Sirius Black

In

Fitting In

"Black, Narcissa." McGonagall called.

An eleven year old Narcissa Black walked up to the stool and the hat was placed on her. After one second…

"SLYTHERIN!"

Narcissa smirked and walked over to the Slytherin table as they clapped.

"See you at the table, cousin." Narcissa said as she passed Sirius.

Sirius gulped.

"Black, Sirius." McGonagall said.

The boy in question walked up to the stool. The hat was placed on his head. After five seconds, the hat screamed out the least expected answer.

Ah. Another Black. Yet you are much more different than the others. I know JUST where to put you.

'Here it comes' Sirius thought as he braced for hearing his dreaded fate.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The muggleborns started to clap before realizing everyone else, including Sirius, was shocked into silence.

"What's going on?" Melissa whispered to Lily.

Lily shrugged.

'Are you serious?' Sirius asked.

No. That would be you.

The hat came off and Sirius went to the table where he sat in a secluded spot.

0000

That night,

Sirius went onto bed instead of hanging out in the common room. He may be a Black, but he wasn't dumb. He knew most of the Gryffindors wouldn't welcome him.

"Is he okay?" Lily asked the boys as they watched Sirius go into the dorm.

"I…don't know." Remus answered.

"Why did no one clap?" Melissa asked.

"Because he's a Black." James said. "They are some of the largest supporters of You-Know-Who."

"Well, this Black can't be all bad." Spica said. "He was placed in Gryffindor. And he is kind of cute."

"I wonder if the hat is capable of making mistakes." John thought.

"We better get to bed." Frank said.

With that, Peter, Remus, James, Frank, and Kingsley walked upstairs to the dorm and noticed the curtains around Sirius' bed were drawn.

"Okay." Kingsley said noticing this. "Either he's VERY tired, or he probably thinks he's too good for us to stay up and chat. What do you think, Potter?"

"Personally." James said with a yawn. "I wouldn't blame him for the first choice."

"He sure has a weird way of making friends." Peter said.

0000

A few hours later,

Sirius peeked out of the curtains around his bed and looked around. Once he was determined his roommates were asleep, he slipped out of the room and into the hallways. He needed time to think and Peter was snoring so loud it could wake the dead in Australia. Besides, he needed to talk to the Headmaster. He hoped that the elderly man was still awake.

After a few minutes, Sirius bumped into someone as he turned the corner.

"I'm sorry." Sirius apologized.

"That is quiet alright." A male voice said.

Sirius froze as he recognized the Headmaster.

"I…I…" Sirius stuttered.

"I was on my way to the kitchens for a late night snack." Dumbledore said. "Would you care to join me?"

"Uh…Sure?"

0000

In the kitchens,

"So all you have to do is tickle the pear?" Sirius asked. "Ingenious."

"Yes. The founders knew what they were doing."

"Not all of the founders." Sirius muttered.

"Oh?" Dumbledore asked.

"It's these stupid pure-blood antics developed by Slytherin." Sirius explained. "It's giving pure-bloods a bad name. Well, not all the pure-bloods. Just the ones who feel that muggleborns don't belong."

"What is your opinion of muggleborns?" Dumbledore asked.

"If they show the talent, then there is no reason why they shouldn't be allowed." Sirius explained his reasoning. "But for some reason, my parents, brother, cousins, aunts, and uncles can't grasp that concept. Oh no! My family! They are going to blow a fuse when they find out I'm in Gryffindor. Maybe I could live with Andy and Ted." (Andromeda and Ted Tonks)

"I'm assuming you weren't wandering the halls for a bit of fresh air." Dumbledore said

"Professor, why did the hat put me in Gryffindor after putting my own cousin in Slytherin?"

"You family is not the only one not completely in one house." Dumbledore said. "The hat had a reason for placing you in Gryffindor. Your opinion in muggleborns is quite standard for Gryffindors."

"It would help if people weren't avoiding me like the plague." Sirius said.

"Are they avoiding you, or are you avoiding them?" Dumbledore pointed out.

That got Sirius thinking.

"It's perfectly natural to have fears Mr. Black. One would have to be extremely foolish not to. Fears come in all shapes and sizes from bugs to death. If I'm not mistaken, you fear rejection and betrayal therefore, you afraid to make friends."

"Well, it would help if they actually came to talk to me." Sirius stated. "I mean, if they had said, 'Hey Black! Come and chat with us!' then I would have. Hell, the boys didn't even check to see if I was asleep or not when they came in later."

"Give it time, Mr. Black." Dumbledore told the boy. "The others will see you for the Gryffindor you are instead of the Slytherin your family wants you to be."

"Are you serious?" Sirius asked.

"No. I believe that would be you." Dumbledore said.

0000

The next morning at breakfast,

Again, Sirius was left alone. He noticed the rest of the Gryffindors sitting almost as far away from him as possible. Suddenly, the mail came. One owl dropped a scarlet envelope in front of Sirius.

"Black got a Howler." Spica explained to her muggleborn friends.

Carefully Sirius opened it ignoring the dead silence of the Great Hall.

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! HOW DARE YOU GET SORTED INTO GRYFFINDOR! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE BLACK FAMILY! YOU MARCH YOURSELF RIGHT UP TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE AND DEMAND THAT YOU GET RESORTED!" the voice of Mrs. Black yelled

Everyone turned towards him to see his reaction. Sirius looked over to Dumbledore. It was like they were having a discussion with their eyes. Dumbledore seemed to ask if that was what he wanted.

Sirius shook his head no and went on eating ignoring the ranting and ravings of his mother as she continued about how muggleborns should not be accepted and that Gryffindors are blood traitors. James noticed this and seemed to be deep in thought. Then he smiled and turned to John.

"You know. Maybe Black won't be that bad." James said

"It's worth a shot." John told him.

"You know…" James said. "I'm going to do what I should have done in the first place."

James got up and started to walk towards Sirius like a leader off to deliver a final warning to intruders as the letter burned.

James stopped at Sirius. Sirius looked up and saw Potter standing next to him with his arms crossed. Then, James smiled and stuck out his hand.

"Welcome to Gryffindor." James said to Sirius. "I'm James Potter."

"Sirius Black." Sirius introduced himself while taking the hand and shaking it.

"Is anyone sitting here?" James asked pointing to the empty seat.

"No one, Gryffindor nor Slytherin, comes within a ten foot radius of me." Sirius answered before adding jokingly. "I don't know why. I showered this morning. Of course that's probably why the Slytherins aren't coming near me. They can't stand a CLEAN smell."

James took the seat.

"So, I guess this whole Gryffindor thing is fairly new to you, huh?" James guessed.

"A little." Sirius said. "But if you lot share my views on my family's views then it shouldn't be too hard."

"What are your views?" James asked.

"I think this whole, Muggleborns shouldn't be allowed to learn magic is a load of c--." Sirius said. "And the term 'mudblood' is rude and mean."

"Play any Quidditch?" James asked.

"A little." Sirius said. "I'm a pretty good beater. Especially when against my brother and cousins."

"What else do you do for fun?" James asked.

"Well, I love to prank. Especially my brother." Sirius said.

James grinned.

"You know, Sirius," James said making sure everyone heard him use Sirius' first name, "I think we're going to get along just fine. I'm a bit of a prankster myself. Ever since Hogwarts was founded, Potters have been pranksters. And our favorite targets have been Slytherins."

"I hope we get along just fine." Sirius said. "I have some pretty good ideas for when Regulus and Bella come to Hogwarts. And I'm certain my dear cousin would love to find out the true meaning of teamwork. It's something I've wanted to try for a long time."

"What do you know about the one that never seems to wash his hair?" James said. "I don't like the way he sneers at Gryffindors."

"Who? Snape? His mother's an old friend of the family. Her and my mother tried to make us best friends. I told him that when I become friends with him is the day he willingly washes his hair and it looks clean. We've been enemies ever since."

Once the Gryffindors saw James Potter, of one of the most respected Gryffindor families, become friends with Sirius Black, they started whispering.

"I can't believe Potter is making friends with Black." Kingsley said.

"Why not?" Melissa asked.

"Because Potters are known for being on the light and Blacks are known for being on the dark." Spica explained.

"From what I've heard," Lily said "Black's family's views on muggleborns is much like my sister's views on magic. If Black is dead set against their views, I think we should properly welcome him into Gryffindor."

"And I know JUST the way." A prefect said.

0000

In Transfiguration, Remus passed a note to James.

Keep Black away from the common room for an hour after classes.

0000

"You know where the kitchens are?" James asked his new friend after classes as they walked to the kitchens.

"Last night I went wandering." Sirius said. "You know where they are?"

"My Dad told me." James said.

After the two met the house-elves, it was time to get back to the common room. However, Filch was on patrol

"What do we do?" Sirius asked as they hid from the caretaker behind a suit of armor.

"We use my cloak." James said pulling a silver cloak from his bag.

"I highly doubt…" Sirius started as he turned to face his new friend. When he saw what type of cloak James was talking about, he gapped. "That's a…"

"Shhh." James said. "Don't tell anyone yet."

He then wrapped the cloak around the two and they marched off towards the Fat Lady's portrait.

0000

"That was so exciting." Sirius said as the two laughed when they got to the safety of the portrait.

"I know. We'll have to do that again some time." James said.

"And maybe add a little something to the Slytherins' food." Sirius added. "James…I can't thank you enough."

"For what?" James asked.

"For giving me this chance." Sirius said. "I…I was so scared I wouldn't fit in. Now if the other Gryffindors could like me."

James smirked and turned to the Fat Lady.

"Leo." He said.

The portrait swung open.

"After you." James said.

Sirius stepped through the portrait followed by James.

"SURPRISE!"

Sirius jumped as he was greeted by the entire Gryffindor house (minus the Head Teacher). There was a sign that said WELCOME TO GRYFFINDOR FIRST YEARS

"Sorry we were a little…reluctant to get to know you." A seventh year said to Sirius. "We were just caught up in the shock. We weren't expecting another Black so soon after Andy left."

"Well, I think I'll be the last Black here for a good while." Sirius said. "But…why wasn't this done last night."

"This is more for you than us." Remus said "Kind of an apology for not waking you up last night to include you in the fun."

"You guys didn't have to do this." Sirius said.

"We wanted to." Lily said. "From what's been explained, my sister is much like your family. I can understand what you must be feeling."

"You know." The prefect who came up with this little party said. "I think we should do what Black suggested."

Everyone looked at him confused.

"Do this again next year for the first years." He explained. "But that night. I'm sure we can get the house-elves to pull it off."

"Stop talking Eustace." A fifth year girl, his girlfriend said. "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"

A seventh year waved his wand and music started playing.

"Where you in on this?" Sirius asked James.

"I was just told to keep you busy." James said as Peter, Remus, and John walked up to them

"I don't believe we've formally met." Remus said to Sirius. "I'm Remus Lupin."

"Peter Pettigrew."

"Jonathan Newton." John said. "But you can call me 'John'."

"Sirius Black." Sirius introduced himself.

For the first time in his life, Sirius felt like he was fitting in, having fun, and more importantly, being himself.

The End