Title: Before They Were Marauders
Author: Kararen
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do not own any Harry Potter characters. I know this! And so do you!
Author's Note: I didn't expect to get to this chapter by now, but I'm going to start it anyhow. Haven't exactly planned this one all yet, so we'll see how it goes. I'm having knee surgery tomorrow (Feb. 17th) so, I don't think I'll get this chapter up by then, but hopefully I'll get it done before too long…and hopefully the pain killers won't mess me up too badly. When I go back up to university I don't usually have time to write. That's why these are the first chapters I've written since the summer. But anyhow, I hope you are enjoying my writing.
Thanks for all the reviews guys! I didn't expect so many so fast!
Girlnight – thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you liked the first chapter!
HoshiHikari4ever – Pettigrew does kinda remind me of Neville when I think of him back in school, that's why it came out that way in my writing! That was Snape. I figure he and James were just like Harry and Malfoy!!! And I'm glad you find it very realistic. I'm trying to keep to everything we actually know about the Marauders as best as I can!
Dawniky – I'm trying to keep it as close to the real story as possible, so sorry, no pairings…well, you'll start to see the beginning of an actual pairing in this chapter. But none other than that!
-Chapter Three-
Four for Gryffindor
The night's darkness had long set in by the time the train reached the Hogwarts station. It was a clear night. The moon was half full, and millions of stars twinkled in the sky. The four boys had changed into their school robes ready to make their first trip to Hogwarts castle. They had enjoyed the ride immensely. James had bought them chocolate frogs off the trolley, and they had learned a lot about each other. James and Sirius did most of the talking, Peter idolized the two of them already, and Remus was just happy to not be alone.
"Ready to go then boys?" Sirius asked.
"But of course my friend," James responded. "But it's been a fun ride hasn't it?"
"Oh yes," Peter squeaked. "I hope I'll be in the same house as one of you."
"Well do you think you'll make a good Gryffindor? Most of my family was in Gryffindor, so it's likely I'll be put there," James said happily.
"Well I don't know. I've never thought about it," Peter answered.
"Well, I'll take anything but Slytherin actually" James said matter-of-factly.
Sirius frowned. His entire family had been in Slytherin, so he figured it was quite unlikely he'd be put in anything other than that house. But from everything James had told him, he'd much prefer to be in Gryffindor too, even if his parents disapproved.
"Let's just go," Sirius said, so as to not have to answer any questions about houses.
The four got off the train onto the platform.
"Firs' years over here," boomed a man from the end of the platform.
The four of them started towards the voice, and it wasn't long before they knew to whom the voice belonged. An enormous man with black shaggy hair was summoning all the first years to him. They stood in awe as everyone continued to exit the train.
As usual, all the first year took boats across the lake to the castle. Remus and Sirius occupied one boat, while James and Peter hopped into the adjacent one. All of the first years were in awe as they approached the castle that was to be their home for the next ten months. Some, like Peter and Remus, thought that ten months was an awfully long time to be away from home, while others, like James and Sirius, revelled in the thought of getting away from parent supervision.
When they reached the castle, they climbed out of the boats and made their way in. They were taken to a room just off the main hall. After a few minutes (though they felt more like hours to the first years) passed, a witch with her greying hair back in a tight bun entered the room carrying a scroll.
"Welcome to Hogwarts boys and girls. My name is Professor McGonagall and I will be leading you into the hall for the sorting ceremony. The older students have already arrived and are waiting at their house tables for you to join them. As I'm sure you all know, the four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Your house will be a family to you throughout your school years here at Hogwarts. Misbehaviour will lose your house points, while good behaviour and participation in classes will earn your house points. You will, when I call your name, come to the front of the great hall, take a seat, and put the sorting hat on. The sorting hat will decide what house best suits you. If there are no questions, we shall proceed into the great hall."
As they entered, silence engulfed the hall. Older students were trying to get a good look at the newcomers, and they knew what was about to happen. The Sorting Hat would sing its song. The seam near the bottom of the Sorting Hat opened, and out came a tremendous voice singing about Hogwarts and the four houses.
A wave of nervous excitement engulfed the first years. What house would they be put into? Suppose the hat thought they didn't suit a house at all, then what would happen? Would they like the others in their house? Would the others like them? Would they be in the house that was to win the House Cup that year for having the most points at the end of the year?
James was confident he belonged in Gryffindor. Sirius was just hoping not to be in Slytherin. Partly because of what he'd been told on the train about the Slytherin reputation, and partly just to spite his relatives. Remus hoped to be put in a house with at least one of the three boys he had befriended on the train, while Peter just hoped to simply be put in a house.
One by one student's names were called out by Professor McGonagall. Sirius was the first of the four called up. He took a seat on the stool and slid the Sorting Hat onto his head.
"Ahhh, I've not seen a Black in ages. Hmmm, Blacks are usually very easy to place, but you seem to be a tough one! Good brains, lots of strength of will, and bravery to stand up for what you believe in. Well, I think that there's no better place to put you than into….GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table broke into cheers. Sirius removed the Sorting hat from his head, smiled at James, and took a seat next to a third year Gryffindor.
More of the first years were called up and sorted into various houses.
Canvine, Gregory was put into Hufflepuff, Doorman, Kristine was placed into Ravenclaw, and Dury, Martin was put into Slytherin.
When Evans, Lily, was called up next, James seemed to take notice. She had beautiful red hair down past her shoulders and the greenest eyes he'd ever seen. He shifted his body to his right to get a better view around the other students.
"I heard she's a mudblood," James heard a familiar voice say. It was the greasy-haired, hooked-nosed boy from the train. James looked around but apparently no one else had heard it. The boy must have said it just loud enough for James to hear. James wanted to pound him, again, but this certainly wasn't the place.
James went through all the horrible things that could happen to the greasy-haired boy when he went up to be sorted. He hoped he would fall and everyone would laugh. That would serve him right!
Just then Remus Lupin was called up. Remus looked very meek and shy sitting up there in front of everyone. James could tell he did not like to be at the centre of attention.
Remus sat with the hat on his head, very frightened.
"Ah, what have we here?" the Sorting hat whispered to him. "A werewolf? What are you doing at Hogwarts?"
"Please don't tell anyone, just put me in a house! Any of them!" Remus thought to himself.
The Sorting Hat could obviously read what his mind was thinking and replied, "Well well, Dumbledore is a great Headmaster, he knows you'll do just fine here. Ravenclaw for you perhaps? No no, you are brave to come!" The Sorting Hat was silent for a moment before yelling out to the entire hall, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus smiled, and took a seat across from Sirius at the Gryffindor table.
Peter was the next of the four boys to be sorted. The Sorting Hat rested upon the top of his chubby head as he closed his eyes.
"Well, I'm getting some rather mixed signals here. Everything in you points towards Slytherin. Everything except one little thing. I sense you have a purpose to be placed in another house. It's hard to see. I can't make out what it is. It's very odd. Well, I have to go with it, and it's saying, GRYFFINDOR!"
Peter sighed. He was thrilled to be placed in Gryffindor with Sirius and Remus. He had already talked to them at least and wouldn't have to worry about making more friends.
Finally it was James' turn. He walked up to the seat with his head held high. He put the Sorting Hat on his head and waited.
"A Potter! Well then, you seem to know exactly where you ought to go!" he said to James.
"Gryffindor of course," James thought proudly.
"I'm glad you think so too!" said the Sorting Hat, and proceeded to yell out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
James grinned and took a seat at the Gryffindor table with his three new friends. The four looked at each other and smiled as they awaited the feast to begin.
~~~~~
Author's Note: Sorry, no Sorting Hat song. The chapter was long enough without it, and I'm not in a really creative mood at the moment. Painkillers can do that to you! Good news, the surgery went well, so, yeah, I'm getting up and about now, and can work some more on my fic. I'm glad you're all enjoying it. It's not going to be very much longer I don't think. Probably two more chapters will wrap up the marauders' first day!!!