The Sorting
A group of extremely nervous eleven year-olds stood at the front of the Great Hall. They were waiting to be sorted.
Professor McGonagall, a hawk-like woman with a pointy nose, informed them that they would be sorted in alphabetical order. They would then sit on the stool and wear the Sorting Hat. He would tell them in which house they would be placed: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff.
They listened anxiously as the Sorting Hat sang it's song about the four houses and the founders. Then, it was time for the sorting to begin.
The very first person to be sorted was Ellie Abercrombie. She gave a sigh of relief when the Hat announced that she was to be in Gryffindor.
Her sister, Rory, was also in Gryffindor.
The next boy to be called was Black, Sirius. James recognized him as the boy that he had fought with on the train. He groaned as Sirius was placed into Gryffindor. He was sure that boy would be in Slytherin.
Alice squealed quite loudly when she was placed in Hufflepuff.
Lily waited patiently until her name was called. After what seemed like an eternity of debating whether she should be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, the Hat had decided. "GRYFFINDOR!"it cried.
She sat down next to Rory at her new table, waiting anxiously to see where the rest of her friends would be placed.
A few more students were sorted into Hufflepuff, Slytherin,and Ravenclaw.
Remus walked nervously up to the three-legged stool and held his breath as the Hat was placed onto his head. He was begging the Hat to place him into Gryffindor. The Hat was arguing that he should be in Ravenclaw with that brain of his, but he begged.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat yelled, much to Remus's relief.
The next boy to be sorted was had a face like a rat. He was covered in pimples and his hair looked morelike it belonged on the back of a camel than on his head. His name was Peter Pettigrew and, much to everyone's surprise,he was placed into Gryffindor.
A kind-looking boy named Frank Longbottom was put into Hufflepuff.
A beautiful girl named Emilie Wood was sorted into Gryffindor.
Then it was time for the Feast.
The conversation was happy, all of the first years glad to have the dreaded sorting over with. James and Sirius exchanged a few glances, unsure what to make of each other, now that they would probably be roommates.
Finally, it was time for them to see their new rooms.
Rory, Ellie, and Lily walked up to the Gryffindor Common Room. They were greeted by a quite fat woman in a toga. She was the painting that guarded the door to the Common Room.
The girls followed the Head Girl up to their new dorm. It was a large room, painted crimson. There were four beds. All of them had crimson and gold sheets.
They all wondered who their roommate would be.
They saw that their trunks were already waiting for them.
Meanwhile, on the opposite staircase, there was going to be some tension in the first year boys' dormitory.
James and Remus entered their large dorm. It was exactly the same as the girls'. There were four beds. One was occupied by the afore-mentioned Peter Pettigrew. The other was occupied by Sirius Black.
"So, we meet again!" cried Sirius haughtily.
"Look, if we're going to have to sleep in the same room we may as well try to get along a little bit better," James tried to pacify.
Sirius wasn't biting.
"So, you think you can just walk into me and then try to start all over? I don't think so, Mister Potter. If you honestly believe that Sirius Black will just let some muggle-loving pureblood walk all over him, you're dead wrong."
James clenched his fist at Sirius's ignorant statement.
"So, tell me, Sirius, why weren't you sorted into Slytherin?" James asked angrily.
"That's quite simple. It's because I am not like every other Black that walks the face of the earth. I am different."
"How profound. Now tell me why, if you're so different, did you just call me a 'muggle-loving pureblood'? That sounded like quite the typical Black to me. I have met your mum, after all."
"You leave that damned witch out of this!" Sirius ordered, drawing his wand.
"What are you going to do with that, curse me? In front of my dear friend Remus?"
Remus shifted uneasily at being called this boy's friend. After all, he had only known him for a few hours.
"Your friend, eh? Well, I happen to have my good friend Peter Pettigrew, who, as it turns out, has quite the talent for jinxes."
Peter, like Remus, felt unsure at this label of being Sirius's "friend."
"Now, James, I suggest that you back off immediately. I do not wish to engage in a wizard's duel with you. But if you tempt me, I will indulge you."
"I'm not getting into any type of fight with you. I wouldn't waste my energy."
"Good."
Sirius and James each turned to their so-called "friends", Remus and Peter.
Both Remus and Peter were thinking of ways to make this year a little more peaceful in their dorm.
Luckily, the girls had a much easier time.
Lily, Rory, and Ellie all sat on Rory's bunk, chatting nicely, when a girl with hair the color of dark caramel and eyes that made Sirius's electrifyingly blue eyes seem a dull gray walked jovially into the room.
"Hello all, I'm Emilie Wood," she said cheerfully.
"I assume you're our roommate?" Ellie asked.
"That's right!" she said.
"Great. I'm Rory Abercrombie. This is my twin sister Ellie." Ellie waved. "And this is our newest friend, Lily Evans."
They all exchanged pleasantries.
"So, aren't you guys all so excited to be here?" Emilie asked quirkily. "Because I know that I am. I mean, I've been waiting all these years to come to Hogwarts, and now, here I am, sitting in Gryffindor Tower, with my newest friends! This is so incredible! I just can't believe that I'm finally here! It's just like I imagined it would be! So large and the grounds are absolutely beautiful! And the ceiling of the Great Hall is just amazing! It's like I'm in Heaven!"
Emilie rambled on about how great the place was for about five more minutes.
Finally, Lily had a great idea.
"Hey, have you guys ever heard of the game called Truth or Dare?"
"Nope," was the unanimous reply.
"Oh, well it's this muggle game when you ask a person if they want to tell a truth or perform a dare. I thought it would be cool to play truth or truth. We could ask each other questions and then answer them. It would help us to get to know each other a lot better. What do you think?"
"Well, it sounds like a good idea if you ask me," Ellie said.
"Yeah. You're a genius, Lily!" Rory exclaimed.
"I know!" Emilie said. "Can I go first?"
They all nodded in consent.
"Great. Okay, Lily. Who do you think is the hottest kid in our year?"
"Um, ask me in a few weeks, once I've actually seen them all," Lily responded.
"Oh," Emilie said, deflated.
"Okay, it's my turn," Lily said. "Rory, do you like being a twin?"
"Absolutely!" she said enthusiastically. "I mean, you have someone who shares your clothes and your looks! She's always there for me, and she's my best friend. Plus she has great shoes."
Everyone gave an appreciative laugh.
The game went on into the late hours of the night, all of the girls eager to spill their deepest, darkest secrets.
As the boys went to bed, Remus and Peter were thinking of ways that they could make Sirius and James like each other. James and Sirius, on the other hand, were thinking of ways to make the other's life miserable.
The girls, however, were all nervous about what the next day would hold for them. It was, after all, the first day of classes.