Chapter Two:
The two boys followed the crowd pushing them out the door. They stepped off of the train in front of a massive castle. To one side of the castle was a lake; the other and grand forest. It was set at the edge of mountains and was absolutely stunning. James and Sirius followed the bellows of a man standing over to the side while gazing at the magnificence.
"First Years! Over here first years!" James plugged his ears as the man next to him yelled. Sirius was still looking around at the landscape, but James had moved on to all of the people fluttering past him.
There was a big kid who had bright yellow hair, unnaturally blonde. Then there was a girl with long thick black hair. She was rather tall with a lot of pimples. Then James' eyes caught a flash of green. There was a redheaded girl standing five feet from him with brilliant emerald green eyes. She had rather straight thick hair that was dangling down near her face. Although, her face was almost fully hidden, her eyes emitted radiance from five feet away. James started to walk towards the beautiful eyes when Sirius spun him around.
"You had better watch where you are going! You almost fell over the trunk there!" Sirius laughed. James wasn't five feet away from her he was about twenty. She was on the other side of the luggage pile. He didn't move closer to her, but he was still transfixed on her stunning green eyes.
He looked away when the man started to talk. 'First years will follow me to the lake, where we will ride to the school on boats. Any questions?" The majority nodded and started walking to the lake. James glanced backwards to the girl, but he didn't see her so he started talking to Sirius again.
When they arrived at the lake, they were split up into groups of fours and placed on the boats. They had a smooth tranquil boat ride to the other side of the lake. There were fins that stood out of the water occasionally, but that was it. When they got to the other side they were welcome by a short stern looking woman. The man said goodbye and walked away leaving them with this woman.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School Of Witch Craft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall. I will be leading you to the Sorting ceremony, which will commence momentarily."
Everyone nodded in understanding as she walked over to the great door. She peered through and turned back to the group of first years. "Follow me please."
She walked to the door and opened it. "Watch your step and keep up please." She said as she called the students to follow her. When James and Sirius stepped into the Great Hall, they were surrounded by hundreds of older kids. The ceiling was the actual sky; starry and clear. There were bewitched candles floating above them and there were four rows of tables set up for them. There were distinctive red and gold patterns adorning the walls and ceiling.
As they approached the center of the room they noticed a shabby hat placed atop a stool. The children gathered around in a big clump and McGonagall walked over to the hat and nodded at a tall man with a long white beard. The man looked at her through his half-moon-spectacles and nodded back.
"Now, it is time for the Sorting Ceremony. Each of you first years will place that hat on your head. Then the hat will place you in one of the four houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. You will then place the hat back on the stool and go to your house table. Do you all understand?" Once again the crowd of first years nodded in response. "Okay then."
"I am the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts In which I was placed to see Everything inside your head That tells me where you need to be. Give me a try, and I can't go wrong In placing you where you belong. Maybe in great Gryffindor, where Lions like to roar. With strength Compassion, love and courage, that No on can ignore. Or maybe in humble Hufflepuff, where the honest can endure, These smart and helpful ones will Always have a cure. Then you might Belong in Ravenclaw, where their mighty Talons soar, among them are the great and gifted Ones if nothing more. Then you might Wind up in Slytherin, where being sly is Required, these witty folk always come in just Barely short of liars. Give me a whirl inside your Mind, and you may be surprised at what I can find. I am the Sorting Hogwarts Hat that goes atop your head, For only I can tell you which of the houses has your bed.
"The hat just spoke! It's a talking hat!" Sirius whispered loudly. Many of the students were giggling when they were all startled by professor McGonagall's voice.
" Aarons, Secilia!" Professor McGonagall had yelled so loudly that many first years covered their ears.
The chubby, blonde girl waddled up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall put that hat on her head. The girl sat as still as possible while her flub drooled down the stool. She inhaled and then there was a moment of silence until...
"RAVENCLAW!"
The girl then waddled from the stage to the Ravenclaw table where she sat down rather quickly. The people at her tabled welcomed her kindly and another name was called.
"Adams, Mickey!" Was placed in Ravenclaw along with a really short boy with very bushy hair. "Barton, Alicia!" went to Hufflepuff along with her twin sister, "Barton, Marissa!"
"Black, Sirius!" Professor McGonagall bellowed for the endth time, yet they were still at the beginning of the list. Sirius looked at James quickly before running up to the stage himself. He sat down quickly and the hat was placed over his head. He was up there for about fifteen seconds.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius flew into the air with excitement and ran to the table. On his way there he passed James.
"Booth, Melissa!" McGonagall cried.
"Hey James! The hat talks to you when you put it on. It is wicked!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"See you later, okay?" James nodded in reply.
James started thinking about what house he was going to be placed in. His mother had been in Gryffindor along with his father. Could he make the cut? He was a troublemaker and didn't always to everything he was told, but would that put him in Slytherin? Would he be separated from Sirius so early in the running?
"Evans, Lily!" James till sat there thinking about what house he was going to but was distracted when the redheaded, green eyes girl walked past. James racked his brain trying to remember the last name called. He couldn't think of it. The girl was placed in Gryffindor and then ran past him to the table next to Sirius.
He thought about the girl and the various reasons for being placed in other houses that Gryffindor. Meanwhile, Slytherin gained nine first years, five in a row; Ravenclaw about seven more; Hufflepuff was home to 8 more; and Gryffindor seated twelve more students. James didn't look up until he heard, "Lupin, Remus!" from Professor McGonagall.
James wheeled around to see the odd boy slowly walk up to the stage slightly coughing. When he passed James he nudged him and looked back with a smile. James was sitting there hoping that Lupin would be in Gryffindor. No matter how much James himself thought about not being in Gryffindor for some reason, he did want Remus to be.
Remus had been up there for about half a minute, that longest so far. What could that hat be talking about? About ten seconds later the hat bellowed out music to James' ears.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James humped in place and waited for Remus to come down. Within moments he was in view on Lupin. "Hey! You got into Gryffindor! That's great!" James said patting Remus on the back. Remus coughed a few times and then cleared his throat once again.
Remus was about to speak when James cut him off. "Hey, about earlier...could we just forget it?" There was a paused before Remus talked.
"Thanks! Hope to see you up there!" Remus said winking at James before running to the table and wedging in between Sirius and a rather slinky redheaded girl with green eyes. She distracted James once again. Then turned around.
"Parsons, Wesley!" was placed in Slytherin. Then "Pettigrew, Peter!" was called to the stage.
A big spherical kid bumped into him on his way up to the stage. "Sorry about that," he mumbled softly while walking to the stool. The kid hunched in his seat and was then placed in Gryffindor. Peter walked past James trying to look the other way and sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table. James was only distracted away from the Gryffindor table at the sound of his own name.
"Potter, James!" James immediately ran for the stage. He was excited, and sick of waiting for this ceremony to end. Professor McGonagall had just barely placed the hat above James' head when it bellowed...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James hopped up and down and then hugged McGonagall before running down the steps to the table. Sirius was waving at him. James ran past Peter and sat down next to Sirius and Remus. Professor McGonagall stood speechless for a few moments until she was waved to continue by Headmaster Dumbledore. The ceremony continued as students were rapidly diminishing from the center of the floor. The last boy to be sorted was Wimbus Zangworth, who went to Hufflepuff.
"Finally! That took ages!" Sirius and James started laughing and Remus chimed in. They talked for a few more moments when Remus tapped James on the shoulder.
"Dumbledore's about to talk." Remus whispered to James. James was kind of puzzled.
"How on bloody earth do you know that?" James' curiously asked.
"Well, I've spent most of the last year just observing people and how they act and react to things. Whenever Dumbledore is about to speak, he takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and gives a great grin." James still didn't say anything. By this time Sirius was listening too. "Oh, just watch!"
The group of boys glanced over to the Head master where he sat up straight, took another deep breath, and gave a great grin. Then he slowly rose to a standing position and looked right at Remus. James and Sirius moved back a little. Dumbledore nodded at Remus with a twinkle shining over his half moon spectacles and began to speak. James and Sirius were still shocked that their friend actually knew the Headmaster.
"Welcome all first years! You are attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Headmaster Dumbledore and I have few start of term notices. " The whole school was in awe of the presence of Dumbledore. They gazed at his long white beard and little glasses.
"The grounds supervisor has asked me to keep all of you away from his quarters at night, he doesn't like to be disturbed by children out of bed." Dumbledore glanced at a clump of kids at the Slytherin table.
"I would also like to warn all of those who wish to stay healthy and whole, to stay away from the newly planted Whomping Willow just outside the building. They call it a Whomping Willow for a reason. Lastly, I would like to remind everyone that being out of bed at night is undeniably dangerous and warrants a detention. I am pleased to say, that we are getting more strict on that policy this year."
James was diligently watching Dumbledore's eyes. He watched them fall onto Remus once more after his last comment. James looked at Sirius who hadn't noticed at all. Then he looked at Remus who slightly nodded. Why does he keep looking at you? James thought for a few moments before Dumbledore began again.
"Now, I would like to welcome everyone back!" He paused for a split second. "Welcome back everyone, and welcome new first years! Let's feast shall we?" Dumbledore gave the crowd the once over and clapped his hands twice.
"Whoa!!!" Sirius yelped as the whole hall was filled with the aroma of fantastic food. Delectable foods and drinks surrounded their empty plates. James immediately went for the pumpkin juice. He and Remus reached for the same one. James pointed to the other side of Remus and they both laughed. James turned to Sirius who was already half way done with a chicken wing.
The three of them feasted and talked for the next hour until they were finished with their fourth servings. They were all tired from the food and ready to go to bed in their new home. Remus nudged James again and pointed to Dumbledore. The three of them saw the whole routine of Dumbledore's speech preparation once more. The girl on the other side of Remus giggled when Remus said, "Told you!" That is when James realized that the redhead was right next to them.
"Wasn't that funny?" James asked politely, but the girl wasn't listening. No one was. Dumbledore was talking.
"Now that we have all consumed much more than need, I believe rest is in order. Prefects, will you please lead the first years to their house dormitories." People started rising all around the room. Many of the teachers rose to see the children out of the room.
"Good night everyone!" Dumbledore stated and 'good nights' were heard all around the room. Dumbledore smiled ever so slightly as the room emptied.
It had been an excellent first day at Hogwarts in James' opinion. He had already made two new friends and was in the house that both his parents had been in. He knew some quirks of the headmaster, and he knew that his friend knew Dumbledore. It had been a very long day for everyone and it was time for sleep.
"Hurry up!" James was already in bed waiting for Sirius to turn off the light. Remus was already asleep. "I guess he is worn out from being sick too?" He added as Sirius came from the bathroom.
Sirius turned off the light and climbed into bed. He pulled his covers up to his chest and turned over to his side.
"Good night James." He said softly before shutting his eyes.
"Good night Sirius." James whispered softly. This was definitely the beginning of a great friendship and year.
The two boys followed the crowd pushing them out the door. They stepped off of the train in front of a massive castle. To one side of the castle was a lake; the other and grand forest. It was set at the edge of mountains and was absolutely stunning. James and Sirius followed the bellows of a man standing over to the side while gazing at the magnificence.
"First Years! Over here first years!" James plugged his ears as the man next to him yelled. Sirius was still looking around at the landscape, but James had moved on to all of the people fluttering past him.
There was a big kid who had bright yellow hair, unnaturally blonde. Then there was a girl with long thick black hair. She was rather tall with a lot of pimples. Then James' eyes caught a flash of green. There was a redheaded girl standing five feet from him with brilliant emerald green eyes. She had rather straight thick hair that was dangling down near her face. Although, her face was almost fully hidden, her eyes emitted radiance from five feet away. James started to walk towards the beautiful eyes when Sirius spun him around.
"You had better watch where you are going! You almost fell over the trunk there!" Sirius laughed. James wasn't five feet away from her he was about twenty. She was on the other side of the luggage pile. He didn't move closer to her, but he was still transfixed on her stunning green eyes.
He looked away when the man started to talk. 'First years will follow me to the lake, where we will ride to the school on boats. Any questions?" The majority nodded and started walking to the lake. James glanced backwards to the girl, but he didn't see her so he started talking to Sirius again.
When they arrived at the lake, they were split up into groups of fours and placed on the boats. They had a smooth tranquil boat ride to the other side of the lake. There were fins that stood out of the water occasionally, but that was it. When they got to the other side they were welcome by a short stern looking woman. The man said goodbye and walked away leaving them with this woman.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School Of Witch Craft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall. I will be leading you to the Sorting ceremony, which will commence momentarily."
Everyone nodded in understanding as she walked over to the great door. She peered through and turned back to the group of first years. "Follow me please."
She walked to the door and opened it. "Watch your step and keep up please." She said as she called the students to follow her. When James and Sirius stepped into the Great Hall, they were surrounded by hundreds of older kids. The ceiling was the actual sky; starry and clear. There were bewitched candles floating above them and there were four rows of tables set up for them. There were distinctive red and gold patterns adorning the walls and ceiling.
As they approached the center of the room they noticed a shabby hat placed atop a stool. The children gathered around in a big clump and McGonagall walked over to the hat and nodded at a tall man with a long white beard. The man looked at her through his half-moon-spectacles and nodded back.
"Now, it is time for the Sorting Ceremony. Each of you first years will place that hat on your head. Then the hat will place you in one of the four houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. You will then place the hat back on the stool and go to your house table. Do you all understand?" Once again the crowd of first years nodded in response. "Okay then."
"I am the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts In which I was placed to see Everything inside your head That tells me where you need to be. Give me a try, and I can't go wrong In placing you where you belong. Maybe in great Gryffindor, where Lions like to roar. With strength Compassion, love and courage, that No on can ignore. Or maybe in humble Hufflepuff, where the honest can endure, These smart and helpful ones will Always have a cure. Then you might Belong in Ravenclaw, where their mighty Talons soar, among them are the great and gifted Ones if nothing more. Then you might Wind up in Slytherin, where being sly is Required, these witty folk always come in just Barely short of liars. Give me a whirl inside your Mind, and you may be surprised at what I can find. I am the Sorting Hogwarts Hat that goes atop your head, For only I can tell you which of the houses has your bed.
"The hat just spoke! It's a talking hat!" Sirius whispered loudly. Many of the students were giggling when they were all startled by professor McGonagall's voice.
" Aarons, Secilia!" Professor McGonagall had yelled so loudly that many first years covered their ears.
The chubby, blonde girl waddled up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall put that hat on her head. The girl sat as still as possible while her flub drooled down the stool. She inhaled and then there was a moment of silence until...
"RAVENCLAW!"
The girl then waddled from the stage to the Ravenclaw table where she sat down rather quickly. The people at her tabled welcomed her kindly and another name was called.
"Adams, Mickey!" Was placed in Ravenclaw along with a really short boy with very bushy hair. "Barton, Alicia!" went to Hufflepuff along with her twin sister, "Barton, Marissa!"
"Black, Sirius!" Professor McGonagall bellowed for the endth time, yet they were still at the beginning of the list. Sirius looked at James quickly before running up to the stage himself. He sat down quickly and the hat was placed over his head. He was up there for about fifteen seconds.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius flew into the air with excitement and ran to the table. On his way there he passed James.
"Booth, Melissa!" McGonagall cried.
"Hey James! The hat talks to you when you put it on. It is wicked!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"See you later, okay?" James nodded in reply.
James started thinking about what house he was going to be placed in. His mother had been in Gryffindor along with his father. Could he make the cut? He was a troublemaker and didn't always to everything he was told, but would that put him in Slytherin? Would he be separated from Sirius so early in the running?
"Evans, Lily!" James till sat there thinking about what house he was going to but was distracted when the redheaded, green eyes girl walked past. James racked his brain trying to remember the last name called. He couldn't think of it. The girl was placed in Gryffindor and then ran past him to the table next to Sirius.
He thought about the girl and the various reasons for being placed in other houses that Gryffindor. Meanwhile, Slytherin gained nine first years, five in a row; Ravenclaw about seven more; Hufflepuff was home to 8 more; and Gryffindor seated twelve more students. James didn't look up until he heard, "Lupin, Remus!" from Professor McGonagall.
James wheeled around to see the odd boy slowly walk up to the stage slightly coughing. When he passed James he nudged him and looked back with a smile. James was sitting there hoping that Lupin would be in Gryffindor. No matter how much James himself thought about not being in Gryffindor for some reason, he did want Remus to be.
Remus had been up there for about half a minute, that longest so far. What could that hat be talking about? About ten seconds later the hat bellowed out music to James' ears.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James humped in place and waited for Remus to come down. Within moments he was in view on Lupin. "Hey! You got into Gryffindor! That's great!" James said patting Remus on the back. Remus coughed a few times and then cleared his throat once again.
Remus was about to speak when James cut him off. "Hey, about earlier...could we just forget it?" There was a paused before Remus talked.
"Thanks! Hope to see you up there!" Remus said winking at James before running to the table and wedging in between Sirius and a rather slinky redheaded girl with green eyes. She distracted James once again. Then turned around.
"Parsons, Wesley!" was placed in Slytherin. Then "Pettigrew, Peter!" was called to the stage.
A big spherical kid bumped into him on his way up to the stage. "Sorry about that," he mumbled softly while walking to the stool. The kid hunched in his seat and was then placed in Gryffindor. Peter walked past James trying to look the other way and sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table. James was only distracted away from the Gryffindor table at the sound of his own name.
"Potter, James!" James immediately ran for the stage. He was excited, and sick of waiting for this ceremony to end. Professor McGonagall had just barely placed the hat above James' head when it bellowed...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James hopped up and down and then hugged McGonagall before running down the steps to the table. Sirius was waving at him. James ran past Peter and sat down next to Sirius and Remus. Professor McGonagall stood speechless for a few moments until she was waved to continue by Headmaster Dumbledore. The ceremony continued as students were rapidly diminishing from the center of the floor. The last boy to be sorted was Wimbus Zangworth, who went to Hufflepuff.
"Finally! That took ages!" Sirius and James started laughing and Remus chimed in. They talked for a few more moments when Remus tapped James on the shoulder.
"Dumbledore's about to talk." Remus whispered to James. James was kind of puzzled.
"How on bloody earth do you know that?" James' curiously asked.
"Well, I've spent most of the last year just observing people and how they act and react to things. Whenever Dumbledore is about to speak, he takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and gives a great grin." James still didn't say anything. By this time Sirius was listening too. "Oh, just watch!"
The group of boys glanced over to the Head master where he sat up straight, took another deep breath, and gave a great grin. Then he slowly rose to a standing position and looked right at Remus. James and Sirius moved back a little. Dumbledore nodded at Remus with a twinkle shining over his half moon spectacles and began to speak. James and Sirius were still shocked that their friend actually knew the Headmaster.
"Welcome all first years! You are attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Headmaster Dumbledore and I have few start of term notices. " The whole school was in awe of the presence of Dumbledore. They gazed at his long white beard and little glasses.
"The grounds supervisor has asked me to keep all of you away from his quarters at night, he doesn't like to be disturbed by children out of bed." Dumbledore glanced at a clump of kids at the Slytherin table.
"I would also like to warn all of those who wish to stay healthy and whole, to stay away from the newly planted Whomping Willow just outside the building. They call it a Whomping Willow for a reason. Lastly, I would like to remind everyone that being out of bed at night is undeniably dangerous and warrants a detention. I am pleased to say, that we are getting more strict on that policy this year."
James was diligently watching Dumbledore's eyes. He watched them fall onto Remus once more after his last comment. James looked at Sirius who hadn't noticed at all. Then he looked at Remus who slightly nodded. Why does he keep looking at you? James thought for a few moments before Dumbledore began again.
"Now, I would like to welcome everyone back!" He paused for a split second. "Welcome back everyone, and welcome new first years! Let's feast shall we?" Dumbledore gave the crowd the once over and clapped his hands twice.
"Whoa!!!" Sirius yelped as the whole hall was filled with the aroma of fantastic food. Delectable foods and drinks surrounded their empty plates. James immediately went for the pumpkin juice. He and Remus reached for the same one. James pointed to the other side of Remus and they both laughed. James turned to Sirius who was already half way done with a chicken wing.
The three of them feasted and talked for the next hour until they were finished with their fourth servings. They were all tired from the food and ready to go to bed in their new home. Remus nudged James again and pointed to Dumbledore. The three of them saw the whole routine of Dumbledore's speech preparation once more. The girl on the other side of Remus giggled when Remus said, "Told you!" That is when James realized that the redhead was right next to them.
"Wasn't that funny?" James asked politely, but the girl wasn't listening. No one was. Dumbledore was talking.
"Now that we have all consumed much more than need, I believe rest is in order. Prefects, will you please lead the first years to their house dormitories." People started rising all around the room. Many of the teachers rose to see the children out of the room.
"Good night everyone!" Dumbledore stated and 'good nights' were heard all around the room. Dumbledore smiled ever so slightly as the room emptied.
It had been an excellent first day at Hogwarts in James' opinion. He had already made two new friends and was in the house that both his parents had been in. He knew some quirks of the headmaster, and he knew that his friend knew Dumbledore. It had been a very long day for everyone and it was time for sleep.
"Hurry up!" James was already in bed waiting for Sirius to turn off the light. Remus was already asleep. "I guess he is worn out from being sick too?" He added as Sirius came from the bathroom.
Sirius turned off the light and climbed into bed. He pulled his covers up to his chest and turned over to his side.
"Good night James." He said softly before shutting his eyes.
"Good night Sirius." James whispered softly. This was definitely the beginning of a great friendship and year.