Roads Not Taken

Ch2 Destiny in a Hat

"Attoway, Delores," Professor McGonagall called out. When the girl came forward the older witch settled the hat on the girl's head. After only a moment the hat called out "Hufflepuff."
They worked their way through the alphabet, "Black, Sirius" the hat called out and the boy who had knocked Severus into the lake came forward. The hat took what seemed a long time with him. Finally it called out "Gryffindor." and the boy got off the stool with a relieved look on his face. Severus noticed that Professor McGonagall didn't look pleased as Black seated himself at Gryffindor table. "Evans, Lily" was sorted into Gryffindor, and Severus watched her seat herself at the Gryffindor table with some regret.
Other students went to various houses. "Finch, Cassandra", Lily's friend from the train, was sorted into Ravenclaw. "Potter, James" turned out to be Black's friend from the boat. He was immediately sorted into Gryffindor.
Finally the hat called out "Snape, Severus" and he went forward.
The hat settled on his head and he heard its voice in his ear, "Where to put you...difficult..not much gentleness...Hufflepuff won't do...Ravenclaw? Enough intelligence...but so much passion..."
Severus panicked. "Slytherin," he thought, "I'm supposed to be in Slytherin."
"Slytherin..." the hat mused. "Plenty of ambition...shrewdness...a talent for deception...but darkness that way...so much darkness... Gryffindor now," the voice brightened. "Plenty of courage...loyalty...conflicts that way, but friendships too..yes, better that way...GRYFFINDOR!"
Severus realized the hat had shouted that last aloud.
He felt the hat lifted from his head, saw the table ahead of him clapping. He moved toward the table but his mind was blank. He was in shock. His mother had told him again and again that he would be in Slytherin.
He moved down the table, not noticing that Black and his buddy, Potter, were seated on the other side of the table, both glaring at him. There was the red-haired girl, Lily, her name came out of the fog in his brain. She smiled a little, and scooted over and he found himself sitting beside her on the bench.
"Gryffindor." he thought, as the remaining 1st years were sorted. "How could I possibly be in Gryffindor?"
Lily was talking, "...and this is Remus." A brown-haired boy with an oddly worn look about the eyes put out his hand with a shy smile, and Severus found himself shaking it. The headmaster spoke for awhile then, introduced Professors, but Severus had trouble concentrating on the words. The food appeared, and he found he had an appetite, at least. As he ate conversations swirled around him. He wasn't the only one surprised at the sorting.
"Thought you'd be in Hufflepuff, Peter." a voice called across the table. A boy with pale, weak looking eyes smiled nervously.
"Knew I'd be in Gryffindor, for sure." this, loudly, from the boy who had pushed him into the lake.
Lily frowned, sighed, and said "I guess the hat had to put him somewhere..."
"It's too bad it couldn't have put him back on the train." Severus said fervently, and was surprised when Lily and Remus laughed.
Severus noticed Peter joined in after a glance to see that Sirius and James weren't looking his way. A boy down the table muttered "Blacks are always in Slytherin..."
Lily leaned toward Severus and said softly "I'm glad you're in Gryffindor, Severus."
He met her eyes but found nothing to say back. Oddly, she seemed content with his silence.

After the meal an older student showed them to Gryffindor common room, and to their dormitories. As they left the Great Hall Severus glanced at the head table. The Headmaster sttod watching them leave. As their eyes met the Headmaster gave a small nod. The faint smile on his face was rather self-satisfied.
Thankfully there were enough 1st year boys to occupy several rooms, and Severus didn't have to share with the 'terrible two' as he was beginning to think of the two boys from the boat. Black and Potter, that was their names. Both the boy called Peter, and the one Lily had introduced as Remus were in his dormitory room. Everyone settled down to bed quickly.
Severus lay awake a long time. His mind was thawing out from the shock, and he found that he wasn't really upset. He hadn't liked the look of the Slytherin head of house, Slughorn. He looked rather like a slug, soft and a little grayish. McGonagall, now, she looked 'no nonsense'. She had pursed her lips and looked displeased when those two boys, Black and Potter, had been sorted into her house. His mind turned over the possibilities, he could use the situation. No point in being upset over what couldn't be changed. Severus had learned, in his eleven years, to be a survivor. He fell asleep feeling almost hopeful.