James, Sirius, Remus and Peter
Chapter 6- The Sorting
The Hogwarts express finally came to a halt; as the passengers came pouring out of the scarlet train, James Potter hung back to pick up some of his sweets that had dropped out of his pocket when he was rolling on the floor. He had told his three new friends to go on, he will catch up.
James Potter stepped out on to the cool night, where he saw a dark sky, sprinkled with bright little stars.
'If there was only a full moon' said James. 'It would be a perfect view'
Remus gave a loud false cough which James incredibly didn't notice and asked Remus a question.
'Hey where's Sirius?'
'I don't know, some girl wanted to talk to him privately'
'Ooooh, was she pretty'
'She was older than him, a lot older'
'So'
'Actually it didn't seem like that kind of situation'
'Look there he is!'
James and Remus stopped talking and looked to see where Peter was pointing. They all watched as the girl talked to Sirius; and even though they couldn't hear them, they could tell the conversation wasn't going well since they both were scowling and Sirius hands were curled into fists.
The girl looked very familiar to James and just when she walked away from Sirius he recognized her. It was that Black girl called Bellatrix; she probably had some cousin starting at Hogwarts which James had some prank ideas for him and Sirius to pull on him.
'What did she want? James asked Sirius
'Nothing' said Sirius. 'She was reminding me that my mum told her to keep an eye on me'
'Why would your mum tell her?'
'Because she is my perfect cousin'
James stopped dead and grabbed Sirius by the arm, and it probably was good he did because it looked like Sirius would've kept on walking.
'Your cousin, but that would make you a Black…you can't be a Black can you?'
'Of course his not a black James' said Peter laughing. 'His white, can't you see that'
'Yeah, I'm a Black' said Sirius ignoring Peter. 'Why? What are you?'
'A Potter' said James releasing Sirius.
There was silence between the four boys as the words left James mouth. Both James and Sirius were feeling the same thing: both of them had gotten on so well, that it looked like they had very promising, good friendship but now they know they are from different backgrounds, would it work. Remus and Peter were also feeling the same thing; they both were confused but their confusion was slightly different. Remus didn't see the problem between James and Sirius becoming friends because of their different backgrounds while Peter was confused of Sirius, claming to be black.
'Firs' years, firs' years over here'
The silence was broken by a very huge man: he was twice as big as a normal man and five times as wide. He had black hair and eyes.
Sirius stared at the man as all his problems were driven out of his mind, while James jaw dropped and Peter simply just gawked. Remus however grinned up at the huge man.
'Hi, Hagrid' he said happily
'Your' alright there, Remus' said the man called Hagrid, smiling through that big bushy black beard.
'Righ' then, everyone here? Come on then, firs' years follow me!
Along with other the first years the four boys followed Hagrid, who led them to a deep lake that had over a dozen small boats floating.
Sirius stepped in front of James, so that both of their eyes were locked together.
'James' he said. 'I'll understand if you don't want to be my friend because I'm a Black or if your mother told you to stay away from me'
James didn't say anything; it was true his mother told him to stay away from him, although rather than staying away from him he planned to make his life hell.
'No more' 4 to a boat' called Hagrid, taking a whole boat to himself.
Sirius first climbed into the nearest small boat, closely followed by Peter and Remus and last was joined by James. All four sat in silence as they watched their fellow nervous first years climb into the small boats.
'Ok' boomed Hagrid. 'Everyon' in their boat, FORWARD'
No sooner had those words left Hagrids mouth and the small boats began to move forward.
'Who is that man?' James asked Remus
'Oh' said Remus. 'That's Hagrid, his the gamekeeper of Hogwarts'
'How do you know him?' asked James
'My Dad's friend' replied Remus going pink in the ears
This was half-true, true Hagrid and Mr Lupin were friends but they weren't that close. The real reason Remus knew Hagrid was because they had met over the summer: Dumbledore had requested for Remus to come to Hogwarts during the summer, so he could be shown the routine he would be doing for every full moon.
He and Madame Pompfrey had been informed of Remus's condition. Partly because Hagrid lived in a hut near the forbidden forest so he would eventually find out about Remus and Dumbledore trusted him. Madame Pomfrey on the other hand had been assigned the job of smuggling Remus to the shrieking shack.
'What's the problem between you and Sirius?' asked Remus, half out of curiosity and the other half to change the subject.
'We come from different backgrounds' replied James in a whisper. 'He is a Black and I'm a Potter'
'So what's the problem' said Remus confused. 'I mean, do you want people from the same background, to be your friends?'
'No, stupid' said James irritated. 'He is from a family of dark wizards'
'Oh' said Remus softly. 'I suppose, that's why he thinks your mother told you to stay away from him'
'Yeah, and she did' said James heavily. 'But I gotta hand it to him; I would never have guessed he was a Black'
'What makes you think it was an act' said Remus
'Come of it' said James, almost about to burst out laughing. 'Are you telling that were his true colours'
'It could be' said Remus thoughtfully. 'I mean, who would put on an act for a whole day; pretending to be someone they are not and for what'
James could see Remus had a good point, which he privately agreed with but he wasn't going to admit it to him.
'You know James you're throwing away a promising future' said Remus
'Ah come off it I've just met the guy' said James.
'Yeah' said Remus. 'But you two were getting along very well'
Once again Remus was right. He and Sirius were getting along very well, infact too well, that they had already planned to become partners in crime, in giving Hogwarts hell.
Suddenly there were "oooooohs" and "aaaaaaaaahs" from the first years. James and Remus looked to up too see a splendid sight.
Sirius always had thought he would be happy when the day came for him to lay his eyes on Hogwarts but now he had just lost a friend and perhaps the way Remus was whispering to James, he and Remus might not be friends.
All confusion of Sirius being black had been driven out of Peter's mind. All he did was watch the castle that was going to be his home for the next seven years and even cried a bit out of happiness.
James however felt exactly the same as Sirius. Remus however was torn between happiness and unhappiness. He never thought he would make it to Hogwarts but he could never be happy while others were unhappy.
The boats came to a stop and seeing Hogwarts Remus was reminded of Dumbledore and his advice.
'You know what James' said Remus slowing James down as the first years followed Hagrid. 'You're as bad as his family'
'WHAT'
James stopped in his tracks, so did Remus. James couldn't believe this boy was saying he was like a Black.
'Oh, sorry' said Remus quickly. 'I mean, your nothing like them…I mean you don't judge people by their family. If there is something about life you should know is that it doesn't mean anything if you're rich, poor or if the family you come from is a pureblood family'
Once again Remus was right: he was judging Sirius by his family but James didn't have much to think as Hagrid led them to, two great doors and knocked three times.
The great doors opened, and a woman stood there, looking very severe. She was wearing robes and square spectacles. Her hair was drawn back into a tight bun.
'Thank you' she said sharply, obviously talking to the Hagrid, who nodded and walked off. 'I'll be taking it from here. Follow me you lot'
They followed her, where she led them into a small room.
'My name is Professor McGonagall. You will soon be invited to join the start of term banquet, but first you will need to be sorted into your houses. There are four houses at Hogwarts, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Your House will be like your family, you will eat with them, sleep with them, spend your time in the common room with them, your successes will earn points for your house and any rule breaking will lose those points. At the end of the year the house with the most points wins. In a minute the ceremony will begin in front of the whole school. In the meantime, I advise you to take some time on smartening yourselves'
Before she left she eyed a few people, Peter was one of them, who had chocolate around his mouth. She last eyed James's messy jet-black hair, who just made it messier to annoy her.
'Ok, fine…let's say you're right: Sirius is nothing like a Black, big deal but he is still going to end up in Slytherin, all Blacks do'
'You don't know that for sure' replied Remus. 'He could end up in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor'
This was getting frustrating thought James, hardly paying attention to where he was looking and found himself looking into to, two black eyes.
'What are you looking at' sneered the boy with black eyes.
'You're ugly face, slim ball' replied James eyeing the boy's greasy hair.
Perhaps it was quite lucky Professor McGonagall had walked back in because both boys were looking daggers at each other.
'Follow me' she said sharply
The first years followed her into the great hall where it was filled with teachers and students. The first years gasped in amazement as they looked around great the hall and it really was quite amazing. There were four long tables full of students and another table at the front of the hall where the teachers sat.
James saw a few people look up and point. He too looked up and saw many candles floating but what inspired him was there was no ceiling just the cool night.
The first years suddenly came to a halt. James looked around to see everyone staring at an old patched hat on a three-legged stool, so he too looked at hat and just then a rip came and the hat had a mouth.
(Can't think of a song)
Everyone burst into applause as the hat finished its song. The applause soon had died down as Professor McGonagall began to unroll a parchment and call out names.
'Fine, fine' whispered James to Remus. 'I was wrong to judge Sirius like that, are you happy now'
'Not until you apologies to him and make friends' replied Remus
'What?' said James. 'No way'
'Suit yourselves'
'Ok fine, fine. But only on one condition: if he ends up in Gryffindor, then I will apologise but if Slytherin, then forget about it. I am no way going to apologies to a Slytherin or making friends'
'I guess we will have wait and find out'
'Black, Nacrissa' called Professor McGonagall
A slim, pretty girl with blond hair walked towards the patched hat. There she sat on the stool and slipped the old hat on to her magnificent head.
'I didn't know Sirius had a sister' said Remus
'It's his cousin' replied James
'I guess good looks run in the family' said Remus as the hat sorted Nacrissa into Slytherin.
'And we are just about to find out what becomes of the next Black' said James eyeing Sirius.
'Black, Sirius'
All was silent as Sirius Black marched towards the three legged stool, his footsteps echoing around the great hall as he took a step nearer to the stool; finally of what seemed like ages, Sirius Black slipped the sorting hat on to his head.
'Mmmmh…another Black, eh…but you're nothing like a Black, are you…and what is this I hear, not Slytherin…are you sure? Very well, better be…'
'Gryffindor'
A few people from the Gryffindor table clapped as the sorting hat had made its last decision. James couldn't blame them, it wasn't everyday that a Black ended up in Gryffindor.
'Well, I guess you owe Sirius an apology' said Remus smiling
As Professor McGonagall left calling the Bs she moved on to the Cs, Ds, Es, Fs, Gs and finally reaching Ls.
James could see that now Remus was getting nervous as he was about to be called up any minute.
'Relax' said James calming Remus. 'It's not the end of the world'
'Yeah, you're right' said Remus calming down
Just then Professor McGonagall had shouted Remus's name, which made Remus nervous again.
James watched as the sorting hat came down Remus's small, scared face until his face was no longer visible.
'Calm down I'm not going to bite your head off…you're usually calm'
'How did you know?'
'I can see everything in your brain you know and I can see you're trying to hide something…we could do this the easy way or the hard way…fine have it your way…let's see, let's see…oh my…goodness me, Dumbledore has now accepted a werewolf into Hogwarts. Well I better sort you into your house'
'Ravenclaw'
'Heavens no, you wouldn't be bad there but you're too noble and there' only house for nobleness…'
'Gryffindor'
Remus took of the hat and walked to the table that welcomed him with applauses and cheers.
'We're in the same house Sirius' said Remus beaming, taking a seat opposite Sirius.
'Yeah' said Sirius hardly believing his ears. So Remus still wants to be his friend, even if he is a Black thought Sirius. That isn't so bad then and maybe he could have a great time after all in Hogwarts; but still he wished he and James could've been friends. Sirius continued to watch James; he seemed to be making his hair messier and messier; was that a way of showing his nerves.
'Pettigrew, Peter' called Professor McGonagall
Peter didn't move but just stood statue still to the spot he was standing. James had to give him nudge, which sent him stumbling forwards and then he broke into a quick trot to the hat.
The hat came down his face and all Peter could see was complete darkness, then suddenly a voice spoke next to his ear that almost made him scream.
'Not very bright are you, but you are a hard worker. I suppose there is only Hufflepuff for you…wait what's this…cunningness…never expected it from a Pettigrew…where shall I put you Hufflepuff or Slytherin'
'Gryffindor'
'Gryffindor, but you're not very brave are you or bold…I see, you want to stick with your new friends, are you sure…you know you would do good in Hufflepuff or Slytherin…very well if you're sure'
'Gryffindor'
'Potter, James'
James quickly walked to the three legged stool and took his seat. He waited as a embarrassed, grinning Peter came jogging back to give him the sorting hat, which he forgot to take off before taking his seat next to Remus at the Gryffindor.
'You have doubt young Potter, you doubt if you will get in Gryffindor. Why though? Oh I see because I placed Mr Black in Gryffindor. The sorting is not about what house members of you're family went to, it's about having the qualities that the house requires and I believe I am right in putting Mr Black in the perfect house. Now let's sort you into your house…Slytherin, only joking…'
'Gryffindor'
James removed the talking hat of his head and walked to the Gryffindor, grinning broadly while rumpling his hair. Once he had reached the table and took his seat to next Sirius, the applause had died down.
'Listen mate' said James turning to Sirius while Professor McGonagall continued with the sorting. 'You're right, my mum told me to stay away from you but she also told me to not judge a book by it's cover; so you wanna be friends'
'Sure' said Sirius shaking James hand once again. 'I hope you're still up for the pranks'
'Of course'
Grinning, Sirius Black and James Potter were once again friends, however no one seem to notice that a Black and a Potter had made friends except Peter and Remus who at first was happy for them but now unsure if he did the right thing; unleashing double trouble.
Author's note: Hope u guys like my chapter and don't forget to review.
