I do not claim ownership of anything below.


1. Sayonara, Slytherin

There I was, on the brink of getting expelled.

For the greater part of the term, I had tried and tried to force my way into another house. But clearly, the road was rougher than anticipated.

My diplomacy, on the contrary, was excellent. I had friends from every house, even one in Gryffindor. The Heads of the Houses loved me. Each one of them, albeit Snape would never admit it. But rules are rules and apparently, the mad, janky hat that the school had barely preserved for four centuries is never wrong.

I know many of my peers will be asking me once I return why it is I am not expelled. Surely, setting the Slytherin commons ablaze is an unforgivable offense. Even if I blamed my own depression for it. But the events that followed this was what led me to make this claim you will now hear. As ridiculous and unhinged this may sound, I find Dumbledore to be a great Headmaster...

Shortly after my act of arson...

"Is that your cat on the train tracks?" I asked.

Dumbledore was too deep in a rage to hear my words. He was still going on about my immature actions and the safety of those around me.

"Accio cat."

Boom... Not only did I prove my potential in successfully casting a spell that was advanced for a second-year, but I also saved the idiot's cat.

This incident provided the time needed for mum to fly in and vouch for my case.

"Yes, he may have set the common room on fire, but had it ever occured to you, Dumbledore, that his heart... may be on fire???"

Dumbledore gave in to the charms of my mother and allowed me to finish the last two weeks of school from home. Although he never said I was able to switch houses next term when I get back, he never said I couldn't.

Sharing the compartment with me were Adrian Pucey, my only friend in Slytherin, Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw who will be starting her second year, she's great, and Adrian's annoying little cousin, Draco Malfoy. This is his first year.

Technically, he's my cousin as well, but only by blood. My mother had cut off the rest of our family except for one of her cousins, Aunt Andi. So the only cousin I associate with is my cousin Dora, who I usually shared a compartment with along with her friends, but she graduated last term.

"Why would you not want to be in Slytherin," Asked little Draco. "It's the worthiest of all houses!"

"Worthy of what?" Asked Cho.

"Worthy. Do you not know what worthy means? Are the colors of your tie just a preference or are you playing stupid with me?"

Cho just shot a glare at Adrian who only shrugged in response.

"Can you sit down or are you having trouble getting onto the seat," I asked, noticing that he's been on his feet for maybe twenty minutes now.

"You get the glory of being Sorted into Slytherin and in return, you shun it? Mind the fact that you aren't even pure-blooded," Draco continued as he took a seat.

"He's a Black," chimed Adrian.

"Yes, but he said he never met his father. So that puts him in a grey area."

"It may well be his uncle," said Cho with a grin.

Her incest jokes about my family were cute at first, but how constant they came, I didn't appreciate. I almost regret telling her that little fun fact. I gave it a laugh still.

"It's not just about being a Slytherin. But if not a Slytherin, then what else would you want to be? There's not many choices," said Draco.

The room went silent for a knick of time as a non-Slytherin was present.

"You're very handsome, if you didn't know that yet," said Cho, spite evident in her words.

"I know that very well..."

The train ride was long and although it pained me to stay in hearing range of the blonde devil that is my mother's nephew, it didn't feel right leaving Adrian all alone in hell. Especially when Cho decided to cop out.

But finally, it was over. I had maybe thirty minutes once I get off the train to do what was necessary to switch houses. I rummaged through my chest for a letter I won from my mum over a bet we had when she was very drunk over the summer. A letter that shows her support in my decision.

I wasn't a moment late. As soon as I grasped the letter, my chest was magically relocated into the dungeons of Slytherin where lies the dorm I hoped to never see.

The last thing I saw before exiting the compartment was Draco's smug expression that he wore as he fixed his tie. The tie, by the way, sported Slytherin colors. If I didn't know any better, I would have betted it to be a mistake for him to assume his house so early. I do not see the cunning in this one.

I was running towards the exit as the train was skidding to a stop when I heard from behind me:

"There's no running on the train!"

The voice was really high-pitched and clearly belonged to a kid younger than even me. But the tone and confidence it took was enough to persuade me to look back.

The little blonde girl that the voice belonged to was giving me the look, complete with her fists balled and rested on her hips. And I didn't mean to be rude when I told her to shut her face, but it was something about her professor-like demeanor combined with Draco's earlier presence that just pushed me over the edge

The train stopped, the doors opened, and like the wind, I was gone. Had I still had my broomstick, I wouldn't have had to deal with running through a crowd of villagers. But mum thought it fitting to "accidentally" break it the morning after I tricked her into a deal while she was drunk.

I passed up Professor McGonagall who was not shaken seeing me rushing towards the castle. She did yell something I didn't quite get, but I assumed it had to do with me having to wait for others before one of the boats awaiting the students will bring me across the lake. Luckily, I have something else in mind. Swimming, specifically.

The giant squid cares nothing for students. I learned this in one of my early attempts of getting kicked out of Slytherin last term. I claimed a true Slytherin would have no fear swimming with monsters and then in I went. Snape made a comment about my actions being more Gryffindor-ish, which I then said only supports my decision to switch houses. It did not fare as I wanted it to and I got detention.

"Jack!" Called a gruff yet gentle voice. I spared a look and waved at Hagrid before diving into the cold, slimy lake.

I'll admit, the lake was a lot larger than I though it's be. If it wasn't for me shooting a smile at Hagrid, I'm sure he would have jumped in himself to try and save me. But a man on a mission needs no saving.

I cast a drying charm on myself before entering the castle. Then, I sprinted to the Great Hall, which was rather empty, only teachers occupied it at the moment. I cleared my throat.

"Hello, professors... Is Dumbledore around?" I asked with a smile.

They shook their heads. He wasn't. But the Sorting Hat was. Smiling and waving, I walked calmly towards where the professors were before I then hit a sharp turn and ran up the steps to where the wretched hat was sitting on a stool.

"Mr. Black!" Shouted Professor Sprout.

But Trelawney calmed her down with a warm smile. She actually foreseen my exit of Slytherin. I was more than glad to find out that it didn't mean me being expelled. At least so far, it hasn't.

I really wanted for Dumbledore to be there to witness everything. But I figured the group of professors present was good enough as far as witnesses.

Right as I was about to pick up the Sorting Hat, flames emerged right before me and Dumbledore appeared with a loud pop. Ever the showman.

"Mr. Black..."

"Professor Dumbledore..."

"It seems we are not done with your antics just yet, are we?"

"Just let me wear the hat, sir, and I'll show you."

Dumbledore cleared his throat before speaking, wiping his hand on his robe for whatever reason. "Mr. Black... Not once has the Sorting Hat ever made a mistake. And not once in the history of this school has anyone been transferred to another house. Why should I make an exception for you?"

"To be honest, sir, I don't think there was a rule that prohibits students from switching houses. I believe that issue simply had never occured." I answered, mustering up all the respect I could.

"There wasn't," he says, "though I made one. Just last term, actually."

"But sir, my mum wrote a letter-..."

"Yes, yes. I received her owl this morning."

This was where I let my composure slip just a bit. To hear that my mum owled Dumbledore a letter she wrote of her own accords to help me switch out of the house she herself was sorted into gave me joy. I felt loved.

"I understand the trials you face as one of the few black sheep in Slytherin," Dumbledore continued, "and your mother made perfect sense in her reasoning to support your request. However, Mr. Black, I still find it best for you to stay in your current house. Reason being because it is Slytherin. Slytherin faces a lot of prejudice, which every house does but yours a lot more. I think you can set an example. You may be the one who can finally get the message through to the student body and prove that your house does not define you..."

I was at a lost for words. I wasn't touched, not even a bit. I was angry that after all that I did, this man had the nerve to admit that I am right for wanting to switch houses and still decline my request.

"Although, I cannot force you to be that example. And it would be against my nature to not care about the greater good of my students," Dumbledore continued. It was evident that he saw the smile growing on my face. "And it is unfortunate that you have sunk into a depression that swayed you into an attempted mass-murder of your housemates, but I presume that alone is a fit enough reason to recognize your request to switch houses. So if you wish, Mr. Black..."

Dumbledore stepped to the side to let me through.

The smile on my face could not get any wider. It literally hurt as I picked up the hat and placed it atop my head.

"OOOOOH-... what...," goes the Sorting Hat, ending it's song abruptly. "I remember you. Why are you- oh... I see... WELL, HE SET FIRE TO THE DUNGEONS OF SLYTHERIN. HE'S CLEARLY ONE OF GRYFFINDOR'S!"

And a Gryffindor I became. But honestly, it didn't matter what house I was re-sorted into, long as it wasn't Slytherin. And I have nothing against Slytherin either. I think Salazar Slytherin was a brilliant wizard. It was his offspring I was a bit dodgy about. Miriam Slaugh, one of the many Slytherins I will not miss seeing everyday, was a descendant. And she sucked.

"Very well," said Dumbledore, nodding with just a hint of a smile. "From now on, Mr. Black, you are a Gryffindor. Although, I guarantee you that there will not be another switch."

I nodded and shook his hand, thanking him for the leeway he has given me.

"Any chance I can read the letter my mum sent you?"

Dumbledore simply laughed and turned away to sit in his chair.

I, on the other hand, was too early for the ceremony to start and decided to use the time I had to Transfigure my tie into one that suited a Gryffindor. Transfiguration was never my strong suit and by the time students started filing in, I was wearing a plain orange tie. In fairness, I have never seen a maroon lion and I am sure there is an orange one out there somewhere.

"Jack? What are you doing here," my good friend Aaron Wilkins asked.

With a smile as cocky as Draco's, I replied, "I'm a Gryffindor, why wouldn't I be here?"


A/N: Yes, I like the name Jack. It's short and easy to get used to, so suck it. Also thanks for reading.