Truth Isn't Beauty

Hearts Known

Sirius and James dominated the conversations the entire way to Hogwarts. Lily sat quietly, alternately listening to the rather animated discussion Sirius and James were hosting, and reading her text book. It appeared as if Severus had tuned the boys out completely. He was quite absorbed in his book, "Curses to Avenge Yourself By". Although, every now-and-then, he would steal a glance over the top of his leather-bound book at the redhead sitting across from him. He would always duck quickly back behind the book if he thought anyone was watching.

By the time they got off at the Hogsmead station, it was safe to say that little Peter worshiped James and Sirius, and that Remus would be tagging along with the two boys out of a mixture of friendship, and morbid curiosity.

A large hairy man at the station greeted them. He was twice the size of an ordinary man, and looked like an absolute giant to these fresh young students. Lily hid herself behind Severus, who was the tallest of the five boys. As she looked on him thought, she wasn't as afraid. He had warm beetle black eyes. They looked like the eyes of an uncle. His bushy beard and hair also made her think of Father Christmas… though this giant's hair was all a dark brown. "Firs' years! Firs' years, this way!" he called out to them.

He guided them to a small dock. "Three ter a boat," he said gesturing to several small rowboats. Lily climbed in one with James and Severus, while Remus, Peter, and Sirius climbed in another along side theirs. James and Sirius were whispering furiously casting mischievous looks at Severus. As they sailed out, James sat on one side of the boat smiling like the devil himself. Lily sat in the back, bundled up under her cloak. Severus, in an effort to balance the small craft sat on the side opposite James, but it was obvious Severus would have preferred to be up front, as his eyes never left the flickering lights from the windows of the silhouetted castle. As they were passing over what looked to be the middle of the lake, James suddenly moved. Lily barely looked in time to see Severus' feet drop out of sight over the edge of the boat. James, Sirius, and Peter were already laughing themselves hoarse. Remus was chuckling.

Soon all the first years were laughing. All except Lily, who was the only one close enough to notice the obvious fact that Severus couldn't swim. He was flailing madly, trying to stay afloat. Lily reached a little way out to him, but dared not reach too far. Suddenly, Severus was lifted out of the water and deposited back next to Lily. The pale, ghostly tentacle that had saved Severus' life, slipped back beneath the surface almost without a ripple. As they pulled to the docks near the school, they all got out, with Severus soaked to the bone and shivering. He began snuffing, and sniffling, hoping people would think that he was sniffling because he caught a cold. He hoped they wouldn't realize he was crying. The only one who had realized it, was Lily, but she wasn't about to make fun of her friend. Hagrid rushed up to the young man as soon as he was out of his boat. He whipped off what appeared to be an enormous mole-skin coat, and draped it over the shivering young man. " 'Ere now. We'll git ye' warmed up in no time. Get some warm pumpkin juice down ye'. Oughta do th' trick," he said.

The wet boy showed Hagrid no gratitude, but Hagrid didn't hold it against him. He knew what it was to be supremely embarrassed. Were it up to Hagrid, both of those boys would have detention the rest of the year. But, as nothing was actually wrong with Severus, except for a minor cold, the boys would probably be let off with a warning. There wasn't anyone around the school these days that was that strict. Unless you count the care-taker, Mr. Apollyon.

The students marched into the brightly lit hall, and were presented with the sewed up old hat on a stool. Each proceeded up to it, and listened to it's whispering in their ear.

"Black, Sirius!" called the prim witch that had taken Lily shopping.

Sirius leapt onto the stool and tucked the sorting hat down on his head, and heard it whisper, "No trouble finding your place boy. You have a great deal of courage, but no ambition. You may work hard and you might have a thirst to learn, but only to play tricks. Courage is your mark. And of course that means your house is GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius leapt up triumphantly as the hat called to the room his place. He handed the hat back to Prof. McGonagall and strutted over to the Gryffindor table.

A few minutes later Prof. McGonagall called, "Evans, Lily."

Lily walked fearfully up to the stage. She tucked the hat about her ears and listened. "Hmm…" it whispered. "I sense no outstanding courage, not to say that you are without. There is no outstanding ambition, again, not that you are without any. You will probably work hard for your goals, but more than anything else I sense you want to learn. You want to be come talented. You yearn to read. Yes, yes, the place for you is most definitely RAVENCLAW!"

She opened her eyes completely astounded. She had expected to wind up in the "leftovers". Prof. McGonagall took the hat off of her and smiled kindly at her, and nodded her head to a long table that was waiting for her. As she sat, several girls, probably second years greeted her warmly. Lily, for the first time in a long time, felt like she belonged.

After a few minutes the name being called was "Lupin, Remus!"

Remus cautiously sat and put the Sorting Hat on. "Hmm. You are a brave one. You fight yourself, and attend. You know that if people find out what you are, you will be chased away. Yet you still take the chance. You have a good deal of courage, remember that when you are living in GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus meekly got up and moved over to the Gryffindor table where he was greeted enthusiastically by Sirius.

After a few more students, the name "Pettigrew, Peter," was called.

The short stout young man stat on the stool fearfully. He put the hat on his head and pulled it tight.

"Hmmm… I see ambition in you. You want strength. Not of your own, but in your company. That ambition could carry you far. Especially with the friends you could make in Slytherin,"

'No!' Peter thought desperately. 'Sirius and James are going to Gryffindor. I wanna go too!'

"Are you sure boy?" asked the hat. "You would be among your own kind in Slytherin."

'No! Gryffindor,' Peter pleaded in his head.

"Very well then, I have no choice but to declare you, GRYFFINDOR!"

Peter jumped up, and ran to Gryffindor table, but Sirius laughingly sent his friend back to return the Sorting Hat, which he was still wearing.

As the Great Hall calmed down from its laugh at Peter's expense, Prof. McGonagall called the next name on the list, "Potter, James!"

James walked up to the Sorting Hat with all the confidence of a lion on the savanna he called home. He sat on the stool and whipped on the hat. 'What do ya have to say?' he thought to the Hat.

"Well," the Sorting Hat chuckled in his ear. "I feel like I just sorted you a few minutes ago. Take me off boy you already know you belong in GRYFFINDOR!"

James stood up and tossed the Sorting Hat to Prof. McGonagall with a cheeky wink. He sat down at the Gryffindor table beside his best friend, and right across from his two new friends; Peter and Remus.

Among the last names called was "Snape, Severus!"

The young man stood straight, as he had been hunched over in the jacket, trying to get warm. He whipped off the coat with an air of arrogance, and before sitting down deposited it in front of Hagrid. He walked, as straight as he could with ever muscle in his body shivering, to the Sorting Hat.

"I can see what you want," The Sorting Hat whispered as Severus put it on. "Power. You want to make those mean boys pay dearly, don't you?" Vengeance is an art practiced most perfectly in the house of SLYTHERIN!"

Severus sighed deeply, and strode over to take his place. He sniffled once more, but this time someone took the chance to comment. "Geez, we thought you'd be happy to be a snake, Severus," James called. "Or should I say Snivillus?"

Severus' head hung low, and sat hunched over, trying to disappear at the Slytherin table.

"That will three points from Gryffindor!" called an auburn haired witch at the staff table. She was young looking and very attractive. On seeing her, most of the boys dropped their jaw, the others did it only in their heads.

"Thank you, Professor," Prof. Dumbledore said, calming the situation. The few that had remained talking, were now quiet. Prof. Dumbledore stood, and the attractive teacher sat. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwart's. I have a few start of term announcements before our feast. First is to introduce two new teachers here. Prof. Penumbra will be teaching defense against the Dark Arts this year." He gestured to a wizened looking wizard to his left with olive skin, dark hair and eyes, and lime green robes. "And Prof. Silken will be teaching Potions now that Prof. Kettle has retired." He gestured to the very attractive witch. She wore dark emerald robes and had eyes to match. "She will also be acting as head of Slytherin house."

"The second," he continued "Is that while Mr. Apollyon has been asked to restrain himself in the application of physical punishments, he will be authorized to give detentions. And his list of forbidden items is posted on the wall outside his office and continued on the five rolls hanging along the corridor."

"The Third, and final, is to inform all first years, and remind a few others that the forests on the edge of the grounds is strictly forbidden. Hence it is known as the Forbidden Forest. That said, tuck in."

The feast was long and filling. After they were done, they filed out of the Great Hall and into the rest of their lives. No feast had ever been like that for them since.

after this time will move a little bit faster, I hope you enjoy.