An: Disclaimer I took McGonagall's speech from the first Book which I unfortunately do not own.

The Hatstall of 1971

When the sun had gone down the train finally stopped. They climbed off the train onto a small dark platform. Jane made sure to stay close to James and Sirius so she wouldn't lose them. Distantly they heard a loud booming voice calling out.

"Firs' years! Over here! Firs' years!" They turned and saw a giant of a man with a large lantern waving around for first years. Sirius and James pushed through the crowd. Jane followed closely behind them. They gathered around the large man with the other first years. Jane spotted the red headed girl and the greasy haired boy. She caught the eye of the red headed girl and quickly looked away.

"The names Hagrid," the giant man said. "C'mon yeh lot. Follow me."

They followed Hagrid down a steep and slippery path. James caught Jane when she slipped on a step.

"Yeh'll get yer first look at Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called.

They rounded a bend and there were multiple gasps in the crowd of first years. They stood at the edge of a great Black Lake. Hogwarts castle was glowed under a starry sky perched on top of a cliff. James noted that It was even more beautiful than his mother had described.

"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid called out lifting the first years from their daze. He pointed to a small fleet of boats.

James and Sirius climbed in first. Sirius turned around instinctively and held out his hand to Jane. He carefully helped her into a boat. They were joined by a rather quiet and plump boy with brown hair. He reminded James of a mouse.

"What's your name?" James asked the boy.

"Peter Pettigrew," the boy squeaked out.

"James Potter," James replied confidently holding out his hand for the boy to take. Then he pointed to his two companions. "This is Jane and that's Sirius."

Jane and Sirius both gave the boy polite nods. James was about to say more when the large man, Hagrid, called out a warning.

"Heads down!" He yelled as the first years neared a cliff where a curtain of vines. Peter Pettigrew however looked up startled at the sudden voice. He hit his head on the long low bridge-like branch they were going under and toppled over. He reached out and tried to catch himself on Jane's arm. She would've tumbled over the boat as well if James hadn't quickly reacted and caught her. Their boat almost completely toppled over, but it was a magic boat and balanced itself.

Most of the first years, including James and Sirius, started laughing. Jane couldn't help but feel bad for the boy.

"Oi! Yeh alright!?" Hagrid called back. James, Sirius, and Jane reached over the side of their boat and pulled peter back into the boat. Jane found herself incredibly grateful for the fact that the boat didn't tip as they pulled him up.

Pettigrew continued to apologize but Jane kindly reassured him and made sure he was alright. Behind them James and Sirius snickered. Jane turned and shot them a glare and they quickly quieted.

They finally reached the other side of the lake. They crossed underneath a tunnel to an underground harbor. James assumed they were under the castle. They followed Hagrid along to the outside of the castle and up a flight of stone steps to a large oak door. Hagrid knocked on the door and it swung open. They were met with a tall black haired witch. She wore emerald green robes and a stern expression. James's first thought was that she was not someone who should be crossed.

"Firs' years, this is Professor McGonagall." Hagrid introduced. "We did have a mishap o' a young chap fall in the lake. Didn' duck when I told 'em too. He says he is alright though."

McGonagall turned and caught sight of Pettigrew soaking wet. When her gaze fell on him he shrunk back and tried to hide behind James and Sirius. McGonagall sighed and thanked Hagrid before dismissing him. She didn't quite say anything to Peter though. Instead, she led them into a large entrance hall with stone walls lined with torches. On one side was a large marble staircase on the opposite side was another set of large set of double doors. They were led passed those doors into a smaller chamber off to the side. When they stopped McGonagall turned to address them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. "The start of term feast will begin soon. But first you must be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting Ceremony is very important because, while you are here, your houses will become like your family. You will spend your free time mostly in your house common room, sleep in the dormitories, and attend classes with those in your house. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and of them with their own noble history. While you are at Hogwarts, you will be able to earn your house points for your triumphs and successes. On the other hand any rule breaking will cost you house points. At the end of the year the house with the most points will win the house cup. I hope each of you will represent whichever house becomes yours well. The ceremony will take place shortly. I suggest you take this time to prepare yourself."

She left into a door off the side. And the hall of the first years stayed nervously silently for a moment.

"How are they going to sort us?" The red-headed girl asked her friend who just nervously shrugged.

"Maybe they'll have us duel each other," James laughed loudly.

"Nah, they won't make first years fight. Probably take some sort of test though," Sirius said.

"Wait so none of you know?" The girl the Potter's helped onto the platform, Mary, asked quietly.

"Mother told me it's tradition for us to find out at the time of our sorting," Jane answered her. The rest of the first years started breaking out into conversation of what they thought would happen or what relatives had told them.

"My dad said we had to wear a hat," a scrawny brown-haired boy that stood right next to James muttered quietly. Only James, Jane, and Sirius heard him. James and Sirius looked at him incredulously.

"Is your dad mad?" James asked. Jane immediately smacked his arm.

"Don't be rude," she scolded.

"I think your dad must've been messing with you," Sirius said to the boy.

The boy blushed and shrank away. Remus hadn't thought anyone would hear him and he hadn't meant to join in on the conversation. His father had told him what would happen at the sorting before they knew it was possible for him to go. It's not like he could say that though.

James noticed the boy started to look uncomfortable and went to apologize but before he could the door opened again and Professor McGonagall was back.

"The great hall is ready to start the Sorting Ceremony," she said. "Form a line and follow me."

James stood behind the scrawny boy who talked about a hat. Jane stood behind him and nervously gripped his hand. Sirius stood behind her. They walked out of the chamber and through the large double doors they had passed earlier.

They entered the Great Hall and their jaws dropped in shock. There were thousands of floating candles and four tables filled with students craning their necks to look at them. Up at the front on a raised platform was a long table full of the Hogwarts staff. When James looked up it looked as if there wasn't a ceiling. The sky was dark and covered in beautiful stars.

"Enchanted to look like the sky outside," the boy in front of James muttered. This time only James could hear him.

They lined up in front of the staff table and faced the sea of students. McGonagall set a stool down in the center of the platform in front of them. She placed a ratty and worn looking hat on top of the stool. James and Sirius gapped at it before turning to look at the scrawny boy from earlier, who felt their stairs and shrunk even further into himself. Then a rip near the base of the hat opened like a mouth and it started to sing.

Try me on

And you shall see

I know the house

Where you are meant to be.

I know your heart

I know your mind

There's no need to worry

I'll place you with your kind.

Perhaps you'll be in Gryffindor

There dwell the Brave at heart.

It is in this house you will find

That the daring get their start.

Or perhaps in hufflepuff you'll go

To be with those that are true.

If you are kind and fair

Then this house is meant for you.

It is in ravenclaw that you shall be

If your greatest treasure,

Beyond learning and wisdom,

Is Wit beyond measure.

And in Slytherin is where you'll find

Those that are the most resourceful.

With determination and ambition

They are quite successful.

By the desires of your heart

I know where you go.

So put me on that head of yours

And you'll be in the house that'll make you grow.

The hall burst into applause.

"How is it that you were right?" James whispered quietly to the boy next to him. The boy couldn't really do much but shrug awkwardly.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward next to the stool. She held a large roll of parchment in her hands.

"When I call your name you will sit on the stool and I will place the hat on your head to be sorted." She said.

Jane clenched onto James hand so tightly that he was surprised by her strength. He tried to give her a reassuring squeeze.

"Abbott, Clara," Was the first name McGonagall called out. A young girl with blonde hair stepped forward. And placed the hat on her head. They watched as the hat sat for a moment on her head.

"Hufflepuff!" It called out. Clara Abbott hopped off her seat and ran to the table that was cheering the loudest for her.

"Aubrey, Betrum," McGonagall called out.

A tall boy with Broad shoulders stepped forward and sat on the chair. The hat fell on his head. The hat was a little large on him but didn't quite cover his eyes. The entire hall was silent as it waited for a brief moment.

"Ravenclaw!" The hat shouted. The table that was the second from the left erupted into cheers and Betrum Aubrey joined them.

"Avery, Thatcher," Went to Slytherin.

"Black, Sirius," McGonagall called once the hall quieted.

James whispered him a quick good luck as Sirius stepped forward. He made sure to keep his expression neutral and walked as confidently as he could. From the corner of his eye he could see the table on the far left, that he knew was the Slytherin table, sitting up straighter with anticipation and expectation. When he finally reached the stool the hat fell over his head. And he could hardly see the tables anymore.

"Ah, a Black!" The sorting hat said in his mind. Sirius tried hard to keep himself from reacting. "I should know just where to put you."

Sirius shifted uncomfortably and sighed in his mind. Dejected, he knew where was going.

"But you are quite unlike the rest that I have sorted. Hmm. No I'm not so sure Slytherin is right for you."

But I have to be a Slytherin, Sirius thought in his mind.

"Oh do you?" The hat responded. "Yes I know your family's plans for you. But you disagree don't you? Your values aren't their values. And while you are quite resourceful and full of determination it is quite unlike that of slytherin. You have a thirst to prove yourself. But not to your family. Hmm, a very tricky Black you are."

Sirius squirmed nervously. He didn't necessarily want to be in Slytherin, but if he wasn't he'd be disowned for sure.

"You're defiant and you're bold. You know that you aren't like them, don't you? But you'll do well in Slytherin if you feel that is where you must go. But if you let me I can place you on the path that will help you reach your full potential. Where you'll develop and discover talents that you won't find elsewhere. With a new family and new friends. What will it be, Sirius Black?"

Sirius froze. Was the hat letting him choose. He had to say Slytherin he had too. If he didn't he'd be done for.

But he thought of Jane and the fear on her face after she had overheard his conversation with his parents and how she had still kindly let him sit with her despite knowing who he was. Anyone who wants to be in Slytherin isn't nice, he had told her. Then he thought of his conversation on the train with James.

"My whole family's been in Slytherin," Sirius had said glumly.

"Blimey and I thought you seemed alright." James said.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition," was Sirius's own reply.

No sooner had he thought and remembered those words did the Sorting hat rip open his mouth and shout for the whole world to hear.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

If a pin were to drop, Sirius bet he would have heard it. The hall stared at him in silence. The Slytherins, with their arms ready to cheer and clap had dropped them upon hearing the hat. He saw them gap at him in shock, much like the rest of the hall. He caught sight of his older cousins, Narcissa and Andromeda, staring at him with twin stunned expressions.

The short moment of silence was broken by a pair of older red-headed boys at the Gryffindor table who burst into cheers for Sirius. Not even a second after they started did the rest of the Gryffindor table join them. Soon the whole hall started clapping except for the Slytherin table which stayed still with stunned expressions. Although some of them shifted into betrayed glares.

Sirius quickly hopped off the stool and handed the hat back to McGonagall before rushing to the Gryffindor table. He tried his hardest to keep his head up and not glance over at the Slytherin table as he walked and sat down. He tuned out of the ceremony as he took a couple of breaths to calm himself down.

"Evans, Lily," was the name that he heard when he decided to tune back in. The red-head girl from the train shakily came forward.

When Lily heard her name. She took a deep breath and glanced at her friend, Severus Snape. She could feel her legs trembling as she walked towards the stool. She kept her head down so she wouldn't have to meet anyone's eye.

She sat down and took a deep breath as McGonagall lowered the hat onto her head. Before she even had a chance to blink the hat seemed to make up its mind.

"Gryffindor!" It shouted.

Lily jumped out of her seat. She rushed to the Gryffindor table that was cheering for her. As she went she looked back at Severus. She gave him a sad small. He had wanted her to be a Slytherin didn't he?

Sirius Black, who the hall had been silent after his Sorting, scooted over and made room for her. Lily was confused as to why they had been so quiet after his Sorting, as if they were shocked. But she gave him a smile as she sat down next to him. Then she realized that this was the boy who had made fun of her friend on the train and she huffed and turned her attention to Alice Fortescue who was just being sorted into Gryffindor. Lily joined in clapping and cheering for her.

Remus stood anxiously listening for his name. He didn't have the slightest idea which house he would like to be in. Perhaps Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. But what if the hat put him in Slytherin just because he was a werewolf?

"Lupin, Remus," McGonagall finally called. He made his way to the rickety old stool. The hat fell over his eyes.

"Hmmm," the hat said in his mind. Remus jumped in shock. "I have never sorted one like you before."

Remus squirmed uncomfortably.

"No need to worry, boy, no one else can hear me," the hat said. "You've gone through so much for one so young. I know just where to put you. GRYFFINDOR."

Remus's jaw dropped in shock. Professor McGonagall lifted the hat from his head. She gently gave him a shove and when he looked up apologetically, she gave him a small smile which he had a feeling was rare coming from her.

In awe, Remus stumbled to the Gryffindor table. The other previously sorted first years shuffled to make room for him. But Remus remembered himself and sat far from them pretending he didn't notice.

"Pettigrew, Peter."

Peter slumped forward, still dripping wet from his tumble in the lake. The hat fell over his head.

"My, my," the hat said. "You'll be a difficult one. I can already see."

The hat sat in on his head in silence for quite some time and Peter wondered if it was working at all. Or if the magic had worn off of it. It did seem to be quite an old hat after all.

"Of course I'm working," the hat said. And Peter jumped. "You have quite the peculiar mind….. hmmm interesting, very interesting."

Peter squirmed nervously on the stool. What's interesting, he thought desperately.

"Hmm not the brightest and certainly not the most loyal or hardworking. You can be quite cunning if you allow yourself and are very resourceful. Hmm perhaps Slytherin is for you!"

Peter had seen some of the Slytherins on the train and they weren't particularly the nicest. And he'd heard the rumors of dark wizards coming from that house.

"You'll soon find that every house carries traits that when used incorrectly can be considered dark," the hat warned. "Why even Gryffindor. Their recklessness can cause quite the amount of damage. And they dare to do whatever it takes. Yes, that can be very dangerous indeed. Hmm… but you tend to look up to those that are daring, don't you? You value those who have courage and seek to surround yourself with people who are brave….. You yearn to be like them don't you? Do you really think you can be like that?"

Peter gulped. He wasn't sure. He liked to think that he could be brave but…. could he?

"You could if you allowed yourself too." The hat muttered in his mind. "You could if you wanted to... become a true Gryffindor I can see that potential in you. But the image you'd like to build for yourself could also fit well in Slytherin. The great wizards Slytherin and Gryffindor weren't quite so different like everyone seems to think. No….They were actually very similar. Two sides of the same coin. But I see that what's most precious to you is your own sense of self preservation. A very Slytherin quality indeed."

"Not slytherin. Not slytherin." Peter muttered quickly so only the hat could hear him.

Around him students began to mutter. This boy had been with the hat for a little over five minutes. Many of the older students hadn't seen anyone take so long to be sorted before. Both students and staff started to mutter the word "hatstall" as they stared up at him.

"A hatstall?" Lily Evans questioned out loud to the other newly sorted Gryffindor's around her.

"It means they've been under the hat for around 5 minutes or so." A girl, Marlene Mckinnon, Lily remembered, said.

"Is it uncommon?" Mary Macdonald asked.

"Very," an older student replied. "Usually happens once every 50 years give or take. Rumor has it Professor McGonagall was the last Hatstall."

"hmm not Slytherin you say?" The hat asked. "You'd do very well there. But perhaps if you allow yourself, and make the right choices I can see the makings of a true Gryffindor. But that, Peter Pettigrew, is entirely up to you. Remember that."

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat finally shouted. Peter sighed in relief as McGonagall took the hat off of him and he rushed to the Gryffindor table.

"I hope I don't take so long," Jane whispered to James.

"Relax," He replied quietly to his cousin. "You'll be fine."

"Potter, James," McGonagall called for his name at last and he confidently marched to the stool. The hat barely graced his head before it shouted "Gryffindor!"

James sat down next to Sirius and the red-headed girl after Sirius scooted to make room for him. "Potter, Jane."

An older Gryffindor leaned forward.

"Is she your twin?" The boy asked.

"Something like that," James responded with a grin.

Jane took the seat her cousin had just abandoned. She kept her head up and her back straight as much as she could. She was very aware of the eyes that were on her. Just before the hat slipped over her eyes she saw James give her an encouraging grin. She hoped she didn't look too nervous.

"Oh another Potter," the hat said. "But you aren't so easy to sort as your cousin."

Oh no, Jane thought to herself. She didn't want to be another hatstall, like the boy who fell in the lake.

"Not to worry," the hat said, "I doubt you'll be that difficult... Let's see hmm… oh very bright and brilliant mind. Quite a clever little witch. Ah I see that thirst to prove yourself, much like your mother. You have quite the responsibility ahead of you don't you, your highness."

Please don't call me that, she thought to the hat.

"Ah but you aren't as eager to uphold such traditions," the hat said. "A very bold young lady. Quite stubborn I see. Not afraid to take a stand. Very regal. But can be a little timid. No matter I'm sure that you'll grow out of that. Hmm… better be… GRYFFINDOR!"

Jane smiled as she hopped off the stool and made her way gracefully to a seat across from James. When she got there he reached over the table and gave her a high five.

They watched the rest of the sorting. The greasy haired boy from the train, Severus Snape was sorted into Slytherin. Lily Evans cast her friend a sad look as he made his way to the opposite end of the Hall. The final boy, Knox Zabini, was sorted into Slytherin.

Finally the feast began. The first years stared in awe at the food that suddenly appeared in front of them. The conversation around them turned to the sorting, Peter Pettigrew, being a hatstall at the center of the conversation.

"What took the hat so long to sort you?" A girl, Dorcas Meadows, asked eagerly.

"It just couldn't decide between houses, I guess." Peter responded in a quiet squeaky voice. He shifted uncomfortably at being the topic of conversation.

"Yeah but what houses?" James pressed.

"What did the hat say to you?" Sirius asked.

"The hat talked to you?" Lily Evans interjected.

"Yeah, of course," Emmeline Vance answered. "Did it not talk to you?"

"The hat barely touched her head before sorting her." Jane remembered out. "I doubt that left anytime to talk to her."

"Exactly!" James said. "Strange isn't? How it can sort some of us in a split second but takes like 10 minutes to sort others."

"It wasn't 10 minutes," another boy, Kingsley Shacklebolt, said.

"Point is," Sirius said. "when the hat takes longer it talks to you, so what did he say? What houses?"

He turned the attention back to Peter Pettigrew. The boy in question shrunk back as all the first year Gryffindors (and a few older students) turned their attention back to him.

"Well…. he was just talking through different traits I had and what houses they would go to..." he started stuttering out. He cast his eyes about as if looking for an escape from the attention.

"What houses?" Another boy, Davey Gudgeon, insisted again.

Only four students noticed Peter grow continuously uncomfortable, Jane Potter, Alice Fortescue, Lily Evans, and Remus Lupin. The three girls who sat close to each other exchanged glances, wondering what they should do. Remus, however, without thinking or hesitating, interjected.

"If he doesn't want to say anything he doesn't have to." Remus said from the end of the table. All eyes turned to him shocked that he had spoken up at all as he had been quiet the whole evening. "The hat talks in your mind so no one else can hear for a reason."

Remus looked up to see everybody now staring at him. Oh no, he thought. They all hate me and that's without them knowing I'm a werewolf. He shouldn't have said anything at all. But he understood wanting to keep it private. He certainly would if it were him. And it made him feel a little better when Peter Pettigrew gave him a grateful smile.

"He's right," Lily spoke up in agreement. Remus snapped up to look at her. "It's personal after all."

"Of course he is!" James said. Slamming his hands down and those around him jumped and looked at him. "That's already the second time he's been right since we got here. He's probably right about everything."

"Well ..no.. I'm not…I just..." Remus stammered and flushed in embarrassment. But both Lily and James offered him soft reassuring smiles.

"I'm just curious why it takes so long to short some people but barely even touches other people's heads." Jane wondered out loud. "It's clearly capable of searching people's minds and sorting them very quickly."

"Right like how I got sorted here faster than you" James said to Jane. Then he proudly puffed out his chest. "Probably just means I'm more of a true Gryffindor than you are."

"Or it just means you're one dimensional," Jane fired back at him. The students around them erupted into laughter.

"Wow, Potter," Sirius said looking at Jane, "Didn't know you had it in you."

Jane smiled at him but didn't get the chance to respond as a head popped in front of them through the food. Lily Evans and Mary Macdonald shrieked in surprise.

"Is that a ghost?" Mary exclaimed.

"Why yes. I am the Gryffindor house ghost." The head said. "My name is sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington."

"My dad told me about you!" James exclaimed. "You're nearly Headless Nick!"

"How can you be Nearly Headless?" Alice Fortescue asked.

Nearly Headless Nick looked somewhat offended by James's statement. But in answer Alice's question he merely popped his head to the side and hung off by a small sliver of his neck.

"Charming," Jane choked in disgust. The ghost floated away seemingly offended by the first year's reactions.

Eventually the feast came to an end. After the food disappeared the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, stood to give a few words.

"To our first years, Welcome to Hogwarts! To everyone else Welcome back! A few start of term announcements. First I'd like to introduce you to our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: Theseus Scamander."

"No way!" James whispered. "He's the famous retired auror. Fought against Grindelwald."

"As well as our new school matron, Madam Poppy Pomfrey. This year there has also been a new addition to our grounds. A whomping willow has been added and we strongly advise students to stay clear from it unless you would like a quick and painful way to meet our new Matron. Also, a reminder that the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden. And finally, as I can see you are all tired, I do believe that it is time for bed."

Students began clambering over each other. An older boy and girl with prefect badges called the first years over. They introduced themselves as Thea Westenberg and Sturgis Podmore. The first years followed them up seven flights of moving stairs up until they reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room which happened to be the portrait of a Fat Lady.

"To get into the common room the password is Carpe Diem," Sturgis Podmore instructed.

"Seize the day," Sirius and Jane muttered the translation at the same time. They looked at each other and grinned. They were quite surprised to find another eleven year old who understood Latin. Although, Carpe Diem was still a common and popular phrase.

After they entered the common room, the boys followed Sturgis Podmore up another flight of stairs, while the girls followed Thea Westenberg. When they reached the top there were two doors across from each other.

"There are two first year boy dormitories as there are nine of you." Podmore explained. "Dave Gudgeon, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Marcus Vane, Constantine Denshaw, and Frank Longbottom you'll take the room on the left. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter to the room on the right."

James, Sirius, and Peter collectively moved into their dorm. They found that their trunks and things had already been moved up. It was a round circular type of room with 4 four poster beds that had curtains to be used for privacy. James immediately rushed to one of the beds in the center of the room that was opposite of the door and threw himself on it. Sirius took the bed next to it. Which left the two beds by the door for Peter and Remus. Peter quickly pulled his trunk to the room to the bed on the left of the door next to James. James sat up and looked around at his new dorm mates.

"Oi!" He exclaimed loudly causing Peter and Sirius to look at him. "What happened to that Lupin bloke? The one that's always right?"

"Quite the expectation you've already given, Potter." Sirius said. But he shrugged as an answer to his question. He didn't know where that other boy went either.

An: I ended up writing the sorting hat song my self. Disclaimer I am not a poet so if it's awful I'm sorry and if you know of anyone who has a better that would let me replace it with I most certainly will do that and of course credit the person.

I also apologize for the long wait. Midterms you know.