Sorting
Disclaimer: All rights, characters, and places belong to J.K. Rowling.
"Black, Sirius." Professor McGonagal called out.
The first boy to be sorted this year, Sirius, jumped up to the centre where the Sorting Hat sat perched upon a stool. He winked at Professor McGonagal as he sat down on the stool, and glanced over at the Slytherin table. Andromeda gave him an encouraging smile, Bellatrix gave a threatening glare, clearly warning him to behave, and Narcissa gave him an expectant look of approval fitting of a Black. Sirius acknowledged each of his elder cousins before the Hat covered his eyes.
"Well, well, if it's not the Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Ready to carry on the family name and honor in Slytherin."
"Eh, not really." Sirius thought.
"No?"
"Yeah, well, it's just that I don't really want to be in Slytherin; I'm pretty sure that's where I'll end up anyways, but I just don't want to be forced to uphold 'The family honor' and all. That stuff's all fine and good, but I kinda want to be my own guy."
"Quite right, you have quite the rebellious streak in you; want to be free of your family's expectations, do your own thing, make your own name. That takes no small amount of courage, to shun the House of Black, especially when you're the Heir."
"Yeah, I suppose."
"I can give you a push in that direction, if that's what you want."
"You can?"
"All you have to do is ask."
"You mean, to not be in Slytherin?"
"Well, that's the easy way out, but I know you don't want to only go half way. You want to make this big!"
"You're right."
"Of course I'm right. Just say the word and it's yours."
"I want to be..." Sirius faltered. He thought of the fury of his parents, of Bellatrix and that warning look she gave, of the disappointment in Andromeda's eyes when her favorite cousin didn't join her house...Sirius cleared his head and said to the Hat, "You can finish that sentence, can't you?"
"I can, but if it's what you truly want you should say it yourself."
Sirius nodded and thought the name as the Hat shouted out verbally, "GRIFFINDOR!"
Sirius jumped off the stool with renewed vigor. He was branching out from his family! Sure there would be consequences, probably a Howler from his mother in the morning, but let not thoughts trouble him now. Now was his moment of triumph.
There were no applause from the students or staff. They all sat in shocked silence. Over at the Slytherin table, Bellatrix was fuming and looked as if she would murder him. Narcissa stared at him in disbelief that he could ever commit such a crime. Andromeda looked utterly stunned, but when Sirius looked her way, she smiled with the same tenderness as always. Eventually, Professor Dumbledor began his applause and the rest followed, though un-enthusiastically.
Sirius sat down with the rest of his house at their table, the Griffindor table, his table. He was a Griffindor.