Sirius walked up to the stool as if he had all the confidence a Black should have. Shoulders back, chin up, just as his parents always told him. He did it subconsciously, and if he realised he was doing as his parents had always told him he probably would have instantly slumped his shoulders and cast his head to the ground, but for now his movements were automatic, the stool was drawing closer and there was nothing he could do about it. He kept his face still, but he could feel the sweat forming around his hairline. He kept his pace steady, but legs felt weak under him and it was almost a relief to sit down and to have the hat fall down on his head and block out the world. He swallowed and filled his mind with the only two words that meant anything at that moment "Not Slytherin."

"Not Slytherin eh? With your quick mind natural charm you could rise to the very top very quickly... and Slytherin could help you there..."

"I don't care. I don't want to rise to the top I just want to make friends and have fun, what's so wrong with wanting that? What's so wrong with wanting to be happy instead of just 'successful'? Andromeda hated Slytherin, it made her miserable because she's a good person. And I know I'm a good person too... even if I'm not all that good being good yet."

"I have been looking inside humans' heads for centuries, and let me tell you now that when I Sort people 'good' and 'bad' rarely come into it. They are far too vague concepts to vase any proper decision on and I have never Sorted anyone who did contain the capacity to do both good and evil. It is simply a matter of choice."

"Then let me choose, let me choose not to be in Slytherin, I don't care where else you put me... please?"

"You have a sharp mind Sirius Black, courage too, and a surprising capacity for loyalty... even if you have not had the best track record so far on that front..."

"Only because I don't know anyone worth being loyal to, besides Andromeda and Regulus, and I've kept Andromeda's secret haven't I? And as for Regulus... I do my best... I protect him."

"Ah, now I see it..."

"See what?"

"Above all else, Sirius Black is a brother. It is clear as day where you belong..."

"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat shouted, and Sirius was once again thrust into the brightness of the Great Hall.

Every Sorting so far had been followed by moderately enthusiastic applause, especially from whichever House had just gained a new student. But this time only a few students clapped, mainly the huddle of first years who didn't know any better, and even they stopped clapping after a few seconds, after a whisper in the ear or simply looking around and realising that every face in the room was fixed on Sirius in shocked silence.

"BLOOD TRAITOR!" yelled someone from the Slytherin table.

Sirius looked over and saw that it was Lucius Malfoy, a friend of the family's, a few seats along from him was Narcissa, her pale cheeks flushed red with shame, her eyes wide in anger and disbelief.

Suddenly a loud clap resonated from behind Sirius, followed by another, and another. Sirius jumped and looked around to see that Professor Dumbledore had risen from his seat and was clapping loudly, he was soon followed by several of the other Professors, and then Sirius heard an enormous "WHOOP!" from behind him. He turned back around and saw James jumping and cheering, and Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew at his side following his lead, though clearly they had no idea what was going on. Gradually students from the Gryffindor table began to clap as well, followed closely by several Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Soon the cheering nearly drowned out the boos from all four House tables and the blood purist slurs from the Slytherins... nearly.

Professor McGonagall gave Sirius a smile and nodded him in the direction of the Gryffindor table. Sirius made the effort to walk proud and tall. And as he walked it became easier and easier, a grin spread across his face, a real uncontrollable grin. He felt giddy, the ground underneath him didn't feel quite solid. This couldn't be real. This had to be a dream. He would wake up in the morning in the Slytherin Dorms or back in his bedroom in London. But even if it wasn't real, for now all he could do was keep walking, keep the dream going as long as he could, he picked up his pace a little, fearing that if he stopped he would wake up. He found a cluster of free seats and sat down in one, staring dazedly into his silver plate, he could see the ceiling in it, the clouds, the candles. He felt himself fall into it and rise up above the Earth, he was so high up that he could see the Earth spinning. It was a dizzying sight.

He had escaped.

He was free.

He had done it.