"Headmaster-" Snape began but was silenced by Dumbledore finishing a thought and withdrawing another with his wand. The transparent silver silk wavering from his temple and dropped into a glass vile. Once it was capped, and put away Dumbledore made his way, briskly to the chair behind his desk. He motioned for Snape to sit and as expected it was rejected by a defiant crossing of arms over his chest.
"What is it Severus?"
"You assured me, you insisted the boy would be placed in Gryffindor!"
The sorting hat woke from his nap to glare down at Snape. He grumbled and looked between the headmaster and Snape.
"Eh? Whats that?" He coughed and cleared his voice. "Don't like my choice huh? I seemed to recall you wanting a Gryffindor in Slytherin many years ago. I finally put one to you and you complain about it." Snape narrowed his stare and grit his teeth. After a battle of glaring he snapped.
"This is different! You old piece of leather! Had she been- I'm not arguing with a hat!" He turned away, angry. He did his best to stretch his lips out straight instead of into an expression of despair.
The sorting hat straightened himself out. "Well if my opinion counts for anything-"
"It does not!"
"Severus please…" Dumbledore nodded to the sentient hat and allowed it to go on.
"I had quite the dilemma on where he should be placed."
"Indeed." Said Dumbledore now standing so that he and the hat faced each other as it and Snape did. "So then why, did you choose Slytherin?"
The hat tucked its face inward, how to explain to them so they would understand? He thought for some time and oddly Snape was just as patient for the answer as Dumbledore.
"He is brave yes, clever though, more than he appears. He is self reliant. Reluctant, nervous perhaps about this new world he's only been introduced to but I believe he has what many a Gryffidnor lack, a trait that sets him apart, self preservation. Something he will need to stand a chance against you know who." The hat declared proudly
"It's true Severus. All of us have traits of each house. Also, our entirety does not come from the house in which we are sorted to. Only those in which are the most present. Strongest. If the hat believes Harry belongs in Slytherin, than that is where he shall be."
"Of course he belongs in Slytherin! That is if this tosser doesn't scare the poor boy back into the cupboard under the stairs."
Snape reached for his wand to curse the hat who only chuckled as Dumbledore settled his old pupil.
"Severus, it is crucial you keep an eye on him." Snape clenched his jaw with his grinding teeth and stalked to the other side of Dumbledore's office.
"No more than any other Slytherin."
"You know how important he is."
"Which is why," He regained some of his composure. He hadn't expected this conversation to come up this soon but he was determined to make his way seen. "Why he must be treated like everyone else. If he is constantly worshiped and praised for merely existing we will not have a fully realized wizard ready to fight the dark lord, he will be helpless. He will rely on gut and instinct and that headmaster, will get him killed faster than you can say 'reducto'!"
"What did you have in mind then? You can't mean he be like everyone else. That was taken away from him many years ago. What you're saying is that he must be better than everyone else. Train harder. Learn more, learn fast."
"At least it would be of his own merit. He should know everything, know what he's up against. Let the Slytherin in him take over and make him want to fight, make him want to live!"
Snape realized in that moment how his voice sounded. Loud, passionate, the same tone when he summoned his patronus charm. He locked his lips shut and cursed himself for being so exposed. Dumbledore stroked his beard and sighed with contemplation, he looked and sounded too much like the sorting hat for Snape's liking.
"You truly feel this is the right path for him?"
"You truly feel I'm the person to ask about that?"
"We should asses him first. Find his strengths and weaknesses. Severus, do you think you can teach him occlumency? It would be a very useful skill for him. The dark lord may be inactive now but we both know pieces of him are still lurking beyond our reach. Surely he and Harry have a connection of some kind."
Snape winced at the idea of teaching Potter anything beyond first years potions. It meant more time with him, alone. Those green eyes spearing through his soul unknowingly and should he be adept at occlumency, his thoughts and memories would be next. He shook his head, despising the idea. Despising the plan Dumbledore was setting into motion already. It would not be a good idea for he and Harry to be close. The dark lord would know, his spies would know. Then again…if the boy did become proficient in keeping his thoughts and memories shielded, but he's just a boy.
"Perhaps after his first year. After he's got his head on straight."
"Which you will no doubt help him with." Dumbledore returned to the chair behind his desk and slouched back considering Snape. "I understand your concern Severus. You don't want him to be overwhelmed or too arrogant. But as our friend the sorting hat has said, he belongs in Slytherin which means he belongs with you."
If you haven't guessed, self preservation is one of my favorite traits in Slytherin. It is not often valued or acknowledged. Usually brushed aside as cowardice. I feel it makes them versatile and on their toes so to speak. Notice how Snape, when he duels it's always defensive. Only attacking when he absolutly has to. His movements are controlled, calculated, precise. Don't get me wrong I'm soooo Hufflepuff but other than professor Snape, professore Slughorn is also one of my favorite teachers. If only because Jim Broadbent portrays him beautifully. Okay sorry I'm totally gushing.