After Christmas there wasn't much of interest that happened. Sirius didn't write once more though I was able to keep tabs on him a bit better seeing as there were several owls sent home pertaining to his behavior. Mother and Father were less than pleased to receive this new to put things mildly.

Before too long the term was over. I had my letter from Hogwarts and Sirius was hom on a sever probation due to his behavior.

Throughout the summer Sirius tried to speak to me about Hogwarts and spoke of how great it would be when I came. He talked as if I would be placed in Gryffindor too and that concept I admit scared me. I had heard so much about how Sirius was a disgrace and how I needed to be in a 'proper house' which was Slytherin. I also saw a change in Sirius.

I alwas knew he had a tendency to be the rules but he began to hold a blatant disregard for them. Was this what happened when sorted into Gryffindor? Is that what you became when you spent too much time with blood traitors and mudbloods? I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.

Therefore, when Sirius talked of Hogwarts and his friends I tended to shut down on him. In a way I couldn't help it. I was scared. I loved my brother and always wanted to be just like him but, for the first time, I was beginning to have my doubts.

"What is up with you?" demanded Sirius one day after talking about a joke he and his roomated had pulled.

"Nothing," I answered with a non-committal shrug.

"You haven't been saying or doing much all summer," complained Sirius.

"Haven't felt like it," I answered not looking my brother in the eye.

"I can make you feel like it," Sirius threatened with a mischievous look. Before I knew it, Sirius had tackled me to the ground.

"Get off," I cried as I tried to fight Sirius off of me. I was frustrated that he had tackled me but at the same time I couldn't help but smile a bit. Rough housing was something Sirius and I did since we were kids, despite mother's wishes that we not do such.

Of course in the moment both of us forgot where we were which was outside where the ground was fairly damp still.

We had been wresting for a minute or two when Kreacher came out to the yard looking for us.

"Oh young masters fighting again, mistress won't like this she won't." spoke Kreacher causing us to stop mid fight.

"Shut up Kreacher," snapped Sirius. It was no secret that Sirius was not found of the house elf.

Kreacher kept his mouth shut and glared at Sirius. He hated taking orders from him, but because he was family Kreacher had to obey.

"Kreacher, why did you come out here?" I asked taking a kinder tone with the house elf. He had been company for me while Sirius was away at school and was quite the considerate house elf if spoken to with kind words. He was also quite obedient.

Kreacher gave a look to Sirius before turning to me, "Mistress has sent for the older young master. She won't be too pleased to see the mess that has been made."

"I said for you to shut up!" spoke Sirius sourly seeing as Kreacher went ahead and spoke remarking on things Sirius did not want to hear about. I knew Sirius wasn't particularly happy to be called inside. That was bad enough, but more so seeing as he and I had made a mess of ourselves.

"Kreacher shall punish himself young master," replied the weary house elf before he vanished away.

"I hope he does it extra for speaking again," remarked Sirius darkly.

"Sirius," I cautioned as we both mad our way back into the house.

We both entered the house together, I with my head hung in shame while Sirius entered without a care in the world.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded mother with much disdain as we entered the house with dirt and wet grass marks on us.

"We fell," blatantly liked Sirius a look of challenge in his eyes. I know Sirius had lied before but I had never seen him so disrespectful in his address to mother.

Seeing this did not sit well with me in the least. Was this something else that mudbloods and blood traitors had done to him? I was beginning to feel that I didn't really know my brother.

"Get cleaned up," snapped Mother, her voice full of ice and her eyes devoid of emotion. It was times like these that I found mother most frightening compared to when she was shrieking and yelling out various forms of slander and profanities.

Sirius and I turned to go away till the words, "Not you," passed mother's lips. She was pointing at Sirius. I paused to look at Sirius with uncertainty. He glanced at me and gave a slight nod that told me I should move on and do as I was told. I indicated that I understood but shifted my glace toward my mother who looked to be cold as stone.

After getting cleaned up as mother instructed I figured it was best to keep to more melancholy if activities and took to the study.

Sirius did not turn up and despite all my recent doubts about him I found myself worrying about him. Sirius did show up for dinner that night as was rather quiet and slipped away directly after.

I knew something was up so that night I snuck out of my room to go visit him.

"Sirius?" I called out tentively.

"What?" came his tired and frustrated voice as he didn't move.

"What happened?" I asked standing just inside the door so as to not get caught out of bed.

"Nothing really," answered Sirius. I knew he was lying. I could almost always tell when Sirius was lying.

"Then why have you been so quiet?" I pestered.

"One of my best friends lost his mum," answered Sirius rolling over to face me. I could tell he was a bit upset. That was enough to answer my questions, so I mumbled an apology to show some sympathy and slipped out.

Within a few days Sirius went to the funeral. He ended up spending time with a friends' family during that time.

While Sirius was gone it almost seemed like mother was pleased to have him gone. I do not know why seeing as I was much too scared to investigate.

It was not long after Sirius' return that shopping for the new school year began. It was almost as if time flew by. Sirius didn't speak much of the funeral and I didn't bother to ask. In fact Sirius didn't speak much at all over the last few weeks of summer before school. If there was a mention of my being in Slytherin Sirius would fidget and there would be something about him that seemed to say he was bothered but he never spoke up, it was quite unlike him to be honest and it had me wondering, but the chance to ask never came.

Eventually the day to go to school finally arrived. It was much like when Sirius went off to school the year prior only this time I was the focus of attention.

As we stood there, I could hardly count the number of times the idea of my being placed in a popper house came up. Through out the wait I could tell Sirius was uncomfortable. It seemed almost as if my sorting was everything to everyone.

"If things do not go well, you will be dangerously close to being off the tree," warned my mother to Narcissa.

"No worries Auntie!" she assured looking a bit pale as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll keep a good eye on him."

When Narcissa said this I felt Sirius shift uncomfortably as mother informed Narcissa she had better.

It was with that last warning that Narcissa, Sirius and I were left on our own to go find a compartment on the train.

"What are you doing here?" sneered Narcissa looking down at Sirius.

"If you don't recall Narcissa, I do attend Hogwarts," answered Sirius snidely.

"Not with us!" she snapped.

"We do go to the same school," countered Sirius not budging an inch.

"Why don't you go find your mudblood friends?"

Sirius clenched his fists as if keeping himself from action as he glared not speaking a word.

"Come Regulus," commanded Narcissa with her hand on my shoulder guiding me through the train.

Sirius followed behind.

"You aren't welcome," stated Narcissa looking down at Sirius as we entered a compartment.

Sirius ignored Narcissa and took a seat across from me seeing as Narcissa sat next to me.

It was quite a long trip to Hogwarts, and by far one of the worst I have ever experienced. Sirius sat across from me fidgeting it seemed like he wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it.

A few friends of Narcissa's joined in our compartment spending much of their time talking about things that have never held much interest for me.

When the train finally did arrive Narcissas was certain to not let me of her sight and Sirius followed.

"Shouldn't you be getting into a carriage?" snapped Narcissa to Sirius.

"You should be doing the same," answered Sirius.

"Not till Regulus is on the boat," at that point Narcissa placed a vice grip on my shoulder.

I was directed to the boats and Narcissa made sure I was on the boat with those of proper breeding.

As I loaded into the boat Narcissa and Sirius were directed to the carriages. I turned to watch as they left. Narcissa had her back to me but Sirius was looking back.

"Good luck!" he called out almost nervously. This warranted a glare from Narcissa to Sirius.

The crossing of the lake was rather uneventful save for a general mounting of nerves as the realization that the sorting was drawing all the closer.

The time for the sorting drew closer and closer. The twitter about it grew and my nerves mounted all the more. It was at this time that questions started to truly resonate in my head. Reality sunk in. I had always dreamed about being just like Sirius but with the past summer I had my doubts. Sirius was in Gryffindor. I wasn't certain about that house. The entire family save Sirius were banking on my being in Slytherin. I felt like there was no other house possible. It seemed as if the consequences would be dire if I were not in Slytherin.

These realizations sunk in and I recalled what the last year had been like for Sirius, how he had changed. I also thought on how last year Srisius though he was going into Slytherin and yet he didn't go into Slytherin. This caused me to panic. What if I wasn't in Slytherin? What if I went into Gryffindor like Sirius? What would happen to me? To the family?

My panic was in full tilt when my name was called. Wide eyed and scared I approached the stool. As I sat down I caught a glimpse of Sirius. I felt a pang of guilt as the hat went over my eyes and I prayed for Slytherin.

Slytherin Eh? asked a voice.

I was too shocked to answer.

Much like your brother? it asked. I started to say something when the voice which I later figured was the hat spoke once more.

Not too much. A great desire to prove your merit. I think you'd do best in...

"SLYTHERIN!"

Relief flooded me as the hat was lifted from my head and I bolted for the Slytherin table. I did not see Sirius for the rest of the night.