Disclaimer: I own nothing but the things you don't recognize from J.K. Rowling's amazing series.
From the Beginning
Chapter 3
The figure from the shadows stepped into view to reveal a middle aged lady with dark green robes on. She was starting to have wrinkles form around her brown eyes. Her dark glasses accented nicely with her brown hair currently pulled back into a tight bun. Her strict face was intimidating.
"Why hello there Professor McGonagall. It's nice to see yer again," Hagrid greeted as he stepped from the nearest boat causing a wave to form as much weight we lifted.
"Good evening Hagrid. I expect the trip over went well as there aren't any wet students," McGonagall said as she eyed the students. "Thank you Hagrid. You may go," she said as Hagrid walked around the castle, disappearing from sight.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall continued. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you enter the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be your family. Your achievements will earn you points, while your rule-breaking," she was eyeing up the three boys in the corner, seeming to already have a good idea of what they were up to," will lose your points. Those points will be totaled to determine that winner of the House Cup at the end of the term, a great honor. I hope you all will credit to your individual houses. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses here at Hogwarts are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own nobility produced by the witches and wizards before you.
"The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily. I suggest you cram your summer reading as much as you can before you enter," McGonagall finished, causing a hectic murmur among the student body upon her last remark.
Although the rest of the first years were panicking and going crazy the same three that McGonagall eyed up earlier were talking merrily and seemed to be planning something with mischievous looks in their eyes. "That is exactly what we need during these dark times pushing forward. We've been waiting for pranksters like them," McGonagall thought, smiling to herself.
From inside two great wooden doors with a brass handle, a great amount of applaud and cheers were heard. "Ah, yes. I do believe they are ready for you now," McGonagall said. "Now form a line and follow me."
As the frightened first years scurried into the Great Hall, much closer than normally, many noticed McGonagall place an old, black, tattered, hat with a big rip on the brim of it, causing the hat to look like it should've been thrown away 200 years ago, on a wooden chair to the front of the Great Hall. The older students whispered excitedly making the first years wonder what was going on. The three stared at it questioningly to see what the hat would do. As if on cue, the rip on the brim of the hat opened wide as the hat broke into song.
Welcome to Hogwarts
The best of the best
So step on up
I'll put you to the test
You may try and hide
What you don't want me to see
It will be no use because as the Sorting Hat
I'll tell you where you'll be
With Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw
Hufflepuff, and Slytherin at that
Don't be afraid just put me on
For I'm the Sorting Hat!
Cheers broke out throughout the whole hall. The frightened look on the first year faces soon vanished as they realized they only needed to try on the hat. Some were a bit upset about that though after all their last minute studies of what happens when adding powdered roots of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood or the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane, would not be needed.
Professor McGonagall took a piece of parchment from a nearby table and opened it, revealing a list of the names of the first years to be called, in alphabetical order, to try on the wise hat. McGonagall, adjusting her glasses called the first name on the list. "Black, Sirius."
"Good luck," James whispered as his new friend stepped up to the platform where the hat lay. Sirius responded with a weak smile. His confidence from before seemed to have disappeared quickly.
"Another Black. Very difficult. You share the name with those of Slytherin, but your heart is full of bravery. Where to put you," the hat said.
"Not in Slytherin. Please. Anything, but Slytherin. Not Slytherin," Sirius whispered.
"Not Slytherin, eh? You would do well there. Keep your family proud," the hat responded.
"No. Not in Slytherin. I'm not like them. I'm not like my family," Sirius replied. His face heating up from the anger by the thought of his family. Oh how he loathed them.
"Well, if not in Slytherin, then I guess it will have to be GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouting the last word. Cheers broke out from the Gryffindor table as they congratulated their new member. Sirius's grin spread wider as he sat down on the long table waiting for his friends to be called. Sirius looked across the room, to the Slytherin table, and found his cousin, Narcissa, giving him death glares, which increased Sirius's smile.
"Crabbe, Vincent."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Donegal, Sarah," McGonagall said.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted after a few minutes of deciding.
"Evans, Lily."
James held his breath. This was the girl he bumped into upon boarding the train. This was the girl who had those brilliant eyes. This was the girl who would take his heart. "Please, not in Slytherin. I can deal with anything, but Slytherin," James thought to himself.
The hat seemed to be taking it's time on this one, but finally the hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" Again, the applaud was deafening as the former Gryffindors greeted the new comers.
"Grit, Meredith."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Goyle, Gregory."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Jones, Amanda."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Lupin, Remus." As the name was said, the teachers shuddered. They seemed to know of the secret this boy had; the monster that lived inside.
"Come on. Come on. Gryffindor," Sirius mumbled.
"A werewolf eh? Plenty of courage I see. You need much bravery to fight off the beast inside every month so that is obviously present. I hope I will not disappoint you with GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.
Remus took a sigh of relief as he took the seat next to Sirius.
"Malfoy, Lucius." All eyes were fixed on the young boy as he walked confidently up to the podium. The boy was famous from having a rich, pureblood family.
"Much talent I see and a heart power-hungry. There is only one place to put you. SLYTHERIN!" the hat said.
"Pettigrew, Peter." The short, chubby boy made his way up to the front. He was shaking most vigorously as he sat in the chair and slid the hat over his head.
"Very loyal. Hufflepuff would do you well," the hat said.
"No. Not Hufflepuff. I want Gryffindor. I want to be with my new friends," Peter whispered.
"Hufflepuff would be the best for you. You haven't near enough of bravery or power to stick up for yourself to be a Gryffindor," the hat replied.
"No. I want Gryffindor," Peter said stubbornly.
"As you wish, but don't say I never warned you. GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled.
James noticed that while some students took many minutes to be decided, others like Malfoy were sorted before the hat barely touched his head.
"Potter, James."
"Oh great," James said while he gulped. James gave an unsure look over to Remus and Sirius who gave him reassuring smiles. James, taking a deep breath, sat down, pulled the hat over his head and everything turned to complete darkness.
The hat being too big fell over his eyes. He could feel the sweat build up on his hand and his knuckles grow white from gripping the chair so hard, but he would dare let go.
"James Potter. I've been awaiting this visit. You are an easy one to place. You have the bravery and courage of a lion, and are very talented as well. We will expect great things to come from you," the hat said.
This had been the second time in two days that happened to James. "Wait. What will come from me? Why am I so great?" James asked.
"You shall see in time. Be patient. As for now, GRYFFINDOR!"
As the applaud exploded from the far table to the right, James eagerly hopped down to take a seat by his friends. His nervousness faded away and his mischievous look returned. The rest of the sorting soon finished and, after singing the school song, Dumbledore made his annual back to school speech.
"Welcome! Welcome to Hogwarts. We are in for another fabulous year. Before we begin our feast I'd like to announce a few things. I'd like to notify the first years and remind a few of the older students," started Dumbledore as he looked around the hall with the twinkle in his eye that seemed to never cease, "that the forest is out-of-bounds to all students. Also, there is an ever growing list of 394 objects banned from Hogwarts posted in Mr. Filch's office. But, without further adieu enjoy!"
Right before their eyes all the food imaginable appeared on the plates before them. There was all sorts of roast beef, chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon, and steak, potatoes of all kinds, peas, carrots, apples, and oranges and Yorkshire pudding.
Slightly above a whisper, so that only Remus and Sirius could hear him, James asked, "Ready mates? I think it's time to start this year of with a bang. On three. 1... 2... 3!"