A/N: once again I would like to remind the reader that I do not share any of the views expressed. Actually, I'm rather anti-Slytherine/pureblood/death eater, etc.

Chapter 5: Sorted

Up a steep flight of stairs, and into a corridor, already people around me were nervous. They all whispered to each other about what would happen. I held my head high and stood aloof from their anxieties. No matter what faced us beyond the double doors ahead, if my treacherous cousin could face it, I, Bellatrix Black, still true to my family and race, definitely could.

"I hear they make you perform some spell." A dark haired girl murmured.

"No, no, you 'ave to pass a mountain troll, my brother, 'e told me tha'."

"What do you think?" the mudblood who had bumped me on the platform asked.

"I think they should throw out filthy mudbloods like yourself, it's not decent bringing scum like you in, especially not when there are so many good pure wizards." I sniffed and turned away, leaving him open mouthed with stupidity.

A stately woman with greying hair tied in a tight knot at the top of her head, and small square spectacles, came thorough the doors. Immediately the knot of people were silenced.

"Good evening, I am Professor McGonagall, the sorting ceremony is about to begin. You will be sorted into a house, of which there are four, all of equal merit. A house point system is in place, points will be awarded and deducted, the house with the most points at the end of the year will win the house cup. Please follow me."

She lead us through the doors into a large hall. I heard the gasps from those around me. It was a lovely room, the high vaulted ceiling mirrored the night sky outside. Four long tables were placed in a row, one for each house. The staff table was at the front of the room on a raised dias.

At the center of the table sat an ancient looking man with a long silver beard. I knew who he was-Albus Dumbledore, the worst headmaster Hogwarts had had in a very long time. As I stared at the man of who I'd heard so much I thought I could see the craftiness in his expression, the will to overturn the accepted and proper order of the world. It was a shame that I would face Hogwarts with him as headmaster.

Professor McGonagall brought out a three-legged stool with an ancient looking hat on it. I heaved a great sigh of relief when I heard all we had to do was try on the hat, secretly I had been quite anxious.

I stood in line as the sorting began, but all to soon my name was called.

"Black, Bellatrix."

I wiped my sweaty palms on my robes and walked hesitantly forward, my entire focus shifted to the sorting hat. I sat down on the stool, and glancing around put on the hat. A little voice seemed to speak in my ear. Loyalty to race, eh? Betrayal? You'll learn. Bravery, and oh my, yes, I see, well well. Slytherine, I thought, Slytherine, don't betray m, please, Slytherine. Hmm, yes, you'll do well, but be warned...

"SLYTHERINE!" the hat shouted.

I stood up shakily and placed it back on the stool, the Slytherine table was cheering, and I made my unsteady way to it and sat down by my sister.

"Wonderful, Bella! You got sorted!" She hugged me.

I looked at the people around us. They were all older than I. At a glance I could tell that they were purebloods; already I was noticing the different families represented at this table: Goyle, Nott, Avery and of course Black.

Shifting my attention back to the cermony I watched as Regulus went up to be sorted. He placed the hat on his head. Almost immediatly I saw his face whiten, he gripped the stool, knuckles white. My stomach dropped. He wasn't going to be in Slytherine, he would join Sirius in Gryffindor and be another betrayal to the family. A few seconds later the hat shouted out "SLYTHERINE!" I heaved a huge sigh of relief and watched as he got down shakily and walked to our table. Collapsing beside me I hugged him. He smiled weakly, I could tell that he was trying hard not to shake.

I didn't bother to watch the rest of the Sorting, but rather sat scanning the faces of the hall. It struck me how few purebloods were present. The majority of them were sitting at our table. I would estimate that most of the students were half-bloods. But still, the number of mudbloods present was astounding. I had heard that Dumbledore had been lax in his acceptance of students, but I hadn't realized that it was this bad.

"Don't worry," Narcissa told me, recognizing my look, "you won't have that many classes with them. They're not a problem."

"The worst is that they don't recognize a wizard when they see one and never show the proper respect." Drawled a voice to Narcissa's left. I looked around her and saw a handsome boy with white blond hair.

He held out his hand to me, "Lucious, Lucious Malfoy" I shook his hand.

"Bellatrix Black" A Malfoy! One of the best known families, aside from ours, and a cousin. How splendid to be acquainted with some one of such status. But, that's what my parents would think, they would love to know that their daughters had the chance of being invited to a function of the Malfoys, after all, they always were.

"Lovely to meet you Bellatrix," he continued, ever a gentleman, "I know of your family, cousin, and have of course heard a good deal about you from Narcissa." I looked at Narcissa, who smiled and turned back to Lucius.

"She's really quite perfect," she told him, "knows more spells than I do probably." Lucious smiled and nodded. I would have liked to say something more, but at that moment food appeared on the plates. I hadn't realized how hungry I was, Regulus and I each took large helpings of the steak and kidney pie in front of us, conversing in low tones about the affluent families around us.

" Of course," Regulus pointed out, "we're just as good as any of them. Blacks are one of the oldest and most respected noble houses."

I felt more content that I had in a long time, sitting in the Great Hall, at a table of good wizards and witches. I was looking forward to what adventure might come my way.