The boys hastily changed into their school robes as the train pulled up to Hogwarts. They joined the rush of students going out to the train. "First yers, first yers this way!" A loud voice boomed out through the crowd of attempted to look for the source of the sound, and found it fairly quickly. A large man with a big bushy brown beard was beckoning all of the first to follow him. The three boys approached the man sticking close to one walking down a long path, they came across a large lake with boats sitting on the water. "Okay everyone in a boat. Four to a boat, no more," the large man boomed boys climbed into one of the boats.
Just before they were about to leave, another short and rather chubby boy came up to their boat. "Can I-"
James cut the boy off before he could finish. "Yes, of course. You don't need to ask, just get in." The boy carefully climbed into the boat obviously confused by James' attitude. Then pointing to each boy in turn, James introduced everyone. "I'm James Potter, this is Remus Lupin, that's Sirius, uh, wait Sirius what is your last name?"
James turned to face Sirius who suddenly appeared nervous. He pulled himself together quickly not wanting his new friends to know his nervousness about his family. "It's not important. Just Sirius is fine. Anyways what's your name?" James appeared okay with this answer and turned back to the new boy. Remus, on the other hand, shot Sirius a suspicious glance. When Sirius didn't respond Remus shrugged it off and turned back to look at the new boy
When he realized everyone was looking at him, and shrunk back in his seat. "Uh," he started cluelessly, unsure of how to talk to the three boys.
"Just your name. It's not rocket science," Sirius exclaimed somewhat rudely, a slight hint of amusement present in his voice.
"Come on, Sirius, there's no need to scare him more," James responded. Remus had wanted to say the same thing but was nervous to say something that would mess up his friendship with the other two.
"Peter, my name is Peter," he finally managed to get out, barely whispering and his face full of fear. When James, Sirius, and Remus continued talking, not making fun of Peter, he calmed down a bit.
They arrived at the school only a couple minutes later. "First years," an older looking woman with brown grey hair announced, " I am professor McGonagall one of the teachers here at Hogwarts. When you walk through these doors you will be sorted into one of four houses, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherin, or Ravenclaw. I will go see if they are ready."
The woman walked through the doorway, leaving the frightened first years standing alone in the first only silence filled the air, only interrupted by the breathing of students. James could no longer stand the silence and started whispering to his new friends. "You see that boy over there with the horribly greasy hair? Well, I went to his compartment first on the train. It was only him, and a red haired girl. I don t know how anyone has pretty as her would put up with someone as annoying as him. Anyways, I almost sat there, but then the boy started rattling on about Slytherin and how it was the best house and I knew that couldn't happen. I think he should be the first person we prank."
Sirius' face lit up at the mention of pranking. However the look left as quickly as it came, and Sirius' face sunk down into sadness, and his shoulders hunched over. James was opening his mouth to ask what was wrong, and that didn't have to prank anyone if he didn't want to, but Professor McGonagall walked back into the corridor before he could. He know better than to ask with a teacher standing right there, and let it drop."They are ready for you. Follow me."
Sirius knew as soon as those words were said that the dream he was currently living in was about to be shattered. The first years obediently followed the woman through a large doorway with strong oak doors and large glass windows. They made it through the doorway and to a large room with five tables set up. The first four tables were set up vertically, each decorated with different colors. The last table was elevated on a platform and held all of the teachers. In front of the table was a stool with a hat on of the students sitting at the tables looked at the hat expectantly, but when it started to sing four boys could not find it in themselves to listen to the hat's song. Sirius was worrying about losing his new friends, the ones he made on the train. James was excited to finally be at Hogwarts, but yet worried about the troubled look Sirius held in his eyes. Peter couldn't stop thinking about how the boys he met on the boat would look at him differently once he ended up in Hufflepuff, where he was bound to be. Remus knew he would be in Ravenclaw, and while that didn t worry him, he didn t want anyone to find out about his secret. If someone were to discover he was a werewolf, he would be kicked out of the school, at the least, and Dumbledore would likely be asked to leave Hogwarts. The four of the boy's dreadful thoughts were interrupted by McGonagall calling the first name. "Abott, Caroline." She was sorted into Hufflepuff, and that year's sorting ceremony had officially begun.
"Black, Sirius." Sirius saw James' face slip into shock when he heard the person he thought to be his friend, was a Black, his sworn enemy. However, as soon as the thought came James was ashamed of himself. He did not know this boy and therefore he should not be judging him. James face changed back to happiness as he anxiously awaited to hear where his friend would be sorted.
"Hmm, what do we have here," the hat said into Sirius' head. "A Black, I should say Slytherin, but you are different. Yes, you want to be different. I know the perfect place for you. GRYFFINDOR!"Sirius was so surprised, it took him a couple seconds to realize the hat said the last word aloud. Then he noticed no one was clapping. Everyone was staring at Sirius. Finally James started the clapping and slowly the rest of the room joined in.
The hat continued to sort people until it got to Remus. Remus sat down on the stool and the hat started talking into his head. "I've never sorted a werewolf before. Ravenclaw I see, that is where you want to be. Oh no, I have a much better place for you. GRYFFINDOR!" Remus shakily stood up and made his way across the hall sitting in the seat across from Sirius. The two smiled at each other and started talking, both still slightly nervous, until Peter was called.
The hat was not on Peter's head for more than a couple seconds before it started trying to convince him of Hufflepuff. "No I want Gryffindor. That is where my friends are.""Fine if you insist, than I guess I have no other choice. GRYFFINDOR!" Peter jumped from his seat excited and ran to the seat next to Remus.
James chuckled watching Peter, then walked up to the stand as he was next. The hat did not even touch James' head before it scream out Gryffindor, and James grinned as he took the seat next to Sirius. For the rest of the ceremony the four boys talked. Peter, Sirius, and Remus were still slightly nervous about their sorting, but trying to snap out of it.
The ceremony ended and Dumbledore made his way to the front of the room to say a few words. "Just a reminder to all students, the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits. Flitch would also like me to remind you that fire whiskey is not allowed on Hogwarts grounds. I would also like to announce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Brilz." The teacher smiled and waved her hand. "And now let us dig into the feast."
Platters full of food appeared on top of the tables, filling all of the first years with awe, and making the older students and teachers chuckle. The meal passed seemingly quick, all of the boys happily chatting about pranks and their plans for the school year. Too quickly the prefects were calling for the first years to follow them to the common room. As a group, the seven new Gryffindor first years, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon, and Alice Prewitt, followed the prefect down two long hallways and up many flights of stairs, to a portrait of a lady. "This is the fat lady. In order to get into the Gryffindor common room you need to give her the password. Fizzing Whisbees."
The portrait swung open and the first years boys The boys followed the boy prefect, Kingsley, up to their dorm. "There are normally five to a room, but since there are only four of you, well, this is where you will be. If you have any questions or need anything I am only a few doors down, the third door on your right." Kingsley walked back out of the room.
"Oh my goodness, I can't believe we are all in the same room." That was one of the first sentences Peter said that night without looking like he was going to vomit.
All of the boys decided to change into their pajamas and talk for the rest of the night being they had classes the next day. Remus was careful to change behind his bed curtains to ensure his roommates wouldn't see the scars littering his body. "Hey, Remmy, why are you changing behind the curtains. We're going to be spending the next seven years together. You're going to have to get used to it," James playfully yelled at Remus.
"I don't know I'm just shy," Remus responded nervous of what was to follow. Then as an afterthought he added, "Don t call me Remmy, my name is Remus."
"Okay Remmy, I'll remember that."
Remus just let out a sigh knowing he lost the battle with his name, but grateful his friends didn't push the issue of why he was changing behind the curtains, because he wasn't ready to start lying to his friends.
The boys stayed up late into the night planning their first prank on the Slytherins. At first Remus had wanted no part, but he eventually came around. Once midnight came around, Peter decided to go to bed, and Remus went to bed too around fifteen minutes later.
As soon as Sirius knew both Peter and Remus were asleep, Sirius looked at James, who he already felt a close connection to. "My parents are going to kill me," Sirius finally let out in barely a whisper.
"We won't let them, I promise. You have all of us, and while I know we just met and aren't related by blood, I promise all of us will stick by you no matter what happens. How about we go to bed. Staying up all night is not going to fix anything." James replied carefully choosing his words. He didn't want to say something to make the other boy feel worse.
Sirius just nodded in agreement and the two boys went to sleep for the night.