[A/N] Just to say, I'm no good at poetry, so brace yourself when it comes to the sorting song! :p
A layer of darkness had settled, consuming the landscape about Hogwarts express by the time the train had stopped with a screech beside a lighted platform. The jerk of the train braking woke James up from his little snooze. With a yawn and a stretch, James sat up properly and looked outside rather groggily. Through the shadows he could see the blurry lights of Hogsmeade station. He gasped audibly and jumped up, realising that he was still dressed in muggle-like clothes (he was forced to so that he wouldn't draw attention at King's cross.). He was to walk through the doors of Hogwarts in a matter of a few minutes, and he hadn't got dressed into his school robes yet! Severus sat, ready and dressed, watching him like a hawk and even Peter was in his robes, though they were sticky with the food he had eaten and cluttered by their wrappings.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" James spat rather angrily at the other two.
Peter shrugged. "Well, you looked quite...peaceful." His voice shook slightly as though scared to voice his opinion.
Severus just stood up and looked at James nonchalantly, holding up his book tightly to his chest.
"You have drool dripping from the side of your mouth." He drawled and walked out of the compartment. James watched him go with slight disbelief while quickly wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his jumper.
"Uhhh...could you leave please? I need to get changed." Said James. He had an edge of annoyance in his voice due to the fact that he had over-slept, though he didn't mean to take it out on Peter. He just gave him a rather sad look and nodded up at him. He slid off the chair, wrappers and crumbs falling to the floor and walked up to the open door; scores of pupils of all ages walked down the gangway at speed to get off the train.
"I'll...meet you outside?" asked Peter. He sounded sad, yet there was a distinct tone of hope somewhere deep inside. James nodded, giving him a smile. He was suddenly feeling very apologetic for taking his little bout of anger on him when there was no need. Peter left, leaving James alone. As he pulled the robes over his head, the butterfly feeling deep within the pit of his stomach had grown immensely by the second. All the thoughts of Hogwarts life came crashing down upon him – all them children, the sorting, having to live with people he didn't know, and...the lessons. His stomach churned and he suddenly felt sick, half of him excited to start this new school, the other half of him wanting to stay on the train and go back to the safe comforts of his home.
Once done up his laces, he bolted down the train and out the nearest door. Stepping down onto the platform, the cold September wind whipping his face rather painfully and blowing his shaggy fringe away from his eyes, he realised that his legs were shaking. Probably because he had been sat on the same seat for what seemed like hours. James tried to get a look around the place, but to no avail. No matter where he turned, all he could see was heads and shoulders, or lights. He could hardly see the station at all, and things only got worse when Hogwarts express blew out steam from underneath, sending the platform into a hazy blanket of hot-smelling smoke. James coughed and took off his glasses to wipe them.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" bellowed a deep voice from high above.
James and many others looked up to the direction of the voice and opened their mouths with wonder. Floating high above the ocean of heads was a pair of black eyes surrounded by a large mound of scraggly hair and a very unkempt beard. His head was huge, but nothing compared to the rest of his body, that was enormous! He looked far too big to be allowed. In his hand he held a large lamplight. Despite his large figure, his eyes still shone with certain warmth that told you that you could trust him.
"C'mon firs' years. This way!" he called, waving another hand up to signal which direction he wanted them to go. With much struggling and "excuse me"s, James finally managed to get up to the giant. Peter and Severus were already standing there, a look of intimidation gleaming in their eyes as they looked up at the large man. He smiled at the two of them and stood with them, waiting for the rest of the first years to get there, which took some time, for most of them were rather shy and didn't like having to push and shove their way to an enormous bearded stranger.
Finally, the whole first year was grouped together and the platform was cleared as the rest of the school made their way to some strange place. James wondered if they were going to follow them after a while. But they didn't. The bearded man introduced himself as Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts castle, and then he told them to follow him down to a lake. Like obedient puppies, the first years followed Hagrid off the platform and down a slope; it must've been raining at some point for the ground had become slippery with mud and many a pupil went skidding down to the lake, instead of walking down. Even James was finding it difficult to walk down without his feet in fear of slipping into different directions – half the time he had to hold on to anyone nearby to stop himself from making a fool of himself by landing flat on his back side.
At last, they managed to reach the borders of a lake. Its blackened waves lapped lazily against the muddy edges, bopping at least a dozen little boats upon its surface. From some distance, high upon a peak stood a large impressive castle. The turrets and towers seemed to spiral high up into the night clouds and thousands of windows were dotted with light like eyes looking down at them all with a certain warm gleam. A few owls flew overhead the pupils making their way to the school. The children stood with mouths wide open, some were in silent awe, and some had burst into rushed excited chatter. Hagrid turned to them.
"Now, this lake 'ere's gonna take us to Hogwarts, grea'est school of wizardry an' witchcraft yeh'll ever get, an' run by the grea'est wizard of all time – Albus Dumbledore." Said Hagrid. As he said the headmaster's name a gleam of admiration could be seen deep within his beetle-black eyes. "Righ', four to a boat an' step quick too it."
The children did as they were told with haste, slipping sometimes on the mud. James quickly found a boat and was about to put one foot into it before he felt a tap on his shoulder. He spun around, almost losing his balance and toppling into the water, if it hadn't been for a pair of hands helping him.
"Sorry mate, didn't mean to frighten you like that." Said a voice. He helped James up properly with a smile on his haggard face. To think he was the same age as him, he didn't look it and around his eyes were dark tired rings. His hair was very fine and of a mousy colour. "I was just wondering if me and my new friend here could sit on the same boat as you."
"Oh." James got back onto the shore and looked behind the friendly boy. Stood behind him was a small person, though it was rather difficult to see his or her face in the darkness. "Well, it's four to a boat and..." He looked askance at Peter and Severus as they tried to get to James without landing on their faces. "...I'm saving two seats for my friends..." James sounded rather disappointed. For some reason there was something quite likable about this new acquaintance. The boy just shrugged and smiled.
"Not to worry. We'll find another boat." He turned away to walk, but looked back at James. "My name's Remus, by the way, just in case we bump into each other later on in Hogwarts." And with that, he smiled and left.
With much fumbling and struggling, the three boys managed to get onto the boat without capsizing it and sat down, though they were far from comfortable. Peter was holding onto the sides of the boat with dear life until his knuckles had turned white. Hagrid moved around each boat, checking that everything was all right. When he came over to James' boat, he gave a grunt and furrowed his brow – or, at least, James thought so, but wasn't really sure due to the fact that his hair was hiding most of his forehead.
"Oi! You there! C'mon over 'ere to fill up this boat!" called Hagrid, beckoning a pupil to come over, and the pupil, with some reluctance, sauntered over. James turned to face the pupil with a friendly smile.
"Hel...oh no..." James' voice trailed off as he realised who it was. The boy on the train. He grinned down fiercely at James and clapped his hands.
"Ah, if it isn't my friends on the train?" he said. James grimaced, not sure whether or not he liked the idea of sharing a boat with this boisterous boy. He jumped into the boat, rocking it slightly, and took a seat right beside James.
"Good, you know each other, tha's good." Said Hagrid. He gave the boys a wink before trudging off to his own boat. The boy nudged James sharply in the ribs.
"What?" James asked rather irritated – that nudge had hurt somewhat.
"So, what's your name?" he asked.
"Too cold to talk." He said, though it wasn't really true. Despite the wind, the air was rather warm and buzzed with celebration that probably radiated from Hogwarts. James had only said that so as not to have to talk to the boy for the remainder of the journey. Strangely enough, the boy laughed.
"Too cold, huh?" he said, with teasing in his voice. "Don't be stupid. Now, this is cold!"
"Wha-!?"
SPLASH! The boy had thrown James off the boat and into the shallow waves of the lake. James squealed and jumped up like a frightened cat. The water was like ice, so cold it burnt slightly. It went everywhere – above his head, down his back, into his shoes. He spluttered and tried to wipe the little splatters off his glasses with shivering hands, his teeth chittering wildly. The boy laughed loudly, practically roaring, and such noise had brought the attention of nearby pupils to stare at what was going on. Some of them sniggered, and even Peter's face kept twitching into a smile. Angry, James turned on the boy, face contort with fury and fists clenched, ready to hit him until Hagrid's voice bellowed over the noise of laughter.
"Oi, wha's goin' on over there?" he asked.
Severus spoke up.
"He was puuuu-"
And that was all he could say, for the boy had cunningly spun round and pushed him into the lake too, to save his own skin.
"Fell!" called the boy. "They fell. Mr Hagrid...uhhh...sir, I think this boat's a little rickety."
"Cold. So cold." Severus spluttered, getting up from the lake, holding around himself to keep the little warmth he had left from escaping. James' fury rose up like hot bile.
"Why, you little -!" He shouted, and without a warning or a second thought, sprang onto the boy, the both of them falling into the lake with a deep plonk and began to fight.
Through the centre between two tables full of pupils they all marched down to the end where the teachers sat. In the middle sat an ancient looking man, with hair and beard the colour of silver and upon his crooked nose rested a pair of half-moon spectacles. He eyed the first years with curiosity. James was so overwhelmed by the whole place, his legs felt less stable than jelly and found himself leaning against Severus as he walked for some sort of support.
"What are you doing?" Severus whispered. He didn't seem very happy that their shoulders were touching.
"I'm not sure...but I think I'm dreaming." Sighed James. It was true. It was as though he had stepped into a dream, the place was so wonderful it was unreal. Yet, it was! And he was going to spend the next seven years here too! James had never felt so happy before.
The line stopped abruptly, right in front of a small three-legged stool. Upon the stood sat a very old hat, battered and patched, and above the brim was a large rip. The first years looked upon the frail object with some disappointment – when McGonagall had been talking about a "sorting ceremony", many had expected something extravagant and large. What they hadn't expected was an ancient hat with holes in it. But then, the hat did something extraordinary. The rip moved, the hat twitched and opened the rip even more, moving it about as though it was a mouth! It cleared its voice and strangely enough, began to sing:
"Welcome new pupils;
I'm the sorting hat, you see
You'll never find a hat
That's as clever as me.
Wear me on your head
And I'll search your mind,
Read your true colours-
There's nothing you can hide!
I'll find the place where you belong,
The house that suits you best,
The house that will outshine your talents,
Yet put them to the test.
You might end up in Gryffindor,
Where the valiant and brave be.
Or perhaps Slytherin suits you best,
The house of the cunning and crafty.
Or maybe even Ravenclaw,
If vast knowledge lies in you.
How about dear Hufflepuff?
Where loyalty is true.
So, don't just stand there!
Try me on for size!
I'll find exactly where you deserve,
I'm sure you'll be surprised."
The hat finished and the whole Hall burst into loud applause and cheers, all except the first year, who were all still in shock of seeing a singing hat. As soon as the cheering had ceased, Professor McGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment and addressed the small crowd.
"Now when I call your names, each of you will step up to the hat, put it on your head and wait to be sorted. Then you shall go to your house table." She informed. James looked behind him and wondered which table belonged to which house and hoped that he wouldn't end up going to the wrong table and make a fool of himself.
McGonagall began to shout out each name, beginning with "Aconite, Alden."
A boy stepped nervously up to the stool, sat upon it and put the sorting hat upon his blond head, the brim falling over his eyes. There was a minute of silence before the hat screeched, "RAVENCLAW!"
A table nearest to James burst into cheers as Alden Aconite joined them. They all congratulated him on being sorted into their house. "Anderson, Samantha" was next to be sorted and ended up in Gryffindor. Table on the far right whooped and cheered as the tiny squat girl went to join them.
"Black, Narcissa!"
Narcissa walked with wiggling hips to the stool, carefully wore the sorting hat and was quickly sorted into "SLYTHERIN". Happily, she ran up to the Slytherin table where some of the girls gave her a congratulatory hug. James quirked a brow – how typical of a Black to be sorted into that house!
"Black, Sirius!"
The boy walked up to the stool, his hair still sopping wet from the fight in the lake, sat down, and waited to be sorted. To everyone's surprise, the hat sent him to Gryffindor. James and many others turned to watch him run up to the Gryffindor table. One girl, who could only have been Narcissa's sister (or at least, must've been a very close relative to her.), shouted and cheered the loudest, standing up to greet him by shouting, "Well done, Sirius! I'm proud of you!"
A few more were sorted. One by one, the first year was being separated into the four different houses. A small, redheaded girl with startling green eyes named Lily Evans was sorted into Gryffindor, along with her friend Remus Lupin. A few more pupils went to Hufflepuff, some to Slytherin, and a couple to Ravenclaw. Then came the Ps.
"Pettigrew, Peter!" shouted McGonagall.
With a squeak, Peter timidly walked up to the stool for the sorting. The hat took some time to decide where he was to be put. Finally, after what felt like forever, the hat screamed "GRYFFINDOR!" More cheers from the Gryffindor pupils as Peter half ran, half tripped his way to the table, where he was greeted warmly. James suddenly felt sick, knowing what was coming next...
"Potter, James!"
James gave a small whimper, but moved his way up to the hat to put it on his head. It sunk down over his eyes, covering his sight in darkness. He could feel his whole body shake, the butterflies in his stomach expanding so much they felt as though they were fluttering up his gullet. A small voice whispered in his ear – a voice not owned by any person. It was the hat.
"My, my, now you're an easy one! So easy, you needn't have put me on at all. You belong in..."
There was a second of silence.
"...GRYFFINDOR!"
With a sigh of relief, James took off the hat, gently settled it back upon the stool and ran up to Gryffindor's table, where they all cheered and patted his back encouragingly. Many were congratulating him, Sirius just grinned at him. The sorting went quite quickly after his own, perhaps because his nerves had settled down and he could relax and enjoy the comforts of the Great Hall. Severus had his wish granted and was placed with the Slytherins, much to the house's happiness. Once the last pupil (Yeoman, Miles) had been sorted into Ravenclaw, McGonagall collected the sorting hat and the stool and kept them, and Dumbledore stood up, addressing the whole school. Many eyed him with awe.
"Now, I'll make this brief, for I'm sure you all just want to eat and not listen to my babbling." He said, his voice held some power. He smiled and looked over his half-moon glasses. "Just one announcement, and that is to do with our new plantation on the grounds. You will notice a Whomping Willow planted some little way from the school – I advice all not to go nowhere near it, unless you don't mind living the rest of your life without a few limbs."
A few gasped at this warning. Deep inside, James hoped the headmaster was joking, though his eyes bore no glint of humour what so ever.
"Oh, and of course, the usual warning of no one is to go near the Forbidden Forest – and I mean no one. Now, I think it best that we stray away from these dark announcements and fill ourselves up with as much food as possible. Therefore, tuck in!" He sat down and at once a whole array of food appeared on every table. James couldn't believe it. Never had he seen so much choice together before. There was pork, lamb, chicken, beef, all sorts of pie, mashed potatoes, new potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, peas, carrots, gravy trains, an assortment of creams and sauces, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings, and much more. Greedily, James scooped as much food as he possibly could on his plate, filled his chalice full of pumpkin juice and began to devour the lot as though he had been starved all his life and this was the first time he had ever had food. As he gulped it all down, he listened as everyone got friendly, talking about their families, interests and basic Hogwarts life.
"I'm muggle-born." Said the girl named Lily, gracefully sipping some pumpkin juice. "Is that what you call them, yes?"
"Yup." Said Sirius Black, shovelling chicken pie covered in gravy into his mouth. "I'm what they called a pure-blood. This here," he pointed his fork at the girl that had welcomed him into the house of Gryffindor so fondly, "is my cousin, Andromeda."
"You'll love it here in Gryffindor." She said proudly. "We stick by each other no matter what, so if you've got trouble – especially with them Slytherins there – then come to one of us. We'll help you out!"
"I still can't believe I got to go to Hogwarts!" sighed Remus happily, playing with his food.
"Eh?" asked Sirius.
"Oh, nothing..." Remus blushes and bowed his head down, his voice going very quiet. "I...it's just that...I'm so privileged to be...here. You know?"
As soon as the last titbit of food was gulped down, the plates were all cleared and all sorts of puddings were spread across the tables. James eagerly grabbed some jam tart and poured hot custard over it. Quickly, he glanced over his shoulder to take a peak at how Severus was doing. He seemed fine would've been an understatement, he seemed to be the centre of attention as many asked him all sorts of questions. James smiled and turned back to the pudding that was practically screaming, "Eat me! Eat me!" and he did.
"James, right?" said the voice of Sirius. James looked up and eyed him cautiously.
"Yeah. And you're Sirius?"
"The one and only." He smiled and ate a bit of sticky toffee pudding.
"Why did you throw me into the lake?" James asked before he could stop himself. True, he wanted to know why, yet he didn't actually want to just blurt the question...not just yet, at least. Sirius just laughed.
"Hmm...I think it's because you strike me as a bit of a troublemaker." He quirked a brow and grinned when James' cheeks turned a nasty shade of pink. So, it was true... "Well, so am I. Just a little – hardly ever really. Most of the time I'm a little angel."
"Stop lying, Sirius! You cause more trouble alone than the whole Black children put together!" argued Andromeda.
"OK, so I exaggerated a little-"
"What's your point?" asked James impatiently.
"Mate, you're my competition...can't let you get the upper hand on me, so...you know. No offence meant!" he explained. James' mouth dropped open. Competition or not, there was still no need to throw him into the freezing lake like that! But there was something deep inside him, growing in a way. Perhaps it was his competitive spirit – a strong trait that he held. With a smirk, James decided to humour Sirius a bit.
"No, no offence meant at all. But I bet I could out-do you any day!" he joked with a smirk. He didn't want to – he probably could, but he didn't want to. First day at Hogwarts and he was digging himself a deep hole. He could feel his conscience kicking him, screaming at him, "what are you doing, you fool?!"
"Oh really? I bet you can't!" said Sirius.
"Bet I can!"
"Well, bet then!"
"No!" retorted James.
"What? Scared, are we?" teased Sirius. There was something quite irritating about his tone of voice that urged James to want to bet with him. Unfortunately, it was too urging.
"No...ok, fine! I bet I can out-do you, Mr So-called-trouble-maker!" said James, extending his arm out for Sirius to shake. Sirius took the hand and the both of them shook on the bet.
"You're on!" he said. "By the way, watch out!"
"Huh?"
Sirius had made a quick grab for his wand and quickly, used a banishing spell. It wasn't very powerful, but it was enough to hit James off his seat and hard onto the stone floor. He lay there, dazed, laughter echoing in his ears.
"Hehe...two nil!" shouted Sirius triumphantly.
Distantly, he could hear Andromeda tut disapprovingly. "Bad form, Sirius. Bad form!"
Characters and basically anything that has to do with the wizarding world is © to J.K.Rowling.