As the scenery outside the train changed into a rural area full of lakes and fields Remus daydreamed about the upcoming evening. He thought about the four houses and the first day of class.

While thinking about it another thought crawled into his mind. What if this wasn't the right way for him? Maybe he wasn't supposed to go to Hogwarts. He would have to share a room with five or more other boys and they would sooner or later notice his monthly absence. What should he tell them? What if they realised what he was? Remus' face went pale. All the time he had worried about harming other people, but know he had to think about what he could tell them to hide his condition. Before he could think about a solution his tiredness overcame him and he fell asleep.

The hours passed by and as the sky had turned into a dark blue the compartment door opened. Two boys entered and they didn't notice Remus, who was still asleep. „You think they'll find us here?" the taller one of them panted. „Nah, I don't think so, they didn't see who throw the stink bomb, did they?" assured the other boy with a great smile on his face.

Suddenly they both were interrupted by a quiet snoring sound. They searched the source of the sound and detected Remus.
„I know this one! I met him some weeks ago. He's a first year aswell!" „James, do you think we should wake him up? I mean what if he sleeps in and misses the arrival?" the other boy stared at James waiting for his answer. „Yeah, indeed a clever idea Sirius... And in addition he could give us an alibi if somebody is going to blame us for what happened!" „I thought you said they didn't saw us?" Sirius worried. „Yeah, but if you're asking me, it's always good to have an alibi."

James moved forward and touched Remus shoulder. When he didn't wake up James shook him eagerly until he showed a reaction. „Wha-What?" Remus asked confused. As he opened his eyes he could see the same boy he already met at Flourish and Blotts and there was another boy. He also had black hair, but his were longer than James and , Remus couldn't help it, had an handsome face. „Hey you, remember me? I'm James and this is Sirius. Would you mind if we stay here and if anyone's asking…we were here the whole time, okay?" Remus, who still wasn't completely awake, looked at James and then at Sirius. „Ehm okay, I guess". Both of them, Sirius and James, smiled and began chatting about Hogwarts, the lessons and all the rumours they had heard about the castle.

„Andromeda, one of my relatives, told me there would live a giant squid in the lake!" Sirius said. „My Father told me that there are about 100 secret passages inside the castle, but he only found 36!" James replied. „What about you? Remus, right? What are you excited about?" Sirius asked.

Remus had to think about this question. The truth was that he was most excited about the fact that nobody would know about his condition, but obviously he couldn't say this. So he decided to answer he would be most excited about the sorting, which wasn't a lie since he really was excited about it. Sirius and James nodded. „Yeah, I guess that's what all of us are most curious about. Do you have a clue which house you might get sorted in?" Sirius asked him.
„My father was in Ravenclaw and I think it wouldn't be too bad there" He answered, but secretly he thought he would be sorted into Hufflepuff, not because he wasn't smart enough, but how could someone like him reach anything in life and he heard people like this would suit Hufflpuff the most. „And you?" he looked at Sirius and James. „I'm definitely a Gryffindor, I mean everyone in my family was one and to be true Gryffindor is the best, even Dumbledore once was one!" James bragged.
James and Remus looked over to Sirius who seemed to dislike the conversation's topic.
„Yeah, I'd like Gryffindor, too, but like everyone in your family..." he looked at James, „...Is in Gryffindor, all of mine are Slytherins. Everyone expects me to be one, too." he scoweld. „So, you two wanna tell me that the two people I just met and who I think are cool guys,…are going to be in different houses than me?" James summarised and looked in turns at Remus and Sirius. „Come on guys that's not fair and you have to agree, don't you? But you know what? No matter in which houses we will belong I want to stay friends with the two of you…I mean we make a good team! Sirius is helping me to play pranks and Remus is giving us an alibi. Perfect team if you're asking me!" James insisted and Sirius seemed to be relieved about James' words, but Remus wasn't sure how to react.

But, Remus thought, if we're in different houses they won't notice when I disappear at full moon. He smiled and felt that he was bit less nervous than before.

It took the train another two hours until they finally arrived at Hogwarts. In the meanwhile the three were chatting, laughing and eating candies, which Sirius bought for them. Then they changed into their new Hogwarts robes and waited for them to finally arrive.

When the train stopped Sirius, James and Remus left their compartment and hopped outside the train. It was really dark and between the older pupils, who were floating into a different direction, they nearly lost each other.

Then a loud voice appeared, „First yeas com to mei! First yeas hea!" Remus moved through the crowd and reached the origin of that loud voice.

It was a tall, no big, no an enormous man, about the triple of Remus' own height. He had a bushy beard and even more bushy hair which covered his face. The man looked around to see if all the first years had found their way to him. James and Sirius appeared next to Remus and as they looked up to the gigantic man Remus could see there jaws dropping.

„Good, good. So ma name is Hagrid and I'm the groundskeeper hea. I goin' to bring ya'all to the castle. So follow me!" He turned around and disappeared into the dark. The other first years followed him as fast as possible, afraid to may lose his trace. Hagrid stopped when they reached a little boats house. „Not moa than fo' in one, go' it?" he shouted. Sirius, James and Remus shared their boat with a small girl with blonde hair.

While they crossed the lake they saw the astonishing castle of Hogwarts. Never had Remus ever seen any castle like this. He couldn't take is eyes off the high towers and neither could James or Sirius.

After a few minutes they reached the other side of the lake. They left their boats behind and followed Hagrid to a big gate. „Wait hea I'm gettin' the professer." And so he left them standing there in the dark night.

Remus looked around. He noticed Sirius who seemed to be very nervous and even James, who said he wouldn't be nervous at all, looked like his legs were shaking. But Remus, Remus still felt like he would do something wrong by standing here. He could still leave, he thought, he could take one of the boats and go back to the Hogwarts Express, but before he could consider doing so the gate swung open and a strict looking witch welcomed them all to Hogwarts. All the first years followed her inside the castle.

„I am Professor McGonagall. As soon as you entered the great hall I will call each of you and you're going to be sorted into your house. In Hogwarts we have four houses. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflpuff and Slytherin. Each of them stands for different virtues and will act as your new family. In addition to this you can collect house points for your house and in the end of the term the house with the highest score will win the House Cup. As easily as you can receive points you can lose them again! So be careful about your actions!" She scanned the first years with a serious look.

She led them into the great hall. On a small stool sat the hat Remus had already met when he was younger. Once again the hat opened his mouth, but this time he didn't speak, but sang.

He sang about the four houses. Gryffindor as the bravest of them all, Ravenclaw as the cleverest house, Hufflepuffs as the most loyal friends and Slytherins as the ones with greater plans. He also sang about other virtues Hogwarts stood for and after 10 minutes he ended with the words :

„...And may those whose hearts are full of light

Help those who have doubts galore.

But those who prefer the darkness of the night,

May find what they are searching for,

But shall live with the shadows of their own."

After the hat had finished the great hall broke into applause. As the last ones stopped their applause Professor McGonagall stood up with a parchment in her hand. „Angshot, Prim" she called out. The small girl who had shared the boat with Remus and the others slowy walked up to the hat. Professor McGonagall let the hat fall down on her head and waited.
It took a few minutes, but then Prim became the first new Ravenclaw. The second table from the left applaused and welcomed their new Ravenclaw. Two other girls were called out who each became a Hufflpuff and a Slytherin.

„Black, Sirius" The table on the far right already applaused before Sirius had even moved , it was the Slytherin table. Sirius looked as if he was going to vomit. But the hat barely touched his head and it blared „GRYFFINDOR." The table on the right stopped his applause immediately and the table on the far left cheered even louder. Sirius, who couldn't believe what had happened, walked stunned to the Gryffindor table. James and Remus exchanged looks while another boy was sorted to Ravenclaw.

„Evans, Lily." A red haired girl ran to the stool. She looked down to a black haired boy and smiled. Remus saw that he was holding his thumbs up for her. He had a crooked nose and his hair looked like he hadn't washed it for a long time.

The hat took its time and then shouted „GRYFFINDOR" As soon as the hat was off her head she looked rather disappointed. Slowly she approached the cheering table and looked at the black haired boy.

The time passed by and after „Kenneth, Adrian" ,who became a Hufflepuff, it was Remus' turn. „Lupin, Remus" he slowly walked up to Professor McGonagall and sat down. When the hat touched his head he heard a deep voice inside his head.
„Ah there you are again. I wondered when you will come. Let me see. Mhmm. You are different from the others and you're afraid of it, but still you are sitting here." The voice fell silent. Then Remus heard loud words. „GRYFFINDOR." Somebody removed the hat from his head and Remus stumbled to the Gryffindor table.
Several hands patted his shoulder as he sat down next to Sirius. He laughed. „ So you're are a Gryffindor, thought you wanted to be a Ravenclaw! Now, James is getting late. He should hurry up, I'm hungry as hell!" he stared at James in anticipation. „I did not say I wanted to be a Ravenclaw, I meant it could be." Remus added and joined Sirius'stare.

„Snape, Severus" The black haired boy with the crooked nose sat on the stool. Remus saw Lily looking at him. „Slytherin" The hat declared after a short period and while walking to the Slytherin table Severus Snape looked at Lily with a painful and sad expression on his face.

After a few more Slytherins and Ravenclaws James finally sat down to be sorted. The look on his face was very desperate and scared, but after the hat sent him to Gryffindor James beamed and sat down next to Remus and Sirius. „Told you we would stick together, didn't I?" He said happily.

After the last first year was sorted McGonagall took the stool and the hat and brought them away.

Then Dumbledore stood up and the great hall fell silent again.

„My dearest pupils, another year is starting and before we can move on to the delicious feast meal I have to announce a few things. As always I have to warn you to not enter the forbidden forest as there live dangerous creatures who will not hesitate to attack you. In addition to that I want you to remember that it is also prohibited to wander around the castle after curfew, if we catch any of you discovering the castle at night he or she will be punished. The very last thing I have to add is the fact that over the summer holidays a new tree was planted on the castle's ground. The Whooping Willow. Everyone who will come near it will feel the consequences on hand. So do yourself a favour and don't even try it." He looked around the pupils. „Now, I don't want to hold you back of the food which is waiting for you. Bon appetit!" he finished and sat down and at the very same moment the golden plates in front of them filled with the most delicious food they had ever seen and smelled.

When Remus took a break of eating he looked around the great hall. He had been too nervous to look around when he first entered, but now he examined the hall's ceiling which seemed to be the open sky and the floating candles above them. In the meanwhile he overheard two other Gryffindors argue. „Why would they plant that thing on the ground? I once read about them, they are hideous and dangerous!" one of them said. „Yeah, but you know Dumbledore. He has a reason for it and I think it is better we don't ask for it, besides he wouldn't say it anyway." And the discussion ended.

Just when Remus wanted to take another bite of his chicken a sharp voice interrupted him. „Mr. Lupin, would you mind following me, please?" He dropped the chicken and turned around. Professor McGonagall stood behind him. Sirius and James looked at him in confusion, but he followed her.

She led him into a small room beside the great hall. He could see many cups and medals, each standing for a student who reached something great in their schooltime.
„Mr Lupin, as I am your head of house I have to inform you about the arrangements to seperate you from the other students while your transformations. The day before full moon one of our staff will bring you to the Shrieking Shack, an old house in Hogsmead where you won't be able to hurt anyone. To enter the Shrieking Shack you will have to pass a secret pathway beneath the Whooping Willow and once again I have to remind you to never tell anybody of your situation or the Shrieking Shack or what lies beneath the Whooping Willow!" She eyed him. Remus nodded. „Great then I don't want to hold you back from that chicken you were just eating." She smiled and they left the small room.

„What happened, Remus?" James asked when he sat down again. Remus swallowed. He had'nt had enough time to think about an excuse for this little talk. „Ehm it's because, of my mother. She,...she's ill and Professor McGonagall wanted to inform me that I could visit her whenever I want." he stuttered. James and Sirius looked as if they regretted touching that topic, when he saw their expressions he added, "But it's okay. It's not like it makes me sad, she won't die because of it" Their expressions relaxed and they started chatting and joking about the upcoming weeks.

When the plates emptied and the prefects stood up it was time for all of them to leave the great hall and to go to the common rooms. They were all too full and tired to wonder about the moving stairs and the talking portraits. All they wanted was to reach the common room and to fall into their beds. „This here...", the prefect said when they reached the highest tower, „... Is the entrance to our common room. As you can see it's a portrait and to enter you need a password. The password for this year is sterculinium. You better remember this otherwise you'll have to wait until another Gryffindor comes by and this my dear first years can take a long while." he winked at them and the portrait swung open.

The Gryffindor common room was very warm and comfortable. In the middle of the room was a chimney, where a small flame heated the room. Big, maroon coloured armchairs and sofas surrounded the chimney. The door on the right led to the boys' dormitory and on the left to the girls'.

Finally in their dormitory James, Sirius, Remus and another boy lay down on their beds and all of them fell asleep immediately.

AN:

Still not very adventourus, but hey it would have been a shame if I hadn't wrote about the sorting...And you got a first glance at litte Snivellus and Lily :)