Chapter 3: The Sorting Hat

The large oak doors that stood before them creaked open, slowly revealing the Great Hall to the crowd of waiting first years. They began to walk forward, following Professor McGonagall down a wide aisle in the middle of the hall between the innermost house tables. The boys looked around, awestruck at the ancient grandeur of the room they were now in.

There were 4 long tables of students running parallel to each other down the length of the hall, each decked proudly in the colours of the Houses they seated. Banners hung proudly along the length of each table, glowing brightly with the light from the candles floating above the Hall. Each side of the Hall was bright with contrasting colours. The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws sat on the side of the Hall to the entrance, with Hufflepuff and Slytherin tables on the right. "Looks like they try to keep the Gryffindors and Slytherins as far as possible" Sirius remarked, referencing the outermost tables House tables. "Probably for General public safety" James replied "everyone knows that Gryffindor and Sytherin don't mix well".

"Look at the ceiling!" cried a red-haired girl who was walking beside them, "It's an enchantment" Replied Remus, turning to explain to her, "it permanently mirrors the sky and weather outside, I read about it in a book, Hogwarts a History". "WOW!" she said, looking up at the ceiling again "magic is so awesome!". The red haired girl wasn't the only one who was awestruck as murmurs erupted from the group of first years, mostly from the muggleborns, as the purebloods were used to seeing magic like this. But some purebloods still found the effect of the enchantment and the candles to be awe-inspiring too. It was just unreal to see Hogwarts in person. To Muggles, Hogwarts is seen as an old abandoned building with wards to scare them off which prevent them from entering the school. But those with magic saw the castle for its true appearance; it looked as though they had entered a fairytale or a Disney film to some muggle-borns.

In front of the teachers table, stood at the front of the hall there was a stool with an old torn-up hat placed upon it. From a distance it looked to be full of dust, as if it had been neglected on a shelf for decades. As the students gathered at the front of the hall and stood before the platform, they were shocked to discover that the hat was alive when it suddenly burst into a song;

"Another year of new students

All here for me to sort,

I'll place them where they each belong,

Judged by their selves and thoughts.

You might think you're set for one house,

But I will sort you true.

I'll put you in your rightful colours,

Red, green, yellow or blue.

I'll look inside your head,

To see where you're meant to be.

There's no secrets that are in their,

That you can hide from me!

You might be set for Gryffindor,

House of the chivalrous and brave,

Determined folks with righteous hearts,

Is what the Gryffindors crave.

You may go into Hufflepuff,

The loyal badger's lair,

They're patient and dependable,

Always playing fair.

Or maybe creative Ravenclaw?

With intelligence and wit.

Your individuality and wisdom

Could make you the perfect fit.

Perhaps you're a cunning Slytherin,

If you're ambitious and shrewd.

This assertive House of leaders,

Home to those self-reliant few.

So put me on, don't have a fit.

I'll show you where you belong.

I'll sort you where you ought to be,

No matter where you're from."

[A/N: This is an original version of the actual version of the actual song Do Not Copy!]

Once the song had finished the Sorting ceremony had begun, "Now, once I call your name, you are to come up to the front, sit on the stool and I will place the sorting hat on your head and then you will be placed in your house where you will remain for the next few years in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" declared Professor McGonagall as she pulled out a scroll with all of the names of the first year students, "Abbot, Mary "

Timidly the red haired girl stepped forward to the front of the crowd and sat on the stool facing the Great Hall. It was a nerve racking sight sitting on that stool with thousands of eyes staring at you, but once she had sat down McGonagall placed the hat on her head and it burst into life yet again.

[A/N: For the muggles here is a quiz to get you sorted into your houses

Pottermore link: news/discover-your-hogwarts-house-on-wizarding-world

Go and figure out what house you belong to].

Sirius POV

"Black, Sirius".

I took a breath to calm myself before walking up onto the platform. I could see my cousins watching me expectantly from the Slytherin table, clearly believing that I would be joining them shortly. The last thing I saw before the Hat fell across my eyes was James giving me a small thumbs up.

"Ah, another Black. The Scion no less!" it said. "don't remind me" I muttered, forgetting it would hear me. "You have the Black temper I see, and the flair for the dramatic. I sense the notorious streak of vengefulness too, how interesting" it commented. "Well, go on and put me in Slytherin then. At least that will make my parents proud." I snapped back, not really wanting to be reminded of any similarities I held to my psychotic relatives. "Ah, hasty, but maybe that's not where you are best suited for. You have the pride and bravery of the lions at your heart, the penchant for danger too." "But a Black is always put in Slytherin!" "You can't pretend with me boy, I can see your inner disregard for such traditions. GRYFFINDOR!"

The Hat was pulled from my head, revealing the Hall once again, which was silent bar the resounding echo of the Hat's declaration. I glanced over to the Slytherin table to meet the shocked and disgusted faces of my cousins before turning to walk to my new table.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of someone clapping coming from the group of unsorted first years. I glanced back to see Remus clapping for me, a friendly smile on his face. This apparently snapped James out of his shocked state enough for him to join in the clapping. Soon all of the first years were clapping for me, and I sat at the table with my new House with a small smile.

Lily POV

"Evans, Lily".

I anxiously walked up to the stool after my name was called. Why did my name have to be called first? As I sat on the stool I noticed that everyone was looking at me, it felt rather traumatising, almost as if I was an animal at a zoo. The hat fell over my eyes and suddenly I could no longer see the Hall. "Ah, a muggleborn". I jumped slightly at the sudden appearance of the Hat's voice in my head. "Well, let's see here shall we?" it said. "You have a lot of intelligence in you, loyalty too. And a vengeful streak for those who hurt your loved ones. Very suitable, but where to put you?" "where do you think I would fit best?" I asked "Your bravery and resilience shines just as brightly as your brilliant mind, my dear." "So where do I belong?" "GRYFFINDOR" I heard the hat yell out, causing applause from my new house table which was decked in crimson and gold. I skipped past the Ravenclaw table and joined at the nearest end of the table. "Hello, I'm Lily," I said, and turned back to watch the sorting. I had hope that Serverus would soon be joining me at my table.

Remus POV

After Lily was sorted called up it was not much longer of a wait for it to be my turn. Whilst walking up to the stool I kept thinking to myself, 'what if they figure out I'm a werewolf?', 'what if they notice I have too many scars and get suspicious?'. I timidly sat on the stool and the Sorting Hat was gently placed on my head, and I no longer saw the Great Hall. It was just me and the Sorting Hat, "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A werewolf in Hogwarts!", "How could you tell?" Remus replied sarcastically, "I mean it was obvious from the fact that you're showing a tail". Remus quickly went to check his behind only to find that the hat was lying to him, probably laughing to itself at how gullible he was, "I know everything about each student who puts me on their head. NOW WHERE TO PUT YOU! Hmmm courage and loyalty lies deep beneath the scars, but there is a thirst for knowledge that Ravenclaw would be proud to see. But, it is friends that you seek, MUST BE... GRYFFINDOR!"

I grinned, and walked to join the Gryffindor table which had begun clapping at the revelation of my sorting. I sat next to the red-haired girl from earlier, Lily, and opposite Sirius. I smiled at them both and turned my attention back to the sorting.

Peter POV

I watched as everyone went up and placed the mangy old hat on their head. How does a hat even decide what house to place someone in. After Sirius and Remus got into Gryffindor I think I might try and get into that house as well I might not fit in with other people and even before Hogwarts I was always an outcast in my own house. I got so lost in thought I hadn't realised that my name was called next.

"Pettigrew. Peter"

Oh God. it's my turn, this is where I will be put for the next seven years. Why must they do it in front of the whole school. I slowly walked towards the stool feeling eyes staring at the back of my head. Very intimidating, if I knew a spell I'd probably hex them all. Eventually I got to the stool and that dreadful hat was placed on my head. "Dreadful you say, I'll have you know that I am old and wise much better than an eleven year old! Shame I'm an object, really, otherwise you would definitely be put in your place! Better get you sorted, you're not the first wizard to insult me anyway. Now I see cunning and ambition, ah yes there is a very good chance you will do well in Slytherin but I see determination here too. Maybe Gryffindor. Oh decisions, decisions … but what would be best? … Better be, GRYFFINDOR!".

I was shocked at what the hat had suggested, but nevertheless, I made it into Gryffindor thank god, I grinned happily as I made my way to the table and sat next to Remus who had started talking to the red haired muggle-born girl from earlier.

James POV

I watched with a degree of surprise as Sirius was placed in Gryffindor, followed by Remus and Peter. I hope I too get placed there. I've dreamt the day I get put in Gryffindor, finally after more students were sorted it was my turn. "Potter. James" , I strutted up to the stool and the hat was barely placed on my head when it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!". I laughed and quickly walked to the Gryffindor table, sitting down on the other side of Sirius, opposite Lily and Remus.

And then the feast began ...