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Note: Here's another chapter. Sorry, I just couldn't make up a Sorting Song. Anyways, hope you enjoy. Please review. Thanks.

Severus leaned against the windowsill, looking down at the garden. The grass was parched and dry and the rose bushes that had used to grow around the house were dead, replaced by ivy.

Snape thought how the garden had fallen gradually into disrepair as the years passed. When Persilia, for he could not bear to think of her as mother, had lived there she had made sure the servants took minute care of the plants- for her little social meetings. Then most of the servants had left and only a couple of house elves had remained to take care of the cooking and cleaning.

Something loomed into view a little beyond the gates- an owl. Curious the child leaned further out and was surprised to see the bird was apparently heading straight towards his room. A small smile appeared in his face and he moved to a side quickly as the bird entered, a large tawny. The owl pranced around the room for a moment before allowing the letter to be removed and flying off once more. The boy's eyes lighted up as he saw his name written in emerald green ink on the envelop and he hastily tore it open. Two letters fell into his hands.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Snape,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1. September. We await your owl by no later than 31. July.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva Mcgonagall

Deputy Headmistress.

Snape remembered the recognition he had felt upon reading Dumbledore's name, although all he had heard about him wasn't exactly pleasant.

The boy grinned and ran downstairs, stopping abruptly as he reached a closed door. Knocking politely and waiting until a gruff voice allowed his entrance. His father was sitting on the couch, a bottle of alcohol in his hand.

The beginnings of alcoholism, Snape thought unhumorously. It really hadn't made much difference.

Severus' smile died though he advanced towards the man and gave him his letter wordlessly. Sibilius read it slowly and them motioned for him to go away with an indifferent nod. Sighing slightly as the door closed behind him the boy smiled once more, although most of the gleam of his eyes had been lost.

sSsSsSsSsSsSs

'Come on boy, you're going to miss the train.'

Snape hurried after his father, pushing his heavy trolley through the King's Cross station. People kept glancing at him oddly though he had no clear idea why, he had even had the nerve to dress up in some muggle clothes. He saw his father disappear suddenly into a wall and stopped dead with confusion. Swallowing nervously he pressed into the wall, his eyes widening considerably with surprise as the trolley went right through the wall, he followed it quickly.

His father grabbed his arm roughly as he passed through.

'What took you so long?'

Sibilius asked angrily as he pushed the child to a side.

'Y-you didn't tell me how to get in.'

'Worthless, idiotic brat. You have to get in the train now, think you can do that?'

Severus nodded, frowning slightly and pushing his trunk after him walked towards the train. He heard footsteps and turning around saw his father was already leaving.

Renewed anger burst in him again as he watched his father's retreating back. The last time he had turned his back on him... No! Snape shook his head vehemently. I hate you. He had been the first victim of his vengeance- but he'd deserved it. Yes, he had. The others had not, but he had, he had.

Pursing his lips the boy tried to heave the trunk up the stairs, though failed.

A girl with red ponytails and startling green eyes bounced up to him.

'Hi. Do you want any help?'

He stared at her strangely, then nodded reluctantly. The girl grabbed a side and together they managed to get it to the corridor.

'Lily Evans.'

Ah, Lily. Severus sighed unconsciously as a keen melancholia filled him, like a cup of bittersweet drink being filled slowly until it overflows.

She stated with a smile.

'Severus Snape.'

'Well, I'm going to say goodbye to my parents. See you around!'

The eleven year old dragged his trunk after him and reaching a compartment sat down next to the window. Glancing at the station inconspicuously he saw mothers bending down to hug their children and fathers patting their arms or giving quick hugs and felt a deep cold inside him, his eyes burning with something akin to jealousy. Turning away from the filial sights Severus took a moment to change into his robes and sat down staring at the wall before him. After what seemed an eternity the door slid open and a boy with hazel eyes and messy black hair came in, motioning for another to follow him.

'You don't mind if we sit here, do you?'

Venomous hatred rose in his heart. As though he had drunk a chalice of simmering poison, acid was running through his veins. Such innocent countenance and yet the roots of mutual enmity had been planted in their first encounter. The bastard. A perfect little pot for a beautiful lily, a romping puppy and squealing rat dancing around the altar of love, while a wolf howls in the background. A shudder of fear shook him.

Snape shook his head and watched with interest as the boy sat down opposite and then grinned as another boy came in.

'Hey.'

Said the newest boy, his light eyes glancing around and a returning the other's grin as he sat down beside him.

'I'm James Potter by the way.'

The hazel-eyed boy introduced himself.

'Severus Snape.'

'Sirius Black.' said the second boy staring at him with a peculiar grin, his tongue on the verge of lolling out it seemed.

Filthy, mangy, brainless cur.

A round-faced kid burst in and the smiled sheepishly.

'Can I sit here? Everywhere else's full.'

All three nodded.

'I'm Frank Longbottom.'

The introductions repeated themselves as Snape watched everyone alternately, somewhat at loss as to what to do. James Potter looked around with a content smile and then laughed nervously.

'Isn't this cool! I can't wait to see which House I get sorted in.'

'I'm hoping for Gryffindor, ' Sirius Black stated with a malicious grin, 'damn my family if they don't like it.'

Snape shrugged, he hardly had any information about any of the houses, although he would prefer Ravenclaw. The boys continued to talk amongst themselves, commenting on Quidditch teams and other things he knew about scarcely. The Black boy eyed him strangely for a moment.

'You're very quiet aren't you?'

Snape scowled and stared at him in confusion. Potter laughed and Longbottom simply watched silently.

'H-ello... Do you know how to speak?'

Cruelty disguised beneath a cloak of beauty.

The youngster simply looked lost.

'Of course I do.'

He said finally. Sirius let out a relieved whistle.

'Thank goodness, I thought for a moment we were sitting with a ball of grease.'

He felt like a cauldron full to the brim with boiling liquid.

Potter laughed again and even Frank let out a small sigh of enjoyment.

'I was not speaking simply because I was pondering the possibility of being seated with a pool of talking drool.'

Hmmm... His first witty retaliation, Snape thought contentedly. Things had just gotten better and better with the years. Wands had been added, insults had been learnt...

Black's face retained it's handsome appearance even as he frowned in anger.

'You filthy slime ball.'

Snape stared back impassively, he had learned to control his tears until he was sufficiently alone to release them.

'Ah, leave him Sirius.'

Potter laughed and reached out to give Black a good-natured pat in the arm.

SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs

Snape joined the line anxiously, ending up behind a light-browned hair boy.

W.e.r.e.w.o.l.f

A stern looking witch who introduced herself as Professor Mcgonagall led them down the Great Hall, where there seemed to be no ceiling. The child stared up in amazement at the dark blue sky clearly visible as it was unhindered by window panes. As they reached the staff's tables Severus caught sight of an old man with flowing silver white hair and beard, golden half-moon glasses and twinkling blue eyes- Albus Dumbledore. A strange sense of reverence filled him which was clearly visible in his face before he had to turn around to face the rest of the school.

He had felt awed by the old man even then, the most powerful wizard of all times they called him. How ironic, Severus thought with a bitter smirk. He had turned to another path, gone through the only visible door because of Dumbledore's betrayal, his preference for Gryffindors, his blatant favoritism- and yet, here he was; giving himself in to the very man who had inadvertly given him that little push he had needed to fall into Evil's outstretched hands.

A patched, dirty hat was placed on a stool in front of all, a few second elapsed when the hat suddenly burst into song. A roaring applause filled the immense hall as the song ended and quieted down gradually as Professor Mcgonagall began calling out names from a list. Sirius Black was sorted into a Gryffindor, as were Lily Evans, Frank Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter and several others, there were but two Hufflepuffs and a Ravenclaw when Snape's own name was called. The pale boy stumbled forward and sitting uncomfortably in the stool he put on the hat which went right over and left him staring at a black clothed inside.

'Hmm... You're a difficult one to place.' the Hat spoke in his ear quietly, 'Quite a thirst for knowledge I see, maybe Ravenclaw...but, no. Your heart is brazen I see, quite noble and braver than you think. Still, I see, ah yes, great cunning there and ambitious in your own way. It is for the best. SLYTHERIN!'

Slytherin. Sly. To most simply poisonous snakes slithering on the floor while ravens attempt to lift them in their claws and yet fail as they are bitten by poisonous fangs; badgers dig into their little holes hiding; and the great, valiant, bold, lions steps on the snakes, strangling them quietly.

Snape walked shakily to the Slytherin table who was clapping politely, not sure if he should feel content or not. Even the Hat had not been very sure. The Gryffindor table hissed at him as he passed and he felt color draining from his face in shame even as they turned his attention to the next person being sorted. He took a seat and was startled as a fair, manicured hand suddenly extended towards him. He raised his eyes and saw a pointy-faced seventh year, with golden white hair and calculating gray eyes.

'Lucius Malfoy. I've heard of your family, pity they got mingled with muggles a few years ago or you could almost pass for a pure-blood.'

What an honor, such a comment from Lucius Malfoy. His best friend. Argh, who was he trying to fool? He had no friends. Lucius was naught but a manipulative bastard who did things only for his own benefit. Actually, the perfect Slytherin.

Severus blinked and then shook the boy's hand, feeling somewhat awkward.

'I'm Head Boy here if you need anything. And Severus you should feel proud to have been sorted into Slytherin, those filthy Gryffindor are always attempting to harass us but pay them no heed. Wear your colors with pride.'

Silver. The second most precious metal. While Gryffindor held gold. Such favoritism. Green, the corrosive acid.

Snape nodded and managed a small smile, feeling slightly happier that a seventh year had deigned to talk to him and even give him advice. He shook his head in wonder before food suddenly appeared before him. He cast an anxious glance around him and saw everyone had begun eating, he picked up his fork and noticing a brute-looking in front of him eyeing him with dull curiosity he hesitantly piled some food on his plate and began eating, feeling as though his mother would appear suddenly and throw him out of the room.

No one had noticed but Crabbe then, he'd been less lucky the next morning. Another memory rushed into his head as his eyes began swimming with fresh tears, which escaped even through his closed eyelids. Snivellus. He thought disgustedly.