The Sorting Ceremony
September 1st, 1971
Sirius’ gray eyes were wide with wonder. Nothing could’ve compared him for the sheer beauty of Hogwarts. There was something about it that couldn’t be captured in words, you had to experience it. The high ceiling, showing the stars above was welcoming, unlike the darkness of Grimmauld Place. It wasn’t just the look of the castle, but the feeling it gave him. It was as if walking through the doors changed him at his very core.
The large windows were warm, unlike the dim ones at home. Sirius caught James’ eye. “Open your eyes any wider and they’ll pop. Don’t ruin my appetite before the feast.” He whispered.
“Mines already ruined, it looks like a bird crapped and died in your hair.”
Professor McGonagall, who had led them into the Great Hall, placed down a stool and what Sirius’ assumed was the Sorting Hat. It looked ancient, it was frayed and had patches, and looked dirty. Sirius had expected it to look a bit more impressive. The hat began to sing.
I may seem quite old and run down
But put me on you head,
I’m sharp as a crown,
And I’ll help you get ahead!
I’m the Hogwarts sorting hat,
Designed to put you in your spot;
Put me on, I’m quick as a dog and sharp as a cat,
I’ll wipe your frowns right upside down!
You may go to Hufflepuff,
where they know what’s right and wrong,
Those loyal folk, kind and just
May even sing you a song!
Another option, Ravenclaw,
brilliant and witty minds,
They’ll accept you right in,
And teach you to be wise!
You could go to Slytherin,
And stand up tall and proud,
Determined and ambitious,
They are quite a crowd!
Or brave and daring Gryffindor,
Last but certainly not least,
They’ll knock down any door,
With their chivalry and nerve.
But don’t forget,
Hogwarts is united as one!
So step right up,
Be the first!
And talk with this smart hat!
Professor McGonagall began to call names. “Abbot, Gaten”, went first. Sirius realized that B was not far off, and he would likely be one of the first to be sorted. He did not know whether it comforted him or unnerved him.
Gaten Abbot went to Hufflepuff, which was no surprise to Sirius, and the middle-right table cheered. Adam Avery went next, and Sirius was sure he would be in Slytherin. Five seconds later, he was proven correct as the far-left table erupted in cheers.
“Black, Sirius.”
Sirius had tried his best to pretend he wasn’t nervous, he really did. But his insides felt like someone had hit a bludger at him. There couldn’t have been some A’s, even a few B’s before him? As he walked forward, the Slytherin table had a smattering of cheers. Lucius Malfoy yelled, “Just bring him over here already!” This did not help Sirius at all, and it felt like an additional 10 bludgers were hit at him with Lucius’ comment.
Would he break the tradition?
Sirius took a seat on the stool and the hat was placed on his head.
Hmmmm, a voice in his head said. I was prepared to put you Slytherin, but you’re not quite like the rest of the Blacks I’ve sorted, are you?
Yeah, I’m not like them at all, you’ve got that right.
The hat chuckled. Not in favor of Slytherin, are you? You’re determined, that’s for sure. Brilliant mind you have, you wouldn’t do bad in Ravenclaw.
Really? Ravenclaws boring though.
Ha! You’re a stubborn one. Loyal too, oh my, very loyal. Hufflepuff? No, I think there’s a better fit. Do you want to break your family’s tradition?
Yes.
Oh, that takes courage! Daring you are, there’s not been a single Black not in Slytherin!
I’ll be the first.
That takes a whole lot of nerve! Oh I know where you belong! I knew it the moment I was placed on your head!
“GRYFFINDOR!” The hat shouted.
Sirius was filled with a mixture of relief and worry. The far-right table erupted in cheers, though many faces he passed seemed shocked. He took particular pleasure however, in noticing how angry Narcissa looked. He knew why; it would be hot gossip in pure-blood circles, that the Heir to the House of Black defied tradition, and went to the blood-traitor house of Gryffindor.
Sirius sat down at the Gryffindor table, and an older boy with a perfect badge patted him on the back. “I’m Frank, though I think we’ve met before.”
“Oh yeah!” Sirius exclaimed, as Damian Boot went to Ravenclaw. “I saw you at the first Quidditch World Cup I went to!”
“Saw me too,” A blonde boy with brown eyes said (August, that was his name), “Though you’re a lot taller now. Little surprised you’re not in Slytherin but looking back, it’s not a shock at all. You’ve always been a part of the blood traitor club.”
Sirius cracked a grin. He truly had taken a lot of people by surprise. Who would’ve guessed that the precious heir was the one to defy tradition? His Mother and Father would surely be furious with him. Sirius’ head began to swim with worry again. His Parents would be furious with him. That never meant anything good.
Sirius’ relief took over. This was what he wanted. He’d said it to James’ that he might be the one to break the tradition, and he did. James’ would surely be in Gryffindor, and Sirius was glad. He had known James only a few hours, and liked him better than the pure-blood kids who he’d known for a decade.
The Sorting Hat was deciding on Olivia Darren, and Alecto Carrow had gone to Slytherin right before her. Once again, Sirius was not surprised. He’d never liked the Carrow girl one bit.
Olivia Darren went to Hufflepuff, and after a much shorter time, William Darren went to Ravenclaw. Sirius’ recognized the next girl, Lily Evans. She was the red-headed girl from the train. The moment the hat hit her head it screamed “GRYFFINDOR!”
Sirius joined the rest of Gryffindor in cheering her, and moved down to give her room. She took one look at him and turned her back.
Well thanks! Sirius thought. She seems lovely!
Sable Fawcett and Davey Gudgeon went to Ravenclaw. The next to be called was Celeste Greengrass. Sirius hoped a little that she wouldn’t go to Slytherin, she was the only Sacred Twenty-Eight kid he liked, but of course she went to Slytherin also. It was a shame that Celeste would be forced to share a dorm with Carrow.
The Jones twins went to Hufflepuff, and McGonagall called the next boy. His name was Remus Lupin, and he looked more nervous than every first-year combined. It did not help that he was quite small, and the hat covered his eyes. Remus took about a minute, before the hat declared “GRYFFINDOR!”
Sirius joined in with the cheers once more. Remus hurried his way to the Gryffindor table, and sat down across from Sirius.
Remus had a few small, yet noticeable scars lining his pale cheekbones. Had he not been so small, Sirius might’ve thought he was older, because he had a look of tiredness that Sirius had only seen on adults. He had light brown hair, which was cut short. Despite the roughness of his scars, the rest of Remus’ face was very soft.
Sirius offered his hand to Remus, and Remus shook it.
“I’m Remus.” He said.
“I know. And I’m Sirius, though you also know that.” Sirius said with a grin and laugh.
Remus’ cheeks had taken a slight red color, though he laughed along. “My apologies, I was more preoccupied with the hat both in and on my head.”
Sirius laughed, as Mary Macdonald joined them in Gryffindor.
“Two in a row!” August said as they all cheered. “Think we can go for 3?”
Marlene McKinnon, a blonde girl with bright blue eyes, was next to be sorted. Like Lily, the hat declared her a Gryffindor very quickly.
Marlene sat down next to August who said, “Knew you’d be a Gryffindor! That’s three in a row, we can keep it going!”
The next first year, Dorcas Meadowes had dark skin and long, dark brown braids. She took longer than Marlene.
“GRYFFINDOR!”
“Bets on 5, anyone?” August asked the table at large, as they cheered and welcomed Dorcas.
“You’re on.” Another seventh year said. He had dark skin and dark curls, and Sirius thought he recognized him from somewhere. “Next one’s a Hufflepuff. One Galleon.”
The next first-year, Peter Pettigrew, approached the stool timidly. Remus seemed to pay extra attention and smiled at Peter as the hat was placed on his head. He took a very long time, over 5 minutes. Sirius was getting a little restless. Eventually, the hat shouted “GRYFFINDOR!”, and Peter hurried over among the cheers and sat right next to Remus, as August was handed a galleon. Remus and Peter seemed to be friends.
“The next one we’ll be in Ravenclaw. I’m sure of it. One galleon.”
Sirius nearly barked a laugh as the next first-year, James was called. The hat hadn't even hit his head yet before placing him in Gryffindor, and Sirius cheered wildly as James took his spot next to him.
“You still up for betting, Michael?” Frank asked, holding two galleons in his hand.
“Oh, you bet. Next one’s in Slytherin. One Galleon.”
Just as Michael predicted, Evan Rosier went to Slytherin. August handed a galleon back to Michael.
“You’re still down a galleon.”
“Don’t care.”
Sirius paid little attention to the rest of the Sorting Ceremony, though he noticed Lily Evans perked up as the boy from the train, Severus Snape, was called. Like he’d said, he went to Slytherin.
James nudged him. “Aren’t you even happier to be in Gryffindor now? Imagine sharing a dorm with him, he might throw out your shampoo out of fear.” He took a dramatic expression, as if shampoo was the worst thing he could ever imagine.
Sirius grinned and said, “Now I have you, who will probably throw out my brush.”