*Revised 2/17/18

Still kinda proud of that sorting hat song.

Severus Snape stalked down the torchlit stone hallways of Hogwarts, mind viciously centered on one thing, and one thing only. The wolf would be joining them at the school tonight. The bloody wolf. Despite his best attempts, the Headmaster would not be swayed in his stubborn sentiment to bring the mangy mongrel here to teach. He refused to listen to sense! Severus muttered insults at the both of them under his breath, fuming.

He reached the small teachers' entrance to the Great Hall and flung open the door violently, relishing in the bang it made against the stone wall. He made his way down the long, narrow table to his seat, ten minutes early as always. His sharp gaze roamed around the hall, devoid of students and, for now, werewolves. The only other teachers at the table were Charity, the cheerful Muggle Studies teacher, and Filius, Charms Professor, perched on a precarious stack of books as always. The Great Hall was beautiful, thousands of floating candles casting their flickering light across the dark house tables, laden with glimmering golden tableware, the enchanted ceiling roiling with black storm clouds and occasional streaks of lightning. Severus didn't appreciate it, preferring to brood on the unfortunate circumstances.

The other teachers trickled in one by one, save for McGonagall, Hagrid, and the wolf. Severus sneered; of course the wolf thought he could be late on the first night, the arrogant monster. He glared down at the table, wishing that he could skip the entire annoying ordeal of the feast and retreat to his abode in the dungeons. Unfortunately, he was bound to supervise his new Slytherins and settle them into their new Hogwarts home, no matter if his mood agreed with the occasion.

Through the doors to the Great Hall he saw the black-robed students entering, for once not preceded by their inane chattering. At least the dementors were good for one thing, he thought viciously. The wolf had sent a note ahead of the train, telling of the dementors boarding the train. Apparently Potter had even fainted. He snorted: precious, pampered Potter not able to take the presence of a single dementor. Pathetic. He purposefully ignored the fact that he nearly collapsed every time a dementor grew near. He had far more horrible events in his past than Potter ever would.

His sharp eyes spotted Potter as he came through the doors, only to turn around and walked back out, along with the irritating know-it-all, Granger and the insolent redhead, Weasley. Weasley reemerged after a moment, looking somewhat like a lost puppy. He sneered. Of course that brat, Potter, would go running off before the ceremony. He would have to teach the arrogant whelp some manners this year, more than ever, it seemed. Especially with the bad influence from the wolf.

Speaking of, Lupin was making his way through the students to the front of the hall, dressed as disgracefully as ever. He might as well be wearing rags! Severus leveled a glare at the deceptively pleasant-looking man, curling his lip in repulsion as he took his seat at the teachers' table.

After a few more minutes the new students entered the Great Hall, looking as terrified and tiny as ever, in addition to being sopping wet. Filius lined them up in front of the teachers' table and he saw that a few of them were openly shaking. If they were sorted into Slytherin they would get over such pitiful gestures soon. No Slytherin would compromise his pride by showing fear. To remain calm and collected in every situation was their way, even when one wasn't really calm at all.

Filius strenuously carried a four-legged wooden stool over to the center of the hall, nearly falling over in the process. Severus looked away, scoffing; it was a wonder he was even a professor, inviting such disregard from the students. They weren't at a school of magic for nothing. He looked back as the tiniest professor placed a patched, frayed wizard's hat on the stool. Severus wished he could cast a cleaning charm on it; it was a blatant invitation for disease and vermin. If only other Professors didn't have some unfounded ideas that it might "damage" the ancient relic. If it wasn't cleaned soon, dirt would be the only thing holding it together! He glared over at the wolf and his shabby clothing, clenching his fist beneath the table as he restrained himself from casting a few correctional spells on another filthy, disease-ridden object.

Just then the hat moved. It twitched, seeming to shake itself awake. A fat rip opened in the hat's brim and it began to sing in a slow, gravelly voice:

.

A time there was when I was young

Don't doubt me, I was there

I sat atop great Gryffindor's head

And life I came to dare

The Hogwarts halls were clean and new

Their secrets not forgotten

And students came from everywhere

Their heads all full of cotton

.

The founders four, of this school noble

Were different as the sun and storm

But when together called to table

No greater friends had yet been born

These wizards four, of great renown

Are still known yet today

For each held power, strength, and knowledge

The very best they may

.

These friends four, together sought

To share their learning deep

With those who worthy came here

To magic school to seek

Great Gryffindor, the boldest one

Chose those who would stand tall

Those who in adversity

Would be bravest of them all

.

Wise Ravenclaw, the keenest mind

Chose those of intellect

That when left among the stars

Would sit still and reflect

Old Slytherin, the shrewdest thus

Chose pure-bloods just like him

Who yearned for power, glory even

But did not act on whim

.

Dear Hufflepuff, the kindest heart

Chose those not strange to toil

Who had no place among the rest

But still were fair and loyal

Together these great houses four

Hold strong the halls of Hogwarts

Four pillars balanced, firm to bear

Their learning students' thoughts

.

To each house noble, in its own right

I'll sort you, one by one

So try me on, don't be afraid

Your journey's just begun!

.

The hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. Severus clapped politely, eyes still trained on the mangy mongrel sitting a few seats over. Gryffindor bravery? More like pigheadedness and irrationality. He couldn't understand how Gryffindor and Slytherin ever got along.

Filius unfurled a long parchment of names, squeakily calling the first. "Acron, Tina!"

A small, dark-haired girl shakily made her way up to the hat and sat down. The hat was placed on her head and the hall went silent with bated breath.

A moment later the old hat yelled, "Hufflepuff!"

Cheers exploded from the Hufflepuff table as the girl hurriedly hopped down from the stool and made her way over. She took a seat and began talking shyly with her new housemates.

The sorting continued in this way, Severus applauding the new members to the Slytherin house. There were a few names he recognized but many he did not. This would be a difficult year for keeping the supporters of pure-blood regime in line, he mused. Since the Dark Lord's defeat more and more half-bloods, and even muggleborns, had been sorted into Slytherin. At least he had gotten the young Greengrass girl, Astoria. Her older sister was exemplary.

Eventually all the new students had found their houses, Filius toting the hat and stool out of the hall. His shock of white hair bobbed up and down as he struggled to keep his grip on both objects that, combined, were nearly as large as he was.

Severus' sharp eyes immediately spotted Potter and Granger as they snuck into the hall, trying – and failing – to be inconspicuous. A few students even pointed at the boy, no doubt regaling the story of his ineptitude on the train. Good. The brat needed to be shown humility, put in his place.

The Headmaster stood, periwinkle eyes and snowy beard twinkling over the sea of pointed black hats and candles. Severus was infuriated to see Potter whispering to his little cohorts of mayhem, no doubt planning their next escapade at the Headmaster's – and his – expense. It seemed Potter's experience with the dementors had made no dent in his everlasting arrogance.

Headmaster Dumbledore began to speak, voice magically amplified to project over the hall. "Welcome!" He paused, his joyous eyes roaming the student's faces. "Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it is best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."

Severus glared at the Weasley boy, who looked devastated at this proclamation. Was food the only thing the boy thought about? No doubt it was, seeing his abysmal potions work. It was nearly as terrible as Potter's!

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

As the Headmaster paused, taking a breath, Severus turned his loathing gaze on the wolf. All the dementors in the world couldn't make up for a traitor in their ranks. He knew firsthand the damage a single spy could accomplish. As if the dementors would keep anyone safe from Black, anyway. They were dark creatures; the Dark Lord had recruited them in the last war. No, they existed to fulfill their unending desire for devouring human souls, not to play nanny to a bunch of schoolchildren. No doubt some daredevil idiot, probably Potter, would find a way to provoke them and suffer the consequences.

Dumbledore's lips turned into a slight frown as he continued again, "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly. Severus narrowed his eyes; was Dumbledore aware of someone else in possession of one? "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said solemnly, turning his twinkleless gaze around the hall.

Nobody moved or made a sound, clearly recalling their recent confrontations with the dementors. A tense silence filled the air.

Suddenly the Headmaster's face changed, lips quirking upward and a soft glint of mirth returning to his eyes.

"On a happier note," he added, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year."

Dumbledore gestured towards where Lupin sat and Severus turned the full force of his glare on the deceivingly harmless-looking man.

"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Severus clenched his jaw, just refraining from hexing the man into oblivion. He saw the Potter whelp and his no-good friends clapping enthusiastically, the rest of the hall filled with halfhearted applause. Of course Potter would already be backing the wolf, just like his filthy swine of a father. Always gathering around him a crowd of criminals.

As the lukewarm applause for the mongrel faded away, Dumbledore spoke up again, continuing, "As to our second new appointment, well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Severus sneered. The oaf would likely kill off half his class before the end of the year. He had no business being a teacher, the clumsy barbarian. Honestly, Severus was surprised that one of the half-giant's many "pets" hadn't offed him yet.

The students, however, seemed to have a different opinion, especially the Gryffindors; their applause was nearly deafening. Yet over the din Severus distinctly heard the Weasley boy shout something about a biting book, inelegantly pounding his fist on the table. Surely the oaf wasn't that stupid. Then again, knowing Hagrid... Severus felt badly for Madame Pomfrey this year.

The oaf began wiping his streaming eyes and nose on the white tablecloth and Severus' lip curled in revulsion. No manners, as ever. Eventually the applause died down, of course Potter and his bratty friends being the last to stop clapping. They adored the monstrous man, though Severus couldn't see why. He was practically dangerous to even be around.

Dumbledore waited until the applause was done before speaking, "Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the feast begin!"

The ancient wizard raised his hands open to the heavens and the golden tableware filled with all manner of delicious food and drink. A steaming hot order of roast beef with vegetables (mostly vegetables) appeared on Severus' plate. It was sparsely seasoned with a simple sauce, just as he preferred. All those greasy, sweet concoctions were terrible for the body, and Severus needed to keep his in as good a shape as possible. A mug of tea appeared alongside his main dish, an unsweetened herbal blend that he made himself. It had many benefits, one of which was to stimulate more efficient function of the body and its magic. He surreptitiously cast a spell on his meal to reveal all major poisons, and then another for the more uncommon ones before picking up his mug and taking a long sip. The tea was bitter, but he liked it that way. He immediately felt its warmth seeping through his limbs from his stomach and he let out a small sigh of comfort. His face, however, remained as stony and impassive as ever.

Severus tried to ignore Lupin for the remainder of the feast, with little success. The Slytherins seemed to be behaving nicely, at least once he threw a few warning glares their way, and all seemed to be eating appropriately. The other Professors knew by now that any attempt at conversation would be difficult at best, and blissfully left him be. His only distraction was the Potter boy, whose friends seemed to be bothering him for some reason. Looking closer, he saw that the boy had little food on his plate, no doubt a futile attempt at rebellion against the meagre food of Hogwarts, well used to lavish meals prepared by his doting relatives. Severus sneered; of course Potter was already acting out of turn.

At last the feast ended, the Headmaster announcing that the students should return to their dormitories and the last crumbs of dessert fading from the plates, though Severus, of course, had none. The wolf slunk out of the hall after a few cordial words to the other teachers, no doubt to plan how best to infiltrate Black into the castle. The Potter brat and his companions were making a ruckus with Hagrid at the head table. The oaf was still blubbering over his new promotion. Severus swept from the hall to greet his new snakes.

He waited in the shadows for most of his Slytherins to have made their way into the dormitories before dramatically bursting into the common room. He smirked inwardly as many of the new first-years, lined up in the middle of the room, jumped. The faint green light filtering through the underwater windows and emanating from the flickering lamps added to the dark, looming effect he already carried. He nodded at the Prefect who had escorted the first years, who left to the dormitories after returning a respectful nod.

Severus carefully surveyed the new prospects for this year, his black gaze burning into them as they trembled fearfully. Twenty-one new snakes this year, three more than last. He stood before them, clasped his hands behind his back, and began his annual speech.

He spoke with a soft, authoritative voice, "Welcome to Slytherin. This house is the most noble house, known for its resourcefulness, cunning, ambition, intelligence, and determination. Though they may be hidden now, each of you were chosen because you possessed these distinct qualities of this house's founder: Salazar Slytherin. You will find that the other members of this school will not appreciate these qualities, and will seek out ways to ridicule and degrade you. You must not let them." He paused, letting his stern gaze drift over each of them. Their innocent eyes shone bright with promise.

"Do not reveal your weaknesses to the other houses; they will use them against you. You must always remember that no matter what the other foolish dunderheads in this school think of you, you must respect yourself. You have within you the potential for greatness, and I expect nothing but the very best from each of you." He took a breath, assessing the first-years' reactions. They now looked hopeful and curious, though still fearful.

"The number one rule of Slytherin is that all members will stand united. If there is a quarrel amongst you, you must settle it in private as soon as possible. If I find you do not, you will face the consequences. There are many rules in the house of Slytherin, which you will find posted in your dormitories. I advise you to familiarize yourself with them and with the consequences should you fail to adhere to them," he trailed off ominously, eyes narrowed slightly. "If you need help you may find one of the Prefects, or come to me in my office during the hours posted on the door. It is adjacent to the potions classroom, with which you will become acquainted with shortly. While I have full faith in my fellow teachers, I do not advise you to go to the rest of the school for help, as they will doubtlessly misinterpret your intentions. I, however, will do my best to see to any needs you have while here at Hogwarts. You will be placed into study groups next week and will be required to attend each week."

He gestured to the corridor leading from the common room with an elegant hand, saying, "Boys' dormitories are the door on the right, and girls' are on the left. Your room assignments are non-negotiable. Lights out at ten tonight; you will find the typical curfew posted with the rest of the rules."

The students glanced toward the dormitories, obviously impatient to meet their dorm-mates. They would remember his words, though, and heed them. They always did. But he had one last thing to say before they could go.

He looked them sharply in the eyes, wordlessly impressing the importance of his next sentiment. "Remember always that Slytherin is not just a place you will stay, it is your family. It will be for the remainder of your life. Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin," he finished proudly. "You are dismissed."

The students glanced at him, pausing a moment before starting to make their ways to the dorms. He took note of the most timid ones, making sure to watch their behavior carefully over the next few days. Abuse was, sadly, common in Slytherin, and it always fell to him to pick up the children's broken pieces. No one else ever saw, or cared. He had even had children from other houses come to him, hearing whispers about his tender hand with his snakes. He was gentle with them because that was what they needed to find strength, that was all. He helped them so that they wouldn't end up as he did, lost forever to the dark.

After answering a few lingering questions Severus spun elegantly on his heel, striding out of the room and back into the cold dungeons. They would remember his words, those children, or they would lose hope as the rest of the school gnawing at their innocent, unprepared minds, corrupting their hearts with malice. He wished them the best.

He made his way into his private rooms, striding into the kitchen to fix himself a cup of tea. Merlin knew he would need it, with all the trouble left for him to fix this year. He sank heavily into his plush black armchair, staring blankly into the dancing fire, its glow illuminating the dark room, and wished that tomorrow and its troubles would never come.