A/N: Standard disclaimer that I don't own anything related to Harry Potter or J.K. Rawlings and that this is just fun to write and read. Absolutely no profits to be made here.
--"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck"—Dalai Lama 1989
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The Potions Master leaned back even further into the annoyingly soft armchair. He braced himself for the expected gentle defense against Gryffindor and for one Gryffindor in particular.
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What he got instead sent a minute frisson of dread up his spine. The headmaster pursed his lips in a pout that made him look an absolutely ancient four years old and glanced over the top of his glasses to Severus Snape and then up to the dusty, battered sorting hat on the shelf to his right. A sly grin graced his lips before he exhaled gustily.
"I see no help for it, Severus. I must try to put right what may have gone wrong at the beginning. Our choices do define us, but sometimes, we can make those choices for the wrong reasons."
Severus Snape suppressed a wince at this seemingly pointless diatribe.
"Headmaster, if we may return to the subject at hand, which is…"
"Why, the resorting, of course, my boy!"
Now Severus did wince.
"That, Headmaster, is not the topic at hand. We, or I, were speaking of the blatant prejudice against Slytherin. Specifically, I wanted to speak with you about your Mr. Potter's participation in baiting Slytherin, most especially Draco Malfoy. It invariably results in Mr. Malfoy's heavy loss of points for Slytherin compared to the the miniscule number of points lost for Gryffindor. Really, Albus, Potter's foolish recklessness will be the death of himself or others yet. I will not have it!"
As he finished speaking, Severus raised his chin slightly and made his first surreptious move to gracefully extricate himself from the plush monstrosity in which he was sitting. He tried to ignore the bright twinkling of the old Headmaster's eyes.
"My boy," chuckled Dumbledore. "You have the most delightful habit of paving the way for my solution. Now, you do recall that I mentioned that Harry persuaded the Hat not to place him in Slytherin? That, my dear Severus, may have been the first of many mistakes which has lead to this unfortunate situation. We must, of course, choose the most obvious route and remedy the situation."
Alright, this would have been an obvious place for a cliffhanger; however, as it is Christmas, I'll show a little mercy.
Severus set his jaw, tensed his body and ground out, "What, pray tell, are you talking about? Do not even…"
"Why the resorting of Harry and his year mates," said Dumbledore cheerily as if the Potions Master hadn't just started to say a second sentence. "Really, dear boy, do keep up."
Severus Snape gave up all pretense of a dignified exit from the plush furniture and threw himself bodily out of the armchair. "That is the single most ridiculous notion I have ever heard…respectfully stated, Headmaster." He'd tacked on the last as an immediate afterthought. He did owe the old man a debt. "Really, Albus, the idea of a Potter in Slytherin is ludicrous. The cretin is clearly a Gryffindor through and through. Even if he does retain some Slytherin qualities, and that is a big if, he'd as soon be eaten alive as taken for a snake. Besides, if he could talk the Hat out of placing him there before, why would this time be any different? How does this solve the gross prejudice shown to Slytherin students?"
The Headmaster, who had been watching his Potions Master's tirade with a cheerful façade, leaned forward and gazed at him calmly.
"Severus, you have stated not just this time, but many times last year, that our Mr. Potter seems to continually "stir the pot" so to speak. If Harry, as the Boy-Who-Lived, can not only tolerate Slytherin, but garner respect for his new house, would this not solve both of the problems—Harry's defiance and the jaundiced eye with which others have looked upon Slytherin?"
"And what makes you so certain that Potter would sort to Slytherin this time around?" shot back Severus. "What of the Golden Trio?"
"It is true," said Dumbledore. "Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger will undoubtedly not be sorted into Slytherin with Harry…an interesting test for all involved. And yes, Severus, I do believe Harry will be sorted into Slytherin. He simply needs to allow the hat to do its job this time."
Silently steaming, Severus' flat black eyes bore into the Headmaster's. "Have you thought this through to its logical conclusion, Albus? I am not certain of Draco Malfoy's loyalties, not to mention many others of my own house. How am I to keep the reckless idiot safe?" Once free of the plush armchair, he now stood in front of the Headmaster's desk with his arms folded tightly.
"Slytherin is for those with guile and cunning, among other things. I have no doubt, my dear Severus that you can keep Harry alive and perhaps, even, thriving in Slytherin."
Seeing the Potions Master ready to continue the argument, the old Headmaster held up his hand in protest. "No, no, my dear boy, my mind is made up. I will make the announcement tomorrow evening. We will resort the whole 2nd year along with Harry," he said smiling gently.
Severus Snape, seeing that he would get no further with the old man, simply turned on his heel and left the office with a terse, "As you wish it, Headmaster" floating behind him.
