It had been ten years now - ten years since the last person was sorted into Slytherin. No young witch or wizard wished to be tarred with the same brush. The name 'Slytherin' was associated with evil now; not just evil, but failure. After all, the fight was won.

The Sorting Hat mused to itself about the lost opportunity, and the imbalance of it all. Was this the way things were meant to be? Four houses was the way it was always meant to be, no matter the...events that had occurred.

This year's new batch of first years were nervously looking at The Sorting Hat, like they were scared of him. Scared!He would have to do something about that - perhaps a song would calm them down. He opened his brim wide:

Oh what a day it is today;

For you will be a witch!

Or maybe you'll be wizard,

I don't care which is which.

Here there be four houses,

Their virtues bright and strong

Ravenclaw brave, Gryffindor wise;

Oh dear, I got that wrong.

Nay, it's Gryffindor Brave, Ravenclaw Wit,

Slytherin Clever, and with Hufflepuff the rest will sit!

These houses make our Hogwarts whole,

My name's The Sorting Hat,

And I'll take a look inside your soul.

I'll see your colour shining true;

And show you to your home,

Be with Red, Yellow, Green or Blue!

It was rough, thought The Sorting Hat, but it worked. The students were all smiling now at the song, even after some cringed at the name 'Slytherin'.

After his little show, the sorting ceremony began. The first little child - 'Arnott, Adam' - was sorted into Ravenclaw.

This carried on, through the A's, and the B's, and the C's, until 'Calvin, Sarah' sat upon the stool.

Oh yes, what a bright young mind you have, said the hat. Wit, and talent to be seen, for sure. However...I do see more than a little bit of ambition here. You wish to be a professor yourself some day? The girl nodded shyly underneath the hat.

Well then, he continued, You'll be most at home in...SLYTHERIN!

The girl let out a frightened sob, and a professor rushed to her side.

"It's alright, my dear; there's nothing wrong with being in Slytherin House," she promised, "I'll look out for you, and I'll even be your head of house!"

"Helga's right, you'll be looked after by her," said another professor, placing a strong hand on the girl's shoulder, "And you can be known as the one to bring the house back to greatness!"

"Oh don't be so dramatic, Godric," replied the first professor, "She's scared witless, can't you see? Everything will be fine, Sarah, don't you stress."

The little girl nodded bravely, and let the professor lead her to the empty table beside the Hufflepuff one.

"You sit here, my dear, and make friends with my Hufflepuffs - I'm sure you'll have more friends joining you soon!"

The Sorting Hat watched mutely as Hufflepuff's students nearby began to talk to the young witch and coax her into a spirited conversation. He smiled inwardly, looking forward to sending friends her way this year, and the next, and the next.

It was what Godric had made him for, after all.