Chapter 7 - Sorting

McGonagall walked up to the hat, her emerald green cloak trailing gracefully behind her, then, unexpectedly, the rip opened up dramatically, then, to all the first years surprise, it unexpectedly burst into song:

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

The school burst into applause, even the shocked first years, and McGonagall took her place next to the hat.

"When I call out your name, you will sit on the stool and put on the hat and you shall be sorted"

She unrolled a long scroll of parchment and began reading names.

"Aubrey, Bertram" McGonagall called out and looked around for the boy who nervously stepped forward, obviously not keen to be first. He walked forward and sat slowly on the stool, McGonagall placed the hat on his head and after a moment it cried out:

"RAVENCLAW!"

Bertram Aubrey made his way, a little unsurely, towards the table with the loudest applause and the sea of students wearing blue-lined cloaks. McGonagall unrolled her list again and called out more names then Remus heard Sirius' name called out.

"Black, Sirius"

He gave James a thumbs up and walked towards the stool. Even though he seemed confident, Remus detected a flicker of anxiety as the hat was placed on his head… then….

"GRYFFINDOR"

This time most of the applause came from the table with scarlet-lined cloaks. Looked quite surprised, he joined the Gryffindor table, Remus watched his eyes dart towards the Slytherin table where an angry pair of eyes watched him soaking up the glory of being the first Gryffindor in his family. The boy who was glaring at him had a shiny prefect badge pressed upon his robe and had clearly been waiting for another Black to enter Slytherin house.

Remus watched each student get sorted anxiously anticipating his turn to be called up. Lily Evans was also sorted into Gryffindor, to Snape's disgust, she gave him a sort of sad smiled as she passed him on his way to the Gryffindor table. The alphabet continued after Lily. It passed quickly onto L when…

"Lupin, Remus"

On his way to the stool, he felt every pair of eyes hit his back, he noticed Dumbledore give an encouraging smile as McGonagall lifted the hat above his head.

"Hogwarts' first werewolf eh?"

Remus jumped. The voice sounded just like the Sorting Hat's… except it was in his head, almost like he was making it up, like he did when he was younger whilst playing games with himself.

"All my years here and I've never met a werewolf…" He trailed off but shook himself, as if to tell himself of for not doing his job.

"Well. A very ready mind, eager to learn and quick witted and quiet… but the courage of a lion and plenty of nerve yet you have a desire to make friends but automatically assume they would desert them if they knew what you were…"

This was exactly what he thought. The hat had to be reading his mind, but also his personality traits.

" Yes you have got a ready mind. This is a hard decision, Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, you belong in both really. Hmm… where shall I put you? Your bravery stands out most. Better be…"

"GRYFFINDOR"

Remus smiled and sat next to Sirius Black as the Gryffindors applauded wildly and patted him on the back like every other new student. The rest of the students' sorting passed with a blur, but in the end Peter Pettigrew and James Potter joined Remus, Sirius and Lily at the Gryffindor table. Snape joined the Slytherin table and was greeted warmly by the blonde-haired prefect. Remus noticed him glare across the tables in Lily's direction as she began talking to Remus. Probably jealous that she's socialising with someone other than him, he thought.

"Let the feast begin!" Dumbledore cried and the winking silver dishes immediately filled with food, it was enough to feed a large town.

Remus thought of his parents as he began eating. He had to write to tell them how its been, the people he's met and what house he's been sorted in. Remus smiled, forgetting about the full moon and engaged conversation with James and Sirius. He already hoped they might become his friends, if they accepted him of course, but he and Lily already seemed to like the same things and have the same eagerness to learn which caused them to become friends almost as quick as Sirius and James began liking him.

Author's note ~ Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed this chapter and before you say anything, my talents are hardly song writing and poetry so I just used the first sorting hat song! Review if so far you would have portrayed Remus' character differently and tell me what house you're in. Thanks, I hope you like this story and I will keep writing