Sirius Black and the Golden Lion

The Sorting Hat

After what seemed like an eternity, the first years heard footsteps, and the sound of doors being unbolted. They swung open to reveal a magnificent hallway with a sweeping marble staircase leading up from the centre. . Sirius looked in with awe. All his life had been spent so far in a dingy, badly lit house, but the hall he was looking at was bright and sparkling. He allowed his eyes to follow up the stairs to see magnificent chandeliers suspended in mid-air high above him.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said a voice from the doorway. Sirius forced his gaze down from the chandeliers to see who had spoken. He saw a middle-aged looking witch who spoke in a soft Scottish accent. She was dressed in formal robes, and Sirius guessed that she must be a teacher.

"My name is Professor McGonagall, and I am the transfiguration teacher at this school. Please follow me."

They all followed in a deathly hush, Sirius almost felt like he should be tiptoeing. The professor led them all to another set of double doors, and then turned to face them again.

"Through these doors is the Great Hall, where you will eat your meals and attend balls and other extra-curricular activities over the coming years. In a minute, the start-of-term banquet will commence, but before that can happen, you must all be sorted into your houses." She paused for breath. Sirius thought that he had never felt so scared in his life. After all, the Sorting was a very important ceremony, and he felt like it was deciding his fate.

"As you may have heard, there are four Hogwarts houses, named after our four founders," Professor McGonagall continued. "They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, and each one of them is famed for the students it produces. Your house will be your family while you are here, so this ceremony is an essential part of your Hogwarts career."

She turned around and pushed open the doors. Sirius chanced a quick glance around at his fellow students. Most of them looked like they would rather be anywhere else but where they were, but there were one or two exceptions. James Potter was looking around him curiously, seeming as though he needed sixteen extra eyes to take it all in. And the greasy-haired boy was just rocking backwards and forwards on his heels, with a bored expression on his face.

"Well, come on then," Professor McGonagall said impatiently. Timidly, the first years followed her through the doors. Sirius couldn't help but gasp when he looked up and saw the roof. Or rather, he didn't see the roof, because it seemed to be under some sort of enchantment. Instead of beams and timber, Sirius saw stars and some faint, wispy clouds.

His attention was sharply recalled to the situation as the girl in front of him stopped and he almost walked into her. He looked around. They were at the front of the hall, between two of the four long tables surrounded by students. All eyes were on the first years, and Sirius wished he could shrink and hide from their stares. Over at the end table, he could see his cousin Bellatrix whispering to another girl, and from the way that she looked up, he guessed that they were talking about him.

Professor McGonagall had turned to face the first years again.

"When I call your name, you will come forward and sit on this stool." She gestured towards a small four-legged stool beside her. "I will place the Sorting Hat on your head; once you have been sorted, please go and join your house table."

Carefully, she placed the battered Sorting Hat on top of the stool. Sirius was confused for a second, he thought that she would have started to read out names. But as he watched, a rip near the brim of the hat opened wide, and the hat began to sing:

Oh though I look like an old hat

My job is very clear

I have a most important task

At the start of each new year

For I am bound to sort you out

Tell you where you should be

Based on your deepest qualities

And the ways in which you see

For all the different personas

Were embraced by wizards four

When Hogwarts first was started

In the good old days of yore

For very different their characters

Though friends both firm and true

They favoured students who follow them

In things they think and do

The bravest was strong Gryffindor

Famed for courageous deeds

And for his house, he chose the ones

Who had courage indeed

Whilst his great friend, shrewd Slytherin

Liked to stand above the rest

He liked the students who followed him

To fight to be the best

Whilst the clever Rowena Ravenclaw

Knew much and thought it good

If the students she taught were bright

And could understand the world

But her best friend was Hufflepuff

Who always had worked well

She prized the students with loyalty

And would work hard for each new spell

And thought the founders four are gone

Their legacy remains

And I now sort you out each year

So listen for your names!

The rip closed again, and Sirius looked around in surprise as the four tables erupted with applause. Professor McGonagall stepped forwards again, and Sirius saw that she was now holding a long list.

"Allan, Marcus," she read out. A tall boy, who had been standing just behind Sirius, moved forward and sat on the stool. Five seconds after the hat had been placed on his head, it shouted loudly:

"Ravenclaw!"

One of the centre tables erupted again, as Marcus Allan removed the hat and walked over to join them.

"Bidewell, Mary."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Black, Sirius,"

Sirius jumped as his name was called, and looked around him nervously. All eyes were on him, and he felt sure that he would trip as he stumbled forward and sat on the stool. Before the hat was placed on his head, Sirius chanced a look towards the Slytherin table. He could see Bella with a smirk on her face, and Sirius was decided. He did not want to be in Slytherin.