Sorry this took me so long… so many evil projects. But good news: I moved and unpacked my Harry Potter books so I can use them as a reference to make things more accurate! Ok, sorry there is a bit more lovey-dovey stuff in this chapter but it will end! I promise! Read my note at the end of the chapter. Please review!
Disclaimer: This are a lot more fun to do when you can make them random and be full of sugar. But the story is awesome to write so I guess a boring disclaimer will have to do: I don't own or have any chance of owning Harry Potter, the Marauders, or any of the companies claiming ownership to them. Oh well.
Chapter 4: The Sorting Hat
"We must be getting close," Sirius commented as the conversation started to die down.
"How can you tell?" asked Remus.
"Well, there's the castle," Sirius said pointing outside. The other boys all rushed up and pressed their faces against the window. Sirius laughed loudly. "I can't believe you fell for that," he said between fits of laughter. The other boys stared at him blankly. "Honestly, James you should know me better." James gave Sirius a hit upside the head for that.
"Hey, we're almost there," Sirius said a little while later.
"Do you really think we're that thick?" Remus raised an eyebrow.
"Well, maybe James here," that comment earned Sirius another hit upside the head from James, "but I'm serious this time."
"Wait, I thought Sirius was your name," Peter said confused.
This statement caused an eruption of laughter in the cabin. By the time they were finished laughing the train had come to a stop. They all gave an anxious sigh.
"Well, guess we're here," James stated the obvious.
All four got up to get their trunks, Peter's fell down, successfully crushing him. The other boys laughed as they helped him to his feet.
After getting off the train, a rather large man with a very bushy beard awaited them calling "First years this way! Come on, over 'ere! You'll all be taking the boats across the lake! And careful not to flip over!"
Without more than a quick glance at each other the four walked to the edge of the lake where a line of boats was sitting and climbed into the nearest one and set sail. James ran a finger in the water alongside the boat. Sirius, again, was the first to speak.
"Beautiful site isn't it?" He asked motioning toward the castle.
James, Remus, and Peter all jerked and looked up having been lost in their own thoughts.
"Yeah, it really is," Remus stated majestically.
"What's that?" Peter finally spoke up, pointing to a large tree whose branches were flailing about, extremely intimidating and threatening to any around it.
Remus felt his heart sink, for he knew exactly why that tree was there, as Dumbledore had mentioned it in his letter:
Upon your arrival you will most likely notice the presence of a rather particular free- The Womping Willow. This has been put in place to guard the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack and ensure your privacy during your transformations.
He winced at the mere thought.
"Was that always there? I don't remember my parents mentioning it," James wondered out loud.
"We'll have to get off in a second," Remus said hurriedly trying to change the subject.
The others noticed the slight crack in his voice but ignored it and gotten ready to jump onto the bank.
A tall, thin, middle-aged woman was standing in front of a pair of large wooden doors when they reached the castle.
"Hello and welcome to your first year at Hogwarts," the woman greeted. "I am Professor McGonagall, and in a few moments I will lead you through the doors and into the Great Hall. There you will each be sorted into one of four houses. The houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Please form two single-file lines and follow me." With that she turned, opened the doors, and led them inside.
All were instantly mesmerized by scenery cast over the ceiling. It was a twilight blue sky with lots of bright stars with candles hovering just below it, illuminating the grand room.
There were four long tables each with two-tone banner with an animal symbol on it. These were set exactly aligned with a fifth table in the front of the room where the professors and staff were seated. In the center of this table sat an old man with a long white beard and matching hair and ever-twinkling blue eyes with half-moon spectacles resting in the center of his nose.
The old man stood and tapped his glass, clearing his throat loudly. Immediately the entire room went dead silent.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. For all those returning let us welcome our new arrivals," there was an eruption of applause which ceased immediately when the old man cleared his throat again. "Before the sorting begins I would like to introduce your professors, both new and old. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster here at Hogwarts." There were applause once again but without clearing his throat Dumbledore continued, "To my right is Professor McGonagall, your Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house."
At this point James started to tune out and looked up and down the lines of the first years waiting to be sorted, most of them almost trembling with anxiety. When his eyes had traveled half-way up the line across from him he locked gazes with the red-haired witch from the store, Lily. She smiled and waved to James, her bright emerald eyes sparkling. James absentmindedly waved back but both their attentions were drawn back when an old worn black hat on a short, wooden stool (that they had failed to notice before) started… singing.
(Hats song)
"When I call your name come up, place the hat on your head and wait to be sorted," McGonagall said unrolling a long roll of parchment.
"Annete, Jessie…"
"Ravenclaw!" the hat shouted almost instantly after being placed on her head.
"Andrews, John…"
"Huffelpuff!" That was the last word Sirius heard the hat say before he started to daze
Sirius heard the hat say before he started to daze and was only drawn back to
reality when he heard his name being called for the second time.
"Ahem. Black, Sirius," McGonagall called and the students in the hall giggled as
Sirius finally walked forward. Ever gracious, Sirius stepped up to the hat with
pride, even with several hundred students, including James, laughing at him.
"Ah... another Black I see, but you are different... very different, a rebel among your family. Hmm... I think you will do very well in... Gryffindor!" the hat shouted. There was an uproar of applause from the Gryffindor table and James high-fived him as he passed.
Now, it was Remus' turn to become lost in his thoughts. I wonder if they know. How will they react? Who can I trust to tell? Should I ever tell anyone? I wonder if Dumbledore got in trouble for just allowing me to come here. He was jerked from is thoughts suddenly, not by his own name but by a red-haired witch walking neverously toward the hat after the name "Lily Evans" was called.
About a minute later he watched her walk over to the Gryffindor table, across from Sirius, who she smiled at quickly before looking down and becoming engrossed in her own thoughts.
Remus now listened intently until his name was called an d he approached the hat.
"Ah, another curious fellow, eh? Already have a deep secret do you? Well, I suppose I know where to put you… Gryffindor!" the hat said and Remus walked hurriedly to the table taking a place next to Sirius.
"Lucious Malfoy…"
The boy from Diagon Alley with the white-blond hair walked toward the hat with an evil smirk on his face. James' eyes burned with fury just at the sight of him.
"Slytherin!" the hat exclaimed as soon as the boy sat down. Cheers were heard all around the Slytherin table as the evil, hate-filled boy approached it snobbishly.
Peter knew it would be a while before his name was called but he was shaking and sweating more than he had in his entire life. James, who was right behind him, laid a hand on his shoulder trying to calm him down. He was amazed that just twenty-four hours ago he had had to day goodbye to the only friend he had ever had.
Flashback
"What do you mean you're leaving?" asked an eleven-year old girl with blonde hair and dark brown eyes."I…I'm going to a boarding school, Maggie."
"I'll miss you so much…" the girl wrapped her arms tightly around him and sobbed into his shoulder.
"I'll miss you too," Peter said trying to act manly, but barely holding back his own tears.
Then he grabbed her shoulder and held her at arms length for a moment before giving her a quick kiss on the lips. He blushed madly and yelled a quick "goodbye" before turning and walking away. The girl started after him with wild eyes, "Goodbye, Peter."
End Flashback
"Pettigrew, Peter."
Peter walked toward the stool where the hat was sitting, but with his extreme level of clumsiness tripped and fell to the floor. Everyone in the Great Hall laughed. Even most of the teachers couldn't keep a straight face. After he picked himself up, he put on the hat and was sorted into Gryffindor and sat down by the boys he had met on the train.
"Potter, James."
James walked up to the hat without incident.
"You too are brave and courageous my boy. Loyal also, with a fancy for mischief You shall join your friends in…Gryffindor!"
The usual applause were heard at the house table accompanied by a loud whistle from Sirius, who patted his friend on the back as he sat down.
"Hi," Lily said as she met James' eye.
"Hi," James replied with his famous (or infamous) smile. The next few names past as none of the new Gryffindors took a step to elaborate on the converstation.
Finally the name "Snape, Serverus" was called and the boy with greasy black hair and a large nose walked forward.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() Yes, I finally finished typing (took me long enough). Ok, I know some of you (if anyone is reading this) are wondering about the girl who Peter said good-bye too… well, so am I. I'm not sure how she'll play out in the story yet. But she will definately not turn out to be a witch and show up and Hogwarts or anything, I promise. And to mention the "lovey-dovey" stuff... trust me it all ends soon and I know there only 11 now but you'd be shocked at how mature-ish some 11 year olds are. Nonetheless, all love connections are broken for quite sometime in chapter 6. Please review!
To my lovely Reviewers:
Pickledshkiller: I'm sorry, I know I do tend to lean towards James and Sirius, lol, yes I LOVE the Marauders! Thanks so much for reviewing!
Ultra-violet-catastropy: I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 'something' but if I figure it out I'll be sure to add it! Thanks for reviewing!
Dee- Don't worry the romance ends soon. And I will not abandon this story, I swear. Though, it will most likely take some time between posts. Spring Break is coming up though so I'll have more time to work on it then. Lol, oddly that's not the only joking-death threat I have right now. Lol.
PLEASE LET THESE PEOPLE BE AN INSPIRATION FOR YOU TO REVIEW!
