Year Three: Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Sorting Hat's Warning
Still rewriting this chapter. Please wait patiently. Thank you!
FLASH!
"Bloody hell!" Remus shielded his eyes from the offending light. "What was that?!" But then he heard Sirius's laugh…why had it even surprised him by now?
"Smile," he turned and snapped a picture of James who was sitting right next to him.
"One more time and I'm chucking that out the window!" James threatened in a low growl. The three laughed goodheartedly as Remus put away his luggage and sat in the empty space beside Peter. Since their first year at Hogwarts, they had their own designated compartment in which each had his own assigned seat. Failure to comply with this simple tradition or any other held in high regards would constitute some cruel sort of punishment, whether it would be to have your eyebrows shaven off or your robes set on fire. And Remus, for one, was not about to test James or Sirius on this policy.
"Where'd you pick it up from, anyway?" James asked. "Remind me to pulp the person."
"Ted: was his before Hogwarts. Thought I'd enjoy it," Sirius stated matter-of-factly.
"He was right," Remus laughed. Sirius stood, opened the compartment window, and flashed five random pictures at the crowds of students and parents.
"Keep it up and you'll be through ten rolls of film by next week," James smirked. Sirius sneered back before returning to his seat. He tapped his fingers anxiously on the seat and sighed, giving the perfectly true impression he couldn't keep quiet and sit still for longer than a few seconds. Remus noted the black nail polish on Sirius's left, tapping hand, whereas the other was clean.
"You've taken a liking to black nail polish?"
Sirius lifted his hand from the seat, looked at it for a quick moment, and then returned to his unceremonial tapping.
Remus sighed, remembering how Peter's little sisters had given Sirius a beauty makeover last Christmas. Well, actually, he hadn't been there. But Peter had told him all about it while the two suffered from stitches.
"Isn't this your sister's first year, Peter?" Remus asked.
"Huh? Oh…yeah, Lyla," Peter nodded.
"Well congratulations. I hope she's in Gryffindor," Remus grinned.
"She probably will be. She's an insane, rambunctious little…" Peter didn't finish, but Remus laughed. When the compartment was quiet, James spoke cautiously.
"Isn't it Regulus's first year, too?"
The compartment grew quiet again. Quiet, and curiously cold.
"…Yes…."
"Oh, good fun, then…." James commented to no one in particular.
"Hey James?" Sirius asked.
"What?"
FLASH!
"Give me that damn camera!" James screamed, making to leap unto his provocative friend. He only held him back, passing the camera to Peter. James, however, hardly noticed as his first and foremost objective was to beat whatever bit of Sirius he could reach into a pulp whilst the two fought laughing at the ridiculousness.
"Firs' years, firs' years over ere,'" Rubeus Hagrid's booming voice cut through the smoke that engulfed the Hogwarts Express. Remus stepped down from the train and coughed when he breathed it in. He could barely see, there was so much smoke! He only managed to find Peter when he yelled out. But as for the other two….
Remus cupped his hands around his mouth. "James! Sirius!"
"James!" Peter did the same.
"Come on, we'll meet them up at the school," Remus grabbed Peter's hand so they wouldn't lose one another and followed the tall shadows leaving the train. The found an empty carriage and stepped on, discussing their summer holidays.
The smoke had nearly cleared away they spotted two girls, both looking their own age. One was a Hufflepuff with a blonde ponytail and large, blue eyes. The other, Ravenclaw, was brunette with a full face of freckles. Shivering from the cold, they approached the carriage.
"Mind if we join you?" the blonde asked.
"No, go ahead," Remus moved over so they could sit down. Expressing their gratitude, they sat beside them both.
Once again, Remus was short of breath, but for different reasons than before. His tongue was dry and his hands sweaty. He had never felt this way before. He brushed his bangs from his eyes in one, nervous gesture. The carriage gave a lurch forward as they began moving toward the school. Remus turned and looked at the forest off the side of the road.
"My name's Emily Summers," one of the girls said. Remus looked to see which one and saw the brunette beside him holding out her hand.
He stared at her hand for some time, wondering dumbly what he was suppose to do next. He swallowed his nervousness and met her hand. "…Remus Lupin…."
Giggling she said, "Your hands are really sweaty…."
"Huh? Oh…." Remus trailed off. Looking beyond Summers, he saw Peter wasn't having much more luck in their current situation than him.
The carriage stopped at the foot of the school and the students departed to start up the stairs.
Something brushed past them, but they didn't see who or what. And then, as if out of nowhere, James and Sirius magically appeared in front of them.
"There you two are? Where'd you go?" Peter asked.
"Nowhere…." Sirius put on a confused face.
"But you weren't there and then you were!"
"We really have no clue what you're talking about, Peter," James smirked.
"Oh just forget it, Peter," Remus shook his head. The four followed the rest of the school to the Great Hall and found seats at the Gryffindor table.
"Where's Professor Slughorn?" Peter asked. The other three looked up at the staff table with Peter and sure enough, the plump, jovial professor was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a new, sinister-looking teacher sat in Slughorn's place. Sleek-black hair and eyes cold as stones, he glared out at the Gryffindor table with utmost loathing.
"Oh goody," Sirius remarked sarcastically.
The doors to the Great Hall swung open and one hundred students came through, following behind the ever-stern Professor McGonagall. They all stopped at the front of the tables and looked on nervously.
There, set atop a stool, was the old, worn Sorting Hat. The seam of its mouth opened and its song began filling the Great Hall.
A time or two ago,
When dark times were gone,
And friends ruled the world just so,
A time of magic spawned,
And so there was a need of proper teaching
Four friends of the most powerful wizards alive,
Came to Hogwarts, they did arrive,
They paid naught through the nose for the castle,
And had no hassle
Many thought they were too young,
Fresh out of school as they were,
Eager to fill the minds of many,
Though each had different standards of who'd they pick
Godric Gryffindor would take the bravest,
Salazar Slytherin would take the purest,
Rowena Ravenclaw would take those intelligent,
While Helga Hufflepuff would take those who would not fit
So the four friends ruled in peace,
Magic was a secret they could keep,
From those inept and not talented,
Though far too soon, three would weep
Darkness fell upon the four friends,
Who thought they could make amends,
But Salazar thought the school should only keep those plenty pure,
Helga thought he should bend,
For the rules that they had made,
Were making things impossible
So our story begins tonight,
With the prospect of many new faces,
Joining those who are old,
For another round at the school created so many years ago,
On this very night
Should you prove to be brave and mindful,
You will be put with those most like Godric,
But should you prove to be pure and evil,
You will be put with those most like Salazar
Should you prove to be clever and intelligent,
You will be surrounded by those most like Rowena,
Should you prove to be shy and caring,
You will be surrounded like those most like Helga
Come, join me know,
And I will tell you where you ought to be
I make no mistakes,
In the choice I undertake,
While telling you where you ought to be
A magical dawn has arrived,
The sunrise most alive,
Will you be here to see it?
The Great Hall roared with applause. McGonagall held a list of students' names up so she could read it and announced to everyone: "The sorting hat will be placed on your heads, and will determine what house you will be placed into for the remainder of the seven years you will spend here. I will call you up in alphabetical order. Black, Regulus."
Remus looked in the huddle of first years standing in the middle of room. He had spotted the young Black, he was sure of it. The eleven-year-old had the same aristocratic look as his older brother. Raven black hair fell into his blue eyes beautifully. They had the same nose, same eyebrows, same smirk.
The boy walked toward the front of the Great Hall at the call of Black, Regulus. Remus had been right. He sat on the stool and stared boldly out at the older students as he waited for the Sorting Hat to be placed upon his head.
Remus received a sharp jab in the side from Sirius. He turned to look why, but Sirius only nodded toward his younger brother. Remus returned his attention to the sorting ceremony.
Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head and the Great Hall fell silent as they waited. Remus saw it murmuring to the younger Black as he itched his head. This nearly put James and Sirius into stitches, though they regained control before anyone else had noticed. Remus gave James a confused expression, but he only nodded toward Regulus, who was itching his head furiously. McGonagall, looking concerned, took the hat off of his head.
Itching and scratching even crazier, the students burst out laughing at his predicament. Professor Sprout left the staff table and escorted him out of the Great Hall.
"Quiet!" Professor Dumbledore's voice projected across the room. The room fell to a hush. And then, to everyone's amazement, the old professor chuckled. "Itching powder."
The students laughed along with him nervously.
"The sorting ceremony will be held the following evening. Everyone can find a table for the time being, no need to be shy." The first years nervously found seats beside the older students and waited for the professor to continue.
"Now before you all enjoy your wonderful mean, I would like to make a few brief announcements. To begin, I would like to introduce Professor Ophiuchus, who will be replacing our Professor Slughorn who has retired. Good luck, professor."
The Great Hall applauded him, but he still looked as pleased as ever.
"And now," Dumbledore continued, "I would like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to everyone.
"Two years ago, Professor Sprout and myself planted an exotic tree called a Whomping Willow on the grounds. I strongly urge no one to get within fifty feet of it.
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker here, has asked me to make you all aware no magic is permitted in the corridors. He also has a list of illegal items to be found at Hogwarts. He has added to the list since last year, I suggest you look for it.
"And last, but certainly not least, Quidditch tryouts will be held during the second week of term. Check in your house common rooms for more information concerning time and place if you are interested.
"Before I keep you from your meal even longer, I have one more thing to say. Engloutir."
"You two really are horrible," Remus said when they closed their dormitory door. Sirius tossed himself down onto his bed.
"We really have no clue what you're talking about, Remus," Sirius smirked.
A/N- Harry Potter and friends and everything else you recognize do not belonging to me as they are the property and creations of J.K. Rowling.