the_debt_of_time

The little redhead walked forward on trembling legs and sat down on the rickety stool. Professor
McGonagall dropped the Sorting Hat onto her head, and barely a second after it had touched the dark red
hair, the hat cried, "Gryffindor!"
Snape let out a tiny groan. Lily took off the hat, handed it back to Professor McGonagall, then
hurried toward the cheering Gryffindors. As she walked, she glanced back at Snape, and there was a sad
little smile on her face. Young Sirius moved up the bench to make room for her. She took one look at him,
clearly recognised him from the train, folded her arms, and firmly turned her back on him.
Harry moved through the memory, drawn to his mother's small figure at the
Gryffindor table, which was perfectly fine as Sirius's attention was drawn elsewhere.
James stood side by side with the familiar bushy-haired girl, Snape eavesdropping behind them.
"Care to wager how long it takes the hat to stick me in Gryffindor?"
The girl laughed sweetly. "Something tells me it'll be instantaneous."
Sirius's heart clenched but he fought to keep his expression impassive in case Harry
looked back around.
James grinned smugly. "Bloody right."
Professor McGonagall called James's name and the boy moved toward the stool. The hat barely
touched his head before it yelled out, "Gryffindor!" and James grinned.
Harry made his way back to Sirius's side, while Sirius blocked his view yet again.
"Of course," Snape said.
"There's nothing wrong with Gryffindor."
Snape scowled. "Says another future little lion."
Sirius did his best to distract Harry once more by pointing at the Gryffindor table
where James had joined Sirius and Remus. "Can you believe how young we were?" He
chuckled as the scene played on behind him.
"You were friends right from the start." Harry smiled, ignoring Sirius's strange
behaviour, likely assuming it was painful for him to relive the past like this. "Just like me,
Ron, and Hermione."
"Just like you three. Yeah." He nudged Harry's shoulder, moving the boy along,
side-stepping away from his past self as another Gryffindor joined the table. Sirius's eyes
flickered back to her once before turning ahead again to watch as the rest of the Sorting
took place, Snape eventually being put into Slytherin.
And the scene changed.