The Grievances of Youth
Chapter Two
"You were much too hard on him", Remus muttered to James as they stepped out of the train onto Hogsmeade station.
"Oh shut up," James grumbled.
The two boys had been arguing back and forth ever since Sirius Black had stormed out of the compartment after James' comment.
"It's not like I actually said anything horrible to him. I was shocked, is all. What was I meant to say? It's not my fault he's so sensitive."
Remus scowled, James had been repeating this point ever since their disagreement had started.
"I still think you could have…"
"First years, first years, any first years, come over here."
A booming voice cut through Remus' retort. Both boys whipped around at the unnaturally loud noise.
"WOW, he's enormous. He can not be entirely human; I doubt I could even reach his stomach." James said in awe as the two boys approached the man in question.
After all the first years had crowded around the humongous man, their heads craning to try to catch a glimpse of the giant's face, he introduced himself as Hagrid. He then proceeded to announce that they would have to sail across the lake to reach Hogwarts. Silence followed the man's words as the first years tried to take in what he had said. Suddenly a torrent of questions and accusations poured out of the gathered student's mouths.
"But what if I drown? I can't swim!"
"What? That's ridiculous."
"I heard there's a monster in the lake though, won't that eat us…will I die?"
"CALM DOWN," the man roared. The children immediately fell silent. "The boats are enchanted to sail you there, you don't have to know how to sail or how to swim because the magic will keep you in the boat, unless you try to jump out, which I would not suggest. Now, four to each boat, get over there so you can actually start your magical learning."
Remus and James looked at each other, grinned and ran over to the boats, neither in the slightest scared, both just happy to start their adventure.
After the students had tumbled into the boats, they set of across the dark river. The atmosphere was mystical and radiant; moon light shimmered over the surface, highlighting the movement of the water.
"Do you think that g..g..girl was telling the truth… about the mons..s..ter… do you really think we're s..ss..safe?" A podgy boy in their boat stammered.
"Of course we're safe." James said confidently, "Did you not hear Hagrid, these boats are magical, we'll be fine. Besides even if there is a monster and it attacked us, wouldn't it just be the best story ever!"
The boy, who had at first looked reassured by James' words paled further, looking like he was seconds away from fainting.
"Ignore James," Remus reassured, "he's just messing with you. There is no monster and we will not get attacked. Don't you trust Hagrid and the headmaster; after all they wouldn't send us out here unless it was safe."
"I s..suppose you're r..right. Thanks, I'm Peter," the boy said stretching out his hand.
"Remus, nice to meet you," Remus said as he shook Peter's hand. "Now lets go get sorted."
The boats landed at the shore to the castle, which stood looming over their heads. A dark intimidating building, surging up towards the sky faced them. Remus gulped, soon the moment would come when he would find out if a werewolf could be accepted into Hogwarts or not.
Remus Lupin, was a werewolf, had been since the age of three and at each full moon deeply resented the fact. He was scared; he had been worrying for months about whether he would be allowed into the school. Even after the acceptance letter had arrived, Remus had worried. What if the sorting hat refused to put him in a house? What if Dumbledore changed his mind and kicked him out of the school as soon as he saw him? What if…
Once again Remus was cut off, but this time it was by movement, they were finally going to enter Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Finally his questions would be answered whether for better or for worse.
They were led to a sparsely lit corridor, the torches flickering casting eerie shadows on the walls and students. Remus saw Sirius as he waited, he was standing tall and proud, looking like he was not in the least bit anxious but there were signs of the opposite. Remus had been extremely good at reading people over the years and he could easily see the nervous tics that were concealed from others so well. Sirius' eyes flicked quickly from side to side and when he was worrying his lip slightly as he stood in the corridor.
What could a Black be worried about? Although Remus had scolded James earlier for making rash judgments about Sirius, Remus could not help but do the same. The Black's were an ancient family and as such had been attending Hogwarts for many generations, almost since the start of the school itself and every single member of the Black family had been sorted into Slytherin. Sirius would be with his family, Sirius would be protected here at Hogwarts. Despite the boy having fought with his cousins earlier, Remus did not think that it was anything too significant. After all it was well known throughout the wizarding world that what the Black's valued over everything else was blood, with their own being viewed as the most important.
All at once they were moving again, an extremely tall thin woman with pointed features and a long nose, "Professor Mcgonagall", was leading them as they walked onwards. They entered the great hall.
Words could not describe Remus' amazement and wonder. He marvelled at the candles floating above their head and the sky that was exactly the same as the one he had just left outside with dark clouds shifting lazily overhead. It was fantastic.
The first years were herded into a line, with older years pointing at them and snickering to each other at the mouths that had dropped open from many of the new students when they had seen magnificence of the Great Hall.
The attention however was soon drawn away to the front of the hall where Professor Mcgonagall, had placed a ratty brown hat on a stool.
With everybody's eyes fixed upon the tattered material, it began to sing.
"I know I am now battered
But for almost a thousand years,
I have shown people what matters,
I have revealed all their dreams.
Bravery, cunning, loyalty and smarts,
Have not always been easy to find,
But I will always see them,
When I look inside your mind.
No one so far has stumped me,
Do not worry about this,
I will always manage to sort you,
So do try not to resist.
Come try me on and find out
Where you do belong,
Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin,
My judgment is never wrong."
When the hat had finished a smattering of applause sounded in response to its words, before Mcgonagall stood up. She took out a long piece of parchment, which unravelled down to the floor and began to call the names of the students who were waiting to be sorted.
"Avery, Tiberius"
A large boy stumbled forward and tottered up the steps, approaching the sorting hat warily, almost as if he expected it to bite. He was sat down on the rickety stool upon which the hat previously been perched, and the hat was lowered over his eyes.
After moments of deliberation the hat seemed to come to a decision yelling out, "SLYTHERIN"
This time the hall resounded with applause, almost all of which came from the house which had been named. The boy moved over to the table and sat down before the sorting continued.
Remus quickly lost interest and began worrying once more about his own situation until he heard the name "Sirius Black" being called out. A hush fell over the hall with the sounding of the name, before mutterings broke out from the individual table.
Remus felt sorry for the boy as he approached the stage. His short stature and childish looks had been noticed by all the houses and the slytherins in particular seemed to have issues.
"That's the next Black, are we sure we want a dwarf like that in our house" was whispered amongst the green clad students, picked up only by Remus' keen ears. It appeared that although the Black's were respected and worshipped among the pure blood society they were still subjected to the judgement of others, if only in more secretive conditions.
Finally Sirius reached the hat and sat down, this time the hat seemed to fall lower over his thin face.
Silence once again fell in the hall as the hat contemplated. The wait for Sirius was shorter than it had been for others as after only a few seconds the hat called out again…"GRYFFINDOR"
Thanks again to anyone who is reading and thanks especially to Kammy, your review was lovely to hear and it really helped me to finish editing this chapter and post it. Thank you so much! Sorry this chapter took a while to be posted - longer than I expected- I had not originally intended to write a song for the sorting hat. Obviously I changed my mind and decided to write one, though why I have no clue. Song/poem writing is not my forte as anyone can guess. Hope you find this an enjoyable read and again I will try and post the next chapter as soon as possible! xx :D