Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters. I only own the plot and a few characters I made up to help shape our heroes.

AN: As my Beta reader is currently unavailable, most of this has only been viewed by my eyes (though I did get a lot of help on the song). Edits and suggestions are always welcome, constructive criticism fits that. Any comments making fun of anything will be deleted. Thank you!

September 1st, 1971

He wasn't the first by any means, there were at least two people ahead of him from what he had heard. Maybe if he was, they would have forgotten all about him. Chalked it all up to oddity and sighed in relief because all the others were normal. But no, he just had to be a black.

Walking into the Great Hall was an experience, to say the least. Sirius had learned to cool his expression into a mask of calm while looking straight ahead, but his mind was racing. After the initial ant feeling was stepped on by the prankster in him, ideas flooded through him as he caught things in his peripheral vision. There was a ceiling for one so if they did anything with levitation, no one would be in serious danger. He resisted the urge to smirk and mentally jotted down a few other things, like how they were going to have to figure out how the illusions worked. He finally took his place with the other first years, bumping James' shoulder lightly. He almost tuned out the beginning of the sorting ceremony but then they brought out an old hat who cleared its voice and began to sing.

When I was sewn all that time ago,

They gave me trick apon to learn.

People's heads I sit upon,

Their path I discern.

Gryffindor gave me bravery,

To look into your heads,

From Ravenclaw her wits,

To tell you what they said.

Hufflepuff gave me honor,

To keep the houses strong,

From Slytherin his ambition,

To help you get along.

Godric Gryffindor taught the brave,

Who would stand in the line of fire.

He matured their arrogance,

Made them someone to admire.

Rowena Ravenclaw taught the witty and smart,

Whose learning could not be stopped.

She directed their minds,

So their classes would not be flopped.

Helga Hufflepuff taught the honorable,

Those whose loyalty could not be squashed.

She taught them who to trust,

And taught a blind man's cost.

Salazar Slytherin taught the cunning,

Who used tongues instead of swords.

He taught them what was grey and what was dark,

How to protect friends from the untoward.

Come sit upon this stool,

Where blood matters not.

I will sort you by your values,

And what you need to be taught.

If he had had anything in his mouth when the last verse was sung, he would have choked or done a very impressive spit take. He knew the song changed every year, did the Hat know about the blood purists? All the talk of staying united, especially surrounding Slytherin and ignoring blood, could it be a warning for what was going to come? Hey, slow down. Your job is to survive the Sorting, first year and summer back home. Relax.

"Antion, Charles." Ravenclaw, he slid easily into the benches and began whispering to his housemates. Half-blood, probably asking about classes and homework. "Blach, Hannah." Hufflepuff. She wouldn't fit anywhere else, most muggle borns go there. But then he remembered what the hat said and quickly shut off those thoughts. "Black, Sirius."

When his name was called, he sent a thumbs up to James who looked like he was having a worse time than the one actually getting sorted. Both boys knew what would happen if something went wrong today. He rolled his eyes and then sent a wink to the girls from the boat, appearaning the ever confident pureblood. But if anyone cared to look, they could tell he was shaking.

The hat was placed like she was ready to rip it right back off like all the others, but there was only silence in the hall. Don't fit in with the rest of them do you? Even the hat knew it, if he was right about who was in his head. What house do you want, boy? You could be a Slytherin with that cunning charm of yours or a Hufflepuff with your loyalty and drive to protect your friends. Or maybe Gryffindor, they'd but that hero complex to good use instead what you're doing now.

He knew what his family would say if they heard about this conversation. It would be a disgrace that he wasn't placed in Slytherin already and even worse that it wasn't even a debate between Slytherin and Ravenclaw like it had been for for Andromeda. If he was put in one of the other two…

But you were still happy to hear one of them and want to be sorted there. I think you'll fit right in with that group, just keep that charm in check or you'll cause more damage in that group than any other house. The hat cleared it's voice once again to get everyone's attention, even though the hall was silent with anticipation. Even thirty seconds deliberation was strange for a Black. "It's got to be...Gryffindor!"

There was silence, even from Mcgonagall as he walked over to take his seat. He kept his head up and avoided looking anyone in the eye, sitting down where there was plenty of room between him and everyone else.

He watched as the person after him was sorted. "Bones, Alice." She soon found herself a seat across from him even though there was plenty of room anywhere else. She extended an olive branch in the form of a wary smile. "I'm Alice, Alice Bones."

"I heard...I'm Sirius." He stuck out his hand to shake and relaxed when she took it, her own shoulders releasing their previous tension. "I promise I'm not as bad as the rest of my family, I mean I got sorted into the best house at Hogwarts so that's gotta say something." He tried throwing her his signature smile that would have made any pure blooded girl swoon.

If there was anyone who could be more done with his antics than James, it was going to be this girl. He could already tell. "I heard." She sent the charming smile right back and his heart right about stopped in its tracks. He already liked this girl. When a red head eagerly joined them, Alice quickly introduced them both. "Both of us are purebloods but I promise I don't bite, but I can't speak for Sirius over there."

"Hey!" He pouted as the other two laughed, his mask slipping into a true smile as he got to know them. "You're Lily, right? Sorry about on the train, I hate it when people make fun of the houses." Specifically a few, but she didn't need to know that.

"I'm sure that's all it was." But she was still talking to him so it was a start.

"Lupin, Remus!" He was almost certain that this was when they were going to tell him that they found out his secret and he was going to be sent to the woods to survive, or die, on his own. As long as he was away from the grounds, the other students would be safe. When he stepped forward though, Mcgonagall just gestured to the stool.

Let's see; you've got that pack mentality so you'd learn a lot from the Hufflepuffs in that aspect, but you're more of an explorative learner than someone to sit in a class. Ravenclaw would keep you on track to do great things, but no I think I got it. You want to protect people not because you don't value your own life like you think, but because you believe others are worth more. Your loyalty will be a great asset, but you must choose your pack wisely. "Yes, I think we agree...Gryffindor!"

Remus was too stunned to say anything and had been wide eyed underneath the brim of darkness since the hat so easily brushed over his condition as his mother called it. Monstrosity was more like it, but he climbed off the stool and made his way over to the other Gryffindor first years anyway. The hat easily brushed over blood status in the song, but did that include me? He sat down next to the two girls and stared at the table in wonder. He was officially a student at Hogwarts. Now to keep from getting kicked out…

Usually his anxiety was a liar and just held him back from doing things, as most people's anxiety did. So when he watched the people in front of him get sorted, he told himself that his was going to be normal. He was okay with any house he got and there was nothing that was going to make him stand out. There was a hand squeezing his, Aphrodite's face like marble as she looked at the hat that decided the course of their lives. "We're going to be okay." He didn't know if that was more for his sake or her's.

He climbed slowly up to the stool and almost tripped getting onto it. There was no way this could get any more embarrassing, but life just loved to prove him wrong. He swung his feet lightly to keep his balance, white knuckles holding tightly to the rim under his bum. There was silence, long enough that he almost asked if the hat was broken.

There was a quiet laugh in the back of his mind, like an old man sitting in his rocking chair reading the funny pages of a newspaper. You boys are going to get along like wildfire in the dry season aren't you. But which ones? You could go to Slytherin and become part of a powerful force, your cunning wit would mature and you'd have a snake's tongue. But if you went to Gryffindor, you'd find a pack that will do great things. You are quite the interesting case, you'd fit in either house and have almost the same path. Will you take power, great things? What do you want to find? That was way too much to think about, plus the fact that there was a hat talking to him in his head.

"Um..." He closed his eyes when he found the world was waiting for him, he just wanted it to stop. Can you hear my thoughts? It was a silly question, of course it could, but he needed to know anyway. So if I understand this correctly, I can pick what house I want to go into? Can I just go with whatever my friends are going to be?

There was that laugh again. It made him feel like a child who was asking why the sky was blue and the answer was debating on whether or not to give the real reason or an uncomplicated fake one. Maybe I should put you in Ravenclaw, all these loopholes and questions. There was a pause as he rubbed his chin. You ask about friends instead of jumping on the chance for power and greatness. I can not place you with the girls you know, I can tell you that now. But I can place you where you will thrive and find where you belong. Though Slytherin might actually fit your personality better…

No! I want to be placed where you were thinking of before. I don't care if my friends aren't there, I can talk to them in class. He had learned to control his tongue but not his thoughts, they were where he was free to speak what he thought was the truth without retribution. But now someone was listening. He crossed his arms over his chest to draw himself inward like he would be hit for being rude to the Sorting Hat.

This time the laugh wasn't quiet, it was warm and joyous like someone just announced they were getting chocolate lava cake. I thought that would show your true colors. And now I know just what they are. "Gryffindor!"

"What was the time on that?" It was a whisper from Mcgonagall, but the dead silence carried it throughout the room. "Five minutes! It seems we've had a hat stall." She helped Peter off the stool, holding his shoulders so he wouldn't fall when his head started spinning. "Welcome to my house young man, I'll see you in class." She let him go slowly, watching him with a face that reflected his own concern.

The rest of the night was a blur of claps on the back, Alice stopping him from face planting into his food and Remus' arm around his shoulders.

So what if this was the year of dramatic Sorting, that didn't mean it was going to be the same with him. James Potter was not nervous as he walked up those steps, he stared straight ahead and kept his head up. He bites his lip when he's excited, this was a time to be respectful and not for acting like a little kid. The hand he ran through his hair? He wants to show off to the ladies like his dad showed him.

The hat had barely touched his head when it started talking. Well what do we have here! You got the pride for sure, the bravery and drive to do what's right. But be careful, you'll also have the arrogance of your house. The ends do not justify cruel means, remember that lesson. Before he could even answer, or process that, the Hat was announcing he was a Gryffindor, relief flooding his body and untangling all the knots. He slung an arm around Sirius and waved at Lily, the girl from the train. "Your friend ditch you yet, being with the brawny kids?"

"Considering the fact that Severus is my friend and you're just a no good jerk pure-blood, I'll take my chances with him." Lily crossed her arms and glared him, her lip curling up in a snarl. She turned back to Alice to talk about what the dorms would be like, answering Sirius if he asked her anything but otherwise ignored their side of the table. I'm going to marry this girl...

Aphrodite was going before her sister for the first time in her eleven years of life because she couldn't just ask her sister to do this for her. To go first and be the one to test the waters. She was meant to be the one who heals her up afterwards or gets dragged in behind her, not the one running into things and knowing exactly what to do if it went wrong. Of course her sister only knew because a lot of things had gone wrong over the years.

"Williams, Aphrodite." It was a simple thing to do, put one foot in front of the other up and over steps. She hummed quietly to herself, "and soon you'll be walking cross the floor" to keep from finishing the verse and heading out the door instead.

When the hat was situated on her head, when she had gotten on the stool she didn't know, it was quiet for a moment. You know dear, you're quite the oddball. You've got Slytherin's self preservation but Ravenclaw's need to explore. It's just a matter of what's stronger. She was curious about Slytherin, but not enough to want to be sorted there. "Ravenclaw!" She ran over to her brother and almost crushed him in a hug. "I'm so excited!"

"Is there going to be more of you?" It was a snide comment from Charles who was sorted first, someone she recognized from the train. "I can already tell I'm going to switch houses when your sister shows up."

She flipped him off without thinking about it and shied away when Mcgonagall glared at her. But only slightly.

She was going to be alright because everyone else was, there was no way that there could be three dramatic sortings...right? She knocked on a table as she passed, quietly, just in case. What was the worst case scenario? She went into a house where she had no one. She would most likely be sorted with her siblings, but if she went to Gryffindor she'd have Remus and Peter. If she went into Hufflepuff, at least all of them were relatively friendly and extremely loyal to their housemates. Before she could even think anything else, she realized she was sitting on the stool with her eyes covered by the brim. She supposed she was grateful, it meant she couldn't see the eyes on her.

So many hard cases this year, I can't imagine what's it's going to be like when your lot sends their kids here. When that didn't seem to phase her in the least, there was an amused chuckle like he'd just been proven right. Was the hat a he? Why do I need to have a gender? Good point. You know you're the strangest one yet, you would fit into two opposite houses. Hufflepuffs are a house of honor and loyalty, they make friendships that last decades. Slytherins on the other hand make alliances not for loyalty, but to gain something. They have opposing views on how things work and yet….you have the honor of a Hufflepuff but the cunning ambition of a snake. Do you know where I'll put you?

Put me anywhere and I'll fit in just fine. Apparently that was what he was looking for as he announced her house, her tie turning green and silver as she walked over to her table. Most of the other first years ignored her but the one next to her stuck out a hand. "I'm Venus."

"Severus Snape, welcome to purebloods playground." His tone made him sound like he was more than just a terrified first year. "You seem smart enough, we'll see about making an alliance after the first day of classes. Think you can keep up, half-blood?" There was a challenge in his voice, the guarding of someone who wanted to learn who you are.

Venus raised an eyebrow at him to convey how utterly ridiculous he was for asking her that question. "Blood doesn't dictate marks in a class, as you'll quickly learn being on one with me. The question isn't if I'll keep up, it's how long it'll take for me to over take your head start." She turned to face the food that appeared in front of them, happily taking as much as she wanted. She was going to like being in this house, at the very least she'd never be bored.