Well I revised this chapter because I realized that there couldn't be seven Gryffindor boys… also I forgot that there were a lot of Slytherin's I missed, since I wasn't reading carefully.

Chapter Four

The Sorting

The train pulled into the station as the sun set. The golden light glinted off far away windows that Lily could barely see.

An enormous man, about two times as wide and five times as high as a normal man waved at everyone. "FIRST YEARS!" He hollered. Lily moved towards him with James, Remus and Sirius.

The man introduced himself as Hagrid. "Now, if'n you'll follow me, then we c'n get across to the castle." He said and led the first years to a small fleet of boats.

Lily, James, Sirius and Remus shared a boat as they crossed the lake.

It's funny how some people can seem so nice, and then they turn on you. Lily thought as she waited in the side chamber for the sorting. She was looking at the back of James's head as he talked to a plump boy with blonde hair. I hate people who do that.

Professor McGonagall returned and ushered the first years into the great hall. They walked up to the front, while Albus Dumbledore watched them.

She placed a tattered old hat on a three legged stool and then stepped back. Lily watched the hat, wondering what they had to do. Hogwarts, A History had said there was a sorting ceremony, but hadn't said what it was. Suddenly the hat burst into song, through a rip in it.

What's that?" you say. "A hat?" you say,

Oh yes, I've heard them all.

But slip me right onto your head,

And listen to my call.

For I am not a simple hat,

Pay heed unto my song,

And I will read your mind's true form,

To say where you belong!

The shrewd will go to Slytherin,

Ambitious to the bone.

You'll meet many of renown

The brave belong in Gryffindor,

Their hearts to all are shown.

They never give up, their friendships loyal

The loyal are the Hufflepuffs,

They set to work with zest!

And stop until done

The clever go to Ravenclaw,

All knowledge is their quest.

Their cleverness does put them beyond the rest

So do not shiver, do not shake

With fear of what's to come,

'Cause I can see inside your head;

Just put me on and… Done!

The great hall exploded in applause, which died done quickly as Professor McGonagall stepped forward once again. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She said. "Abbott, Louis."

A short plump boy hurried forward and put the hat on. It slipped down over his eyes, but everyone could see his grin. After a moment the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!" The table to the right burst into applause and Louis took off the hat, grinning even more broadly.

"Ackerley, Susan!" Professor McGonagall called. A blonde girl who was very tall stalked over to the hat and it barley touched her head before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" She smiled a tight smile and walked over to the table that was cheering her. And then another Slytherin "Avery, Arthur."

"Baddock, Hannah!"

A short black girl hurried towards the stool. She sat down and waited. After a few seconds the hat shouted "RAVENCLAW!" taking off the hat, Hannah looked a little surprised but moved over to her table.

Sirius was next, Lily noticed. She stopped herself. Sirius thought she had something to do with Slytherin.

"Black, Sirius." Professor McGonagall called. Sirius moved forward, obviously nervous. He put on the hat and sat there. a minute past. Then another. Just as the three minute mark was about to be passed the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor's went into a flurry of applause and Sirius moved away from the table in obvious surprise.

"Branstone, Keith." Became a Ravenclaw."  

And then, "Evans, Lily." Lily jumped slightly but the moved forward. She felt James's eyes on her and  Sirius's. she looked at the sea of faces, her stomach in knots as she covered her face with the hat.

"Hmmm." A voice said. Lily jumped. "Interesting, very interesting. You've got lot's of brains Lily, Ravenclaw might be good, but no-" the hat paused.

Please not Slytherin. Lily thought.

"Not Slytherin eh?" the hat asked. "Well, I wasn't thinking Slytherin for you. Lot's of courage here. You better be- oh wait will you look at that?" the hat pondered then shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Lily removed the hat and went to sit down. Sirius offered her a seat and she took it, slightly stunned. What had the hat seen in her?

"Figg, Arabella." Professor McGonagall called. Lily watched as Arabella was sorted into Gryffindor. Several move students were sorted, but Lily wasn't listening, she was trying to figure out what the hat had seen.

She refocused as "Fletcher, Mundugus." Was sorted into Gryffindor along with "Longbottom, Frank."

The it was Remus's turn. Lily liked Remus, he seemed to now what it was to be shunned. Professor McGonagall smiled at him slightly and he sat. the hat came to it's decision quickly and Remus was made a Gryffindor. He slumped in the seat over from Sirius, knowing James would want to sit there.

"Madley, Katie." Went to Hufflepuff, while the two Petigrews' went to Gryffindor. Karrie Petigrew sat down next Lily.

"Pitchard, Eleanor." Was a Slytherin. And then it was James.

"Potter, James." James moved forward, not even appearing to be nervous. Lily saw Sirius cross his fingers under the table and found herself doing it to. She didn't know why but something about James was endearing. "GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted almost at once and James came to join Sirius.

"Quirke, Jonathan." Was made a Ravenclaw and "Quirrel, Daniel." Made Ravenclaw as well. "Rosier, Kieth." Was a Slytherin.

A boy with greasy looking, long black hair and a hook nose stepped forward as his name was called. "Snape, Severus." James hissed slightly, but no one but Lily and Sirius heard. The hat seemed to have a long debate with Severus. After about a minute it shouted "SLYTHERIN!"

The last two people, "Wilkes, Rose." Became a Slytherin and "Zabini, Stewart," joined her at the Slytherin table, were sorted and then Professor McGonagall moved the stool and Professor Dumbledore stood.

"Hello and welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Now I'm sure you're all hungry from eating nothing but sweets on the train so here's you're feast."

Lily stared at the old man then around and gasped. The platters around them had been filled as if by magic, which, Lily reminded herself, it had. "So Karrie? Is it?" Lily asked as she heaped her plate with mashed potatoes. Karrie nodded as she ate. "Is Peter your twin or something?"

"Oh no, Peter's my second cousin. The Petigrews are a large family." Karrie said, rolling her eyes and picking up a peppermint humbug.

Lily nodded, pouring graving over her potatoes and turkey. James was staring at her again, but Lily decided to ignore it. Arabella Figg, who was sitting across from them was talking with the ghost beside her. "-How can you be 'nearly headless'." She was asking.

"Like this." The Ghost said and pulling on his left ear. His whole head slipped sideways. He tugged on the ear and Lily saw a quarter of an inch holding the neck on. She giggled.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower." The ghost said. "You may call me Nick." Nick said graciously.

"I never knew about ghosts." Lily mused. Arabella smiled.

"Are you muggle born?" she asked kindly. Arabella had creamy dark skin and braided black hair. She was also tall, and it was comforting to Lily that she was kind.

"Yep." Lily said, the lie coming out smoothly. She was almost muggle born and so it didn't matter to much.

"I would hate not knowing about magic." Karrie said. she was short with long brown hair. She smiled broadly her brown eyes warm.

"Well, I didn't miss it much, I mean, I didn't know about it." Lily said.

"That would make sense." Arabella said.

when everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them as they were before the food had been placed on them. A moment later the desserts appeared. Lily found room in her stomach and was content to listen to the chatter around her.

After the plates were once again sparkling, Professor Dumbledore rose. The hall went quiet as he began to speak.

"A few start of term notices." He said, his blue eyes sparkling. "One, there are several new items on in the forbidden item list, that I'm sure some students will enjoy looking at. For the full list you must go and see the list on the outside of Mr. Pringle's office. Also, first years must note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits, as described by it's name." Lily could see the sparkle in his eyes. "Some of the older students-" Lily could've sworn she saw his eyes flicker to a red-head boy who looked to be in second you, "should also take note of this. And now, since you are all falling asleep on the plates, I dismiss you to your dormitories. Prefects please lead the first years to their dorms."

The Gryffindor Prefect walked over to the cluster of first years. She was a tall black girl with softly curling black hair. She smiled at them over the top of her glasses. "Hello." She said, her voice was deep and melodious. "I'm Mary Candor. I'm the Gryffindor prefect. If you want anything, if it's in my power, I can give it to you. All you have to do is ask. Now-"

Another red-head walked over to them. "Hey Mary." He said, grinning.

"Bill go away!" Mary cried a flush coming to her cheeks.

"Can't I help with the little firsties?" he asked, looking slightly hurt.

"Fine." Mary conceded. "First years, this is Bill Weasley, he's in fifth year and is in the running for my position next year." Mary gave him a withering look and then proceeded out of the hall.

Lily fell in step with Karrie. Sirius ran over and slung an arm around the two girls, grinning broadly. "So my dears, will you help me up all these steps?" he asked, sagging against them.

"Get off Sirius." Lily muttered, trying to pry his arm off, it wasn't working.

"Can't. and Lily, I have sisters, I know how to handle you two." Sirius continued to sag on Lily and Karrie. Karrie giggled and ducked quickly. Sirius gasped and fell off Lily.

Lily couldn't help but giggle. "I have brother's Sirius." Karrie said and fell in step with Frank Longbottom.

"Well, you seem to be an only child Lily." Sirius said, continuing to walk with Lily.

"I have a sister." Lily said, cringing slightly.

"Oh?" Sirius asked. "Older or younger?"

"Older. Petunia doesn't like magic really." Lily said, remembering the look of scorn on her sister's face.

"Ah." Sirius looked down. "Well nice talking with you." He fell back and was replaced by Arabella.

"What was that about?" she asked.

Lily suddenly remembered that Sirius was James's friend, and now they were probably laughing at her. She resisted the urge to turn and look and shrugged. "I don't know." Lily answered truthfully.

They finally got to a portrait of a fat woman in a pink silk dress. Lily looked at Mary questioningly, but the Fat Lady said something first. "Password."

"Portraits, talk?" Lily whispered to Arabella.

"Yes, and move. Sh, we have to get the password."

"Pixie dust." Mary said. The portrait swung aside and Lily marveled.

Thank you Tom Girl and winney.

In the next chapter there is some fluffy bits with James and Lily, where they are conviced they hate each other… I'll explain later… it's almost done.