Chapter 6 – The Great Hall
"I told you to leave him alone!" The red-haired girl shouted furiously as she attempted to pull the other boy out the lake.
"Well Snivelly needed a hair wash!" Laughed the taller boy with long-ish hair, after that remark they both burst out laughing again.
"Nice one, Sirius!" the other replied between fits of laughter.
By the time the huge bearded man had pulled the boy out of the lake he was panting and breathing heavily, thoroughly soaked in the murky-green lake water. The huddle of first years had moved closer so Remus could see the boys faces. The boy who was thrown in the lake had a large hooked nose and stringy black hair, his eyes just as dark. While the other two boys were sniggering, he noticed one of them he had met in Diagon Ally- James, and the other was apparently called Sirius had long dark hair and blue-grey eyes. The girl had bright green eyes and flaming red hair, by her expression he could tell she was still fuming.
"Settle down, boys," The giant said gruffly, then turning to the boy with the hooked nose, "Are yeh alright? Lucky you weren't caught by the Grindylows or mermaids!" The boy glared at him before getting out his sopping wand at aiming it at James, then Sirius, he continued to do that indecisively until the giant spoke.
"Now, now Snape. Yeh don't want to be in detention before you even get to the castle!" The boy gaped at him; his expression showed he clearly thought this was unbelievably unfair. The giant ignored this and began speaking again.
" 'Ello firs' years, I am Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. So, everyone hop in a boat no more'n four in one, mind yer step there McLaggen" Everyone began filing in, Hagrid had a boat to himself. Remus looked around for any boats to sit in it was only him and the boy named Peter Pettigrew left on land. The only boat left was the boat containing Sirius and James, which everyone had clearly avoided. Peter followed Remus onto the boat, careful not to slip into the gloomy lake which seemed to glisten eerily in the moonlight. Hogwarts looked impressive and despite the fact it loomed in a haunting way above the lake, it didn't look sinister or ominous.
"Everyone on board? Let's get going! FORWARD" he shouted as the boats moved as if pulled by an invisible rope.
"Hi!" James said cheerfully, "I'm James and this is my mate Sirius. What's your names? - Hang on, I met you at Madam Malkin's, remember?"
"Yes," Remus replied "I'm Remus and this is Peter" he signalled to Peter who was whimpering, obviously anxious he was going to be thrown in the lake too. Sirius picked up on that and reassured him.
"Its okay Peter, we only chuck idiots like Snivellus into the lake, I was hoping the giant squid would get him!" He and James laughed and Peter gave a small, nervous laugh. Remus gazed admiringly at the castle, James followed his gaze.
"I wonder how the other years get there" he nodded in the direction of Hogwarts.
"By thestral-drawn carriages." Remus replied a little to quickly. James and Sirius nodded, Peter whimpered again.
The cliff drew nearer, and Hogwarts looked bigger and grander then ever.
"HEADS DOWN" Hagrid shouted as they began to glide through a curtain of ivy and into a dark tunnel in the cliff, eventually the reached a sort of underground boathouse where everyone scrambled of the boats in a rush. Hagrid checked the boats before leading the student up a staircase which seemed to go on forever. By the time Remus had reached the large oak doors, his feet ached painfully. Hagrid took out his ginormous hand and knocked three times on the doors, they waited a moment before it swung open, they were greeted with a stern-faced witch wearing green robes, her black hair pulled tightly in a bun.
" 'Ere are the firs' years, Professor McGonagall. I'm 'fraid this one has been thrown in the lake by these boys," said Hagrid, throwing a huge hand behind him in the vague direction of Sirius and James.
"Thank you, Hagrid. Boys, I don't know what made you think it was acceptable to feed a fellow first year to the lake but seeing as you haven't even been sorted I will forget about it for now." And with an elegant flick of her wand, Snape, who had just shot a deadly glare at James and Sirius, was dry again. The first years all gasped and stared in wonder at Snape who was becoming increasingly angry.
The entrance hall seemed to be as big as a house, with grand flaming torches and moving portraits displayed on the walls. She led them up a marble staircase and through a stone hallway, pass a door which seemed to contain the rest of the Hogwarts students by the volume of their excited chattering. McGonagall led them to a room before stopping abruptly and turning towards them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" She began to the huddle of first years. "The start of term feast shall begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting ceremony is very important, because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family at Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. "The houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its noble history each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points."
Sirius and James grinned and exchanged glances; McGonagall eyed them suspiciously before continuing.
"At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. "The Sorting Ceremony will take place soon, I will collect you when it does so while you wait I suggest smartening yourselves up a bit."
Her eyes wondered meaningfully from McLaggens' untucked shirt to James' black untidy hair, standing up as if he had just been electrified. James purposely ruffled his hair as McGonagall left the room. Nervously, Remus tucked in his shirt several times and re-tied his shoelaces.
"I wonder how we get sorted into our houses" Said James, even he sounded a little anxious.
"I dunno" Sirius replied "Do you Remus? You seem to know lots about Hogwarts."
Remus started but said, "I don't know either."
Peter seemed to be shaking. "I-I heard w-we h-h-have to fight a m-mountain troll" he squeaked, terrified.
"I heard its some sort of test or exam" said a boy next to Peter, who Remus heard his name was Frank.
Oh no, Remus thought, going paler than usual, it's going to be an exam I haven't revised for. What if they throw me out of Hogwarts for knowing nothing? Peter seemed to be thinking along those lines too as he squealed.
"Maybe its fighting a dragon" said James dramatically, startling the group of frightened girls next to him. The boys laughed.
"It's not likely" said Remus quietly, thinking maybe a test is better than fighting a dragon.
"I overheard Snape telling Evans, you have to put a singing hat on your head, and it talks to you and says what house you are in!" Exclaimed Sirius and they all laughed.
Suddenly, McGonagall burst in, "Hurry, we'll be late for the sorting. Everyone line up, single file. Tuck in your shirt McLaggen. Longbottom your shoelaces are undone."
They all followed McGonagall into the Great Hall. It looked like there was no ceiling, but he had already read in Hogwarts: A History it was bewitched to look like the night sky. There were thousands of beautiful floating candles that lit up the room above them. Along the hall was four long tables, students already seated. The first years gasped and stared up at the ceiling and around the room as they followed McGonagall across the hall. At the end of the hall was a table filled with teachers and in the centre was a magnificent gold chair with an old man with a long white beard whom Remus realised was Dumbledore. For a moment he was tempted to wave to him but quickly decided against it as people would ask questions like how he knew Dumbledore.
"First years follow me" McGonagall called out again, focusing everyone's lingering attention.
At the end on the gap in the tables was an old ragged brown hat with ripped edges and fraying sides. Maybe Snape was right, he thought suddenly, maybe he didn't have to take an exam or deal with a mountain troll after all.
Author's note ~ Thanks for reading, comment if I could improve anything and Happy Eater