Author's Note: I'm really sorry for not able to update in the past week due to school work. A big thank you to Erica for editing and I'm sorry for the previous comments given.


Chapter Four
Gryffindor


His eyes snapped open, it felt like a dream. Had his wish come true? Had he left his family? Was he still going to make a pure blood marriage? Not anymore. He was free.

He joined the Gryffindors at the far end of the table with high spirits; he settled down. He saw Andromeda opposite and he grinned, Andromeda smiled back.

James was left alone. Professor McGonagall continued with the list. It seemed like eternity, James belonged to the category of "P" and there would be a long list of other students being sorted before it was his turn. The sorting continued and James gradually lost his interest in it, and before he knew it, the redheaded girl was walking towards the sorting hat.

"Gryffindor!"

James' eyes sparkled with life; he was determined to go into Gryffindor now. Not only that his dad been in there but Lily was there, with Sirius. The 'E's passed then came the 'F's but James was too focused on Lily notice anything as the list went by.

Then it went on and on, James was soon shook awake again as the boy whom he met on the train put on the sorting hat.

"Gryffindor!" the hat announced. The little boy went to sit beside Sirius, his eyes gleaming. James was more worried now; even that weird boy could go to Gryffindor, what if he couldn't?

The names passed very quickly as the sorting shouted the houses.
"Pettigrew, Peter!" said Professor McGonagall.
A pudgy boy, wearing robes that were too tight, went up to the sorting hat. Ten minutes later, he was joining the Gryffindor table.

"Potter, James!" Oddly surprised that his feet turned to march towards the Sorting hat, James was still worried about the result.

His hands trembling, he put on the sorting hat.

"Potter? Your dad entered this school twenty years ago... A good fine man he was too... Are you going to succeed your father?" a voice whispered. "Determination... Oh yes, bravery. Not commonly seen... GRYFFINDOR!"

James's grinned broadly as he took off the sorting hat from his head and joined the table that was cheering for him.

"Hey, you made it," said Sirius.

"Yeah," said James, settling down and turning his eyes back to the sorting, which only left two first years.

"Snape, Severus!"
"Slytherin!"

James' eyes narrowed, Sirius surveyed him. "Is that him?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah," said James, distinctly knowing what he was talking about.

When the sorting ended with 'Zint, Rosia', who went to Hufflepuff, Dumbledore stood to his feet. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Some rules are observed for this year but I won't let it spoil our mood, tuck in, tuck in!"

Golden plates and goblets appeared with food being served on the table. Remus was just as shocked as other muggle-borne; he pulled a plate of steak towards him and ate.

After their stomachs were filled with delicacies before themselves, Dumbledore stood to his feet once again. "Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. Some of the students might have noticed that there's a Whomping willow outside the castle. Myself, and Professor Sprout planted it and it's very aggressive, thus I advise each and every student not to go near it."

James and Sirius exchanged quick glances. Dumbledore continued his speech. "Mr. Filch had added banned items to his list which can be found in the common room notice boards. That's all."

Dumbledore sat down again, but other few Hogwarts students, who were a few years older, jumped from the house tables. James noticed that all of them had something in common; they all supported a badge with the letter P.

"First years! Over here, may you please!" a Hogwarts student called. "Excuse me, I'm a prefect." said the boy smugly. So that's why, P for Prefect. "Everyone here? OK, let's go."

The prefect was tall, freckled and had brown hair. Remus was just about to the join the line of first years when someone patted him on the shoulder; he immediately turned and went off with Professor McGonagall.

"What's wrong?" asked James.

"Where's, where's that Lupin, you know?" said Sirius.

They were the last two in the row, but didn't see their friend running along in front of them