Chapter 3: The Sorting

A/N Okay guys, quick tangent. I have the next several chapters (up to 6ish chapters) planned out to some extent. This means that when I do end up having the time to write more of this story again, it probably won't take me as long as the first two chapters took me to write (each took me a day). Therefore, more updates or quicker updates when I have/find the time to write which probably won't be until at least December, but maybe I will find the time somewhere before then. Also, this is a bit shorter than the other two chapters, but I hope you still enjoy it .

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters or anything Harry Potter related. I do own the OC Jasmine and the plot of this story.

Jasmine was so happy to finally be at the school that her cousin talked so fondly about in the many letters she sent to her. She couldn't wait to explore it inside and out like she had at Beauxbatons Academy. It was an exciting opportunity that she was being presented with.

Getting off the train, Jasmine already decided that she was going to take the carriages to the castle, but she was not going to ride with Lily. She was still a little pissed off at Lily's actions earlier on the train. Thus, to avoid getting dragged away from the boys by Lily, Jaz tried to hide amongst them. It didn't work since Lily knew she would be with them, she managed to catch up to them.

"Mina, wait up! I thought that you were going to ride with me in the carriages," Lily yelled to Jasmine

They all stopped in order for Lily to catch up to them. "I was Lils until you pulled that stunt earlier." Jasmine had already explained to the Marauders, which they told her was what they called themselves, what happened with Lily earlier. Remus was understanding about it, but James and Sirius thought it was funny. They stopped laughing when Jasmine glared at them though.

Lily gave Jasmine a guilty look. "I'm sorry, Mina, but I just don't want you getting mixed up with the likes of Sirius and James. Remus is okay, and I don't really know Peter, but he seems okay. I'm just trying to look out for you Mina."

While Jasmine and Lily continued their argument on their way to the carriages, the four Marauders were having their own conversation about Jasmine. They were discussing whether they should let Jasmine become a Marauder. They, mainly James and Sirius, weren't quite sure if she was up to par to be a Marauder. After much disagreement over the topic, they decided to see if she was worthy after she helped them pull a prank this term. She had said on the train that she wanted in on their next prank. So, the boys agreed that if Jasmine helped them pull off an amazing prank, they would invite her to join them in the Marauders. They had already decided to pull a prank within the first few weeks, so they would just need to let Jasmine know.

By the time they reached the carriages, the boys had wrapped up their discussion, and Lily and Jasmine had come to an agreement. Lily, begrudgingly, agreed to just ride in the carriage with the Marauders. There was just enough room for all of them, so they all managed to fit.

The ride up to the castle was almost silent if it hadn't been for James continually trying to flirt with Lily. She ignored all of his advances, while Jasmine and Sirius were trying and failing to keep from laughing at James's attempts at "flirting," if it could even be called that. They ended up completely failing and breaking out into laughter by the time they reached the castle. James just brushes off the laughter. He doesn't entirely care if he looks foolish. He was trying to gain Lily's attention, so if looking foolish is what it took, then so be it.

By the time they reached the Great Hall, Jasmine and Sirius had stopped laughing. Jasmine had stopped when she saw the castle for the first time. She was staring around her in awe. It was gorgeous. Beauxbatons Academy was still a better-looking school to her, but Hogwarts was still pretty amazing. By now Lily had left them in favor of her friends over the Marauders. She was disappointed to have not spent more time with Jasmine, but she would see her plenty during the school year. She also didn't think Jasmine's friendship with the Marauders would last after her cousin saw how James and Sirius treated other students.

The boys could not help but take notice of the awe written all over Jasmine's face. Noticing her looks, James and Sirius flanked her, with one on each side of her. James spoke up first. "Yes, Jazzy. I know it is a marvelous castle but wait until you see how much more it has to offer."

Jasmine didn't get the chance to respond before Sirius spoke up, "Yes, that's right. There is more to this castle than you might think Jaz. There's so much potential. Pranking potential that is."

Jasmine started giggling at the boys' antics. "You two are ridiculous. I am excited to explore this castle though." The boys smirked at her in response and led her into the Great Hall.

In the Great Hall, the first thing that Jasmine noticed was all the professors at the front sitting at a table. The one in the middle, who James told her was Dumbledore, looked straight at her. Jasmine swears she saw a twinkle in his eyes. She brushed it off as her imagination though. The next professor that she spotted was Professor McGonagall, or who she thought was McGonagall. The woman looked exactly as Lily had described McGonagall to her in her letters. She was standing next to Dumbledore discussing something. Luckily, Sirius happened to notice that she was looking at the woman and confirmed her original thoughts. Then she excused herself from the table so that she could catch McGonagall before she headed to the room where the first years would be waiting.

It seemed that the boys hadn't heard Jaz excuse herself though. They noticed that she wasn't with them anymore when James turned to tell her about their plan for their first prank. They looked around and found her talking with McGonagall. Remus told them that she was probably discussing when she would be sorted with the Transfiguration professor among other things since she is a new student.

James and Sirius looked at each other and started laughing. "Wow. We were having such a good time with her on the train, we completely forgot to ask her what house she wanted to be in," Sirius laughed.

"Yeah, but I have a feeling she will end up in Gryffindor. I can just feel it," James comments.

"Oh, you mean like you can just feel that Lily is totally in love with you?" Sirius teases James.

James starts to protest that Lily does love him, but she doesn't know it yet. His protests are interrupted when Jasmine comes back to the table and sits between the two of them and across from Remus and Peter who were sitting on the other side of the table. "Hey guys, what are we talking about?"

"Oh, nothing really," Sirius manages to chuckle out. "Just James and his so-called feeling for things." She gave him a confused look which only managed to make him laugh more. Jasmine looked over at James for an explanation, but it didn't look like he had any to give so she turned to Remus. He explained what had transpired which caused Jasmine to let out a few chuckles.

McGonagall had told Jasmine that she would be sorted after all the first years got sorted. In the meantime, McGonagall had told her it was fine to sit at the Gryffindor table. She warned her not to get into too much trouble. Evidently, she had noticed that she had been sitting at the table with James and Sirius. Jasmine had just nodded and walked back to where the boys were now sitting at the Gryffindor table.

Jasmine didn't have the time to tell the boys any of what she discussed with McGonagall, though. By the time Sirius had stopped laughing and Remus had explained what had happened while she was gone, the doors to the Great Hall opened once again. All conversations immediately stopped as soon as McGonagall walked in with a stool and an old-looking hat, which Jasmine figured was the Sorting Hat that Lily had told her about before. Behind McGonagall, all the little first years filed in. They looked so innocent.

Before the actual sorting started, the Sorting Hat began to sing its song that Jasmine would later learn happened every year. The song was usually about the four houses, the hat itself, and/or about the original founders. The boys had yet to hear the same song twice in their five years at Hogwarts, but James did mention that sometimes the hat would recycle lyrics. He wasn't sure why, no one actually knew why. By now it was just an accepted fact about the Sorting Hat.

When the song ended, McGonagall took out a scroll and started to read off students' names in alphabetical order by last name. To Jasmine, there seemed to be a never-ending stream of first years that would walk up to the stool and put on the hat. Sometimes the hat would yell out a house immediately, sometimes it would take a little bit, but it never lasted very long. Jasmine just felt that it was taking forever because she was anxious to see what house she was going to end up in. She was hoping to be in Gryffindor with her cousin and the Marauders, but she wasn't sure. The most that she knew about the houses was what Lily had told her, which wasn't much. Lily knew the most about Gryffindor given that it was her house. She also knew some stuff about Slytherin since Severus was in that house. The other two houses she didn't say much about partially because Lily didn't have any friends in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. Plus, the subject of the other houses never really came up in their conversations or letters over the years. There was no reason to mention them, anyway. So, really all Jasmine knew about the other two houses was from what she heard the Sorting Hat just sing. Based on what the sorting hat said, she thought that she could maybe be in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, but Jasmine would just have to wait and see what the sorting hat said.

Jasmine was so wrapped up in her own thoughts about what house she would be in that she almost didn't realize that the last first year was being sorted. Lucky for her, James had nudged her just as the hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF." She gave James a thankful look, before looking toward McGonagall. There was going to be an announcement about her being sorted.

Instead of McGonagall speaking as Jasmine thought, Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome, students, before we begin the usual feast, we have one more student that needs to be sorted. She comes to us from Beauxbatons Academy and will be going into her 5th year here. Once she is sorted, we shall begin with the banquet." Collective groans could be heard from some of the hungrier students, while whispering could be heard amongst others. It was unusual for there to be a student starting at Hogwarts so late.

All the whispering and groans stopped though when McGonagall called out, "Dupont, Jasmine."

Jasmine got up from her spot between James and Sirius, who each gave her a thumbs up before she left. She saw Lily on her way up to the stool. Lily gave her a reassuring smile and mouthed that she would be fine. As Jasmine made her way to the stool, she could feel that everyone was staring at her. It made her slightly uncomfortable, but she dealt with it. She wasn't used to the attention, but she didn't entirely mind it. So, in response to all of the eyes Jasmine knew were on her, she straightened up and smiled as she continued toward McGonagall and the Sorting Hat.

Upon reaching the professor and hat, Jasmine sat down on the stool and McGonagall placed the hat on her head. Immediately Jasmine heard a voice in her ear. "Hmm, you're not another first year."

No, I'm not. I'm going to be a fifth-year student. Jasmine thought, assuming that the hat would hear her.

"I can see that. You have a well-rounded mind here. Lots of courage. Yes, and also a creative and curious side. Hmm…"

Please I wish to be in Gryffindor with my cousin Lily. My new friends are also there.

"I was planning on putting you there anyway. Your courage and bravery are your more prevalent traits." Before Jasmine could respond, the hat yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Jaz took off the hat and heard cheering from the table she had been sitting at previously. She smiled at McGonagall before heading off back to where she was sitting. She retook her seat between James and Sirius with a huge grin plastered on her face. Jasmine was so happy that she ended up in Gryffindor, so she couldn't really help the smile plastered on her face.

Soon after she sat down, the tables were filled with lots of food. The dishes were not entirely unlike the ones that she had at Beauxbatons, except at Beauxbatons Academy they served more French-type dishes. At Hogwarts, there seemed to be more British- and Scottish-like dishes. Jasmine didn't mind though. She wasn't really a picky eater. She grabbed what she wanted to eat onto her plate and ate it all. For the remainder of the Feast, she talked and joked around with the Marauders. They were able to tell her that they wanted Jasmine's help in pulling their first prank of the term. They didn't tell her it was a test, though. They kept that part to themselves. Jasmine was excited at the prospect of helping them pull a prank. It was an exciting prospect for Jasmine, but she made them swear that whatever prank they came up with wouldn't be used against Snape. She didn't want to upset her cousin. They agreed to her terms, James and Sirius begrudgingly agreed, though.

From talking about the prank, they moved on to discussing the Marauders' previous pranks at Hogwarts. Jasmine was fascinated to hear the stories. They were in the middle of one when the dessert that had appeared, vanished. Then Dumbledore stood up once again, and the hall fell silent again. He made a few announcements about not going into the forest and being careful in these dangerous times. Then he sent them off to bed.

Jasmine wasn't entirely sure what he meant by dangerous times. She had heard about a dark wizard rising, but not much else. She held a pretty sheltered life at Beauxbatons Academy as well as at home with her Muggle mother. She didn't know much about the British Wizarding community aside from what she heard from Lily, who is the one who told her about this mysterious dark wizard that she had been warned about at Hogwarts. As far as Jasmine was aware, though, he was mainly making trouble in Britain and surrounding areas. She had yet to hear about anything happening in the French Wizarding Community. It seemed this dark wizard, who Lily told Jasmine about in a letter, was calling himself the Dark Lord or Voldemort. Lily didn't know much about the situation, but she didn't like what was happening and neither did Jasmine by the sound of it.

Jasmine was brought out of her thoughts about the danger that could possibly be lying beyond the walls of Hogwarts when an arm was thrown over her shoulder. She looked over to see that Sirius had casually thrown his arm over her shoulder as he was talking to James. His action, which would have made some of the other girls at Hogwarts swoon, didn't affect Jasmine at all. It did bring her out of her thoughts and into the conversation that James and Sirius were having. Peter was nearby as well, but he was more just listening to the conversation. He wasn't really adding much. Jasmine wasn't sure where Remus was, so she asked the remaining Marauders, interrupting James and Sirius.

"Remus? Oh, yeah, he's with Lily and the other prefects. It's their job to help lead the first years to the dorm," James explained to her. Then he resumed his conversation with Sirius as if Jasmine hadn't interrupted them. They were discussing Quidditch, and Jasmine would have contributed to the conversation, but she didn't know much about the sport besides the basics. She had never really gotten into it at Beauxbatons Academy. She preferred to spend her time horseback riding and music at Beauxbatons. The boys didn't try to bring her into the conversation either though.

They talked about Quidditch the entire way to Gryffindor tower. It was like they were in their own world and Jasmine could see it. They were caught up in their own conversation and it was like Jasmine and Peter weren't even there. The only thing that prevented them, or at least Sirius, from completely forgetting that she was there was Sirius's arm, which was still slung over her shoulders. Jasmine wasn't sure why he kept it there or why he put it there in the first place. She didn't really mind it, and it kept her from losing them in the crowd of Gryffindors that were making their way to the common room. Since Jasmine didn't know where the dorms or common room was, except that it was in a tower, she needed someone to guide her. With Lily busy with the first years, the Marauders were the only other people she knew that would help show her the way.

They reached the common room pretty quickly. Jasmine was confused a bit at first when the boys stopped in front of a painting of a fat lady. The lady in the painting ended up asking for a password which was fuddle buddle, but according to Sirius it probably wouldn't stay that password for long. The prefects would tell them the new password before it was changed though. All of this fascinated Jasmine because of how different it was from her old school.

After giving the password, the painting swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. James and Sirius insisted they enter first. Jasmine didn't care, so she let them go first. Peter entered after them. Then finally Jasmine went into the common room of her new house. Upon entering the common room for the first time, Jasmine first saw James and Sirius standing there with their arms open as if displaying the room. Then James said, "Welcome to the Gryffindor common room, Jazzy!"

Jasmine giggled at their theatrics. Then she took a good look around the common room that was decked out in red and gold. There was a fireplace that she knew she would end up falling asleep in front of at some point during the term. There were some other tables and chairs scattered around the room. All and all, it looked like a regular common room that was decorated with red and gold colors.

"Well, what do you think?" Sirius asked of the girl in front of him.

"I think it is a typical common room that has been decorated in red and gold," Jasmine told the boys unenthusiastically.

They both laughed at her comment. "Well, I suppose it pretty much is," James chuckled out.

Before any more could be said, Lily and Remus entered the common room with the first years in tow as well as the other prefects. Lily and Remus pointed out the dorms to the first years before they joined Jasmine, James, and Sirius, as Peter had already gone up to the dorm. They didn't stay together for long though, as Lily pulled her cousin away from the boys once she was within reaching distance. So, Jasmine said a hasty goodbye to them with the promise that she would see them in the morning.

Lily dragged her up the stairs and into the dorm room, which she figured she would be sharing with Lily and some of Lily's friends. In the dorm were five four-post beds each with their own deep red, velvet curtains, something that Jasmine was surprised to have. She was happy that she now had curtains on her bed, not to say that the beds at Beauxbatons weren't heavenly, but they didn't have curtains. These curtains would be a dangerous thing for Jasmine as she was not a morning person but a night owl. She would just have to count on Lily to make sure to wake her up in the mornings. She wished she didn't have to rely on her cousin, but she couldn't bring her alarm clock to Hogwarts. She had learned early on that Muggle technology and magic don't go well together. Plus, Muggle technology wasn't even allowed at Hogwarts, at least to her knowledge. She had found a way to deal with it though.

Jasmine looked at Lily who was now glaring at her, but Jasmine saw that she wasn't that angry at her. Her eyes gave her away as Jasmine could see the happiness and excitement in them. She knew Lily was happy that they were in the same house together. This would be like how they were at home, except they had three other roommates, all of which Lily was pretty close friends with. The third girl was Mary MacDonald. The fact that Lily was close friends with the other girls put Jasmine at ease that there was less of a chance of a catfight breaking out. That happened to Jasmine once in her second year at Beauxbatons Academy and she didn't want a repeat of it ever again. It was a terrible day that Jasmine doesn't like to remember.

Just as Lily was about to start the speech that she had mentally prepared, the other three girls came into the common room. They immediately spotted Lily, and each said hi to her before heading to each of their respective beds, but they stopped dead in their tracks when they noticed Jasmine sitting there. They were not expecting her to be there. Usually, the fifth bed was left empty as they had the last fifth year girls' dorm and there weren't enough of them to fill all of the beds in each of the dorms. Now seeing that the bed was going to actually be filled this year, the girls decided to each introduce themselves. Alice went first as she just reintroduced herself to Jasmine since they originally met at Diagon alley. Marlene was next. Then finally Mary went. Each girl was very kind to Jasmine, but they didn't talk for long. They were all tired and knew they had to get up for classes in the morning. So, after some small talk, all five girls went and got dressed for bed, taking turns changing.

Jasmine's last thoughts before heading to bed were about how much she was looking forward to the upcoming school year and the adventures that it might bring with it.

A/N Okay, so this will probably be the last chapter I write for a while. Classes start up again soon and I want to be in a school mindset. I can't promise anything, but I will try to write another chapter or two when I get a break. So, until next time!

Peace Out, Knk6700