The scrawny teen sat on the very edge of the stool, eyes closed. "Well, what do we have here?" The ratty old hat asked, shifting a little on his head.
"Severus Septimus Lucius Augustus Tobias Fitzwilliam Lysander Prince-Snape." Severus whispered, voice barely audible.
"Ah. And what House shall we put you in then?" The Sorting Hat asked, twisting so his genetically greasy hair was put in even further disarray.
"The one that's best for me. Please." Severus breathed.
"Well…definitely not a Hufflepuff, to much spunk for that one. You'd fit nicely in Ravenclaw, you're very intelligent. Gryffindor…ah, yes. Maybe Gryffindor. You're brave, you've got a temper on you, and you will make rash decisions when necessary. But Slytherin…ah."
The Hat paused. "Slytherin, House of the Serpent. You do not have an excellent home life, do you? Your abusive father, saddened mother. Poor boy. But Slytherin. You would benefit much from the close-knit group of the Snakes."
"So, better be… SLYTHERIN!" Bellowed the Sorting Hat.
A roar went up from the Slytherin table as a young blonde professor, McGonagall, was it? Anyways, she gently took the Hat off his head as Severus hopped down from the stool and hurried down to the table of the Snakes.
A blonde prefect with long, shiny hair slid over to make room for him. "Lucius Malfoy." The teen said, shaking his hand firmly and flashing him a winning smile.
"Severus Snape." Severus replied, grinning.
Lucius nodded. "Please to make your acquaintance." Then he began to introduce him to the rest of Slytherins.
He liked Narcissa Black, Evan Rosier, Rodolphus Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, and Augustus Rookwood. He was slightly sad to see Lily go to Gryffindor, but when she smiled at him and he smiled back, he knew their friendship would last for a long time.
Then Lucius placed his hand on the small of his back and gently led him to the Slytherin dorms with the rest of the first years. He was pleased to be a Slytherin. He knew he would have a hard life, but this would be his home. Forever and always.