Chapter 5: [Sirius POV] The sorting

Summary:

the sorting and its aftermath

Notes:

Knowing Draco Malfoy, I couldn't imagine that Lucius Malfoy wouldn't do something here. Personally, I think Narcissa had more of a backbone.

Reedited2023/2/19

Sirius was the first in their year to be sorted into Gryffindor. The table on the far left exploded with cheers upon receiving him.

Sirius was also the first Black to be sorted into Gryffindor. The table, second from the right, was silently unpleasant. Sirius could see his cousin Narcissa Black scorning him, as well as Lucius Malfoy, a perfect badge gleaming on his chest and a venomous sneer on his pointed face.

But he couldn't be more relieved to have been chosen and not put in Slytherin. He was shaking hands and getting clasps on his back before he finally sat down at the table to view the rest of the sorting ceremony.

There were still a lot of students waiting to get sorted. Sirius caught James raising one eyebrow playfully at him from the line, and he mirrored him back. Next came "Carrow, Alecto," a girl who looked psychiatric to him, and she was sorted into Slytherin. No surprises there.

And on and on it went, and finally there came the next new Gryffindor, the redheaded girl from the train that Sirius had almost forgotten about; it must have been a huge disappointment to her friend since barely a second after the hat had touched the dark red hair, it cried, "Gryffindor!"

Sirius clapped for her and moved up the bench to make room for her as a sign of truce, but she took one look at him, recognition donning her face, before she folded her arms and firmly turned her back on him.

"Ouch," Sirius thought, "she can hold a grudge if she likes." He then turned indifferent.

The sorting was still continuing, and Sirius was soon joined by Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, both boys looking a bit green after the encounter, and he knew he would probably share a dormitory with them later on. There were also two girls, Mary Macdonald and Marlene McKinnon; they were called in one after the other, and they began talking as soon as they settled down. At last, it was James' turn. Sirius waited eagerly for his friend to get sorted, and he was awarded. A second later, the hat had shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Sirius applauded loudest of all, and James collapsed into the seat beside him.

"Knew you had it in you."

"I could say the same to you."

The sorting was drawing to an end, and finally, when only a dozen students remained to be sorted, Professor McGonagall called "Snivellus": "Snape, Severus."

And he was indeed a slimy Slytherin. Sirius resisted the urge to cat call as he watched him move to the other side of the hall, where the Slytherins were cheering him on, earning himself a pat on the back from Lucius Malfoy as he sat down beside him.

His thoughts were interrupted as "Sovermerge, Benetnasch," was made a Gryffindor. A little bit caught off guard, as he recognized the surname as one of the families that protested not having been put into the "Sacred Twenty-Eight" and her name also coming from a star like his. The fair-haired girl, on the other hand, was not disappointed or discouraged, and she hugged his already-fellow Gryffindor mate, Remus Lupin. For a split second, Sirius thought she caught eyes with him, but the moment passed too fast, and she looked away quickly. Sirius wondered for a moment if she was a rebel like himself, a black sheep in the family, but he didn't know much about the Sovermerges to judge.

And he was just too hungry to put his mind on anything. The sorting had ended, and Professor McGonagall was rolling up her scroll and taking the sorting hat away.

At the center of the High Table, Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

"Thank you!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered, and Sirius was among the loudest of all. He was aware of his parents' perceptions of the wizard, but they were insignificant and ridiculous as always, and despite having no idea what Dumbledore meant, Sirius thought he was simply brilliant.

The feast began, and the dishes in front of him were now piled with food. Sirius helped himself while he kept on talking with James. They were now discussing Hogwarts' secrets and the adventures they might encounter. Sitting under the enchanted starry ceiling, with thousands of candles lit above his head, Sirius had never been to a banquet more welcoming than this. It was warm, and he was content. Sitting at a table where none would jeer or castigate their disagreement with him, he was now one step away on his road to getting out of his family's grasp. He was finally on his own.

Sirius was feeling sleepy when the final desserts disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahem— just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils."

Sirius and James exchanged looks and smirked.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."

"Is he serious?" James asked incredulously, poking his foot at Sirius' under the table.

"Can't be more Sirius than me." Sirius winked at him, James grinned, and they sniggered to themselves. Across the table, the girl from the train glared at them disapprovingly. James made a face at her; she jerked back, her lips pursed, and the boys descended into silent laughter again.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Sirius, recovering from his laugh, looked up and noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself into words.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

Sirius joined in with James, who was attempting a very crashing and exaggerated voice. Seeing him do so, James' eyes glinted behind his glasses. When they all finished the song, everyone at different times, Dumbledore clapped hard, wiping his eyes, he said," Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

Sirius and James stood to follow the Gryffindor prefects, rushing to the door of the Great Hall through the chattering crowds.

Before he knew it, the insufferable drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy approached them.

"Oh, look! Isn't this the disgrace? You've put shame on your name, Sirius Black. "Landing in Gryffindor, fraternizing with blood traitors," he condemned Sirius, casting a final glance at James.

Sirius narrowed his eyes as he turned to give Malfoy a piece of his mind. He noticed Narcissa hovering behind his back, and she didn't even give Sirius so much as a glance, choosing instead to disavow him.

He was cut off, however, and he turned with surprise to James, who had a hand on his shoulder and a determined expression on his young face, making him seem much older than what he really is.

"Back off, if you know what's good for you, Malfoy." James' voice was icy cold, and he gritted his teeth with each word.

Narcissa, who hadn't interjected Malfoy's idea of reception toward Sirius till that moment, turned on him: "You're just going to stand there and let him talk to us like that?"

"No need to fuss, Narcissa; I can handle this." Malfoy waved at her dismissively; his gaze was on Sirius, so he didn't catch her expression turning sour. Sirius did, however, and he smirked.

"I wouldn't smirk if I were you, Sirius. Now, ten points from Gryffindor for disrespecting your superior." Malfoy looked pleased with himself.

"Term hasn't start yet. There are no points to take from, you dumbass. " James replied haughtily.

"Then that's detention for you." Malfoy, now flushed, said, "For both of you." Then he weaved back into the crowd, with Narcissa following him, giving Sirius a look of detest as she passed.

"That must have been some kind of record, being in detention even before term starts." James said, none too decisively, as he pulled at a silent Sirius, " Come on, all the others will be waiting for us."

They were at the back of the line of Gryffindor first years on the marble staircase when Sirius came to a halt and broke the silence: "Sorry, those were my cousin and —

"Don't—" James was one stair ahead of him, and he put up his hand to stop him and turned to squeeze his shoulders: "Don't apologize."

"And don't let them get to you."

Sirius felt a new feeling creeping up in his chest; he felt his strength again, and he realized he had been holding his own breath. He slapped his hand against James' outstretched one and gripped on tightly to stand on a level with him, grinning wildly, he said," Never. They don't stand a chance against us."