Secret Descendants (Marauders) Moved Accounts

Chapter 6

The Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed and stilled. "You were right about the hat," Ophelia whispered to Remus. Internally, Sirius was panicking. His family would kill him if he didn't end up in Slytherin, and as much as he wanted to make them proud of him for once, he knew there was practically no chance of that. In reality, he would always be seen as a disappointment in their eyes. Regulus was always going to be the favourite, and deep down something clicked. Sirius realised that he no longer cared, and that he was no longer going to do things just to please his family. It was his choice, he wanted to be put into a house suited for him, his blood-status obsessed parents be damned.

It then dawned on him that his parents would find out one way or another, most likely not from his own mouth. His cousin would inform them, without a doubt. Still, he would be able to stay at the ancient castle throughout Christmas so he would be able to avoid their verbal wrath hopefully. Even better, not until the summer.

James was visibly calm, yet inside he was screaming. He was somewhat anxious, but knew he'd end up in Gryffindor. His parents had assured him that it wouldn't matter but he wanted to make them proud by being in their old house.

Remus only hoped he would be able to stay with at least one of his new friends. He had a feeling he would need them in the upcoming years.

Ophelia's thought track was on the same level as Remus, she was happy to be there, and be the first for a hundred or so years to even receive a Hogwarts letter in her branch of the noble family.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," She instructed. "Ayles, Mary!"

A pale-faced girl with short black pigtails stumbled to the front of the line and gingerly placed the hat, which fell over her eyes, on her head, and sat down. A couple of seconds passed then-

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted. The table on the right cheered and clapped as Mary sat at her table, her pale face now rosy. James saw the large ghost from earlier beam at her.

"Bisson, Alice!" A marginally taller girl with a tight blonde bun stepped forward, noticeably gathering up her courage.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Black, Ophelia!" McGonagall read off the scroll.

The clapping and the cheers ceased within seconds. The whole of Hogwarts knew about the famous Black family and their streak of Slytherin, and also what happened to those that defied them, and so were decidedly unsurprised to see another one appear. What confused them was a shout of "Who?" from said house, someone who Sirius recognised as his elder cousin Narcissa. He saw the raised eyebrow from his cousin who had locked eyes with him. It was as if they were having a silent conversation. He jerked his head to the side slightly, as a sign of 'I'll explain after this.' She nodded, eyes narrowed.

"Another Black, eh? Although I suspect that there is more to you. You would do well in Gryffindor, yet I see traits of Ravenclaw in you. However, I think you would be better suited in...GRYFFINDOR!"

They all clapped and cheered, although not quite as loud as the other tables, since they were still puzzled about who this girl was. Narcissa sent him a calculating look. Her eyes were wide, seemingly staring into his soul, trying to latch some kind of information from him. She glanced up at McGonagall and straightened her back. 'Do not let us down,' her face read, causing Sirius to gulp. This was the moment of truth.

"Black, Sirius!"

Absolute silence. Even Dumbledore had sat up slightly, his eyes twinkling. He knew something they all seemingly did not.

Please do not put me in Slytherin, I don't belong there. He replayed the mantra over and over in his head as he put on the hat.

"Not Slytherin?" A voice echoed in his head. "Are you sure? You are destined for Slytherin, though I sense that fate has other ideas for you. You are a difficult one, Mister Black."

Please not Slytherin, please not Slytherin, put me in Gryffindor, anywhere but Slytherin, I don't belong there.

"If you're so sure, it had better be... GRYFFINDOR"

Shouts of outrage bellowed through the hall, a couple of people stood up in rage and disappointment from the house of Salazar. Narcissa included, along with a few others, such as Lucius Malfoy, who was arranged to be her husband in the coming years. He only sneered at him, looking forward to his suffering.

However the angered yells were overcome by a sudden bout of clapping that echoed through the hall. The source of it was Ophelia, who also stood up but started cheering. This seemed to knock the others out of their stupor and also cheered him. He took a seat next to his distant cousin and hugged her gratefully.

A couple of other names resounded through the hall, each house having respectively gained a new member. It seemed as though Gryffindor had the most first-years so far. Finally, a shout of "Evans, Lily!"

The hat had barely skimmed her hair when it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" Much to the dismay and frustration of Severus. She looked at him from her place next to Sirius and smiled gently at him. She supposed it was probably better off this way, if what Mary and Sirius had said was true. Maybe he'll end up in Gryffindor anyway? She thought to herself.

A gruff shout of "HUFFLEPUFF!" Interrupted her trail of thought as a boy passed her table and joined the yellow house.

"Lupin, Remus!"

He stepped forward, placing the tattered hat on his soft hair and listened to the voice invading his mind.

"You are a werewolf I see, I am assuming there have been precautions placed for you?"

"I believe so."

"A tragedy to say the least. At such a young age, already cursed to bear such a burden. Besides that, you are kind, loyal, and would do exceedingly well in Hufflepuff, surrounded by optimistic people." He paused, thinking. Unbeknownst to him, Ophelia was silently praying for him to be put in Gryffindor. They had stuck together so far, she hoped it would be permanent.

"Well then, it had better be GRYFFINDOR!"

"Thank Merlin," he muttered, drowning out the cheers from his table as he sat next to the clapping redhead.

Next, all three of the girls Sirius had been talking to earlier were chosen for Gryffindor, much to the delight of Lily, and secretly Sirius. Mulciber became a Slytherin, to the obvious approval of the green and silver table.

"Potter, James!" Once again, he had barely sat down before Gryffindor was shouted through the hall. After a few more names, Lily looked over to see Severus Snape stride to the Slytherin table, sitting opposite the tall older student with silvery hair, who curtly nodded at him. She felt a pang of sadness as he turned and tried to catch Lily's attention, yet she was trying her best to ignore it, overwhelmed with a sense of guilt.

Soon the sorting had ended, and Albus Dumbledore had risen from his throne-like chair. He was beaming at everyone, his arms open wide as if nothing could please him more than seeing them all there.

"Welcome," he said, "to a new year at Hogwarts." He sat back down and to the first-year's astonishment, the dishes in front of them were now piled high with all different kinds of food. Remus, coming from a less wealthy family than his friends, had never seen so much food in his life. Roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, you name it, it was there. He smiled at them as they each tucked into their food.