All rights remain.
Truthfully, the train ride was long and painfully so, but James chose not to be bothered by the consumption of time. Excitement far outweighed his impatience and he was willing to put up a great many hours on a train for the sake of going to Hogwarts (and everything else). Fortunately, he had others to keep him company and vice versa. James had just met these three other boys, but the conversations flowed so easily between them, it was hard to imagine they had not been friends their whole lives.
James was happy to talk about anything with them. While it ranged from Quidditch to classes…from pranks to entertaining the masses, one thing remained a commonality—they wanted to do it together. He liked this little group of boys he even dared to call his new friends; Peter was shy but quirky, Sirius was brash but outgoing, and Remus was quiet yet bold; it was a strange combination but he did not hate it.
In the midst of their debate on which broomstick had the best balance, James grew uncharacteristically silent as he noticed something upon Remus's skin. Over the rim of his glasses, he could see hints of angry red marks littering his neck. He tried not to be obvious, but James knew that he would not have the opportunity to look again when the collared uniform would come on.
Superficially, he assumed Remus had gotten into a fight with a feline and lost, but something about those scratches did not add up. The width of those lacerations were too big to be a cat's and they left such terrible marks, it was hard to believe it was a feline unless said cat was 30 stone. However, his scrutiny was short-lived. The wheaten-haired boy had leaped up in his seat, angling himself in a way that blocked James's view of his scratches and pointed to the window.
"Look!" he shouted, catching the attention of a lounging Sirius Black and slumbering Peter Pettigrew. "It's Hogwarts!"
James's heart jolted as he sprang to his own feet, squashing his nose right up against the cool glass to get a view of the castle. It was lit up, stark against the indigo sky, and welcoming. James pulled back with a huge grin on his face, his curiosity temporarily stemmed by his newfound elation.
"Finally!" he said and grabbed his trunk off the top rack with that same, graceful ease. "I've been waiting to see Hogwarts for myself since I got the letter! No, actually...since I first heard my parents talking about Hogwarts!"
Sirius looked at his shoes for a fraction of a second. Clearly the mention of family did not bring upon any warm memories, but the eldest Black heir did not harbor sad feelings for long. He, too, twisted on his seat to grab his things and bring them to ground level.
"It's about bloody time," he said to James in agreement, stowing away the few things he had taken out of his trunk. He, then, frowned as he looked at the Hogwarts crest with all four animals representing the houses.
"Oi," James said, noticing the way his new friend froze on the spot, eyes glued to his robes. "It doesn't matter what house you'll be in, mate. You're still going to be my friend. We can't stop talking now! We've got a castle to explore."
Sirius shook himself from his stupor and forced a smile though it was not too convincing. Peter was scrambling to help Remus with his belongings, both boys panting heavily as they balanced the items dangerously on their hands.
"Let me help," James said, moving over to grab the handle of Remus's trunk and lift it by himself. It was, perhaps, even lighter than his own, but he tried not to make any judgmental expressions as he nudged Remus playfully. "Consider me your very own, personal Knight in Shining Armour!"
"Oh, right," Remus said with a roll of his eyes though the corners of his lips were definitely turned upward. "I'll follow you about and polish your suit of armour while you protect me. So very Gryffindor-like of you."
"Well," James said, puffing out his chest. "That is the house I'll be in."
Remus snorted while Peter sniggered behind his hand, amused at the antics of these boys.
The Hogwarts Express came skidding to a slow but high-pitched halt after a painful thirteen minutes of waiting as the castle in sight grew larger. The compartment doors started opening all at once and students came pouring out into the corridors with their things in tow.
Peter watched the crowd mingling excitedly amongst one another, pushing each other this way and that in their haste to get off the stuffy train and outside. Eventually, the crowd thinned out enough where the four boys took their turn to depart. They left their trunks with the others by the conductor and hurried with the crowd, about to be swept away with them when someone shouted in a great voice.
"Firs' years on the boats!"
"Boats?" Peter echoed, eyes now wide with terror. "Oh, no!"
"What?" James said as the four of them veered off course and headed towards the lake's shore. "Not seasick are you? If you are, lean the other way."
"No," Peter said indignantly though his tone suggested otherwise. "I just...I don't like water. I never learned how to swim. What if the boat tips over? We don't know what's in that lake! What if there's...some Lochness monster?"
"Peter," Sirius said, cutting the boy's ramblings off with a sharp prod to the arm. "Shut it for a moment and listen. The boats are probably magic seeing as this whole place is. I doubt they'll tip over."
Peter frowned though he looked less worried.
"Even if it does, we'll rescue you," Sirius added.
"Pardon, but James is evidently my Knight in Shining Armour," Remus interjected, earning a roar of laughter from all three boys.
The light humor seemed to alleviate any apprehension or hesitation; they followed the booming voice to a lake shore lined with wooden boats, a lantern swinging from each one.
Waiting for them at the shoreline was a man that stood taller than everyone by several heads.
"Blimey," Sirius grunted. "Remind me not to get him angry."
"Ace,"James said in agreement, then subdued his attention to the board, pointing at the ones nearby. "Let's help ourselves."
Sirius, Peter, Remus, and James all managed to clamber into the wooden rowboat, steadying it as it wobbled a little precariously. Peter whimpered but Remus, who was sitting closest to him, gave him a reassuring smile. James pushed them off with a foot and with a hefty lurch, the boat started forward, slicing through the water without any aid.
"Wow," the four of them chorused as their eyes widened in awe.
The black water reflected the lantern's light, muddling the image. Remus could not help himself and dipped his finger into the cool water, taking note of just how chilly it felt despite the warm air. The water rippled not from Remus's fingers but from something the students could see from afar.
"What's that?" Peter cried out, pointing in the general direction where other students were gaping at. He leaned against the boat, rocking it dangerously. "Over there! I can see something!"
"Watch it!" Remus hissed as he grabbed onto the edge to recompose himself. "You've stepped on my foot."
"Honestly," James muttered and grabbed the edges as the boat rocked from the uneven weight distribution. "It's far away."
"I see something! It looks like a giant sea serpent!" Peter gasped and pointed wildly to something impossible to see. "Just over there! I swear to you it was something!"
"I doubt it," Remus said reasonably, squinting his eyes as he tried to look around. "It's too dark to see anything, I can barely see you."
"Maybe you saw a lake monster," Sirius jested ominously, that sly grin slipping on to those youthful features. "Now that you mention it, I remember reading about a giant kraken that lives in the lake here. It's called the Beast of Black Lake—"
"Enough of that, Sirius," Remus scolded.
"What?" Sirius said and threw up his hands as if he was innocent. "I'm only joking with him."
"No, you're taking the mickey out of him when it's not the right time," the werewolf said firmly, folding his arms over his chest.
"Fine," Sirius said and relented obediently.
However, Peter had fallen silent and did not mention any lake monsters for the rest of the boat ride to the castle lest he be teased for the rest of the night. Once again, the first years began to mingle excitedly as the castle's shores came into view. The boats came to a slow halt, beaching itself gently without so much as a tiny jolt.
The party of four leaped from their ride and followed the giant man, who led them from the boats, up the stone stairs, and to the castle's main entrance. James could see the last of the older students filing into the castle, but his mind was somewhere else completely. Up until the present moment, he had never thought about what to do if he and his friends were in separate houses. But in the end, did it matter? James couldn't let them go now.
.oOo.
"This way!" the giant said, waving a great hand to summon the eager and anxious crowd of young and new faces. "Through here! Jus' past these doors!"
Remus watched from the fringes of the crowd as the double door slowly swung open slowly to reveal a brightly lit corridor. They marched forward, following the wake of the leader. Remus stole a sideways glance at his friends, all who seemed to be so engrossed in their surroundings, they did not even suspect him for watching. The lycanthrope held his breath and unfurled his fists that he didn't even notice were clenched.
"Wai' here," the man said and turned to face them. "I'm Rubeus Hagrid, the groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Jus' ter yer front, Professor McGonagall—"
"Thank you, Hagrid," a woman said the moment she stepped into view.
The witch, who must have been Professor McGonagall, looked exactly how Remus would have imagined a Headmistress. Her graying hair was tied back into a tight bun, hidden by her tall, pointed, black witch's hat. Her robes were in pristine condition and Remus was sure there was not a single wrinkle. She peered at them through her spectacles with intimidating, sharp eyes.
"My future students, I am Professor McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts," she said, waiting no time for any side talk or conversations. "Just through these doors awaits the rest of the students, the professors, and the Sorting Hat. One by one, you will be called forward to be sorted into a Hogwarts House, which will remain your house for as long as you attend school here."
"I can't even remember the houses," Peter said dejectedly, hanging his head.
"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough," Sirius hissed softly, earning a glare from Remus for talking out of turn.
Professor McGonagall, though older, seemed to have keen hearing for she narrowed her eyes at the four boys who were murmuring under their breaths. She did not stop her speech, but she kept an eye on them for the rest of it.
"Your house will become like a family," she continued, voice unwavering. "Each one of you should encourage one another to act accordingly and appropriately. Any rule breaking will result in the loss of house points among other consequences. On the contrary, any exceptionally good behavior will be rewarded. The house with the most points by the end of this year will receive the House Cup."
"Rule breaking?" Sirius echoed and grinned at James, who matched it. "Only bad if you get caught!"
"If you would follow me," Professor McGonagall said loudly, her voice carrying all the way to the back of the crowd.
The doors to the Great Hall burst open and with her shoulders straight, Professor McGonagall led her new students down the middle. There, Remus could see hundreds of unfamiliar faces all staring at them from the long, grand tables. He shrunk slightly at the attention, but James and Sirius seemed to be loving it for they were waving as if they were famous.
"I'll be doing a signing later," James said to the crowd, who chuckled in amusement.
Eventually, all the first years pooled around the front. Before them sat an old, dusty worn-out hat on a stool. It looked far less impressive than Professor McGonagall made it sound initially. Even Remus, who was expecting some sort of extravagant accessory, frowned and looked around…convinced there had to be something else. However, Professor McGonagall stepped aside and waited patiently.
Suddenly, a loud tearing sound resonated throughout the room as the hat's mouth appeared. A few first years gasped in surprise and jolted while others took a step back. Peter had flinched at first but disguised it by brushing a fly from his face.
My fellow students with faces all so new
Welcome to the castle, I hope you like the view
Upon first glance, I may look old and worn
I'm fit though just a little torn
I am, you see, the Sorting Hat
The only hat that knows all that
I only tell the truth, no secrets and no lies
Take a seat, close your eyes
You'll be in for quite a spell
The House for you, now that I'll tell
Shall it be the red and gold?
Full of courage and so bold?
Do you hear a lion's roar?
Perhaps you are a Gryffindor!
I see your loyal to the end
You never disappoint a friend
Well, the choice is not tough
I know you are a Hufflepuff
Your mind is sharp, your mind is bright
And in my mind, I know I'm right,
From a challenge, you never do withdraw
You belong in Ravenclaw
Your tongue is silver, ambitions high
This I can't deny
If you search for those you can consider kin
Find your home in Slytherin!
Now, place me upon your head while you rest
And let me do what I do best
Don't be afraid, I'm not a fright
I'll tell you need to go for I am always right!
The Great Hall burst into applause as the Sorting Hat finished its last verse. Remus, momentarily distracted by the hat's song, jumped at the loud noise as his nerves came surging back. He looked at Professor McGonagall, who pulled out a scroll and unrolled it.
Remus watched as the first years sat nervously on the wooden stool as Professor McGonagall set the Sorting Hat upon their heads. It did not take much time for the Hat to decide where each student belonged.
Remus began to wonder if he would be sorted into Slytherin and though it was not an initial fear of his, he could not help but start to fret. Would his affliction land him straight into the seat of witches and wizards that probably hated him the most?
He bit his lip and tried to keep himself from fidgeting too awkwardly, not keen on drawing attention to himself. And even though his legs ached with the pain of this month's full moon, nothing could compare to the anxiety keeping his heart racing.
"Black, Sirius!"
This time, it was Sirius's turn to freeze. However, the name must have been important for people all over the Great Hall began to murmur. The Slytherin table, Remus realized, looked more anticipated than most.
Despite the momentary hesitation, Sirius split from James's side and ventured to the front of the crowd, where he eyed the Sorting Hat with a sort of great dislike.
Sirius sat down, biting his cheek.
"Ah, another member of the Noble House of Black," the Hat murmured into his ear.
"Get on with it," Sirius huffed, nerves turning into agitation. "Don't you go wasting my time if you're just going to put me in Slytherin."
"Is that now where you want to go?" the Hat asked, shifting on his head, which felt incredibly strange.
"No," Sirius nearly spat, remembering to keep his voice lowered to avoid further staring…despite the fact that he was having an argument with a piece of headwear. "Not there…I'm not like them."
"I sense a strong rebellion within you," the Sorting Hat remarked thoughtfully, voice growing in volume that hurt his ears. "I sense resolve…power…passion…you want something more. Mr. Black, without a doubt, you are a GRYFFINDOR!"
"What?"
"No way!"
"Him?"
As Professor McGonagall raised the hat off his eyes, Sirius could feel the weight of the world lift off his shoulders; his heart stopped beating yet it felt like it couldn't drum any faster.
Gryffindor.
A thrill of excitement brought tears to his eyes; but like a boy, he wiped them away hastily and marched down with his hands raised in victory, ignoring the sharp tsk sound that came from a very disapproving Professor McGonagall. However, even she looked at him a little longer than what would have been considered normal.
Sirius grinned broadly, eyes traveling smugly around the room before settling on the Slytherin table; he had broken his family's tradition and though he would suffer the consequences later, he was untouchable.
"There's never been a Black outside of Slytherin!"
"He doesn't deserve the name!"
"I wonder what his family's going to do."
Remus and Peter were clapping alongside the wave of red and gold, but James was cheering the loudest. The Gryffindor students looked as shocked as the Slytherins, who watched Sirius seat himself right in the middle of the Gryffindor table; the eldest Black heir began shaking hands with his fellow House and smirking wildly at the students adorned in green and silver. He tilted his chin up, eyes flashing triumphantly.
The room finally quieted down after the uproar and Professor McGonagall continued without pause. Eventually...
"Evans, Lily!"
James gasped and looked on eagerly as the girl with flaming red hair came forth, having recognized her from the compartment earlier on the train. She seemed paler than before but the moment she sat down, Professor McGonagall covered her face with the oversized hat.
"Gryffindor!"
Lily Evans broke out into a grin that seemed to illuminate the room. Remus nudged James with a grin, whispering something like "you're drooling like a dog, mate". James shook his head from his stupor but he subtly tried to wipe the corner of his mouth with the back of his robes sleeves.
"Lupin, Remus!"
Even if it was his own name, it sounded too foreign for him to react immediately. Only when James elbowed him in the ribs did Remus finally snap his attention towards the Headmistress.
"That's you!" James hissed in his ear.
"Blimey…" the lycanthrope rasped and jumped when Professor McGonagall called his name for a second time.
Remus flared up the collar of his white shirt to hide the marks that tainted his neck, hating the way everyone's eyes seemed to follow him and his every move. He swallowed nervously and, with shaking legs, migrated to the front of the crowd. He took a seat on the stool and flinched when the Sorting Hat was placed upon his head.
"Bright mind, bright mind," the Hat murmured inside his ear…or rather head… "I can see you in Ravenclaw."
Ravenclaw truly was the place Remus thought he would best fit into, but his heart ached when he thought about the ones he rode the train with and frowned.
"But my friends…" he whispered back.
"Do I sense doubt? Fear?" the Hat asked and chuckled. "Perhaps Slytherin will help squander those feelings of insecurity."
"You're wrong," Remus said firmly, heart now beating as quickly as his shallow breathing. "I won't go there just because of what I am."
"A werewolf," the Hat said with a hint of surprise, flaring its little brim. "Cannot say I have ever looked into the mind of a werewolf before. It's complex…mercurial."
"It's not the mind of a werewolf," Remus said at once and straightened his shoulders, glaring hard at his knees that bounced with anxiety. "It's mine."
"I can feel your courage…it's in your core. Now I know you're a Gryffindor."
Remus let out a shaky gasp, inaudible to everyone else but the hat, and removed it before Professor McGonagall even got the chance to reach out her hand. He passed it back to the Headmistress and leaped off the stool, soaring past the crowd of waiting first years and went straight for the table with red and gold ties. He tripped dazedly into Sirius, who threw an arm around his neck and enveloped him in a warm embrace.
"Well done, mate!" Sirius congratulated, speaking softer for only his ears. "I had a feeling you'd be here."
"Did you?" Remus inquired, pulling back and taking a seat beside his new friend, staring into those gray eyes with a sense of curiosity.
"Course," Sirius said confidently, not once missing a beat.
"Pettigrew, Peter!"
The plump boy squeaked audibly but was quicker to move than Sirius or Remus. He played this day over in his head constantly, but now that it was happening, Peter felt like he was walking to the gallows. He swallowed painfully, throat sore, and slowly slunk over to the stool, where he sat down and held his breath. Professor McGonagall set the Hat down on his head and the moment he felt the fabric move his hair, the entire hall seemed to shut off. All he could hear was the soft humming of the Hat, which seemed to be taking its sweet time talking to him.
Did he break it?
Just as Peter was about to open his mouth, the Sorting Hat cleared its little throat.
"Peter...Pettigrew..." it murmured softly, so softly Peter could barely catch on to the words. "My most difficult choice yet..."
"I hope that's not a bad thing..." Peter whimpered, voice trembling as if he were about to cry.
"You are opportunistic and loyal," the Sorting Hat observed, humming which vibrated Peter's whole head. "Hufflepuff could serve you well. You have the patience…and are hard-working even when it seems to be in vain…"
"I suppose that's good," Peter mumbled, brightening slightly as the fear of belonging nowhere diminished.
"You have courage, boy, to take face in despair," the Sorting Hat continued, evidently not quite done with him yet.
"Well…my father…" Peter trailed off, not sure where he was going to go with that but hopeful that the Hat was reading his thoughts.
"But, you are opportunistic and your choices will be yours alone…," the headwear, shifting around as if trying to get a feel for him. "Yet, I see…I see with clarity! My child, you were a challenge…"
"I hope it wasn't tedious," Peter said as his shoulders sagged because of course, he'd be the one to overwork a hat.
"It was certainly not a bore," the Sorting Hat sang for all to hear. "Please welcome Mr. Pettigrew to Gryffindor!"
Remus and Sirius were the first to leap to their feet in a thunderous applause. Peter had practically thrown himself off the stool (with Professor McGonagall just barely managing to nab the hat off his head) and barreled through the students in his haste to get to his new friends. Sirius wrung his hand sore and Remus had given him the tightest embrace with surprising strength behind that tiny frame.
"Potter, James!"
The bespectacled boy, who was last in their little quadruplet, marched forward with this air of confidence that other first years wished they had. He sauntered over to the stool, eyes flickering to their corners as he walked past Snape.
"All right, Mr. Potter."
Professor McGonagall set the hat on his head and took a step back. James looked at his lap as the sound of the Sorting Hat's voice filled his thoughts.
"Straightforward...perhaps even narrow-minded, I see."
"Narrow-minded?" James echoed, affronted. "Or just firm in my beliefs?"
The Sorting Hat let out a bellowing laugh and tsked. "A sound voice, no doubt. You have fire, Mr. Potter. Your enemies will come to fear your monstrous roar. In your heart, you are a Gryffindor!"
James nodded affirmatively.
"I have a feeling the choice for all you, Potters, will be this concise."
The black-haired boy slid into the crowd, albeit his eyes were trained ahead. James took his seat beside Sirius and accepted the warm welcome with grace.
"Snape, Severus?"
James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus all looked up with rapt attention as they recognized the boy with long, black, stringy hair. It hung around his face like a curtain even as he moved swiftly to the front, black eyes trained on something out of view. James had turned to see Lily Evans, the same redhead who Snape was with before, watch him with a small smile on her face.
Snape sat down, hands gripping the stool's seat as he bounced a knee nervously. James and Sirius both rolled their eyes, unimpressed, and made faces as the Sorting Hat was lowered.
"I don't think I'd want that hat on my head after it's been on his!" James sneered to his friends.
"I bet it's all greasy!" Peter chimed in, earning an approving nod from both Sirius and James.
"Slytherin!"
He was far from the only one sorted into the house if green and silver. Names like Evan Rosier, Thorfinn Rowle, Altair Nott, Alden Mulciber, and Augustus Rookwood were easily recognizable due to their status as pure-bloods and unsurprisingly, they were sorted into Slytherin.
At the head of the Great Hall, Remus finally noticed the amalgamation of Hogwarts professors and staff in the front and perched in the middle was the familiar headmaster, Dumbledore. He eyed the students with a sort of warmth,a small smile cracking those olden features.
"Now that our first years have been sorted," the Headmaster announced with a shockingly powerful voice—one that could still be heard over the clamour. "I daresay you all must be hungry after the long journey here."
The students thundered their agreement.
"Then let the festivities begin."
With a mere twitch of his fingers, the empty plates filled themselves to the brim with food. Around the collective gasping and excited murmuring, and even Remus could hear himself comment in impress.
There were turkey legs and wings, gravy, potatoes, pudding, pie, and everything in between. Remus had never seen so much food in his life and it all smelled so delicious. Unconsciously, his mouth began to water (although that was a side effect of being a werewolf).
He, who was sitting next to said redheaded girl, accidentally hit her hand, causing her to spill some of her drink. The girl gasped slightly, quick to set the goblet down, and moved her hair out of harm's way.
"I'm so sorry!" Remus exclaimed, turning bright red. He had been in a hunger frenzy, he was barely aware of his surroundings. However, she seemed to snap him out of it right away. "I didn't mean to!"
"It's all right!" the girl said cheerfully, green eyes gleaming as she mopped up the bit of dribble. "I'm Lily Evans."
"Remus Lupin," Remus replied and stuck his hand out, which she promptly took and shook.
"I'm James," James interjected from across the table, puffing out his chest as he grinned at Lily Evans.
The girl seemed to have recognized the boy from the train and frowned pointedly. James opened his mouth again, but Lily turned away with a bit of a huff, leaving him to gawp at her now-turned back.
"Merlin's beard, do you know what I realized?" Sirius asked through a mouthful of food, drumming his hand against the table.
"What?" the other three boys chorused.
"We're going to be here for the next seven years," Sirius said with a grin, kicking Remus in the knee under the table with a rather sharp foot. "The four of us...we're going to be living together."
Remus rolled his eyes.
"This is our year, our time at Hogwarts," James said.
"Ace!" Sirius said and took a bite of his turkey leg. "And we're going to be legendary!"
