"Black, Sirius."

He was the first kid in the year to be sorted and he gave the impression that he was a cocky little git. He swaggered up to the stool, catching the eye of the Headmaster and grinning. He got what could be called a smile in return, but it was as though the man was holding something back. Sirius sat down and waited for the hat. He was expecting a voice in his head.

There was nothing.

He waited.

And waited.

In the end, deciding that he had better do something, he cautiously thought.

"Hello?"

"Well, Merlin be damned."

"Excuse me?"

"Your name is Sirius Black, is it not?"

"Yes."

"Black? As in the House of Black? Grandson of Phineus Black? As in relation of the Malfoys and the Lestranges and-"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"No my boy, no problem. No problem at all. Maybe I'm going mad. I've finally lost it. I've been doing this job too long. But surely not? No, no problem."

"Then what's wrong?" The young man was growing impatient with the hat-he'd expected a verdict straightaway.

"You're not Slytherin."

"What?"

"You are not Slytherin."

"Oh."

"What do you mean oh? Do you not understand, you are the first in that family ever who doesn't belong in that house?"

"Really? Where am I then?"

"My boy, there is only one place that I can put you and I can tell you one thing. This is the last place that I thought I would ever put a Black. If I could gamble, this would have the greatest odds! Well, it must be done, I'm rambling! And may I just say one thing?"

"Yes."

"Congratulations."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

An observer would have thought that this was the greatest moment in the boy's life and who knew, maybe it was, but the noise was incredible as he made his way to the Gryffindor table. Students turned to check that they had heard his name correctly and all eyes at the Slytherin table were turned to Sirius' elder cousin, Lucius Malfoy, who had gone even paler than usual, his nostrils showing a slight flare of anger as he batted away the questions and comments that headed in his direction.

At the staff table, teachers turned to mutter to each other, in as much shock as their students. A boy from that family, in Gryffindor? It was unheard of. The Headmaster didn't join the hurried conversations. He waited until Sirius was sat, caught his eye and winked.