Disclaimer: I own nothing! This is but for the amusement of others and myself!
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The boys, now clad in their school robes, stumbled off the train sleepily. It was dark outside, and they were feeling rather lost when someone yelled for first years to follow him, in what was probably the biggest, deepest voice they had ever heard. They spun round to see who owned it, and were hardly surprised to be confronted with a huge shadow looming over them. It lifted a lantern up to it face, to reveal a friendly smile, almost totally hidden by an abundance of thick black hair and a bristling black beard and eyebrows.
"I'm Hagrid," he boomed kindly "follow me boys, 'tis tradition for the first years to go over the lake. Come on now!"
With that he turned and strode away, still calling all first years to him.
Remus stood, glued to the spot. He might have stayed there indefinitely, totally overawed, if James hadn't grabbed his sleeve and urged him to follow the others. Remus snapped out of his reverie, and had soon caught up with the others.
They were led down a narrow path trees on either side. Branches snagged at their robes and roots tripped them up, but the sight that greeted them was worth it. A great lake stretched out before them, and opposite, looming high above, was a great castle, dotted with yellow lights that were reflected in the black, bottomless waters of the lake.
The twenty or so students were loaded into rowing boats with no oars. Naturally Remus found himself with Peter, Sirius and James. Before they had time to comment on the fact that there were no oars, the boats began to move across the lake towards the castle. Remus soon relaxed enough to stretch out on his seat and stare at all the new sights. He glanced around at the other three boys, wondering what they were feeling. Pete was leaning forward on his seat, his hands folded neatly in his lap as he gazed placidly at the castle. Sirius was leaning back against the side, a tiny smile playing on his lips as stared into the distance, lost in thought. As Remus looked round at James, he saw the other boy was watching him. They both smiled and before turning away to view their surroundings again, but Remus couldn't help but wonder what he had been thinking.
When they reached the shore they followed Hagrid up another path to the castle. They stopped before a great wooden door studded with iron, and the big man swung his fist against it three times. The door creaked open, and they trouped through to find themselves in a spacious entrance hall flooded with soft yellow light. Hagrid was nowhere to be seen.
"I am Minerva McGonogall," said a neat female voice, belonging to a stiff young woman who had just entered the room, "I teach transfiguration here at Hogwarts. I will return shortly to lead you through to the great hall, where you will be sorted into your different houses. They are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Gryffindor. They are equally honourable as each other, and I trust there will be no aggressive discrimination. Please make yourselves presentable." With that she spun around and left the hall, long black robes swishing as she moved. Remus reflected that she could be quite pretty, if let herself.
He turned back to his new friends, who were righting their robes and smoothing their hair. He joined in the ministrations, wondering what would happen next.
"I wonder what houses we'll be in," said James quietly "I hope to God I'm not in Slytherin! They say that the nasty types go there. Gryffindor sounds the best really. Or Ravenclaw." He slung an arm around Peter's shoulders. The smaller boy looked pale and nervous. "Even Hufflepuff is good. They say that all the really nice people go there."
Pete smiled weakly. "Thanks James, that's probably where I'll be. Nice but stupid. That's me!" he was smiling, but rather desperately.
"Don't be ridiculous, Peter," said Sirius quickly, "Hufflepuffs aren't stupid! They're just uncomplicated. Its not the same."
Remus smiled to himself. The bigger boys had already taken on the task of looking after Peter, and it seemed completely right. "If this McGonogall says all the houses are ok, then all the houses are ok." He said kindly. But he couldn't help wondering where he would be placed, and how it would be decided. He was desperate that no one found out his secret. No one would want to be friends with a werewolf. They would hate and fear him. He swallowed nervously, and tried to banish the unwelcome thoughts.
"You ok Remus? You look kinda pale," remarked Sirius.
"Yeah I'm fine. Its jus -" he never got to finish his sentence, because at that moment McGonogall came back.
"Follow me," she called, "the Sorting must begin!"