"Black, Regulus!" Professor McGonagall calls to the frightened crowd of first-years standing before her.

At the sound of his name, a small, nervous looking boy of eleven shuffles his way towards a wooden stool where he is to be seated and Professor McGonagall who is holding the infamous, tattered, old Sorting Hat. As he makes his way towards the front of the Great Hall, everyone in the room seems to be holding their breath, awaiting Regulus' fate. Once seated upon the stool, Professor McGonagall places the hat upon young Regulus' well kempt, black hair, wondering if he will be placed along side his only brother or with his many cousins, not to mention ancestors before him.

"Hmm," ponders the old hat as Regulus holds his breath as well. "A long line of Blacks sorted into Slytherin. Yes, all except one…" it trails off, thinking back two years prior when it sat upon the head of Regulus' brother who was sorted into Gryffindor House. "I sense the potential for greatness. Determined, clever, and ambitious like the ones before you. But also brave, loyal, and chivalrous like one before you… Yes, Gryffindor will help you on your path to greatness," the Sorting Hat continues.

Regulus' heart drops to the pit of his stomach as he gasps and whispers, "no!" With eyes, wide in shock and fear, he thinks back to when his brother was placed into Gryffindor. He remembers how disappointed his mother was at her eldest son and he remembers how his cousins shunned him, the only Gryffindor in the family. He doesn't want the same fate as his brother. He doesn't want to be shunned by the better part of his family, and most importantly, he does not want his mother's disapproval.

"No?" questions the Sorting Hat. "But Gryffindor will help you find your way!"

At these words, Regulus squirms uncomfortably in his seat.

"I can sense your fear associated with Gryffindor. I know you want to stick with tradition and be placed in Slytherin like your ancestors before you. Maybe you're not as brave as I thought you were," remarks the old hat. "Slytherin!" it shouts at last.

Regulus heaves a deep sigh of relief and jumps off the stool, heading for the long table at the end of the Great Hall, filled with cheering students dressed in green and silver robes. As he reaches the farthest table in the room, he manages to find two of his cousins, Bellatrix and Narcissa amongst the many students already seated there and sits down between the two girls. With his back facing the wall, he makes an effort, out of guilt, not to look across the lengthy Great Hall to where his brother, Sirius, is seated with the rest of the other Gryffindor students.