All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

First Year : The Sorting

"So, where do you lads think you'll end up?" James asked. They were nearing the school now, and students were changing into their uniforms. "I'm hoping for Gryffindor."

"Gryffindor?" Sirius scrunched up his nose, "Really?" His father always said Gryffindor was full of hot-blooded idiots.

James didn't seem offended by the scepticism. He smiled broadly, unselfconsciously, as he said, "Yeah, my dad was a Gryffindor. I think it's the coolest, don't you?"

Sirius thought that James was the coolest, so maybe his opinion counted for something. James Potter was friendly and self-assured, the heir to one of the oldest pureblood families-but one that wasn't as concerned with blood purity as the Blacks, judging by how Sirius's parents had warned him away from them. James had an easy, laid-back confidence that somehow didn't come off as entitled. Perhaps it was because he treated Peter-his chubby, undersized friend-with such genuine kindness.

Peter, in return, seemed to worship James. He was from a pureblood family, too-Peter Pettigrew, Sirius recognised the name. The Pettigrews were notorious for turning out squibs, and none of them were very powerful. Plus, there had been some scandal with Peter's older sister recently, apparently she was nearly as bad as Andromeda.

Peter, for his part, seemed a nervous wreck, clinging to James like a lifeline. Although the question had been directed at Sirius, it was Peter who answered, squeaking eagerly,

"I do! I want to be in Gryffindor, too, James!"

Sirius had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. He was sure that Peter would just pick whatever house James said was the best.

"What's a Gryffindor?" the other boy interrupted.

Lupin-that was his name, Remus Lupin. When Sirius heard it, he'd thought for sure it was a wizard name. But Sirius had never heard his parents mention the Lupins, and judging by the state of his dress, Sirius doubted they ran in the same circles as the Blacks. Remus didn't talk much, just watched them with those big, round eyes, looking confused by much of the conversation. Sirius wondered if he'd guessed wrong on the name-could a muggle have named their son Remus?

James looked as if he'd been waiting for this question his entire life. He launched into an explanation about the Hogwarts houses, which made Peter groan. Sirius sighed as well, but secretly he was quite interested-he'd never heard anyone other than his family discuss the houses, and it was a bit of a shock to get a new perspective.

"So Gryffindor," James was saying, "Is all about loyalty, bravery, honour." They've all got bollocks for brains, Sirius could hear the echoes of his father's voice, after having an extra glass of wine at the Lestrange's dinner party.

"Hufflepuff is all about acceptance, they're really-er-kind, I suppose, and they've got a lot of hidden talent. I think." James clearly wasn't as enthusiastic about the other houses, but was trying to find something nice to say. Full of mudbloods, Walpurga's voice hissed inside Sirius's head.

"Ravenclaws are really clever, their house is all about brains. And creativity, I suppose," They've got good minds, some of them-but their heads are all stuck in the clouds.

"And Slytherin-well, they're supposed to be, er...cunning, I suppose. Don't really understand how that's different from being smart, but they're ambitious too-honestly, a lot of dark wizards have come from Slytherin. Almost all of them, actually." Slytherin is the house of nobility. Anyone who's going anywhere is a Slytherin. "I'd steer clear if I were you, mate." James said this last with a friendly nod to Remus, a heads-up between mates.