Sirius was shocked as he made his way towards Hogwarts but at the same time, he was feeling a vast sense of curiosity and mystery as he beheld the school, that would be his home for seven years. It was a magnificent castle with an equally interesting landscape. Sirius had been travelling in the boat with the same greasy-haired boy, Severus, which he'd encountered on the Hogwarts Express. Sirius had briefly called out "Hello" to him on the boats and Severus had replied almost as weakly. Sirius was uncertain to approach him as he didn't know what Severus would have made of his presence in that compartment, in which James Potter had nearly assaulted him. He'd hoped that Severus would not see him as a willing conspirator, and this feeling was rampant in Sirius's head.

As Professor McGonagall accompanied them towards the Great Hall, Sirius, being at the very first row, could see Slytherin's students now; almost all of them wore swarthy looks, but a few more of them looked as though they were worthy of being a Lord or Lady. But only a handful were not ruffians or conceited, but actually looked good and from their faces and behaviour, Sirius could tell that these were people of high society, like him.

Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. The first-years crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, your house will be like your family during your time in Hogwarts. You will have classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, which is a great honour for you as well as for your house, so I suggest that each of you would be an asset to your respective houses."

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I think you all should tidy yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

Sirius had no need to tidy himself; his mother had done that at home, remarking that people should see him as the high-class boy he was and Sirius agreed. It took a person so little effort to look good, and it made such an impression. The first-years waited nervously before Professor McGonagall entered once again and called them to the Great Hall. Sirius felt his heart jump with elation. He was going to be known as what he had always dreamed of being: a Slytherin.

Then a tiny thought came to him. What if he wasn't in Slytherin?

Suddenly Sirius' joy popped, and he was as scared as some of the first-years among him; Sirius could clearly see they weren't of wizarding heritage and silently scolded himself for acting like a muggleborn. But he couldn't deny that he was scared. The possibility was 3 times more likely to happen. But Sirius steeled his nerves and cheered himself up. He had all qualities of a Slytherin and there was no reason the hat shouldn't sort him into Slytherin.

Soon, the Sorting had begun. Names were called and choices were made. James Potter, being charismatic as ever, was sorted into Gryffindor, along with Lupin, however Peter had to spend a long time whilst the hat debated where he should go, but finally put him in Gryffindor. The girl who had been with Sirius and Severus in the train compartment was too sorted into Gryffindor; Sirius learnt that her name was Lily.

Severus Snape, as Sirius later learnt was his name, was sorted into Slytherin. And after a few students, Sirius's name was called.

"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very Difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting, but a yearning for darkness….So where shall I put you?"

Sirius thought, with all his willpower, Slytherin. Not anything else.

"Not anything else, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Gryffindor could help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that – no? Well, if you're sure – better be Slytherin!"

Sirius felt his heart leap as he walked to the Slytherin table, where the prefect, a teen with silver-blond hair, smiled at him before Sirius sat down. He realised he was seated beside Severus and the two started talking. SIrius liked the demeanour of Severus, whereas Snape liked the extensive knowledge of Sirius. The meal flashed on the plates and when they had finished, the Headmaster stood up and said a few words about the school year, and then their prefects led them to the Slytherin common room, the dungeon.

Sirius was excited to see the green glow of the dungeon and its charming décor. Sirius sat down in his four-poster bed and sighed with relief. Today had been an eventful day, he thought. His school year would be much more charming, filled with mischief, he thought.

If only he knew how right he was, and how eventful his school life was to be.