Chapter 1: Slytherin Common Room

Harry feels overwhelmed at the table filled with green. At first, he thought maybe this was the place he would be in. A place where he can call it home. Of course, Harry doesn't notice the older kids at the table sending discrete glances at Harry. One such older kid was Gemma Farley, perfect for that year. She didn't like how Harry wasn't eating a lot of food and looking sad and down.

She whispered to her neighbor, Adrian Pucey, that she wanted to watch out for Harry.

Adrian shrugged his shoulders, but he could understand why Gemma was concerned.

Gemma glared at Graham the other perfect for the year wishing he would also be on board with her.

Over where the first years were sitting, Draco was smirking to himself and thinking about how he could become friends with THE Harry Potter. He makes Crabbe and Goyle move over so he would be closer to Harry.

"Potter, told you that I would know the right sort of people," Draco said as soon as he saw the other first years settle down when Theodore Nott came to sit down. "I suppose you'll want to stick with the right crowd now that you're in Slytherin."

Harry looking up from his plate noticed that Draco Malfoy was trying to come closer to hear he was sitting, decided to try and to be the person he wants to be and reiterate the point that he tried to make on the train. He responded to Draco, "I think I can decide for myself, thanks."

Draco's smirk was wiped away after he heard other first years snickering at Potter's response. He grew irritated by how Potter was responding to him. He thought it will be easier to get THE Harry Potter to be his friend. "Suit yourself," he responded back to Potter coolly. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

Blaise Zabini was sorted to the Slytherin. The last of everyone called. Harry saw his first friend, Ron Weasley, had been sorted to Gryffindor and he wondered still if he had made a mistake. Harry felt a pang of doubt already. Did he make enemies already? Were all the Slytherins going to be like Draco Malfoy? He already didn't feel like he was invited. Everyone else his year were talking about things he didn't know about. Unless you count Theodore Nott sitting silently near him. He felt confused because the rest of the group of first years felt like they knew each other and were clustered together talking about vacations, parties, and other things that he couldn't care about. He saw wary glances from the other first years even though they sniggered at how he answered Malfoy. He didn't feel like he could join the others.

After announcements, and the Hogwarts song was sung, Harry enjoyed a bit of treacle tarts before going to his new "home." Harry heard the prefects call over the first years to help them get to where they needed to go. Harry followed the prefects down the darkened corridors, his nerves filled with unease. He noticed how different the Slytherins were. He wished he could go back to the Sorting Hat and say he wanted to be with the red and gold table, the Gryffindor warm and friendly compared to these quiet and uneasy folks in Slytherin. He was walking near the end of the group, with Theodore Nott walking beside him quietly.

He saw the Slytherin common room was tucked away behind a stone wall in the dungeons, where snakes were near too. He heard the female prefect muttered the password, "Snakes," and the wall slid aside to reveal a dimly lit and opulent space. Harry saw the space was adorned with tapestries of green and silver all across the walls. He also saw the window lined up to the Black Lake, filled with animals swimming around and light coming out of this area. He felt the air was cooler down here and felt a slight dampness that clung onto him. He saw a grand fireplace the was crackling already with chairs lined up near it. He went over to sit in one chair since he saw the male prefect glare at him to move along and to sit down.

The female prefect smiled warmly to the first years. "Welcome to the Slytherin common room," with some warmth to her voice, "You are now part of a house with a long history. We value traits like ambition, cunning and resourcefulness. Don't be scared to come talk to any of the prefects about anything." She looked around the first years and continued to discuss the importance of this house, "respect the traditions of this house and you'll achieve what you want to achieve."

Harry continued to look around feeling out of place already. He can see the older students lounging near them in other chairs, their eyes noticing him. He already heard whispers of his name being said by them accompanied by either glares, stares, or smirks. Harry's stomach was turning.

After being dismissed by the prefect Harry ended up staying downstairs, he tried to curl himself up in the chair thinking if he made a mistake or not. Clearly the Sorting Hat had no clue how lonely it would be in a place like this. He saw the embers going out and he was swayed by the silence.

Harry didn't notice Gemma getting their head of house down to help with him.

"Potter"

The low voice made Harry jump out. He didn't want to get in trouble already or get expelled. He turned to see Professor Snape standing near him in the dimness. He can see his eyes were glinted in some way.

"Professor," Harry responded nervously while standing up.

Professor Snape looked at him and stayed quiet for a moment, "It seems that the Sorting Hat's decision caused a stir."

Harry swallowed his mouth and slowly blurted out, "I didn't ask to be in Slytherin."

"And yet, here you are," Professor Snape replied coldly. "You may find that Slytherin is not as forgiving as you might hope. You may have cunning for Slytherin, but cunning alone won't save you. Remember that."

Harry was unsure how to respond to that. He thought he saw Professor Snape's eyes soften, or a flicker of understanding from him, but this vanished as he tried to look closely to it.

"Goodnight, Potter," Professor Snape said while turning away to go back to where he came from.

Harry saw the female perfect coming to him to remind him where he can find his bed and said good night to him.

As he climbed the stairs to his dormitory, he couldn't help but ponder on what Snape told him and still wonder if the choice of green by the Sorting Hat really made a mistake. He went to bed dreaming about Malfoy laughing at him, Voldemort saying he can't achieve his greatness and Snape just glancing at him while falling off a broom.