Dinner at Hogwarts was massive to Sirius. He was sure he had never seen so much food in one place before. They didn't get very big portions at home, and if they had done something especially bad, Walburga would send them to bed hungry. Although he hadn't eaten anything all day save a few spoonfuls of porridge and a pumpkin pasty, Sirius wasn't very hungry and only picked at his food. He knew he would have to write a letter home.

The news would be better received from him than from anyone else, and no doubt his parents would hear at one of their dinner parties that their eldest son had been sorted into Gryffindor. Sirius pushed the thought of any punishment from his mind, feeling sick with relief that he would not see his parents until the Christmas holidays. James was full of chatter during dinner, talking about how glad he was to be a Gryffindor, and the big long letter he would write home. Sirius didn't say much in reply, just "mm" or "yes", worrying too much.

Andromeda and Narcissa caught him just after dinner, before they went to their dormitories. Sirius told James he would catch him up and spoke to them in the corridor.

"It must have been a mistake," Narcissa bit her lip, the shadows of the torches on the walls playing across her face. "Blacks are always Slytherin."

Andromeda rubbed her elbow. "The Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes, Cissy. If it said he's Gryffindor, then he is."

There was a brief silence before Sirius spoke again, voicing his fear. "They won't.....disown me?" He half whispered. It had been a fear ever since he had heard about his mother's younger sister, burned off the family tree for marrying a blood traitor.

"Not for this," Narcissa said, but she didn't sound entirely convinced. "Surely not. You're only a kid."

Sirius bristled. "I'm eleven."

"Exactly," the ghost of a smile played over Andromeda's face. She was smiling less and less these days, permanent shadows under her eyes. Sirius saw his cousins nowhere near as often after his uncle Cygnus had died, but even he had noticed the change in Andromeda. Perhaps she was worrying about her wedding, which would be in the summer, after she finished school. She seemed distracted these days, which worried him, as she had always been his favourite cousin. He knew he probably shouldn't have had a favourite, but Narcissa had always been too girly and proper, and Bellatrix....well, Bellatrix had always scared him. Some girls by the stairs called Narcissa, and she waved to them.

"Don't worry, Sirius," she said, and she gave his arm a quick squeeze before going off to join her friends.

Andromeda lingered, watching her sister laugh with her friends before looking back to her younger cousin. "You had better write to them tonight, before anybody else does."

"I was going to. They'll be angry."

"I know," she bit her lip, hesitating as though she wanted to say something, then changed her mind. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said at last. "You've got to remember about friends. I've seen you sitting with James Potter."

"Yes. He's pureblood, Andy."

She shook her head. "He's Fleamont Potter's son. They're blood traitors, Sirius. Just.....be careful, all right?"

"All right," he said. "Night, Andy."

"Night, Sirius," she said, and as he climbed the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, she disappeared down the steps to the dungeons.

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The boys in the dormitory had already claimed their beds by the time Sirius had got there. Somebody had thrown his trunk onto the bed by the window, which he didn't mind. There were only four boys in the dormitory, which was large and cosy with cheerful scarlet hangings. It was a welcome change from Sirius' own bedroom at home, which was always cold, and panelled in dark wood. The occupant of the bed closest to the door was apparently already asleep, the hangings shut tight, but James was lounging on the bed beside his, fully dry now and talking to the boy opposite him.

"All right, Sirius?" James asked. There were spots of colour in his cheeks, still on a high from his Sorting. "This is Peter."

Peter was a pudgy boy with a fair complexion, sandy hair that spilled across his forehead. He nodded at Sirius nervously.

Sirius mumbled something in reply, then lifted his trunk off his bed, turning away. He wasn't in the mood for joking with his new friend now. "I think I'll go to bed early," he said. "Night."

"Already?" James sounded disappointed. "Well....night, Sirius."

Sirius yanked the hangings of his bed shut, but he didn't change into his night clothes yet. Instead he took his ink, quill and parchment, sat on his bed and took a deep breath. He could hear the other boys getting ready for bed too, despite James' earlier claims that he would be awake past midnight. It wasn't long until the dormitory was completely quiet, and Sirius stared at the blank parchment in front of him, then slowly lowered his quill.

Dear Mother and Father,

I have arrived at Hogwarts and am content –

He scribbled out the "content", sure his parents wouldn't be concerned.

I have arrived at Hogwarts, and have been Sorted into Gryffindor.

His quill paused in its scratching. He had never written his parents a letter before, and did not know what to add. He knew his parents would not appreciate news of his new friend or the happenings at the lake, so ended it there, signing his name. He thought about writing a letter to Regulus, to tell him all about Hogwarts, but he knew his parents would examine it first. Instead, he put the letter into an envelope and sealed it, leaving it on his trunk to post the next morning. Quickly changing into his night clothes, Sirius climbed into the warm sheets of his bed. It was silent in the castle, and he found himself missing home.

He knew he didn't miss the empty halls, his stern father or mother, nor his own cold bedroom. He missed his brother. He had never spent a night away from Regulus before, not ever, and wondered if his brother missed him too. Clenching his eyes shut, Sirius imagined him here, asking him all about Hogwarts. He told him all about the train and all of the frightening people, about James and the boat incident, which he knew would make Regulus laugh. He was just about to tell his brother all about the Sorting when his eyes grew heavy, and Sirius fell fast asleep.