Round 2 of the OTP AU! Competition

Prompt: The Black Sheep of the Family

Pairing: Narcissa and James


Narcissa Black stood out like a beacon amongst the rest of her family members. Her striking blonde hair, and blue eyes, were the first things that made her the Black Sheep of the family. Second was her personality, she was too kind and didn't know how to be harsh like her relatives. At this point there was no hope at all for her that she would be identified as a true member of 'The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black'. Druella and Cygnus couldn't figure out what they did wrong, as they has treated Narcissa the same way they did Bellatrix and Andromeda ever since she was born. Her sisters had grown up as ideal members of the House of Black, and even Sirius had made the adults proud! And that boy caused more trouble than anybody else.

She had quite honestly dreaded going to Hogwarts because she feared that the Sorting Hat would prove everybody right. That she was not meant to be a Black, that there was some sort of mistake. Andromeda said that it didn't matter what house she got sorted into, but Bellatrix said she would disown her immediately if the Sorting Hat didn't scream 'Slytherin'.

It honestly was quite stressful.

So when September 1st came around, Narcissa was practically out of the house. She didn't want to go to Hogwarts, where everybody would judge her. Where she could possibly be disowned and cast out onto the streets (Anything was possible when the pride of the Black family name was at stake). Why couldn't she go to Durmstrang, or even Beauxbaton, where there were no houses and all this could easily be avoided? But her parents wouldn't hear of it, and she was now on the Hogwarts Express. She sighed mournfully as the train started to leave the station.

In a couple of hours they would be at Hogwarts.

In a couple of hours she would be sorted.

In a couple of hours her whole life would change.

This scared Narcissa the most. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice the compartment door being opened.

"Hello, do you mind if we sit here?"

'We?' Narcissa thought, before taking her eyes away from the window to look at the three boys.

The boy in the front had untidy jet black hair that stuck up at the back, and hazel eyes. Beside him were two other boys, one of them was fidgeting nervously, his watery blue eyes flickering back and forth as if he was waiting for something. He was over-weight and had mousy brown hair. The other one was tall and thin, with green eyes and light brown hair, sporting faded scars across his face.

"No, not at all." Narcissa forced out, with a smile to match.

They filed in and sat down on the empty seats across from her.

"James Potter, and these are my friends Remus and Peter." Said the boy with the hazel eyes, pointing each boy out.

"Narcissa Black." She replied, looking out the window.

When it became obvious that she would not speak any further, the boys jumped into their own conversation. They spoke about things like Quidditch, where they came from, and what they were expecting at Hogwarts. Narcissa busied herself with thoughts of the holidays, her birthday, and what food Hogwarts would serve.

"Um...Narcissa." The voice was quiet, and Narcissa turned to face Remus.

"What house do you want to be in?"

She froze in fear.

Narcissa hadn't really thought about what house she actually wanted. She was so concerned about being disowned and trying to prove her family wrong that she hadn't thought about her own desires. And why should she? She had enough stress just getting into Slytherin.

"I don't know." Narcissa answered, looking down.

"Oh, well we all decided to be in Gryffindor." James announced proudly.

Narcissa thought hard about the houses and remembered that Gryffindor was known for being brave, daring, and chivalrous. She didn't identify with that...in fact she was more of a Hufflepuff. She valued hard work, dedication, patience, loyalty, and fair play. But she was also a Slytherin, ambitious and resourceful. Hopefully the Sorting Hat would agree that she was more Slytherin than Hufflepuff.

"It's a good choice." Narcissa admitted, "But I don't think I have the...qualities for it."

Remus chuckled, "Qualities? Sounds like something a Ravenclaw would say."

Narcissa forced a smile, "Well, I guess we'll see."


"Black, Narcissa."

Narcissa felt her heart drop as she made her way towards the stool. She felt everybody's eyes on her as she sat down; Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head and darkness surrounded her.

Another Black, eh?

Narcissa didn't know how to respond so she remained quiet.

Not at all like the ones who have come before you.

'What do you mean?'

I find it very curious that you're not certain about what you want. Every Black that I have rightfully sorted into Slytherin, wanted it. With every fibre of their being they had an intense desire to be in the house of cunning, resourcefulness, self-preservation, ambition, cleverness, and fraternity. You represent none of these things. In fact you are loyal, patient, kind, and tolerant.

'The House of Hufflepuff...' Narcissa thought weakly. 'But I don't want to be in that house! I belong in Slytherin, I want to be in Slytherin'-

Do you? Or are you just saying that because that's what your family wants?

Narcissa paused. 'Does it really matter? These are just school houses, they don't decide who we are or what we'll grow up to be. It's our life choices that define us.'

Spoken like a true Ravenclaw. This is actually quite difficult.

Whispers could be heard throughout the whole Great Hall as Narcissa's sorting took longer than usual.

"What can they possibly be talking about?" Bellatrix hissed.

"Houses, of course." Andromeda sighed, "She must have some qualities of all of them."

"She belongs in Slytherin!" Bellatrix countered, "If she gets anything else then she's not a true Black!"

"Bella you can't possibly be serious…"

"I am, she better prove to the Sorting Hat that she's a Slytherin!"

"And if she can't?"

Bellatrix looked Andromeda square in the eye. "Then she's proved that she doesn't have the strong willpower of a Black…and will have to face the consequences."

'I need to be in Slytherin. Please put me into Slytherin.'

But that is not what you want. Forget about your family, what do you want?

Narcissa didn't know what she wanted. It was very foreign to her for somebody to be asking for her opinion on anything. She supposed that Hufflepuff wouldn't be too bad, but-

I see it in your head, and feel it in your heart. You belong in…

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The room went silent and Narcissa could have sworn that her heart dropped into her stomach.

This couldn't be happening.

But it was and suddenly Narcissa was making her way towards the Hufflepuff table. Her legs were operating on autopilot as her mind was still trying to catch up to what had just happened. Everyone just stared at her as if she was an alien, or if she had abruptly grown two heads.

"Hello, my name is Ted. Ted Tonks." Said a boy that was in his third year.

"Narcissa Black."

"Don't worry about them." Ted said, gesturing towards the other Hufflepuffs, "They'll get over the shock…eventually."

"It's not them I'm worried about." Narcissa sighed, as the Sorting continued.

"Black, Sirius!"

Narcissa watched as her cousin swaggered over to the stool before sitting on it. Professor McGonagall had barely placed the hat on his head before it shouted "Slytherin!"

"Oh, that's just bloody great." Narcissa mumbled.


Narcissa was nearly in tears as her sisters and Sirius walked away. She didn't want Hufflepuff, the Sorting Hat had chosen for her. It wasn't her fault at all, unlike what Bellatrix had claimed minutes ago. Even Sirius had poked fun at her and said that she wasn't a true Black, that she was a mistake and the Sorting Hat had proved it.

"Hey, don't listen to them."

Narcissa looked up and found herself staring into the familiar hazel eyes of James Potter.

"But…they're right."

"No, they're not." James said firmly, "Want to be friends? You seem nice enough."

Narcissa couldn't help but smile at his weird offer. "I'd like to think so."

"See? We get along great, now what do you say?" James asked, offering his hand.

Narcissa stared at it for a moment before taking it, "Hello, my name is Narcissa Black, Hufflepuff."

He gave her a lopsided grin, "James Potter, Gryffindor."