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Beta: Landartheconqueror

Chapter 6

"Regulus? Are you alright?" Lulu's voice broke through like a ray of sunshine bursting through a stormy sky.

Everything immediately cleared, and Regulus noticed that they weren't even sitting in the boats anymore. They were now waiting outside a huge double door…

"Um... When did we get here?" Regulus asked, more than a little relieved that he had apparently skipped the crossing over the lake part. He really hoped he wouldn't ever have to do it again. Ever.

Water was the worst thing, even more when it was in a large concentrated area like a lake. Regulus shuddered again before turning back to Lulu who was watching him, a little worried. "You can't remember?"

Regulus chuckled a little shakily. "Sorry, I just really hate water like that."

Lulu raised an eyebrow but let the subject drop since it seemed that Regulus really didn't want to talk about it.

"So, how exactly does this work?" Lulu asked him as they stayed on the steps, a ways away from the majority of their fellow first years.

"Well, there are four Houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. When we go in there, they'll put the Sorting hat on our heads and it will sort us into the House we belong to. That's all I can remember from what my parents told me." Regulus replied, happy to talk about something else.

"Alright..." Lulu murmured, scrunching up her face in thought. "So which one do you think that you'll be in then?"

"Slytherin…" Regulus replied a little hesitantly. "My family is from a long line of Slytherin's. The only one to not get in is my brother.

"Is it because he's such a jerk?" Lulu asked with a grin.

Regulus couldn't help but laugh at that a little. "No, actually. He was sorted into Gryffindor. They're supposed to be the brave and daring ones of the school. Slytherin's are more on the resourceful and cunning side. People from Gryffindor think Slytherin are stuck up snobs though. At least that's what my brother told me."

Lulu raised an eyebrow at that. "He's got a lot of ridiculous opinions, now doesn't he?"

Regulus smiled again. He really liked smiling and Lulu seemed to make him do that a lot.

"Lulu!" Two voices called out suddenly from behind them.

Regulus turned to see her older brother's walking over to them.

"Hey, idiots. What are you doing here?" Lulu asked with a smirk.

"Well, baby sis. Since we are transfers, we have to be sorted before we can sit at one of the tables, or so one of our lovely professors explained to us, so here we are!" The one with blond hair replied.

Lulu nodded her head with a smile. "That means me and Regulus can make fun of you!"

"Make fun of us? Why would you want to make fun of your dear older brothers?" The light brown haired brother asked with mock hurt in his voice.

"Because I can." Lulu smirked and grabbed a hold of Regulus hand, pulling him away with her.

"You're so mean! We have a mean sister Bruce! Just wait, you're going to regret it! We'll embarrass the heck out of you!"

"I dare you to try!" Lulu called back over her shoulder.

Lulu stopped pulling as they got to the top of the stairs. She didn't seem to notice that her screaming had caught the attention of the rest of the first years. Feeling their eyes on them, Regulus couldn't help but blush. He hated when that many people looked at him, especially when he didn't even know them.

"What do you think that they're going to do?" Regulus asked her, trying to ignore the stares.

"Something idiotically stupid. They'll only end up embarrassing themselves though, and more than likely it'll warrant a letter home which mother will reply to, and they'll each get another Howler." Lulu grinned evilly. "I love when she sends them Howlers. I used to listen to her when she made them, I'd sneak something in there just after she was done with one."

Regulus took a letter from Lulu's book and raised his eyebrow at her. "You're evil."

"Yup." Lulu agreed, not even a little ashamed of it.

Suddenly, the double doors opened, revealing a lady with a witch's hat and robes.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am professor McGonagall." Her voice carried far and the first years stopped talking to each other and turned towards her. Lulu and Regulus' eyes were glued to her as she continued with her speech. The professor went through the explanation that Regulus had told Lulu already, except with a bit more detail and history.

"I can't believe there was someone with the name Salazar. Who would name their kids that?" Lulu murmured to Regulus as the professor kept talking.

"I'm descended from him." Regulus whispered back and smirked as Lulu looked wide eyed at him.

"Alright, follow me." Professor McGonagall said, turning around and walking through the doors. The student's followed closely behind.

Lulu and Regulus were the first ones to go into the Great Hall. Regulus couldn't believe his eyes. He was pretty sure that his mouth was slightly open with amazement. He then closed his mouth as he spotted his brother at one of the tables. That must have been the Gryffindor table.

Regulus felt Lulu nudge his side, and when he turned to look at her, she made a rude gesture at Sirius who practically turned red.

Regulus' eyes bulged open in shock. Lulu just smirked, then put the innocent face on.

"Where did you learn that?!" Regulus sputtered out.

"I have three older brothers. Where do you think I learned it from?" Lulu giggled sweetly.

It sent shudders down Regulus' spine. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Lulu just kept on smiling.

After that, they both stood still, watching and waiting. The first student called was Bruce Sosa, Lulu's older brother. Since there were transfers, the Headmaster decided to do things a bit differently then usual.

"Gryffindor!" The Sorting hat shouted out as it sat on Bruce's head. With a shrug at Manuel and Lulu, he headed over to the cheering table.

"That fits him pretty well." Lulu whispered to Regulus and Manuel who had somehow made his way over to them just before Bruce had been called up.

"Manuel Sosa."

Manuel gave Lulu a kiss on the cheek, smirked as Lulu made disgusted noises, and headed up the steps and to the stool. The Sorting hat was placed on his head and then there was silence.

A long silence.

Lulu fidgeted a bit and Regulus had to hold back a few giggles as he watched his friend grow impatient.

"Gryffindor!" The Sorting hat finally shouted out.

"About damned time, that took forever!" Lulu grumbled and she watched her brother head towards the Gryffindor table and sit next to Bruce.

"Does Gryffindor fit him too?" Regulus asked, as another name was called.

"Kinda, from what the traits usually are, Manuel could fit in Gryffindor or Slytherin. He could even be in Ravenclaw. He's a smart one- When he wants to be, that is." Lulu replied as the Sorting hat shouted.

"Hufflepuff!"

"Ravenclaw!"

A few more names were called before Regulus finally heard his name.

That's when he started to sweat. Would he be put in Slytherin? If he wasn't placed there, his parents would have a fit, and he didn't think he'd fit anywhere else anyway... But, if he was placed in Slytherin... Lulu might not be there.

With a gulp, Regulus sat down on the stool. He saw that everyone was looking at him, then the hat was placed on his head and his view of all those faces was cut off.

:Well, well... Regulus Black... hmmm, you are a puzzle, aren't you? Gryffindor or Slytherin...

Not like your parents, oh no, not at all... but not like that brother of yours either...

Let me see... What's this? Ahhh... I see.:

"Slytherin!"

The hat was lifted, and made his way to the only table that was clapping. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Lulu gave him a thumbs up and a smile.

Regulus gave her a smile back before he sat down at an empty seat, saying hello to the people closest to him as they nodded to him and introduced themselves.

Then he waited.

And watched.

After what seemed like ages later, Lulu Sosa was finally called.

Regulus couldn't help but sit up in his seat a little, not taking his eyes off of her as she walked up to the hat, a big smirk on her face as she turned to face the students, her eyes finding Regulus almost within seconds.

"Slytherin!"

Regulus couldn't help but let his eyes go round, he couldn't believe his ears. Not even a second on her head and the hat had decided. A smile made its way on his face and he watched the girl hop off the stool and skip over towards him. He immediately shifted over to make room for her, and she plopped down next to him with a smile.

"That was fun! When do we get to eat?" Lulu asked as she glanced around the table.

Regulus just smiled. A bubble of happiness growing bigger. He really had a friend.

Finally.