The Marauders Pre-Marauders

Chapter 2

The Sorting

A/N: Here's the second chapter. I hope it'll be better than the first.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, so you can't sue me!

The train made a slow stop. Lily, James, Remus, and Sirius had all gotten back to their seats just in time to sit down, then have to get right back up again. Everyone on the train slowly started to file out. Through the fog and rain that now surrounded them thickly, they heard a rough voice calling out "First years! All first years please come this way!"

The small group of terrified looking first years all ambled over to the voice, completely scared and confused. A tall man was, I guess you could say, "collecting" the first years.

"Okay, everyone," said the man, "My name is Thomas Rigby. I'm the grounds keeper here at Hogwarts. Now everyone please come with me. Yes, this way please," he said as all first years ambled over in that direction.

James ended up standing next to a tall pale boy with light blond hair and a sneer on his face. James could tell by just standing next to him that he was someone he would try to avoid. He was rolling his eyes at what Thomas was saying and kept whispering something to his friend with very greasy hair.

"Now we're going to be crossing this lake here in these boats," he said. "So everyone please find a boat. No more than three people to one!"

After everyone was situated, they started rowing across the lake.

"Oh my God!" screamed a girl, "W-what is is that!" she was pointing to a whitish moving figure lazily swimming in giant circle.

"Oh, that's nothing but the giant squid," seeing everyone's terrified faces, he added quickly, "But don't worry, it won't hurt y -" But too late. There was a huge splash. The girl had fainted and fallen into the lake. Everyone gasped. Then Thomas jumped in to save her, He pulled her to the surface and got her onto his boat.

James, being near the back, hadn't been able to see who the girl was. The moment he caught a glimpse of the red hair, fear stabbed through him: Lily. James saw Thomas climb back onto the boat and check for a pulse. When finding none, he started to do mouth-to-mouth CPR on her. James was purely jealous.

After several minutes of no response, and of James' mounting hatred, Lily finally sputtered up a lot of water. James let out a, "Phew!" under his breath.

"She's ok everybody!" said Thomas as a cheer erupted from the gaggle of firsties, "Everyone, let's get to the castle. You don't want to miss your own sorting ceremony, now do you?" he asked, laughing at his own joke. Nobody joined in. The group continued to row to the castle.

Once they got in the great oak doors and into the Great Hall, they were lined up in alphabetical order. A tall stern looking witch walked in holding a three legged stool and an old beaten up wizards hat. All of the First years looked at, not quite sure of what was going to happen. All of a sudden a tear in the front of the hat started to sing:

"Life is full of mysteries

You may believe one me

But when you get to know me

I'm very simple, you see

My sole purpose is to place you

Where you ought to be

In one of four houses

Gryffindor or Ravenclaw

If you're smart or brave

Slytherin or Hufflepuff

If you're average or a knave

Whatever house you're put in

You'll always just be you

So put on the Sorting Hat

And I'll give you a clue!"

The hat finished the song and resumed its still position once more. After a short silence, the great hall erupted into applause. After the students had been quieted down, the sorting began.

"Avery, John," called out the stern looking witch. A pale boy at the front of the line walked forward, not quite knowing what he was supposed to do.

"You're supposed to put the hat on and sit on the stool," said a sixth or seventh year Slytherin, snickering at John's expense. John quickly sat down and put the hat on his head, or rather over his head. It was so large that it covered his head completely and the only reason it didn't go down further was because his shoulders got in the way.

"Hmmm," said that hat, "Well now that that moment of stupidness is over, lets take a look at your brain," he said, "Well, there's obviously very little brain in there, not much courage, it'll have to be….Hufflepuff!"

Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table as John went to sit down. And so the sorting continued. James heard "Black, Sirius," and paid attention.

"Yes, not much brains, for sure, a bit arrogant-"

"That's not true!" shouted Sirius.

"Ah yes it is. I can see it all right here in this pea you call a brain! But there's courage. Yes you should be it….Gryffindor!"

x

James was standing next to a rather um…chubby boy who was kind of dancing around because he was so nervous.

"Hi, I'm James," he whispered and stuck out his hand. The boy shook it and said, "I'm Peter Pettigrew," he said. James could feel the sweat on Peter's hand. It was fairly revolting.

"Evans, Lily," A girl with slightly wet hair walked forward.

"Oh dear, you smell like… pond water!" some people laughed. James hated everyone who did.

"Well, would you look at that? You have a brain! Bravo! Maybe Ravenclaw? No GRYFFINDOR!"

When James heard that he decided he had to be in Gryffindor. After a little while, it was Remus's, the pale sickly boy he had met on the train, turn. He went up and sat down on the stool.

"Oo, you have a brain too! How exciting! You ought to be in Gryffindor!"

Soon it was Peter's turn. "Well not much brains. That's so surprising!" said the hat sarcastically, "But I suppose, hmm, Gryffindor!"

Next it was James' turn. "Well, lets see, no brain, a bit of a prankster, Slytherin? No Gryffindor!"

James did the Irish jig to the Gryffindor table, which was bringing much attention to him.

After the sorting, a tall thin man stood up at the staff table. Immediately everyone quieted.

"Welcome, students welcome!" he exclaimed, "I am your Headmaster Professor Dumbledore. Now everyone, to your dormitories and get a good night's sleep!" he said and everyone stood to follow the head boy and head girl.

Soon the Gryffindors arrived at a portrait of a rather fat lady. The head boy said, "Chocolate frog" and the portrait swung open to reveal a cozy room with comfortable looking furniture and a blazing fire.

"Now everyone, the Girl's Dormitories are on the left and the Boy's on the right. Now everyone, scoot!" said the Head boy to the few remaining first years.

Everyone left and all was silent.

A/N: Hope you liked! It was definitely longer!