Chapter 4: - A days end

"GRYFFINDOR!!!" The hat called and Lily jumped from the stool put the hat down on the seat and practically ran to the Gryffindor table where she was immediately hugged by Miriam

"I hoped you'd be with me" she squealed before Amanda grabbed Lily by the hand and shook it so hard she thought her hand would come lose,

"I'm Amanda Hugh-Genghis, Prefect, welcome to Gryffindor, these are Gryffindors other prefects Richard Goodman, Dorcas Meadows and Gideon Prewett" Amansa said in a rush indicating the girl sitting next to her and the two boys sitting opposite "If you have any problems just ask us",

"Hi" said Amy holding her hand out I'm Amy Brown, Amy was quite a short girl for her age she was black and had really frizzy black hair "It looks like we're going to be dorm mates, I hope we can be friends too?" It was the same thought that was running through Lily's mind, she'd been sorted into Gryffindor and this was to be her house for the next seven years, she didn't really have anything to worry about apart from getting on with the people she'd be spending the next seven years with,

"I'm sure we'll be friends" Lily said smiling and shaking Amy's hand she was greeted by Sirius across the table and was quickly shushed into silence by Amanda

"Shush Your missing the sorting, it's the best part about the start of term feast"

"And there's me thinking it's all about the actual feast" Gideon Muttered to Richard under his breath, By the time Lily had sat down next to Miriam and Amy she had already missed, Forsyth, Victoria become the third person sorted into "HUFFLEPUFF" and only just saw Gibson, Elizabeth, Hornby, Thomas and Johnston, Lynne all get sorted into "RAVENCLAW", Lily could breathe now and looking around the great hall she was amazed to see how many people where actually in room,

"Jones, Vivienne",

"HUFFLEPUFF",

The four great tables where packed full of students,

"Ledgerwood, Lewis",

"HUFFLEPUFF"

And the tables themselves where covered with golden plates and goblets,

"Lestrange, Rabastan",

"SLYTHERIN",

looking up Lily was amazed to see that the ceiling didn't even look like there was a roof there, it looked more like the nights sky, had it had hundreds of candles floating in amongst the dark clouds,

"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside" Miriam shouted above the cheering of the Hufflepuffs as "Little, Geraldine", ran to join them.

"Longbottom, Frank", Lily heard Professor McGonagall call and a thin boy with dark brown hair slipped the hat onto this head and it immediately declared Frank as a "GRYFFINDOR", Lily cheered and raised with the rest of the table to greet the new member of Gryffindor,

"Hi" he said to everyone has he sat down next to Sirius looking a little shocked but smiling none the less Amanda knocked Miriam into Lily has she leaned across the table to shake Frank's hand. Amanda hadn't even sat down when the next first year "Lupin, Remus", was also Proclaimed as a Gryffindor, Remus it turned out was the sea sick boy that Lily had seen in Alice's brother's boat, he looked like he still hadn't got over his sea sickness has he made his way over to sit next to Frank and Sirius, but even though he still looked extremely ill it didn't stop Amanda from leaning across the table and shaking his hand even more forcefully then she had done to Frank and recited the same words she had said to Lily. Remus didn't seem to mind and he smiled has he rubbed his shoulder and Miriam, Lily and all the other first years introduced themselves.

"Mackenzie, Dorcas",

"HUFFLEPUFF"

"MacNair, Walden" was announced as a "SLYTHERIN", before the hat could even touch his head, watching as the Slytherin table erupted in cheers and Gideon and Richard both booed and received very stern looks from Amanda for doing so. Lily saw Walden MacNair walk towards the Slytherin table where he was greeted by Miriam's eldest brother and another boy the same age who had white blond hair.

"O'Neill, Dymphna",

"GRYFFINDOR",

The Gryffindors again burst into shouts and cheering and Amanda rushed to the end of the table to greet Dymphna, amongst all the welcoming and cheering the Gryffindors had completely missed the sorting of "Pettigrew, Peter" into "GRYFFINDOR", Peter was a podgy boy with mousy brown hair he had walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down before Gideon had pointed him out to Amanda and has Amanda rushed over to him apologising profusely as Gideon and Richard doubled over in silent laughter.

"It's Alice!!!" Miriam said nudging Lily in the side, looking back up at the sorting Lily saw Alice put the battered hat onto her head, "Fingers crossed" Miriam continued has she crossed her fingers on both hands, Lily had to agree she wanted Alice to join them in Gryffindor as well, the hat didn't spend much time on Alice before it shouted "GRYFFINDOR",

Lily and Miriam cheered even harder then they had for any of the others first years and Miriam beat Amanda to Alice as she ran over to them,

"I knew it" Miriam squealed "I just knew it" managing to avoided having her arm wrenched off by Amanda Lily, Miriam and Alice sat down at the table has the other first years introduced themselves to their new members,

"James Potter" Professor McGonagall called It was Alice's twin brother he strolled over to the sorting hat as though he did something like this every day and pulled it over his dark hair, his glasses prevented the hat from falling right over his head,

"Watch it" Alice said smiling "He'll end up in with us" and Alice was completely right the Sorting hat had only been on James' head for thirty seconds and it declared him as a "GRYFFINDOR".

"Hay sis" James yelled over the roar of the Gryffindors has he strolled over to the table "Who'd have thought we'd have been sorted into the same house!"

"Mum and Dad are going to love it" Alice called back as Amanda ran to greet James with her usual dislocating hand shake and welcome speech. The sorting continued for some time even though no more students where sorted into Gryffindor. Pritchard, Maureen became the sixth student to join Slytherin, Rathbone, Blair and Reed, Ryan where both pronounced to be Revenclaws.

Lily's eyes started to wander around the Great Hall again mostly she looked around at her fellow Gryffindors, Rookwood, Eloise who Miriam informed Lily was her cousin was sorted into Slytherin where she was enthusiastically greeted by both of Miriam's brothers,

"Roberts, Christopher",

"HUFFLEPUFF"

"Rosier, Evan",

"SLYTHERIN",

Lily's stomach had now started to rumble and by the sounds of it she wasn't the only one who was hungry, both Sirius and James where trying their hardest to silence their own grumbling stomachs.

"Shingleton, Gaspard"

"RAVENCLAW"

"Smithson, Robert"

"HUFFLEPUFF"

Lily was looking around at the hall again and up at the teachers table when a movement from Miriam caught her eye, Miriam had waved up at the first years that still yet had to be sorted and as McGonagall called "Snape, Severus", Miriam had mouthed the words Good Luck to him. But Lily couldn't help but be glad that Severus was sorted into Slytherin, Miriam however seemed a little disappointed that he hadn't joined them has Severus walked over to the Slytherin table where he was greeted by both of Miriam's brothers and the white blond haired boy, who had only greeted Bellatrix Black before now.

Trapp, John and Thornton, Thomas where both exclaimed as "Revenclaws". Thurston, Samuel was greeted with lots of cheering has he was proclaimed as the last "Hufflepuff" to be sorted, and finally the sorting ended with Wilkes, Elwood being sorted into "Slytherin" the hall filled with a mixture of cheering from the Slytherin table and Boos from most of the Gryffindors manly led by Gideon and Richard, Amanda scowled at them and crossed her arms.

The noise only subsided when the man in the golden chair with sliver hair and beard stood up, he looked around the hall at the new first years beaming at him as though nothing more pleased him then to see them all there,

"That's Professor Dumbledore" Alice whispered when she saw Lily looking at him,

'So that was Professor Dumbledore Hogwarts Headmaster' lily thought

"Welcome" Dumbledore said smiling "I know that it's been a very long day and unfortunately the day is not yet over there must be a time for speeches and long statements, but now is not the time Enjoy" he said the last word raising his hands up and the empty goblets and plates filled with food and drink,

"WOW" gasped Lily and thankfully she wasn't the only one even Miriam and Alice seemed shocked to see the food appear out of thin air,

"About time" Richard Goodman said stuffing a chicken leg in his mouth and at the same time grabbing a bowl of Mash potatoes, Amanda sighed something that Lily could have sworn sounded very much like "boys" as she spooned peas and carrots onto her plate, following the older students example the first years began to help themselves to food as well.

"What's that?" Lily asked Miriam after a few minutes pointing to a small wriggly lump in Miriam's pocket,

"Oh I completely forgot!" she said putting her hand in the pocket and pulling out a little striped fury ball "he's been in there all day sleeping" Miriam placed the furry ball onto the table and Lily suddenly realised that it wasn't an 'it' at all it was a very tiny Kitten, but it had the strangest markings of any cat she had ever seen, sitting on the table Lily could see that underneath it's tabby cat markings it had black flecks and it's ears where much too large for it's head and the kittens tail looked more like a lions then any tabby cats,

"He probably smelt the food" Miriam said giving the Kitten a strip of Chicken "I bet he's really hungry" the Kitten ate the offered food purring loudly

"He's adorable" Amy said looking down the table,

"How did you get one of those?" Dymphna asked "Your supposed to have licences aren't you?"

"Licence?" Lily said voicing her thoughts "but it's only a little Kitten?"

"Well kind of" Miriam said has the kitten sat down in front of her plate waiting for more food "He's a Kneazle, a type of wizard's cat"

"Their really rear" Remus said leaning across the table and giving the kitten some beef, "My Grandmother had one once their fiercely loyal!"

"Fierce this little sweetie" Amy said stroking the Kittens back making him purr even louder "Where did you get him?"

"My grandfather gave him to me yesterday, it's kind of like an Artemis family tradition, we all get a pet when we get into Hogwarts Tad got an Owl and Jed got a Crup so Grandfather gave me MacMikelmouse"

"Mac-what?" Alice asked stroking the kitten on the head,

"MacMikelmouse" Miriam repeated "That's the name he came with but Mac suits him better" The rest of the feast they spent talking about Mac and how cute he was, everyone thought he was such a cool pet and Lily could have sworn that he purred even louder when people said nice things about him, but that was just ridiculous Lily assumed that it was just her ears playing tricks on her, there was after all lots of noise in the great hall.

Tthe main meal eventually was eaten and the scraps where replaced by desert and Mac helped himself to chocolate pudding from Miriam's bowl. When all the deserts where finished Professor Dumbledore stood up and the plates, bowls and goblets emptied

"Now that we are all fed and watered and the weariness of this day is calling you to your beds I unfortunately have to give a few start of term notices, firstly all first years must note that the forest surrounding the castle is expressly forbidden, this is for your own safety and a few of the older students should remember this" Lily heard Amanda giggle and she turned to see Gideon and Richard looking down at the table top, Richard was rubbing a faded scar on his cheek

"Also this years curfews will be rigidly upheld by all members of the staff, this again is for your own safety," Lily noticed that at this Remus had lowered his head too and was now stearing at the empty plate in front of him "any student found out of their common rooms after the stated year times will find themselves with harsh punishments! On a lighter note Quidditch team tryouts will take place on the second week of term and any student wishing to tryout for their house team should contact their team captain,

"Also Mr Flitch has reminded me that several more items have been added to the list of things band from the school a full list I understand can be seen in Mr Flitch's office" Dumbledore smiled "Now to bed!".

Amanda must have been waiting for these very words has she was the first person in the hall to get to her feet

"First years follow me and the other prefects we will show you to Gryffindor tower", and with this she lead the first years out of the hall calling "Out of the way there, Excuse me I'm a prefect, please move".

"Miriam!" called a voice has they reached the entrance hall, turning round Lily saw that the person who had called was one of Miriam's brothers,

"Come on" Miriam said pulling Lily and Alice over to him, pushing past Sirius, Lily saw that it was the younger of Miriam's brothers: Jed

"I'm disappoint in you little sis, not making Slytherin" he said hugging her "But you always had to be different didn't you?" his face broke into a smile and Lily couldn't help but notice that he was very good looking,

"Jedidiah Artemis!" called Amanda's voice from the foot of the stairs "Kindly leave my first years alone"

"I'd best go" he said hugging Miriam again "and don't let bossy Hug-and-Kiss get on your nerves too much" he said this nodding his head towards Amanda and it took Lily a second to work out what he had meant, Amanda's last name was Hugh-Genghis.

"I'll see you in the morning and don't worry about Tad he'll come round, I'll give him no choice!" Jed called has he headed across the entrance hall and was lost in amongst a group of other students.

"Come along" Amanda demanded "We can't wait around all night just for you three". Lily, Miriam and Alice headed back to the group of first years and the prefects led them up the marble stairs.

Finally after what seemed to Lily like she had just climbed Snowdonia the Gryffindor students found themselves heading down a long moonlit corridor at the end of which stood, in a gilded frame a very large painting of a very fat lady in a silk pink dress.

"Behind this picture is the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, through which you will find your dormitories" Amanda said not even the slightest out of breath.

"But to pass the Fat Lady you must first give her the password" Gideon Prewett said in a hushed voice which only the students could hear, and before Lily could fully understand what Gideon had just said they came to a halt in front of the picture.

"Welcome, welcome to all Gryffindor's new first years" the picture boomed

"It can speak!!!" Squeaked Amy Brown hiding herself behind Sirius who grinned obviously amused at Amy's lack of magical knowledge.

"Well of course I can!" the fat lady barked angrily, crossing her arms "how else am I supposed to fore fill my duties otherwise?"

"The password is Commodo aperito" Gideon said stepping forwards out of the group, forcing the Fat lady to swing forwards to reveal the opening behind her and cutting off any dispute that she might have been willing to continue.

"It is against the School rules to give the common room passwords to any student who is not in your house," Amanda said continuing as though a painting that could move and speak was nothing out of the ordinary "The Password will be changed on occasions when the Gryffindor guardian (she indicated the Fat Lady's now open picture) sees fit to do so, all house prefects that is myself, Gideon, Richard Goodman and Dorcas Meadows (Amanda indicated all of the prefects including herself as though she was an air steward showing the locations of the exits) "will be informed of changes prior to the event so anyone who forgets the password needs only to find us or the house head boy or girl to find out what it is".

"What if none of them remember?" Alice said leaning into whisper to Lily and Miriam both of whom sniggered and received a very stern look from Amanda for doing so.

"Am I to stay open all night?!" the fat lady bark again coursing Amy to jump and to bang into Remus Lupin, Lily noticed that he still looked a little sea sick, or it could be that he had eaten too much at the feast. They all climbed though the portrait hole and Lily found herself in a very cosy circular room full of comfy armchairs and tables.

"If all the boys would like to follow me and Richard" Gideon said moving over to a door on his left "we'll show you to your dormitory"

"Girls follow me" Amanda called has she opened the door to the right and started up the spiral stone staircase, casting one last look around at the warm and welcoming common room Lily followed Amanda and Dorcas up the stairs, about half way up Amanda stopped at a door with a wooden plaque saying 'First Years', pushing the door open Amanda informed them that this would be their dormitory for their remaining years at Hogwarts and that their trunks and pets had already been brought up, the first years all filed into the dormitory as Amanda and Dorcas wished them all a good night and before she closed the door Amanda told them in her very sternest voice that breakfast is served in the great hall at eight fifteen and they were not to be late!

"What a day" Dymphna said flinging herself onto the nearest bed "I mean I know my mum and dad told me all about Hogwarts but nothing they said came anywhere close to describing this place"

"I know what you mean!" Alice said finding her trunk and pulling out her pyjamas, both my parent where in Gryffindor but still it's so amazing just being here"

"I didn't know that paintings in the wizarding world could talk and move" Amy said sitting down on her trunk looking a little down hearted,

"Neither did I" Lily said in what she hoped was an encouraging voice has she sat down next to Amy, slightly glad that at least one of her new friends was Muggle born as well. After choosing their beds the girls all changed into their pyjamas and night dresses, Lily was so tired the excitement of the day combined with her now full stomach was turning into a mixture of exhaustion and light headedness, but if any of her room mates where feeling the same none of them showed it, they where all lying or sitting on their beds talking Lily didn't want to be left out so she forced herself to stay awake listening.

They talked for hours about their families how their parents had reacted when the Hogwarts letter had come, Amy and Lily's stories were the best has none of their parents had ever heard of Hogwarts or the magical world before (Amy's mother had fainted when Amy had first showed her the letter). They then talked about what they had all done over the holidays waiting for September 1st to arrive and what lessons they where all looking forward to, Miriam's of course was flying and she spent an hour arguing with Dymphna over their Quidditch teams. Dymphna supported a team called the Appleby Arrows's which it turned out was rivals to Miriam's team the Wimbourne Wasps but one by one the exhaustion grew even more and they all feel asleep.