Hogwarts: 1971 - The Sorting

The Great Hall was a marvel indeed. Hundreds of candles were hanging over their heads in midair, glittering and dancing around the ceiling. Sliver plates and dishes were set out carefully around four long tables, one for each of the houses, and one at the front of the hall, facing the other four tables, for the teachers. But the ceiling itself took the attention of all the other decorations, for it's breathtaking masquerade as the night sky was purely spectacular. A silvery moon shown through the high windows and the sky around it matched the ceiling of the hall exactly, as if there were no divider, and the ceiling merely wasn't there...

Gleaming stars dotted around with swirling clouds as if it were painted there with shimmering slivers, pearly whites, and midnight blues. It was all that perfect.

"Bloody Hell..."

Sirius said in awe, while scooping his jaw back off the floor. Peter hadn't talked since they had gotten in the boats to go across the river, James and Sirius assumed he had some kind of fear of water. Although, for some reason, Peter seemed to be that way about a lot of things. Even after he had finally retained his normal shade of pale, as soon as they had gotten off the train he turned a ghostly white again and began shaking like a leaf. But he couldn't possibly be scared of everything... right? Wrong.

The first years shuffled into the hall, in a line at the front of the hall, facing the rest of the school. Oddly enough, Sirius and a teacher named: Professor McGonagall, (a tall, blunt woman with a tight bun, glasses at the tip of her nose, and a tall, pointed hat, which only made her look taller) had just a bit of a brawl and so resulting in Sirius, Peter, and James being in the front of the line, starting with Sirius. But neither Sirius nor James seemed to mind being in the front all that much, though Peter most certainly did. His shaking had increased from being like a mere leaf to being a tree in a tornado. All color was drained from his body; even his robes seemed a duller gray then the others'. Though the other two boys were hardly paying attention to this small fact, and instead, paying more attention to the book worm that had broke James' glasses.

Professor McGonagall was just explaining that they were indeed, still going in alphabetical order, just with a few arrangements due to three loose lipped boys. However, this did little to effect just how loose their lips were...

"There he is, Sirius. To the left. No my left! Your right. No, your other right! Yea... with the scars..."

"Blimey, can you possibly get that from paper cuts..."

"Either that or his lessons are quite extreme..."

"I could hardly imagine him doing anything other then prance around on a little pink pony with..."

"Gentlemen, if you will..."

A harsh voice came from behind James and Sirius' adjacent heads. The sudden voice had jolted them a bit, causing the heads to knock together. But this only made them laugh a bit, a far cry from the drama that had occurred after James' last head collision. Beckoning Sirius angrily with her hand, the boy slowly looked toward the teacher, as if she was a venomous snake ready to strike. It was a good thing he wasn't in a house yet, otherwise he would have lost them at least fifty points so far, and that was only between the amount of time of getting into the castle and sitting on the stool with the sorting hat on. Which, although seeming like an eternity, is only about five or six minutes.

"BLACK, SIRIUS,"

Professor McGonagall's voice ran out though the silent room. But as Sirius started towards the middle of the hall, Sirius' smile only widened, because everyone's eyes were on him. This was just the way he liked things. Walking in almost a procession-like manor, he finally reached the stool and plopped dramatically onto it, letting his eyes widen with over expressive anticipation, as the ragged old hat was placed on his head.

Sirius knew what was coming, he was a pure blood. He was told a thousand times how it worked, his first day. He would sit on the stool and the second the hat hit his head it would proclaim miraculously: SLYTHERIN! In a loud booming voice, so that the entire crowd roared with delight (or so his mum told him). But Sirius had another thing in mind entirely.

Slowly Sirius heard a whispering in his ear, as if someone had snuck up behind him and was talking quietly in his head. It was the oddest thing he had yet experienced, but it wasn't that unusual compared to his everyday life back at home.

So, Mister Black, where to put you... You're a pureblood I see... and your parents, very interesting...

Not Slytherin, I would go anywhere else, just not there.

Why ever not? Your mother would have a field day...

Exactly.

Well... Slytherin isn't your fit I suppose...

Yes, I think so too.

Alright, if your so rigid about this... better make it a...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

A table at the far end of the room erupted with cheers, which mostly came from the female population, but Sirius was too caught up in 'sticking it to the man (or mum)' to really take note of this. Happily, he bounded over to the clapping table and settled down in front of an empty plate, staring intently up at James as his name was called as well. Professor McGonagall, however, was looking less then pleased, though Sirius had yet to figure out why.

"POTTER, JAMES,"

James was much less sure of himself then his new friend before him, and walked tentatively up to the hat as if it was going to jump up and eat him. Sitting down gingerly on the stool, the dusty old hat was lowered over his eyes, and he too heard the little voice in his head.

Mister Potter, what an honor it is, what an honor... Great things for you, great things...

Please, put me with Sirius...

Ah, your friend, Mister Black, is it? Well I suppose...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The table once again exploded with applause, though, Sirius was by far the loudest of them all. Professor McGonagall looked about ready to rip apart the hat at this point. The first two ended up together in Gryffindor, but the boys still had yet to know of why she maddened her so.

"PETTIGREW, PETER"

She called out tiredly. Surely, he too wouldn't be set in Gryffindor as well...

Mister Pettigrew...

At the sound of the voice, Peter screamed shrilly and toppled backwards off the chair. McGonagall jumped up at once and rushed over to him, setting him back onto the stool and explaining the situation to him for the fifth time. A few snickers could be heard around the hall as he cautiously let the hat be settled, once again, onto his head.

Peter, Peter, it's quite alright to be afraid, but honestly...

DON'T! Don't put me in Hufflepuff... I mean it, I'll work double hard.

Mister Pettigrew I can't help but feel that...

I want to be with them! Please, please don't...

Very well...

"GRYFFINDOR"

By now the hat sounded frustrated and annoyed, which only mirrored the face Professor McGonagall was making. The sorting was now going according to plan, all in alphabetical order. Now the three boys were gazing up at the stool watching and commenting on every new student up there.

"He's a bad one, he is. That's what my dad told me..."

"I heard he's the brother of..."

"Look at her, she's really pretty..."

"If you take off her enormous glasses..."

James made a face.

"What's wrong with glasses?"

One by one the first years went up to be sorted, the boys continuing their lasting commentary. There wasn't many Gryffindors after the three boys, it was as if the hat had purposely not wanted anyone in there.

"EVANS, LILY,"

A small redheaded girl approached the stool and James' eyes couldn't be kept off her. He didn't say a word about it, but merely watched with anticipation.

Please be Gryffindor... Please be Gryffindor

In his mind, she was the prettiest girl yet, and it'd be so much nicer if she was in his house. It'd make it easier on the eyes and much more interesting. He couldn't yet put his finger on it, but he wanted her in his house for some strange reason.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat shouted finally. James was the first to jump up and start clapping, as she was one of his friends. She began to blush a little and walked over to the table, taking a seat next to Peter. Now that she was closer, James could see that he had some little brown freckles sprinkled over her nose. But something much nicer caught his eye about her, and that was her almond shaped green eyes, that were so incredible that he couldn't keep his eyes off them.

"Um... why are you staring?"

Lily said bluntly as she sat down next to Peter. James suddenly snapped out of it and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Er... no reason, just thinking..."

The sorting continued, with Sirius throwing several smug glances at James that said something to the effect of: Thinking about what, mate? Hmm? But James clearly ignored him and kept his gaze on the line as it began to thin, one by one.

Soon enough, that Remus boy was up next and he looked nervous enough.

"Little git,"

Sirius muttered in James' ear. James nodded and watched as the Professor read off his name.

"LUPIN, REMUS,"

Remus tottered to the stool and sat on it quickly, pulling the hat over his head. He wanted this whole thing over with as soon as humanly possible; he could tell he was getting odd stairs from those three boys, epically James. Great, first day here and you've already made friends.. He thought bitterly, as the Hat began to speak.

So, Mister Lupin, where to put you...

Not with them in Gryffindor... please not there...

Not Gryffindor, huh? Well I'm getting rather tired of all these requests...

Please?

Nope... sorry my boy, but you'll thank me later...

What? NO, wait...!

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat called triumphantly, as Remus glared down angrily on it. It would be much harder to keep away from the three stooges if he had to be in the same house as them.

Great... Stupid hat...

But he wasn't the only one who had a problem with this decision, Sirius and James were having a field day with it.

"He's in our house? This is impossible! WHY?"

James said angrily, stamping his fist on the table.

"You're being rediculous; he has as much a right to being in this house as you do,"

James' head snapped around and stared upon the face of the redheaded girl. She was looking rather angry herself and had her arms crossed over her chest. This made James' voice fail him and he didn't speak another word about it. This worked well, because Remus had reached the table then and set himself next to Lily, smiling and putting out his hand.

"Remus Lupin,"

"Lily Evans, nice to meet you Remus,"

James began to glower at him. How dare he just start introducing himself to that pretty girl? And how dare she protect him! He broke James' glasses purposely and just walked away from it, and James wasn't about to forget it any time soon. Sirius and Peter exchanged confused glances at the reaction of James but shrugged it off, letting their attention go back to the sorting.

"SNAPE, SEVERUS."

A greasy looking, dark haired boy, wiggled his way to the stool at the sound of this name. His face looked rather odd, kind of like a caricature. He had a big hooked nose that took up most of his face and little eyes that flickered every which way as if waiting for someone to attack him. The look on his face told them that he didn't enjoy being stared at one bit and Sirius automatically thought he was absolutely hilarious.

"Look at that guy! And his NOSE!"

But Lily was far from amused. She had tore herself away from her interesting conversation with Remus ("I agree, the Fidelius Charm sounds absolutely fascinating!") and turned to glare at Sirius.

"What's so funny about him? He's just a first year like you,"

Sirius opened his mouth to say a nasty remark back but James had stomped on his foot under the table, which had switched his attention to his foot.

"OUCH! Merlin, James what's the matter with you..."

But by the look on James' face Sirius just fell silent.

"SLYTHERIN!"

The hat called in a booming voice. The table across the hall cheered as he slunk over to sit with his new house mates, but Sirius, being Sirius, had one more thing to say about this.

"Slytherin? That rotten, no-good, dirty..."

"SHUT UP!"

Lily fumed, pushing herself up from the table and staring down at him. Sirius gapped, what had I done to her? But it didn't matter at the moment, this girl was getting on his last nerve. He didn't want to constantly be watching what he was saying, just because James had his weird reason for not wanting to put her in her place. Sirius didn't take this kind of attitude from people, and he wasn't starting now.

"No, I won't, because I have a reason for not liking that house and I'm entitled to my own bloody opinion,"

"JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN OPINION DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO SHARE IT!"

Remus was now yelling too. His scar covered face was pink from his shouting. The table was now staring at them, and they had no idea that the sorting was coming to a close.

"Well I want to hear his opinion..."

Peter said weakly, trying to suck up to the two boys. Sirius threw him a grateful look and stared back at Remus, who said nothing. James opened his mouth to say something else but they were soon interrupted by a booming voice.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

Said a tall man in the middle of the teacher's table. He had a long slivery beard with matching hair, and was wearing midnight blue robes with half moon spectacles that slid down onto the tip of his nose. Dumbledore, the headmaster, grinned down around at his students.

"Welcome, Welcome first years, Welcome those who are returning! I know you are all hungry, and so am I! Eat Up, the feast is complimentary!"

Suddenly the empty dishes and plates began overflowing with different foods. Meats, puddings, bread, vegetables, fruits, and many other things the boys had never even seen before. Overcome with their hunger, they completely forgot about their little battle and pushed those thoughts aside to heap food onto their gleaming sliver plates.

The hall was filled with the sounds of cheerful voices, clattering sliver wear, and food being piled messily onto the plates. Even the teachers looked in fairly good moods, all except for Professor McGonagall, who looked sickly and deeply annoyed.

"She's probably just mad that we all got in the same house,"

Sirius told James, who he noticed was staring at the teacher with a confused look on his face. Peter, on the other hand, was poking at the food with his fork, as if trying to make sure it wasn't going to eat him first.

"I think I might be allergic to dairy products... do I look any different?"

He said worriedly, touching his face with his hands as if he was going to feel that his nose had blown up to the size of Severus'.

"Yes, your turning purple..."

Sirius stated gravely, nudging James in the shoulder.

"Ouch, oh... OH! My! Why are you all purple, Peter?"

Peter's face turned an even paler shade of white, so he almost looked gray. He pushed his plate away from him and jumped up sprinting towards the doors to check his reflection. Unfortunately for him he did not realize that he had no idea where the bathrooms were... This could prove to be a slight dilemma...

-

Meanwhile the two boys were laughing hysterically, shaking a little with laughter.

"That look on his face..."

Sirius said in between bouts of laughter.

"...priceless..."

James agreed, unable to breathe almost. But Lily and Remus were far from pleased, but kept their thoughts to themselves, continuing their conversation on the thrill of Apparition ("It must hurt to be splinched!"). Finally when the two boys calmed down they noticed that they were becoming drowsy from eating so much.

By now most of the hall was settled down, a sleepiness falling over them all. Noticing this new manner among the once rowdy students Dumbledore stood up and smiled down over them all.

"Now the feast is over and done I'd like to invite you all to walk to your common rooms and get to bed, a new year starts tomorrow and you'll need your rest. Prefects need to gather the first years and show them the way, make sure to spread around the password only to those among your House and make sure to remember what is off limits. They're posted in the common rooms, and I do hope you take note of them and stay clear of the designated places. Have superior dreams my pupils, and I hope we all have another fantastic year here at our magnificent school,"

A polite applause spread rapidly though the hall and soon a screech of benches signaled the rising of the students. The two boys looked around for Peter but did not see him return, but they soon forgot as they were swept into the throng of people, all moving towards different exits.

"First year Gryffindors, First years this way,"

Called a tall boy and girl, who were waving above the crowd. The many new students swarmed around them as they headed off through a giant set of double doors and into a wide hallway. However, the trip to the common room wasn't a short one.

Soon the young boys and girls were growing all the more tired, fast. Long stairways and winding halls all made their little legs grow tired. But finally they trudged up to a portrait of a lady who was rather pudgy. Excitement built up inside Sirius' chest, he had heard about the Sytherin common room, but not the Gryffindor one. And the funny thing about it was, they were arch enemies. Sirius was expecting a howler the next day. But he didn't care much; he made his mom mad and achieved his goal. Aside from the impolite duo, Remus and Lily, he liked his new house-mates, and was immensely glad that James was in his house. They seemed just to get along so well... they were so similar.

The fat lady glanced down at them, setting down the mirror she was admiring herself in just a few seconds before.

"Password?"

She said in a highly superior voice. The two prefects just rolled their eyes.

"Avis,"

The tall boy said, and the portrait swung open to reveal a hole in the wall. But in the hole was something that made the crowd of children gasps a bit. A beautiful room of red and gold stood before them. Several over stuffed arm chairs were set around the room with a large crackling fireplace on the wall. Gorgeous patterns of scarlet and gold covered every inch of the room, and glowed in the flickering firelight. Fierce paintings of lions and brave people were displayed on the walls and they all smiled and waved as the children tumbled into the room. Two staircases were at the far side and the prefects explained that they should go up and their things were already set up. Remus and Lily bid each other goodnight (much to James' disapproving glares) and hurried up to their rooms, but there was a slight problem.

"WHAT!"

James cried, seeing that Sirius, Peter and him had an extra guest... Remus Lupin.

"NO!"

Remus said hopping backwards and gripping his pajamas close to his chest. Peter was yet to be seen and Sirius' happiness had dropped completely from his face.

"What's he doing here?"

Sirius commented, as if Remus wasn't there.

"I'm your new roommate..."

Remus said grudgingly.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

James shouted, flinging his arms into the air.

"Well I'm not happy about it either,"

Remus huffed, letting his guard on his pajamas down a second.

"But if you're here I must get one thing straight, no questions, no talking to me, no touching my stuff, understand?"

James and Sirius looked about ready to hurl him out the window.

"Fine, but same goes for you,"

Sirius said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine,"

Remus replied just as icily. They all stared at each other then sighed loudly, before pulling on their pajamas and falling asleep without another word.

But where was Peter?