Chapter 2

Lions, Snakes, Badgers, and Eagles

It seemed like ages before James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter stepped off the train (another unfortunate downside to sitting in the last compartment). When they finally did, James saw that the crowd of students had separated into two different directions. He was about to ask Sirius if he knew why, when a loud, booming voice answered his question.

"You lot firs' years? Firs' years over here! Righ' now, you all follow me."

The owner of the voice was a huge man who almost tripled James's own height and was another three times as thick. A tennis racket sized hand was holding a lantern that shone on a face that was mostly covered in untamed hair, and cast shadows on shoes that were at least four feet long. He was waving the first years along behind him, in the opposite direction that the older students had gone.

"Excuse me," Sirius asked, catching up the giant (which was a quite a feat, considering that for every step the giant took, Sirius took three). "But, who are you?"The giant chuckled. "The name's Rubeus Hagrid, but you can just call me Hagrid -- everyone else does -- and I'm the gamekeeper at Hogwarts." His voice was gruff, but kind.

"And, er, if you don't mind me asking, but where are we going?" Sirius was now positively jogging to keep up, James and the others straggling on behind.

Hagrid smiled. "Got a bit of a treat fer you lot," he said. "Firs' years traditionally sail across the lake on their firs' day."

The group rounded a bend and several "oohs" and "ahhs" were heard.

Directly in front of them was the lake, which was so still that it looked like black glass, and beyond that stood the Hogwarts castle, its many windows twinkling like stars against the night sky.

Hagrid was smiling broadly. "Beau'iful, innit?"

The students murmured their agreement.

Hagrid chuckled and then assumed a very business-like attitude. "Righ'," he said, clapping his enormous hands together. "Like I said, we'll be sailin', so you lot get in groups o' four and pick a boat." He gestured toward a small armada of boats floating at the bank that James had not noticed.

After everyone had clambered awkwardly into their boats, Hagrid double-checked to make sure that no one had been left behind and then they set off towards the castle, the giant gamekeeper leading the way.

They cut straight across the lake, sailed underneath a rocky overhang, and finally came to a harbor that was right underneath the school.

Hagrid oversaw the disembarking of the boats, counted heads, and led the students up a rocky slope to a set of stone steps at the top of which was two large oak doors.

The first years followed Hagrid up the steps eagerly. When they reached the doors, which were about twenty feet tall, Hagrid knocked three times, the sound echoing across the grounds.

There was a pause -- then the doors creaked open ominously. In the doorway stood a severe witch in her late forties, wearing dark green robes and a pointed witch's hat. She was giving off a very stern that was quite contrary from Hagrid's cheery one.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she said in a crisp voice that suited her very much. "I will take them from here." She beckoned the first years after her, leading them into the entrance hall, straight past the vast room where -- James managed to glimpse -- the rest of the school was waiting, and into what appeared to be an unused classroom.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," the witch said, surveying the students over the top of her square-framed glasses. "My name is Professor McGonagall and I will be your Transfiguration teacher. Now, before the term starts, all new students must be sorted into their houses, which will be something like your family during your stay at this school. You will eat with your house, sleep with your house, and attend classes with your house. And while your achievements will earn your house points, any misbehaving will lose them." She paused here, looking at them as though daring them to break a rule in front of her. Then she continued with, "The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin, each with their own admirable qualities. When you are Sorted, you will be judged to see which house suits you best. Now I do believe they are ready for you in the Great Hall, so if you'll follow me..." And with that, she turned on her heel and marched out of the classroom and into the Great Hall, the first years trailing behind her nervously.

The Hall was magnificently huge, with a ceiling enchanted to look like the sky outside, so that it felt as though there were not one at all. There were four long tables where the students sat with their respective houses and at the front of the Hall was the staff table, which faced the students.

Professor McGonagall led the first years between the two center tables and lined them up parallel to the staff table, facing a rickety old stool on which a very old wizard's hat was sitting.

As the first years came to a halt the rest of the school quietened. There was a moment's silence and then the hat began to sing:

Another year has begun

And an interesting one it will be

So come along young first years

And put your faith in me

For when I was young and thoughtless

(Indeed very much less smart)

Four friends came together and dreamed

That they, a school, would start

Separately, they sought out those

Whom they thought were best

Then they put some brains in me

And put me to the test

Centuries later, it is still up to me

To put you where you belong

If you'd like to try and guess for yourself

Then listen to my song

Hufflepuff is your house if

You're honest, brave and true

Or if you're brave and daring

Then Gryffindor's for you

Perhaps you belong in Ravenclaw

Where they prize the sharpest minds

If not, then in Slytherin

Where the cunning find their kind

So step right up, don't be shy

Forget about all your fears

Just put me on and I will shout

Your house for all to hear

As the Hat's song drew to a close, the rest of the school behind them broke into applause, while the first years simply stared in awe.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward. "When your name is called, sit down on the stool, put the Hat on your head, and wait to be sorted." She unfurled a roll of parchment. "Avery, Clayton."

A skinny, dark-haired boy stepped out of the line. He sat down gingerly, as though afraid the stool would burn him, and placed the Hat on his head. The Hat seemed to consider him a moment, and then -- "SLYTHERIN!"

The table on the far right applauded as their new House member scampered off to join them.

"Black, Narcissa."

"Cissy" seemed to tip-toe to the stool. The Hat barely took a second before screaming "SLYTHERIN" once again, to her apparent relief. She followed Avery to the Slytherin table, where she took a seat next to her sister.

James spared a glance at Sirius. He seemed to be bristling, preparing himself for the worst.

"Black, Sirius."

Sirius took a deep breath and slowly approached the stool. When he turned to sit down, James saw that he looked faintly green. Then the Hat slipped over his eyes.

James watched Sirius's expression intently. His face contorted restlessly, so he was difficult to read. A few minutes passed, as the school awaited the verdict.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Somewhere to the right, the Gryffindor table exploded with cheers. James felt himself join the applause, clapping hard.

Sirius looked amazed. He took off the hat and walked towards the Gryffindor table in a daze.

"Good one," James muttered in his ear as he passed.

Sirius grinned broadly. "See you there, mate." He scurried over to his new House table, keeping the seat next to him saved.

Meanwhile a "Carter, Mary-Ellen" had been sorted into Hufflepuff, followed by a Ravenclaw by the name of "Davis, Dominic."

After them came a long string of girls. The red-head in front of James ("Evans, Lily") became the first female Gryffindor. Then "Finch, April" went to Hufflepuff. Garvin – Gryffindor; Gaynor -- Ravenclaw; Gregor -- Hufflepuff.

Following the girls came a set of twins ("Hardy, Jason and Patricia") who both went to Ravenclaw, "Jones, Alice" went to Gryffindor, and then more twins (both girls) who were sorted into Slytherin this time, another Slytherin girl ("Little, Catherine"), and then it was --

"Lupin, Remus."

For a minute Remus didn't respond at all. Finally, James nudged him hard in the ribs and he stepped forward hesitantly.

The Hat took almost as long with him as it did with Sirius. Likewise, Remus's facial features contorted compulsively as the Hall waited in silence.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus's face paled, but he was smiling so hugely as he took off the hat and trotted off to sit with Sirius that James hardly recognized him.

There were less than half now. A pair of Hufflepuffs -- "McCloud" and "Morton," "Nelson" -- a Ravenclaw... Newt... Oliver...

James was so nervous by the time they reached the Ps that he hardly noticed when Peter Pettigrew, the fourth member of their Hogwarts Express quartet, became a Gryffindor.

"Potter, James."

James rushed forward. Realizing how foolish he must look, he slowed down and adopted a bit of a swagger instead. He sat on the stool and slipped on the Hat, chewing his lower lip nervously.

"Potter," a voice said in his ear, chuckling slightly. "I have no doubts about you. You're definitely in GRYFFINDOR!"

Grinning, James tried hard not to run to his table, swaggering again and feeling rather stupid. In any case, he was glad to reach the chair Sirius had saved him, which he flopped unceremoniously into.

"Nice strut, mate," Sirius muttered.

James pinked slightly, and ignored the sniggers of the other students in the Hall.

The Sorting was winding down now; there were only seven students left now.

"Remmington, Candy" became a Ravenclaw; she was followed by a very greasy looking boy named "Snape, Severus" who was placed in Slytherin. Then came "Stanton, Cady" who turned out to be the year's last Gryffindor. "Stramp, Jack" went to Slytherin, and the remaining two boys rounded out the Sorting by both becoming Hufflepuffs.

When the last of the applause from the Hufflepuff table died away, their Headmaster -- Albus Dumbledore – stood and looked over his students with pride.

"Another year beginning, another boring speech from your befuddled old headmaster." Here, he paused to let the laughter flare up and quieten again. "I must inform all new first years -- and perhaps remind a few older students – that the Forbidden Forest is just its name: forbidden. As is the use of magic in the corridors. Save wand use for your classes. I must also make a point to advise you against straying too close to the newest addition to our grounds, the Whomping Willow. I shall not describe the nature of its epithet, but I trust you all will put your little noggins to the test and discover how it got its namesake yourself." His eyes twinkled. "Now, I think that is everything of importance, because -- unless I'm muchly mistaken -- I think I hear a few stomachs rumbling, mine included. Happy feasting!" And with that, he sat down again, promptly pulling a magically filled dish of potatoes toward him.

The feast was delicious and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The first years chatted happily about their new classes while older students groaned at the thought of going back to them. James laughed and talked with his friends and new classmates, affirming that Hogwarts had exceeded his expectations.

The evening ended joyously; another first year, Cady Stanton, even managed to embarrass Sirius by slipping a plate of chocolate pudding into his chair when he was standing up to get more treacle tart.

"I'm depressed," Sirius muttered to James after casting a very hasty cleaning charm and threatening to hex anyone who laughed.

James raised an eyebrow. "Er, why?"

"Because someone pulled the first prank of the year before me!" Sirius replied desperately. "This means war!"

The feast wound down and a fourth year boy had just mentioned how tired he was when Dumbledore stood up again.

"One last reminder," he announced sleepily. "I love socks. Off to bed with you!"

Chuckling at their Headmaster's bizarre parting words, James and Sirius -- followed closely by Remus and Peter -- traipsed after their fellow Gryffindors up several flights of stairs and through a few secret passageways (which James was sure to make note of) and finally stopping in front of an enormous portrait of a fat lady.

One of the prefects wrestled his way to the front. "Okay everyone, the new password is 'atticus' and be sure not to forget it!"

The fat lady in the portrait smiled, and the picture swung open, as though on hinges, and behind it was a wide hole in the wall -- enough for no more than two people to scramble through at a time -- about three feet off the ground.

The prefect led the way into the Gryffindor common room, which was full of tables and chairs, straight-backed and armchairs alike, and a fire was roaring in the fireplace on one side. There were two sets of stairs on either side of the room, leading off into different directions.

After a quick look around, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter followed the other boys up the left hand staircase, but left them at the door of their first year dormitory.

Someone had brought their trunks up. James recognized his at the foot of a large four-poster bed that stood to one side of a magnificent window.

"Do you realize," Sirius said, jumping on his own four-poster, which was right next to James's, "that we have this whole dormitory to ourselves? All year, for seven years?" His eyes were glinting with excitement.

James grinned and launched a pillow at his new best friend.

The Sorting Hat had said during its song that it was going to be an interesting year. It didn't know how right it was.