He hadn't meant to scare the child.
Coming from a pureblooded family, the Sorting Hat had presumed that Regulus Black was aware of what he could do but apparently he hadn't been pre-warned and so when he informed the boy that no dragon was going to fight him for the right to join the school, he'd been shocked to find the boy frightened by his voice.
"Don't worry my boy," the hat said, "All older siblings do this to their brothers and sisters. You'll be surprised at what they come up with."
"So what do I have to do?" Regulus asked tentatively, eyeing his brother at the Gryffindor table and his cousins at the Slytherin table.
"Just sit there and let me do the work. Hufflepuff is no good for you but you do have the brains for Ravenclaw. You definitely have a spark that would fit you in well with the Gryffindor lot but also the Slytherins. Hmm, where to put you?"
"I want to go in Slytherin. Please," Regulus asked politely and that Hat sensed the guilt of where he wanted to go.
"Listen here young Mr Black, never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want and to do what makes you happy. If you want to go in Slytherin, I am not one to argue, especially since I can tell you'd do brilliantly."
"Thank you."
"SLYTHERIN," the Hat roared and Regulus Black scampered off to the table with his head held high.
Word Count: 255
September Event Prompt: Being sorted
Gringotts Prompt Bank: Regulus Black (character), "Never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want, and to do what makes you happy." - Demi Lovato (randomly generated), He hadn't meant to scare the child. (first line), Roared (said replacement), Spark (assorted noun)
Ultimate Chocolate Frog Card: Challenge: Write about the youngest sibling in a family.