Britain Bound
By: BobDole77
"¡Greetings, Señorita Evans! and The Train Ride"
Lily Evans couldn't believe her luck. She had just got on the Hogwarts Express, the only transportation to the Magical School of Hogwarts, when she had meet someone who was evil, mean and did not like Muggleborns.
"Watch out, you idiot!" the boy yelled as he bumped Lily. He wiped his shoulder unconsciously, not as if pain was there, but more like dirt.
Lily faced the speaker shyly. She was new to all this magic and was still awed by Diagon Alley, which was two weeks previous. She had seen plenty of wizards, was introduced to a couple of First Years while being fitted for robes in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasion, and happened to meet another while getting her wand (although she had thought them all were barmy folks). But this fellow was still bloody new. She didn't know much of the schoolhouses, but this one looked absolutely sinister and might have belonged in the one named Slytherin. Then again, she could be wrong.
"Sorry," Lily muttered, bashfully. She had never been good around boys and it didn't help her that she was new to all this.
"Sorry?" asked the boy, astounded. He had slick black hair and a large hooked nose that made him look extremely disgusting and unclean. Lily grimaced as he shoved her a little. "Sorry doesn't cut it, you little--"
"Severus," a dark, menacing voice spoke up from behind Lily, making her jump slightly. It was slightly kind, in a Slytherin way. "Play nice, she's a newbie like you."
Lily slowly turned to the boy behind her, who looked about two years older. He had the most blondest hair she had ever seen and he looked almost albino with pale skin that contrasted with his dark, rich black work robes. He was already in his Hogwarts clothes.
"You haven't even introduced yourself, yet, Severus, how improper," his voice was calm and collected, almost like a drawl. His eyes first bore into his latter, then to Lily, who almost coiled in fear. He shook his head, ticking his tongue,"I think you scared her, Severus. Wrong, indeed. For all we know, she could be pure blood. Rule number one: don't assume that you know everything, Severus. Leave that up to me. Understand?"
"Yes, Lucius," replied Severus, lowering his head and muttered to his former.
The boy called Lucius nodded to the black-haired, Severus, then turned to Lily.
He looked at Lily with scathing eyes, which seemed to pierce through her pale, translucent skin. She kept her large, emerald green eyes to the ground, as if ashamed of the attention she was receiving. Her long, fiery red hair fell over her face as her hand bent slightly, allowing Lucius a nice look at her scalp. She wore Muggle clothes, as they were called, because she had just arrived on the train and certainly didn't know that she needed them right away. Her heavy trunk, packed with books, was on the floor, where she had dropped it with a thunk when the boy named Severus bumped into her.
As far as both Lucius and Severus knew, she was a filthy little Mudblood.
"Hello," he drawled in a kind tone, "You may call me Lucius Malfoy. The dope behind you," he sneered at Severus who bent his head lower, "is called Severus Snape. I am currently attending Hogwarts, which you presumable know about, and am in the Slytherin house. I'm a second year, so I am older than you and know more than you, correct Severus?"
"Yes, Lucius," Severus muttered.
"So, that is settled. But I do believe that we need to know you name..." said Lucius, trailing off at the end.
"L-Lily Evans," stuttered the First Year.
A look of realization dawned upon both the faces before they turned into a heavy glare at her, but she didn't notice.
""Twas a pleasure. Come Severus," Lucius snapped. He brushed up passed her and then the boys were gone.
Lily was red in the face--hair and face matching. It wasn't even her first day and she had happened to embarrass herself.
She resolved in picking up her trunk once more, dragging it along the carpeted hallway. The train had long before began moving, so Lily doubted that there would be any open compartments. She finally found one with two nice-looking girls in it.
"Erm... excuse me," Lily said politely and quietly. The conversation between the two girls deceased and they both turned their eyes toward Lily, who was fumbling with the hem of her jumper. "There isn't any open compartments anywhere else. I was wondering if I may join you..."
"Sure!" One of the girls replied, smiling. It was one of the smaller compartments, so the one who hadn't replied scooted over to make room for Lily.
As for Lily's trunk, as much as the girls all tried, they couldn't get it into the bin above them. They resolved in having it rest in the middle, so that one of the girls (the one opposite) could rest her feet.
"Sorry, we haven't introduced ourselves yet," replied one of the girls. "My name is Talon Vixen and this is Arabella Figg." The girl indicated to the one who hadn't verbally welcomed Lily in.
"Call me Figg, will ya? I don't like Arabella that much," said Arabella--or Figg.
Lily simply shrugged; it wasn't too bad of a name, anyway.
"There was another girl that we met, but she left with these other two girls. I don't remember any of their names though."
"They were pretty rude, don't ya think?" Figg asked.
"I didn't like that bunch at all," agreed Talon.
"So," Figg announced, "are you a pure blood, or what? I'm half and half--my dad was a Muggle and my mom a Witch."
Lily frowned.
"I," Talon announced as if she were the Queen of England, "am a pure blood, but its not like my parents were evil or anything. The name probably makes that impression, huh?"
Lily and Figg nodded in agreement.
"I suppose I'm... a Muggleborn. Both my parents don't have a pinch of magic in them."
Lily looked downcast as she remembered how Severus and Lucius reacted when she told them her name. She slowly recounted the tale to the two girls sitting in front of her.
"There's nothing wrong with being a Muggleborn, Lily. It just means that, well, actually, some people--pure bloods who study the Dark Arts, that is-- think that Muggleborns with even a pinch of Muggle in them even are filth. They think that pure bloods are the best--better than everyone else is. Their heads are so enlarged that they forget even the simplest charms. Honestly, Lily, there is only one house like that and that's Slytherin, and I don't think that you belong there."
The compartment door suddenly opened wide, so that three girls stood there, all with a wry grin on their face.
Figg and Talon, on the other hand, scowled softly as the triplet scooted into the small compartment.
Elinda Morocco, Juliette Ward, and Carin Nestler, Lily found out, were the three traitors that Figg and Talon didn't like. They were about ready to leave when suddenly...
"Hello, hello, good ladies," a deep drawl broke their conversation (more like argument) and a boy with shaggy, black hair, tall and muscular (for a first year....?) was leaning up against the frame of the door. He then turned his head away from the door, to his left and yelled: "Hey James! I found the jackpot!"
The girls all got a good look of him as he smiled a charming smile to all of them... but then (for their enjoyment) another came behind him, and his head peered around the boy's broad shoulders.
"Good day, fair ladies, but would you kindly join us in our compartment?" the other boy said in more of a jovial voice, raising his eyes seductively.
Two more boys followed after that, a little shorter than the others. One skinnier with amber hair and matching eyes, whereas the other looked like the two former except shorter and pudgier.
"It would be an honor..." said the boy with amber hair. He leaned against he frame, around the second boy.
"Sirius Black," announced the first.
"James Potter," the second informed them.
"Remus Lupin, pleasure," the amber-haired said kindly.
"And Peter Pettigrew!" the pudgier one squealed, squeezing himself in front of the amber-haired one called Remus.
The one named Sirius raised his eyebrows suggestively at all the girls before he was distracted.
"Sirius Orion Black," a female voice from behind called out. "How many times must I tell you? STOP HARRASSING INNOCENT FEMALES LIKE MYSELF!"
"But Jeremi, dearest, why would I harass such dazzling gals like yourself?" he retorted, loosing some of his charming demeaner.
A girl appeared before them as the boys turned around to see the girl calling out to Sirius. Sirius, who was still leaning against the frame, was grinning at the girl counterpart of him.
She had short black, curly hair that didn't look real. She wore a gray and silver striped sweater and some deep, blue jeans beneath her open Hogwarts robe. You could see her long, dark-wood (most likely mahogany) wand protruding from her jean pocket.
"Guys," she sighed, "I know you like this, and they might, but that's not the point. Because there seems to be a little Miss Walker searching for you," dabbing James in the chest, "and a Miss Benson looking for you," shoving Sirius a little, "a little Miss Watch looking for you," turning to Peter this time, "and, last but not least, a señorita West searching for this hunk," she jabbed her thumb in the directed of the last recipient, Remus. "So, if you want your lives spared, I, honestly, would scram and camp out in our 'secret' compartment."
After her little speech, the four boys took off down the corridor, the opposite direction in which the girl (they called Jeremi) came from.
The girl then turned to the six girls crammed into the compartment.
"Sorry if I just ruined your trip, but those boys have been at the very same thing to every single female-occupied compartment the whole trip. Unfortunately, they ran into some stalkers. But no problem, if you ever need them, or me, again, we are in compartment twelve--the largest and last of the compartments--and we'll all probably be in the Gryffindor house." She smiled, looking at all the faces of the compartment. "Well, you all are welcome to join us, seeing as you all look a little crammed. I'll be seeing you! Ciao!"
And with that she was gone.
For some reason, all the girls in the compartment meshed well and all inclined that they should changed into their robes. The three girls who came in after Lily proceeded to find a different compartment. As soon as the girls returned, all wearing their fresh Hogwarts robes, the train began to slow down. They hopped off the train, feeling refreshed from being cramped up for much too long.
All the students had filed out of the train, now, heading in an eastbound direction of where they did not know. The First Years, who stood standing in the middle of the platform, were simply unsure of what to do. Their answer came soon enough from a loud booming voice.
"Firs' Years! Over here, now!" an unknown voice rang out through the drizzle that appeared on the platform.
The band of first years (look to be some of a hundred... buuuut it was just an illusion) both looking terrified and others simply spiffy (including that rowdy group of hunk-boys) slowly and steadily followed the voice to be led to a large lake with a good number of boats in it.
"Four ter a boat, now yer are," the voice called out.
Lily went into a boat with Figg, Talon and a girl with long black hair. Lily noticed that Elinda, Juliette, and Carin were with a tall, lanky boy with bright red hair. In the boat behind them, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy and two other bulky boys had squeezed in. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were a few boats behind Lily. Beside their boat was another with the girl named Jeremi with a girl who had medium-length brown hair and looked to be good friends with Jeremi. Two other girls were in the boat with them but they were nearly asleep. Lily was bored watching Jeremi, the girl, and the four boys have a water fight, angering the two other girls. So, she turned back toward the front of the boat where she gasped at what she saw ahead. There she Hogwarts. for the first time.
As the crew trudged up to the great Hogwarts castle, Hagrid, as the half- giant had introduced himself as, led them up to a strict looking professor, of some sort, who looked fairly young to match.
"Thank you, Hagrid," the professor said, her lips still tight and pursed. She wore a deep purple robe, almost like suede, making the material look richer than it was.
"Hello," she said, curtly. "My name is Professor McGonagall and I'm Head of the Gryffindor House here."
A few of the students who looked sinister scowled noticeably, including Severus Snape, Lily noted. The Professor didn't seem to notice, or mind, and continued as if nothing had happened.
"For the next seven years of your life," she continued tersely, "Hogwarts will become your home. You will be sorted into one of the four houses and remain there the entire time you are here. The houses are those of the founders' surnames: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. You will do anything possible with your house, so you better start off well. One moment, would you please, while I get prepared for the Sorting."
Professor McGonagall left in a huff through the large mahogany doors behind her. A slow, steady murmur broke out throughout the crowd once their watch was away. The loudest group seemed to be James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.
"What do you think the Sorting will be?" Sirius asked, intrigued, to his three cronies.
"Mum said it wasn't anything to be afraid of but she refused to tell me what it was! Honestly, I don't understand that woman of mine," James hissed, shrugging.
"Well, me dad told me that I shouldn't be frightened," Peter piped up. He then added thoughtfully, "But then again, he always tells me not to be frightened... and now that I think of it, he does!"
Remus chuckled as Peter revisited his childhood in search of the truth. "Gran said that all you have to do was try on a hat, fellas."
Sirius, Peter, and James all stopped mid-sentence, mid-thought, and mid- action (Sirius had been showing James the proper way to fend of a dragon, while James had gone on saying about the different dragons that they could face and what they'd be up against).
Silence provoked them for about two seconds longer until...
"A HAT!?" Sirius shouted in an outrage. "All we bloody need to do is try... on... a... a HAT!"
"You've got to be joking?" James countered, astonished while Sirius remained in a stupor.
"Gee," Peter said, "I suppose my pop was right after all. Huh, go figure?"
"Holy cow," James muttered. "No, dragon. Sirius, no dragon."
Sirius looked at Remus with wide-eyes. "A HAT! A BLOODY HAT! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BLOODY, IDIOT MOTHER I'M GOING TO KILL HER! A HAT!?"
Everyone, by now (well, by when Sirius shouted 'A HAT' the first time) were staring at the four as if they had gone barmy. Sirius' three cronies were looking at Sirius as if he truly was alive. They weren't looking at him because of 'the hat' outrage, more because of what he just said about his own mother.
The First Years didn't have time to think about it, however, because Professor McGonagall came back, looking as strict as ever, and ushered them into the majesty of the Great Hall. Every student was sitting in the Great Hall, when they walked in, staring at the First Years, as if silently teasing them.
When they reached the front of the Hall, Sirius muttering all along the way about how he official hated hats, they formed a blob type of semi-circle around... a hat. Sirius scowled in its general direction. And, refusing to look at it, turned away.
There was silence in the room, before...
Four founders there were here some day
Who ruled this school of old.
They taught some lessons to the kids
That this school beholds
...
By: BobDole77
"¡Greetings, Señorita Evans! and The Train Ride"
Lily Evans couldn't believe her luck. She had just got on the Hogwarts Express, the only transportation to the Magical School of Hogwarts, when she had meet someone who was evil, mean and did not like Muggleborns.
"Watch out, you idiot!" the boy yelled as he bumped Lily. He wiped his shoulder unconsciously, not as if pain was there, but more like dirt.
Lily faced the speaker shyly. She was new to all this magic and was still awed by Diagon Alley, which was two weeks previous. She had seen plenty of wizards, was introduced to a couple of First Years while being fitted for robes in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasion, and happened to meet another while getting her wand (although she had thought them all were barmy folks). But this fellow was still bloody new. She didn't know much of the schoolhouses, but this one looked absolutely sinister and might have belonged in the one named Slytherin. Then again, she could be wrong.
"Sorry," Lily muttered, bashfully. She had never been good around boys and it didn't help her that she was new to all this.
"Sorry?" asked the boy, astounded. He had slick black hair and a large hooked nose that made him look extremely disgusting and unclean. Lily grimaced as he shoved her a little. "Sorry doesn't cut it, you little--"
"Severus," a dark, menacing voice spoke up from behind Lily, making her jump slightly. It was slightly kind, in a Slytherin way. "Play nice, she's a newbie like you."
Lily slowly turned to the boy behind her, who looked about two years older. He had the most blondest hair she had ever seen and he looked almost albino with pale skin that contrasted with his dark, rich black work robes. He was already in his Hogwarts clothes.
"You haven't even introduced yourself, yet, Severus, how improper," his voice was calm and collected, almost like a drawl. His eyes first bore into his latter, then to Lily, who almost coiled in fear. He shook his head, ticking his tongue,"I think you scared her, Severus. Wrong, indeed. For all we know, she could be pure blood. Rule number one: don't assume that you know everything, Severus. Leave that up to me. Understand?"
"Yes, Lucius," replied Severus, lowering his head and muttered to his former.
The boy called Lucius nodded to the black-haired, Severus, then turned to Lily.
He looked at Lily with scathing eyes, which seemed to pierce through her pale, translucent skin. She kept her large, emerald green eyes to the ground, as if ashamed of the attention she was receiving. Her long, fiery red hair fell over her face as her hand bent slightly, allowing Lucius a nice look at her scalp. She wore Muggle clothes, as they were called, because she had just arrived on the train and certainly didn't know that she needed them right away. Her heavy trunk, packed with books, was on the floor, where she had dropped it with a thunk when the boy named Severus bumped into her.
As far as both Lucius and Severus knew, she was a filthy little Mudblood.
"Hello," he drawled in a kind tone, "You may call me Lucius Malfoy. The dope behind you," he sneered at Severus who bent his head lower, "is called Severus Snape. I am currently attending Hogwarts, which you presumable know about, and am in the Slytherin house. I'm a second year, so I am older than you and know more than you, correct Severus?"
"Yes, Lucius," Severus muttered.
"So, that is settled. But I do believe that we need to know you name..." said Lucius, trailing off at the end.
"L-Lily Evans," stuttered the First Year.
A look of realization dawned upon both the faces before they turned into a heavy glare at her, but she didn't notice.
""Twas a pleasure. Come Severus," Lucius snapped. He brushed up passed her and then the boys were gone.
Lily was red in the face--hair and face matching. It wasn't even her first day and she had happened to embarrass herself.
She resolved in picking up her trunk once more, dragging it along the carpeted hallway. The train had long before began moving, so Lily doubted that there would be any open compartments. She finally found one with two nice-looking girls in it.
"Erm... excuse me," Lily said politely and quietly. The conversation between the two girls deceased and they both turned their eyes toward Lily, who was fumbling with the hem of her jumper. "There isn't any open compartments anywhere else. I was wondering if I may join you..."
"Sure!" One of the girls replied, smiling. It was one of the smaller compartments, so the one who hadn't replied scooted over to make room for Lily.
As for Lily's trunk, as much as the girls all tried, they couldn't get it into the bin above them. They resolved in having it rest in the middle, so that one of the girls (the one opposite) could rest her feet.
"Sorry, we haven't introduced ourselves yet," replied one of the girls. "My name is Talon Vixen and this is Arabella Figg." The girl indicated to the one who hadn't verbally welcomed Lily in.
"Call me Figg, will ya? I don't like Arabella that much," said Arabella--or Figg.
Lily simply shrugged; it wasn't too bad of a name, anyway.
"There was another girl that we met, but she left with these other two girls. I don't remember any of their names though."
"They were pretty rude, don't ya think?" Figg asked.
"I didn't like that bunch at all," agreed Talon.
"So," Figg announced, "are you a pure blood, or what? I'm half and half--my dad was a Muggle and my mom a Witch."
Lily frowned.
"I," Talon announced as if she were the Queen of England, "am a pure blood, but its not like my parents were evil or anything. The name probably makes that impression, huh?"
Lily and Figg nodded in agreement.
"I suppose I'm... a Muggleborn. Both my parents don't have a pinch of magic in them."
Lily looked downcast as she remembered how Severus and Lucius reacted when she told them her name. She slowly recounted the tale to the two girls sitting in front of her.
"There's nothing wrong with being a Muggleborn, Lily. It just means that, well, actually, some people--pure bloods who study the Dark Arts, that is-- think that Muggleborns with even a pinch of Muggle in them even are filth. They think that pure bloods are the best--better than everyone else is. Their heads are so enlarged that they forget even the simplest charms. Honestly, Lily, there is only one house like that and that's Slytherin, and I don't think that you belong there."
The compartment door suddenly opened wide, so that three girls stood there, all with a wry grin on their face.
Figg and Talon, on the other hand, scowled softly as the triplet scooted into the small compartment.
Elinda Morocco, Juliette Ward, and Carin Nestler, Lily found out, were the three traitors that Figg and Talon didn't like. They were about ready to leave when suddenly...
"Hello, hello, good ladies," a deep drawl broke their conversation (more like argument) and a boy with shaggy, black hair, tall and muscular (for a first year....?) was leaning up against the frame of the door. He then turned his head away from the door, to his left and yelled: "Hey James! I found the jackpot!"
The girls all got a good look of him as he smiled a charming smile to all of them... but then (for their enjoyment) another came behind him, and his head peered around the boy's broad shoulders.
"Good day, fair ladies, but would you kindly join us in our compartment?" the other boy said in more of a jovial voice, raising his eyes seductively.
Two more boys followed after that, a little shorter than the others. One skinnier with amber hair and matching eyes, whereas the other looked like the two former except shorter and pudgier.
"It would be an honor..." said the boy with amber hair. He leaned against he frame, around the second boy.
"Sirius Black," announced the first.
"James Potter," the second informed them.
"Remus Lupin, pleasure," the amber-haired said kindly.
"And Peter Pettigrew!" the pudgier one squealed, squeezing himself in front of the amber-haired one called Remus.
The one named Sirius raised his eyebrows suggestively at all the girls before he was distracted.
"Sirius Orion Black," a female voice from behind called out. "How many times must I tell you? STOP HARRASSING INNOCENT FEMALES LIKE MYSELF!"
"But Jeremi, dearest, why would I harass such dazzling gals like yourself?" he retorted, loosing some of his charming demeaner.
A girl appeared before them as the boys turned around to see the girl calling out to Sirius. Sirius, who was still leaning against the frame, was grinning at the girl counterpart of him.
She had short black, curly hair that didn't look real. She wore a gray and silver striped sweater and some deep, blue jeans beneath her open Hogwarts robe. You could see her long, dark-wood (most likely mahogany) wand protruding from her jean pocket.
"Guys," she sighed, "I know you like this, and they might, but that's not the point. Because there seems to be a little Miss Walker searching for you," dabbing James in the chest, "and a Miss Benson looking for you," shoving Sirius a little, "a little Miss Watch looking for you," turning to Peter this time, "and, last but not least, a señorita West searching for this hunk," she jabbed her thumb in the directed of the last recipient, Remus. "So, if you want your lives spared, I, honestly, would scram and camp out in our 'secret' compartment."
After her little speech, the four boys took off down the corridor, the opposite direction in which the girl (they called Jeremi) came from.
The girl then turned to the six girls crammed into the compartment.
"Sorry if I just ruined your trip, but those boys have been at the very same thing to every single female-occupied compartment the whole trip. Unfortunately, they ran into some stalkers. But no problem, if you ever need them, or me, again, we are in compartment twelve--the largest and last of the compartments--and we'll all probably be in the Gryffindor house." She smiled, looking at all the faces of the compartment. "Well, you all are welcome to join us, seeing as you all look a little crammed. I'll be seeing you! Ciao!"
And with that she was gone.
For some reason, all the girls in the compartment meshed well and all inclined that they should changed into their robes. The three girls who came in after Lily proceeded to find a different compartment. As soon as the girls returned, all wearing their fresh Hogwarts robes, the train began to slow down. They hopped off the train, feeling refreshed from being cramped up for much too long.
All the students had filed out of the train, now, heading in an eastbound direction of where they did not know. The First Years, who stood standing in the middle of the platform, were simply unsure of what to do. Their answer came soon enough from a loud booming voice.
"Firs' Years! Over here, now!" an unknown voice rang out through the drizzle that appeared on the platform.
The band of first years (look to be some of a hundred... buuuut it was just an illusion) both looking terrified and others simply spiffy (including that rowdy group of hunk-boys) slowly and steadily followed the voice to be led to a large lake with a good number of boats in it.
"Four ter a boat, now yer are," the voice called out.
Lily went into a boat with Figg, Talon and a girl with long black hair. Lily noticed that Elinda, Juliette, and Carin were with a tall, lanky boy with bright red hair. In the boat behind them, Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy and two other bulky boys had squeezed in. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were a few boats behind Lily. Beside their boat was another with the girl named Jeremi with a girl who had medium-length brown hair and looked to be good friends with Jeremi. Two other girls were in the boat with them but they were nearly asleep. Lily was bored watching Jeremi, the girl, and the four boys have a water fight, angering the two other girls. So, she turned back toward the front of the boat where she gasped at what she saw ahead. There she Hogwarts. for the first time.
As the crew trudged up to the great Hogwarts castle, Hagrid, as the half- giant had introduced himself as, led them up to a strict looking professor, of some sort, who looked fairly young to match.
"Thank you, Hagrid," the professor said, her lips still tight and pursed. She wore a deep purple robe, almost like suede, making the material look richer than it was.
"Hello," she said, curtly. "My name is Professor McGonagall and I'm Head of the Gryffindor House here."
A few of the students who looked sinister scowled noticeably, including Severus Snape, Lily noted. The Professor didn't seem to notice, or mind, and continued as if nothing had happened.
"For the next seven years of your life," she continued tersely, "Hogwarts will become your home. You will be sorted into one of the four houses and remain there the entire time you are here. The houses are those of the founders' surnames: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. You will do anything possible with your house, so you better start off well. One moment, would you please, while I get prepared for the Sorting."
Professor McGonagall left in a huff through the large mahogany doors behind her. A slow, steady murmur broke out throughout the crowd once their watch was away. The loudest group seemed to be James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.
"What do you think the Sorting will be?" Sirius asked, intrigued, to his three cronies.
"Mum said it wasn't anything to be afraid of but she refused to tell me what it was! Honestly, I don't understand that woman of mine," James hissed, shrugging.
"Well, me dad told me that I shouldn't be frightened," Peter piped up. He then added thoughtfully, "But then again, he always tells me not to be frightened... and now that I think of it, he does!"
Remus chuckled as Peter revisited his childhood in search of the truth. "Gran said that all you have to do was try on a hat, fellas."
Sirius, Peter, and James all stopped mid-sentence, mid-thought, and mid- action (Sirius had been showing James the proper way to fend of a dragon, while James had gone on saying about the different dragons that they could face and what they'd be up against).
Silence provoked them for about two seconds longer until...
"A HAT!?" Sirius shouted in an outrage. "All we bloody need to do is try... on... a... a HAT!"
"You've got to be joking?" James countered, astonished while Sirius remained in a stupor.
"Gee," Peter said, "I suppose my pop was right after all. Huh, go figure?"
"Holy cow," James muttered. "No, dragon. Sirius, no dragon."
Sirius looked at Remus with wide-eyes. "A HAT! A BLOODY HAT! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT BLOODY, IDIOT MOTHER I'M GOING TO KILL HER! A HAT!?"
Everyone, by now (well, by when Sirius shouted 'A HAT' the first time) were staring at the four as if they had gone barmy. Sirius' three cronies were looking at Sirius as if he truly was alive. They weren't looking at him because of 'the hat' outrage, more because of what he just said about his own mother.
The First Years didn't have time to think about it, however, because Professor McGonagall came back, looking as strict as ever, and ushered them into the majesty of the Great Hall. Every student was sitting in the Great Hall, when they walked in, staring at the First Years, as if silently teasing them.
When they reached the front of the Hall, Sirius muttering all along the way about how he official hated hats, they formed a blob type of semi-circle around... a hat. Sirius scowled in its general direction. And, refusing to look at it, turned away.
There was silence in the room, before...
Four founders there were here some day
Who ruled this school of old.
They taught some lessons to the kids
That this school beholds
...