A/N New chapter up! The first thing that you'll read in my story is a weak
attempt at poetry. At the end I gave up and just pulled it from the book.
Please don't stop reading my story just because the Sorting Hat Song sucks!
Review plz!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rowling's characters or any of her stuff.
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True, it is, a stylish fad your bowler hats may be, But though I'm torn and aging, none are smarter than me. I've got all the knowledge that's needed for this duty, So put me on and I'll tell you the House in which you'll be. In Gryffindor, the brave will dwell with chivalry that shows. Good Hufflepuff, that's where the one who's just and patient goes. Ravenclaw gets all the smarts, with those of ready mind, And Slytherin, where cunning folk will meet those of their kind. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have none) for I'm the Thinking Cap!
Everyone in the Great Hall applauded as the Hat finished its song. Remus eyed the Hat nervously, wondering if it would shout "Werewolf!" as soon as it was placed on his head. A tall witch stood up and unrolled a piece of parchment.
"Abbot, Sarah!" she called. A small girl walked up to the Hat, and the witch placed it on her head. After a moment, the rip opened again and the Hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"That's Professor McGonagall," Sirius told Remus as the next person was called up. "She's the Head of Gryffindor, and the Transfiguration teacher. Just got hired last year. Might be fun to mess with her mind." His name was called, and he winked at James and Remus as he walked confidently up to the stool where the Hat was.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat quickly. Nearly ten minutes passed before "Lupin, Remus!" was called. Still nervous, Remus walked to the front. Professor McGonagall smiled at him slightly before she dropped the hat over his eyes. A suspenseful moment passed before he noticed a small voice in his ear.
"A werewolf, eh?" the Hat whispered. "That would make you very brave, I think. You're exceptionally smart, so maybe you should go to Ravenclaw. Of course, it would make much more sense to place you in GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus heard the last word shouted out for everyone to hear, and he walked to the table where Sirius sat, grinning broadly. Sirius cheered and clapped him on the back.
"Well done, mate!" he exclaimed. The next few minutes were spent plowing through the M's, N's, and O's. The first P was none other than the turtle boy.
"Pettigrew, Peter!"
The boy moved forward, still clutching his pet. The Hat was dropped over his eyes, and there was a long silence. Finally, the Hat straightened. "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius dutifully clapped, but Remus could hear him groaning over the applause. A few more names were called, and finally, "Potter, James!" James walked to the front with the same confidence that Sirius had shown. The Hat had barely covered his eyes before it called out "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius and Remus cheered loudly and greeted James enthusiastically.
After the last of the names had been called, McGonagall rolled up the parchment and sat down. An old wizard that Remus recognized as Albus Dumbledore stood.
"Dinner is served," was all he said, bowing low. Food appeared on the golden platters set before them, and hands tore into the wide variety. It was a long time before the feast was over and Dumbledore stood again.
"Welcome, first years," he began, "to Hogwarts, and welcome back to everyone else. I have first been asked by our caretaker, Apollyon Pringle, to remind all of you to frequently check the list of unallowed items, updated often. A new tree is being planted on the grounds, a species called Whomping Willow. I would advise you to stay as far away from it as you can, if you do not wish to risk personal injury." Remus felt slightly sick when Dumbledore said that. He knew exactly why the tree was being planted. The rest of Dumbledore's announcements were a blur, and Remus didn't know that he had dismissed them until James tugged on his sleeve.
"Come on, Remus, we won't be able to find Gryffindor Tower unless we go now," James told him. Blinking a few times to clear his head, Remus stood and followed his friends. They walked down corridors and up stairs, listening to the Prefect warn them about the moving staircases and trick steps. Remus didn't pay any attention until his foot sank into one of the trick steps. He went down with a surprised yell. Perfect timing. The Slytherins passed behind them just then, and he could hear them laughing. James and Sirius pulled Remus out and they hurried on to catch up with the rest. Soon they came to a painting of a lady in a pink dress.
"Wattlebird," the prefect said clearly. The portrait swung open, and they stepped inside to see several couches and armchairs, and a roaring fire.
"This is the Gryffindor Common Room," the prefect explained. "You'll do most of your homework and studying here. Boys' dormitories are up the stairs and to the left, girls the same on your right. Now get to bed, tomorrow will come a lot faster than you'll be wanting it to."
Sleepily, Remus followed his two friends up the stairs. As he got into bed, he heard Sirius start talking. He pulled a pillow over his head and tried to ignore him. Finally, James threw a pillow at Sirius, and Sirius stopped talking.
"Stop," Remus mumbled, "stop hitting me, I'm asleep, I mean I'm awake, leave me alone." He heard some muffled laughter and he cracked open one eye to see James and Sirius. They were both holding pillows, which, Remus assumed, was what they had been hitting him with. He waved them off again and closed his eyes.
"Come on, it's time for breakfast," Sirius said, pulling the covers back. Remus groaned and sat up. He had never been much of a morning person. He stood and got dressed, hoping that his socks matched. There was no way that he was going to open his eyes to look.
During breakfast, Remus woke up a little bit more. He glanced at the schedule he had been handed and returned to his bacon and eggs.
"Potions, then Transfiguration," James read aloud, examining his schedule.
"Excellent," Sirius grinned, "new teachers are always fun."
Halfway through Potions, Remus could tell that it wasn't going to be his best subject. The lesson was spent taking complicated notes, and Professor Malevolent announced that they would be brewing their first potion next week. If the notes weren't taken accurately, it would be difficult to brew the potion correctly. Remus breathed a sigh of relief when the bell rang for the class to end.
"That wasn't too bad," Sirius yawned, stretching as they walked out of the dungeons.
"The professor could use a few lessons on how to chill out, though," James replied.
In Transfiguration, Remus, James, and Sirius sat near the front. Professor McGonagall looked stern, and Remus wondered if Sirius was really going to try to smart off to her. That alone showed how little he knew about Sirius.
"Though your first year is one of your easiest years, it is also one of your most important years," McGonagall stated. "Your first year will show us what kind of student you are, and how willing you are to learn. Therefore, I expect each of you to give all of your attention to your studies. If you choose to disrupt my class, you will find yourself serving detention."
"Sounds lethal," Sirius whispered, just loud enough for the professor to hear. She walked to his desk and looked down at him.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Sirius Black," he replied with a carefree air.
"Well, Mr. Black, you have been chosen as the first example for how troublemakers will be treated in my class."
Sirius put on an injured look. "But Professor, I was just commenting on how frightening your punishment system sounds."
"And now you will know firsthand how frightening my punishment system is," McGonagall replied. "How does a week of detention sound to you?"
"Not even a warning? It's not like I've done anything really bad," Sirius protested.
"If you continue to disrupt my class, it will be a month of detention," threatened McGonagall. Sirius opened his mouth to argue again, then snapped it shut again. "Very good. Now, if Mr. Black will be so kind, we will continue with the lesson."
The rest of the period dragged on while McGonagall lectured and the class took notes. When they were finally let out for break, Sirius was kept behind to get the details on his detention. He came out of the classroom looking extremely angry.
"D'you know what that old hag is making me do?" he shouted once they were out on the grounds. "She's making me help that Pringle wart clean all of the bathrooms every night for a week! Just for talking in class!"
"Tough luck, mate," James sympathized. "At least we can go look up some cleaning spells."
"I can't use magic!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Man, she is an old hag," James said. Remus didn't say anything, but he couldn't help giving Sirius an it's-your-fault-you're-in-trouble look, which Sirius ignored. The bell rang again, and they headed off to History of Magic, their last class before lunchtime.
Remus heard a snore next to him and rolled his eyes. James had his head on the desk and had drifted off to sleep about ten minutes after class had started. Sirius lasted five minutes longer, and then fell asleep with his head on the back of the seat. Professor Binns took no notice of any distractions, but a redheaded girl with green eyes turned around to glare at the two boys. Remus shrugged helplessly when she looked at him.
"Wake up," he muttered thirty minutes later, shaking James.
"Is it over yet?" James mumbled, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"That had to be the most boring thing I've ever lived through," Sirius remarked as they walked into the Great Hall. Remus looked at him and started to reply, but stopped. A sudden urge to bite his friend had suddenly swept over him. Full moon tomorrow night, he remembered. The biting impulses always came right before a full moon.
"Remus? You alright?"
James's voice interrupted Remus's thoughts, and Remus suddenly realized that he had stopped walking.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Remus replied, stepping forward again. He wondered how he would get to the passageway. He didn't know how to get past the Whomping Willow. Turning around, he said, "I forgot something, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Opening the door to the Hospital Wing, Remus looked around the room for Madam Pomfrey. She was sitting at her desk, filing some papers. Remus walked quietly up to her.
"Excuse me," he said. Madam Pomfrey looked up, rather startled.
"Oh, hello, dear," she smiled. "I was just about to send someone to look for you."
"Um, I was just, um, wondering about how to, um, get past the Whomping Willow tomorrow," He stammered, glad that no one else was in the room.
"Just meet me here tomorrow at five," she told him. Remus nodded and sped out the door, hoping to be able to get some food before his next class.
"Where were you?" Sirius asked when Remus sat next to him.
"Oh, I, uh, my mum has been sick, and I might be going to see her tomorrow," Remus lied, grateful that he had been able to think of an excuse so quickly. Satisfied with the explanation, Sirius and James returned to their food. Remus tried to eat, but he was so nervous that the food tasted like sawdust. After five years, he was still afraid of the transformations. As long as Sirius and James didn't find out, he felt that it would be okay.
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A/N Well, is it good? Review and tell me what you think! Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rowling's characters or any of her stuff.
* * *
True, it is, a stylish fad your bowler hats may be, But though I'm torn and aging, none are smarter than me. I've got all the knowledge that's needed for this duty, So put me on and I'll tell you the House in which you'll be. In Gryffindor, the brave will dwell with chivalry that shows. Good Hufflepuff, that's where the one who's just and patient goes. Ravenclaw gets all the smarts, with those of ready mind, And Slytherin, where cunning folk will meet those of their kind. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have none) for I'm the Thinking Cap!
Everyone in the Great Hall applauded as the Hat finished its song. Remus eyed the Hat nervously, wondering if it would shout "Werewolf!" as soon as it was placed on his head. A tall witch stood up and unrolled a piece of parchment.
"Abbot, Sarah!" she called. A small girl walked up to the Hat, and the witch placed it on her head. After a moment, the rip opened again and the Hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"That's Professor McGonagall," Sirius told Remus as the next person was called up. "She's the Head of Gryffindor, and the Transfiguration teacher. Just got hired last year. Might be fun to mess with her mind." His name was called, and he winked at James and Remus as he walked confidently up to the stool where the Hat was.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat quickly. Nearly ten minutes passed before "Lupin, Remus!" was called. Still nervous, Remus walked to the front. Professor McGonagall smiled at him slightly before she dropped the hat over his eyes. A suspenseful moment passed before he noticed a small voice in his ear.
"A werewolf, eh?" the Hat whispered. "That would make you very brave, I think. You're exceptionally smart, so maybe you should go to Ravenclaw. Of course, it would make much more sense to place you in GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus heard the last word shouted out for everyone to hear, and he walked to the table where Sirius sat, grinning broadly. Sirius cheered and clapped him on the back.
"Well done, mate!" he exclaimed. The next few minutes were spent plowing through the M's, N's, and O's. The first P was none other than the turtle boy.
"Pettigrew, Peter!"
The boy moved forward, still clutching his pet. The Hat was dropped over his eyes, and there was a long silence. Finally, the Hat straightened. "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius dutifully clapped, but Remus could hear him groaning over the applause. A few more names were called, and finally, "Potter, James!" James walked to the front with the same confidence that Sirius had shown. The Hat had barely covered his eyes before it called out "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius and Remus cheered loudly and greeted James enthusiastically.
After the last of the names had been called, McGonagall rolled up the parchment and sat down. An old wizard that Remus recognized as Albus Dumbledore stood.
"Dinner is served," was all he said, bowing low. Food appeared on the golden platters set before them, and hands tore into the wide variety. It was a long time before the feast was over and Dumbledore stood again.
"Welcome, first years," he began, "to Hogwarts, and welcome back to everyone else. I have first been asked by our caretaker, Apollyon Pringle, to remind all of you to frequently check the list of unallowed items, updated often. A new tree is being planted on the grounds, a species called Whomping Willow. I would advise you to stay as far away from it as you can, if you do not wish to risk personal injury." Remus felt slightly sick when Dumbledore said that. He knew exactly why the tree was being planted. The rest of Dumbledore's announcements were a blur, and Remus didn't know that he had dismissed them until James tugged on his sleeve.
"Come on, Remus, we won't be able to find Gryffindor Tower unless we go now," James told him. Blinking a few times to clear his head, Remus stood and followed his friends. They walked down corridors and up stairs, listening to the Prefect warn them about the moving staircases and trick steps. Remus didn't pay any attention until his foot sank into one of the trick steps. He went down with a surprised yell. Perfect timing. The Slytherins passed behind them just then, and he could hear them laughing. James and Sirius pulled Remus out and they hurried on to catch up with the rest. Soon they came to a painting of a lady in a pink dress.
"Wattlebird," the prefect said clearly. The portrait swung open, and they stepped inside to see several couches and armchairs, and a roaring fire.
"This is the Gryffindor Common Room," the prefect explained. "You'll do most of your homework and studying here. Boys' dormitories are up the stairs and to the left, girls the same on your right. Now get to bed, tomorrow will come a lot faster than you'll be wanting it to."
Sleepily, Remus followed his two friends up the stairs. As he got into bed, he heard Sirius start talking. He pulled a pillow over his head and tried to ignore him. Finally, James threw a pillow at Sirius, and Sirius stopped talking.
"Stop," Remus mumbled, "stop hitting me, I'm asleep, I mean I'm awake, leave me alone." He heard some muffled laughter and he cracked open one eye to see James and Sirius. They were both holding pillows, which, Remus assumed, was what they had been hitting him with. He waved them off again and closed his eyes.
"Come on, it's time for breakfast," Sirius said, pulling the covers back. Remus groaned and sat up. He had never been much of a morning person. He stood and got dressed, hoping that his socks matched. There was no way that he was going to open his eyes to look.
During breakfast, Remus woke up a little bit more. He glanced at the schedule he had been handed and returned to his bacon and eggs.
"Potions, then Transfiguration," James read aloud, examining his schedule.
"Excellent," Sirius grinned, "new teachers are always fun."
Halfway through Potions, Remus could tell that it wasn't going to be his best subject. The lesson was spent taking complicated notes, and Professor Malevolent announced that they would be brewing their first potion next week. If the notes weren't taken accurately, it would be difficult to brew the potion correctly. Remus breathed a sigh of relief when the bell rang for the class to end.
"That wasn't too bad," Sirius yawned, stretching as they walked out of the dungeons.
"The professor could use a few lessons on how to chill out, though," James replied.
In Transfiguration, Remus, James, and Sirius sat near the front. Professor McGonagall looked stern, and Remus wondered if Sirius was really going to try to smart off to her. That alone showed how little he knew about Sirius.
"Though your first year is one of your easiest years, it is also one of your most important years," McGonagall stated. "Your first year will show us what kind of student you are, and how willing you are to learn. Therefore, I expect each of you to give all of your attention to your studies. If you choose to disrupt my class, you will find yourself serving detention."
"Sounds lethal," Sirius whispered, just loud enough for the professor to hear. She walked to his desk and looked down at him.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Sirius Black," he replied with a carefree air.
"Well, Mr. Black, you have been chosen as the first example for how troublemakers will be treated in my class."
Sirius put on an injured look. "But Professor, I was just commenting on how frightening your punishment system sounds."
"And now you will know firsthand how frightening my punishment system is," McGonagall replied. "How does a week of detention sound to you?"
"Not even a warning? It's not like I've done anything really bad," Sirius protested.
"If you continue to disrupt my class, it will be a month of detention," threatened McGonagall. Sirius opened his mouth to argue again, then snapped it shut again. "Very good. Now, if Mr. Black will be so kind, we will continue with the lesson."
The rest of the period dragged on while McGonagall lectured and the class took notes. When they were finally let out for break, Sirius was kept behind to get the details on his detention. He came out of the classroom looking extremely angry.
"D'you know what that old hag is making me do?" he shouted once they were out on the grounds. "She's making me help that Pringle wart clean all of the bathrooms every night for a week! Just for talking in class!"
"Tough luck, mate," James sympathized. "At least we can go look up some cleaning spells."
"I can't use magic!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Man, she is an old hag," James said. Remus didn't say anything, but he couldn't help giving Sirius an it's-your-fault-you're-in-trouble look, which Sirius ignored. The bell rang again, and they headed off to History of Magic, their last class before lunchtime.
Remus heard a snore next to him and rolled his eyes. James had his head on the desk and had drifted off to sleep about ten minutes after class had started. Sirius lasted five minutes longer, and then fell asleep with his head on the back of the seat. Professor Binns took no notice of any distractions, but a redheaded girl with green eyes turned around to glare at the two boys. Remus shrugged helplessly when she looked at him.
"Wake up," he muttered thirty minutes later, shaking James.
"Is it over yet?" James mumbled, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"That had to be the most boring thing I've ever lived through," Sirius remarked as they walked into the Great Hall. Remus looked at him and started to reply, but stopped. A sudden urge to bite his friend had suddenly swept over him. Full moon tomorrow night, he remembered. The biting impulses always came right before a full moon.
"Remus? You alright?"
James's voice interrupted Remus's thoughts, and Remus suddenly realized that he had stopped walking.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Remus replied, stepping forward again. He wondered how he would get to the passageway. He didn't know how to get past the Whomping Willow. Turning around, he said, "I forgot something, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Opening the door to the Hospital Wing, Remus looked around the room for Madam Pomfrey. She was sitting at her desk, filing some papers. Remus walked quietly up to her.
"Excuse me," he said. Madam Pomfrey looked up, rather startled.
"Oh, hello, dear," she smiled. "I was just about to send someone to look for you."
"Um, I was just, um, wondering about how to, um, get past the Whomping Willow tomorrow," He stammered, glad that no one else was in the room.
"Just meet me here tomorrow at five," she told him. Remus nodded and sped out the door, hoping to be able to get some food before his next class.
"Where were you?" Sirius asked when Remus sat next to him.
"Oh, I, uh, my mum has been sick, and I might be going to see her tomorrow," Remus lied, grateful that he had been able to think of an excuse so quickly. Satisfied with the explanation, Sirius and James returned to their food. Remus tried to eat, but he was so nervous that the food tasted like sawdust. After five years, he was still afraid of the transformations. As long as Sirius and James didn't find out, he felt that it would be okay.
* * *
A/N Well, is it good? Review and tell me what you think! Happy New Year!