Disclaimer: Harry Potter, associated characters from the seven books and the wizarding world come from the amazing imagination J.K. Rowling. They are owned by JK Rowling and the WB.
Again thank you to Ashley06 and Safiya for being my beta's
Chapter 4 – Before the Sorting
As several students passed them James turned around to look at the person who had spoken. The man was tall at about six foot with dark hair and blue eyes. He had a large build and wore forest green robes. James had to admit that he looked slightly familiar but he could not put his finger on where he had seen him before. The slightly round face seemed friendly enough but they had been brought up to never trust strangers. "Right and you would be?" He asked rather skeptically.
The man smiled warmly his eyes twinkling; his expression almost seemed to say 'good for you'. "Professor Neville Longbottom, Herbology. Professor McGonagall asked me to bring you to her office as soon as possible." The stranger replied his tone pleasant and open.
Lily seemed to be mouthing the professor's name while pondering the man in front of her. Suddenly she grinned. "I know you. You're in a load of Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron's wedding photos. You were best man."
Professor Longbottom's expression softened in reminiscence. "That was a great day. Well until your uncles decided to release some birds at the reception. Why they ever thought that Jobberknolls could be a substitution for white doves I'll never know."
"From what I heard everything would have been fine, except for the fact that the reception was being held next door to a butterfly farm." Remarked James with a wry smile imagining the mess that had occurred.
"Luckily being an Auror and an Unspeakable your aunt and uncle were able to smooth some of it over before the ministry got too involved. Anyway are you willing to come with me now? Professor McGonagall would like to talk to you both before the feast."
The twins nodded and followed the professor away from where the other students were gathering towards the station masters office. "Everything alright Gus?" Neville asked as he entered the office."
A rather old man wearing smart crimson robes looked up from the schedule he was going through. His aqua-marine eyes crinkled in a smile. "Fine thanks Professor. McGonagall told me you'd be here. Interesting way of taking first years to the school isn't it?"
"Granted it's not as impressive but it's definitely a lot quicker. We'll be getting back to the castle at least thirty minutes before the sorting this way."
"Now why would you want to be doing that?" Asked Gus.
"Ah Gus, I could tell you but then I'd have to obliviate you. So what would be the point," replied Neville with a sideways glance as he walked over to the fireplace.
"Okay kids, we're going to floo to Hogwarts: Transfiguration. Got that?"
The twins nodded and took a handful of floo powder. Lily stepped into the fireplace and stated the location clearly with James following her. They arrived in the fireplace of a moderate sized office and stepped out of the fireplace. There was a desk to the right with different objects sitting on top. The left wall consisted of a bookcase filled with everything from old dusty books to brand spanking new books. James shook his head slightly as Lily's eyes lit up at the sight of this. The fireplace lit up and Neville stepped out dusting off his robes. He quickly looked around.
"Professor Falon must have already headed to the Great Hall." He shrugged as he headed towards the door. "Well come on you two."
James and Lily followed the professor out of the office through a classroom full of several rows of two seater desks and into a long corridor. They walked rather quickly down the corridor James and Lily taking in as much of the scenery as possible to avoid the feeling of nervousness that was beginning to creep over them. James lost track of how many paintings and suits of armour they passed, though he could swear one of the suits of armour saluted them as they walked past. Finally they stopped in front of large stone gargoyle.
"Tabby Whiskers!" The professor stated and Lily and James watched anxiously as the stone gargoyle started to rotate revealing a stone staircase. "Well go on then." The professor stated as the two eleven year olds looked up at him.
"What you're not coming?" James asked.
"Nope I've got to prepare some things before the start of the feast. Look, don't be nervous, it's nothing bad I promise you." The professor replied with a wink.
After glancing at each other and then taking a deep calming breath both James and Lily started up the stairs. 'Don't be nervous!' James thought sardonically. Well that was just silly. After all how many other first years were here going to see the headmistress before the term even started?
The stairway stopped in front of a large oak door. "Ready?" Lily whispered as she raised her hand to knock.
"Do we have any choice," James mumbled quietly.
"Enter!" The stern voice caused James and Lily to jump, especially considering the fact that they had yet to knock. They were even more surprised when the oak door seemed to swing open of its own accord.
They stepped cautiously into the room and were instantly awed by their surroundings. The room was large, circular and seemed to have two different levels and an incredibly high ceiling and was covered in hundreds of portraits. To their right was a glass cabinet filled with different ornamentation then a book case that went from floor to near ceiling and seemed to take up at least a quarter of the circular wall. It had two different landings with ladders on each of the levels. Next to that and underneath the second level was a door that led to who knew where. Then following around the wall was a stairway to the second level landing on which they could see a giant telescope and a couple of cupboard but that was pretty it from this vantage point. Underneath the landing and against the wall were several other cupboards and cabinets on which sat assorted trinkets. In front of these was a gorgeous large polished mahogany desk which had several comfortable chairs in front of it and behind it sat a rather severe-looking woman wearing emerald-green robes.
Her grey-speckled black hair was tied up into a bun and she observed them from small rectangular glasses that sat halfway down her nose. James instantly knew that she was not a lady to be crossed, but still there was a comforting air about her. He knew this must be their new headmistress the legendary Professor McGonagall that his Uncle, Aunts and grandmother talked about.
"Good evening Mister and Miss Potter." The professor stated as they made their way into the room. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." The Professor's Scottish brogue though slightly strict held a certain amount of warmth. "Now I assume you are wondering why I invited you to my office before the start of the feast." The twins nodded. "Well I admit it is rather unusual but I have someone here who would like to say hello." She indicated to their left where several more comfy looking chairs were situated next to a glowing fireplace above which sat a portrait of an old thin man with long silver hair and matching beard. A purple cloak sat around his shoulders and he seemed to be fast asleep though James could swear that the bright light blue eyes behind the half mooned glasses opened briefly to wink at them before closing again as the portrait pretended to sleep. Their view was instantly drawn away from the portrait of what could be non-other than Albus Dumbledore, by a soft hooting from a pure white owl that was perched above one of the wine coloured chairs.
"Hedwig!" Lily exclaimed. James started if Hedwig were here that must mean . . . both of the twins darted to the chairs expecting something but stopped disappointedly when they saw no-one in the chairs.
A door closing behind them made them turn back around. Professor McGonagall was no longer in the room instead standing by the door next to the bookcase was a young witch in burgundy trimmed black robes. Long slightly wavy scarlet hair trailed down her back and tired hazel eyes filled with tears.
"Mum!" The twins cried before running over and embracing their mother who they had not seen in three months and had not heard from in at least a month.
Ginny held on tightly to her two children who she swore had grown even more in the time she was away. The troubles of the last month seemed to slowly slide away as she embraced her two main reasons for living. "I've missed you both so much." She whispered as she drew back to kiss the both on the forehead."
"Where have you been, Mum?"
"How come you didn't write?"
She had known that these would be the first two questions her children would ask but she still could not explain to them. Not yet. "I'm sorry Lily I can't tell you where I've been and James I wanted to write, you know I did. I was just unable to. But look I'm home now and everything is alright. Plus you won't have to worry about me disappearing like that ever again."
"But what about the ministry, Mum?" Lily asked unable to believe what their mother was saying.
"They new that this was to be my last trip. I promise you both the ministry will not send me on another mission."
James nodded and hugged his mother again still not quite believing she was here. He knew however if his mother promised something it was a promise she would keep.
"Besides," Ginny grinned as she studied the twins noting all of the changes that had occurred while she had been gone. "How am I supposed to be a Head of House if I keep gallivanting off all the time? Now tell me about your summer."
Smiling the twins led the mother over to the fireplace and they started to fill her in on everything that had happened at the Burrow, Grimmauld Place and Diagon alley. The twins did not know how long they were talking for but a coughing sound seemed to interrupt them too soon.
"Ahum, Professor Weasley, I hate to interrupt the family reunion," Albus Dumbledore's portrait spoke, his blue eyes sparkling, "but the sorting has started."
"You're kidding!" Ginny exclaimed bolting to her feet and glancing at her watch.
"I assure you professor I, unfortunately, can no longer kid,"
"McGonagall is going to kill me. Great impression Ginny."
The twins could not help but smile. Their mother seldom got like this but when she did it was quite funny to watch. Their smiles died quickly as their mother turned to them. "Don't even think about it you two, we have to run."
With that she grabbed both of their hands and bolted to the oak door. After running down several corridors and down several flights of stairs that had decided to move a couple of times while they were on them, they were catching their breath in front of the entrance to the great hall. "Sorry Kids," Their mother gasped, "Don't think . . . we can help . . . but make an entrance here."
Sighing they took several deep breaths to even their breathing and then Ginny nodded and opened the doors in front of them.
The Great Hall was rather quiet as the sorting had started and the next child – Lupin, Xavier – had just sat on the stool with the Sorting Hat just about to be placed on his head. The last thing anyone expected was for the doors to be pushed open and rosy cheeked professor and two rosy cheeked first years to enter. A small whisper started around the hall.
James and Lily tried to be calm as they walked up the center of the hall with two tables filled with students staring at them on either side. Trying to be as inobtrusive as possible they barely noticed the hundreds of floating candles or the sky ceiling above them. 'So much for blending in with the crowd.' James thought.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Came a cry from the front and everyone in the hall turned their attention back to the front. The table to their immediate right gave a cheer as Xavier walked over to it. He saw them as they finally reached the ten other students still waiting to be sorted and gave them a friendly wave and a thumbs up. They smiled back at him and watched their mother as she made her way up to the teachers table where a few unimpressed looks greeted her. The large man from the station who was sitting next to her gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder which pushed her forward a little more than she intended as Mahroza, Diego was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Malfoy-Sorrenson, Nathaniel" Called Professor Longbottom who stood near the three legged stool that Diego had just departed and was reading from a long parchment. Nathaniel walked up to the stool and nervously sat down. The hat covered his eyes and fell down around his ears as it was placed on his head. James and Lily watched curiously as Nate's mouth moved though no one could hear what was being said. James had to admit that he was slightly surprise at the Malfoy connection to Nate's name. As far as he was aware nothing ever good came from having the name Malfoy. Then again Nate seemed nice enough and he was not going to judge someone from name alone. "GRYFFINDOR!" Yelled the hat. The table to the far right cheered loudly as a beaming Nate left the stool and went to sit next to Caliope who had obviously also been sorted into Gryffindor. Both of them waved at Lily and James who waved back.
"Should have known you two would make an entrance," Came a sneer from their immediate right as Moschakiss, Surayya took a seat and was instantly sorted into Ravenclaw. The table to their far right erupted into cheers and James and Lily looked beside them to meet the dark eyes of Damien Lestrange now seated at the Slytherin table. James looked at Lily and rolled his eyes. 'Big surprise there!' he though and Lily chuckled as if reading his mind. Damien continued, "You do realise I know it was you at the station. I will get you back for that I can promise you."
"Righty-o," James remarked in a bored tone as Idris Nicholson was sorted into Slytherin. The group in the middle slowly thinned as O'Connor, Daniel and Paladini, Asha were sorted into Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively.
"Potter, James!" Neville called and the hall went silent again. There had not been any wizard Potters in over eleven years and that line was thought to now be dead. Everyone assumed that it must be a muggle born until James walked to the stool. That was when the whispered started and he caught a few teachers looking at his mother. The names Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter were often synonymous in the stories of the final battle and everyone had seen them enter. James sighed as he sat down wondering if naming him and Lily after his grandparents was really the smartest thing to do if they were meant to be keep their true identity hidden.
"Nothing can really be kept hidden for long you know!"
The noise in his ear cause James to jump and it was only then he realised that the hat had been placed upon his head.
"Yeah, well it was never my idea to be hidden in the first place." James replied.
"No, I can see that. You don't want your parents' history to define who or what you will become."
"Sure you're not confusing me with my sister. I just want to have fun." James remarked wryly.
The hat chuckled. "You would be surprised at what I can see in you but yes you definitely take after your name sake. There is only one house I can really place you … GRYFFINDOR!"
James punched the air as he stepped off the stool and moved to the table to his far right, sitting next to Nate who punched him in the shoulder. He sat down at the table and grinned up at his mother on the teachers table. As Potter, Lily took a seat. Lily was on the stool for what seemed like a rather long time to James, he was curious though he could tell from her body language that she was experiencing several different emotions but her lips never once moved. Finally the hat called "GRYFFINDOR!" Lily practically ripped the thing off her head and handed it back to the professor, who looked at her slightly startled as she walked away from him. James was slightly surprised to see a tear trickling down his sister's cheek as she came to sit beside him. "Lil, are you alright?" He asked as the sorting continued.
"I'm fine," Lily replied brightly putting on what James knew was a forced smile.
Finally the remaining four students were sorted the stool was put away and Professor McGonagall stood. "Well don't just sit there gawking at me. Eat!" A smile lit her features as she sat down and food appeared on each of the five tables.