Author's Note:
QLFC Season 11 Round 7
Team: Wigtown Wanderers
Position: Chaser 2
Word Count: 1053, excluding the A/N
Prompt Chosen: Hermione Granger - Write about someone trying to fit in
Optional Prompts: Severus Snape, trepidation, arrogant
WARNING: Implied bullying, doubt, worry, slightly non-canon (Severus strongly desired to be sorted into Slytherin, but I changed that a little)
Severus was still quite grumpy after having been tripped over by Potter and Black, the two arrogant, biased boys he and Lily had met on Hogwarts Express. They hated him simply because he desired to be sorted into Slytherin.
He watched as both of them were sorted into Gryffindor. The lions reacted by clapping loudly. He wasn't surprised they were sorted in that house, as where else did haughty, mean, and overconfident bullies go?
After Potter and Black, two more students were called, to whom Severus didn't pay attention. Then, Professor McGonagall called Lily. Severus silently hoped she wasn't sorted into the same house as those two idiots. Much to his dismay, Lily was indeed sorted in Gryffindor. For the second time, the Gryffindors applauded exuberantly.
He sadly watched as his best friend sat at the Gryffindor table. Potter and Black introduced themselves to Lily, and she did the same, seeming to have forgotten how they purposefully tripped him.
As much as he liked Lily, her innocence and naivety made her too forgiving. Trepidation swayed over him. He feared that she would someday prefer those arrogant idiots over him….but he wouldn't let it happen. What could possibly make her choose between them, anyway?
As other students were called, his thoughts drifted away. Though he liked Slytherin's qualities, was it the right house for him? He knew there were pureblood supremacists in that house, but would he fit in? With how half-bloods were treated…he didn't want to doubt it, but deep inside, he knew it was probably true.
He half-wanted to be in Ravenclaw, which was similar to Slytherin, except for the fact it didn't have bigots, or at least as many. The issue was his mother would be very disappointed in him. Things were bad enough in his family, and Severus did not wish to attract trouble or his mother's anger, no matter how strong his desire to be in Ravenclaw was. After all, other than the bigots, what was so wrong with the House of Slytherin?
"Severus Snape!" Professor McGonagall called. Severus walked up and sat on the chair.
"...Hmmm…" a noise could be heard, only by him. It was as if the sound was one he made, but of course, he knew it was the Sorting Hat.
"Hufflepuff and Gryffindor wouldn't match you." the Sorting Hat said, noting the obvious. But at the same time, he wondered why the hat thought that. Perhaps, if it was truly a mind reader like his mother said, it would answer his question. Either way, he wanted proof of his mother's statement.
The Sorting Hat did not answer his question, which irritated Severus. Instead, the hat made another remark, "you're highly ambitious and clever; you seek more than answers. Slytherin would do you well, but you're also very intelligent and inquisitive. Ravenclaw would suit you better."
Ravenclaw? Now Severus was wondering if the hat could tell the difference between lies and truths. As much as his heart desired the House of Eagles, his mind betrayed those feelings. Slytherin. It was a requirement.
"That is the house you need to be," the Sorting Hat said, listening to his thoughts. Could a hat listen to feelings too? "But it is not the House you belong in."
'No,' Severus thought back, 'I can belong anywhere, depending on which House you put me in. So place me in Slytherin.'
Severus heard the ancient object sigh. "Stubborn, I see. That is a Slytherin quality too. If you insist, that is where you will go. But don't say I didn't warn you."
"Slytherin!" the hat announced, a loud applause erupting from his house. He looked over at Lily who was watching him and smiling happily. A small smile crept on his face, but the amount of trepidation he was feeling betrayed it.
He walked over to the Slytherin table and sat in an empty seat next to a blond-haired prefect. He received strange looks from the Slytherins around him, so he looked down, uneasiness tying knots in his stomach. The doubt came back, clouding his thoughts, until someone abruptly touched his shoulder.
He looked up to find food on the table, meaning that the Sorting Ceremony was over. He had missed the Headmaster's welcome speech. He turned his head to look at the tall boy who had tapped his shoulder, not wanting to eat because of his uneasiness.
"What's your name?" the blonde asked curiously. Couldn't he be left alone?
"..Severus Snape." he answered, the knot in his stomach tangling even more.
"I'm Lucius Malfoy. It's nice to meet you, Severus." the smiling blonde said. Malfoy? That meant he was from an ancient, pureblood family. Why would he be talking to him?
Lucius Malfoy began introducing those around him. All of them were purebloods. Severus felt like the odd one out, a complete misfit in the house of Slytherin. Nonetheless, Lucius kept asking him questions curiously. Were they turning a blind eye to his last name, or was Severus wrong and they truly didn't care? He hoped the latter was true.
Severus wasn't interested in making conversations or socializing, but he had no book with him, so he found himself thinking about something to say, but it was difficult to do so. He wasn't an outgoing person.
He quit and settled on listening to what they were saying. He also observed them because his mother had said the best Slytherins were observative. The more he could act like them, the more he could assimilate.
Evan Rosier, Mulciber and Avery from his year, plus Lucius and Wilkes, began engaging in a conversation about Dark Magic. Severus knew some things about it from his mother's old books. Realizing this was the perfect chance to prove himself and become a part of the group. He joined in their conversation as well.
Lucius took heed of what he had to say, attentively listening to him. For some reason, the fifth year continued to surprise Severus with his interest in him. He was slightly arrogant, but he was also welcoming. Severus didn't feel what he thought he would upon becoming a Slytherin.
Severus finally felt like he belonged somewhere. He silently thanked his mother's wish for him to be in Slytherin, forgetting all about the Sorting Hat's warning, all while leaving his trepidation for the future…