Queen Rowling owns these characters and this world. I only own my OCs and 75% of the plot.

Sirius looked up nervously at the wide - brimmed Sorting Hat. He was set to go after "Bishursh, Melody!" and his knees knocked together with nerves.

"Don't worry!" muttered James. "You'll be fine!"

"I know, I know." Sirius responded, voice betraying nothing of his emotional turmoil.

"Black, Sirius!" said Professor McGonagall.

"Good luck," muttered James.

Sirius walked up to the stool with confidence, but once the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, his jitters started up yet again.

"You're not that brainy... but pureblood! Cunning enough, I suppose-"

"No." thought Sirius. The girl's screams pierced through his brain, and he could have sworn that the Sorting Hat almost winced.

"Well, isn't that brave. Guess it has to be - GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat.

Letting out a sigh, Sirius swaggered to Gryffindor table and smiled. His cousins at the Slytherin table were glaring at him, but he managed to ignore them in favor of Gryffindor's cheers.

Whatever, Narcissa. thought Sirius. You don't control me anymore.

He smiled again and proceeded to ignore the majority of the Sorting, until "Evans, Lily!" became a Gryffindor. He recognized her as the girl from the train, and slid over to give her a spot, hoping for no hard feelings, but she glared at him and sat at the other end of the table. Sirius sighed.

He immediately perked up when "Potter, James!" was Sorted into Gryffindor.

"Hey mate!" he said.

James' hair was in desperate need of a comb, and his cousin Narcissa was giving him a shrewd glare form the Slytherin table, but he was happy nonetheless.

James began to say something, but was interrupted by a small, pudgy boy with large buckteeth. "Hello. I-i-i'm P-p-peter Pettigrew."

"Hi," said Sirius uncertainly.

"We are in the same dorm," said Peter.

"Great," said James. "Listen buddy, could you get some water for us?" Peter nodded. "Thanks."

Pettigrew scurried away as Headmaster Dumbledore began to speak.

"It is my great honor to welcome you all here in my first year as headmaster! Welcome to you all. Now, I would like to say a few words before we start our feast."

Sirius and James groaned.

"And they are: Centaur! Desks! Pencil! Tweet!"

Sirius stared at the headmaster for a moment and then began to laugh as the food appeared on their plates.

"He had me worried there for a second," James laughed through a enormous bite of turkey.

For a moment there was little conversation as they dug into the feast, the sounds of chewing interrupted when -

"I got your water!" shouted Peter.

"Great! said James. "Thanks."

After the feast, as they made their way to the common rooms, Sirius stared longingly at the Slytherin table.

You chose Gryffindor, he thought to himself. Get over it.

And with that, Sirius hurried up the stairs after James.