Seven Years at Hogwarts
A/N – Hey everybody that's reading my story. I just wanted to drop a quick note and say thanks for reading my story, it basically follows MWPP through Hogwarts, so, if I finish, who knows how long it'll be. Also, I'm not British, won't even try to pretend I am, so we'll just leave that as that. Also, I really do appreciate everyone that takes time to read my stories, this is my first MWPP fic, so reviews mean a lot to me. If you read this story, please tell me what you think. If it stinks, tell me why. I don't want to write a story that stinks. Also, the first chapter is a bit slow, but it'll pick up, I promise. This is just setting up the story, there will be some good pranks later. That's it, let me know if you like it, don't like it, if you like cheese, what kind, etc. I hope you enjoy the story. J
Disclaimer – This all belongs to lucky, lucky J.K. Rowling, not me. I don't want to be sued.
The steam filling the air , and the excitement of the students getting onto the Hogwarts Express washed over a small boy named James Potter as he stepped through the barrier to Platform 9 ¾ . He smiled up at his parents who walked through right behind him.
"Alright, James, let's get your luggage taken care of." His father said as he steered their way through the crowd.
"James, do try and fix your hair." His mother said while trying, in vain, to straighten his always untidy, black hair.
James was a scrawny boy, although he worked hard to build what he called "Quidditch muscles". He was also short for his age, but he believed he would grow to his father's height of 6'2". He watched in wonder at all of the students boarding the train and excitement started to churn in his stomach. But something else was there too, was it nervousness? James's smile faltered a bit as he remembered that he didn't know anyone else going to Hogwarts.
'Who am I going to sit by on the train?' he wondered to himself. All too soon he was having to find out for himself, as his parents gave him a final hug goodbye, and he turned to board the train. He wandered slowly down the aisle, looking into the compartments, hoping to find an empty one. But luck wasn't with him, and he found all to be occupied. The small boy sighed and turned back to find one that he could possibly share. The last one had four girls in there laughing loudly, so he quickly moved on. He then came across one that had only one occupant: a boy that looked to be about his age with his nose buried in a book. James slid the door open and poked his head through.
"Excuse me." James said a little quietly. The boy's head jerked up and he stared at James.
"Yes?" He asked slowly.
"Do you mind, if, uh, I could sit, in, uh, here?" James stuttered, and he mentally kicked himself for sounding so stupid. But to his relief, the boy smiled.
"Sure! Have a seat. I'm Sirius Black." He held his hand out to James, who shook it and sat across from him.
"James Potter, nice to meet you."
"Likewise, first year?" Sirius asked. James smiled and nodded. He felt himself relaxing, knowing that he wasn't all by himself anymore.
"Me too. I'm a bit nervous, because, well, you're the first person that I've met so far." Sirius explained, and James started to talk about how he didn't know anyone either. The train ride turned into a pleasant one as James and Sirius talked about everything the other liked. They learned a great deal about each other, but one thing that they discovered they had the most in common with was pulling pranks. They told different, and very amusing, stories about the pranks they had done.
"I can't wait till we learn some good spells." James said just before the train started to slow down.
"Uh oh, we're here." Sirius said.
"Maybe that's what the teachers should be saying about us." James said, and they started to laugh, remembering the list of ideas for pranks that they had already made.
They stepped off the train and looked around. The large mass of students getting off the train were heading towards large carriages.
"Are we supposed to follow them?" Sirius asked.
"I guess." James shrugged his shoulders, but before they could take a step, a loud voice was heard, booming, "Firs' years! This way!" James and Sirius turned and saw a huge, and very hairy, man calling for all of the first years to follow him. Both of the boys' jaws dropped at the size of the man, and they were somewhat reluctant to walk over to him.
Once all of the first year students were gathered together, the enormous man introduced himself as Hagrid, the ground keeper at Hogwarts. He seemed very nice, but the two boys still kept their distance. Hagrid led them down a very dark, narrow path to a lake. He was pointing to boats that were lined up on the shore, but Sirius and James didn't notice any boats, they were staring in wonder at the castle that was Hogwarts.
"Wow.." Sirius breathed in wonder. James just nodded, but their attention was soon switched to the boat that they were getting into. There were two other boys in the boat with them, one introduced himself as Jeffery, and the other was Wes. They rode in wonder, their eyes glued on the castle. Sirius needed up hitting his head on a cliff that they went under. He was rubbing his head as they got out of the boats.
Hagrid led them to the castle doors and knocked. The door opened to reveal a tall witch, with black hair pulled into a tight bun. She had a stern look upon her face, and James involuntarily shrunk as her gaze passed over him.
"Firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid announced happily. The witch nodded and told the students to follow her. They were led through a vast entrance hall and to a door that led into a noisy room.
"If I could have your attention, please. We are about ready to begin the Sorting Ceremony. You all will be sorted into different houses, each will become your home and family. There are four houses, Gryffindor," James took a deep breath, his whole family had been sorted into Gryffindor, and he was hoping to be that house as well. "Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin." Professor McGonagall finished. The students looked at one another, whispering about which house they wanted to be in. Professor McGonagall waited for the whispering to stop before she led them into the Great Hall. The Great Hall was filled with all of the other students and teachers. There were five tables, one for each house, and one for the staff. Professor McGonagall led them to the front of the Great Hall, where a stool sat with a very old hat perched on top of it.
To James, Sirius, and all other first year's astonishment, the hat tore at the brim and began to sing. It sang a song about all of the houses, their differences, and who belonged into which. At the end of the song, every clapped, and Professor McGonagall called the first person to be sorted. James felt his heart beating in his throat, but Sirius felt that his dropped to his toes, because, in no time, his name was called. He took a deep breath and walked up the step to the stool. He sat carefully, and the hat was placed on his head. It slid over his eyes, and a voice seemed to be talking in his ear. Looking at all of his qualities very carefully before declaring him a Gryffindor. He smiled wide as the hat was lifted off of his head. He gave an encouraging thumbs up to James before he took a seat at the Gryffindor table.
James soon began to wish that his last name didn't start with a 'P', because the longer he stood there, the more nervous he became. He watched as the only other two boys that he knew, Jeffery and Wes, were sorted into Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
"Potter, James" Professor McGonagall announced, and James's heart began pounding in his ears. His feet seemed to become heavier as he walked up the steps to the stool. He finally made the trip, and he slowly sat down. The hat was placed on his head and it too fell over his eyes. He sat there, heart pounding, as he listened to the hat mumble in his ear.
"Ah yes, I have it now.. GRYFFINDOR!" The hat declared, and James almost fell off of the stool. His face broke into a great smile, and he nearly ran down to the Gryffindor table. He was hoping to sit by Sirius, but another boy had already sat there. He was another first year with light brown hair, and he introduced himself as Remus Lupin.
"James Potter, nice to meet you." James said as he shook his hand. Soon the Sorting Ceremony was over, and Professor Dumbledore stood to his feet. He welcomed the students, gave a few first year warnings, and then suddenly the food appeared on the table. Nothing held Sirius, Remus, and James back as they started to eat. Soon, Sirius and James had a lively conversation started with Remus about dungbombs, and their hopeful plans for them. When the feast was over, the three new friends happily followed one of the Gryffindor prefects up the staircases, down the halls to a large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. The three boys exchanged puzzled glances to each other before the fat lady asked, "Password?"
"Servite Domino" the prefect stated loudly and clearly so all could hear. The portrait swung open and the small crowd filtered into the Gryffindor Common Room. They all looked around in wonder as the prefect told them where their dorms were. The three boys decided to go ahead and see what their rooms look like. They walked up the staircase till they reached the door labeled "First Year Boys". They walked inside and found their room. It was a large room with five large beds. Sirius ran in and jumped on the bed closest to the window.
"This one's mine!" He shouted as he sprawled out over the bed. James took the one that was next to Sirius's and was the farthest to the left. Remus claimed the one on the other side of Sirius's and sat down. The door then opened and a small, fat, blonde boy shyly walked in. He stopped in the doorway and just stared at the other boys.
"Hi!" Sirius said, jumping up to greet the boy. "I'm Sirius Black, that's James Potter, and that's Remus Lupin." He said, pointing at the other two boys. He then took the small boy's hand and started to shake it vigorously. "Nice you meet you!" The other boy looked rather uncomfortable, and he quickly pulled his hand from Sirius's.
"Uh, I'm Peter Pettigrew. It's, uh, nice to meet you." He said very quietly, and he quickly headed for the bed farthest from the other three. Sirius shot a quick look to James and Remus before shrugging his shoulders.
"Hey Peter," James said, speaking to Peter for the first time. The other boy looked up nervously. "Why don't you sleep here?" He asked pointing at the bed next to Remus.
"Oh, I, uh, I don't know.." Peter stumbled over his words, and he quickly looked down.
"It's alright, I don't bite." Remus said in a quiet, strange voice. The others didn't seem to notice, though, and with some more coaxing, Peter sat on the bed next to Remus's, and he started to talk to the other boys. Although he did more listening than actual talking. The fifth member of their dorm came in and introduced himself as Sean. He talked with the others for a minute before laying down and falling asleep. After another hour or so, the other four boys followed suit and went to sleep.