Albus Severus Potter sat upon the stool which would change his future. A tall and imperious-looking McGonagall placed the brown, singed sorting hat on his head. He jumped as it started to speak.
"Another Potter I see. I've almost had enough of all these Potters and Weasleys..." Not Slytherin, not Slytherin..."Well, we all know where the misfits of Potter and Weasley go...Gryffindor!" it shouted loudly, but was soon drowned out by the loud cheers, whoops and applause coming from the Gryffindor table. He almost skipped over to the table in his happiness.
Not too many days after, Albus was called to the Headmistresses office to discuss his possible admission into Quidditch try outs, after seeing him grab a broom and zoom after his brother who had decided it would be just hilarious to nick his new library book. When he had gone up the staircase after muttering the words: 'Dumbledore', he chanced upon a small portrait of a middle-aged man with greasy black hair and dark black eyes.
"Hello?" he asked the portrait, as he had found out that all the painted people could speak, which was quite a feat in itself.
"Ugh. Potter."
"I'm dreadfully sorry, sir." The painted man looked at Albus very confused.
"And WHY are you sorry?"
"Well, I can see from your disgust at the name Potter, you must have met my brother, James. So I am sorry at your misfortune at meeting him." The man looked almost amused.
"Thank you. I am Severus Snape. I don't expect you'll of heard of me, but-"
"Actually sir, I have."
"Oh dear. What has that utter twit Rita Skeeter written about me now?"
"Nothing, sir. Rather, I don't know about what may or may not have been written about you. You see, my father Harry Potter has mentioned you."
"Has he now?" Snape started to look disinterested.
"Yes, sir. He told me that I shouldn't read Rita Skeeters articles about you because you never get the credit you deserve."
"What was your name again, boy?"
"Albus Severus Potter." Snape almost smiled.
"Very nice to meet you, Albus." And for the first time, Albus thought that it might not have been the worst thing in the world if he had been put in Slytherin after all.