"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat shouted.
There was a stutter of applause and silence. Lily clapped too until Severus pushed her hands down and shook his head at her.
A yell of "BLOOD TRAITOR!" pierced the stillness.
"Why's no one clapping him?" asked Lily quietly.
"He's a Black," whispered Severus, barely moving his lips and keeping his eyes fixed on the stunned looking boy who had still not risen from the stool, "Blacks have always been Slytherins ever since... well, forever as far as anyone knows."
"So they're calling him a traitor because he was put in Gryffindor?" asked Lily.
"Don't feel sorry for him," said Severus, "it's his fault if he wasn't worthy enough to get into Slytherin."
Suddenly Professor Dumbledore and some of the other teachers started to clap. Soon followed by the other black haired boy from the train, along with two other boys he seemed to have cajoled into following his lead. Gradually the applause spread around the room, but so too did the booing and the yelling of profanities, most of which were unfamiliar to Lily, she would have to ask what Severus what they meant later. Lily started to clap as well, the boy may have been rude but that was no reason not to cheer for him, after all, he couldn't help what House he was Sorted into right?
Beside her Severus did not clap, but he did not try to stop Lily from clapping this time either. Though he looked as if he wanted to.
More names were called, and soon they were nearing the end of the 'E's. McGonagall would reach "Evans, Lily" any time now. Lily rallied her thought, took several calming breaths. She had to go into this confident and collected. Her goal clear in her mind. If that Hat could see inside her head then she had to make sure everything in there was neat and organised so that it could see where she truly belonged.
Her name was called, and she turned to smile at Severus before making her way up to the rickety old stool. The hat fell over her ears and squashed her nose and ears. Maybe it was an illusion or maybe it was magic, but somehow everything suddenly seemed quieter. And then the Hat spoke.
"Hmm, very bright this one... strong willed too, ooh this is going to be difficult... you could excell in Ravenclaw but..."
"Come on, please Slytherin, please Slytherin, please Slytherin."
"Slytherin? Oh Merlin no! Put a muggleborn in Slytherin, never could I do such a thing."
"Why not? Just because I'm a muggleborn that doesn't mean I'm any less ambitious or intelligent. Sev told me that some people think muggleborns are worse than other witches and wizards, but I never expected that kind of prejudice from a smelly old hat!"
"Smelly old hat? You wound me dear child. But what wound's me more is that you somehow think that I make me decisions based on human prejudice, we smelly old hats are above such things you know."
"Well what's stopping you putting me in Slytherin then, Sev told me all about it and it's the best House by far, and he told me the kind of people it accepts and I fit the bill exactly."
"I'm afraid you do not by dear."
"What? Because I don't have the correct blood status?"
"Partly, but mainly because you're conscience would hold you back in Slytherin, you would always pause to help a fallen comrade rather than see him as one future opponent already beaten. You would be far better placed in Ravenclaw, or maybe even Gryffindor... I think we can rule Hufflepuff out, you are kind hearted yes, but you're brains would be wasted in that House."
"Gryffindor! That's where those oiks from the train wanted to go, no way am I going there! Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad I suppose, but Sev said if you really wanted to go far then Slytherin is the only house for you. I want to make a difference in the world, if you put me in Slytherin then..."
"Desire to better the world is far more of a Gryffindor trait than a Slytherin one, you have ambition yes, but of a different Sort. Come now, see sense, it would be hell for you in Slytherin. My vision may not be clouded by prejudice but other people's is."
"I don't care! They can think what they like of me, that's their problem. I'm here to learn magic and Slytherin is the best house for me to do it in and I'm not going to let you, or anyone else stop me from doing so. I'm going to sit on this stool until you put me in Slytherin, I don't care if I even become a Hat Stall, I'll sit here forever and a day if I have to."
"You fight your corner well young lady, and it would be very brave of you to enter into Slytherin as a muggleborn."
"I'm not afraid of my future Housemates."
"No, no I see that you are not. Most muggleborns who know anything about the school are somewhat terrified of the Slytherins when they arrive, but you are exceptionally courageous Lily Evans. I see now that there is only one place for you..."
"Slytherin?"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily was welcomed back into the world, and into Gryffindor House, with thunderous applause. But she felt like she deserved none of it. She had failed, just like Sirius Black, surely she deserved the same treatment. But Lily was a smart girl, and she was not naive, she knew that the only reason she was being applauded while Sirius Black had been booed was that people expected no better of her. She didn't come from a family who had been in Slytherin since the dawn of time. She didn't come from anywhere, nowhere in this world at least.
As she walked past the first years yet to be Sorted she locked eyes with Severus, and tried to communicate in a look how sorry she was. The look he returned to her communicated nothing but infinite sorrow, as if he was already mourning her. Would she be dead to him now? Surely one day he would forgive her? Surely there was some way she could make it up to him, to herself. This was not the end. Lily simply wouldn't allow it. Houses be damned she was not going to give up on her goal of being someone and doing something. Just as she was not going to give up on Severus.