Till Death Do We Part

Moonie: *runs by* HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Icefall: * chasing Moonie* DIE!!!!!!!

Naomi: *sweatdrop* Um...

Sirius: *has microphone* *talking like an announcer* Annnnnnnd they're still at it! Moonie is in the lead closely followed by Icefall. Icefall looks very determined to kill Moonie all because of a little water balloon.

Icefall: *whacks Sirius* It wasn't LITTLE!!!

Sirius: Sorry!

Ella: I'll do the disclaimer for this chapter. J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything that Moonie and Icefall did NOT invent. Like me, Naomi, and other people. Also Moonie asked me to tell you that if any of you don't like the portrayal of any characters, too bad.

Naomi: Hears a shout out to all of our wonderful reviewers.

Lady Merlyn - Likey IS a word. It's supposed to be there.

Memai

Uglinessrox

Susan

Maggie

And everybody else that we don't have the time to list. Sorry.

Now onto the chapter that you have PATIENTLY been waiting for. Except Lady Merlyn, she doesn't know how to be patient.

***

Lily stood nervously beside Naomi and Ella. Once all of the new students had gathered around the giant man, Hagrid, if Lily had heard his name right, he told them all to get into the boats, four in each. Lily, Ella, and Naomi shared a boat with another exchange student named Ana. When they came within sight of Hogwarts, a unanimous gasp of awe rose throughout the students. This is amazing!

Once the boats had docked, Hagrid led them up a set of stairs to a strict-looking witch who awaited them at the top.

"Thas' all of 'em, Professor," Hagrid said to the witch.

"Thank you Hagrid," the witch said, her voice as stiff as her appearance. Turning to the gathered students she said, "In a few moments you will through these doors and the Sorting Ceremony will begin. I suggest that you make yourselves as presentable as you can, as you will be in the view of the entire school." Her eyes lingered on a few students who hurriedly tried to look better. "Now," the witch resumed," You will be Sorted into one of the4 four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." The witch disapprovingly spoke the last name. " While you are here, your house will be like your family. Good behavior will earn your house points, any rule breaking and you will lose points." If the witch was trying to make them more nervous than they already were, she was succeeding. "Very well. Follow me." The witch turned and the students had to walk quickly to keep from lagging behind.

Upon entering the Great Hall, all of the heads turned to the first years. The witch led them up to the very front of the hall where a stool and an old, tattered hat awaited them. A slit near the brim opened and the hat started to...sing? Most new students, along with Lily, stared. A singing hat? That's different.

The lazy author isn't going to think up a song b/c it would take longer to update. Actually, I'm just too lazy. ^ ^

Once done, the hat stayed silent and the witch picked it up in one hand and in the other she held a piece of parchment. "When I call your name, please come up and I will place the hat on your head. After you are Sorted, please take your respective seat."

"Andrews, Terry," was the first name called.

"Hufflepuff!" the Hat shouted. Terry ran to join his table grinning widely.

"Appleton, Amanda."

"Ravenclaw!"

By about the fourth student, Lily realized that the first years were being Sorted first. When all of the first year students were Sorted, the witch came forward again to say, "Now if each transfer student will come forward as they are called."

"Austin, Ana."

Before Lily knew it, her name had been called and the hat was set on her head. Hmm...Intesting. Yes, very interesting, a voice inside of her head echoed, the voice of the hat. What's interesting? Lily asked it. Your history, your reasons for leaving Ireland, your life, everything. Now where do I put you...aha! Gryffindor! The last word was shouted to the entire hall. Lily stood shakily: after having her mind laid open by a hat, she was quite shaken. Trying to collect herself, she walked to the Gryffindor table to wait for her friends to be Sorted.

"Johnson, Naomi." Naomi bounced up to stool, almost literally. Obviously she was nervous.

"Gryffindor!"

Naomi grinned and ran to sit beside Lily. She blushed when she saw Sirius whistling and clapping very, very enthusiastically. The two friends looked back up to see Ella be called.

"Silvermoon, Ella."

"Gryffindor!"

Ella looked almost surprised at this as she joined Naomi and Lily.

"Silvermoon? That's really pretty. Why didn't you tell us?"

Ella was saved from replying by Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, standing up in order to make speech. "I have a few start-of-term notices. First, our new students, and our old ones," his eyes lingered on the Marauders who were trying to look as innocent as they could, which wasn't very innocent, "that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits, to everyone, including Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, and Mr. Pettigrew." The older students laughed heartily and Dumbledore chuckled at this as James asked, "Whatever do you mean? We would never do anything against the rules!" "I'm sure you wouldn't, Mr. Potter. Second, as I'm sure you are all aware, we have some transfer students as well as first years. I would like for you to be as helpful as you can. And no, Mr. Black, that does not include playing any sort of pranks on them." Dumbledore added as he saw Sirius's face light up with glee. "Last, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked that the Marauders report directly to him for detention," Dumbledore was interrupted yet again as James shouted "We haven't done anything! Well at least not in the past five minutes, well not anything bad!"

"I am aware of that, Mr. Potter, but I believe that Mr. Filch is trying to get ahead of you this year. Now, I will not keep you from your dinner any longer. Thank you." and with that he sat back down as magnificent food appeared on the golden plates. Conversation slowed until everyone was finished finishing the feast. A/N: interesting phrase. O.o

Yawning, Lily followed the rest of the Gryffindors to the common room. Too exhausted to ogle at the tower, she went straight to her dormitory, collapsed on her bed, and promptly fell asleep. She woke once that night, turned over, and noticed that Ella's bed was empty. Probably in the restroom. Lily thought groggily as she turned back over to keep her face out of the full moon's light.

***

Moonie: *GASP* HELP!

Icefall: I've *pant* almost *gasp* got *pant*you!

Moonie: *runs into the bathroom and locks the door* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Can't get me now!!!

Icefall: *takes out sword and slices the door Goemon Ishikawa style* ^ ^ I'm watching Lupin III

Moonie: Help!

Icefall: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

*screen blacks out as fighting sounds are heard in the background*

Naomi: Review! *glomps Sirius*

Ella: Anyone who thinks that they might have an idea of where I actually was, tell us in your review. I'll give you a hint, actually two hints. I wasn't in the bathroom and appearances aren't always what they seem. Anyone who gets it right gets...something. Moonie hasn't decided. She's a little preoccupied.

Moonie: *in the ICU (intensive care unit) of the nearest hospital* Ow....