Just Kids

A Marauders Fic

Summary

Their lives will shape the fate of the world, magic and muggle. They will help drive back the darkness, their names will be known to everyone; they will be loved and hated in turn. Not quite yet though, right now…they're just kids.

Disclaimer

You are gullible if you believe the following:

That the word gullible has been taken out of the dictionary.

&

That I am our beloved JKR. I'm not; I don't own the rights to the Harry Potter books or any of the characters in them. I am not making any money out of this so please don't sue. Since I don't have much money you wouldn't get much out of me anyway.

Authors Note

In this chapter the Marauders are finally sorted and there's a surprise in store for James.

Hope you enjoy it!

A Sirius Moment

Sirius had never thought of himself as a coward, he felt that you had to be brave to survive a lifetime at No. 12 Grimauld Place where every person, creature and thing hates your guts, but now he was showing all the symptoms of acute terror, clammy hands, racing pulse and a strange feeling in his stomach that made him wish that he hadn't eaten so many sweets on the train. It took all of Sirius' willpower to force himself to follow Professor Shadow and the rest of the new first years into the Great Hall.

A thousand pairs of eyes stared at them, some welcoming siblings or friends, some calculating and some just plain curious. Sirius felt hostile stares emitting from the Slytherin table, Malfoy and his cronies had obviously been gossiping about the Mudblood loving Black. Of course knowing inter-house politics some of the owners of the stares would be positively gleeful about the prospect of a renegade Black joining them in Slytherin, anything that showed weakness was certain to be exploited and he was defiantly a flaw in the Black clan's defences. The burden of all those gazes weighed down on him as he desperately searched the crowd for a friendly face, there was no one on the Gryfindor table or at the Huffelpuff but in the mass of students at the Ravenclaw table he spotted Andromeda, the one person who could understand exactly what he was going through.

Andromeda always looked much smaller then she really was, mostly because she was constantly squashed between two much bigger people, when her family visited the Black family home it was her sisters that flanked her. The adults pretended that it stemmed from a need to protect their "weaker sister, you know I'm not surprised she was Sorted in to Ravenclaw, off in her own little world half the time, or her nose in a book, I mean she just wouldn't have survived." Sirius however knew that Narcissia and Belatrix's felt only contempt for Andromeda and that the only reason they inflicted them selves with her presence was to prevent the two white sheep of the Black family from plotting together. Despite their almost constant supervision Sirius had found an ally in Andromeda and her visits had been the best things that ever happened at No.12 Grimmauld Place. When Andromeda saw that he'd found her she gave him a little wave and in return Sirius managed a weak smile.

His respite was short lived though, as the new first years continued up the aisle between the tables his fears about the upcoming ceremony returned to haunt him. Unusually they didn't contain worries about what the Sorting would consist of or what the result would be, instead Sirius was dreading the time when Professor Shadow would read out his name, revealing to James not only his true heritage but the fact that he had lied about it. Soon, he thought glumly, their budding friendship would turn to contempt and hate from James, especially if he was Sorted into Slytherin.

He backed away quickly from that thought, even when life at Grimauld Place reached rock bottom he had never really believed that fate would be cruel enough to force him in to Slytherin but now with the Sorting staring him in the face he wasn't so sure…

The Hall had gone silent, eyes that had once been staring at the new additions were now looking at a three legged stool on which sat a very battered, old and dirty pointed hat. Sirius couldn't see the attraction but none the less his eyes were drawn to it; the only thing in the hall that didn't seem to be judging him. Then to his slight surprise (he had lived all his life in the wizarding world) the Hat began to sing.

Sirius was not remotely interested in the song; he had never been one for poems and this one didn't tell him anything he didn't know already. The story had been one of his bedtime stories when he was very young, it was the tale of how the Founders had got together and started Hogwarts. Of course, his story had been told from Salazar's point of view, how he had tried to protect the school from the dangers of bringing in Muggle born children, the merits of Slytherin house above the rest and the way he had reluctantly left the school when it became apparent that he couldn't convince his colleagues to see his side of the argument. He found that he much preferred the Hats version, even if he did find it slightly boring it was a relief that there none of the stories he had heard from his cousins had turned out to be true.

As the Hat fell silent every one applauded, it bowed to the four houses then returned to its comatose state; Professor Shadow stepped forward unrolling a long parchment scroll.

"When I call out your name you will step forward and place the Hat on your head, it will sort you into your house."

Sirius began to inwardly curse, why did his name have to be Black? Why couldn't it have been Xavier or Zallderford? His name was going to be called out in less then five minutes and then his life would be over, one way or another. Then again if his name hadn't been Black he wouldn't have been in this mess in the first place. Any way he looked at it he was doomed, a hundred metres up without a broom to his name. Even if by some fluke he did get Sorted into Gryffindor there was no way he would be able to convince James to forgive him.

"Black, Belatrix" Damn, there was no one in his whole year with a surname beginning with an A, Merlin!

Belatrix swooped down on the Hat, sank gracefully on to the stool and placed the Hat reverently on her head; the effect was rather spoiled when it slipped down over her ears and eyes. Predictably the Hat yelled out "SLITHERIN" within seconds of it touching her hair; when she emerged from beneath the Hat she was wearing what could only be described as a smirk of absolute triumph, she almost skipped to her table where she was greeted by applause and a discreet hug from her sister.

"Black, Sirius" For a moment he considered pretending that he hadn't heard or running away, even pretending that he was Sirius Blake. On his left side he could feel James turning to stare at him; maybe he was just looking to see the guy with the same last name as his friend or possibly he was beginning to figure it out. Sirius stepped forward, heard James gasp and wanted to curl up, die and be swallowed up by the earth. The walk up to the Hat seemed to take forever, his former friends gaze burned deeper into his back with every step he took and his body felt like it was made out of lead. He pulled the Hat down over his eyes desperate to get away from James' angry, accusing eyes.

"Well you are in a bit of bother and no mistake; I can safely say though, that you have none of the qualities necessary to go into Slytherin."

Sirius let a small "Yes" escape him, the Hat seemed amused as it continued in its dry voice.

Somehow I don't feel that you would have suited it. Gryffindor however, is a perfect match, it will teach you well…perhaps too well…

The Hat was silent for a while, Sirius was growing more impatient, if Gryffindor was his true home why didn't the Hat hurry up and put him there.

Come on, what are you waiting for Sort me already, Gryffindor, Gryffindor.

Very well, GRYFFINDOR!

Sirius was in such a rush to rip the Hat off that he didn't hear its last words of warning.

On your own head be it.

I liked writing this chapter, geting inside Sirius' head is so much fun, the last bit was really dificult though so reveiw and tell me how I did.

Thanks to:

Amalynne O'hara: An excellent reveiw, I know I thought that it must have happened in their sixth year too but then I read a very convincing argument at a site called red hen and I really agree with it. You should check out some of the stuff there it is quite controvercial but very thought provoking. Thank you so much for your complement of Sirius I am glad you think I have done him well. You should like this chapter alll Sirius.

brenngt14: Thanks, I'll update and you reveiw.

marauding-siriusly:Cliffhangers are the sign of either a good writer or a mean writer, you choose which I am.

mossh:Thanks