Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters and ideas are the whole intellectual property of Ms. J.K. Rowling and are hers alone to sell. I do not receive, nor would I accept any compensation for any of the owned intellectual property of Ms. Rowling (nor that which she has licensed to WB etc.). What follows is just a wacky little ditty I wanted to get out of my brain. It only got there because I so love that which Ms. Rowling created. No copyright infringement is intended.

To be Sorted

'What if I put the sorting hat on, and it says I'm not fit for any house and I'd better just go back to my room?'

'It won't,' Severus chuckled, handing Harry some toast. It was September 1st. Harry's first day of school as an official student at Hogwarts.

'But, what if…'

'You'd be an asset to any house, you know that.' Severus cut him off, straightening Harry's collar and fixing the lopsided knot in his son's tie.

'Will you be angry if I'm not in Slytherin?'

'No, I'll be proud no matter what house you're chosen for.' He sighed as he tried unsuccessfully to smooth Harry's unruly hair.

'What if I'm in Ravenclaw, will you still like me?'

'Yes, you're certainly smart enough for Ravenclaw.'

'Hufflepuff?'

'Of course, you're very loyal to those you care about.'

'Ok, here's the tough one,' Harry turned to look his father in the eye. 'Will you still love me if I'm in Gryffindor?'

'Well, I suppose you are brave when the situation calls for it,' Severus smirked, only scowling very slightly. 'And your parents were both Gryffindors, so I don't see why it would be such a surprise if you turned out to be one as well.'

'Yeah, but you're Slytherin… and you're the one who raised me… would you be angry if I was chosen for Gryffindor instead – I mean, you're head of Slytherin, and you're about the most Slytherin of Slytherin's since Salazar himself…'

'You will be chosen for the house that most suits you, Harry. I have full confidence in that. And I'll love you no matter what… but you'll never be chosen if you don't arrive with the other students and attend the ceremony, so come on, we'll be late.'

Even though Harry had moved back to the castle with his father nearly two weeks earlier (which was when the teachers who didn't stay over the summer returned to prepare for the school year), he would still be travelling to Kings Cross, so that he could take the train and arrive with all the other students. Actually, Harry was quite looking forward to taking the Hogwarts express – he'd heard about the fun had by students as they made their way to school on the train for years, and was eager to spend his allowance on the sweets from the lunch-trolley, and meet the new kids who would be starting school with him this year.

************

'Hi Harry!' Several of the second-year and above students greeted Harry cheerfully as he and his father entered platform 9 & ¾  through the barrier from Kings Cross.  They had arrived with 15 minutes to spare and Severus glared around at those students brave enough to whisper loud enough for him to hear that they hoped he wouldn't be taking the train with them.

'None of the other parents take the train,' muttered Harry irritably as he dragged Severus toward the end to find an empty compartment. 'So what are they griping about? Did they expect me to come alone?'

As all of his things were already at Hogwarts, Harry didn't have a trunk to stow away , and his owl also remained behind, so he merely unslung the small shoulder bag he'd been carrying and pulled out his school robes and his new wand (which he still couldn't believe he actually owned).

'Have fun – but not too much fun,' Severus was saying quietly as he helped Harry into his new robes. Scowling slightly at their wrinkled state from being stuffed in the bag, Severus muttered a quick spell to smooth them out. 'Here,' he said somewhat gruffly as he pressed a few coins into Harry's hand. 'For the trolley – but mind you don't spoil your dinner. Include at least one pasty among the chocolate frogs will you?'

'Thanks Dad!' Harry smiled, giving his father a quick hug.

'You're welcome, now on the train, before it leaves without you.' Indeed, the whistle had begun to blow, and Harry hopped eagerly onto the train, leaning out his compartment window to wave at his father as the train started to move. 'See you at the feast!'

When he'd waved him out of sight, Harry settled excitedly into his seat, watching the scenery pass by his window. He wasn't alone for long though…

'Heya Harry!' Fred and George came into the compartment, followed by a third boy, a first year like Harry. Harry looked around at him, and the red hair, freckles and general features gave him away as another Weasley.

'Hi guys!' Harry smiled, jumping up to greet the twins. 'Is this Ron?' The twins had told him about their brother Ron, who would be in his year, and Harry had been eager to meet another Weasley.

'Yeah, our brother, ickle Ronnikins. You'll find he's not quite as interesting as us – yet…' they smirked at their brother's scowl. 'But he's definitely not like Percy either, so no worries there.' Harry had indeed been most disappointed when he'd met the first Weasley to come to Hogwarts after Charlie. In fact, not long after they'd met, Percy had finked on him and gotten him into trouble for deeking his history lesson with Professor Binns. All in all, he had never been a big fan of Percy, but the twins had restored his faith in the wonderful nature of the Weasley clan.

'Well,' Fred said after a moment. 'We're heading up further – Lee brought a huge tarantula, and we're dying to see it. See you later, Ron, Harry.'

'See you guys.'

'So,' Ron asked nervously after a while. 'Is it true that the potions master adopted you?'

'Yeah,' Harry replied with a shrug. 'Is it true that Fred and George gave you an acid pop when you were seven?'

'Yeah,' Ron winced. 'Mum walloped them both with her broom – it was brilliant!'

'You know,' Harry laughed. 'Dad gave them detention in the first week of their first year – I think they like being in trouble.'

'With as much trouble as they're usually in at home, I don't doubt it!' Ron joined him in laughter. 'You've gotta watch it though. Just being around them is enough sometimes to get you in trouble as well.'

'Tell me about it!' Harry snorted. 'Since their first year, I think most of the times I've been in trouble it's been because of some stupid prank I got involved with them on. And Dad's forbidden me to spend time with them so many times that I have to ask him every time I want to speak to them to be sure I'm allowed that week!'

'Ha! Wish I could be forbidden from having to spend time with them!'

'Maybe you'll get into another house – then you wouldn't have to spend so much time with them.' Harry offered.

'Nah, I'll probably be in Gryffindor – all my family is – even Mum. And she wasn't even a Weasley then… Imagine if I weren't though…' Ron gave a shudder.

'Do you think your family would be angry if you didn't make it into Gryffindor?'

'Nah,' he answered, looking disgustedly at the lumpy sandwiches his mother had sent with him. 'It'd be weird, but they'd probably support me even if I was put into Slytherin! Can you imag-… oops,' he said sheepishly, changing tack very quickly as his face burned. 'Sorry. Your – er… the ah, potions master is head of Slytherin, isn't he?'

'Yeah,' Harry shrugged. 'You can call him my Dad – I do. He is legally anyway, even though I wasn't allowed to change my name…' Harry shrugged again at Ron's inquisitive look. 'I don't know. The Ministry wouldn't allow it, if you'd believe it. Something about symbolism… So, how's Charlie?' he asked cheerfully to change the subject.

They didn't talk long about Charlie though, before, with a sigh, Harry lifted his fringe to show Ron the scar on his forehead. 'Wow,' he muttered, losing track mid-sentence before turning as red as his hair. 'Sorry, was I being that obvious?'

'Kinda,' Harry smiled, letting his hair fall again. 'Don't worry. I'm told no one really believes it's really shaped exactly like a bolt of lightening until they see it in the flesh – or on the flesh of my forehead…'  He gave Ron, who was looking very embarrassed, a reassuring smile. 'Seriously, it's alright. At least you were trying to be subtle about it. You'd be surprised how many people just walk up to me and say 'Lift your hair so I can see it!' Seriously!'

**********

… not Slytherin, not Slytherin… anything but Slytherin… Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness…  Yes, I'm sure. I have my reasons, but not Slytherin. Anything but Slytherin…  Well, if you're sure… better be… 'Gryffindor!' The hat yelled out, and Harry visibly relaxed.

Taking the hat off, he made his way to the Gryffindor table amid tumultuous applause. It was only after he'd found a seat, and everyone in reach had stopped shaking his hand and patting him on the back, and Professor McGonagall had moved onto the next student, that Harry worked up the courage to look up to the head table for his father's reaction. Harry shuddered with what he saw. Though he smiled slightly and nodded his head, Harry could tell that the smile seemed forced,  worse, his eyes looked almost betrayed. It was almost enough for Harry to run back up and ask to be resorted, this time telling the hat to go ahead and put him in Slytherin. Almost.

In truth, Harry still had nothing against Slytherin house in general. He felt that it attracted just as many annoying students as the other houses – each house had their own brand of annoying types, as Harry knew only too well, having grown up around them all. But last year, before he'd been caught sneaking into the restricted section of the library… (and boy had he been in trouble for that! Potions classes were as surly as they'd ever been and everyone was glaring at his Dad for around two weeks)… he'd read a book about the history of the man who was Voldemort… the man who'd killed his parents.

The book he'd read in the restricted section was spooky. Though there was only sketchy information about who Voldemort had been before he'd decided to go evil and start killing anyone who disagreed with him, there had been only one picture of him from early in his reign of terror, and what was spooky was that they looked kind of alike  – with the dark, messy hair, and some of the features Harry imagined he'd have when he was older based on the pictures of his he'd seen of his birth relatives. They were both orphans, they were both half-blood (if this fact was to be believed, for Voldemort's supporters had vehemently denied it) plus the secret, known only to Harry, his father and Dumbledore, that he was also a parselmouth … and it was just one too many similarities for Harry – if he were in Slytherin as well… Well, at least that was one variable over which he had a little control, so he'd begged the sorting hat not to put him in Slytherin.

Also, many people had made nasty comments about the irony of the fact that Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the boy who destroyed Voldemort, was being raised by the head of Slytherin house (for Voldemort himself had claimed to have been the heir of Slytherin). And though all the teachers tried to shield him from hearing these things, Harry'd heard nasty rumours about his father (Severus Snape's) past. Would people again start talking about Severus Snape being a bad influence on him if he'd been sorted into Slytherin? Would it be worth it – would he really care if it made his father happy…?

He was pulled out of his thoughts when Ron was sorted into Gryffindor as well, and the feast began.  After several minutes of eating, Harry braved another look up at his father, who was talking with the teacher seated beside him.

'Hey,' Harry said with surprise. 'Quirrell's back! I didn't see him last week. What's with the turban? Ah!!' Harry hissed, his hand flying involuntarily up to his forehead.

'What's wrong Harry?' asked Ron around a mouthful of food.

'Nothing,' Harry replied, distracted. The pain in his scar had dissipated almost as soon as he'd felt it. But it was certainly odd – it had never hurt before. He must just be tired, and over-excited, Harry told himself as he turned back to the meal. 'I was just surprised to see Quirrell. He took some time off to work in the field, and I didn't think he was coming back when I didn't see him last week. He's a bit of an odd duck, but basically knows his stuff – looks a bit jumpy though…'

'Probably because he's sat next to Snape,' muttered Lee Jordan. 'You'd probably be jumpy too if you were forced to sit next to him…' Lee looked up suddenly into Harry's glare and stopped, looking uncomfortable. He obviously hadn't been paying attention to who had said that Quirrell looked jumpy.

'I've never been jumpy, sitting next to him.'

'Sorry, Harry.' Lee smiled apologetically. 'I know he's not as bad as we think he is – he can't be if you like him, can he?'

Harry gave him a smile to tell him he was forgiven before turning to the closest prefect he saw, who as luck would have it turned out to be… 'Percy, I see you've been made a prefect. Congratulations. What's the password?'

Percy gave him a sceptical look as if questioning the sincerity of his congratulations (as he should, Harry still didn't like Percy very much). 'You'll find out with the rest of the first years when I lead you up to the dormitory.' He puffed his chest out importantly and Harry thought that he'd make a wonderful Ministry worker one day (he'd had to hear about the annoying Ministry people all his life from Dumbledore and his Dad).

'Percy,' he said, careful to keep his voice friendly. 'I already know where the dormitory is – all I need is the password. I want to talk to my Dad for a quick minute before I go up and I don't want to be standing there staring at Prissy not knowing the password. I'll probably even beat you up there.' Because to show how impressive you are, you'll probably take the longest possible way to get there to show off how well you know the castle, Harry thought to himself as an aside.

'Harry,' Percy said in a long-suffering voice. 'The rules say you are to accompany the rest of the first years up at the same time – right after the feast…'

'Carrie?' Harry cut him off, turning to the next closest prefect. 'I'll only be a minute –honest!' He gave her his best 'I'm a cute boy' smile and she instantly caved – she'd always liked him…

'It's caput draconis,' she whispered with a smile at Percy's spluttering. 'But don't be late – you don't want to be in trouble for breaking curfew on your first day!'

'I won't,' he smiled grabbing one last biscuit as he left the table.

'Dad?' Harry whispered from the small side door nearest where his father sat at the head table.

'Harry, what are you doing there?' he demanded in a whisper. He cast a quick look back to the table before excusing himself to slip over to Harry, leading him out into the deserted corridor. 'You're supposed to be at your new house table. You're to be lead up to your dormitory in a minute.'

'I know, but Percy's the one taking the new students up…' Harry failed to keep the distaste out of his voice, and his father scowled at him briefly. 'I already know the way, and I'll probably beat them up there anyway – Carrie gave me the password so I can get in either way...'

'Harry,' Severus frowned. 'Just because you know this castle better than most students doesn't mean you don't still have to follow the same rules – you should do the same things as your fellow first years – you're meant to be bonding with them, not keeping yourself separate from them.'

'I know, Dad,' Harry shrugged guiltily. 'I just…' his eyes fell to look at his hands, nervously twisting the fabric of his new robes. 'I wanted to make sure you weren't angry that I… I mean, Gryffindor…'

'Well I'm not,' Severus said quickly, and though Harry wanted to believe him, he'd said he wouldn't be angry this morning, but there was something in the tone of his voice that made Harry suspect that whatever he might say, he really wasn't pleased.  'At any rate,' Severus interrupted his thoughts. 'The headmaster has sent the students to bed, and you'd better be on your way.'

Harry looked around him through the door, and saw that indeed, the great hall was beginning to clear. 'Alright,' he sighed. 'Goodnight, Dad.'

'Harry? Why don't you come see me in our apartment tomorrow? After classes? Before Dinner? We'll talk.'

'Alright.' Harry felt cheered slightly as he took the quickest route to the Gryffindor common room. At least he could talk to him tomorrow – convince him that even though he was in Gryffindor (his father's opposite house) that wouldn't change anything between them – at least he hoped it wouldn't.

As he'd thought, even though Percy and the first years had left the great hall before him, Harry beat them to the common room by several minutes and had time to be congratulated again by several of the older students he knew who had also taken a more direct route. When Percy arrived, scowling, Harry joined the group of first years to hear Percy drone on about all the rules he already knew, and to try and hide his scoff at some of the dire warnings Percy gave that Harry knew to be exaggerated.

When they finally made it up to their dorm, Harry lay awake for awhile thinking that this was going to be good. No more speculating as to which house the Harry Potter was put in… He'd explain tomorrow to his Dad about why everything would be fine with him in Gryffindor… Ron, he decided, would be an excellent new friend (this had been cinched when he'd joined Harry in scoffing at Percy)… He had his own wand… and tomorrow, he'd start being able to attend real lessons at Hogwarts instead of having to sneak around between his own boring lessons to hear snippets of what real Hogwarts students got to learn.

Yes, he thought just before he drifted off. This will be good.