Regulus
I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous to go to Hogwarts. I was always sure that I would be put in Slytherin, our whole family was a Slytherin. Until last year, when Sirius got put into Gryffindor. The traitor our parents called him, how could a black possibly be a Gryffindor. He wasn’t their son anymore or at least that’s what they like to say. He is still their heir, because they can’t just abandon him for being put in the wrong house. When he got home for Christmas it wasn’t pretty, but this summer was worse, way worse. I’m grateful that they forgot I existed during their rage towards Sirius. And then my letter arrived. I got a place at Hogwarts, of course I did, but that led to them ranting to me about how I’d have to be a Slytherin and not shame the whole family like Sirius did. Which leads us to where we are right now, on the platform about to get on the train. So, in just a couple of hours I’m going to know which house I’m in and if I can go back home safely. At least I have Sirius with me, he will support me no matter what. I can trust him, always.
Sirius
“Can we please just get on the train?” I dare to say. Walburga, my mum, looks at me with distaste, as if I’m a muggle or worse a squib. I might as well be in her eyes, maybe that would have been better than me being sorted into Gryffindor. She goes back to fussing over Regulus, little perfect Regulus who can do no wrong. I lose myself in my thoughts, because I don’t really want to hear her talk about how much better he’ll do at Hogwarts. I, for one, am very happy that I’m not in Slytherin, even though this summer was hell, I can’t stand purebloods who feel better than everyone. I want to get away from the label that I received for being a Black. Luckily my roommate and best friend, James Potter is the kindest guy that ever walked this planet. He is a pureblood, so he knows how most families work, but his parents are the most loving and understanding people ever from what I’ve heard. He has welcomed me into his life like a brother. I can’t wait to see him again, which is why I need to get on this bloody train.
You see, I’m a great fan of discovering new bands, especially mugglebands, don’t ask me why they’re just better. I snuck a tv into my room at the beginning of the summer to watch the X-factor. No, it’s not lame, it’s the best way to learn about undiscovered artists. But I just discovered this boyband, and I need to tell James about it, I think I might explode if I don’t.
Regulus stopped listening to me ranting about them, which was super rude if you ask me, but Regulus is rude. He doesn’t know any better, because he was raised by our parents. Which is why I hope he gets into Gryffindor as well, so we can defy our parents together. I would love to tell James everything that's happened during summer but first I need to make sure Reggie is going to be okay.
“James, James, where are you?” I think that dipshit is hiding from me with Peter and Remus, our other roommates, when I finally find the compartment they’re sitting in. “Jesus Sirius, there is no need to shout. It’s way too early for that.” Ah, amazing somebody forget to give Remus coffee, he’s way to grumpy. But I’m not going to let that ruin the good news that I wanted to share with them.
“Don’t be so dramatic, little kid”
“I’m not a little kid; you’re just a few months older”
“Guys, please don’t fight. We haven’t seen each other in months, and this is how you greet each other? I expected more from the both of you” That’s obviously James, always trying to keep the peace. I think he isn’t used to hearing people fight. Me and Remus both grew up in places where it was normal to hear people shouting at any hour of the day. Okay, wait James is here which means time to tell him.
“You’re right, sorry James. I’m just excited to see you guys again! It has been a long summer.”
“Oh yeah, how did your parents act? Was it better than during Christmas? And how is Regulus? This is going to be his first year, right?” Sweet James, always so concerned about others.
“Well, my parents were just horrible, as usual. I would have been less surprised if they kicked me out than them acting better than during Christmas. I do think it was a nice change for Reggie, because he didn’t have to take the brunt for once. He seemed really nervous when we got on the train, I think he’s scared to disappoint our parents like I did. He values their opinion, so letting them down would destroy him.”
“Does he want to be a Slytherin?” Peter asks quietly. I’m not kidding the guy could use some lessons in being confident. We’re his friends, we would never let him down even if he says something stupid. I say stupid stuff all the time and they put up with me.
“Unfortunately, I believe he does. He’s a Black and we’re supposed to be Slytherins of course. So, it makes sense that he wants to be one or at least expects to be one. Also, coming home wouldn’t be safe anymore if we were both Gryffindors.”
“Why does he care what they think?”
“You care what your parents think about you, don’t you?”
James
“I do, Sirius, but my parents support whatever I do.”
I shouldn’t have said that, because Sirius whole demeanor breaks, and he just starts staring out the window. Nobody dares to say anything else until we arrive at Hogwarts.
I’ve been worried sick about Sirius during the summer break. I don’t know everything about his relationship with his parents, but I do know the most important thing: it sucks! So when he says that Regulus cares about their opinion I just can’t wrap my head around it. To me it seems useless to care about an opinion from people who don’t care about you. I know that isn’t fair, he can’t change the fact that his parents don’t want them. I, for one, also wouldn’t want children with my cousin, so maybe that’s why they’re so bitter.
Regulus
The second we get on the train, Sirius disappears. Probably off to go find his little friends. I find a nice compartment for myself to sit in.
I slumped against the window of the compartment, watching the countryside blur past as the weight of my family’s expectations pressed against my chest.
Before I can really get lost in my own thoughts two little boys and a girl poke their head around my door. I recognize them from somewhere. Maybe our parents are acquainted, not friends the Black family doesn’t do friends.
“Hi, I’m Barty Crouch. Can we sit with you? Everything else is full.” The dark-haired boy says while falling down on the bench across from me.
“Not really a question, if you’re already sitting down, ey Barty.” The blond boy responds, introducing himself as Evan Rosier.
“Hey, I’m Pandora… Pandora Rosier. Nice to meet you.” The girl seems really shy, and they are family. That might be interesting. I wonder how they act around each other, possible better than me and Sirius seeing as they are together and we are, very clearly, not.
“I’m Regulus Black. Sure, you can sit here, room enough.”
“Wait don’t tell me that you are THE Black, as in the little brother of Sirius, first black to be sorted in Gryffindor. He is a legend, not in a good way obviously. My father talked so much about him last year. Said that I should stay away from the Blacks since your parents failed to raise you properly. Well, anything my old man says, I just have to ignore. That man’s opinion is total rubbish. Let’s be friends, best friends. That’ll piss him off”
“I think you might be better off being friends with my brother. He shares your opinion about parents. Refuses to listen to anything they say, such a shame. He would be an amazing student, could do great things, if it wasn’t his goal in live to annoy them as much as humanly possible.”
I like this Barty kid. He clearly doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him, which might be good for me. I hope we’re both in Slytherin, Evan too, maybe even the Rosier girl.
“Have you thought about what house you want to be in? Seeing as it isn’t as set in stone as you thought it was, little Black.”
“Shove it, Rosier, I’m still a Slytherin or I will be when we get this sorting over with. No doubt, I’m not going to be a blood traitor like my brother. Where do you guys want to end up in?”
“I’ve thought of the best way to annoy my father; I’m going to be a Slytherin.”
“Wasn’t he a Slytherin himself?”
“Yes Evan, but he regrets being in Slytherin. He’s always talking about how he would’ve reached his full potential if he had just been in Ravenclaw. Now, because I’m his only son I need to reach this so-called potential instead of him. I’ve got to be a Ravenclaw, so I’m going to be a Slytherin. Makes sense, right?”
“Yeah, I stand by what I just said, you should be friends with my brother. What about you two? I assume you’d like to be in the same house.”
“Actually no, I think it would be good for us to be separate. To not be just know as twins, but to be our own identity. Evan wants to be in Slytherin like you guys, but I’d actually really like to be a Ravenclaw. I don’t think I am as cunning as you need to be to be a Slytherin. I just want to learn new things, maybe try to create some new spells. Just explore everything the wizarding world has to offer; without the pressure our families add on being a Slytherin.”
She looks really shy after having said this, like some huge secret she just had to share with strangers. Maybe just one stranger, I’m uncertain how well they know Barty. Something to figure out during the rest of the train ride.
“ I think it’s really cool that you want to go your own way, sis. Just know I’ll miss you so much when you’re gone.” Evan responds teasingly.
After we got the houses out of the way, we just spent the rest of the ride getting to know each other. Apparently the Rosier siblings are twins, who are in no way alike. I don’t think I’ve ever met two people who are as different from each other as they are. Evan is really charismatic, whereas Pandora is a little shy. You can also see that they really care about each other even though their ideas of the future couldn’t be further away from each other. Barty has known them since like forever. He’d rather be at their house than his own. He won’t say it, but I think it’s because of his father.
At the end of the train ride, we fall into a comfortable silence. After a little while Pandora starts humming an unknown song under her breath.
“What is it you’re singing, sis?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just something that popped in my head with the sorting being so close.”
“Let us hear it, Dora.” Barty teases, but only a little bit. He seems genuinely curious what she was humming.
“Okay, but don’t make fun of me guys or I will hex you all.” Fierce, I love it.
"Sort us in, we don’t care,
Gryffindor, Slytherin—doesn’t mean we play fair.
Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, take your bets,
We’ll break the rules before they’re set!"
"Gold and red, green and black,
Tell me what’s the point of that?
Wear the crest, take the test,
Who says one is better than the rest?"
"Pick a house, any house, we’ll be the same!
Name your fate, roll the dice, play the game!
Call it destiny, say it’s fate—
But we make the rules, and we won’t break!"
“Pandora that’s amazing. I love it. Guys, this is going to be our anthem. We won’t care what other people think about us. We are just us, a group of friends who will do whatever they want. Nothing is going to change us, no matter what house we’ll be in.” Barty declares confidently.
“He’s right. You are a great songwriter and this is our anthem. We make the rules.”
I just smile and feel lucky to have made these friends before even arriving at Hogwarts. Immediately, I feel less nervous about the sorting. Was this how Sirius felt when he made friends outside of our parents’ approval? If I get sorted into Slytherin, will I ever find out? What would Sirius want for me? I know our parents want me to be a Slytherin, but would Sirius secretly hope that I’m a Gryffindor just like him? Do I want to be? I would be closer to him, I think. But would we stop being close if I’m in Slytherin. Would he blame me for being like our parents, like what they expect from us. When we were little kids, we used to hide in one of our rooms when things at home got really bad. After father screamed at us for being ungrateful brats or mother cursed us as a punishment for misbehaving, we were always there for each other. Is this going to change? Will I lose the brother I knew and loved? The tension was already noticeable this summer, but my sorting will only affect us more. Before I can think about it more, the train arrives at Hogwarts.
Us first years all have to gather around to get on the boats that will take us across the black lake. In the corner of my eye, I can see Sirius getting of the train, laughing with some guys, probably his friends. Not even noticing me he steps into a carriage.
So, the boat ride turned out to be no fun. Who would have guessed that? Also, Evan is seasick, so not even five minutes into the ride and he started turning really green. And eventually puked, luckily into the water and not on us. There was this other girl with us in the boat, she introduced herself as Dorcas Meadowes. She seemed to not give a fuck about what others thought of her. I think Barty felt like she had the same vibe as us, so he immediately tried to include her in our little friend group. She said she’d think about it, depended on the sorting and all that. I respect her for that, to not jump in a group immediately. I hope she’s in Slytherin just like us.
As first years you have to wait until everyone is in the great hall and then you walk in. That is the most rubbish I’ve ever heard. Do you know that everybody is watching us? Who even came up with this stupid rule? I’d rather die than have everyone look at me. When we finally go in, I try to hide behind Evan and Barty as much as possible. The great hall is long, like really long. It feels like we’ve been walking for hours before we reach the front. Maybe that’s my anxiety talking, who cares, let’s get this over with this.
"Oh, children, welcome, come take your seat,
In this grand hall, where our fates will meet.
The houses await, their banners to fly,
But first, let's see where your hearts will lie."
Gryffindor’s courage, pure and bold,
With hearts of fire and spirits untold,
Hufflepuff’s loyalty, gentle and true,
Kindness, and patience, a welcome for you.
Slytherin’s ambition, sharp as a blade,
Where loyalty to blood is proudly displayed,
And Ravenclaw’s wisdom, quick and bright,
They seek the answers, and they take flight.
But beware, young ones, not all will agree,
The paths you walk may not set you free.
In every heart, there lies a spark,
That whispers of secrets hidden in the dark.
Will you stand firm, or will you stray?
Rebel against what others say?
The choice is yours, don’t hide from it,
For once you choose, there's no turning back from it."
Now go, young ones, and listen, and hear,
Where you’ll find your place, or come near.
For the choices you make in the days ahead,
Will leave you marked—be cautious, instead."
And remember, the weight of your heart is the key,
Not just the blood, but the will to be free."
Oh, bloody amazing, the dusty old hat sings. I mean it’s a gorgeous song, that I would enjoy if I weren’t for the hundreds of people staring at me. I can almost hear them whisper: “look it’s the little Black” “Is he going to disappoint his family?” “He looks scared” “What a wuss”
Finally professor McGonagall starts the sorting. Being a Black, I was one of the first to be sorted.
Sirius
I can see every ounce of anxiety in Regulus as he walks towards the sorting hat. He’s nervous, and so am I. James kept reassuring me that this wouldn’t change anything between the two of us, but what if he’s wrong? Will Regulus come to resent me like our parents do? And what happens if he does get into Gryffindor? Would he even be happy about it? I want to be a part of his life, but most of all I want him to be happy. I know the stress of everything is killing him. I don’t know how his train ride went. I left him. That’s my fault, I shouldn’t have left him behind, should’ve taken him to James with me. Who knows if he even talked to anyone on the train. Reggie is so people shy, it really is astonishing sometimes that we’re brothers.
Why is the bloody hat taking so long? Can’t it just decide? Even from here, I can see the panic on his face, the stress might kill him if the hat doesn’t hurry.
I haven’t even finished my thoughts completely when I hear it.
“Slytherin!”
No, no, no! This can’t be happening. I mean I knew it would, but still. Not my brother, they can’t take my little brother. He’s too innocent. Even though we are in a hall full of people I can’t seem to notice anything besides Regulus. Regulus’ face shifting. Regulus standing up. Regulus walking. Walking towards the house tables. Regulus sitting down. Sitting down at the Slytherin table. Regulus, who didn’t even look at me once. Regulus, who is slipping away too fast. Regulus who is….