Author's Notes: Twenty house points to Magnolia Lane who found my little mishap of Riz's name. Originally, her name was Razi, but somewhere along the way, it became Riza, so I was all messed up on the name. I thought I updated that, but apparently not. sigh Silly computer. Oh well, here's the chapter you've all been waiting for! Sorry it took so long, I've been trying to write a Sorting Hat song in school, and it just wasn't working. Hopefully, it works this time. Oh, and since I'm so bad with updating, I've decided to just to do the one year, then go back to writing one-shots. Maybe somewhere down the road (Like summer), I'll write more chapter stuff. Hm, that's my new resolution: get this done before I get out of school, which is June 2nd. Okay, these are getting way too long. Edit: Just noticed I also wrote the wrong title last chapter. I keep flitting back between One Step Too Far and One Step At A Time.
Disclaimer: I've said this already. I don't own it. This will be the last time I say it. :D
One Step At A Time
The students cradled together as Professor McGonagall walked between the tables. All eyes were on them. Suddenly, those flying pancakes James ate for breakfast were joined by the chocolate frogs that were hopping around his stomach. Oh why couldn't they choose a better time? He needed to distract himself. It was then he noticed that the older students were no longer watching him. They were staring at the hat on a peg-legged stool. Ah yes, the Sorting Hat. James thought. His parents had told him about this.
The famous Sorting Hat opened its brim for a mouth, and let out a cough to clear its throat. James stared and felt something grab his hand and squeeze it. This shocked him even more until he saw it was Riz, who looked a deathly pale, "That thing just moved!" She said in a scared whisper.
James just nodded. He was going to reply, but that was when the Hat opened his mouth a second time and finally began to sing.
Welcome all you students
Especially those who are new
For those who don't know where to go
I'm here, designed to help you.
First I'll tell you a story
Old Hogwart's famous tale
And how the greatest friendship
Was doomed from start to fail.
Brave Godric Gryffindor
Sweet Helga Hufflepuff
And witty Rowena Ravenclaw
Banded together to teach their stuff.
But something felt missing
Some just was not right
They needed a fourth person
To help in situations tight.
Enter Salazar Slytherin
A very crafty warlock
This cunning fellow
Was not one to mock.
They built this school
Brick by brick and
By use of each wand
Each lent a hand.
Their school was quickly up
It was running all too well
Till came students less than pure
Leading Salazar to yell
He wouldn't allow it, no
It could not be done
Still Godric fought him
Until finally he won.
Although the tempers evened
Rowena knew something wrong
She knew Salazar would leave soon
(So here's where I enter the song!)
I was Godric's favourite hat
Pulled right from his head
"Let's put our brains in this,
and let him think for us instead."
Soon I became the official sorter
A fortnight after, Salazar was gone
And sadly, for Hogwarts,
It lost that very special bond.
I tell this story, year after year
Hoping to not repeat history
Though now I feel it again
Those feelings of mystery.
Be careful what you said,
Remember this after the feast,
House mates are not your only friends
Be friends with other houses, at least.
Now come up one by one
And slip me 'round your head
So that I may tell you all
And what house will hold your bed.
Then the flap of his mouth closed and the students began clapping for the hat. He bowed to each table and then fell lifeless once again. Professor McGonagall then walked up to the hat, "When I call your name, you will sit down and I will place the hat on your head. When the Sorting Hat tells you your house, you will go to that table." James could do that. This would be no problem. If only he had a name that wasn't so near the back!
"Anderson, Lynn" was the first to go to the Sorting Hat. She seemed like a pretty nice girl. James decided to play a little game with himself to pass time by trying to identify the person's house. He figured she'd be a Hufflepuff.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Too easy.
"Appleby, Edgar." Hmm...he seemed pretty confident, but not in the evil way. Ravenclaw.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Black, Sirius." Slytherin. All Blacks went to Slytherin. However, the hat didn't seem to know this, as he was taking an exceptionally long time. Finally, he opened his brim.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Even Professor McGonagall seemed to lose her edge for a moment, though it might have been a flicker of the light. The students, however, took no time to show their concern.
"Black! A Gryffindor? That hat's lost it, Professor!"
"Send him to Slytherin!"
"Traitor, traitor, traitor..."
The boy sat by himself, now completely hiding his face with his long black hair. The Gryffindors were eyeing him suspiciously.
"Colbert, Daniel." Nothing, "Colbert, Daniel." No one moved. "For Merlin's sake, COLBERT, DANIEL!" Everyone stared at Professor McGonagall as she lost her temper, and a tiny boy nervously ran to the stool and tried the hat on. James didn't even bother to guess what house. He tuned the it out until:
"Daniels, Riza."
Riz took a deep breath and walked up to the stool, not looking at anyone. McGonagall jammed the hat on her head, which promptly fell down to her shoulders. It seemed to take a minute until a voice rang out:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James smiled at her as she walked to the table, sitting in an empty seat with two free seats next to her. Once she was okay, James lost focus, not caring until Frank was Sorted. When McGonagall said his name, he walked slowly towards the hat.
"GRYFFINDOR!" had been shouted again.
Now James knew he had to pay attention. He would be coming up soon. Now he didn't want to. He felt that if he even moved, his entire breakfast would be the new decor for the table next to him.
Moon became a Slytherin.
O'Shea became a Ravenclaw.
Plum became a Hufflepuff.
"Potter, James." Oh, Merlin, save me. No, I can do this. One foot in front of the other. Good job, Potter. Keep going. There you go. Now he was in front of the stool. He sat down an the hat fell right to his shoulders.
"Hello, Mr. Potter. What an interesting mind. Has anyone told you that you're clever?"
"Not lately, sir." James mumbled as quietly as possibly, as well as thinking it. He wasn't quite sure how you properly talk to a hat.
"Ah, but you are. But I would say your bravery outweighs you cleverness. Unless you really put your mind to it, that cleverness will just go to waste."
"So that means Gryffindor?" James thought, not even bothering to say it out loud.
"Yes, Mr. Potter." James was sure the hat was grinning at him, if it could have, "GRYFFINDOR!" James pulled the hat off his head, gave it to Professor McGonagall, and practically skipped over to his new house table. He was quite proud at himself for not getting worried.
James was met with a high five from Frank as he sat down next to him, with Riz two seats down. Good, they were all together. Nothing could go wrong if he had his mates in his house. The Sorting continued, but James barely heard a thing as he whispered to Frank that they could use Riz to their advantage. Since James had a little sister, he knew how girls could feign innocence better than boys could. Which meant that they would have to tell her about the cloak. He had just whispered to Riz that they had to tell her something when Headmaster Dumbledore stood up, with his hands outstretched. James thought he looked just like his uncle did when he came to visit. He made both Potter children hug them, then pull coins from behind their ears and let them keep it. His uncle showed off his magic to muggles as someone called a Magician. His mother didn't like him very much.
However, James could tell he would really like Dumbledore. He wasn't sure if it was the twinkle in his eyes or the glistering stars and moons on his robes, but he knew that this was a good man.
"I won't waste your time with words when I know you are all waiting for the delicious feast about to come, so I will just say this: let's eat!" Out of no where, the empty plates before them became filled to the capacity with chicken, and turkey, and gravy, and stuffing, and cranberry sauce, and a hundred other things that all looked delicious. Rather than think about it, James decided to try it all. He was on his second helping of mashed potatoes when the food disappeared, only to be replaced by every dessert known to England. James groaned at the thought of eating more food, yet, he made room for two slices of pie.
Finally, the food cleared away, leaving sparkling plates again. Dumbledore stood up again, "Well, now that we are all fed and watered, I will give the school announcements. The Forbidden Forest is called that for a reason, and no students are to enter without permission. Mr. Filch, our caretaker," James looked where he was pointed to an old man with straggly hair, a malicious grin, and a hideous kitten in his arms. His eyes went wide and knew to leave that guy alone, "has requested everyone to look at the list of forbidden items on his office door. We are now up to two-hundred and ten items." James looked back at Dumbledore, "And now, before we go, let's all sing the school song, and then it's off to bed. Classes tomorrow!" Half the school groaned, but Dumbledore seemed not to notice as he flicked his wand, making what had to be the first line of the school song came out. The three friends shrugged, not sure what tune to use, "Pick your own tune and let's begin!"
It was very painful, as no one was on key, nor even the same tune, but they all sang:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something, please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everyone ended at different times, but Dumbledore kept up the words the entire time. When everyone finished, he whipped his wand again and they disappeared. He brushed his eye, as if there was a tear there, "Ah, beautiful. Prefects, lead the way to your house. Goodnight!" After that, everyone stood. The three looked around wildly, until he saw the smallest of Gryffindors being led by what had to be a fifth year boy and girl, "Gryffindors, this way please!" The boy shouted, and they began the journey.
It seemed to take an hour at least, due to all the food James ate. All he wanted to do was go to bed and sleep. He didn't even remember which route to take or which wall to stroke or which step to hop or anything. He'd figure it out eventually.
When they finally reached the tower, James took one look around the Common Room, then followed the male prefect upstairs to where the first year boy's dorms were located. It wasn't too bad, when he looked inside the dorms. They had a nice view of the grounds, a jug of water, and five beds. It was then that he realised he didn't even know who his roommates were. All he knew was him, Frank, and...Black. James glared into nothingness. Why didn't he go to Slytherin with the rest of his family? They didn't need him messing up for Gryffindor.
After James looked at every trunk, he finally found his on the other side of the door. Unfortunately, Black was the bed next to his. He looked at James once, then turned away.
"Too good to look at me, apparently." James muttered, rolling his eyes. He began to pull his drapes of his bed around completely to change when he heard:
"What did you say?"
James opened the curtains to see Black glaring at him, wand in hand. As if he could actually do anything with it, "I said," James repeated slowly, "Too good to look at me, apparently."
"Why you good for nothing..." Black's glare intensified, as did the grip on his wand.
"Go on, finish your sentence. I dare you." James stood his ground. He wasn't afraid of him. He could feel everyone in the room stare at them.
Black never finished his sentence. Neither was even sure who through the first punch. All anyone could ever remember was both boys seemed to jump off their beds, throwing punches. Frank was shouting for James to stop, and ran over to either pull him away, or if that didn't work, to just help him out. James could tell he was losing, but he didn't care.
Finally, the boys stopped, gasping for breath. Black had an eye to match his name and his lip was bleeding. James could feel blood pouring quickly from his nose, and he had what felt like bruises all over his body. Frank was holding onto James' shoulder, making sure he wouldn't go after him again.
Another boy with sandy hair rushed over, wand in hand. He looked at both boys, shook his head, then walked over to James, "Hold on, I can fix your nose." He pointed his wand at James' nose, whose first instinct was to flinch. However, the boy just flicked his wrist, "Constosangue fiuto!" He could feel the blood flow almost stop completely, thought it was still there slightly.
"Sorry," The boy said, looking sheepish, "I haven't mastered the charms yet."
James, however, was impressed, "That's great. Thanks. What's your name?"
"Remus Lupin." He said quietly.
"James Potter and this is my Frank Longbottom." James jerked his thumb towards Frank.
A voice from the other side of the room piped up, "I'm Peter Pettigrew!"
All looked over at Black, to see if he would say anything. If he apologized, James was ready to forgive him right then. No lasting damage had been done. Besides, he did have a good punch. It wasn't like they'd become friends, a Potter and a Black? No, that couldn't happen, but he would at least forgive him. It quickly became apparent he would do nothing of the sort, however.
Remus blushed and ran over to the silent boy, "Right, give me a second and I can fix your lip, too."
"Don't bother." He pulled his curtains around his bed and didn't say anything else.
Frank and Remus shrugged off to their beds and James pulled the drapes around his bed, then slid off his uniform until he was just in his boxers. He opened his trunk, and pulled out a muscle t-shirt, pulled it on, then laid back on his bed. This was going to be a great year, for sure.
Author's Notes: Wow! Finally done. What'd you think? I've been thinking about that fight forever, and I don't think I did it justice. Tell me what you think, please? As for the reason of their fight, it's kind of like Romeo and Juliet, act one. The servants just began fighting because of their families. Don't worry, it'll all be explained. Next chapter is going to be first day of classes, then after that, will probably be Halloween, since I need to start speeding up. And I swear, I will try my hardest to update in a week. I like updating on weekends, so it'll probably be next Friday or Saturday. Remember, reviews encourage me. ;)