Disclaimer: anything you recognise I don't own and anything that you don't recognise I do own! Oh yeh! And I made up the sorting hat song so don't steal it!

-Chapter 6-

The Sorting Ceremony goes off with a Bang

As the train pulled up in Hogsmeade station there was the familiar sounds of awe as the pupils got their first glimpse of the castle. It really was spectacular. Set in the mountains with a huge lake and massive grounds, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was an amazing sight. Even those who had been there before couldn't help being impressed.

The pupils dismounted the train and got onto the carriages that were pulled by, what seemed to be nothing. The voice of Hagrid boomed out over the crowd "FIRS' YEARS FOLLOW ME!" the small children went after him, gawking at his size. Aries was just about heard over the babble saying "wow! Your Hagrid aren't you? My brother says that you're well cool and that when you get drunk you………" but he was cut off by a stream of people climbing into the boats. He got in one with his two new friends, Sean Johnston and Scott Livengorn.

Lily got into a carriage with Katie and Gemini. Katie sat with her legs stretched out on one seat and the other two sat opposite her. The carriage was dark blue and dingy. It also smelt damp, like it was very old, which it probably was.

"So guys! I mean girls! Looking forward to getting back?" Katie asked them, but carried on and didn't wait for an answer. "I am, it means pranks and detentions! And pink robes!" which set her off into fits of giggles and the other two had no idea what she was talking about. She seemed to have an obsession with pink robes at the moment.

They other two started talking about some new Ravenclaw guy, Chris Lumistella, who had just started this year, but was sorted in the holidays so that he wouldn't have the embarrassment of doing it with all of the first years in front of the whole school. He was, as Gemini put it, tall, dark and handsome. Katie was still rolling around on the floor in giggles when the coach stopped and she banged into the seat. She stood up and rubbed her bruised arm in annoyance before getting out.

Katie had an idea to break James and Sirius' record for the best first day back prank. It would be great and the Slytherins would love it. All her plans were set and she had worked everything out in her head.

They all walked up to the castle, giggling and chatting. Kate and Robyn were making fun of everyone that got in their way and when Lily was there they gave her a performance of their new song.

The mudblood's gonna die

The mudblood's gonna die

We can see it in her freaky eyes

That now she's gonna cry!

They burst into fits of laughter and ran off singing it. Lily hated their constant torture, they were worse than James was! And that's saying something! Now that they had a song it was going to be even worse. It would be everywhere and everyone will probably be singing it and it'll probably be called 'the Lily Evan's theme song!" she could see it coming now. That's all she'd be remembered for. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before moving up to the great hall.

The hall was as it normally was. Amazing. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky outside, which at the moment was sunset, and orange and purple. Four long tables stodd in the middle, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin each with their coat of arms overhead. At the far end was the staff table, which was raised and looked very important. All the years, excluding the first had sat down and had started talking. Kate and Robyn could be heard from the Slytherin table singing

The mudblood's gonna die

The mudblood's gonna die

We can see it in her freaky eyes

That now she'd gonna cry!

The Slytherins were roaring with laughter as Lily fumed. Her face had gone as red as her hair and she looked as though she was on fire. She glared at the Slytherin table, which was farthest away from the Gryffindor table, and for good reasons. Katie was sat, probably thinking of some song to throw back at them and Gemini was trying to comfort Lily.

James glared at the Slytherins. No one talked, or in this case sings, to Lily like that. Only he has the right to do that. He was ready to stand up and hex the whole lot of them, but Sirius and Remus were holding him back. Peter Pettigrew was hopping about, trying to get noticed, but getting blatantly ignored, they had better things to do right now than talk to him.

Peter was angry, but kept thinking about how this would be over soon. He chuckled at the Slytherin's song. It was quite funny really. And true, because he was going to help to kill her.

"Wormtail you idiot! It's not a funny song! You're not supposed to laugh at it!" scolded Sirius and Peter glared at the table. He had to stay calm otherwise he might let something slip about his current status. And he didn't want that happening! He tried to block out everything around him, but couldn't as the first years entered the great hall for the first time in their life.

The gasped at the ceiling and Aries was telling them about how the ceiling worked, and how his brother had told him. He stopped and waved at Sirius and at Gemini before being pushed forwards by the hoard of pupils.

"Now, the sorting will begin soon, I expect all of you older pupils to set a good example and behave yourselves" Dumbledore said standing up, his brown beard greying slightly and going down to his waist. He was wearing purple robes and had on a matching pointed hat and then he added, staring at James and Sirius "for now at least" his eyes twinkling.

Professor Dreamstone stepped forward and placed the sorting hat on its stool. It opened its mouth and sung.

New students sitting in this hall

Know not what they await

But the sorting hat can see

And sort them before late

I can put you in any house

But I choose the one that's right

You might think you belong in one

And I'll tell you tonight

The founders of these houses four

Left instructions for me

So put me on, on your head

And I'll tell you where you'll be

Gryffindor wants students

That are very brave

Are quite good at lessons

And can stand the grave

Slytherin needs pupils

Who are very sly

That are good at potions

And not afraid to lie

Hufflepuff likes people

Who make good friends fast

Who are true and loyal

Whose relationships last

Ravenclaw takes persons

Who are very clever

Who will get good jobs

And be remembered forever

I promise I won't hurt you

Or criticise your mind

So if you're nice to me

I am very kind

So if you can come up here

And put me on your head

You'll be put into a house

Before you go to bed!

The hall burst into applause as they cheered for the sorting hat. They did it every year. To them, it was a tradition but all of the teachers, with the exception of Dumbledore thought it was pointless to applaud a hat! James and Sirius stood up and banged their feet on the floor and whistled. They stopped as they got stern looks from Professor Kondola, head of Slytherin, and laughed.

They new first years stood nervously in the middle of the hall. They didn't know what they were expecting. Even Aries was nervously hopping about and chewing his fingernails. Sirius had said he wouldn't tell, but it would be hard and Vicky had just slammed the door in his face.

Professor Moonstone waited for the applause and noise to die down before unrolling a huge scroll and clearing her throat. She waited for some Hufflepuff to stop coughing. He actually sounded like he was choking, but Professor Kondola, from the teacher's table merely said "can you please die quickly or somewhere else, we haven't got all night you know!" he rushed out of the hall, still coughing and looking very upset.

When the hall was finally settled, Professor Moonstone cleared her throat again.

"When I call your name, put on the hat and wait for it to tell you your house. Now for some of you it might take some time for it to come to a final decision, but others might have an answer straight away. Ansted, Charlotte."

Charlotte Ansted stepped forward looking worried. She was very pale with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She put the hat on, it covered her eyes, which were tightly closed. It took a while before shouting "GRYFFINDOR!" the Gryffindor table went wild. James and Sirius stood on the table and shouted over to the Slytherin table "THIRD YEAR IN A ROW! WE GOT THE FIRST NEW KID! HA! YOU SUCK!" everyone, except the Slytherins laughed. Professor Dumbledore chuckled and kindly told them to get down and save their merry making for a later date. James laughed and got down, whilst Sirius fell off the table. Causing more laughter and him to say "I'm ok I'm alright! Don't worry my fans! And admirers!" he said, winking at the girls. Yet again causing more laughter.

"After that, interruption" Professor Moonstone continued "Black, Aries" Aries ambled on to the platform, grinning like a Cheshire cat. He smiled as he told the hat to put him in Gryffindor. The hat laughed and placed him in that house.

He sat next to Sirius, who ruffled his hair and smiled at Vicky, who laughed and smiled back. He really was a funny kid. Lily congratulated him and when Aries asked her to be his girlfriend again she had to explain to him why she couldn't. He was very persistent and had taken to calling her 'Lily my princess'. Everyone thought it was sweet, apart from James, who thought it was sick and disturbing.

The rest of the sorting carried on like normal, with the pupil putting on the hat, finding out their house, everyone clapping and then moving onto the next person. One girl, Mongover, Penny, started to cry when she was sorted into Hufflepuff and that caused a lot of fuss. The sorting ended up with Zender, Opal being sorted into Ravenclaw.

Dumbledore stood up to give his usual speech.

"Now then pupils, old and new and professors, the same. We have begun our New Year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the finest, and only, magical school in Britain. Ii expect you to do homework promptly and don't get too many detentions. I must tell you that our record at the moment stands at 1275 which is shared by Misters James Potter and Sirius Black from Gryffindor, I would give them a warm hand but it probably wouldn't be suitable. Now, I expect that you are hungry so let the feast begin! Oh! And one piece of advice! Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus! Never tickle a sleeping dragon! Now! Eat!"

At once the tables filled with food. Gold plates had been positioned on the tables. They used to be silver but were changed when Remus Lupin started the school, for obvious reasons.

"This is gonna be the best year EVER!" said Katie, who was eating.

"Why do you say that?" Vicky asked.

"Well, let's just say it'll start with a bang!" they looked puzzled and carried on eating. It wasn't any use asking her what she was on about, because she probably wouldn't say anyway.

They feast lasted about an hour. When everyone had finished eating Dumbledore stood up once more.

"Now that we are all fed and watered we should probably sing the school song! Pick your favourite song and let's go!"

Hogwarts Hogwarts Hoggy Warty Hogwarts

Teach us something please

Whether we are old and bald

Or young with scabby knees

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff

For now they're bare, full of air

Dead flies and bits of fluff

So teach us things worth knowing

Bring back what we've forgot

Just do you're best, we'll do the rest

And learn until our brains all rot.

Lily, Katie and Vicky were laughing really hard listening to Sirius, Remus and James trying to rap the school song. It really was quite funny as they were trying to add arm movements and kept whacking each other in the face.

"That was beautiful!" said Dumbledore, smiling gleefully at everyone. "Now! Off to bed!"

They all got up to leave but heard a bang. They looked around at the Slytherin table, which was where it had come from and saw Severus Snape sitting there in bright, pink robes. There was another bang and several other Slytherin boys got dressed in shocking pink. Kate and Robyn looked each other and screamed "MAROON!?" and started shrieking. Then lots of glitter and pink confetti was showered over the table and the coat of arms changed to a pink my little pony. The school was in an uproar.

The first years found it hilariously funny and many were on the ground laughing, except the Slytherins of course. The teachers were rushing around to change the colours and clear away the pinkness. Dumbledore however took a while to stand back and admire the view, after all, it probably would be the only time he got the opportunity.

Lily and Vicky understood Katie's whole, pink robe go of with a bang nonsense now and were laughing with her. Sirius and the rest of the marauders were congratulating her on her fabulous entertainment and promised they could do better.

"SIRIUS BLACK? JAMES POTTER? WAS THIS YOU?" Professor Kondola shouted, the looked shocked and said "why do you automatically look at us?" the Professor wasn't convinced and threatened to get out some veritasium, they then noticed Katie on the floor laughing and Professor Kondola said, in his best icy voice "ah, miss Felton, detention I think. He turned to leave, which caused more giggles as on his back, in pink diamonte studs it said 'think pink!' with plenty of flowers and hearts.

As they all traipsed up to their common room, Katie was congratulated many times. She, Sirius, Vicky and Remus were the last to enter the common room. Lily and James had head duties patrolling the corridors. They sat by the fire talking about their first day at Hogwarts. James had 'accidentally' poured pumpkin juice over Lily's head, causing her to start shouting. Which caused a food fight. Katie had turned everyone's hair multicoloured and Sirius had already found the entrance to the kitchens.

After a while Vicky and Katie went up to bed leaving behind Sirius, Remus and Peter. Remus and Sirius were playing wizards chess and Peter was watching.

"That was fun! I like Professor evil git's robes! That was a nice touch I think" Sirius said, loosing his queen.

"Yeah! That was the best start to a term ever!" Remus said. Sirius pretended to look offended "come on padfoot! You have to admit that it was amazing!" Remus said, check mating Sirius.

"Yeah, it was! I wonder where prongsie and Evans are? Do you think they're talking yet?" Sirius asked, puzzled over why he had just lost.

"I'm not sure," Remus said, getting out a book.