A/N: Thanks for being patient with us. AP homework took up a lot of our time. Now for our reviewers:
brenngt14- Thanks, we felt that our introduction wasn't very interesting. It will get even better as their years at Hogwarts progress. We guarantee it.
Greeknelo- Sometimes, two words can go a long way. We appreciate your review.
Kamden- Don't worry, there will be plenty of foreshadowing and references to the future.
Lemonade101- Yeah, we can't wait to write what's next!
moonlight1111- Well, we're identical twin sisters, so working together is very easy for us. About Emily and Carolyn, they won't end up with Remus or Sirius. They're just two of Lily's many friends, although one of them will date Sirius for a little while in a later year...
Red English Rose- We enjoyed that scene too. As for their silly "high-pitched falsettos," just imagine the voices of the Knights Who Say "Ni" (or Nee) in Monty Python.
PirateBlacksmith- Thank you! By the way, we've been a fan of your fic, "The Pirates" for a long time. It's a very funny one!
IMPORTANT!: In this chapter it will seem like we portray Hufflepuffs as weak and unintelligent students, but that is not what we mean. The Sorting in this chapter is very pivotal to the story because the Hufflepuffs will be offended (you will see why) by Peter and another boy. This will cause them to work hard and prove that they aren't the "lot." Again, we aren't try to say that Hufflepuff is the worst House. We've already had confusion and complaints.
Anyway, here we go!
Chapter Three: The One With the Sorting
The train slowed to a stop. The group stood up and stretched. They looked out the window and saw a small, quaint village. A loud voice boomed through each corridor and compartment.
"We have reached Hogsmeade. Please grab all of your luggage and trash, and disembark the Hogwarts Express in a single file manner. Thank you." Of course, none of the students, with the exception of Remus, had listened to the announcement. Remus, Sirius, and James were pushed through a crowded hallway with neglected trash on the floor. Remus tried picking up some, but he was shoved whenever he stopped and bent down. When every student had left, Peter crawled out of the compartment. That's the last time I sit Indian style for a long time on a train, Peter thought, my knees hurt so badly, I can barely walk.
"Firs' years, over 'ere! This way! Come on!" roared a very tall man with a grizzly black mane. His black, beady eyes were friendly, and his powerful presence was comforting. The giant was gesturing towards a large lake with many small boats. The three new friends got into one of the boats with another first year boy.
"Hi, I'm Aaron Agbert." He told them. The trio nodded and introduced themselves as they have done many times that day. "I'm really scared about going to school. Are you?" James and Sirius simply shrugged. "My sister told me about this place. She says that they use a 'hat' to divide us into houses, and if you're weak, if sucks your life out. My older sister always tells me that I'm weak. I'm going to die, aren't I?"
"Afraid so, mate." Sirius said sadly. He hung his head in feigned despair.
"But I hear that its pain free." James explained in what was supposed to be a comforting tone.
"It was nice knowing you." James and Sirius spun around to look at Remus, who had just spoken, with happily surprised expressions. Remus smiled and mouthed, "I wanted to join the fun."
Aaron continued to whimper pitifully for the rest of the trip. Remus, Sirius, and James didn't let that ruin the experience. It was already the evening, and the sun was delicately setting. The lake and the sky looked like a water color painting with gorgeous oranges, reds, purples, and a dark blue descending from the top. A few girls shrieked as an enormous squid surfaced. It swung its elongated tentacles playfully. The trio looked ahead. The castle was in sight. It was so grand, and so tangible. It had many tall towers, and several rooms were lighted. The grounds were large; Sirius pointed out a giant tree that was thrashing its branches at a nearby squirrel.
"Wow, it's a Whomping Willow! I've never seen one before." James said excitedly.
"Me neither!" Sirius exclaimed in equal interest.
"Pound it!" Sirius and James shouted at the tree, and apparently, it had listened.
The giant man opened the grand oak doors. The first years were awed by the splendor of Hogwarts. Many portraits kindly welcomed the new students and guaranteed a wonderful experience. A loud cackle was heard and a little, floating man with a wide smile and wicked eyes appeared before them, holding a large muggle watergun.
"Oh no! It's Peeves!" shouted one of the first years. "My older brother told me about him!" Peeves started spraying the screaming students with cold water. James and Sirius laughed when he was finished.
"Nice one!" Sirius complimented Peeves.
"Y-you liked it?" Peeves asked confusedly.
"Yeah! Only next time, you should put a little dirt in the water." James suggested honestly.
"Only not too much," Sirius added, "mud doesn't squirt out very well."
"I like you two!" Peeves told them and disappeared. A few minutes later, a middle-aged witch walked through the doors in front of them.
"Good evening. I am your Transfiguration teacher Professor McGonagall. Please follow me in an orderly fashion." The students actually followed instructions this time, mostly due to the fact that no one wanted to get on a teacher's bad side on the first day. They were led into the Great Hall. Four long tables, at which many students were seated, stood parallel to each other. Colorful banners were hung above the tables. James nudged Sirius and Remus and pointed to the ceiling. They saw a light purple sky with a few stars scattered across it. The new students lined up in front of the teachers, facing the student body. A tall, thin, elderly man with a long silver beard stood up.
"Welcome first years!" he boomed, "I am your headmaster, Professor Dumbledore. We will now sort you into one of the four Houses. Good luck!" Professor McGonagall brought an old hat who sang a strange song. The students applauded politely. Professor McGonagall unrolled a long parchment.
"Agbert, Aaron." she called. Aaron whimpered and shook his head. He refused to move otherwise. "Agbert, Aaron!" she shouted his name even louder. Aaron was shaking all over now and moaning even more loudly. "Mr. Agbert, please come forward!" Aaron dropped to the floor and hugged one of the teachers' table legs.
"No! No! You can't make me! I wont' go! No!" he cried. One of the teachers, probably the Charms instructor, Professor Gamby, grabbed the shrieking child's ankles and pulled. Aaron wouldn't let go. "No! You can't make me! I don't wanna die! Let go of me!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the sorting hat shouted from the stool a couple yards away from the terrified student. Aaron got up. His school uniform magically changed to suit his house. His robes were lined with yellow, and his tie was now black and yellow. Aaron walked between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. A Ravenclaw fourth year girl was laughing hysterically.
"Shut up, sis." he told her.
"And I thought that Peter kid was a whelp!" James said to Sirius quietly as Azure, Yvonne was sorted into Slytherin. A couple minutes later, Sirius's name was called out.
"Black, Sirius." The Slytherins got excited and nodded at each other. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Sirius's head.
"Hmmm, since you are a Black, I would normally place you in Slytherin, but you seem much different than the rest of your family." the hat whispered in his ear, "Let's try something wild and put you in GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius smiled and looked down at his new Gryffindor robes. There were many catcalls and cheering from the Gryffindor table. Sirius glanced at the teachers' table as he sat with the Gryffindors. Most of the teachers were very surprised, and Professor Platt, the Divinations teacher and Head of Slytherin House, had fallen out of his chair. He was known as a schizophrenic, so nobody really noticed. What was noticeable was that some of the Slytherin students had fallen as well. Some of the Slytherin girls were sobbing, and one particularly angry black-haired girl was stabbing the table with her utensils. Sirius turned his attention back to the Sorting.
"Etrek, John."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Evans, Lily." James became excited as the short, pretty, red-haired girl skipped to the Sorting Hat.
"GRYFFINDOR!" it called shortly. Remus waited for his name to be called.
"Hither, Ana."
"RAVENCLAW!"
My name will be called soon, Remus thought to himself after several people had been sorted, any minute now.
"Lupin, Remus." Remus took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"You're clever, and you're brave; I can see that," the Sorting Hat informed him once it was placed on his head, "but you're afraid that your friends would leave you if they find out your secret. That's understandable."
"Where are you going with th-"
"GRYFFINDOR!" Remus jumped off the stool and sat on the chair left of Sirius. They waited through a long line of O's.
"Pettigrew, Peter." Peter timidly put on the Sorting Hat.
"You're very cowardly, not very intelligent, and dependent on stronger people. You should be in HUFF-"
"NO!" Peter screamed out loud as he jumped off the stool. He was on his knees with his hands above his head. "Not Hufflepuff! Don't put me in Hufflepuff!"
"Well, you're putting me in a difficult position." whispered the Hat, "You don't belong in the other Houses, but you would be best in GRYFFINDOR!"
"YES!" Peter shouted. He leapt off the stool once more and jogged over to the Gryffindor table.
"Potter, James." James strode over to the stool. James picked up the hat. It had barely touched his messy hair when it shrieked "GRYFFINDOR!"
"What, no discussion?"
"There is no need for one, Mr. Potter." James walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down on Sirius's right.
"What's up with that Slytherin girl? She's tearing up the table with her fork." James asked.
"That's my cousin, Bellatrix." Sirius laughed, "She's angry that I'm not in Slytherin. I'd better tell her not to tell my parents."
"Raven, Karen."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Why does it matter?" Remus inquired.
"I'll tell you some other time." Sirius said uncomfortably.
"Snape, Severus." A short, skinny kid with medium-length, greasy, dark hair sauntered to the Sorting Hat.
"Is that him?" Remus asked.
"Yep."
"Whoa! Is that a nose or a planet?" inquired James.
"Experts have not been able to tell." Sirius joked. Peter looked very hard at Snape's face.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Wait a minute!" Peter exclaimed at last, "Of course it's a nose! It's not a planet!" Remus, Sirius and James exchanged humored glances and tried to stifle their laughter, but they failed miserably. "What's so funny?"
After Zoquer, Gilbert was sorted into Slytherin, Dumbledore stood up.
"I'll have to say that this was definitely the most interesting Sorting." He beamed at the masses of students, "I have an announcement: we have planted a Whomping Willow recently, so please, don't go near it. You may now eat, and Remus Lupin, I would like a word with you." There were many "oooo's" as Remus got up and the food appeared. Sirius and James helped themselves to some food, and Peter helped himself to a lot. Remus sat back down.
"Whuh wuzzat abow?" Peter said with his mouth packed with food.
"Oh nothing. I uh had erm...schedule problems."
"So, these problems were so big that the Headmaster had to personally talk to you about it?" James said sarcastically.
"Well, er, I uh, um, was given, er Care of Magical Creatures, er, three times." Remus stretched the lie even further. "Yes, and each was taught by a different teacher, none of whom were Professor Kettleburn. I was also given Seventh year Transfiguration."
"Wow," Peter said after swallowing, "that's a messed up schedule!"
"Yeah," Sirius said suspiciously, "messed up."
"Hey Sirius! Your cousin is trying to get your attention." Remus pointed out. Sirius turned to look at Bellatrix, who was pointing at Sirius, sawing her pork viciously, and lipping the words "dead meat." In response, Sirius held up his middle finger at her.
"Sirius, are you going to finish your mashed potatoes?"
"Yes, Peter."
"What about your pork?"
"You can still get more from the plates." Sirius groaned. Remus pushed his plate away.
"Wha? Tat's it?" said Peter with his mouth full of steaming potatoes, "Tat wuzzen awat."
"I'm not hungry. I'm going to the Gryffindor House with the others."
"I'll go too." Sirius said.
"And me." James added. Once the three of them were out of sight, Peter emptied their plates onto his own, and devoured it quickly.
A/N: Again, the events that happened at the Sorting will encourage the Hufflepuffs to work hard. We know it seemed like we put them in a negative perspective, but be patient. In the course of this story, we will show them as the perseverent students they are (we know we're spoiling the story a bit, but their hard work will cause them to win the House Cup in most of the Marauders' years at Hogwarts, and they will be the main competition). Anyway, please review! We love reviews!
Preview of Chapter Four
"I meant for you to sit down in a seat, not to literally take one."