The First Year students were met at the station by a giant man with a rough burly beard and a thick voice who introduced himself as Hagrid, the school's gamekeeper. "Firs' years, over here. All ye' firs' years." They were led to a vast spreading lake where boats were aligned all with lanterns gleaming in the dark.

"Four in one boat," Hagrid instructed and took one himself. The kids scrambled to get inside the boats and not long after the lantern-lit boats were off to the destination.

Arielle and Regulus found a boat with two identical first years. Twins, probably. 

"I'm Martha Sommers and this is my brother, David," the girl gave the introduction after they had settled in.

"Arielle Carrow," Arielle replied almost immediately, glad that she was making some friends.

While Reg, on the other hand, only nodded somberly in reply. "Regulus Black," he mumbled when he realized that the guy, David, was looking too intently his way for not being conversant enough.

Arielle and Martha, being quite talkative, launched into a friendly conversation straightaway while both the boys glanced out at the expanse of the Lake surrounding them. David occasionally gave a remark or two, but Reg pretended as if he could hardly care less.

"I don't want to find you, my son, to ever be in the company of those filthy Mudbloods," Walburga's words were ringing in Regulus's mind like an alarm that had been set off. "They are such a shame to wizards, the scum of the earth! I warn you, Regulus, if you dare associate yourself with that filth, I will not care if you are my flesh and blood or not. I will disown you along with that absolute disgrace of your brother."

True, he wanted to join in the conversation between the three regarding Quidditch and mutual interests, but he didn't dare since all he could hear was his mother's threatening words.

He didn't want to be disowned. He didn't want to lose his family. If for that he had had to forfeit a conversation, he would gladly do so because that wasn't a big price to pay.

Gradually, Hogwarts loomed into sight, the tall towers sprouting magnificently in view. The students were awestruck as they gazed with admiration at the castle.

Arielle was caught in a rapt trance and so were her newly found friends. "It's wonderful," she remarked breathlessly.

"Magnificent," the Sommers twins added.

Regulus took a glance, and he too couldn't deny the marvel of the sight. Still, he kept silent as his thoughts were clouded by what would happen if he wandered astray from his mother's word.

"Reg, you reckon the view from one of those towers would be great, right? We could go up there, would make a nice spot," she squeezed his hand gently, bringing him back to reality.

"Y-yeah, great spot," he mumbled.

The boats halted at the foot of the Lake and everyone stepped out falling back into a line behind Hagrid who led the way.

Once inside the castle, they were met by a stern-looking lady wearing a pointed hat and emerald green robes. Her spectacles rested delicately at the bridge of her nose and she was eyeing them all sharply.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she spoke in a slow yet smooth tone, "I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You shall all be led to the Great Hall for your Sorting eventually. After the Sorting Ceremony, the feast will begin. All of you, follow me."

The First Years followed her as she led them to the doors which opened revealing a large Hall with students seated all around. In the front was a High Table, which Arielle expected, was for the Professors. In the center of the Hall, a stool was placed.

McGonagall led them all to the front where they formed a line and stood quietly. Quietly, because all the students were rather curious about how the Sorting Ceremony would take place. She placed a rather worn Hat on the stool and its brim opened as it began to sing:

"I've done this job for centuries

On every student's head, I've sat

Of thoughts I take inventories

For I'm the famous Sorting Hat.

I've sorted high, I've sorted low,

I've done the job through thick and thin

So put me on and you will know

Which house you should be in...

Are you afraid of what you'll hear?

Afraid I'll speak the name you fear?

Not Slytherin! Not Gryffindor!

Not Hufflepuff! Not Ravenclaw!

Don't worry, child, I know my job,

You'll learn to laugh if first you sob."

After the song ended, a loud applause burst from the tables placed all around. Arielle unmistakably noticed the boy cheering and blowing whistles over-enthusiastically at the scarlet and gold table and a slight smile spread on her face.

As soon as their eyes met, Sirius lifted his nonexistent hat once again in that same expression that he had done so in Diagon Alley. She would have laughed if not for the anticipation of the Sorting gnawing at her insides.

"Arnold, John," McGonagall had unrolled a scroll of parchment and began calling out the names alphabetically.

"Hufflepuff," the Hat exclaimed as soon as it landed on his head. The yellow and black table burst into cheers.

"Araniel, Josie."

"Gryffindor!"

"Baldwin, Samara."

"Ravenclaw!"

The sorting continued in that order. After one Hufflepuff and two Gryffindors, McGonagall called, "Black, Regulus."

The Hall grew silent and then there were musings among the audience. Arielle knew what they were musing about. She could hear a few words like, "Slytherin, definitely." And also something about Sirius not being a Slytherin.

At that, her eyes drifted off towards the Gryffindor table. Sirius, unlike before, was sitting rather tense in his seat as if waiting for an ultimate decision. The boys sitting beside him, those she had seen step out after the Apothecary incident, were mumbling among themselves too occasionally facing the boy at the stool.

The Hat took one whole minute. Unlike all the Blacks (before Sirius) who were sorted into Slytherin the first time the hat touched their heads, silence echoed in the hall. It seemed as if the Hat couldn't decide.

And then finally the brim opened.

Sirius leaned forward in his seat.

"Slytherin!"

A suppressed groan, a roll of eyes mockingly to hide the disappointment and then Sirius sat back, turning to his friends again.

"Candice, Nova."

"Ravenclaw."

And then, "Carrow, Arielle."

Arielle walked up to the stool and even though her heart was hammering in her chest, she managed to keep her expression straight as she sat down folding her hands in her lap, to hide the slight trembling of her fingers, and then the Hat was placed at her head.

Before it fell over her eyes, the last person she saw was Sirius, not as tense or excited as he had been for Reg's sorting, but leaning back in his seat as if knowing the outcome. However, he did send her a thumbs up which made her anticipations waver a little.

Soon after, the Hat began talking to her. "So, not fond of Slytherin, eh?"

At that, her mother's warning to follow in her footsteps flashed through her mind.

"And you do place family above all. I can see a good mind, an unprejudiced soul, and a kind nature. But as you say so, family is important. Yet you do have some of the Slytherin traits. A sharp wit, ambition, and a thirst to prove yourself."

There was a long pause. And then finally the Hat gave the verdict.

"Slytherin!"

***