Almost immediately after McGonagall left them alone, everyone began talking. Their voices overlapped and grew louder, giving Remus a bit of a headache as his ears were very sensitive. He took a few steps to the edge of the group, wishing he could just disappear completely. Most of the students were talking about the houses, boasts about which house was best. Several arguments broke out among a few students as they began proclaiming their future house was the one to be in. Gryffindor! Hufflepuff! Ravenclaw! Slytherin!

Remus knew vaguely about the houses and their rivalries from reading Hogwarts, a History (three times) as well as a few other books. He hadn't been raised in a Hogwarts sort of home so everything really went over his head. He knew (sort of) some families were rather vehement about the houses their children were put in. House pride, and all that. Remus knew his parents didn't really care where he wound up just as long as he followed their rules, which he fully intended on doing.

McGonagall returned to fetch the students and she cast a rather despairing look towards Glasses and his wild hair, then she led the students into the Great Hall. Remus's body revolted the second he stepped inside and he stopped walking, absolute fear seizing control of his limbs. The girl behind him gave him a very gentle shove and he stumbled forward, keeping his head down, fighting off the nausea as he shuffled down the aisle with all the older students watching him. Not me, exactly, all of us... but it feels like they're all on me!

Then everyone looked at a stool with a large and ancient hat sitting on top. Nobody spoke or moved and Remus wondered what was supposed to happen next when suddenly the hat opened its brim and began singing.

"I notice all your wide-eyed faces

I know you're filled with worry!

But don't be such, just please relax

And listen to this story.

I know what's in your deepest thoughts

And the traits that you possess

It's up to me to send you off

A difficult job, I confess

There are those of you who seek the smarts

You're intelligent and you're bright!

That means you'll be in Ravenclaw

So let your minds take flight.

Or maybe you're so very brave

You're chivalrous and bold

Then to the lion-hearted Gryffindors

To the scarlet and the gold

Perhaps instead you're very cunning

And have a great ambition

Then you'll be in the tight-knit house

Of resourceful Slytherin

Last not least though there's the workers

Who give their best as they toil

The Hufflepuffs, then, is your place

If you're patient and you're loyal.

Sit right down and put me on

I know your hearts are racing...

So I'll finish up my silly song...

And let's commence the placing!"

Everyone else in the room cheered loudly though only one or two of the first years clapped. Remus stood stock still, his hands curled into fists at his side as he tried to stop himself from trembling. He hoped no one else could see though noticed a few other rather shaky students, which made him feel less pathetic.

Then he felt someone press their arm against his and he snapped his head up, finding himself looking into brilliant green eyes. "It's okay, I'm scared too," the girl said and smiled. She was the one who had given him a little bit of a push at the doors when he faltered. He didn't really know what to say in return so he just gave a half-smile back and sort of leaned against her lean, and didn't want to admit how much it helped. He knew he shouldn't allow this to happen, allow anyone to get physically near him, but he caved into the nice feeling it gave him for the time being.

Professor McGonagall had begun reading names off the list, bringing students forward to go through their Sorting. They'd sit on the stool, the Hat would be put on their head, and a few seconds to a couple minutes later the Hat shouted whichever house they belonged in.

"Black, Sirius?"

Remus watched as Firecracker tossed his silky hair back and strode to the stool with his nose in the air. Someone behind Remus whispered something about Slytherin however about thirty seconds or so, the Hat opened its brim and shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The couple of students who went before Sirius had been cheered for when they were Sorted. For Sirius, though, only a scattered few clapped then quieted when they realized they were alone; pretty much most of Gryffindor just looked stunned. Actually, it seemed like the entire room was silent as Black took the hat off, rather shocked and quite frozen. Furious whispers began rising from the green and silver decorated table, someone said 'the hat's gone mad' in a normal toned voice then someone else said very loudly 'traitor' which echoed across the hall and then there were several other voices whispering 'traitor', the word rippling down their table. McGonagall glared at the Slytherins then put her hand on Black's shoulder, bringing him back to reality.

"Go on down to your table now," she whispered in his ear, nobody else really hearing it except for Remus with his cursed ears.

Black carefully set the hat on the stool, turned towards the green-and-silver table, and yelled, "SUCK ON THAT, SLYTHERIN!" Another toss of his hair as he practically skipped to the scarlet and gold table. Several glares were shot his way and the whispers got louder at the Slytherin table. Nobody at the Gryffindor table cheered as Black sat down, keeping his head held high as he stared intently at Glasses who was the only person in the room cheering, ignoring the looks he was getting as he clapped and whistled for Black.

After that strange Sorting, the names went by far too much for Remus's liking and he felt his knees turning to jelly as the list grew closer to the Ls. Especially when the girl leaning against him was taken away.

"Evans, Lily?"

"Good luck," she whispered to Remus then went forward. It took all of five and a half seconds for her to be placed in Gryffindor.

The letters began going by as students were called up. I can't do this, he thought as Landers, Evelyn was put into Hufflepuff. What was I thinking?! came as Little, Clara went to Ravenclaw. I shouldn't have done this, it was all a big mistake, went through his head as Lovell, Janus was also sent to Ravenclaw.

"Lupin, Remus?" He nearly passed out and went very dizzy for a second, unable to focus. McGonagall raised her eyebrows. "Lupin, Remus?" she repeated. Remus couldn't move though he tried to send the message to his legs to step forward. I don't belong...

McGonagall stared directly at Remus and said a third time, "Lupin, Remus?" The student standing behind Remus realized and gave Remus a rougher shove than Evans had earlier, and now he had to creep forward among everyone giggling at him. Slowly he got on the stool and everything went dark as the Hat slipped over his eyes.

"Well, well, well," whispered a tiny voice in his ear, causing him to jump. "What do we have here? A little werewolf?" Remus's entire body went stiff with absolute terror. He knew the Hat could see into ones mind but this wasn't what he expected, and he resisted the urge to rip the Hat off and take off running. "Yes, I can see everything, wolf." Remus began shaking, wondering if the Hat would announce to everyone, if this was it. "Oh no. I won't tell. I never tell the secrets I see. Now then, let's get down to business. You've certainly got the brains and talent to be in Ravenclaw. Perhaps in another universe you'd probably be there, however the fates have dealt you a different hand of cards. You're a werewolf. And it takes great nerve and guts to go through what you've been through, and to live the life ahead of you, moon child. You are, without a doubt, a GRYFFINDOR!"

It shouted the last word and Remus jumped again then pulled the hat off, trying not to cry. It felt beyond his limits of emotions to have had something like that happen. To have something calling him that. Whispering his true form. Hearing someone outside his and his parents stating that horrible, horrible term clearly, identifying him as the monster he was.

He ran down to the Gryffindor table, ignoring both Black and Evans waving towards him; instead he went clear to the end near the doors, finding an empty seat to shrink down into. As he faked an interest in the rest of the Sorting as his knees shook violently under the table. At one point his gaze went to the High Table and met with Dumbledore's pale blue eyes. He gave Remus a brief smile before returning to watching the students.

"Potter, James?"

Glasses strut up to the stool and became one of the fastest Sortings of the night. The very second the Hat touched his head, it announced him as a Gryffindor. Potter grinned a rather dazzling smile and ran down to join Black, crashing into him happily. They gave each other a high five and took their seats, talking for the rest of the Sorting as if nobody else mattered but them.

Finally the last student was placed. Dumbledore welcomed everyone to the school and introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (a middle-aged witch named Professor Dedenne) before announcing the feast had begun. Food appeared across all the tables, several of the new—and more Muggle background—students gasped happily. Remus had been very hungry on the train towards the end of the trip but now he just felt ill. Werewolf, werewolf, werewolf, he heard over and over in his head, in the Hat's voice. He dug his fingers into his thighs to stop himself from crying or freaking out or just bolting. He could feel a bit of the wolf deep inside him, urging him to flee. Someone asked him something and he mumbled incoherently in response before putting food on his plate, mostly just to give himself something to do. Everyone else was scarfing their food (except Potter who was balancing a spoon on his nose) while Remus just pushed his food around on the gold plate.

Some screams brought his head back up and he watched as a ghost sitting with Evans a couple other first years swung his head almost completely off his shoulder. It dangled there for a moment until he brought it back into its proper place as the first years stared in fright and awe.

"Nearly Headless Nick," said an older student across from Remus, noticing his stares.

Remus blinked, tearing his attention away from the ghost. "Is that really his name?" Fascination, it seemed, was the key to being able to talk vaguely human.

"Oh, his real name is Sir Nicholas something or other but everyone calls him Nearly Headless Nick," chimed in the student sitting on Remus's left side.

That's a bit rude, he thought, watching the ghost with interest. I'll have to find out his proper name. Unless he likes the nickname, of course. Doesn't seem to be a very pleasant nickname though.

He had only ever seen a ghost once before in his life and he wasn't even sure if it was a real ghost or a poltergeist. He found ghosts to be very interesting... living—er, not living, but, physical apparitions of history! The things they saw and knew... Remus felt excited to get to know Sir Nicholas, and the other ghosts in the school. Surely he could become friends with them... right?

Remus barely ate anything by the time dessert appeared which he dumped on his plate. Sweets were his weakness, especially chocolate and Merlin's beard the chocolate cake he popped into his mouth tasted better than his mother's cake (not that he'd ever tell her!). He ate two huge slices and had several scoops of ice cream with them.

Then once the dessert disappeared, Dumbledore stood up and announced a few rules. The forest was off-limits, no magic to be used in the corridors, there'd be a list of rules posted in each common room so first years please take note of them, and Quidditch try-outs would be in the second week of the term.

"Also over the summer, Professor Sprout has rescued a rather... rare and interesting specimen that has been placed on the grounds. It is called a Whomping Willow. For those of you unable to guess from the name, it tends to whomp anyone who goes near it. It's quite violent and very dangerous, so keep a wide berth unless you're wanting to join the ranks of Hogwarts ghosts."

Then he made the words to the school song appear in the air and had everyone sing along, no particular tune. Remus mumbled the words so quietly the students around him couldn't even hear him. Down the table Black and Potter more than made up any quietness by shrieking the words to the tune of a popular wizarding song. They had their hands cupped around their mouths to make themselves even louder.

Remus rather hoped he wouldn't be sharing a dorm with them. He knew the dorms were split up depending on the size of the group and Hogwarts, a History explained the dorms could hold up to six students and—Oh, he thought, realizing there had only been six boys placed into Gryffindor. Unless the school split them up three and three for some reason, he'd be sharing with the two boys who thought throwing firecrackers into an occupied loo was a jolly time. He then glanced around at the other three boys. The pudgy boy sitting with Black and Potter was named Pettigrew, Remus remembered that mostly due to the fact Pettigrew's Sorting had taken over five minutes, the longest out of any student that night (Remus had heard some whispers down the table calling it a Hatstall). He was just glad his hadn't taken so long... The other two boys, both their surnames started with S however Remus couldn't recall them. One was white and rather mean-looking while the other was black and seemed very overwhelmed by everything.

Outside the Great Hall, all the first years were being gathered by Prefects to be taken to their common rooms. The girl in charge of the Gryffindors began leading everyone through the castle, talking a bit about the floors as they went. Remus stayed at the back of the group, trying to keep himself unnoticable. He was dreading the common room and the dorms. Sharing sleeping quarters with other students did not sound like a very pleasant thing to him. That was going to give him the worst part of his time at Hogwarts: trying to keep his secret from the boys he'd be living with...

They wound their way up through the castle, higher and higher. Remus sleepily tried to memorize the way. Finally they ended on what he guessed was the seventh floor, going to the end of a corridor where there was a portrait of a large woman in a pink dress. The Prefect stepped forward and said, "Helios's chariot."

The portrait swung open revealing a round hole in the wall and as the students began climbing through Remus couldn't help think, In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. In a hole in the wall there lived the Gryffindors. He was the last one to go in and had a lot of trouble clamoring through and fell onto the ground on the other side. The Prefect helped him up and then glared as the burly Gryffindor from the train was busy picking Black up off the ground.

"Jerroll, what's the matter?" the Prefect asked.

"This little brat hit me with a firecracker on the train," he growled, shaking Black a bit. Black looked rather unphased about the whole thing, very different from when he was on the train.

The Prefect sighed. "Well, beat him up tomorrow then. I'm giving the tour. Don't disrupt it."

Jerroll dropped Black and pointed at him. "Tomorrow, Black." Then he stormed up a flight of stairs.

The Prefect glared at Black before casting an apprehensive look at everyone else. "I'd appreciate it if you lot keep out of trouble. In case nobody's told you, every year the house with the most points wins the House Cup. Last year Hufflepuff won and I'd prefer it to be us this year, and if you get in trouble you'll lose us points." She adjusted her glasses and shook her head. "That way is the girls' dorms, over that way is the boys' dorms. Have a good night!"

The six first year boys climbed up through the tower and found a door labeled First Years. Potter was at the front and he pushed the door open, revealing a round dorm that looked out over part of the lake and the huge forest. Each four-poster bed had thick velvet curtains hanging down the sides, and at the foot were their trunks. Straight away, Black began complaining.

"Hey, Struthers, switch me beds," he said. David Struthers, Remus remembered from the Sorting. Before Struthers could do anything, though, Black began moving the trunk himself.

"Hey, let go of my trunk!" Struthers snapped but Black kept pushing until the D. Struthers trunk was where the S.B. trunk had been, and Black's trunk was now where Struthers used to be. The reason why was very clear: now Black would be in the bed next to Potter. Also next to Remus's, which made him a little anxious.

Potter and the other boy (Spinnet, Remus vaguely recalled, the mean-looking one) began stripping right there in the dorm. Trying not to panic, Remus got pajamas out of his trunk and hurried out of the dorm, feeling incredibly awkward. He hated his body and never wanted anyone to see it (and besides, they couldn't see the scar on his arm), so he went through the door with the sign First Year Bathrooms. It was very big, for being just for one group of kids, and held several toilet stalls, sinks, and shower stalls. The kind with a changing area attached to the front which is where he went.

Gryffindor, he thought as he folded his uniform up and started pulling on his PJs. You're a Gryffindor now. Because you're a werewolf. So if I wasn't a werewolf, would I really have been in Ravenclaw? Does that mean I'm really supposed to be a Ravenclaw? But because I'm a beast, I'm a Gryffindor...? The Hat had called him brave and gutsy, neither of which he felt was true. He wasn't daring or bold either. He was... pathetic, and weak, and sad, and scared. And not human. Lion-hearted... more like wolf-hearted...

He gathered his stuff up and crept back into the dorm, crawling into his bed. Struthers, Spinnet, and Pettigrew were all in their beds however Black and Potter were sitting up in Potter's bed talking way too cheerfully and sharing some chocolate cake one of them had taken from the Great Hall.

Remus was used to the sounds of the woods next to his house. Now he could hear multiple people breathing and one of them gently snoring, and Potter and Black still talking. They were whispering however to Remus it was as if they were talking in a normal tone. They were laughing about the prank on the train they had pulled, along with other pranks it seemed they pulled. They discussed at great length about various types of fireworks and compared the different types of jokes they had bought in Diagon Alley—dung bombs and itching powder and hair coloring potions and stink pellets and frog spawn soap. They giggled and whispered and talked as the night stretched on, getting to be a terribly late hour.

"Friends forever?" Potter asked.

"Friends forever," Black agreed after a second's pause.

Remus rolled over, pulling his pillow over his head, trying to muffle them, wondering what it'd be like to have someone like that. To talk to, laugh with. Friends. He wondered what it was like to have friends. He had never had friends, not real ones. His friends were in books. In fact, he hardly even knew anyone besides his parents. The only people he had ever remembered meeting in his entire life was the old woman who owned the thrift/antiques shop where his father worked (she gave him a lollipop); other than her he hadn't properly met anyone though his parents did take him to stores occasionally. No, his world was books. He wasn't even sure how to make friends, or what it meant to have them. Oh, he knew what it was like in the books but not real life.

And you'll never know, a voice reminded him. You know the rules. No friends. It's not safe.

He curled into a little ball, tightening the pillow over his ears, and finally drifted into an uneasy sleep full of foggy nightmares and distant howling. He tossed and turned for a while and eventually woke up, panting heavily, hair and pajamas sticking to his body from sweat, a few tears on his cheeks. He gave a rather loud sniffle and began rubbing his eyes, struggling with figuring out where he was.

I want to go home, I don't belong here. I'm not like them. I'm a monster. I don't deserve to be here no matter what Dumbledore said. Remus gave a choking sort of sob and covered his mouth so he wouldn't wake the others up.

Once he managed to calm himself he pushed his curtains back and looked out the window at the nearly full moon hanging in the sky. "I want to go home," he whispered to the light shining down on him. It was only going to be a couple days until the light became his enemy...

Sighing, he shut the curtains again and curled up, the dark embrace of sleep pulling him back in.