Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize do not belong to me. Sob. I only own the plot of this story. Sniffles and then settles for a smile.

'Sorting, seeing the smile and slobbering.'

Chapter-1

James Harold Potter, ran a hand through his hair, and grinned excitedly. It was evident, that not all of the other kids were as excited as him, or so at ease. The only other kid, who was bubbling with excitement, was Sirius Orion Black, that boy who James had met on the train and had immediately established a friendship with. Sirius turned around and grinned at James, making his grey eyes light up with mischief and friendliness. James grinned back, and nudged him and pointed at that tall, stern and serious looking witch, who had introduced herself as Professor Minerva McGonagall and who was the head of Gryffindor house, and who had earlier spoken to all the first years, before they entered the Great Hall. She was carrying a tattered hat, and she carefully placed it on the stool. Standing beside it, she pulled out a scroll of parchment, and unrolled it.

'Now, when I call out your names, you will step up here. I shall place the Hat on your head and you will be sorted into your house. Avery, Raymond.' Professor McGonagall announced.

A tall boy walked to the sorting hat. His eyes were narrowed and he was scanning the hall. Perhaps he was imagining it, but James thought that he saw a gleam of eagerness when Avery's eyes roved the Slytherin's table.

'SLYTHERIN!' The hat pronounced, only a second later. James and Sirius scowled; they both had a long discussion about the four houses, and had described Slytherin with utter hate.

'Black, Bellatrix.' This time, Sirius clenched his fists, and glared, as a tall, pretty girl, with shiny black hair, walked to the stool as if it was a throne. Her heavy lidded eyes were confidently relaxed, and her mouth was twisted in a cold smile.

'SLYTHERIN!' The hat quickly announced, immediately as the hat touched the girl's head. Bellatrix's cold smile intensified, as she walked to the Slytherin table.

'She's sick.' Sirius said between clenched teeth, as he saw Bellatrix engage in a conversation with Rudolphus Lestrange, a boy whom Sirius knew to be in second year.

'Black, Sirius.'

James nudged Sirius forward, and he walked easily to the stool, and grinned widely as the hat was placed on his head.

'GRYFFINDOR!' The hat declared. Sirius's grin widened even more, and he waved to the tables, earning a slight glare from Professor McGonagall.

'Right Professor, wouldn't want to keep the sorting waiting-especially as I'm hungry.' Sirius winked, as the assembled students laughed. Up on the teachers' table, James thought that Professor Dumbledore grinned, as Sirius sat down in Gryffindor, and waved at James.

James sighed, knowing that his name was a long way off. He listened to all the names, glaring when some people were sorted in Slytherin.

'Evans, Lily.' James listened with barely half an ear and even less of mind, but when a sheet of red walked to the stool, he couldn't help looking up. A pretty girl, with red hair and sparkling green eyes, walked to the stool and sat down. James felt his concentration rush back, as he crossed his fingers, hoping the girl would be sorted in Gryffindor. He was hardly at the age to appreciate girls, being only eleven, but accidents occur, and this definitely was one.

'GRYFFINDOR!' James clapped along with the rest, his want for landing in Gryffindor, now having increased considerably. The girl smiled, showing her pearly whites, and James eyes were just concentrating on the spot she'd just vacated. He'd never seen such a smile before- full of slight shyness, happiness and pleasure.

Professor McGonagall now read the names, and James felt his concentration now drained away. He could only think of Gryffindor now, and the girl's smile.

'Flume (Ravenclaw)…Fletcher (Hufflepuff)…Goshawk (Ravenclaw)…Goyle (Slytherin)…Hopkirk (Gryffindor)…Jones (Gryffindor)… Lestrange (Slytherin)…Longbottom (Gryffindor)…Lupin (Gryffindor)… Malfoy (Slytherin)…Mulciber (Slytherin)…Nott (Slytherin)…Parkinson (Slytherin)…Pettigrew (Gryffindor).

When suddenly-

'Potter, James.' James stepped forward, and like Sirius he had a huge grin on his face. He walked calmly towards the stool, his grin widening as the hat was placed on his head.

'Excellent. I knew this would be happening soon. You are exactly like your parents, and just like Godric. Now Potter, where should I put you? Your choice is mirrored in my declaration. The choice seems obvious. A talent for mischief making, perhaps too much for your own good, a love for detentions and midnight exploring, outstanding courage, lots of bravery, a vindictive fury and loathing towards the Slytherins, lots of cleverness, and a slight ego makes you a GRYFFINDOR!' The hat declared.

James punched the air, earning more cheers from Gryffindor and a slight glance of disapproval from Professor McGonagall. Grinning cheekily at her, he walked to the Gryffindor table, and grinned openly at Sirius.

'This is great!' Sirius grinned.

'I'm Remus Lupin.' Said a sandy haired, brown eyed boy sitting next to James.

'I'm Peter Pettigrew.' A small, chubby boy, with watery blue eyes and brown hair grinned, seeming as excited as Sirius. The sorting had ended and the food had appeared.

'Frank Longbottom.' Introduced a brown haired, black eyed boy, sitting across to Remus.

'Great. I can already dream of the mischief we can manage here.' James grinned, his hazel eyes sparkling at the thought of all the devilish mischief they would wreak.

Suddenly he saw the same girl, Lily Evans sitting a few chairs away from him. On her right was Emmeline Vance, his mother's friend's daughter, and on Lily's left was Mafalda Hopkirk. Sitting across to Lily, was Hestia Jones, whom he knew through his father, and next to her was Alice Bones, another one of his parents' contacts. Lily turned her head to brush away a strand of her hair. Noticing James glancing at her, she smiled sweetly, and then turned back to her conversation.

After that, James couldn't concentrate one bit, on what his friends were saying.

'This is going to be a great set of seven years.' He thought, with people like Sirius Black and Lily Evans to make it even more exciting.

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