Sorting Ceremony
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Regulus didn't look for his brother when the train stopped and announced the arrival at Hogwarts, instead he went downstairs with Barty and Evan, talking about the sorting ceremony.
The three boys were excited. Regulus had perked up at the thought that at least if he got into Slytherin he would have two friends already made. They had talked the whole way about a million things, favourite quidditch teams, childhood pets, vacation spots, sweets… Barty and Regulus had talked at length about quidditch teams and matches, Evan didn't seem enthusiastic about sports, he had confessed that he wouldn't even try out for the team when the time came, instead, Evan had talked with Regulus about books, a passion Barty didn't share. He had recommended some of his favourite books, muggle literature. Regulus had only read one muggle book in his life, Andromeda Black had sent it to Sirius, but Sirius wasn't a big fan of reading, so Regulus had just taken it. There was no Muggle literature in his home's library, it was not "Tojours purs" according to his father. Sirius had some other muggle books by his uncle Alphard, but Regulus hadn't made much of an effort to read them before either.
The three boys were speechless when they entered the gigantic, decorated dining room. Students from all courses had sat at the tables in their corresponding houses to be spectators of the sorting ceremony. Regulus felt dizzy. First, he looked at the Slytherin table. Narcissa and Lucius waved at him and said something Regulus clearly didn't hear.
— Family? — Evan asked looking at Narcissa as well. —
— My cousin and her boyfriend. Both Slytherins. — Regulus replied nervously. —
He turned his gaze to the Gryffindor table. It didn't take long for him to track down his brother and his friends. He and James were laughing when Remus Lupin caught Regulus' eye and warned Sirius. His older brother stood up and waved at Reggie cheerfully. Regulus wasn't sure he understood what his brother was saying, hearing it was impossible with all the noise and, he was too embarrassed to approach the table, he thought he understood something like "good luck" or "luck Reggie" Regulus smiled shyly. James Potter gave him a thumbs up and a wide smile and finally Peter Pettigrew, who hadn't realized Regulus was there until that moment, waved and smiled too. They seemed like nice people; Regulus was glad his brother had good friends.
Regulus's hands began to sweat. Nerves were consuming him.
— Hey guys, look how funny that huffle is- Merlin Regulus! You are pale! Everything alright mate? —Barty said worried —
— Is it because of the sorting? — Evan joined —
Regulus was surprised. He knew he turned even paler than he already was when he was nervous, but no one had bothered about it until then. Unable to answer, he just nodded.
Barty put his arm around his shoulders.
— Do you see that table mate? — He pointed to where her cousin and Lucius were sitting. Regulus nodded again. — Yes? Well there my friend, there is where all three of us are going to be sitting in just a few hours. — He passed his other arm around Evan's shoulders, the three of them united — Together. We are going to spend the best seven years of our lives here. The three of us are going into Slytherin.
— How are you so sure though? — Reg finally asked. —
Barty looked at him with a big grin in his mouth.
— Because I say so. Determination. Slytherin. I know, you know, Evan knows. There we will be.
Regulus knew from that moment that Barty was his James Potter. He would never tell Sirius like that, but he felt that way.
The students’ names were shouted out loud and everyone was silent until their house was announced. To ease his nerves, Regulus looked up the students he had seen at the station and listened to see if he had guessed their houses correctly. He didn't hit many. The brown-haired boy with the backpack had gone to Gryffindor, a dark-haired girl who he had thought of as a Slytherin had ended up in Hufflepuff. Regulus was talking to Barty when it was the turn of the blonde girl with the crystal necklace, he didn't catch her name. She was selected for Ravenclaw, Barty and Regulus looked at her when they noticed she was waving at Evan. They went to ask, but Evan was the next to be called and the thing was forgotten.
— EVAN ROSIER — his name was shouted —
— Wish me luck — Evan got up and went to the sorting hat —
Evan sat down and the hat began to speak loudly as with the others. Regulus and Barty hadn't paid much attention to other cases, but this one interested them, so they fell silent and stared at Evan.
— HMMM LET'S SEE, YES, I SEE IT. YOU HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON YOUR MIND, LITTLE ONE. YES, IT IS COMPLICATED. OK, I GOT IT. SLYTHERIN!
Evan got up and went to the Slytherin table grinning.
— You made it! — Barty shouted across the room —
After a while Barty was called and Regulus was left alone.
— YOU ARE INTELLIGENT BOY, YOU WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT RAVENCLAW, A PITY YOU HAVE THINGS SO CLEAR. SLYTHERIN!
Everyone applauded. Barty looked at Regulus and winked at him. Only him to go.
Regulus was one of the last students to be called.
— REGULUS ARCTURUS BLACK
The dining room went completely silent. All eyes on what would happen with the next Black. However, Regulus only cared about certain looks, the worried one from his brother Sirius, and the hopeful ones from Narcissa and his new friends. His stomach closed.
— OH, ANOTHER BLACK. HMMM LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE, SHALL WE? WHAT A CURIOUS LITTLE HEAD OF YOURS. YOU ARE A VERY INTELLIGENT YOUNG MAN AND DEFINITELY BRAVE — brave? Regulus was shocked to hear that, he would have considered himself many things, but brave? That was his brother — I SEE YOU A HARDWORKER, ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE YOUR BEST, YES, YOU FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU WANT. NOTHING ELSE TO SEE HERE THEN. SLYTHERIN!
A huge weight suddenly lifted from his shoulders. He couldn't help but smile with relief. As he stood up, everyone applauded. Everything became very blurry. Regulus would only remember one thing from his sorting ceremony in the future, his face. Sirius was the first Regulus looked at after hearing his house. His smile faded as soon as he saw his face. Sirius's eyes were crystallized, dark blue. He didn't need more than seeing his brother's eyes colour to realize that their relationship was about to change drastically.
It wouldn't be until years later that Regulus would realize that no matter what had happened that day, in all possible ways he would have disappointed someone. If he hadn't been a Slytherin, his new friends and family. Being it, his brother. There was no correct option, all of them would have generated disagreement in someone.
After dinner, an older Slytherin carried the first years into the common room of their house. Regulus was buried in his thoughts and Evan and Barty, too excited about their sorting, made little move to get him out of his head.
They arrived in front of a brick wall where they were informed of the password of that moment: crystalline emerald. The Slytherin common room was located in the dungeons, and it was almost always cold down there. Regulus liked the cold, he loved to wear sweaters and long-sleeved shirts, it was easier to hide his scars with them. His mother was a very meticulous person and thus almost none of his or Sirius's scars were easily visible. They used to be at the ankles or a little higher. The ones for the wrists were, therefore, the worst punishments, when they had angered Walburga the most and she had been the least perfectionist. The cut was still clean and delicate, of course, only harder to hide.
The three boys lit up their eyes when they entered the common room. It was huge, lit with green lamps, black leather armchairs and a gigantic carpet. There were lots of old wooden furniture, Regulus loved the smell of old wood. The temperature in the room was warmer than outside, but still quite cold. The room itself radiated a cold feeling, which Regulus tried to ignore. Every surface was covered with tablecloths neatly embroidered with green and black snakes and flowers. Everything was… well, everything was very Black. Regulus felt almost as if he were still in his old house, but at least here he could leave the common room whenever he felt overwhelmed by it, which was forbidden in his house, and most importantly, he had friends. Regulus smiled and looked over to where Evan and Barty were inspecting every corner of the common room.
Evan had a unique sparkle in his grey eyes. He had found an old chess board and was looking in detail at each of the pieces as if he had never seen one before.
Barty was looking up, a lamp hovering directly over his head, illuminating him in green.
— Hey, guys — Regulus caught the attention of both of them, who turned to look at him — Why don't we go upstairs and see our room? Our bags should already be there.
— Yeah!
Evan removed his gaze from the board and bolted for Regulus without looking around, colliding head-on with a girl who looked only a year older than them. The black-haired and dark-skinned girl didn't seem bothered by the blow, just slightly dazed. Barty could not contain himself and bursted out laughing when he saw Evan fall round to the ground after having bounced her. He and Regulus came over to help him. Reg made an effort and didn't laugh even though he was dying for it. He knew that if he had been the one to crash, seeing his friends laugh would have hurt him bad.
Before Regulus could help Evan, the girl reached out and helped him up.
— Sorry, I hadn't seen you. — Evan said shyly as Regulus and Barty stood next to him now the three of them facing the girl —
— Don't worry, the excitement of the first day, I understand. — The girl ginned at him. —
— Nah, it's his first day and he's already drunk — Barty joked now crying with laughter —
— Barty! — Evan nudged him in the side —
— Hey you tosser!
The girl laughed seeing Evan and Barty fight and extended her hand to Regulus, the only one who had kept his composure (at least on the outside).
— Dorcas Meadowes, second year.
— Regulus Black — he waved her hand —
— Oi Black? I had potions with your brother last year. Sirius, is it?
— Sirius, yes, that same one.
Evan and Barty pulled themselves together seeing Regulus carry on a conversation, neither of them wanting to appear antisocial on their first day. Dorcas saw their efforts of recomposing themselves and asked:
— And you are? — She raised an eyebrow. —
— Crouch, Barty Crouch Jr. My pleasure, Miss Meadowes
— what about you?
— Evan, Evan Rosier. Sorry once again for the crashing.
— Forgotten, don't worry. Well… Regulus, Evan, Crouch Barty Crouch Jr., it's been a pleasure meeting you. We'll see each other around here. — Dorcas left laughing. —
— Hey! wait! My name is Barty not- — he didn’t even finish the sentence —
— He can't hear you anymore, mate, — Regulus said, laughing freely now that she was gone. —
Evan could barely hold back tears of laughter.
— Aren't you stupid? She now thinks your name is — he interrupted himself laughing — Crouch Barty Crouch Jr. How brilliant is that!
Evan's laughter was truly contagious and within seconds all three of them were in fits of laughter, even Barty.
(Let it be – The Beatles)