Title: The Sorting Hat

Summary: In this chapter it tells of Harry's ride on Hogwarts Express, how he befriends Draco and about the sorting hat placing him in Slytherin.

Author: Property of Professor Snape

Rating: PG

Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, the Sorting Hat, Severus Snape

Word Count: 3,121

Genres: Hurt/Comfort with some Angst

Warnings: None so far

Disclaimer: I do not, have not, and will not ever own Harry Potter. *Sniff* Great now you've gone and reminded me of that fact and that's a whole other set of issues I have to bring up in my next session with Bob my psychiatrist. BOB?!?!?! Bob is no longer available he has committed suicide, because he can no longer deal with PoPS seriously screwed up tortured mind.

~*~

Harry watched with trepidation the busy atmosphere of Kings Cross a ball of anxiety manifesting deep within his gut as he nervously chewed on his bottom lip, ripping the poor innocent appendage to shreds. The large man Hagrid who had come to rescue him from the Dursley's had given him a ticket reading platform nine and three quarters which hadn't made any sense to him but at the time Harry had been willing to believe anything. Although now he wasn't so sure because he was now stranded in the middle of King's Cross alone with no sign at all of any kind of platform nine and three quarters.

Vernon had dropped him off and rather nastily pointed out the distinct lack of a platform nine and three quarters then sped away with the rest of his family cackling spitefully at his own humorless joke. Harry was terrified and didn't know what to do, the only time he'd ever felt this alone was when he had to spend long nights by himself in his cupboard. So without further ado Harry was about to turn around and try to find his way back to the family's house with nobody else's help but his own, though that wouldn't be much of a problem since he was already so used to doing most things on his own.

But then something caught his eye, it was a person with the most brilliant shade of red hair he's ever seen. There was all lot of these people actually a whole family of them they were an odd sight indeed. A flock of red hair wearing less than reputable clothes using odd words such as 'muggle' and to Harry's utter amazement and dumb luck 'platform nine and three quarters'. So Harry did just about the only thing he could do; he watched the family of red people.

Harry watched closely as two of the red people who looked a lot of alike (they must have been twins) walked rather quickly towards the wall between platforms nine and ten. 'Watch out' he wanted to yell for fear they might actually hit the wall and seriously injure themselves, but to his astonishment they walked right through the wall!

Harry couldn't believe his eyes! He blinked softly wondering whether or not what he saw was true, he took off his glasses wiping them in his oversized shirt, sure that what he saw couldn't be possible. When he replaced the glasses back on his nose pushing them up his face he watched in shock as yet another of the red heads walked right through the wall. "Not possible" he whispered disbelievingly to himself as the rest of the red head people walked through the wall to.

He walked around to the other side of that magic wall expecting to see all of the red people safely on the other side, but to no avail. It finally clicked for Harry that not just anyone could be able to get to platform nine and three quarters, only wizards could. And that the only way for him to get there would be to travel through the magic wall something he honestly didn't want to do. But then he could hear it, hear them their mocking voices saying that he wasn't anything special after all. And Knew right then that his decision had just been made.

Squaring his shoulders and mustering what little strength he had he all but ran towards the magical wall between platform nine and ten. He was getting closer and closer to the wall; three yard away, two yards away, two feet away. Harry all but expected to be rejected by this wall, expected his badness to make the wall truly see what a bad seed he was, but then it didn't happen, a brief feeling of weightlessness and then suddenly he was on the other side.

He opened his eyes slowly without even knowing that he held them closed and looked around to find hundreds of wizards ushering their kids onto the large red train addressed Hogwarts Express. Harry let a small smile of relief spread across his face as the realization hit that he had finally arrived in his destination. With legs of lead he boarded the train ready to finally achieve his own personal freedom from the Dursley's and the life he lived there.

He found an empty compartment for himself sliding the door closed behind him he put his trunk away and cracked open one of the many course books that Hagrid had helped him buy. He was alone in there for a matter of moments before the door slid open catching his attention. In walked a blonde boy with grey eyes flanked by two boys much larger than him. "Everywhere else is full" he informed Harry without any other explanation the three boys plopped themselves down in the seat across from Harry's.

"Name's Malfoy Draco Malfoy" the blonde boy said in a cold drawl his steely eyes traveled up and down Harry's much smaller form, there was an air of superiority around this boy almost as though Harry was lucky to even be in Draco's presence. "These are my associates Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle" Draco said much in the same manor he had before. Harry shivered softly not liking the implications he was getting from cold grey eyes he spoke almost as though Harry should have already known all this, and that made Harry even more self conscious than he already was –if that's possible. "What's yours" Draco asked sounding more like he was being polite rather than of the genuine interest of knowing who Harry was.

But Harry would answer any ways because after all it wasn't very often that someone took interest in anything that had to do with him. "M-My names H-Harry Potter" his stuttered softly his face an unhealthy shade of bright red and he refused to look up at the other boy so nervous he felt he might actually throw up soon.

"Really" the boy asked sounding surprised eyes wide he turned disbelieving grey eyes to Harry. "Well if you're really Harry Potter then let's see it then go on show us" Draco urged his voice coming out in his a smug tone but Harry could still see a look of pure curiosity in his once blank stare. Harry was confused for a moment but then he saw how Draco's hand had gone to his forehead and Harry assumed he must have meant the lightning bolt car that had been left over from the car crash his parents had died in.

With a slightly shaking hand Harry reached up and removed the hair that had been once been hiding the swollen red mark. Crabbe and Goyle both gasped simultaneously staring with vacant looks in both their large faces at the legendary scar, and Draco while he wasn't nearly as obvious as Crabbe and Goyle was extremely surprised by this and was caught completely off guard which did not happen often.

Though it did not last long and he soon regained his composure and sarcastic remarks "So you really are him aren't you" Draco asked but Harry knew better than to answer such a question "The infamous Harry Potter savior of the wizarding world for doing absolutely nothing." Draco scoffed and waited a moment for both Crabbe and Goyle's fake laughter that always seemed to come right after he made an insult. "You probably don't even remember any of it do you" Draco snarled angrily.

Harry shrank back in his seat suddenly terrified of what was going to happen next, he had no idea what he'd done to upset the boy so much but whatever it was it must have been pretty bad to make someone he hadn't even met before this angry. And yet he still couldn't stop his mouth from moving and words from coming out. "Remember what" he asked softly.

Apparently this was not the right question to ask it was the very opposite of right it was wrong because it only seemed to make Draco even angrier. "The night your parents were murdered" Draco hissed in a cold voice.

This confused Harry greatly murdered, that was impossible his parent weren't murdered they died in a car crash. The Hagrid guy that had come to get him had also told Harry that he parents were murdered but he had the large man had never mentioned by who or what, so Harry hadn't even believed him. But now this boy who he had only met moments ago was also telling him that his parents were murdered. "My parents were killed in a car crash" Harry mumbled softly still not daring to look up at the fuming blonde.

This threw Draco for a moment killed in a car crash what was this kid talking about. "Who told you that" he asked now genuinely curious.

"A-Aunt Petunia and Uncle V-Vernon, Said my dad got drunk at the wheel" he stuttered his eyes looking at the oh so interesting floor just in front of Draco's shoes. Ignoring the confused looks he was getting from Draco and the two larger boys that were sitting next to him.

"Your parents weren't killed in some muggle contraption; they were murdered by the greatest dark wizard of all time." Draco said eyeing Harry suspiciously trying to gage the smaller boy's reaction. Frightening and confused green eyes finally looked up at him for the first time since he got on the train, and for a moment Harry's mouth hung open as if he were going to say something but couldn't find the words so he closed them again.

After what felt like an eternity but in reality was only five minutes Harry was able to choke out a response "M-murdered b-but that's i-impossible" pleading eyes turned on Draco all but silently begging the boy to tell him that it was a cruel joke. His whole life Harry believed that his parents had been killed in a car crash, the one that Harry caused at least that's what Vernon had told him. And now all of a sudden people were telling him that this wasn't true they were saying that Harry hadn't killed his parents, because they had been murdered by a dark wizard. This was all too much.

"You really didn't know did you?" Draco asked softly his expression becoming surprisingly soft. Harry didn't risk using his voice for fear he might start crying then and there, so he merely shook his head no. "Why didn't they tell you the truth" Draco asked just as softly as before and Harry still not trusting his voice only shrugged his shoulders. "You don't know much about the wizarding world do you" Draco asked leaning forward ever so slightly. Harry again shook his head no and Draco offered him the smallest of smiles "Well don't worry about it because I'll help you" Draco held out his hand patiently waiting for Harry to shake it.

Harry hesitantly gnawed at his bottom lip as he watched the hand apprehensively "As friends?" he asked tentatively.

Draco nodded "As friends" he said firmly.

And so with shaking hands Harry allowed his much smaller work calloused hand to be enveloped by Draco's much larger one neither knowing exactly what kind of trouble this would cause.

~*~

Harry felt like crying, he wasn't enjoying himself at all. He was sitting in front of a large dining area called the Great Hall with a magic talking hat set upon his head who was basically telling him that he had no idea which house to sort Harry into. Poor young Harry all but expected to be booted out the door.

"You have great wit Ravenclaw would be a wonder full match for you…Your bravery is rather lacking so maybe not Gryffindor. But then again you do have a rather heavy thirst to prove yourself…And my my how wonderful you would be in Slytherin it's all right here in your head. But were to put you hmm… this is very difficult. Difficult indeed."

Harry looked nervously from one table to the next unsure of which one would be his next house. The Gryffindor table decorated in gold and red, this table held the whole family of red heads that Harry had watched to learn how to reach platform nine and three quarters. His eyes slowly moved to the Ravenclaw table which held the colors of blue and bronze, Harry didn't recognize any of the people in this table except perhaps for a frizzy haired girl with large buck teeth that had come into his compartment looking for a lost toad named Trevor. Soon his eyes fell upon the Hufflepuff table that was adorned with yellow and black Harry didn't recognize any one here either save for Neville the boy who had lost the frog in the first place.

Then Harry's eyes rested upon the Slytherin table that was festooned with green and silver, in that table Harry laid eyes upon Draco who was looking up at him expectantly. Waiting for something but for what, Harry was confused. Then it clicked Draco expected him, wanted him to be in Slytherin to. And Harry wanted to badly to be with his first friend, didn't want to disappoint the blonde for fear their friendship might be tarnished. Harry wasn't sure whether or not Draco would be angry with him for not being in the same house, but Harry didn't want to find out.

"Slytherin" he thought to the hat desperately hoping for it to agree.

"Are you sure" the hat asked "Because I do believe that Ravenclaw would be a better fit"

"No Slytherin I'm positive"

"Well all right if you're sure. Better be…SLYTHERIN"

Loud cheers and cries could be heard from the Slytherin table as Professor McGonagall took the hat from off of Harry's head and the small dark haired boy hopped off of the stool to join the rest of the Slytherins. He sat down next to Draco in the small space that his new friend provided for him blushing a deep shade of scarlet as many of the Slytherins gave him pats on the backs and compliments, it was the more attention than Harry was used to receiving and it was all getting to be a bit overwhelming.

Though soon their attentions were pulled from Harry and refocused to the empty goblets and serving trays that had magically begun to fill with food. This surprised Harry for two reasons; one he was not used to food appearing on his plate the magic way, and two while he watched all the other kids eat Draco had told him that it was alright for Harry to eat all he wanted. Never in all his life had Harry ever been offered food before, he always had to work for it this was almost too good to be true. For that reason Harry only took a bit of the roast and nothing else afraid he might be denied any food for taking as much as the other children, even if Harry was away from the Dursley's he still had to remember his place, still had to remember that they were all better than him.

After dinner Harry and the other Slytherins were escorted down to the dungeons by the Slytherin prefects and told the new password "Anguine" and shown their proper sleeping arrangements boys to the left and girls to the right. Harry Draco and the rest of the male first years sharing their room which consisted Crabbe Goyle and another boy Blaise Zabini. Harry gazed with wonder the bed that had his trunk next to it -which could only mean was the bed he was allowed to sleep in- it was a large poster bed decorated with deep green and silver curtains.

"Wow I've never had one of these before" Harry breathed softly amazement laced within every word.

"Never had what before" Blaise asked from somewhere behind him.

"A bed" Harry answered without thinking noticing his mistakes moment after he said it.

Draco materialized next to him in an instant "Those muggles you live with, the ones that told you your parents died in a car crash, they treat you all right" Draco asked his tone clearly saying he already knew the answer to the question but asked it anyway.

Harry turned away not wanting to look at Draco when he told his blatant lie, not wanting to see the hate and anger he just knew would be there. "Yes they treat me just fine, in fact I'd say they spoil me" Harry deadpanned the line he'd had to use many times before. Draco could tell the was probably rehearsed but he didn't say anything instead he went to his own bed just across from Harry's. He'd let the issue go…for now.

~*~

Severus Snape was not happy, in fact he was the exact opposite of happy he was unhappy. He was a lot of thins but none of them were happy. Harry Potter placed in Slytherin; Severus would have to remember to check whether or not hell had frozen over. It should have been impossible considering who his parents were, Lily and James Potter possibly the biggest Gryffindors to ever walk the face of the earth.

It just didn't add up, Harry shouldn't have been in Slytherin not when he had James for a father, Harry was almost a splitting image of James (except for the eyes those were all Lily's), he was even named after the man Harry James Potter. So there must have been some mix up right?

No not right because the Sorting Hat itself choose Harry for Slytherin and there was no way Harry could have convinced the hat otherwise. So now it came to be that the boy was placed in Slytherin in Snapes very house and there was nary a thing Lily and James could do about it. Ah yes Snape could see them now turning in their graves crying out in fury as their precious little boy was placed in Slytherin. A grim smile curled itself upon his lips as he enjoyed his thought, it would have been easier to name all the things Snape wasn't willing to give up for the look on James's face. It would have been priceless, and for the first time in a long time Severus Snape found himself trying hard to hold in his own laughter.

Yes Harry Potter was now in Slytherin placed under his care James and Lily could do nothing about it, and now there was nothing left to do except rearrange his lesson plan for tomorrow he had much to do. Much to do indeed.

~*~

A/N: Hey it's me again I noticed that there haven't been many reviews, well none actually but I guess I kind of understand why there really hasn't been much development in this story anyways but I hope this chapter will at least get me some. If you really do like this I advise you to give me something to work with I'm desperate here, if you're not reviewing because it's crappy then tell me because I need to know so that I can fix it. I don't mean to sound pushy or demanding but I only ever started writing fanfiction to make other people happy and if this isn't making you happy then tell me and I'll stop. And to all those of you who are actually enjoying this and looking forward to the next chapter than tell me so that I can update faster. Also I apologize in advance for any spelling or grammar mistakes seeing as I don't actually have a beta reader so if you are interested than please tell me.