Months have passed since the infamous sorting ceremony, where a Weasley defied all expectations by being sorted into the House of Snakes. Fred had slowly been able to shed his inhibitions, actually succeeding in becoming friends, if not at least allies, with his dorm mates. He still spent as much time as humanly possible with his twin George, despite the two being in different houses. In fact, only a few weeks previous, the two of them came across something spectacularly interesting as they were pulling a prank in Filch's office. Fred had to shove down a grin as he thought about it.

The oddest new addition of his life, however, was his newest mentor: Hogwarts scariest professor, Severus Snape. Ever since the first day of Potions, Snape had continued to watch as Fred miraculously brewed each and every potion assigned with distinguishable grace and ease. One day, a mere two weeks into the semester, he had asked the boy to stay after his evening course, and assigned him a plethora of complex and high level potions. He brewed them all to perfection. That was when Snape, a man known for his hatred of students, had taken the boy under his wing.

Severus had never, in all his years of teaching, been so taken back by a student. This young boy, a mere first year, was able to understand not only how to follow potion instructions, but the theory behind them as well. This was an achievement that even the average third years couldn't boast about.

All too soon, Winter Break was upon them, so the Weasley brothers piled into the Hogwarts Express, excited to see their family for Christmas. Fred, not able to be without his brother for too long, decided to sit in a compartment with George and his new friend, Lee Jordan.

"Weasley," Jackson called, "You're really gonna abandon your fellow snakes to sit with two Gryffindors?"

Fred sighed, "I can't be apart from my twin Jackson."

"Little little Fredrick, when are you going to realize that you can't change who you are? You're a Slytherin, not some pansy lion." Jackson asked with exasperation.

Fred rolled his eyes, "When you realize that badmouthing my twin is only making you succeed in looking like a Class-A tool."

"Stop baiting him Jackson," Adrian interjected, placing his hand on the blonds shoulder, "Let's just go find a compartment."

Jackson shoved off the hand, "No! I'm sick of this! I thought we already went over this Fredrick, but you're a snake. You can't just push us aside when it isn't convenient anymore. I get it, I do, you don't wanna be associated with the big bad Slytherins when your brothers are watching. But frankly, your brothers are prejudiced tools who can't see past their own insecurities. You shouldn't have to bend over backwards to prove you're not an evil git, they should respect that despite being in their rival house, you're still their brother."

"He's right," Adrian agreed, "As much as I hate to admit it. We're your friends, the guys you share a dorm with. You shouldn't have to feel as though you can't hang out with us lest you hurt your families feelings."

"And what would you know about family, Pucey," Fred spat out, anger coloring his response, "Your dad has been in prison since before you could even talk properly."

Ricard spoke up, "Dude, that was uncalled for."

"Why? It's true isn't it? After all, what's some truthful words between friends?" Fred mocked cruelly.

Adrian shook his head in resignation, "When you remember who your true friends are, give us a call. Until then, have fun with your fellow lions."

With one last glance towards Fred, the four Slytherins dorm mates went into a compartment, leaving the twin all alone in the hall. He hated this. All of it. Fred was never meant to be separated from George, he was never meant to be ostracized by his fellow twin, even if it was no fault of his own. He wasn't a Gryffindor, he just didn't belong with them. But he wasn't a Slytherin either.

It wasn't because he didn't act like it; in fact, each day Fred was coming more and more to the realization that perhaps the Sorting Hat was right about his character, not that he'd ever admit it. It was small things, he realized, that made him feel a sense of belonging. He was always quicker than George in retorting, his words having a subtle sting to them while his twin was too nice. The small smirk that would stretch across his face in the aftermath of a cruel prank, the way he would always always consider the repercussions of his actions several moves in advance,

He also truly liked his fellow Slytherins, yes even Jackson, at least when he wasn't being a complete and utter ass. Terrance and Ricard were also good guys, despite their tendency to tilt towards the snobbish pureblooded tendencies. The girls their age were also nice, not that he spent much time talking to them. Melody, the female prefect who originally showed them their dorms, was also kind to him, offering advice and help on his homework when he was struggling. In return, he helped her prank a few "obnoxious" Gryffindors. Adrian though, Adrian was quickly becoming something akin to his closest friend.

But there was this mental block; a wall developed from the years of the Weasley brothers spitting Anti-Slytherin campaigns throughout the burrow. A block that didn't allow for Fred to be completely himself around his housemates. He wondered if it would ever go away.

With a sigh, he dejectedly walked towards the compartment which held George and Lee Jordan. Perhaps a few hours with his twin would settle his unease.

Throwing an arm around the twins shoulders, Charlie couldn't help but grin, "So young ones, did you enjoy your time in Hogwarts?"

Percy, who was strolling beside them, rolled his eyes, "I don't see how anyone would enjoy being a Slytherin."

Shooting a glare at his older brother, Fred replied, "Hey I can't help where I was placed."

"The hat probably sensed how troubled you are," Percy surmised with a drawl.

Snarling, Fred replied, "And the hat probably sensed what an up-tight twat you are, coming to the conclusion that the only place that could deal with you is in a house filled suicidal fools who won't even give you the time of day."

Charlies arm, which was still wrapped around Freds shoulders, stiffened. George, who up till now had been uncharacteristically quiet, even drew in a short gasp.

"My my Fred," Charlie spoke nervously, "That almost sounded very Slytherin-like."

Fred was not having a good day. After the small confrontation with his dorm mates in the train, he had gone to look for his twin in hopes of forgetting his troubles. Instead, he found George in a compartment full of Gryffindors; a bunch of lions who looked distrustful of their friends twin snake.

George, bless him, tried to get them all comfortable around each other. But some girl named Angelina kept taking all his twins attention, leaving Fred to sit alone in silence. Usually, this wouldn't be a problem. Fred was an eccentric character, able to charm even the most stubborn of people. But he was a Slytherin, in a compartment full of lions. They were all weary towards him, just waiting for Fred to start his "false Slytherin charm" so that they could feel justified in ostracizing their dear friends twin. So Fred didn't give them the satisfaction, turning his attentions towards an upper level potions book instead. If any of them wondered why their fellow first year was reading about Third-Year level potions, none of them cared to ask.

So Fred was in a bad mood when he replied, "Well, perhaps Charlie, that's because I am a Slytherin." Shaking off his arm, Fred readjusted his grip on his case before marching forward, where he could already see his mother by the platform waiting eagerly for her children.

Charlie Weasley wasn't surprised by many things; he had long since gotten accustomed to the oddities that life had to offer. But he couldn't help the gasp that left his mouth when Fred was first sorted into Slytherin. Fred and George, Forge and Gred, they had never been separated; not since the five minutes it took between their births. For the twins to be separated so drastically in Hogwarts, by the two houses with the biggest rivalry no less, it was a complete shock; and it was going to destroy them. He could only hope that Fred kept hold of his Weasley qualities; being surrounded by snakes would not be easy on his growing personality.

Yet Charlie believed the best in his little brother. All snakes were inherently prejudice, there was no way Fred would ever be like those slimy green-wearing gits who looked down on the rest of Hogwarts. This was why Charlie stiffened after hearing Fred sneer and insult Gryffindor so blatantly; maybe he really was one of them.

They had only been in the burrow for a few hours, their mother driving them all mad with the amount of fussing she did. Charlie noticed her stumble a bit when she first laid eyes on Freds green and silver tie, but she recovered quickly. According to the slight narrowing of Freds eyes, however, not quickly enough.

Dinner was finally served, and the entire Weasley Clan was back together again. Even Bill came home from his curse-breaker internship in Egypt for the holidays.

"Is it true you're a snake now Fred?" 9-year-old Ron asked, his head tilted in confusion, "I thought Bill said all snakes were dirty little cheaters?"

Bill blanched as Ron practically told on him, quickly scampering to his defense as mother turned her glare onto her oldest, "No no Ron… uh… I was just referring to the Quidditch players! Yeah, the rest of the Slytherins are absolutely delightful."

Charlie snickered at the poorly executed lie, while George just sighed as he knew what Rons follow-up question would be, "So does that mean Fred won't play Quidditch? Because then he'd be a dirty snake?"

"I'm playing Quidditch," Fred answered in annoyance, "I love it."

Conversation at dinner halted. Father broached the topic carefully, "You're still going to play Quidditch? Even without George as a fellow Beater?"

Fred shrugged as he shoved food into his mouth, "There are other positions that I could try. Our Beater line-up is already pretty strong, but I noticed that we could use better Chasers."

Percy snorted, "Ah yes, I'm sure you'd fit right in with all of Slytherins more underhanded method of playing."

"Perseus," Mother chastised, "You know your brother won't fall pray to his housemates particular traits."

Fred grimaced, "Mother, not all Slytherins are particularly bad. In fact, there's a lot of great people in my house."

Bill chuckled, "Right. Of course there are."

"It's true!" Fred defended, "Even on our Quidditch team, we have some great players. Adrian even suggested that I try out for Seeker, but I don't know if I'm fast enough for that position."

"Wait, so you're willing to play Slytherin?" Charlie couldn't help but ask. He couldn't see why anyone, especially young kind Fred, would ever want to help those vile Slytherins win the House Cup.

Fred snorted, "Willing? Willing? What part of me has been willing to be a Slytherin?! I'm forced to be away from George, in a house where even talking to a Gryffindor has serious repercussions. That's not even the worst part! It's everyone else! No one trusts that a Slytherin could have good intentions, they just take one look at the color of my tie, and suddenly they come to the conclusion that I'm an evil Death Eater wanna-be."

Mother gasped, "Fred don't talk that way."

"But it's true!" He insisted, "It's a Hogwarts prejudice; after all, there's no way a snake could fight for the light, right?"

"You're different sweetie, you're not like the other snakes." Mother tried to placate.

"Yeah, the rest of Slytherin might be evil, but you're not." Bill spoke.

"You're better than them Fred." Charlie admitted.

Fred just shook his head solemnly, "No… No I'm not. Some of those so-called evil Slytherins are some of the best people I've ever met. To the rest of the student body, our prefect Melody is called the Ice Queen, a mean spirited fifth year who's quicker to hex someone than she is to smile. To me, she's a kind upperclassmen with great talent in Transfiguration. Adrian Pucey is feared because of his pureblood roots and Death Eater father, but he's one of the most pure-hearted people I know."

"That's just two people, it doesn't-"

"Severus Snape," Fred quickly interrupted, "You all know him. I've heard a lot about the man long before I ever met him. Did you know he tutors me almost every night in potions? That my talent in his art is so profound he's taken me in as a private apprentice? That when Filch was chasing me for some prank I did, he let me crash in his office so that I wouldn't be found?"

Glancing at his shell-shocked family members, Fred stood up with a sigh, "I am a Slytherin. I can deny it no longer. Either you accept me, or you don't, but it doesn't make me any less of one. By insulting my house, you insult me. So choose; is house rivalry really worth it?"

A few days later, Adrian Pucey was surprised to receive a letter from his prankster friend. He assumed that by now Fred would be knee-deep in lovely familial conversation, forcefully shoving out the memories of ever being associated with house Slytherin.

Dear Adrian,

I know this is a little random, and that you probably don't wanna hear from me. I didn't exactly leave things on friendly terms last time we spoke. I'm not… I wasn't proud to be a Slytherin. Not really. I'm from a family of Gryffindors, blood-traitors that hate everything about our House. I thought that by forsaking Slytherin, I was living up to the Weasley name. I didn't want to lose my family because a stupid hat decided I was more snake than lion. Anyways, I was wrong, and I'm frankly a tosser for acting the way I did. Can I spend the rest of Winter Break with you? Things aren't going well over here. I thought that my family would get over the fact that I'm a Slytherin… but some prejudices are too hard to kick I guess.

Your friend,

Fredrick Gideon Weasley.