"Firs year's ova here." A loud voice shouted from somewhere in the dark. James saw a lantern bobbing in the distance and shrugging at Sirius made his way towards it.

"Me name's Reubeus Hagrid, but you can call me Hagrid. Now I'm in charge of takin' you lot across the lake up to the castle, so if everyone could get into the boats. Six to a boat!"

James hurried quickly to the last boat and climbed in. He was joined by Sirius, Lily, Lily's friend Henriette, a pale dark haired boy, and a small rat-like boy. Hagrid shouted some nonsense words and the boats moved slowly forwards towards the castle. Ducking under a waterfall the six came to a set of stone steps cut into the rock wall. Hagrid knocked loudly on the dark, wooden door with the crest of Hogwarts burnt into it. It was opened immediately by a tall, stern looking witch with her hair in a tight bun. The robes she wore were dark green and appeared starched around the collar and cuffs.

"Inside everyone quickly. My name is Professor McGonagall and I am the Deputy Headmaster and Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Very shortly you will all be sorted into four different houses. Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Now try and make yourselves look presentable and I will be back to get you shortly." Professor McGonagall exited the room and the first years broke into excited chatter.

"She looks tough." Sirius remarked to James.

"Yeah." James agreed.

"Wonder what the record for detention is?"

"Dunno. But I know I'll break it."

"You're on mate. Bet you I do."

"Cool."

Professor McGonagall returned carrying with her a three legged wooden stool and a tattered old hat. She led the first years in a one person line across a wide stone flag hallway and through a set of double wooden doors. James looked around at the huge cavernous room and at the five tables, hundreds of students stared at the first years as they filed past. Professor McGonagall set the stool on the floor in front of the students and teachers. James felt himself being shoved from behind and turned around to glare at the person behind him. A tall boy stood behind him, his greasy black hair swinging into his eyes, a pale mousy brown. The boy noticed that James was glaring at him and glared back, not offering any apology for bumping him. James turned back around and saw that three people had already been sorted.

"Black, Bellatrix" A girl with long black hair and a sallow complexion stepped forward and placed the tattered hat on her head.

"Slytherin" the hat shouted out almost immediately. Smiling smugly Bellatrix removed the hat and replaced on the stool, then made her way over to the Slytherin table.

"Black, Sirius" James turned around and watched with interest as Sirius placed the hat on his head. The hat took longer then it had with Sirius's cousin but it eventually shouted out,

"Gryffindor" With a stunned, but happy expression on his face Sirius made his way over to the Gryffindor table where he was greeted by some older students.

James was staring around intently not really listening to the sorting. Because of this he didn't hear his name being called until the boy behind him poked him hard in the spine. James jolted out of his reverie and was about to turn around and punch the guy in the stomach when he heard his name being called by an irritated Professor McGonagall.

"Potter, James"

James walked forward and blushing furiously placed the hat on his head.

'Hmm, another Potter. I remember you're father. Kevin wasn't it? Yes that's right. Well let's see you have smarts, courage, strength, but you also have a thirst for revenge. You would probably do well in Slytherin. But I see you are also trust-worthy and loyal. And brave. I believe you would do well in… GRYFFRINDOR!'

James winced when the hat shouted that last part out. Hurriedly pulling the hat off his head James stood up and went to the Gryffindor table. He sat down across from Sirius and was welcomed by everyone.

"Congratulations James." Someone said a short way away said loud enough for him to hear over the chattering and welcomes surrounding him. He looked up and locked eyes with Lily Evans; the girl he had met on the train. He smiled his thanks and turned back to the Sorting. Fifteen more students were sorted and then Professor Dumbledore; headmaster of Hogwarts stood up.

"Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts. For the first years who don't know the forbidden forest is off limit to everyone. Also Mr Filch would like me to remind you all that magic in the corridor is not permitted and three more objects have been added to his prohibited items list. So of this time Writhing Flesh-Biters, Flying hardballs and stink pellets are all prohibited in the school grounds. The whole list of prohibited objects may be viewed on his door at any time. Also I would like to announce this years new Head Boy and Head Girl. Once I read your name you can stand and take a bow. Your new Head Boy and Head Girl this year are Zacharius Hillroy from Hufflepuff and Sarah Elliot from Ravenclaw." A tall boy with brown hair and blue eyes stood and bowed and he was followed by a short girl with frizzy blonde hair and blue eyes who bowed and then sat back down in her seat her face flushed. "Anyway enough talking. Enjoy the feast." Dumbledore sat down and immediately the golden plates in front of the students filled with heapings of food. James and Sirius both piled their plates high with food and ate hungrily. James reached for his goblet of pumpkin juice and washed down his mouthful. He looked at the person next to him and saw that it was the same dark haired boy that he had shared the boat with.

"Hi I'm James Potter." James said offering his free hand to the boy. The boy looked down at the hand as if it would bite and then cautiously took it.

"My name's Remus Lupin. It's nice to meet you."

"And that's Sirius Black." At the mention of his name Sirius stopped his pig-fest and offered his hand to Remus.

"Nice to meet you."

"Same." Remus replied looking dumb-founded as Sirius speared a sausage from the platter in front of him and put it on his already filled plate.

The food had disappeared off the plates and Dumbledore stood up again.

"Okay. Now that you've all been watered and fed its time for bed. First-years you can follow the prefects. Good night everybody." Dumbledore sat back down and resumed his conversation with Professor McGonagall. James pushed back from the table and stretched his hands over his head. He looked around and saw the first year Gryffindors gathering around two people near the doors. He, Sirius and Remus joined them. The three had become good friends after talking about Quidditch all through dessert. They followed the prefect up three flights of stairs to a painting of a fat lady in a lacy pink party dress.

"Password?" the lady asked peering down at the swarming crowd of students.

"Pumpkin Juice." The prefect said loudly so all the first years could hear. She turned around and faced them all. "Remember that all of you. Without the password you won't be allowed to get into the Gryffindor common room."

James walked through the opening in the portrait and stepped into a large stoned room. He saw two sets of stairs leading away from the common room. But the common room was a wondrous sight. A large fireplace took up three-quarters of one wall and positioned everywhere was cushiony armchairs, sofa's and loveseats. James saw the male prefect point to the left hand staircase and then pointed to the right-hand one. James saw Lily and her friend Henriette disappear up the right hand staircase. James saw Sirius and Remus beckoning him from the foot of the left hand one and made his way over.
"This is the stairs to the boy's dormitory and that one is the girl's staircase." Sirius said helpfully.

"I'm dead tired. I'm going to bed. Night guys." Remus said attempting and failing to hide a wide yawn.

"Me too." James and Sirius said at the same time. The three went up to their dorm and opened the door. Inside was four four-poster beds and at the foot of each bed was each boys trunk. James flopped onto his bed and tried to remove his robes. Failing miserably he gave up and slid under the covers. He said goodnight to everyone and pulled the curtains closed around his bed. He fell asleep almost instantly.

'I can't believe it. Me. A Black actually got into a house other than Slytherin. Aren't mother and father going to hate this.' Sirius thought happily to himself as he was putting on his pyjamas. He winced when he remembered the lecture he had been given before he had been shipped off in the family car to Kings Cross Station.

"Sirius Black if you do not get into Slytherin we will be very disappointed in you. If the hat asks you say you wish to be put in Slytherin or else. It would be a disgrace to the honourable name of Black if a son of ours did not make it into Slytherin. What with that Lord Voldemort rising to power. I wish him luck in ridding the wizarding community of those filthy mudbloods. Disgraceful to have them running around. Revealing themselves to muggles. Shameful. I expect you to be put in Slytherin Sirius or there will be dire consequences. Being put in Slytherin would be the only respectable and good thing you will ever have done for this family. You do remember that you were a mistake do you not Sirius. Slytherin House. That's my final words to you.'

Sirius ground his teeth and threw back his head in silent laughter. How much he would give to see his parents faces when they found out he was placed in Gryffindor. He was sure Bellatrix would have written them by now. Evil ugly cow. Sirius jumped into his bed and pulled the curtains closed. Shutting his eyes he decided that he would worry about the parental situation tomorrow. Tonight he needed sleep.

Lily finished brushing her hair and teeth and walked back into her dormitory. She and Henriette were joined by three other girls, Anna Sims who had straight brown hair and dark blue eyes, Samantha Wilson, with her sun streaked blonde hair and dark green eyes the colour of moss. And Carrie Hope was the fifth girl, she had short black hair and amber coloured eyes. The five of them had already bonded and were on the way to becoming close friends. Lily walked over to her bed and sat down on it. She pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote her parents a short note. She then opened the cage of her owl Tweet and attached the letter to her leg then threw Tweet out of the window. She watched her fly away.

"So Lily. Are you a wizard born or a muggle born?" Anna asked popping a Bertie Bott bean into her mouth.

"Muggle-born."

"Me too." Chorused Samantha and Carrie.

"I'm a wizard born." Said Anna and Henriette.

"Well I'm really tired so I'm going to go to bed." Lily announced yawning widely.

"Night Lily."

"Night Lily."

"Night Lily."

"Night Lily."

"Night guys." Lily climbed under the covers and pulled the curtains around her four poster bed closed. Very soon she fell into a deep sleep.