Disclaimer: We do not own The Marauders or the world of Harry Potter, but
then you already knew that didn't you? They are the creations of J.K.
Rowling. We also do not own Jhonen Vasquez, Brian Warner, or Elijah Wood.
Damn.
The Adventures of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
::Year One::
Chapter Four:
Peter By: Padfoot
"This spell only covers turning cats back from something else. There's nothing here about turning a kneazle in to a cat," Sirius said, flipping through a large volume on transfiguration.
"It has to be in there," James replied. "We saw it in Diagon Alley! Look again."
"I am, James, you silly git! It's not here."
I listened to the two giggling playfully, and gave a long sigh. Once again, I was left on the outside. When the two got together, especially when it involved mischief of any sort, it was like they forgot everything else in the room, or in this case, compartment. I may as well have been invisible. But, regardless of how it hurt, being forgotten, there was one positive side to it. I could watch James without fear of getting caught. I just sat back, listening to their plotting, and studied the excited glint in James's warm brown eyes.
I let my mind go back to our meeting in Diagon Alley. Sirius had bumped in to me, and for some stupid reason I had apologized. Then he started asking me about James. Either, he knew my secret or he too had a crush on the beautiful boy. But looking at James now, conspiring with Sirius, I decided I couldn't blame him. A person would have to be blind and deaf not to fall in love with the boy. He was amazing. And he knew it.
For a moment, I wondered what James would say if he knew how I felt about him. What would he do? Not that it mattered. We would never be together. Even if he did like boys, he would never be attracted to me. I was chubby and plain, and I was sure James would want to be with someone as pretty as he was. Someone like Sirius.
A few moments later Sirius's kneazle, Grim, began to get restless, leaving his place by the door to roam the compartment, all the while eyeing me suspiciously. By the window, Talons perched on top of his cage, a look of mistrust in his eyes as well.
"I found it!" Sirius's exclamation shattered the silence in the room, startling both pets. Both animals lunged at me, and I ducked just in time. Talons landed on top of my head, digging his namesake into my thin brown hair. Grim landed on my back, his sharp claws cutting through my new robe, and piercing my skin.
"Grim! What are you doing?" Sirius asked, a slight laugh in his voice. James was laughing, as well. Sirius crossed the compartment, and picked up his kneazle. Startled by the movement, Talons flew back to his cage, pushing hard on my head to take-off. I sat up, straightening my hair, surprisingly unharmed, well, for the most part. The scratches on my back would heal, but after Talons's encounter with Alastor Moody at James's party, I considered myself to be quite lucky to still have both my eyes intact.
"I think," James said, breathless with laughter, "it's time we enlisted outside help."
"Arthur is a seventh year," Sirius offered. "I bet he would help us."
"Well, come on, let's go find him." James and Sirius went to the door. I climbed to my feet and followed the pair out. "I never did figure out his bloody gift," James added.
We were halfway down the hall when Sirius stopped us. We could hear a voice coming through the door. Sirius pushed it open to reveal a boy with light brown hair talking to Arthur.
"When you press it down, electricity heats the coils..." the boy was saying, gesturing with his hands.
"Arthur?" Sirius interrupted. "We need your help."
"Oh! Hello Sirius! James! Peter! This is Remus Lupin! He's a muggle!" Arthur said, excitedly, not stopping to draw in a breath. "He's telling me how to work your toaster, James... Really quite an ingenious invention, a toaster! It browns both sides of your bread... at the same time!"
"Well, that really is fascinating, Arthur," Sirius replied, humoring his cousin's muggle obsession. "But, we need your help with my kneazle... we want to make him look like a cat, so I can keep him with me in school."
"Of course," he said, pulling out his wand. "Domesticus felinus."
We all watched in wonder as the kneazle transformed into a longhaired, black cat. The ears were still rather large, but that was the only major difference between Grim and an ordinary house cat.
"Umm... thanks. That looked rather easy."
"I'm really good at transfiguration. Last year, Mrs. Norris said I was one of the best in class. Remus, tell James about how to work-"
"Oh," Sirius interrupted, turning his attention to the quiet boy sitting next to Arthur. "Sorry we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves properly. I'm Sirius Black, this is my best friend, and cousin, James Potter, and this is our friend Peter Pettigrew." Of course I was last.
"Hello," the boy replied, meekly.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you boys to get to know one another," Arthur said, suddenly standing. "I was supposed to sit with Molly, but I forgot. I just love to learn about muggles. James, have Remus explain your toaster to you!" With that, Arthur left, leaving us alone. Sirius and James took the seat on the other side of the compartment, leaving me to sit next to Remus.
"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Sirius asked Remus.
"No, only child."
"So are Peter and I," James interjected.
"Actually," I said quietly, correcting James for what had to be the first time in my life. "I have three sisters and an older brother."
"Since when?" James asked, shocked. "I've known you since we were five." Although we had indeed been friends that long, James had never really been over my house, and I never really spoke of my family to them.
"My older brother graduated last year."
"Really? Is there anything else I don't know about you?"
Yeah, I thought. I'm in love with you.
"I have a snotty younger brother," Sirius said to Remus, interrupting. "You can have him, if you want."
"Umm... that's all right," Remus said, a peculiar expression on his face.
"Oh well, my loss... actually, I don't really hate him, I hate my mother for spoiling him. Turning him in to a proper git, she is." Sirius and James laughed, while Remus just smiled.
"Got any pets?" James asked, as Grim climbed out of Sirius's arms and came to rest on James's lap, nuzzling his hand.
A sad look came over Remus as he just shook his head.
Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a woman pushing a cart down the hall outside the door. "Fancy anything off the cart, dears?"
Moments later, we were weighed down with Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans, Chocoballs, Cauldron Cakes, Fizzing Whizbees, Jelly Slugs, Pumpkin Pasties, Pepper Imps, Ice Mice and various other candies. I had had little money; Sirius had had even less, so James had treated all of us.
Remus, being muggle-born, had never had any wizarding candy before. We all watched him expectantly as he stuck a green Every Flavor Bean in his mouth, then giggled as a disgusted look came over his face.
"Yechh! What was that?" the boy asked, swallowing.
"That was an Every Flavor Bean!" James explained. "That one was bogie flavored... actually compared to vomit, bogie tastes good."
At this prospect, Remus looked slightly ill. I smiled, reaching across the seat for an Ice Mice.
"Why would someone eat something so vile?" the boy asked, obviously addressing James and Sirius.
It was Sirius who answered this time. "It's about the excitement of never knowing what you're gonna get! Sometimes you get something disgusting, like bogie, but sometimes you get something wonderful! Like buttered popcorn, or toasted marshmallow. You just never know."
Remus nodded, as if it suddenly made sense to him.
"That's what makes people love them," Sirius concluded, scratching behind Grim's ear absently. It suddenly occurred to me, how close James and Sirius were sitting. Grim was curled up in the middle of them, half his body resting on James's leg, the other half on Sirius's.
"Anything safe to eat?" Remus asked, cautiously.
Sirius looked at the boy carefully, and smiled, before leaning across James to retrieve a Chocolate Frog. He tossed it to Remus. The boy gave a slight gasp as he opened the candy, and it's contents leaped out. It landed on the floor, and quickly slipped under the door.
"What was that?"
"A chocolate frog," James answered. "Don't worry. It wasn't really alive, just a spell."
No one seemed to notice I wasn't saying anything. Even Remus, who looked terrified, was talking. I started to open my mouth to say something, anything, that would remind them I was in the room, when I felt the train pull to a stop. We were at school.
The four of us piled out in the hallway, already filled with students. I looked around us, but the only other first year I saw was Severus Snape, an oily boy we had grown up with. His parents were relatives of Sirius's father, awful people from what I had heard. He was standing near a tall blond boy, who had his arm around the waist of Narcissa Black, Sirius's cousin.
Slowly, the crowd in the hallway dissipated, as students piled out of the train.
"First years! This way!" I looked around for the source of the voice, and spotted a black-haired witch. She didn't look like she had been teaching there long; in fact she didn't look more than a few years older than Arthur. She rounded us up at the mouth of a narrow path, and once she was sure all the first years were gathered, she led us down it. The path looked never ending, but as we turned a sharp corner, a lake came into view, and across it, was a magnificent castle. "Everyone, in to the boats!" she instructed, gesturing to a fleet of small boats. "No more than four to a boat."
The four of us quickly found a boat, James and Sirius up front, and Remus and I behind them.
When the boats were all loaded all of them completely full, but for two, one holding the black-haired witch, the other holding Snape. Seeing him alone in the boat, made me glad to have my friends with me. I'd hate to be here all alone.
"Forward!" the teacher called, and the boats glided across the water, coming to a curtain of ivy. Behind it was a long, dark tunnel. As we went through the tunnel, it took us to an underground harbor that seemed to be somewhere beneath the castle. "Everyone, be sure not to leave anything behind!" the teacher instructed, as we all climbed out of our vessels. She led us through a passageway that led us outside, and brought us up the castle steps. She opened the front door, and ushered us all inside.
She assembled us all in front of a pair of double doors, and gestured for us to be quiet. "My name is Ms. McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress. Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. The start-of-term banquet is about to begin, but before you are seated in the Great Hall you must all be sorted in to your houses. These will become something like you're family, as you will attend classes together, dine together, sleep in the same dormitories, and spend your free time together. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Through out the school year, you will be awarded house points for good behavior, and have house points taken away for bad behavior. At the end of the year, the house with the most house points will be awarded the house cup, a great honor I hope each of you will strive for. Now, everyone in a single file line and follow me to be sorted."
We were all silent as she led us through the doors to a large room. It held several long tables, one at the top of the room for the teachers and school staff, and two on either side of the door filled with students. In the air, there were floating candlesticks lighting the room, and above these, was a ceiling, bewitched to reflect the sky outside. It was a clear night, and the ceiling revealed a field of bright stars. The tables were set with golden goblets and plates.
She led us to the front of the room, and we stood in front of the teacher's table. Someone brought out a stool and sat an old hat atop it. Then something strange happened, a rip in the hat near its brim, opened and a song floated out in to the room.
"Many, many years ago,
When I was still brand new, There were four great wizards, Who began this school for you. They had a mission pure and true, The four had a plan, To educate the young, And thus, the school began. The four had different ideas, On how a wizard should be, So they each founded a different house, And left the sorting up to me. If your heart is pure, Your intentions good and true, Then the house of Hufflepuff, May be the one for you. If you're very clever, If you're wise and smart, Then it may be Ravenclaw, That lives within your heart. If you are ambitious, And will stop at nothing to reach your end, Then in the house of Slytherin, You may find a friend. For the brave at heart, With honor left to spare, The house is that of Gryffindor, You'll do well there. Now that you know the houses, Step up to my stool, I will tell you where you belong, Within our humble school."
"Now, please step forward when I call your name," Ms. McGonagall said, a scroll of parchment suddenly in her hand, "and sit on this stool. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted..."
I couldn't hear the first few names she called out because James and Sirius were whispering beside me.
"I couldn't leave him on the train, and he won't sit still..."
Sirius whispered loudly, struggling with Grim, who was hidden under his robe.
"Oh no! They're going in alphabetical order," James said, shifting himself so that he stood in front of Sirius hiding him from the teachers. "Give him to me, they'll be calling you soon." Sirius tried to pull Grim out and give him to James, but the 'cat' worked his way out of the boy's grip. Before either knew what was happening, Grim had leapt to the floor, and taken off across the room.
"Black, Sirius!"
"Uh-oh!"
"She's just calling you to be sorted," I whispered, leaning closer so he could hear me.
"Oh, uh-thanks." Sirius muttered. James and I watched as he made his way through the crowd, and sat down on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on his head and moments later, "Gryffindor!" rang out through the hall.
I watched as Sirius made his way to the Gryffindor table. As he passed the Ravenclaw table, a pretty seventh year waved. As Sirius waved back, I realized it was his cousin Andromeda. I threw a glance at the Slytherin table, where I could see several of Sirius's cousins, Andromeda's sister Narcissa included, looking disgusted at his placement.
I turned half my attention to the front of the room, but continued to examine the people seated at the tables. "Bones, Edgar," proceeded by, "Hufflepuff!"
"I hope I get Gryffindor with Sirius," James whispered to Remus and I. I scowled.
"Evans, Lily!" "Gryffindor!"
"Higgins, Alice!" "Gryffindor!"
"I just hope I don't get Slytherin," I replied, knowing that the only house I wanted to be in was the one James got.
"Lockhart, Gilderoy!" "Hufflepuff!"
"It would be cool if we all got to stay together." This from James. Like it really matters, I thought to myself. With Sirius around, I might as well be alone.
"Longbottom, Frank!" "Gryffindor!"
"Our names are coming up soon." Remus.
"Lupin, Remus!" Remus made his way up there, a nervous look on his face. The hat had barely touched his head before it shouted, "Gryffindor!" We watched him give a sigh of relief, as he walked over to join Sirius who was watching us anxiously.
"Patil, Geoffrey!" "Ravenclaw!"
"Pettigrew, Peter!" I made my way slowly to the front. Ms. McGonagall placed the hat on my head. A moment later there was a voice in my ear. "Hmmm... what have we here? Very observant, I see. Yes. Very observant. Hmmm... Quite brave as well... Gryffindor!"
I slid off the stool and with a hopeful glance back at James, I went to take my seat. I sat on one side of Sirius, Remus was on the other. I left a space between us, hoping James would get Gryffindor.
"Potter, James!" "Gryffindor!"
To my right, Sirius went wild, cheering as hard as he could. James hurried over, a broad grin on his face as he took the seat I had left open.
"This is great!" James exclaimed, throwing one arm around my shoulders and struggling to throw his other around the shoulders of Sirius and Remus. Remus seemed to shy away from the embrace, but Sirius wouldn't allow it as he threw his arms around James and Remus, pulling the four of us close together.
"Where's Grim?" James asked as we settled down, growing hungry for dinner.
"Under the table," Sirius answered, fiddling with his wand. He was gesturing to his goblet, as if attempting a spell. Then, we all heard him say, "Vinium apparum." We watched in shock as his goblet, filled with red wine. Sirius gave a smug grin as he lifted his goblet to his lips, and took a long drink. As he offered his goblet to James I turned away, shifting my focus back to the sorting ceremony. Only four students were left, all boys.
"Snape, Severus!" I watched as he stepped forward and sat down. "Slytherin!" The Slytherin table did not cheer. In fact, they hardly noticed. I could relate to that.
"Vasquez, Jhonen." An olive skinned boy stepped forward, with short black hair. "Gryffindor!" Cheers from the Gryffindor table.
"Warner, Brian," a tall, lanky boy with longish black hair stepped forward. "Ravenclaw!" Cheers from the Ravenclaw table.
"Wood, Elijah!" This boy had curly brown hair, with pretty, almost feminine features. "Gryffindor!" More cheers from Gryffindor. The hall fell silent as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, stood up at the front of the room. "I would like to start by welcoming you all to a new year at Hogwarts! Well, with that said, let the feast begin!"
The table suddenly filled with food.
The Adventures of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
::Year One::
Chapter Four:
Peter By: Padfoot
"This spell only covers turning cats back from something else. There's nothing here about turning a kneazle in to a cat," Sirius said, flipping through a large volume on transfiguration.
"It has to be in there," James replied. "We saw it in Diagon Alley! Look again."
"I am, James, you silly git! It's not here."
I listened to the two giggling playfully, and gave a long sigh. Once again, I was left on the outside. When the two got together, especially when it involved mischief of any sort, it was like they forgot everything else in the room, or in this case, compartment. I may as well have been invisible. But, regardless of how it hurt, being forgotten, there was one positive side to it. I could watch James without fear of getting caught. I just sat back, listening to their plotting, and studied the excited glint in James's warm brown eyes.
I let my mind go back to our meeting in Diagon Alley. Sirius had bumped in to me, and for some stupid reason I had apologized. Then he started asking me about James. Either, he knew my secret or he too had a crush on the beautiful boy. But looking at James now, conspiring with Sirius, I decided I couldn't blame him. A person would have to be blind and deaf not to fall in love with the boy. He was amazing. And he knew it.
For a moment, I wondered what James would say if he knew how I felt about him. What would he do? Not that it mattered. We would never be together. Even if he did like boys, he would never be attracted to me. I was chubby and plain, and I was sure James would want to be with someone as pretty as he was. Someone like Sirius.
A few moments later Sirius's kneazle, Grim, began to get restless, leaving his place by the door to roam the compartment, all the while eyeing me suspiciously. By the window, Talons perched on top of his cage, a look of mistrust in his eyes as well.
"I found it!" Sirius's exclamation shattered the silence in the room, startling both pets. Both animals lunged at me, and I ducked just in time. Talons landed on top of my head, digging his namesake into my thin brown hair. Grim landed on my back, his sharp claws cutting through my new robe, and piercing my skin.
"Grim! What are you doing?" Sirius asked, a slight laugh in his voice. James was laughing, as well. Sirius crossed the compartment, and picked up his kneazle. Startled by the movement, Talons flew back to his cage, pushing hard on my head to take-off. I sat up, straightening my hair, surprisingly unharmed, well, for the most part. The scratches on my back would heal, but after Talons's encounter with Alastor Moody at James's party, I considered myself to be quite lucky to still have both my eyes intact.
"I think," James said, breathless with laughter, "it's time we enlisted outside help."
"Arthur is a seventh year," Sirius offered. "I bet he would help us."
"Well, come on, let's go find him." James and Sirius went to the door. I climbed to my feet and followed the pair out. "I never did figure out his bloody gift," James added.
We were halfway down the hall when Sirius stopped us. We could hear a voice coming through the door. Sirius pushed it open to reveal a boy with light brown hair talking to Arthur.
"When you press it down, electricity heats the coils..." the boy was saying, gesturing with his hands.
"Arthur?" Sirius interrupted. "We need your help."
"Oh! Hello Sirius! James! Peter! This is Remus Lupin! He's a muggle!" Arthur said, excitedly, not stopping to draw in a breath. "He's telling me how to work your toaster, James... Really quite an ingenious invention, a toaster! It browns both sides of your bread... at the same time!"
"Well, that really is fascinating, Arthur," Sirius replied, humoring his cousin's muggle obsession. "But, we need your help with my kneazle... we want to make him look like a cat, so I can keep him with me in school."
"Of course," he said, pulling out his wand. "Domesticus felinus."
We all watched in wonder as the kneazle transformed into a longhaired, black cat. The ears were still rather large, but that was the only major difference between Grim and an ordinary house cat.
"Umm... thanks. That looked rather easy."
"I'm really good at transfiguration. Last year, Mrs. Norris said I was one of the best in class. Remus, tell James about how to work-"
"Oh," Sirius interrupted, turning his attention to the quiet boy sitting next to Arthur. "Sorry we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves properly. I'm Sirius Black, this is my best friend, and cousin, James Potter, and this is our friend Peter Pettigrew." Of course I was last.
"Hello," the boy replied, meekly.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you boys to get to know one another," Arthur said, suddenly standing. "I was supposed to sit with Molly, but I forgot. I just love to learn about muggles. James, have Remus explain your toaster to you!" With that, Arthur left, leaving us alone. Sirius and James took the seat on the other side of the compartment, leaving me to sit next to Remus.
"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?" Sirius asked Remus.
"No, only child."
"So are Peter and I," James interjected.
"Actually," I said quietly, correcting James for what had to be the first time in my life. "I have three sisters and an older brother."
"Since when?" James asked, shocked. "I've known you since we were five." Although we had indeed been friends that long, James had never really been over my house, and I never really spoke of my family to them.
"My older brother graduated last year."
"Really? Is there anything else I don't know about you?"
Yeah, I thought. I'm in love with you.
"I have a snotty younger brother," Sirius said to Remus, interrupting. "You can have him, if you want."
"Umm... that's all right," Remus said, a peculiar expression on his face.
"Oh well, my loss... actually, I don't really hate him, I hate my mother for spoiling him. Turning him in to a proper git, she is." Sirius and James laughed, while Remus just smiled.
"Got any pets?" James asked, as Grim climbed out of Sirius's arms and came to rest on James's lap, nuzzling his hand.
A sad look came over Remus as he just shook his head.
Sirius opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a woman pushing a cart down the hall outside the door. "Fancy anything off the cart, dears?"
Moments later, we were weighed down with Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans, Chocoballs, Cauldron Cakes, Fizzing Whizbees, Jelly Slugs, Pumpkin Pasties, Pepper Imps, Ice Mice and various other candies. I had had little money; Sirius had had even less, so James had treated all of us.
Remus, being muggle-born, had never had any wizarding candy before. We all watched him expectantly as he stuck a green Every Flavor Bean in his mouth, then giggled as a disgusted look came over his face.
"Yechh! What was that?" the boy asked, swallowing.
"That was an Every Flavor Bean!" James explained. "That one was bogie flavored... actually compared to vomit, bogie tastes good."
At this prospect, Remus looked slightly ill. I smiled, reaching across the seat for an Ice Mice.
"Why would someone eat something so vile?" the boy asked, obviously addressing James and Sirius.
It was Sirius who answered this time. "It's about the excitement of never knowing what you're gonna get! Sometimes you get something disgusting, like bogie, but sometimes you get something wonderful! Like buttered popcorn, or toasted marshmallow. You just never know."
Remus nodded, as if it suddenly made sense to him.
"That's what makes people love them," Sirius concluded, scratching behind Grim's ear absently. It suddenly occurred to me, how close James and Sirius were sitting. Grim was curled up in the middle of them, half his body resting on James's leg, the other half on Sirius's.
"Anything safe to eat?" Remus asked, cautiously.
Sirius looked at the boy carefully, and smiled, before leaning across James to retrieve a Chocolate Frog. He tossed it to Remus. The boy gave a slight gasp as he opened the candy, and it's contents leaped out. It landed on the floor, and quickly slipped under the door.
"What was that?"
"A chocolate frog," James answered. "Don't worry. It wasn't really alive, just a spell."
No one seemed to notice I wasn't saying anything. Even Remus, who looked terrified, was talking. I started to open my mouth to say something, anything, that would remind them I was in the room, when I felt the train pull to a stop. We were at school.
The four of us piled out in the hallway, already filled with students. I looked around us, but the only other first year I saw was Severus Snape, an oily boy we had grown up with. His parents were relatives of Sirius's father, awful people from what I had heard. He was standing near a tall blond boy, who had his arm around the waist of Narcissa Black, Sirius's cousin.
Slowly, the crowd in the hallway dissipated, as students piled out of the train.
"First years! This way!" I looked around for the source of the voice, and spotted a black-haired witch. She didn't look like she had been teaching there long; in fact she didn't look more than a few years older than Arthur. She rounded us up at the mouth of a narrow path, and once she was sure all the first years were gathered, she led us down it. The path looked never ending, but as we turned a sharp corner, a lake came into view, and across it, was a magnificent castle. "Everyone, in to the boats!" she instructed, gesturing to a fleet of small boats. "No more than four to a boat."
The four of us quickly found a boat, James and Sirius up front, and Remus and I behind them.
When the boats were all loaded all of them completely full, but for two, one holding the black-haired witch, the other holding Snape. Seeing him alone in the boat, made me glad to have my friends with me. I'd hate to be here all alone.
"Forward!" the teacher called, and the boats glided across the water, coming to a curtain of ivy. Behind it was a long, dark tunnel. As we went through the tunnel, it took us to an underground harbor that seemed to be somewhere beneath the castle. "Everyone, be sure not to leave anything behind!" the teacher instructed, as we all climbed out of our vessels. She led us through a passageway that led us outside, and brought us up the castle steps. She opened the front door, and ushered us all inside.
She assembled us all in front of a pair of double doors, and gestured for us to be quiet. "My name is Ms. McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress. Welcome to Hogwarts, first years. The start-of-term banquet is about to begin, but before you are seated in the Great Hall you must all be sorted in to your houses. These will become something like you're family, as you will attend classes together, dine together, sleep in the same dormitories, and spend your free time together. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Through out the school year, you will be awarded house points for good behavior, and have house points taken away for bad behavior. At the end of the year, the house with the most house points will be awarded the house cup, a great honor I hope each of you will strive for. Now, everyone in a single file line and follow me to be sorted."
We were all silent as she led us through the doors to a large room. It held several long tables, one at the top of the room for the teachers and school staff, and two on either side of the door filled with students. In the air, there were floating candlesticks lighting the room, and above these, was a ceiling, bewitched to reflect the sky outside. It was a clear night, and the ceiling revealed a field of bright stars. The tables were set with golden goblets and plates.
She led us to the front of the room, and we stood in front of the teacher's table. Someone brought out a stool and sat an old hat atop it. Then something strange happened, a rip in the hat near its brim, opened and a song floated out in to the room.
"Many, many years ago,
When I was still brand new, There were four great wizards, Who began this school for you. They had a mission pure and true, The four had a plan, To educate the young, And thus, the school began. The four had different ideas, On how a wizard should be, So they each founded a different house, And left the sorting up to me. If your heart is pure, Your intentions good and true, Then the house of Hufflepuff, May be the one for you. If you're very clever, If you're wise and smart, Then it may be Ravenclaw, That lives within your heart. If you are ambitious, And will stop at nothing to reach your end, Then in the house of Slytherin, You may find a friend. For the brave at heart, With honor left to spare, The house is that of Gryffindor, You'll do well there. Now that you know the houses, Step up to my stool, I will tell you where you belong, Within our humble school."
"Now, please step forward when I call your name," Ms. McGonagall said, a scroll of parchment suddenly in her hand, "and sit on this stool. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted..."
I couldn't hear the first few names she called out because James and Sirius were whispering beside me.
"I couldn't leave him on the train, and he won't sit still..."
Sirius whispered loudly, struggling with Grim, who was hidden under his robe.
"Oh no! They're going in alphabetical order," James said, shifting himself so that he stood in front of Sirius hiding him from the teachers. "Give him to me, they'll be calling you soon." Sirius tried to pull Grim out and give him to James, but the 'cat' worked his way out of the boy's grip. Before either knew what was happening, Grim had leapt to the floor, and taken off across the room.
"Black, Sirius!"
"Uh-oh!"
"She's just calling you to be sorted," I whispered, leaning closer so he could hear me.
"Oh, uh-thanks." Sirius muttered. James and I watched as he made his way through the crowd, and sat down on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on his head and moments later, "Gryffindor!" rang out through the hall.
I watched as Sirius made his way to the Gryffindor table. As he passed the Ravenclaw table, a pretty seventh year waved. As Sirius waved back, I realized it was his cousin Andromeda. I threw a glance at the Slytherin table, where I could see several of Sirius's cousins, Andromeda's sister Narcissa included, looking disgusted at his placement.
I turned half my attention to the front of the room, but continued to examine the people seated at the tables. "Bones, Edgar," proceeded by, "Hufflepuff!"
"I hope I get Gryffindor with Sirius," James whispered to Remus and I. I scowled.
"Evans, Lily!" "Gryffindor!"
"Higgins, Alice!" "Gryffindor!"
"I just hope I don't get Slytherin," I replied, knowing that the only house I wanted to be in was the one James got.
"Lockhart, Gilderoy!" "Hufflepuff!"
"It would be cool if we all got to stay together." This from James. Like it really matters, I thought to myself. With Sirius around, I might as well be alone.
"Longbottom, Frank!" "Gryffindor!"
"Our names are coming up soon." Remus.
"Lupin, Remus!" Remus made his way up there, a nervous look on his face. The hat had barely touched his head before it shouted, "Gryffindor!" We watched him give a sigh of relief, as he walked over to join Sirius who was watching us anxiously.
"Patil, Geoffrey!" "Ravenclaw!"
"Pettigrew, Peter!" I made my way slowly to the front. Ms. McGonagall placed the hat on my head. A moment later there was a voice in my ear. "Hmmm... what have we here? Very observant, I see. Yes. Very observant. Hmmm... Quite brave as well... Gryffindor!"
I slid off the stool and with a hopeful glance back at James, I went to take my seat. I sat on one side of Sirius, Remus was on the other. I left a space between us, hoping James would get Gryffindor.
"Potter, James!" "Gryffindor!"
To my right, Sirius went wild, cheering as hard as he could. James hurried over, a broad grin on his face as he took the seat I had left open.
"This is great!" James exclaimed, throwing one arm around my shoulders and struggling to throw his other around the shoulders of Sirius and Remus. Remus seemed to shy away from the embrace, but Sirius wouldn't allow it as he threw his arms around James and Remus, pulling the four of us close together.
"Where's Grim?" James asked as we settled down, growing hungry for dinner.
"Under the table," Sirius answered, fiddling with his wand. He was gesturing to his goblet, as if attempting a spell. Then, we all heard him say, "Vinium apparum." We watched in shock as his goblet, filled with red wine. Sirius gave a smug grin as he lifted his goblet to his lips, and took a long drink. As he offered his goblet to James I turned away, shifting my focus back to the sorting ceremony. Only four students were left, all boys.
"Snape, Severus!" I watched as he stepped forward and sat down. "Slytherin!" The Slytherin table did not cheer. In fact, they hardly noticed. I could relate to that.
"Vasquez, Jhonen." An olive skinned boy stepped forward, with short black hair. "Gryffindor!" Cheers from the Gryffindor table.
"Warner, Brian," a tall, lanky boy with longish black hair stepped forward. "Ravenclaw!" Cheers from the Ravenclaw table.
"Wood, Elijah!" This boy had curly brown hair, with pretty, almost feminine features. "Gryffindor!" More cheers from Gryffindor. The hall fell silent as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, stood up at the front of the room. "I would like to start by welcoming you all to a new year at Hogwarts! Well, with that said, let the feast begin!"
The table suddenly filled with food.