Disclaimer: Look in all the other chapters, don't feel like putting it.
Authors note: Thank you to the people who have reviewed, Lily Potter and Firithfalathriel. Also, thanks to Sami & Aurora for editing. Please R&R!
CHAPTER FOUR- For the Love of Food
The hat was having a conversation with Sirius. I've heard about you before, you know. You're supposed to be a great wizard.
Please hurry, thought Sirius. I don't want to be sitting here forever. He shifted on the stool.
The voice of the hat chuckled. Well, it's definitely NOT HUFFLEPUFF!!! The hat shouted the last two words. Odd, it thought. I've never said what someone wasn't before.
Are you done yet? Asked Sirius. Really, I'm interested in what you think of me and all, but I'd much rather not be sitting here.
NOT RAVENCLAW!!! The hat announced loudly, again. Why am I saying this out loud? What are you doing to me, Black?
I don't know! Sirius felt like shouting. Please, he begged, decide so I can go eat!
The hat sighed. How about Slytherin?
Which table is that?
The far left.
Sirius lifted the hat a bit, and peeked out to look at the table. Everyone appeared be enormously huge, and they didn't look like they would appreciate any of his jokes.
No, he decided. Definitely not.
NOT SLYTHERIN!!! cried the hat. Well, that only leaves one house left. Any objections? the hat asked sarcastically.
No, can I go now?
whooped the hat, and Sirius took it off. He calmly walked to the Gryffindor table, where there were a few scattered applause. Everyone else in the hall was curiously staring at Sirius.
he said. Have I got a piece of something on me? He checked his arm for fuzzies as he sat next to a pretty second year. His words seemed to break everyone out the trance, and Professor McGonagall continued with the sorting.
Bone, Patricia! After a few seconds, she was made a Slytherin.
Donnahue, Martin! He nervously walked to the stool, and attempted to miss. He was about a foot of his mark, however, and landed with a crash on the floor. A few seconds later, the very red boy was made a Hufflepuff.
Evans, Lily! The red head that was behind Sirius casually walked to the stool, sat, and put on the hat. The deliberation took longer than the previous two, but not nearly as long as Sirius'.
the hat proclaimed. Lily set the hat back on the stool, and sat in the seat next to Sirius.
You took an awful long time, she said.
Sirius scowled. Not my fault. The stupid thing kept talking to me.
I suppose. It didn't say to much about me, just said I was brave, and called Gryffindor.
Well, don't you feel lucky, Sirius turned the other way in his chair.
Don't get all mad at me. I'm not the one who goes around talking to hats!
Sirius grudgingly smiled, and turned back to Lily. I guess not, he said, and they both laughed. Suddenly, Sirius hushed her. He pointed to the stool, where Remus was now sitting.
After a couple seconds consideration, Remus was declared a Gryffindor. Smiling, he sat across from Sirius, and the sorting continued.
McKinnon, Madrigal! A pretty brown haired girl who had been whispering with Lily approached the stool. Moments later, she was the newest Ravenclaw.
Lily sighed, obviously disappointed. She gave Madrigal a small wave, and looked down at her plate.
What's wrong? Sirius asked.
Well, Madrigal is my best, and first, witch friend. I guess I'm just a little disappointed, that's all, she answered.
You're muggle-born? Remus asked, joining the conversation.
Lily looked up. Yea, so? she said dangerously, her green eyes glinting.
Oh, no, it's nothing bad! assured Remus. I've just never met one, he explained.
said Lily.
A plump, brown haired boy abruptly sat in the seat next to Remus. he said cordialy. I'm Peter Pettigrew.
said Lily. Both Sirius and Remus both greeted him, but became silent as they saw James approach the stool with shuffling feet. He appeared to be crossing his fingers. The hat had barely touched his head when it called-
James let out a deep breath of relief, and took the seat next to Lily. Hey guys, he greeted his friends, and introductions flew around the table. Nobody noticed as Snape, Severus! was made a Slytherin.
~*~*~
The next day, Remus was the first to awake in his first year boys dormitory. He yawned, stretched, and pulled back his dark scarlet curtains that were around his bed to let the sunlight stream in. He picked up James' glasses, and threw them at him to wake him up. He then grabbed his clothes and went to shower.
At seven thirty, Remus, James, Peter and two other first year boys, Noah Figg and Vinson Magorian, were dressed and ready. Sirius was still burrowed underneath his covers, in his bed on the far left side of the circular dormitory. As the five boys were trooping out of the portrait hole, the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, James remembered Sirius. He turned back to run and get him. Remus was going to follow, but James hurriedly called for him to go to breakfast.
You need it, he had yelled. You've been looking off color lately! So, Remus trailed after the other three boys, who were excitedly chatting about quidditch.
James said, trying to wake the slumbering boy. When his quiet calling didn't work, James ducked in very close to Sirius' ear. he shouted. Sirius sat straight up, hitting James in the face.
James cried in pain, rubbing the spot. Sirius was also tenderly touching his head. What'd you do that for?
You were the one who yelled in my ear! Sirius looked indignant. What'd you do that for!
James smiled, seeing the humor in the situation. Never mind, he said. You do know you're late for breakfast?
Sirius immediately jumped into action. He threw off the covers and put on his black Hogwarts robe. James looked for his socks as Sirius located his shirt underneath Noah's bed. Sirius quickly ran a brush through his hair, and James found his wand in a unopened box of chocolate frogs. Looking at is disbeleivingly, he gave it to Sirius.
Sirius said, and he practically flew out of the room. Tripping down the stairs, he made such a racket that a few other late Gryffindors stuck their heads out of their rooms to the what the commotion was. Sirius still didn't slow down, and James trailed after him, trying to keep up.
By the time the pair reached the table, James had a stitch in his side. As he was holding his stomach and gasping for breath, Sirius pulled out a chair next to Noah who had just sat down. He inhaled deeply, smelling the assortment of muffins, pancakes, porridge, eggs and sausage. James took a seat next to him, and watched in amazement as Sirius piled his plate with at least one of everything. The only thing he did not take a helping of were the peppermint humbugs, which oddly enough were being served.
James was a little more selective and just took a couple of sausages and a bowl of porridge. He was pouring on the brown sugar when the owls suddenly came bursting into the Great Hall. He was so startled that he poured the whole cup of sugar into his bowl, and Peter had fallen out of his chair. Lily, farther down at the table, watched in amazement as the owls dropped off their packages to the receiving students.
Sirius was still completely absorbed in his food, trying to eat more than what must have been humanly possible. He didn't look up until two letters drifted down in front of him. He took the last forkful of his eggs, and then picked up the letters. As he opened them, he groaned.
What's wrong? Peter asked, now in his chair again. I haven't even gotten any mail, what are you complaining about?
Sirius answered thickly, as his mouth was still full of scrambled eggs, I've got a letter from me Da. It's two pieces of parchment long, can you believe that! I don't even know why he sends it, I don't understand a bloody word he says. Sirius scowled, and stuffed the lengthy letter in his bag. But there's one from Mum, too. He set down his fork and began to read-
Dear Sirius,
I can't beleive my baby has grown up! What house are you in? write back immediately, I must know! Who else is in your year? Look out for a boy named Noah Figg, his father is in Orion's division.
Your father also sent a letter, which I'm not entirely sure you'll be able to read. Not only is his handwriting heiroglyphics, he writes in riddles (almost). So, I am going to rewrite it for you:
There is a very dangerous man, out there somewhere. He has been responsible for several deaths, himself and his band of Death Eaters. He is responsible for the Claremonts, the wizarding family in London, deaths. Or, should I say murders. His named is Voldemort, and he has instilled fear in many people. He has a vendetta against Muggle-borns and Muggle-sympathizers.
Some of his death eater's children attend Hogwarts. Please, Sirius honey, I beg you, don't make friends of the wrong sort!
Also, don't use any of your specialized dunbombs. Yes, I do know about those.
I send all my love and more,
Mum
Ps- You haven't gotten into trouble yet, have you?
The serious tone of the letter must have had some effect on Sirius' appetite, because he pushed the plate of food away. Professor McGonagall came around handing out schedules, and he heard Vinnie remark on them.
Can you believe it? he said, annoyed. We have double herbology with those Slytherin gits!
Are they really that bad? Peter asked doubtfully. My father says it's all overrated, and the inter-house competition is out of control amd pointless.
Remus, James, Sirius and Vinson looked at Peter in disbelief. Sirius said, shaking his head, Really, have you been a flobberworm living underneath a rock?
Laughing, the boys of Gryffindor set out for their first class of their school career.
I can't believe how horrible it was! cried James after Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor MacDermitt absolutely hated us!
Remus nodded in agreement and started to say something, but we beat to it by Sirius. He's the worst, the bloody git! He took off five points, just because Vinnie didn't know the unforgiveables!
I didn't know them either, James said.
Well, he could have asked me! Sirius' voice became high pitched, mimicking his teacher. Black, put your hand down! I didn't call on you!' His voice returned to normal. And then, when I answered the question, he said, his voice was once again higher, That's enough! Five points from Gryffindor! He spoke in his ordinary voice. What a horrible teacher!
Remus curiously looked at Sirius. How did you know the unforgiveables, anyway? They're not in our course books for this year, that's not until almost sixth!
My Da works in the ministry, he's an auror. Bloody awful job, if I do say so myself. Sirius said, dropping his bag onto his bed. And I do.
As the trio left the dormitory and walked into the common room, the two girls by the fire, Julianna Levey and Narcissa LaBrie giggled loudly.
What's so funny? Sirius asked crossly.
said Alicia, giggling and staring at Sirius.
Yeah, whatever you say, he replied irritably. He turned to Remus and James who were laughing underneath their breath, too. What's so funny with you two?!
James' laughter escaped, and he guffawed loudly. Remus, who was slightly more controlled, pointed to the two girls. When Sirius turned around, they were still staring transfixedly at him.
For the love of Merlin! Sirius threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. He then grabbed his two friends' hands and pulled them out of Gryffindor Tower to his favorite subject- Lunch.
To be continued...