Chapter Four: Sorting

A 17 year old boy closed a notebook he held in his hands and ran a hand through his messy jet black hair. Engraved on the book were the initials: CRL. He let out a sigh and took a seat on his emerald green bed. Yet another groan caused him to fall back onto the bed and hit his head on a wooden pole. Cameron Lestrange let out a noise of discontent. After recoiling from the slight injury, the soon to be man reopened the notebook and analyzed the words. It was written in the sloppy style of his eleven year old self. He joked to people that he wrote messy so only he could read his own handwriting, but truthfully he could barely read it either. Rereading his old journal had taken all of his strength. Over the years he'd forgotten how much he used to love the school.

Unable to take any more of this, Cameron stood and paced the perimeter of the Slytherin dormitory. Last he had read he was about to get sorted. It was obvious what it was going to be. The hat knew it to begin with. The disgusted way that it hissed 'Lestrange' still haunted the teen. Even the professors gave a look of dismay when his name was announced. Things were funny like that. Potter was to be a Gryffindor just as Weasley was. It was as if everyone was predestined for something. Amber was also to be a Gryffindor. She had it in her to be one and definitely didn't have the personality or the heritage to be in the house of He-who-shall-not-be-named. Shaking his head, Cameron reopened his notebook and stared to read aloud to himself.

"I kind of knew I'd be Slytherin." He narrated. "Mom and Dad were and I think everyone in the school wanted me to be. I don't think the hat even touched me. I know its magic…but it was odd." Not so odd now looking back. Cameron rolled up his sleeve to see the Dark Mark imprinted on his arm. He was the senior Death Eater at the school in terms of the young ones. Draco was a mess as was his lackeys.

Looking back to the book, Cameron noticed a paragraph that he had not remembered even happening. His younger self had described talking to none other than Albus Dumbledore the now deceased headmaster of the school. The memory was faint in his mind, but with all his strength he recalled it. He closed his eyes to remember the scene. People were filing out of the great hall when the aged man had called for him.

"Mr. Lestrange." He had said. Cameron had stopped instantly, letting the sea of people flow around him and towards their dormitories. He hoped that the headmaster was not already frustrated with him.

"Yes professor?" Cameron asked, preparing for the question.

"How was your ride here?" He asked. "Not too rough I assume?"

"Huh?" Cameron had to ask, caught off guard by the question.

"The train ride." Dumbledore repeated.

"Oh…yeah it was fine." Cameron replied.

"I'm glad to hear that." Dumbledore said. "I saw you walking with a girl that was sorted into Gryffindor. I want you to know that we are all one school. Everyone is sorted properly, but that does not mean you can't speak with her."

"I don't think that's true."

"Why is that my dear boy?"

"The sorting is done fairly. As much as I wanted to be in Slytherin, I don't think the hat took anything into consideration but my name."

"That's right you are a Lestrange."

"Don't act like you don't know." His tone was rude, but Dumbledore didn't change his appearance.

"You know my father was not the greatest man in the world. Our parents do not define us. Just because you are in Slytherin does not mean you lack qualities of the other houses or that you can't be with her. Remember that."

"I'll try to." Cameron had started to walk off.

"Have an enjoyable year Mr. Lestrange."

Over six years later, Cameron shut the book and tossed it aside. It landed with a thud on the wooden floor. In that time he had tried to talk to Amber, but the other Gryffindors seemed to hate Slytherins. It was as if it was in their blood. Of course she had tried to talk to him less and less after he had received his Dark Mark. She saw it once and that point on never spoke to him again. That would change when Goyle stormed into the dormitory, dragging with him the 17 year old Amber. She had grown into womanhood. Amber had become much taller and had her hair tied into a pony tail that was slowly falling apart. Her Gryffindor robes were decrepit and the tie loose.

"Let go of me!" She yelled.

"Would you shut up!" Goyle screamed back.

"What are you doing?" Cameron asked. Goyle threw her onto a nearby couch and looked at his superior Death Eater.

"We were in Dark Arts and she refused to use the cruciatus curse." He reported. "We tried our best to get her to do it. Not even the imperius curse would work." Cameron looked at Amber solemnly.

"Is that true?" He asked, these being his first words to her in a year.

"Yes." Amber replied. "I'd never do anything like that."

"What should I do?" Goyle asked.

"You should leave." Cameron replied. "I'll handle this." Promptly his housemate left, slamming the door shut. The two former friends were left alone in the dungeon that served as home for the house. She shot daggers at the Lestrange boy. One of them had to speak first; it was just a matter of whom. Finally, Cameron decided to go.

"They'd want me to torture you." Cameron said. "To torture you until you'd do it."

"I know you've done it to other people." Amber muttered. "I'll never do it." With care, Cameron sat in a chair across from hers.

"I can't do it though…not to you." Cameron stated. "You were my first friend and I still want to be friends."

"That's long gone." Amber retorted. "That mark on your arm is all the proof I need for that." The teen boy had to think before resuming.

"People thought I was a Death Eater before I had it. You know why?"

"Dumbledore told you that just because-"

"Not my parents. This house. He tried to say that we can be together, but it just doesn't work like that. Everyone in here from first years to seventh years are destined to be like me. My name had just sealed the deal before that." Cameron explained. "But even after all that, I just can't hurt you."

"So what are you going to do?" Amber asked.

"Just go back to your dorm." Cameron said softly. "Don't tell anyone about this." A look of utter shock appeared on Amber's face. She wished he had shown the same mercy to every other person. It made her mad to know that she'd get off the hook but no one else would. For Cameron, this was bravery in its finest. Perhaps Dumbledore was right. Maybe he could have aspects of both houses. "Just go please." Without taking another second to mention it, Amber stood and marched out of the dorm.

For the millionth time that day Cameron ran a hand through his hair. It was stressful doing what he had to do. Being the enforcer when the Carrow siblings were busy. He hated it. Each time he was able to fix the problem, but each time it hurt him worse than those he tortured. Amber was the first person he could not bring himself to do. It was either bravery or stupidity. Nevertheless, a few minutes later the door to the dorm swung open. The Death Eaters Alecto and Amycus Carrow stood in the doorway with wands out. They had stern looks on their face.

"Time for your punishment." Alecto said. Carefully, Cameron placed his hands behind his back. He knew the drill.

"Crucio or Imperio, your pick." He said. This definitely was stupidity, not bravery. Maybe that's why he wasn't Gryffindor.

"Please, we have something else planned for you." Amycus cackled.

[Coming Soon….Chapter Five: Punishment]

Hey guys I know its been a looooong time since I've updated, but I've done some thinking and I'm gonna resume the story. It's gonna take a little different turn than I expected, but it's gonna be awesome! So stick around for the journey and I hope you like where its headed!