"When your name is called you will be sorted into your houses," a stern but gentle-looking professor stated, "your Hogwarts house will become your family during your seven years here, treat them with respect and they will do the same for you."
The ceiling was enchanted to look like stars and the new students looked up at it excitedly, hopeful of what the next few years would bring.
"Hey, I hope you do make it into Gryffindor Sirius," Ruby whispered as names began to be called whilst nudging him to get his attention, "I don't believe you are like your family, I didn't say anything about what I had heard about your family on the train because I wanted you to know that I won't judge you based on your last name, I don't think any of us would."
"Thanks, Ruby, that really means a lot, we're going to be great friends I can already tell," he replied. Sirius Black was a marvel, having grown up in a pureblood supremacist family he seemed uncommonly jolly and mischievous. Almost as if he had been unable to show his true personality for the first eleven years of his life. Sirius looked at Hogwarts as his chance to escape the abusive family he left behind on the platform a mere few hours ago.
"Black, Sirius" the professor exclaimed, the great hall quietened down significantly with many hushed whispers being heard throughout. Sirius with an air of confidence strode forward, he made a final glance back towards the crowd, winking at Ruby and giving James a thumbs up. He was sure that while Slytherin was in his blood, Gryffindor was in his heart.
The hall watched anxiously as the hat was placed atop his head, "AH another Black but different from the rest I see, you stand apart from your family. Do you wish to be put in Slytherin for the sake of blood?" Sirius vigorously shook his head, "No eh? Well, where to put you? I see a strong sense of loyalty in you but Hufflepuff would not benefit you, you're too confident for that. Loyalty is your must true trait, do not be fooled by others and follow your heart, your bravery will take you beyond where any Black has been before. I see a bright future for you in… GRYFFINDOR!"
The Great hall erupted in shock only to be quickly followed by joy from the Gryffindor table, another brave at heart student has joined them and a Black at that. Sirius' older cousins from the Slytherin table eyed him with disgust, making it clear that he was no longer their cousin. Sirius eyed the crowd with a sense of superiority, he looked down the Gryffindor table and was met with the beaming eyes of Ruby's older brothers who gave him a reassuring smile and mischievous look as if to say, 'we're going to prank you later.'
A few names passed until a name Ruby recognised was called out, "Evans, Lily," the hat quickly placed the kind girl into Gryffindor, much to the delight of James Potter but to the immediate scowl of Severus Snape who had wished his childhood friend would be in his house. Severus would come to realise years later that Lily would have been killed before she'd even left Hogwarts for being a Muggleborn in the predominately pureblood house.
"Fawley, Andrew" was placed into Ravenclaw along with his sister, "Fawley, Sophia"
"Lupin, Remus" The boy stood next to Ruby made a slight jump, not expecting to go next, he caught her eye and they silently smiled at one another affirming the true friendship forming between them. He looked at Sirius who was sat at the Gryffindor table with assurance that he would be moving to sit next to his new friend in a mere few minutes. Remus had a dark secret that he promised himself he would never tell, he just hoped that he could maintain friendships without putting anyone at risk to his 'murderous other half' as his father had called it whilst Remus was young. Remus never forgot what his father said and was constantly on edge during and around the full moon. The hat was placed upon his head, "Well well aren't you full of secrets, but rather brave to come here and face them head-on. Make good friends you will need them in the years to come, GRYFFINDOR!" Remus made his way towards the table where he knew he would make friends for life. The hat continued and Mary followed Remus into Gryffindor and two further students became Hufflepuffs.
"MacNair, Walden," was immediately placed into Slytherin, much to the delight of many who sat at that table, he joined the two girls and three boys who had already been placed into Slytherin.
"Pettigrew, Peter" the hat took slightly longer this time, the boy had been rather quiet on the train towards Hogwarts but that did not stop his new friends from adopting him into their group. He silently wished to be with his new friends, afraid that if he was not placed with them then he would struggle to make friends beyond them. James, Sirius, and Remus were the funniest people he had come across in the eleven years of his life. He noticed many eyes upon him and suddenly became anxious about being in the spotlight and missed what the sorting hat had said, "I said Gryffindor boy! Now hurry along before I change my mind." The relief was visible across his face and he searched the crowd for his new friends only to see James giving him a wide smile and Sirius ushering him to come sit next to him.
"Potter, James!" James moved forward just as confidently as Sirius had done, sitting down on the chair only to be told almost immediately, "GRYFFINDOR"
"As if there was ever any other choice!" he exclaimed confidently, earning an eye roll of a certain redhead, but gaining mainly laughs from his new house table. James was a confident boy, having been born to elderly parents he was often spoiled and had never known anything other than pure love and doting parents. He came from wealth and would come to make sure that everyone knew his name.
"So, Peter, you were a Gryffindor after all then eh?" he spoke to the boy sat to Sirius' left as he slid onto the bench of the Gryffindor table. "Sirius it looks like we have our first pranking victim," he laughed as he pointed to the small girl who nervously sat upon the stool, "Ravenclaw!" the hat spoke with cheers heard from the table across the hall.
"Prewett, Ruby"
Ruby perked up at the sound of her name and excitedly moved forward, pushing past Kitty who silently mouthed good luck to her. The hat was placed upon her head, "Another Prewett, you must be the last one by now. Much like the rest of your family I see, no question as to where to put you! GRYFFINDOR!" Ruby looked around for her brothers who excitedly clapped and encouraged their friends to do the same and before long Ruby had the loudest applause of any first year. She made a mental note to thank her brothers later on and hurriedly joined her new friends in her new house. Ruby made eye contact with an older Slytherin, who unbeknownst to her had been watching her since the minute she walked into the hall. She silently pondered as to who he was and wondered if he was someone who her brothers had upset. He was a rather attractive looking boy who had an aura of confidence and danger around him. She wondered if she would ever have a conversation with this mysterious boy. Their eye contact was broken as she sat down next to Lily. Lily and Mary immediately began making small talk with her, they talked for several minutes until the name she had been waiting for was called out.
"Waters, Katherine!" Kitty walked up towards the hat and sat down confidently on the chair, she was an extraordinary girl in that she emulated sweetness, people couldn't help but look at her and want to be friends. She appeared rather worried when the hat mentioned Hufflepuff, as she knew her life would not be the same if she wasn't placed with those amazing friends she had met on the train just a few hours ago. She squealed with delight as she was placed into "GRYFFINDOR." Kitty ran along and placed herself in between Ruby and Remus. "We all made it into the same house! I knew we would," she exclaimed
"Wilkes, Jeremy," was placed into Slytherin and concluded the sorting. All in all, there were 10 new Slytherin students, 10 new Hufflepuffs, 12 new Ravenclaws and only 8 new Gryffindors. Ruby and her friends looked along the table at their new house with excitement. They were eager to see where the next seven years would take them.