Severus Snape

Lily. My Lily, who was supposed to be my best friend, was in Gryffindor. I'd made a promise that no matter what, we'd always be friends. I didn't want to break my promise but nothing could have prepared me for this. I was waiting for the sorting hat to proclaim Slytherin but maybe I shouldn't have got my hopes up – she was muggle born after all. Maybe if she'd got into Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff it might be ok! But not Gryffindor.

She was my first friend. We'd meet in the park, that glorious day when she spoke to me. I'd been watching her for months. I knew she was magical, like me. At first she didn't believe me, but she was intrigued and wanted to know more, so I told her. I told her everything I knew, which wasn't a lot. We'd got our letters; we'd boarded the train and sat with that Potter idiot

I was used to insults however. My parents didn't exactly love me. They were too busy arguing with each other to even notice me. I was glad of it because when they did give me attention they had nothing nice to say. They'd beat me, insult me but nothing broke me! I was strong; I just had to take things. I didn't want to take this though. My first and only friend was in Gryffindor! I wanted to cry, punch someone or just turn back time and stop all this from happening. I thought that when I got to Hogwarts everything would go right, but clearly not. Poor Lily stuck with that Potter idiot and the other one.

Lily was stunning today. She had her long red hair that flowed down to her waist and her vibrant green eyes shone. The Slytherin colours would have complimented them so perfectly, I thought. I loved her. From the moment I had seen her face. I wasn't a big believer of love at first sight but for weeks I couldn't get her out of my head even though I'd never said hi to her and I still just thought of her. But I knew she didn't want it to be like that. She wanted me to be her friend and I wasn't going to do anything different.

"Snape, Severus." McGonagall called out. This was it. I walked up to the front and quickly looked over to the Gryffindor table. I saw James and Sirius howling with laughter but I didn't want to know what they were laughing at. Lily smiled at me although she looked just as worried as me. I sat down and McGonagall placed the hat on my head.

"Ah, interesting. You want to be in Slytherin but your heart is torn between Gryffindor." The hat said into my ear quietly.

"No! I want to be in Slytherin!" I said however much I wanted to be in the same house as Lily I didn't think I could stand seven years with Potter.

"You do show a lot of Gryffindor characteristics." It said.

"No I don't. I'm not loyal but I'm cunning and I can be very manipulative!" I said. I knew how to get people to do what I wanted.

"There's no doubting that, but you're also loyal and very brave. No matter." It said before it shouted out to the whole school, "SLYTHERIN!"

I got up smiling and went to sit down with the cheering Slytherins. I forgot my troubles for a minute; I'd been waiting for this moment for years until I looked over at Lily who was looking dismal and even more worried than before. I wanted to tell her it'd all be ok but it wouldn't really. It wasn't fair, but then neither was life…