A/N: Well, it sure took a while, didn't it? I'm sorry, I have a research project due soon in English which is taking up my free time, and having to share the computer doesn't help either. Anywho, this is probably the average time it will take betwen updates, because of school and homework and my amazing procrastinating skills. Sorry, can't help it. Don't abandon me because of it!
I am having trouble coming up with ideas for chapters in their first year. And other years, too. If there's anything you want to see in this story, anything at all, tell me in a review and I'll almost certainly put it in. Don't worry, you'll be credited.
This whole universe belongs to the incredible JK Rowling. Gutted.
So enjoy! And review! Please, I need the motivation now more than ever!

Part Six – The Sorting

The first years lined up at the front of the Great Hall, with all eyes on them. Sirius could see Andromeda, Narcissa and Bellatrix sitting at the Slytherin table, a green prefect's badge glittering on Andromeda's robes. Sirius looked around the rest of the Hall. He recognised lots of students as children of his parents' friends. All of them sat at the Slytherin table. The one table he didn't want to sit at.

The three boys he'd met on the train were standing by him. They all seemed like good guys. Peter was very nervous and twitchy – but that might've just been the whole starting-at-Hogwarts thing – and Remus was really quiet and seemed a little boring, but James, at least, certainly appeared to be a laugh and would probably be up for the odd bit of misbehaved fun. Sure, he was a pure-blood, but he'd said that he wanted to be a Gryffindor, like his dad, and he certainly didn't seem to come from a prejudiced family, like Sirius himself did. As far as Sirius was concerned, James was checking all the boxes for good-mate material.

At that moment, the tattered old hat on the stool at the front of the Hall opened its mouth and took a deep breath. A fair amount of the other first years were surprised, but Sirius certainly wasn't – he was looking forward to hearing the hat sing.

The Great Hall was filled with applause as the Hat finished its song. Professor McGonagall stepped forward, a long scroll of parchment in her hands.

"When I call your name, you will come forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head. After being Sorted, you will sit at your house's table," she said to the first years. "Apperly, Spencer!"

A small boy with curly brown hair walked forward and placed the tattered Hat on his head. It sat there for a moment, then its mouth opened and it yelled out to the Hall – "RAVENCLAW!"

James was right, Sirius thought. Stupid Bellatrix, trying to scare me. Like a Hat could crawl around in your brain.

Sirius was starting to get nervous. He would surely be near the top of the list, and very soon he would be finding out whether or not he would get what his family wanted – Slytherin – or what he wanted – anything other than Slytherin.

He watched 'Atkins, Kristi' become the first new Slytherin and his stomach clenched as he saw Bellatrix applauding. He did not want to sit at her table. He didn't even care if he ended up in Hufflepuff, just as long as he didn't end up in his family's house.

'Baggins, Frieda' became as Gryffindor and then it was Sirius's turn.

"Black, Sirius!"

Sirius saw all three of his Slytherin cousins watching him before the Hat slipped down over his eyes.

"Aah," it said. "Another Black. This shouldn't be too difficult…"

Don't just put me in Slytherin because of my name, Sirius begged.

"You don't want to be in Slytherin? Well, that makes you different from every single one of your relatives, doesn't it?"

That's good. I don't want to be like them.

"Well then, I'd better have a proper look. Hmm, let's see…oh, my, fierce loyalty…and a strong sense of justice…Hufflepuff traits…but you lack patience and work ethic…perhaps not Hufflepuff."

Anything but Slytherin.

"Yes, I know. What else? Sharp wits, a keen mind, lots of talent – would you do well in Ravenclaw? No, maybe not, you have no self-discipline and you certainly aren't studious…"

Anything but Slytherin.

"You are stubborn, aren't you? Well, perhaps Gryffindor? I see bravery, and you are certainly daring…confident…yet maybe your lack of chivalry and respect for the rules count against you there…"

Anything BUT Slytherin!

"I must say, you are difficult. But you would fit in with the Slytherins…you are resourceful, cunning, shrewd…you suffer from a sense of self-importance...and of course, you are a true pure-blood…"

NO! I'm not, I may come from a pure-blood family but I'm not like them, not really, I don't think like them, please, anything but Slytherin!

"Hmm. You're absolutely right. You have many qualities that define a Slytherin, but your attitude, opinions and sheer nerve convince me that you are a…GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius heard the Hat shout the last word out so that the entire Hall could hear and almost fainted with relief. He pulled off the Hat, and as he almost ran to the Gryffindor table, he saw his cousins staring at him in shock. He grinned at the mix of anger and disbelief on Bellatrix's face. Many of the Gryffindors, too, looked very surprised to see a Black in their midst. Sirius promised to himself as he sat down that he would prove it to everyone who was gaping at him in incredulity that he really did belong in Gryffindor.

Remus watched Sirius make his way to the Gryffindor table. He was trying to work out why Sirius hadn't told them his last name on the train. He couldn't think of a reason. 'Black'… it didn't ring a bell. Maybe he was just over-thinking it. But then, Sirius had shied away from questions about his family…

Just then, James leaned over to Remus and whispered in his ear. "No wonder he said his whole family had been in Slytherin!"

Remus glanced at James, silently asking James to elaborate.

"The Blacks are one of those pure-blood families who think they're better than everyone else," James continued. "My dad says that families like that are bad news, 'cause they're almost always really into the Dark Arts, and prejudiced against Muggle-borns and stuff. But Sirius didn't seem like that at al…" James trailed off in thought.

Remus nodded. It made sense that if Sirius came from a family of Dark wizards, he'd want to keep that quiet when trying to make friends.

Remus watched as the Sorting continued, and his name got closer and closer. Both his parents had been Ravenclaws, and he supposed he would fit in there too, but he wasn't too worried about where he ended up. He just hoped he wouldn't have to sit there for too long. Sirius had been there for a good few minutes, while some other students had been there less than ten seconds.

"Kelly, Hecate"… "Krammer, Jessica"… "Longbottom, Frank"… "Lupin, Remus."

Remus walked forward, with every eye in the in the Hall watching him. He hated being stared at that, it made him feel exposed and vulnerable. He sat on the stool and the watching students disappeared as the Hat covered his eyes.

"Let's see," came a voice in his ear. "This doesn't seem too difficult. You're certainly not a Slytherin, and I think you'd be wasted in Hufflepuff… Ravenclaw seems the obvious choice for you, you have a studious nature and a good brain…you'd be happy in Ravenclaw."

Yes, I think so too, Remus thought.

"It's nice to have someone who agrees with me for once. Alright then – but wait! What's this?"

Remus waited expectantly.

"Oh, my, that is interesting," the Hat continued. "I've never seen anyone like you before. You're very lucky to be here, boy…if it weren't for Dumbledore…"

I know. I'm very grateful and I'm going to do him and my parents proud and prove that I deserve to be here.

"Well, there's a fire in your belly that I didn't see before…you certainly are brave, growing up under such circumstances… I think I've changed my mind. Ravenclaw just doesn't fully suit you. I think you deserve to be a…GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus was surprised by the Hat's sudden change. He sat there for a moment, trying to understand. Then the Hat's voice spoke again.

"Come on, boy. Trust me, it's where you belong. Now off, you go, or we'll be here all night."

Remus pulled off the Hat and walked over to the Gryffindor table. Sirius grinned at him and shuffled over. Remus sat own next to him, still confused about the Hat's abrupt switch, but also very happy.

Peter was getting more and more nervous with each name that was called. Professor McGonagall was currently working her way through the Ms, and his name was slowly edging closer.

Peter's old worries about not being in Gryffindor were resurfacing in full force. He could see Sarah and David sitting at the Gryffindor table. Plus, two out of the three of the boys he'd met on the train were now sitting there too. If he ended up in any of the other houses, he wouldn't know anyone. He'd be totally alone! How would he know where to go, and when, if he had no-one to ask for help? Panic started to rise in his mind. His hands started to shake and it took all of his self-control to stop himself from bursting into tears. He swallowed and took some deep, shaky breaths.

"Are you okay, Peter?" James, who was standing besides him, whispered.

"Just – just nervous," he replied, as Professor McGonagall called out 'O'Hagan, Izark'.

Peter watched three more people be Sorted and then it was his turn.

"Pettigrew, Peter!"

Peter felt like his legs had turned to jelly. He couldn't move.

"Go on!" James said, giving him a push forward.

Peter walked over to the stool, shaking all over. He sat down and the Hat slipped over his eyes, blinding him. He squeaked involuntarily. He hated the dark.

"Nervous little thing, aren't you?"

Peter squeaked again, scared by the voice.

"Well, you're certainly not a Gryffindor," said the Hat.

Yes I am! I'd be a good Gryffindor! Peter pleaded.

"No, you're not brave. No, don't argue, I know what I'm doing," said the Hat as Peter started to protest. "Alright. Let's see…of, my goodness, most definitely not a Ravenclaw either. Intelligence is not one of your strengths, is it?"

Peter's lower lip trembled.

"It's the truth, boy; you know that, don't you? Yes, you do, I can see that. I think you're Hufflepuff material…let's see…well, loyalty is a common factor amongst the Hufflepuffs, and that doesn't seem to be something you have in droves…maybe not Hufflepuff…"

But – but that leaves – I don't want to be a Slytherin!

"Well, honestly, you wouldn't fit in there either…no cunning, no shrewdness…and Muggle grandparents is a mark against you there…my, my, you don't really belong anywhere, do you, boy?"

What? But – but I'm a wizard –

"I never said you weren't…but you certainly are a challenge to Sort…"

Gryffindor! Put me in Gryffindor! I can be brave, I know I can, if I'm Sorted with my friends and my brother and sister, so I'm not by myself –

"No, boy, I really think Hufflepuff –"

I promise I can be a brave Gryffindor! Just give me a chance! I'll prove it to you! Peter begged.

"Well…you don't really fit perfectly into any house…and I do normally take choice into consideration…alright. I'll give you a chance. But you'd better step up, boy, or you'll be left behind in…GRYFFINDOR!"

Peter almost wet his pants with the mixture of relief and fear as the Hat yelled out suddenly. He was sure he heard the Hat sigh as he pulled it off his head, but he forgot about it quickly as he ran and took his place at the Gryffindor table between Sirius and Remus. He could see Sarah and Davis clapping.

I'll prove it, he thought. I can be brave

So long as I'm not on my own.

James grinned as he watched the last boy he had sat with on the train become a Gryffindor. He hadn't thought that any of them would have made it into his preferred house. Remus had seemed more like a Ravenclaw and Peter certainly hadn't seemed brave like a Gryffindor should be; and when James had heard Professor McGonagall call out Sirius's name, he had felt sure Sirius's chances of going anywhere other than Slytherin were slim. But all the boys he was vaguely starting to think of as 'friends' had made it into Gryffindor, and now it was nearly his turn to find out whether he would too.

Two students were Sorted after Peter before James's name was called.

"Potter, James!"

James walked over to the stool and placed the Hat on his head.

"Well then," it said in James's ear. "Straight away I'm thinking Gryffindor is the place where you belong, boy…"

Good, that's what I want, thought James.

"Yes, but we mustn't jump the gun I like to have at least a quick poke around before making any decisions…"

Oh, come on, hurry it up, I know I'm a Gryffindor.

"Well, you're not a Hufflepuff, not with such a lack of patience! Not Slytherin material either, oh no. Ravenclaw? No, you've a good mind but not a bookish bone in your body."

Gryffindor it is. I knew it!

"Yes, bravery, daring…not particularly chivalrous, but for you, that will come with age, I think…well, that was easy. I was right. You, my boy, are most definitely a…GRYFINDOR!"

James was grinning as he sat down at his place at the Gryffindor table next to Sirius. He had ended up exactly where he wanted, and better yet, he had met three other boys who he liked and had ended up there too.

After the feast, the boys went with their fellow Gryffindors up to Gryffindor Tower. They were then directed up to the dormitory that they would be sleeping in for the better part of the next seven years. They were sharing the dorm with the final new Gryffindor boy, a brown-haired boy named Frank Longbottom.

After picking beds (something Sirius and James had a brief, light-hearted argument about) and unpacking their things (which Remus did extremely neatly and quietly, and Sirius did messily and with much flourish), they sat up long after they should've been in bed, talking about their families, marvelling at the beautiful Hogwarts castle, and discussing what they were most looking forward to learning. By the time they turned out the light, all of them were thoroughly exited about starting lessons.

Apart from Remus, who was beginning to worry about what he would tell the others in two weeks' time when he disappeared for a night under the full moon.