After a restless night in which Harry tossed and turned for hours, Harry found himself slouched at the Slytherin table during breakfast, Regulus seated at his side. He picked at his food, not having an appetite, and glanced up toward the ceiling every few seconds. Anytime now, the mail would arrive and, hopefully, a response from his family. A ball of anxiety sat heavily in his chest, making him almost flinch each time he caught a glimpse of a change in the ceiling (he thought it was an owl…) or rustle of clothing (it sounded like wings, okay?!).

He wondered if it was possible to lose your mind in such a short amount of time.

"Sit up," Regulus sighed, shifting slightly to dig his elbow into Harry's side. Harry yelped, jerking away from the other boy and sending him a glare. "Do not look at me like that. You are worried, though there is no reason for you to be, and you are making a scene."

"I'm sitting!"

"You're moping. Stop it."

A loud snort across the table had Harry sitting up straight instantly, which just got a noise of exasperated approval from Regulus. "He's a Potter," Severus Snape said, his dark eyes peering into Harry's as he sneered. "He has no decorum or thought of how he is representing out house."

"He might be a Potter," Regulus retorted sharply, "but he was not raised as such. Do not place your dislike of his cousin onto Harry."

Severus's scowl grew but he fell silent. Harry swallowed hard. He glanced toward his right, seeing how each person at the table was sitting with their backs completely straight with their shoulders back. Many were eying him with disapproval. Taking a deep breath, Harry mimicked their posture. He winced at the feeling. He didn't think he had ever sat like this and his back was already protesting. Considering he was only sixteen, that was a little worrying.

Just then, the sound of fluttering wings and loud hoots broke through the sudden silence. Harry's hand tightened around the fork as a familiar brown owl landed in front of him. Dropping the fork completely, Harry shakily reached out and took the three letters tied to the owl's leg. He stared down at the letters, oblivious to the fact that another owl had landed in front of Regulus with a letter for him as well. He didn't see that Regulus gave both owls a treat. He just continued to look at the letters, his hand slightly shaking as he tried to make himself open them.

Are you a Gryffindor or not? Something in him scoffed. But then, from another area of his brain, there was a response. Not. Slytherin, remember?

"Open the letters, Harry," Regulus sighed, folding his own letter with a satisfied smirk.

Harry shot a glare toward the other boy but hastily opened the first letter.

Harry,

Kind of disappointed that you didn't think to send me a letter. Feeling the love, little brother. Anyway, Slytherin, huh? Congratulations. Based on the very INTERESTING tale I heard from dad, you're probably pretty excited. Just remember that it isn't polite to stare, especially when people are changing.

Your loving brother,

Caelum

PS: Harry, ignore my idiotic husband. Congratulations on your sorting, I'm sure everything will work out well. – Eileene

Harry's shoulder's slumped in relief before he remembered himself and pulled them back. He should have sent a letter to Caelum – he wasn't sure why he didn't – but at least his brother and his family were standing beside him.

Dear Harry,

You just lost me ten galleons, kid! Dorea said you would end up in Slytherin, said she recognized a fellow snake or something to that effect, but I argued that you would be in Gryffindor. Considering the trouble you find yourself in, I thought it was a given. You think I would have learned not to bet against my wife over the past twenty years.

Thank you for proving me right, dear. Congratulations on your sorting, I am sure Regulus will take care of you. Please remember to be careful and keep in mind the lessons I gave you over the summer (feel free to forget everything you learned from Charlus).

You seemed very nervous in your letter. I hope you know that we would never be upset because of your sorting, no matter which house you found yourself in. Knowing my younger cousin, as well as my nephew, I'm going to assume they did not take it well. Give them time. Logic has never been their strong suite but they eventually figure things out. If not, I'll make things clear to them when you return home at Christmas.

We look forward to hearing from you soon. Please be careful.

Dorea and Charlus.

And then there was one. This was the letter that Harry had been worried about. What if they rejected him? They had no obligation to him, not now. Not after he was blood adopted by Charlus. He couldn't even really claim them beyond being his uncle and aunt. Not publicly, anyway.

Harry steeled himself. He had been in situations worse than this. He had received a lot of hate mail the last year, had also got letters of disappointment. This shouldn't be any different.

Harry,

Slytherin, huh? Can't say I was surprised – Charlus might be idiotic enough to bet against Dorea but I certainly wasn't! Got me a good laugh at the look on my brothers face.

Be careful, Harry. Charlus said you met Regulus in Diagon Alley and he's a good kid but, as you know, there are others already leaning toward his service. Keep your head down.

Now, other business. I contacted Albus and scheduled you a visit to Madame Phomfrey to do a health scan. Euphemia is worried that your past has affected you and I am inclined to agree. We had planned to take you to our own healer this summer but I'm afraid it slipped our minds, do forgive us. The appointment is after classes today, so be sure to be on time.

Congratulations on your sorting, Harry. I do hope everything goes well.

Fleamont

Harry,

Oh, your uncle! The reason he had such a good laugh was because he had his own bet with his brother that has Charlus singing everything he tries to say and leaving him with bright, green hair. Look at him, trying to be so mature when he's nothing but an overgrown child!

You do show a lot of Slytherin characteristics, dear. I think Charlus was the only one of us that was truly surprised by your sorting, no matter what happened in the past. Dorea is rarely wrong about these things and I think she's exited to have another Slytherin in the family.

Do remember to go to the hospital wing after classes. Madame Pomfrey has agreed to send us the results and whatever is needed – and I fear that something will be needed. You are much smaller than James was last year and I am ashamed that we did not look into the issue sooner. Please forgive us.

We will see you at Christmas, love. Make sure you write us soon!

Euphemia

With a large smile on his face, Harry folded up the letter and placed it with the other two, then carefully slipped them into his pocket.

"Feeling better?" Regulus asked wryly, rolling his eyes when Harry nodded. "Good. You didn't even notice when Professor Slughorn brought your schedule. It seems we are taking most of the same classes, though I have Divination instead of Care of Magical Creatures." He raised a judgmental eyebrow but Harry just returned it.

"Divination?"

"The Black family has had many seers in the past," Regulus answered promptly. "If in the future another Black emerges with the gift, it would be paramount that they are understood. There have been many seers in the past that are looked at as if they are insane and are treated as such. I do not want the same to happen to a Black."

Harry thought back to his own Divination professor and the real prophesy she had spoken during his exam in his third year. It was true that most people still thought of her as a fraud and slightly crazy – Harry would have been among them if he hadn't heard her himself. He could understand why Regulus would want to continue the subject if there was a possibility of his family member having the gift in the future.

"Now, we best be leaving," Regulus said, smoothly getting to his feet. "We need to stop by the dorm and get our books, of course, and it is quite the trek to Transfiguration. We would not want to be late."

Harry nodded and downed his pumpkin juice before standing. He stumbled over the bench, flushing when eyes once again found their way to him. Harry ducked his head and fell into step right behind Regulus, noticing that the other sixth years did the same. Even the two girls that Harry still didn't know the names of followed them. They had just made it to the doors of the Great Hall when four boys stepped into the room. Harry stopped, not even noticing when Damoncles quietly swore and side stepped to avoid running into him. James and Sirius both paused momentarily, their eyes flickering to Harry, then Regulus, before both of their expressions pinched and they brushed past the group without a word. Peter Pettigrew tested fate by actually chuckling as he walked past, sending Harry a superior look. And then there was Remus. Like Sirius and James, he paused when he saw Harry. Unlike those two, he actually gave him a small smile before ducking his head and hurrying toward the Gryffindor table.

"Well," Regulus snarked, his eyes trailing the Gryffindor's. "That was enlightening. Come, let's get our things."