. "I'm Farah Brown."

Peter smiles hesitantly back. "Nice to meet you."

"SLYTHERIN," the sorting hat than exclaimed. A pale, thin boy walked towards the table. Peter hesitantly moved over so he could sit next to him. He was not going to be liked in this house anyways. He was sure of it. Nor would he be popular or well-liked. Immediately Daniel began asking him about his family. It was clear the boy was not a pureblood and that Greengrass wanted to show him just how much he was not impressed. Farah had been smiling softly at Peter since he had offered the boy - Severus Snape a place next to him.