His Greatest Wish, by AndromedaMarine

The Sorting Hat

Severus woke early on the first of September, feeling lighter than he had in nearly forty years. His trunk he had packed the night before; he had marveled at how many uselessly simple things were in his room, let alone that he'd brought with him to Hogwarts the first time around. He didn't have much to begin with, but considering the number of items he left behind, including several books on the Dark Arts he had found in the attic months before...well, months before he'd started at Hogwarts twenty six years ago, the trunk was lighter than it would have been otherwise. He dragged the trunk downstairs as quietly as he could, and then towards the front door.

Eileen came out of the living room looking exhausted. She saw her son and his trunk, and the oddly mismatched Muggle clothing he wore, before saying, "Is it really that time already?" Obviously she had lost track of the date and hadn't realized she needed to take him to King's Cross Station today.

"Mum, shouldn't we be going?" he asked in a voice he hoped belonged to an eleven year old about to start at a school for Wizardkind.

Eileen glanced back at the kitchen. "Yes, well, I suppose we'd better be off before..." she trailed off, but Severus knew she had meant to end with, "before Tobias wakes up from his drunken stupor and keeps us from going." Having lived with a Muggle for so long, she knew how to dial the cab company, and before long a single yellow taxicab pulled up in front of the house at Spinner's End. The driver loaded Severus's trunk into the back and mother and son climbed into the backseat. "King's Cross, please," she said tonelessly.

Severus watched the neighborhoods melt by and he knew they were getting close when the car began to slow with the traffic. Eileen and Severus had his trunk on a trolley within thirty minutes; Severus looked at a nearby clock and saw that the Hogwarts Express would be leaving in exactly forty minutes. He scanned the station for Lily and her family, but couldn't spot them before Eileen instructed him to push his trolley through the barrier between platforms nine and ten.

The great scarlet steam engine loomed before them, spewing great billowing clouds over the platform, engulfing Hogwarts students and wizarding families. Severus looked around as best he could, before seeing Lily with her parents and sister. He moved towards them, but stopped when he began to overhear Lily's argument with Petunia.

"It's not enough that you won't see me for ten months, Tuney? We used to get along great, but now..."

"You're a freak!" Petunia spat, and Severus saw the high-and-mighty look on her face that had remained there ever since. "You and that Snape boy, freaks! I...I don't ever want to see you or speak to you again!"

At this Lily looked very affronted. "Tuney..."

But Petunia Evans had already flounced back to their parents, who were gazing around the platform with utter fascination at the magical spectacle. Severus stepped next to Lily. "You okay?" he asked quietly, but just loud enough so she could hear him over the din of screeching owls, meowing cats, and the conversations around them.

Lily stood silent for a moment, still watching her parents and sister. "Yeah." She wiped her eyes and Severus realized she had been crying a little. Despite her insistence that it was Petunia's problem, the elder girl's actions had hurt Lily. "I'll only have to see her over Christmas and Easter, and summer, I suppose. Maybe she'll calm down. Or maybe I'll just stay at Hogwarts until summer."

Severus's heart thumped at Lily's idea of staying at Hogwarts, but he doubted that Petunia would ever calm down. From Dumbledore's mentions of Petunia's horrid behavior towards Harry, he felt that this time around wouldn't be any different for Petunia's disposition. He could only wonder if she'd still marry that walrus Vernon Dursley. "Come on, let's get your trunk on the train, then you can say goodbye to your mum and dad." He tried to seem enthused about it, but for some reason he knew that Lily would have a hard time parting with Petunia, even after her show of character. They stowed their trunks in a compartment that Severus had a sneaking suspicion would be where James and Sirius put theirs, too, and then he accompanied her back onto the platform after quickly changing into his robes.

Eileen saw her son emerge from the train and she approached him with a stiff grace that was obviously posturing for her outing into the wizarding community. She saw Lily and then looked at her son again. "Severus!" she called, and Snape started, startled by his mother. He went over to her, vaguely aware of Lily a few paces behind him. "Severus. I see you've already made a friend." Her voice brimmed with pride that Severus was slightly surprised at hearing. Lily didn't say anything when she materialized at his elbow. "What is your name?"

"Lily Evans," she replied in a small voice.

Eileen managed a smile. "I hope you and my son have a wonderful time at Hogwarts, Lily." Severus's mother then did something so unfamiliar that the old potions master froze. Eileen bent down and kissed his head. "I should be getting home, before—" she stopped herself, remembering Lily.

Before Tobias wrecks the house after finding out I've seen you off to Hogwarts, Severus finished the thought for her acidly in his mind. His father would never turn his life around.

"Be sure and write me after you've been Sorted, Severus."

He nodded and watched his mother slide back through the barrier before walking behind Lily towards her parents. He knew his mother would be disappointed if he wasn't Sorted into Slytherin, but it made no difference to him now what his mother thought of House appointment.

Petunia gave Severus a scathing look and pointedly turned her attention from her parents when they engulfed Lily in a joint hug.

"Write every day," Rose Evans said to her daughter, the sparkle of tears in her eyes. "Let us know all about what happens there!"

Mark Evans knelt down so his daughter's face was above his. "Follow your heart, my Lily. And stay out of trouble!" He hugged her to his chest and kissed her temple. Then the last calls for boarding sounded. Severus lurched a little, and when Mark released Lily, Severus grabbed her hand and led her back to the train. When they hopped on board Lily leaned out and waved to her now-rapidly disappearing parents, as the train gathered speed out of the station.

Together the two eleven year olds went back to the compartment where, sure enough, James Potter and Sirius Black had already made themselves comfortable. Severus wondered briefly where Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were, but the thought disappeared when Lily pulled open the compartment door and walked in and past the boys, sitting down. Severus sat across from her. He was glad that James and Sirius had decided to ignore them, for the moment. "What are you thinking about?" he asked rather suddenly, that both James and Sirius looked at him when Lily did. Severus ignored them.

"The Sorting," she said. "I know, again. I know you said I'd be in Gryffindor...but..."

"Trust me, Lily," Severus said, cutting her off. "You'll be a Gryffindor as surely as I'll avoid being a Slytherin."

James exchanged a glance with Sirius, who didn't seem terribly excited about the conversation. But apparently James had chosen not to hear the word avoid in Severus's statement. "Slytherin?" he said disdainfully. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" he asked Sirius.

"My whole family have been in Slytherin," Sirius replied dully.

"Blimey," said James, "and I thought you seemed all right!"

At this statement Severus could not hold back a noise of amusement; obviously his experience in his former life had made it possible for Severus to cling to the sentiment that Sirius Black was bad news all around.

Sirius glared at Severus. "Maybe I'll break the tradition." He turned to James. "Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

James lifted an invisible sword.

"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad."

This time, Severus managed to stay quiet. Sirius, however, grinned. "Me too. I can't wait to see the look on my cousin's face when I'm sorted into Gryffindor, or anywhere instead of Slytherin."

Severus remembered that Narcissa Black was still at Hogwarts, as was Lucius Malfoy. The slick-haired git, Severus thought with animosity. The conversation between James and Sirius melted away as Severus returned his attention to Lily. She was looking out the window. "How can you be so sure about where we'll be Sorted?" she asked without taking her eyes off the moving landscape.

Severus shrugged and leaned back on the seat. "A feeling, that's all." And a bit of personal experience. He wondered if his Patronus was still a doe, and if he could still achieve the Animagus form of a black owl. He figured that at some point he could retreat to the Room of Requirement and put his curiosities to rest. "I'll bet we'll both grow up and be famous for something," he said, trying to get Lily to lighten up about the impending Sorting Ceremony.

James looked around at them again. "Who'd want you as a celebrity?" he asked Severus with a sneer.

Severus lifted an eyebrow. "Potter, please keep your nose in your own business." His tone was cold, and very reminiscent of the tone he had used so often as the potions master on Harry and the rest of the Gryffindors.

A look of shock spread across his face. "How—how did you know my name?"

"It's on your trunk, Potter. I'm not blind, you know." Severus enjoyed the look of confusion and then embarrassment that spread over James's features. Even though James had done nothing more cursory than attempt to insult him, Severus still knew the pain of losing Lily to him, and it was all he could do not to punch Potter in the nose. He didn't want to be like that this time; he wanted to give everything a chance to change, even James, as difficult as that might be. It would all be worth it, as long as Lily was happy.

The windows of the train darkened as they neared Hogwarts, and the Prefects could be heard knocking on compartment doors, informing students that the time to change into their robes was fast approaching.

Without waiting for Lily to ask, Severus pointed his wand at her trunk and said, "Wingardium Leviosa," before lowering it carefully in front of his best friend. She stared at him.

"How did you do that?" she asked with wide eyes. Severus noticed he had also earned the gazes of both Potter and Black.

"Levitating charm. It's one of the easy ones Mum taught me," he said, half lying. "Or would you have rather I heaved it off and risked squashing your foot?"

Lily reddened. "Thanks," she muttered, opening the trunk and extracting her robes. She pulled them on and Severus levitated the trunk back to its original position.

"Snape isn't a magical surname, is it?" James said in the form of a statement.

Severus looked Potter square in the eyes, pleased when he saw the latter's gaze waver under the intensity. "Don't tell me it matters to you that I'm half-and-half. Or would it have made a difference if I were Muggleborn?"

It was James's turn to blush. Sirius looked away from James and Severus, out the compartment window. "No. I just wondered how your mother taught you a perfect Levitating charm in a Muggle house. And for the record, I don't care if you are or aren't Muggleborn."

He'll find out eventually. "Maybe it would ease your curiosity if I told you that my mother is a Prince."

At this, Sirius swiveled his head around, as if the conversation had suddenly become interesting enough to warrant his attention and involvement.

Lily caught Sev's eye and gave him a look he took to mean, What do they want? He shrugged and shook his head.

"Your mum is Eileen Prince?" Sirius asked pointedly.

Sev tipped his head in affirmation, but before Sirius could continue his line of inquiry, the train slowed to a roll and the call echoed through that they had pulled into Hogsmeade Station. Lily stood and slid open the compartment door, seized Sev's hand, and dragged him out, along with the swarm of other first years, onto the platform. If she hadn't grasped his hand he would have lost her in the crowd.

"Firs' years!" came the familiar tone of Hagrid's voice. "Firs' years, ov'r here!"

Sev made sure Lily stayed right next to him as they went towards Hagrid. If he had changed at all in twenty six years it didn't show; his eyes were still black and merry, the beard bushy as ever, and his bulk still wider than most trees in the Forbidden Forest.

"Boats," Sev whispered into Lily's ear. "Four to, I think." He couldn't quite remember since last time. It was just their luck that they managed to sit in the boat Sirius and James lumbered onto as well.

The ride over the Black Lake was eerie and quiet, the sloshing of the water the only sound and the pinpricks from the candles in the Great Hall the only light. Clouds had hidden the moon and stars. The boats crunched as they slid over the gravel on the opposite shore, a cave beneath the castle. The first years clambered out and huddled behind Hagrid as he knocked (rather, banged) three times on the wooden door in front of them.

Professor McGonagall opened it.

"The firs' years," Hagrid said like he said every year, and McGonagall ushered them all in.

Several minutes later they stood in the Entrance Hall, in front of the massive wooden doors that separated them from the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall turned to them. "In a moment I will take you through these doors, where you will join your classmates. But before you do, you will first be Sorted into one of four Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While you are here at Hogwarts your House will be like your family. Successes will earn you points, and rule-breaking will lose you points. At the end of term in June the House with the most points will be awarded the House Cup." She gave them a stern look Severus knew all too well, and suddenly the wooden doors cracked open and widened, revealing the sights that Lily had long dreamt of seeing.

They walked in twos down the center row, between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. Lily gripped Sev's hand fiercely, conveying her nervousness through that one link. Her face remained calm. In front of the High Table sat the stool, and what Severus recognized as the ancient Sorting Hat. When the first years had gathered and the rest of the Hall fell silent, the Hat's brim ripped open, and it burst into song:

A thousand years or so ago
Four friends united here
To build a place where children learn
Of magic, friends, and fear.
They made me up so I could Sort
The children when they'd died,
So I could sing a song to you
That you'd recall with pride.
The Houses four each have their might
Their callings each select
So I will list them now for you
To know which you reflect.
Perhaps you may belong with those
Whose nerve and courage win,
The Gryffindors will be your guide
Throughout the thick and thin.
Or it may be your loyalty
That leads you to your friend,
The Hufflepuffs do welcome all
And do their trust extend.
Though if you are the one with wits,
And wisdom, it is sure
Your House will be in Ravenclaw,
With company for cure.
And lastly if ambition you
Do hold and dearly crave,
The Slytherins will lend a hand
And help your way to pave.
Be not afraid to pull me on
I'll whisper in your ear
I'll let you know just what I think
And then you'll start your year!

The Great Hall burst into applause, and Lily stood there, gripping Severus's hand so tightly he thought his fingers might snap. He tried to reassure her by squeezing back, but that only prompted her to up the pressure on his digits. Severus ignored the Sorting until McGonagall called, "Black, Sirius," and watched the scruffy boy nervously step up to the stool.

The Hat was silent for so long that Severus knew it was deciding whether or not to place him in Slytherin. When it finally yelled, "Gryffindor," Sirius handed the Hat back to McGonagall and bounded off to the Gryffindor table, a look of positive relief on his face. Snape looked over at the Slytherins, where he saw Narcissa looking utterly furious that her cousin hadn't been placed in the traditional House for Blacks.

"Evans, Lily!" McGonagall called from the list, the Sorting Hat in her grip. Lily released Severus's hand and came forward, trembling, remembering what Severus had told her the day before about his belief she would end up in Gryffindor. She sat on the stool, looking out at the four, crowded tables filled with intent faces.

She felt McGonagall set the Hat on her head, and heard a voice. "Miss Lily Evans," it said, humming as though thinking over what he had found in her mind. "Yes, yes...you would do well to listen to everything your friend Severus tells you. He does indeed know what he's talking about," said the Hat plainly to Lily. "You show courage, yes, the ability to stand up for those you love... He was right, you know, about you. Gryffindor!"

Lily went to the Gryffindor table and sat next to the Prefects and across from Sirius, from where she caught Severus's eye and gave him a huge grin. Somehow he felt instantly relieved.

"Lupin, Remus," went to Gryffindor, and when "Pettigrew, Peter," was Sorted into Gryffindor as well, Severus knew that no Sorting other than his own would be different. After watching "Potter, James," swagger to the Gryffindor table Severus had to do a double take. He saw a very young, widely smiling Arthur Weasley sitting beside an equally-young and much thinner Molly Prewett, congratulating the new additions to the House of Godric Gryffindor. He tore his eyes away from Lily, the Marauders, and the precursors to the enormous Weasley family when he heard Professor McGonagall call his name.

"Snape, Severus!"

For an odd reason he felt slightly anxious, although he knew he would have no difficulty in avoiding Slytherin House. He sat down and felt the Hat, for the second time in his existence, being lowered onto his head.

"Oho," said the Hat suddenly in his ear. "My, my, Severus Snape, you have changed quite a bit for the better since I last Sorted you." Severus sat on the stool, numb with shock. The Hat knew of his backward leap in time. "I do so strongly sense that you've had quite enough of Slytherin, I daresay... So few seem to realize the power of choice, and I see many choices here in your head... Considering your numerous demonstrations of courage and bravery between last being eleven and now, and considering also your choice...better be Gryffindor!"

Professor McGonagall lifted the Sorting Hat from Severus's head and the career Slytherin stumbled towards the Gryffindor table and sat beside Lily, who gave him a massive hug and kissed his cheek. "Oh, Sev! I'm so glad we're in the same House! It would have been awful to be separated!" His cheek tingled. He glanced over at Potter, who was sitting across from them, and felt quite satisfied when he saw the expression of disbelief on his face that indicated he had just seen Lily kiss him.

He agreed by nodding his head and hugging her back before turning to pay attention as Dumbledore stood to make the start of term announcements. It was a few moments later, in the middle of Dumbledore's words, that Severus suddenly realized he would have to share a dormitory with James, Sirius, Lupin, Peter, and Frank Longbottom for seven years. Only the thought of Lily, alive and next to him, kept him from hexing James and Peter into the next century.

"Welcome," Dumbledore said, "to another year at Hogwarts! I do not wish to keep you all pining after the feast, so without further ado, tuck in!"

The tables groaned under the weight of the magically-appeared food.

"How'd you end up in Gryffindor with a name like 'Severus Snape'?" James asked rudely between mouthfuls of mashed potato. "It seems to me you'd fit in better with the Slytherins, since that is where all the Prince family have gone."

"Hush," Molly Prewett admonished from across the table before Severus could get a word in edgewise. "Our names don't dictate who we are." Arthur blushed beside her and hid behind his goblet of pumpkin juice. Molly smacked his arm. Severus watched the two with great amusement, wondering if Arthur's embarrassment had something to do with Molly agreeing to marry him. As he dug into his own dinner the thought left his mind and was replaced with Lily, who sat at Molly's right elbow.

The feast ended almost as quickly as it had begun, at least to Sev. Before he knew it the main courses had been replaced by desserts, and soon those were gone too, melted into the golden dishes, and Dumbledore stood up once more.

"All this wonderful food has made your minds fuzzy, I understand, so I will only bore you with the standard announcements, as well as two others. First, the Forbidden Forest is off-limits to all students not accompanied by a teacher. The caretaker, Mr. Ward Arcturo, has asked me to remind everyone that all Zonko's products are banned, and classes will begin tomorrow without delay. We welcome this year to our staff, Professor Mathis Hardgrave, who has taken the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Professor Samuel Eros, who has kindly obliged to teach Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Kettleburn recovers from his most recent...ahem...injuries." Dumbledore surveyed the room over his half-moon spectacles. "Prefects will lead you to your dormitories. Good night!"

In the commotion Severus took Lily's hand again and followed Arthur Weasley and Molly Prewett, the seventh year Prefects, out the Great Hall and up the staircases. The wonderful effect of Hogwarts food had already begun to numb his mind, and the thought of falling onto a four-poster and dreaming of Lily seemed a welcome prospect. The thought of how to keep his magical prowess under wraps had already slipped to the back of his mind when they reached the Fat Lady.

"Quaffle," Molly said, and the portrait swung open. Once inside, she turned to the group. "Boys' dormitory is to the left, girls', to the right. A word of warning, however. Boys will not be admitted into the girls' dormitories. The opposite, however, is not true. Find the doors marked 'First Years,' and you will find your belongings waiting for you. Class timetables will be handed out at breakfast, at eight o'clock. If you have any questions, feel free to ask myself or my fellow Prefect—" she indicated Arthur "—or Prefects from fifth or sixth years. Off to bed, then!"

Severus reluctantly let Lily go after hugging her and promising to meet her for breakfast, and climbed the stairs after Remus, Peter, and Frank. James and Sirius were behind Severus. He heard James yawn as they entered the dormitory, where Sev found his battered old trunk at the foot of the bed beside a window. Without looking at his fellow roommates he found his pajamas and crawled onto the bed, wrenched the hangings shut, and proceeded to fall into a sleep filled with dreams of Lily Evans.