The Sorting Ceremony
((Lily's POV))
"Firs' years this way!" called the gamekeeper's booming voice. I pointed a couple of rather nervous looking first year girls in the right direction, then my friends and I headed for a carriage.
Little did we know, our carriage was already occupied when we stepped inside, by James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. The Marauders. It was too late for us to pile back out, as the horseless carriages began rattling upward.
"Oh, look, if it isn't the Flower Gang!" said Sirius in a would-be amiable voice. They often called us that, because all of our names were of flowers.
"Shut up, Black," Rose muttered.
"All right there, girls?" Remus asked nicely.
I smiled. "All right, Remus. Thank you so much for asking."
Rose, Pansy, Sirius, and Peter shot sarcastic comments at each other for a while. Remus, who was too kind to take sides, stayed out of it. James seemed to be brooding that I hadn't gone out with him, his chin propped up on his fist as he stared out the window. I too, looked out, waiting for a better view of the castle.
It came into view as some fog cleared. We all stared up at it happily, recognizing our old home. The carriages slowed to a stop, and everyone began piling out, headed for the doors. When they opened magnificently for us all to enter, we heard the familiar voice of Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher who was in her thirties. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
As everybody flooded into the Great Hall, she looked at James and me, barking, "Potter! Evans! I need to speak to you for a moment." So I left from the swarm of second years around me, and James walked over.
She led us into a chamber off of the Great Hall, where the first years would soon be given directions before the Sorting.
"All right," she said. "You two will each have your own rooms. When you go through the portrait hole of Gryffindor Tower, they're through the door on the left. There is a small, adjoining common room in between both, and you each have your own bathrooms. The Head Boy and Girl always have their own rooms, due to the fact that it is a privilege to be appointed to such a responsibility."
I bit my lip. Sharing a common room with James? It won't be so bad, sad a voice from the back of my head. You remember how you looked at him this afternoon.
No, I wasn't! replied the front of my head indignantly. Professor McGonagall continued.
"You will each patrol the halls at night from nine thirty to ten thirty. No students should be out after curfew, and if they are, bring them straight to my office. I assume both of you know all of your other duties?" We nodded. "Very well. You may go."
So James and I headed silently into the Great Hall and seated ourselves next to our friends.
"What was that about?" Pansy asked.
"McGonagall wanted to go over from Head stuff," I replied, looking at the doors of the Great Hall. "I wish they would hurry up…I'm famished."
After several minutes, the doors swung open and in came Professor McGonagall with a crowd of shivering first years. They all seemed interested in the room; some pointed at the ceiling, which showed a slightly overcast black sky with stars far above. Professor McGonagall set the stool and a rather old hat on it, then a tear at the brim of it opened and it began to sing.
I am called the Sorting Hat And Sorting I shall do.
If you find a hat more wise than I
I'll be amazed with you.
So try me on, you first years
And I shall place you where
You'll blend well with all your peers
And commonness you'll share.
You may be in strong Gryffindor
Where all your loyalties lie
You'll have much courage for sure
And be not a bit too shy.
Or, perhaps, dear Ravenclaw?
Where smart and quick reside.
You can outwit almost all
Because of your clever mind.
You could be in old Slytherin
Where they are cunning and quick.
Surely nothing will do you in
With your brain all so slick.
Or perhaps, sweet Hufflepuff?
All the rest of the lot.
Deep inside, they've got some stuff
And laziness they have naught.
So put me on! Don't be a prat
I place you where you'll be.
I never hurt a single fly
Because I am just a hat.
The Great Hall broke into applause; even a few of the first years mustered up the courage to smack their hands together a little. Professor McGonagall unrolled a large piece of parchment and began reading off names.
"Alfred, Philip!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
There was an explosion of cheers from the Hufflepuff table.
"Anaster, Carrie!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Cheers ensued from the direction of the Ravenclaw table.
"Bansley, David!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Our whole table roared with cheering.
"Bland, Richard!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
This went on for a while, until "Zickley, Madison" ("SLYTHERIN!") was sorted. Finally, Professor Dumbledore stood, his beard glowing.
"I have a few words before our feast!" he said so the whole Hall could hear. "And that is that the roast is absolutely fabulous, as I've already been to the kitchens to try it. Tuck in!"
We all began to eat, everyone relieved that they could refill their stomachs. I heard Sirius talking to James from down the table.
"You see that Hufflepuff girl over there, with the red hair? I'm asking her out tonight. Maybe we can catch a broom closet before you come and kick us out?"
James laughed. "You know I would never do that."
"Sick," I muttered, taking a bite of potatoes.
"Have you seen that Ravenclaw boy over there?" Pansy asked Rose and me, looking over at a good-looking seventh year boy with dark hair.
"Tomas Jameson?" Rose replied. "Yes. I've been partnered with him in Charms before. You should have seen how well he was with Cheering Charms in fourth year."
"Maybe I can try to get him to ask me out?" Pansy said, twirling her hair with her finger and waving at him. "Oh, look, he's smiling at me!"
"So, Lily, are you going to go out with Potter this year?" Rose asked me, looking eager.
"No," I said flatly, stabbing my pork with my knife.
"Why not?"
"He's a conceited, self-absorbed git."
Rose laughed.
Soon the food vanished from the plates, and what appeared was dessert. Cheesecake, treacle pudding, and chocolate covered strawberries…everything imaginable was waiting to be eaten. I helped myself to a little bit of everything.
At long last, the food and drinks vanished, leaving the glittering plates clear. Dumbledore, who looked a little giggly, stood up from his seat at the Staff Table.
"Now that we are well-fed and ready to go to sleep, I would like to make a few announcements," he informed the quieting crowd in his booming voice. "I'd like to introduce our new Head Boy and Girl, Mister James Potter and Miss Lily Evans."
We both stood up, James looking very proud of himself. He only sat down when Dumbledore began speaking after the clapping died down.
"Also, I'd like to say that the forest is out of bounds to everybody," the Headmaster said with a pointed look at the Marauders. "Also, as we've recently had people trying to charm their teeth straight or their pimples away, please see Madam Pomfrey for things like that. She would be glad to help you.
"Now, into bed! All of you!"
The Great Hall was filled with sound as everybody stood and began talking and laughing. The doors were so congested with students; it took nearly ten minutes for me to get out. Finally, when I was heading for Gryffindor Common Room, James walked up to me.
"Um, we have to patrol the halls tonight, Lily. It's already nine twenty."
I nodded. "Yes, I know. I just have to make sure everybody knows the password."
We walked together (I was rather reluctant) towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. Several younger students were gathered around, waiting for a prefect.
"Fondue," James said, and the portrait swung open. A second year muttered his thanks, and then James and I left.
We didn't talk for a long time as we walked around together. Several students were still out, talking in the hallways. At ten, we shooed them all back to their Common Rooms, then proceeded walking about in silence. After a while, James began talking.
"So why won't you go out with me, Lily?"
"Because," I grumbled.
"Great answer," he growled back. "I don't understand."
"Let me put it this way," I said. "The day you get off your high horse and show some decency towards me, I might consider going out with you. So, in other words, never."
We didn't talk until we climbed back through the portrait hole and through the door on the left.
We were in the Common Room. It was about half the size of the normal one, and I assumed it was only there as a sort of room we could go in if we weren't tired. I would still do my homework and everything in Gryffindor Common Room. It had a welcoming fire on one wall, and two scarlet chairs and a sofa stood around it. There were two desks pushed up against the walls, and there were windows that showed the starry sky outside. Two doors on adjacent walls led to our separate bedrooms, one labeled "Head Boy," and the other labeled "Head Girl."
"Well, good night, then," James said awkwardly as I started for my room.
"Good night," I said a little frostily.
My room was regular sized, like my room at home, with a double bed with a scarlet comforter and hangings. The pillows and sheets were golden. There was a window with scarlet curtains, and another desk on one wall. There was a large, cherry dresser, and a wardrobe for my hanging clothes. The nightstand had an alarm clock and a lamp, and there was a large, squashy armchair with a lamp next to it on the other wall.
I put on my nightgown and crawled into the comfortable bed, and was asleep before you could say Animagus.