The new friends stood shivering together, waiting for their names to be called. Minerva hated the amount of attention. To her, it felt like the entire Great hall was staring at her, and she wanted nothing better than to sit down.

Sirius' name was called first. Minerva rolled her eyes as he swaggered up the steps with a mad grin. As soon as the hat hit his head, it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius went to sit with the student at the table on the immediate right.

Lily was next. She looked at Minerva and she gave her a small thumbs-up. She sat on the rickety stool as the hat was lowered onto her head. When the brim touched her flaming red hair, it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" That's two, Minerva thought as Lily skipped over to where Sirius sat.

When Minerva's name was called, the hall erupted into whispers.

"McGonagall, did he say?"

"As in, McGonagall?"

The last thing Minerva saw before the hat dropped over her eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at her. The next second, she was looking at the inside of the hat. She waited.

"Well, well." said a small voice inside her head. "Difficult as your mother, you are. Plenty of Courage. Wonderful mind, too. And there's talent, oh my goodness yes! And a proud one, aren't you? So where shall I put you?"

Minerva gripped the edges of the stool and thought, "Not Slytherin. Put me in Gryffindor."

"Gryffindor, eh? Are you sure? Slytherin could help you on your way to greatness. You've a great many things in store. Well, then, better be...GRYFFINDOR!" Minerva heard the last word shouted out to the hall. She took off the hat and walked calmly to the Gryffindor table. She couldn't keep the smile off of her face when she sat down between Lily and Sirius.

"Good show, Min!" Sirius whispered, patting her back as Remus Lupin was called.

"I know him!" Minerva whispered.

"He's a son of one of Father's friends." The boy was sorted into Gryffindor. He went to sit at the far end of the table, ignoring Minerva's wave to sit by her.

"Not very sociable, that one," Lily said.

"He's just a bit shy." Minerva said.

When James got called, the friends all looked up. It was taking the hat a long time to decide. James crossed his arms, then his legs, and gave a loud burp right before the hat called, "Gryffindor!"

James jumped up and bowed, then hopped down the stairs, and went to sit by his new mates.

'That's only Sev to go," Lily said.

They all held their breath when Severus was called. But, as soon as the hat was dropped onto his head, it yelled, "SLYTHERIN!"

Minerva gasped as her new friend sat next to a pompous-looking blond boy.

"Wow." James said, and he started filling his plate.