King Cross Station, 1st September 1971, 10:30 a.m.

9 platform of king cross station was packed with wizards and witches. Some going to start a new year, some entering their final, some returning back to Hogwarts for some more years and chattering excitedly with their friends. Every student was there anxiously waiting to board the Hogwarts express.

A boy with untidy, jet-black hair and glasses that framed his hazel eyes hurried through the crowd of witches and wizards on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. As he entered the train's corridor he discovered that being late put him in something of a dilemma. Almost all of the compartments were completely full, or else held some rather mean looking dwellers. He was unsure what to do when he saw someone and his eyes lit up.

"Marls!" James gave a wave to the blonde girl who waved at him shouting, "Jamie, come here I have saved a seat for you." James Potter entered inside the compartment with his childhood friend Marlene McKinnon. James noticed there was a black-haired boy who was leafing lazily through a book.

"Mind if I sit here?" James asked. The boy shook his head and James gratefully took the seat across from him, next to the still sleeping boy. "I'm James Potter." "Sirius Black," the boy replied, placing his book into his pocket.

"Black? I think I've heard of that name before."

"No… no, you probably haven't." James looked at Sirius curiously, but said nothing.

"So Jamie, excited for the first year?" Marlene asked excitedly

"Hell, excited. I have always wanted to be near kids my age and have fun. It's not always good to be the youngest in the family and I am an only child, the youngest cousin by many years… I need to be near people my own age." James frowned.

"Hey! We're of same age and childhood friends." Marlene protested

"But you're so boring, Marls! No offence but you always go on like those old members of our family."

A sandy-haired, green-eyed boy of eleven bid bye to his parents. Remus had always found it a little difficult coming upon strangers, especially when there were so many of them, which was why he searched for a compartment with fewer people inside. Being a werewolf was not easy, he would be forever grateful to Dumbledore for going through a lot of trouble for him and allowing him to study at a prestigious institution such as Hogwarts.

He slowly looked at the compartment and looked at two boys and a girl sitting there. He slid the compartment door and the three occupants looked at him.

"Erm… hi," Remus said awkwardly. "Mind?"

"Not at all," the boy with the untidy hair said, gesturing to the seat across from him. "I'm James Potter." "I'm Remus Lupin," he said. "Sirius Black," the boy beside him said. "Marlene McKinnon." Marlene replied haughtily and James couldn't help but rolled his eyes.

Other Compartment

The compartment door slid open and a red-haired girl with the most astonishingly green eyes that the brunette had ever seen peered in.

"Are you a first-year?" she asked. The brunette nodded. "Is there anyone else sitting in here?" She shook her head. "Good", the girl said firmly, entering the small room. "C'mon, Sev."

A thin, sallow boy with rounded shoulders came in after her. He gave the brunette a nervous, appraising glance before sitting down. Like the other girl, he was already wearing his school robes. The red-haired girl on the other hand had on a green paisley dress chattering about how she was excited to get to Hogwarts and how she had read the 'Hogwarts : A History'.

'Must be a muggle-born', thought the brunette girl.

The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station and a voice sounded above, instructing the students to exit the train and leave their belongings behind. The kids of both the compartments joined the other students filing into the corridor. They jumped out onto the platform and immediately heard a booming voice shouting over the crowd.

"Firs' years! Firs' years, this way!" Sirius looked around to find the source of the voice, and did not have to wait long to discover it. Remus tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to a large man with a bushy beard and beetle black eyes. He was holding a lantern above his head, illuminating a pathway for the first years to take. The boys and Marlene looked at each other excitedly; it seemed as if they were headed in a different direction from the older students. James, Sirius and Marlene knew several things about Hogwarts, but one thing each of their parents had refused to tell them was how they got to the castle. While Lily Severus and Alice were chattering quietly and informing Lily about the Wizarding world as much as they could.

The large man led the way up a path and they soon found themselves standing in front of a number of boats docked at the shore of a lake. It looked as if they would be sailing to Hogwarts. The man turned to them and smiled.

"Ye' all gets yer firs' sight o' 'ogwart's in a sec. No more 'n 'our in 'he boa'." The giant called over from his shoulder. "Everyone in? Right then….. FORWARD", The giant shouted. And the boats started moving themselves without a paddle. The four kids sat together and started discussing what they will do and which house they would like to go. James was excited to start the exploration of the world whereas Sirius was glad that he would be now stay away from his so called parents and their blood-supremacist view. Remus was afraid and didn't wanted his new friends to discover what he was, for them to hate him. Marlene, on the other hand, wanted to make her parents proud, she knew her parents had high hopes from her and being the only daughter in two decades, every single member of her family would want her to make the McKinnon family proud.

Lily Evans even being Severus Snape's best friend, didn't wanted to go to Slytherin. From what she understood the way Hogwarts houses ran from Alice Fortescue, it was different from the books and she for the first time get to know the books aren't always right. Though she didn't wanted to be in Gryffindor either as it may create hinder between her and Severus friendship. They sat on the boat with another girl named, Dorcas Meadows.

Severus, on the other hand, decided that no matter what happens he will stick to Lily and won't force her to do as he wants. Talking with Alice had taken his views to a different direction. Forcing Lily to sort into Slytherin was definitely not a good idea, he realized. He was grateful that Alice pointed out about how he would be putting Lily in a continuous danger by sorting her in a house where those snakes will likely harm her due to her muggle-born status and thus, he decided that he will go to the house in which Lily will, even if he doesn't have to like it.

And soon they were greeted by the mesmerizing sight of the school. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, it's windows sparkling in the starry night, was a vast castle. The little boats carried them along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of under-ground harbour, where they climbed out onto the rocks, following the giant.

The door opened at once, when the students reached there. An old woman entered wearing emerald green robes and glasses, looking at the children with her stern eyes and thinned lips.

"'e firs' years, Professor McGonagall." The giant said. "Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here." Professor McGonagall replied

"She's the Transfiguration Professor and Gryffindor's Head of house. She's a very strict professor." Marlene muttered to the boys.

Once Hagrid had disappeared, Professor McGonagall returned her gaze to the new students before them. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. "In a few moments you will head into the Great Hall where you will join your classmates for the Sorting Ceremony. You will be Sorted into one of the four houses – Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts your house will be your family. Your achievements will gain you points, while any rule breaking will lose you points. I will return when they are ready for you, I suggest you prepare yourselves before I get back." Professor McGonagall swept by and disappeared in the same direction Hagrid had gone in.

"All we do is try on a hat, right?" Remus asked appearing quite frightened. "That's what my dad told me," James said, suddenly sounding unsure if the information had been correct. "Well, my parents and brothers told me the same thing," Marlene said, Sirius nodding in agreement. "I hope I don't end up in Slytherin," James said. "I would jump back onto the train and go home." Sirius grimaced. "I'd be treated like a king if that happened."

"What d'you mean?" Remus asked curiously. "The blacks had been sorted into Slytherin since 300 years, every single one of them." Marlene replied before Sirius could.

"But you don't want to be in that house, do you?" James asked horrified. "Merlin, no." Sirius shook his head. "My dad's side has always been in Ravenclaw," Remus looked slightly uncomfortable. "So it wouldn't be bad being in that house." "Ravenclaw's a great house," James agreed, nodding.

"Even I am thinking to go to Ravenclaw," Sirius paused "Will…. Will we still be friends, if I am sorted in Ravenclaw?" "You bet, mate." James grinned. Remus was relieved that he was going to have real friends now. Marlene nodded with enthusiasm.

"Follow me," said the sharp voice of Professor McGonagall as she reappeared behind the first years. "They are ready for you now." The first years trailed behind Professor McGonagall, a feeling of dreading falling upon them. Professor McGonagall led them through enormous double doors and into the dining hall where the rest of the school had assembled. The ceiling above did not appear to be a ceiling at all; it looked as if the room simply opened up to the skies. The clear, starry night was reflected in the ceiling which, as Marlene had mentioned to the boys, was enchanted to look like the sky.

At the head of the hall was the Staff Table. Sitting at the very centre of the table was a man with a long silver bead and silver half-moon spectacles. He was wearing a set of purple robes and was busy surveying the hall, his eyes falling on the first years. Professor McGonagall led them to the hat and she pulled out a long scroll and unfurled it.

"When I call your name, you will come and try on the Sorting Hat," she explained. "Once you have been Sorted you will take your seat with your new house mates." She looked at the scroll. "Aubrey, Bertram!"

A girl with blonde plaited hair jumped in her spot and scurried up to the stool. Hat on head, she waited rather impatiently and nervously for it to shout out her new house.

"Ravenclaw!" the Sorting Hat proclaimed. She smiled and hopped towards the eagles.

"Avery, Thomas!"

"Slytherin!"

"Black, Sirius!" Professor McGonagall called.

Sirius groaned in his place, muttering that he hated having a surname that started with a B. Still, he walked confidently to the stool just as his parents taught him and sat down. Once the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, he was shocked to hear a voice speaking in his ear.

"Hmm," the Hat was saying curiously. "You're not like the many other Blacks that I've Sorted. Don't you want to join them in Slytherin?" "No," Sirius thought furiously. "Please Ravenclaw." Sirius continued chanting. "Well, you are different, aren't you? If you don't want to be in Slytherin then surely you will be in RAVENCLAW!"

Sirius sighed in relief. He turned and hurried to the eagles that was cheering for him, though it was a stunned cheer. Obviously several of them had heard that Blacks always ended up in Slytherin. Sirius was determined to prove that theory wrong. Seated comfortably amongst the Ravenclaws, he looked towards a blonde sitting on the table of snakes looking shocked but then glanced approvingly towards him. Sirius then, returned his gaze to the Sorting Ceremony. There were several Ravenclaws in the group of first years, if the family history his parents taught him was right; maybe Remus would end up with him like his father had.

"Carter, Richard!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The house of lions roared with applause for the first Gryffindor this year.

"Evans, Lily!" Professor McGonagall called.

A girl with auburn hair and bright green eyes walked timidly up to the Sorting Hat and sat down. She was sitting for a few minutes before she was declared a Gryffindor. They were the only two Gryffindor first years at the moment. Severus made a face after Lily's sorting but clapped.

"Fortescue, Alice!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The lions roared in applause for three new continuous members.

"Jorkins, Bertha!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Lupin, Remus!"

Remus swallowed hard and walked forward, trying to ignore the fact that some of the staff members were eyeing him as if he was something they had never seen before. They all knew the nature of his condition, did this meant that they had to stare at him like he was a time bomb about to explode? Remus gritted his teeth.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus hadn't realised how long he had been sitting in that stool; the students seemed surprised when the Sorting Hat finally placed him. He took the seat beside Alice, who clapped and said that that was probably record timing for a Sorting. Remus didn't know whether to be pleased or scared by this statement, so he just smiled and nodded.

"Macdonald, Mary!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Max, Florence!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"McKinnon, Marlene!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Marlene grinned and smiled at her brothers sitting on the Gryffindor table.

"Meadows, Dorcas!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Mulciber, Hephaestus!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Pettigrew, Peter!" Professor McGonagall said.

The Sorting Hat began making its decision. "An interesting candidate, too many of you today. You have a will to prove yourself to others, that's some Slytherin in you."

"You must be in SLYTHERIN!" Peter's face fell instantly and he went silently to the snake pit.

"Potter, James!" James walked up to the Sorting Hat with a bit of a swagger; he knew where he wanted to be. The hat shouted within a few seconds

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Once again the Gryffindor table erupted into applause as James took the seat beside Remus. The Sorting Ceremony began to round off as the remainders of the students were Sorted.

"Snape, Severus"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Severus pleased with the fact he will be there with his first friend, and walked towards the Gryffindor table.

"Talkalot, Lucinda!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

The Sorting ended with "Zabini, Abrac," becoming a Ravenclaw.

Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat and the stool away. The students fixed their attention now upon Headmaster Dumbledore, who had stood in his place. "To all those new, welcome!" he said, his eyes falling on some of the first years. "To all those old, welcome back! I ask you now to please enjoy the feast!" The golden platters on the tables suddenly filled with food and the students, began eating. "Remus, I thought you were never going to be sorted," James said as he piled roast potatoes onto his place. Remus grinned nervously, and kept his eyes on his plate. "Well… I don't know, I guess I was just a hard person to place."

James really wanted to play on the Gryffindor team, but Remus made a point to mention that first years never made the team, no matter how good they were. "Then next year," James said confidently. "Why! First years!" came an unexpected voice from below. James, Remus and Severus turned to see a pearly, translucent head was coming out of it. The figure came fully out of the table and surveyed the students around him. Some of the older students waved merrily at the ghost, while others continued eating, as if this was an every day happening, which, in their case, it probably was.

"Welcome to Gryffindor!" the ghost said cheerfully, holding out a hand to Remus, presumably for him to shake. "Um…" Remus said slowly, did the ghost expect him to shake his hand? "Oh, I'm sorry!" the ghost said apologetically. "Wait," James muttered, realisation dawning. "You're Nearly Headless Nick?" Sir Nicholas scoffed irritably and pulled at the scruff of his collar. "Nearly headless?" Lily Evans asked curiously, even the other first years also appeared to be curious. "I don't pride myself on being nearly headless, thank you very much," he told her tersely. "It's Sir Nicholas and that is how I wish to be addressed. "Remus looked around and saw several other ghosts floating around the hall. There was one he noticed in particular, the ghost was seated at the Slytherin table and appeared to be covered in silver blood. "Why he's covered in blood?" Remus asked to no one in particular.

"That's the Bloody Barron, he's the Slytherin ghost. No one, knows it except him and the Grey Lady." Marlene informed him.

The students then went to their respective rooms, while James, Remus and Sirius promising each other to be friends.