September, 1970
The Sorting
A fifth year prefect stopped by James and Sirius' compartment to tell them that they would soon be arriving at Hogwarts. It was announced soon after on the PA as well by an incredibly wheezy conductor.
"That was pointless," James said after the voice over the speakers stopped speaking.
Sirius sniggered.
They changed into their robes while finishing their last game of Wizard's Chess.
On the train ride, Sirius and James got to know each other pretty well. They laughed about random things and stupid things. Mostly stupid things. They talked about classes, Quidditch, and everything. Both were grinning as they changed into their robes. Maybe, thought Sirius, I could have an actual friend. One who's not into the Dark Arts.
The train slowed and slowed. James triumphantly put a checkmate on Sirius's king, causing Sirius to groan. "You owe me, Sirius," he said gleefully.
Sirius scowled good-naturedly. "Rematch, Potter." Then, Sirius packed the set up and stuffed it into his trunk.
The train rolled to a stop. James packed everything in his suitcase and walked toward the door of the train, leaving his stuff to the tender mercies of magic. He had heard from his parents that the luggage was taken separately to the castle. Stepping onto the Hogsmeade platform was heaven for James. At first sight, he knew that this is where he belonged. He breathed deeply, letting the magical air fill his lungs.
Sirius was beside him, laughing. "What's the matter, Potter, did the train suffocate you?"
James grinned back. "No, you do."
The darkening sky could not damper Sirius's mood. Finally, he was free. Now all he had left was the Sorting...and this was the part that he looked forward to the least.
"Firs' years, firs' years over here!" They heard a voice boom. James looked up to see the biggest man he had ever seen. Sirius had the same awed expression. A couple of first years went to hide behind a friend or sibling. James, however, smiled at the large man. He smiled back.
"My name's Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. C'mon, follow me to the boats." Sirius and James followed obligingly with the rest of their year. James thought he had lost Sirius among the crowd at one point. As he looked around, he saw red. Red hair. Red hair belonging to the prettiest girl he ever laid eyes on. She was walking along, laughing with a boy that James recognized as the one he had made fun of on the train, and with a jolt James realized that she was the one who had been crying. She turned around for one second and their eyes met breifly. Her beautiful green eyes amazed James. How did he not see her entire face in that compartment? James stood for a while, drool almost coming out of his mouth until Sirius tapped him on the shoulder and he returned to earth.
"What are you looking at?" he asked.
"Nothing," said James, avoiding Sirius's glance. Sirius raised an eyebrow, but refrained from saying anything else. By now, they had reach the shore. On the shore was a fleet of boats, arranged neatly in a line.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid yelled above the noise. "C'mon now!"
Sirius and James instantly grabbed an empty boat. Soon, they saw the same boy that they had jinxed on the train. He was looking nervous and couldn't find a boat. He walked over to Sirius and James. "Mind if I sit here?"
Sirius cast James an amused look. "Sure."
"Thanks," the boy breathed. He looked small. Wringing his hands, he climbed into the boat. "I'm Peter Pettigrew."
"Hey, Peter," nodded James. Sirius didn't even answer.
"No messin' aroun' now!" Hagrid yelled. "Come on! Four to a boat!"
A girl by the name of Lora Plemm soon joined Peter, James and Sirius. She was the last one off the train and had nowhere else to go. They boats started towards Hogwarts. The boat started moving slowly across the lake. All around, James could hear the other students chattering away. He himself turned to Sirius and talked excitedly about the arrival. The castle came clearly into view, so that gasps and shrieks of amazement were heard all over the lake as the beauty of the castle overtook them.
In a nearby boat, Lily was gazing at the castle, her green eyes shining. "Wow, this is incredible," Lily whispered to Snape, who gave her a small smile.
The first years arrived at the castle, dry but very cold. A stern looking woman wearing green robes met them at the doors to the castle.
"That's Professor McGonagall!" Lily whispered excitedly to Snape as they ascended the stairs. "She was the one that came to our house!"
"Thank you, Hagrid," McGonagall said. Hagrid nodded and left. "My name is Professor McGonagall. Now, when you pass through these doors you will be sorted into your houses. Do not be nervous. The hat knows best. Now each house is like your family. They are with you in lessons and in your dormitory. You will also be competing for the house cup. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any disregard for the rules will lose you points."
James and Sirius smiled at each other. Rules were made to be broken.
"That's about it. Please follow me," she said, and swung open the doors to the castle.
They walked through the doors to the great hall. All James could think of was WOW. He had never seen the night sky, or what looked like the night sky, from this close up. As he dragged his feet slowly along, he let the magic soak in. Sirius was looking at him with an amused expression on his face.
The group of first years arrived at the front of the great hall. All eyes were upon them, especially those at the high table. A small boy with sandy-colored hair was holding his arm to ease the pain of his gash as he walked with the rest of the first years. He gulped nervously, thinking of his condition and the meeting with Dumbledore after the sorting.
"So what do you reckon we have to do?" Sirius asked James from the corner of his mouth once the group had stopped.
James shrugged.
"What did you hear about it from your parents?"
James shrugged again. "My parents said to relax because the hat is never wrong, and it'll make the right choices."
Sirius raised an eyebrow skeptically. "We're going to be sorted by a hat?"
They looked at each other, realizing how odd it sounded, and cracked up.
"Let the Sorting begin!" McGonagall said, holding up a long list of names. Everyone in the Great Hall fell silent at once. Beside her was a stool, and on the stool sat a very worn-looking, grayish hat.
Sirius looked at the hat with a skeptical look on his face. Half the first years did the same.
The group waited. And waited. Suddenly, the Sorting Hat opened its mouth near the brim and began to sing.
I may not be the newest hat
For I was sewn long ago
I'm smarter than you think I am,
Though I'm really old
In a flash I can tell
What is right from wrong
So place me gently on your head
And I'll tell where you belong
You may belong in Ravenclaw
The witty and the wise
You may belong in Hufflepuff
Where loyalty and truth shines
Then, you may be in Slytherin,
Full of power and cunning
Or may you belong in Gryffindor
Ready to prove and do the daring
Put me on, don't be scared
Let your mind go to rest
For I'm forever the Sorting hat
And I always know what's best!
The halls burst into applause at the end of the song. The first years joined them in clapping, though most were talking excitedly about which house they would like to be in. All of them were staring at the hat, completely mesmerized. Then, the Sorting began.
The first years watched as a girl named Nora Angy got sorted into Hufflepuff. Sirius knew he would be up soon. Oh, he hated his name right now. Why couldn't it be Zymmer or something? They watched as a boy named David Allor got sorted into Ravenclaw. Sirius knew it would be soon, and clenched his jaw nervously. James shot him a sympathetic look. Peter mimicked the look on James's face.
My God, not Slytherin, Sirius thought repeatedly to himself. Please, no.
"Black, Sirius." Sirius clenched his fist and walked determinedly up to the stool. The last thing he saw before the hat was placed over his head was his cousin Bellatrix shooting daggers at him from her eyes.
A small voice started to whisper in his head. "Ah, another Black. I know where your family all went."
Sirius gripped the stool tightly. He wouldn't do it. He couldn't be in Slytherin. He can't. "And yet," the hat whispered, "I see a courage, undoubtedly a courage to look past your last name and become what you really are." The hat paused. Sirius closed his eyes, praying with ever fiber of his body... "There's absolutely no doubt. GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius looked elated as he flew down the steps to join his new house. He caught glimpse of Bellatrix. She was scowling, eyes narrowed. That made him even happier. He turned around to watch the rest of the sorting; he had missed a lot of people in his jubilation. The next was an obvious redhead that looked nervous but determined, and Sirius recognized her from the train. As Evans, Lily, put the sorting hat on her head, it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" for everyone to hear. Sirius clapped along. When he turned to look at James, who was still waiting in line, he noticed that he was staring at Lily Evans. Sirius had to fight the impulse not to laugh as a little bit of drool came out of his buddy's mouth.
"Congrats," Sirius said as she sat down beside him.
Lily turned, surprised, to thank him, but then stopped short as she realized who he was. Then, her eyes narrowed and she turned haughtily away from him. She caught Snape's eye and smiled apologetically. Snape looked crushed as he half-waved at her.
At the Gryffindor bench , Lily waited anxiously as Greenwald, Marcella, was sorted. After a moment on the stool, she was sorted into Gryffindor as well. Lily heaved a sigh of relief, and cheered for her friend, who had helped her find the platform.
"Lily!" Marcella squealed as she sat down beside her. "Wow, we're in the same house, how cool is that?"
"I'm so glad to have a friend in my house," Lily beamed. "Oh, I do hope Severus gets in this house, but he said he was going to be in Slytherin..."
Sirius watched with one eyebrow raised as Lily pointed Snape out to Marcella.
"Lupin, Remus."
The teachers all turned and looked at this small, nervous-looking boy intently. The hat was placed on his head. Remus shook in his seat. He was so scared...maybe the hat wouldn't sort him because the hat knew the dangers he possessed...maybe he would get sent back home...
Then, a small voice started whispering inside his head. "Ah, you have it all. Courage. The will to fight on. Even after all you've been through, you've stayed strong." He hat paused. Remus sat nervously, eyes shut, fingers white. "Must be in GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus smiled broadly, whole body filled with relief, and went to join the rest of his house. He looked up at the high table and saw Dumbledore smiling at him. Instantly, he felt better. He sat down next to Lily Evans and introduced himself. "Hello, my name's Remus."
Lily smiled back, emerald eyes shining. "I'm Lily." They talked for a while, instantly becoming friends. He introduced himself to Marcella, and found her a nice girl. Then, Remus went to go introduce himself to some other people.
He sat down next to Sirius. "Hello, my name's Remus," he introduced. Unfortunately, Sirius was most definitely not Lily. He ignored Remus, and kept on watching the crowd of thinning first years. Remus turned to the line of first years also.
"Pettigrew, Peter," Professor McGonagall called.
Peter trudged nervously up to the stool and jumped as the hat was place on his head. "Ah. Loyalty," the hat whispered. "Lots of it. However, loyalty does not belong to one house…where should I put you?" The hat debated for what seemed like forever. Sirius was just about jump up from his seat and rip the hat off Peter's head when it yelled "GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius sank back down in his seat, smiling slightly as Peter made his way towards him, beaming. Lora Plemm was soon sorted into Ravenclaw. He then perked up again when McGonagall said, "Potter, James."
As James walked up to the stool, he saw Sirius grinning at him, Peter waving at him, and then he saw Lily Evans. Lily Evans. So that was her name. His heart melted as he got a clear look at her face. Oh please let me be in the same house as her, he silently begged over and over again. The Hat was placed over his head. "Another Potter," the hat whispered in his ear. James was still silently pleading. "Loyalty, courage and a determination nothing can curb. No doubt where you belong, even without the prayers. GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius clapped and cheered as he watched his buddy join him at the table. He watched as James shook hands with Remus, who smiled back, albeit a bit nervously.
"Snape, Severus."
James poked Sirius, sitting down beside him. "Look at that slimeball," he said, struggling against laughter. Sirius started silently laughing too. "We should have jinxed him on the train when we had the chance!"
"All I can say is, the next person who sits on the stool will slip right off it." They silently doubled over in laughter. No one seemed to notice, except Peter, who joined them, even though he had no idea what they were talking about.
"Shut it, you two!" Lily hissed anxiously. James obeyed at once.
Greasy Snape sat on the stool and the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
James and Sirius looked at each other with equal, malevolent grins. They knew that they had to torture Snivellus. As Snape passed by the Gryffindor table, he looked at Lily, and saw her sad green eyes smiling back at him. The Sorting finally ended with Wyatt, Daniel.
"I have some start-of-term announcements," Dumbledore said from the high table after the cheers for Daniel had died down. "First, you may have noticed that a new tree has been planted. It may be just a tree, but it is dangerous, so I advise you not to go near it, if you value your limbs."
Some of the students snickered. After all, when had they heard of a dangerous tree?
"Second," Dumbledore continued after the snickers and mutters died down. "We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year. Welcome Professor Michael Dent."
Scattered applause broke out. Professor Dent, a wiry-looking man with sunken eyes and wrinkly, old looking skin stood up slowly, then sat back down again.
James raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Can you say scrawny?"
Sirius laughed. "Presuming you're describing yourself, yes."
James scowled while Sirius laughed some more.
Sirius looked up again at the high table. Dumbledore's twinkling eyes was scanning over the new students and the old. Sirius's eyes caught Dumbledore's for a moment, and Dumbledore smiled at him. Sirius smiled reluctantly back.
Take that, the most Ancient and Noble House of Black.
The feast began. James and Sirius both gasped and grinned at the sight of the magnificent food. They dug in at once and began talking with Peter and Remus. Peter seemed incredibly nervous at everything they asked him; James found it quite hard to keep from sniggering, while Sirius couldn't put up with it.
"Honestly, Peter, are you that nervous to say your mum's name?" he said loudly in exasperation. A couple of people turned in their direction.
"It's nothing," Remus said. Everyone turned back to their food. Peter now looked scared and sorry.
Sirius sighed. "Sorry, Peter. I lose control of my temper a lot."
"It's okay," squeaked Peter.
James grinned at Sirius. "This is going to be a fun year."