Hello there,

this is my first Fanfiction in english. So apparently, english isn't my mother language. I still like it, writing and reading. But since I'm still trying and it's my first, I'm sorry for any mistakes in it. Especially since I don't have a Beta yet. Feel free to contact me, if you are interested! Anyway should you find mistakes, most of all with the grammar, feel free to inform me, even if you're not the Beta and not interested in the job :D

So about this story!

It actually started as a profile for a Character in a roleplay game. (Rodolphus^^). Then I wrote some OneShots and then I thought – actually, I could make this a continuous story. I have to admit, that even though Rodolphus is the actual main character in this story, Lucius is maybe my favorite of all the Harry Potter characters – and I do apologise if he is a little to perfect in some chapters –, so the story started to center more ond more around both Lucius and Rodolphus, instead of Rodolphus alone. I started writing it in german, so I have some Chapter's in german, and only recently decided to start translating it, since I myself currently am hardly reading any german and a lot of english Fanfiction.

The Story is mostly (though not solely) written from Rodolphus' perspective and starts with his and Lucius' first day at Hogwarts and his Sorting. There are some other PoV's here and there, but you will see.

About the rating... Well, this is my first story, so rating it was rather difficult. I first want to go for M due to some more detailed Cruciatus-scenes in the later chapters... However seeing as none of the Harry Pooter movies hat a high rating I'm not so sure... So I thought, I just settle for T and should it really get to cruel (which I actually don't think – please talk to me, if you see it differently later on) – I'll change the rating.

Now, please enjoy.

The Sorting Hat

1st September 1966

His eyes were glued to the ceiling of the Great Hall. He had heard many things about this hall from his father and uncle. He was even sure he remembered a story of his mother – even though he hardly remembered her at all. His Mum had died years ago and he barely remembered what she looked like, but whenever he tried to remember her, he imagined her on their divan in the living room, telling them about her sorting. After all the things he'd heard, he was quite sure he already knew Hogwarts inside out, that there would hardly be anything left to discover. After all, his family was one of the oldest pureblood houses in England and Hogwarts was one of the most magical places in the country – so, of course, he wouldn't just start his first day in school unprepared like a common Muggle. It had been rather amusing watching those clueless primitives oohing and ahhing at Platform 9 ¾ and even in the Hogwarts-Express they wouldn't shut up for a minute. Still, when they crossed the sea and when the shape of the castle first came into view and now, as he entered the Great Hall, even he himself was stunned speechless.

At least he didn't make such a show of his stupidity as the mudbloods did. One of them even dared to enter his compartment on the train.

He'd been alone then. Sitting quietly and cross-legged on the bench, cooling his cheek against the glass. He'd watched his father leave the platform, a dark-skinned witch excitedly searching for something in her trunk and a pair of twins with sandy hair waving their goodbyes to their parents and he'd felt rather hungry. He hadn't been nervous, really. He'd known everything there was to know about the school.

He knew about the Slytherin common room in the dungeons, about the kitchen with its army of elves, he'd seen images of the Great Hall and of the lake and the castle. He knew about the Bloody Baron as if he'd actually met him in person. And from a thousand of his father's rants he also knew about how Dumbledore ruined the school. That was why he didn't feel more than mild scorn for those clueless first years outside. All those stupid children with the wands they didn't deserve and treated like a particularly fascinating toy. His own wand was securely tucked away in his robes.

He'd been just about to sink away from the window into the paddings of his seat when the door burst open. A brown haired boy with the biggest glasses Rodolphus Lestrange had ever seen was standing in the doorway.

"Is this taken?" he bellowed, pointing at one of the seats next to Rodolphus.

Rodolphus cocked an eyebrow. The boy was at least one head taller than him and he nearly stank of Muggle. The clothes, the manners... most of all his overbite, which would have been treated already, had he been raised magically.

"Yes, sorry," said the Lestrange, placing his owl cage at the seat next to him. The boy wasn't leaving, though.

Behind him, another appeared. This one, a ginger-haired, looked older. "Hey, shorty!" The red haired barked at Rodolphus. "You can't have the place for yourself! The train is full."

"Oh I'm sorry," mumbled Rodolphus, "you're welcome to stand."

The boys ignored his wishes and just sat down – the red-haired opposite to him and the Muggle to his right.

"I said-"

"You asking me to hit you?" threatened the younger, obviously encouraged that one of the older boys had his back.

Rodolphus quieted instantly. He'd always been smaller than everybody else. He was hardly taller than his younger brother, so he wasn't exactly inclined to start a more physical argument. Sulkily he slid as far away from the two as he possibly could, which only resulted in giving them even more space.

When the door opened again, a tall boy with shoulder lengthed, plaited, platinum blonde hair entered. Rodolphus thought he recognized the young Malfoy immediately. He surveyed the group with his icy grey eyes before his gaze lingered on the Lestrange boy, who felt oddly ashamed that a Malfoy, of all people, found him in such company.

"You are Lestrange," Malfoy noted, "Stephanus' son, aren't you? Rodolphus..."

Rodolphus was slightly surprised that the other boy even knew his first name and his father's name. Rodolphus had prepared himself for a lot, but even he didn't know the other boy's first name. Not even his parent's names. They were his father's... well 'friends' would be too strong of a word... anyway Rodolphus had had hardly anything to do with them so far, though he certainly knew the most important family names.

He nodded silently. Then he decided that the platinum hair and the haughty expression on his face were enough to justify his first estimation of the other boy being a Malfoy.

"Malfoy," he shared his assumption with the other boys.

"Lucius," said the blonde. "And you are...?" Malfoy looked to the other two. His facial expression contorted slightly when he recognized the older boy's appearance.

"Arthur Weasley," the red haired introduced himself. Surprised, Rodolphus took the boy's appearance in more thoroughly. His father had told him about this family of blood traitors. Obviously, Lucius had known him before – or just recognized the Weasley-look, since he didn't seem startled at all.

"Obviously," he mumbled looking at the last boy. Like Rodolphus, he seemed to be sure he was Muggleborn at first glance. He looked back at Rodolphus. With his eyebrow cocked, he seemed slightly amused.

"Nice company you have...," he joked with an ironic sneer. "Shouldn't we... search more for suiting company for the trip?"

Immediately, he felt relieved that Lucius didn't falsely assume he'd chosen his fellow passengers.

"Nah," the weasel spoke. "Don't be so cocky, Malfoy," he actually sounded a bit threatening. But then he looked to the younger one. "Where did we get here? A Lestrange and a bloody Malfoy...?" he actually spat the names. "I could think of a good deal of people I'd rather be with... I think I prefer standing after all."

Lucius looked enraged as he stepped aside to let the other two pass.

"Better a Squib than a Malfoy. Their stupidity is contagious," mumbled the Weasley, passing the Malfoy and turning Malfoy's frown into a dark scowl.

"You should know. I heard your brother was a Squib, Weasley," Lucius hissed. At least he was trying to sound quick-witted, Rodolphus thought, but even if he did a fairly decent job, his remark sounded a little bit shaky. Still... Rodolphus was impressed – Lucius surely knew a lot.

"You're a first year, too, aren't you? Take care who you spend your time with. Wouldn't want you to bring the Weasley fleas into the Slytherin common room," he jested when the two of them were alone. At least Rodolphus thought it must have been a jest, though Lucius sounded dead serious. "I mean, you do want to get into Slytherin?"

He sat down where the Weasley sat before. Rodolphus nodded.

When the compartment door opened again, two sisters entered who even Rodolphus recognized as the elder Black sisters. Neither of the two seemed to care much about the boys. The elder one seemed to emit a dark aura, he thought, effectively killing any sort of fun he could have had with Malfoy.

He didn't really know whether or not he liked the Malfoy. He seemed annoyingly arrogant. Rodolphus thought that was kind of cool when the mudblood and the blood traitor were around, but he didn't tune down on his haughtiness even when he was alone with Rodolphus. Rod actually was used to arrogant people. His brother was arrogant, and his father too. And Merlin knew Rodolphus as well... But Lucius took that to a whole new level, he realized. Still, as he didn't meet any other first years he'd want to spend time with, he stayed at his side even after they left the Express.

Even now he stood next to Lucius, who didn't even seem to look at the stunning ceiling.

"The candles and the ceiling are bewitched," the Malfoy explained in an annoyed tone to a girl who ecclesiastically craned her head, as if this information could diminish her delight. Rodolphus too hoped she'd calm down since her excitement was rather irritating. But she only looked at the Malfoy with admiration in her eyes and didn't answer nor calmed down.

"I knew," Rodolphus said, more to himself than to Lucius.

"Of course you knew, but she didn't," he explained with a mild smile.

They stopped talking when one of the teachers started reading out the new students' names. Professor McGonagall, she had introduced herself, and Lucius had informed him that she was head teacher of Gryffindor and taught Transfiguration and that she was an ingenious witch, if only she weren't one of Dumbledore's most loyal Muggle-friendly followers.

"Abbott, Logan," was the first name and a stout blonde boy stepped forward. Lucius silently smiled to himself, while Rodolphus excitedly followed the procedure. He'd heard so much of the old hat, but when he started singing before, it was still a shock. He could hardly pull himself together, to stop himself from oohing and ahhing like the Half- and Mudbloods around him.

"Hufflepuff!" the hat screamed after a while and while Rodolphus snorted derisively, applause erupted from the yellow table. Rodolphus grew more nervous by the second, as he watched 'Blackthorne, Serene' join Hufflepuff as well before 'Craster, Ann' was the first in Slytherin and the next two again were put to Hufflepuff. Two Gryffindors, another Slytherin, a Ravenclaw... and so on. Other than Rodolphus, Lucius' didn't seem to have a care in the world...

Finally 'Jorkins, Bertha' was sorted into Ravenclaw drawing ever so close to the letter 'L'.

"Lestrange, Rodolphus," McGonagall shouted and Lucius pushed him forward with a light nudge to the back.

"See you later," he said as if he had no doubt they'd meet again at the Slytherin table in just a few minutes.

Why was Rodolphus so nervous? Did he not feel confident, too? After all, he'd been absolutely sure on the train, hadn't he? Where did all this doubt come from all of a sudden?

On his long way to the chair and the hat, he saw the Muggleborn with the overbite again, who scowled at him. Maybe Weasley had explained to him why, in Rod's and Lucius' eyes, he wasn't worth more than a boring Muggle. With that thought, he sat on the chair and McGonagall donned the hat on his head.

"Sly...," it already screamed through the hall, but then it suddenly stopped. Rodolphus flinched.

"You had me almost fooled, boy," the hat mumbled and for a second, Rod feared everyone would hear what he said. Then it occurred to him; it only spoke in his head. Why had it stopped, though? Was something wrong with him? "Therin" Rod finished the word in his head. The hat knew he belonged in Slytherin. He must know! "Slytherin" he whispered, hoping the hat would hear and abide his wish. But the hat remained stubbornly silent. For a second, he even thought, it had fallen asleep. Searching for help, he tried to look to his fellow first years, but the hat had slid all the way over his eyes and he could hardly see anything at all.

Finally, it spoke again: "Whether I know that you belong to Slytherin?" the hat repeated Rodolphus' own thoughts. "Oh yes... You would be happy in Slytherin." Rodolphus was as if the hat was laughing at him. If he agreed with Rodolphus, why didn't he just put him with the snakes?

"But, little Lestrange, there are things you have yet to learn. Important things. Things you won't learn in Slytherin, but things that could turn you into something great. Someone strong and helpful to this world. But Slytherin won't teach you these things. Without those things, I cannot say whether you will ever find true happiness in life."

Rodolphus didn't understand. "What are you talking about?" he mumbled.

"You will be happy in Slytherin, but it won't turn you into a happy human being. You won't be happy in Hufflepuff, but they can teach you everything you need, to find true happiness in your adult life."

Now Rodolphus understood even less.

"If you don't want to send me to Slytherin nor Hufflepuff, why...-"

"Not so fast, kid," the hat schooled, "you're not a Ravenclaw."

Rodolphus felt rage boiling inside. Did this flea contaminated piece of leather take him for a fool?

"Now? What is it?" the hat asked and it sounded as if it wanted Rodolphus to decide. What kind of a choice was that? The simple thought of going into Hufflepuff was disgraceful. His father would make him regret that, every waking hour of his life – maybe even beyond his death – he wouldn't put it past Stephanus Lestrange. Not to mention what others might think. His father was serving the Dark Lord and Rodolphus was expected to follow his lead... Hufflepuff was not an option. Choosing Hufflepuff would be as good as a death sentence, and the hat must've known this...

"You're certainly no Gryffindor," the hat whispered and it sounded slightly disappointed. "Well then..."

"SLYTHERIN!" It boomed through the hall.

Relieved Rodolphus sank a little bit on his chair. He'd made it. When McGonagall took the hat, he jumped up and hurried to the table at which his ancestors had sat before. The table was cheering and applauding and a slender prefect patted his shoulder hard enough to almost throw him off his feet.

"Lorenz, Elisabeth!" He didn't even pay attention when she was sorted into Gryffindor. He sat next to Ann Carsten. For a second, the thought occurred him that the hat only ever gave him the possibility to choose because he didn't want to force Rodolphus into a position where he'd oppose his father and his ideals and maybe risk his life against his will. But he swatted the thought aside like an annoying insect. He was no Hufflepuff. He belonged in Slytherin.

'Macmillan, Lisa', on the other hand, belonged in Ravenclaw before McGonagall called up "Malfoy, Lucius". At ease with himself, he turned to watch. But he'd hardly turned completely when the hat already bellowed "SLYTHERIN!" This is how it should have been for him, Rodolphus thought grudgingly. But he tried not to show his newfound discomfort and applauded politely.

The Malfoy took his time to find his way to the Slytherin table, strolling and lingering proudly until the hat had already sorted two more students.

"Your sorting took a while," he whispered to Rodolphus as he sat down next to him, but he didn't sound spiteful. It was just a little teasing, Rodolphus knew, but it bothered him nonetheless.

"Did you fear the hat would send me to Gryffindor?" he tried to come with a response. Better Gryffindor than Hufflepuff, he thought... At least that meant he'd have some desirable character traits. Gryffindors were stupid and self-righteous but at least they were brave. Hufflepuffs were just the ones nobody else wanted... If Malfoy knew, he'd nearly been placed in Hufflepuff... Would he still like him? Lucius, whom the hat decided within split seconds to be in Slytherin. Why did he care, anyway? He was in Slytherin, he belonged here!, he chastised himself. And he didn't really like the arrogant bastard to begin with, did he?

"Gryffindor?" Lucius echoed, "Not really."

"You think I'm a coward?" Rodolphus hissed, ignoring that in the meantime, a fourth and a fifth new Slytherin had joined their table.

"I didn't say that," Lucius defended himself before he turned to the new members of house Slytherin to introduce himself in best Malfoy manner.