James Sirius and I stepped out of the Hogwarts Express and onto the dark and drizzly platform.

"Firs' years…firs' years, this way," came a booming voice. I turned to see a humungous man holding a lantern that bobbed eerily in the dark, over the multitude of heads crammed onto the platform. We headed towards the giant of a man.

He caught my pale face. He seemed to flash me a look of concern. I imagined that I must have looked really horrible. Then again, it couldn't have been helped…the full moon had been the previous day, and I hadn't fully recovered from my monthly torture.

He smiled reassuringly. "Ah, don' worry 'bout it…poor thin' yer going the love 'ogwarts." I tried to grin in response but failed miserably. "I'm Hagrid…Rubeus Hagrid…keeper of the keys and grounds of Hogwarts."

He then turned back to address the crowd. "Is that all firs' years? Then bes' be off. Follow me."

He led us down a dark path, through trees, the only light coming from the lantern he held. When we finally broke free from the trees, we found ourselves on the shore of a smooth black lake. Across the lake, there was a castle on a cliff; the windows twinkled brightly and welcomingly. The many towers were outlined against the inky black sky.

There were many "ooh's" and "aah's" from those of us assembled on the shore. I couldn't find my voice. I was stunned speechless…is that-?

"'ogwarts," said Hagrid with pride in his voice…"isn' it beau'iful?" We stood for a bit in the mist and the dark staring at the castle. Finally, Hagrid said, "Come on now…no more 'en four to a boat." We suddenly realized that there was a fleet of little boats on the shore. Some students at the front were beginning to get on.

James, Sirius and I slipped into the same boat. We were soon joined by the red-headed girl…Lily, who I had met on the train. She smiled at me.

"Hello Remus," she said. "Hello," I replied. "I'm so nervous," she said quietly. I thought of saying 'don't be' but I decided to be honest. "So am I."

I turned to James and Sirius. James was looking at Lily intently. Sirius was staring at the castle hungrily. James continued to look at Lily. I prodded him. James seemed to have lost the ability to speak.

"Hello," he finally said breathlessly. Lily looked at him. "Hi," she said. "I'm James Potter." "Lily Evans." The boat suddenly took off with a lurch forward. Conversations ceased. We all looked up at the castle growing steadily nearer.

"Min' yer heads," said Hagrid at the front…he was leading the boats, and took one boat entirely for himself,"

We all lowered our heads as we came to a break in the cliff face that was covered in hanging vines. The boats scratched against the rocky bottom, and pulled up onto a shore of gravel. We disembarked and followed Hagrid through the tunnel out into a wet grassy lawn, up a set of stone steps to a great oak door. Hagrid knocked three times…a great booming sound.

The door opened to reveal a tall stern-looking witch. She wore emerald green robes and square-rimmed spectacles. Her black hair was pulled into a tight bun. Remus instantly got the impression that she was not one to be crossed with.

"Here are the firs' years Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you Hagrid," said Professor McGonagall. "Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall. I am the professor of transfiguration, head of Gryffindor house, and deputy headmistress." Professor McGonagall's eyes searched through our crowd. "Follow me."

McGonagall lead us through the oaken front doors into a vast entrance hall. The high ceiling was lost in the gloom. Brazen torches lit the stone walls. A great marble staircase lay directly before us; the white marble reflected the light of the torches. McGonagall paused to give up a look of the hall, and then led us through a small door.

"Please wait here," she said, "the sorting will begin shortly…you each will be sorted into one of four houses…Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each of these houses has a legacy of famous witches and wizards. Each house looks for certain qualities amongst its students. Throughout your time here, your house will be almost like your family. Any rule-breaking you may do will result in points being deducted from your house's grand total. Any good behaviour-will gain your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be rewarded the house cup, a great honour."

Her eyes searched the students once more. "I will leave you here for a few minutes to freshen up..." her eyes paused on James's messy hair. "I will return shortly to introduce you to the rest of the school."

She turned on her heal, and left, her emerald-green cloak swirling after her. I looked at James Sirius and Lily all standing around me. I saw my reflection in James's glasses, and noticed how pale my reflection looked. Lily's eyes fell on James's hair…James caught her glance, and gave her a nervous grin…

"It never lies flat, I've actually given up trying," said James. Lily grinned and rolled her eyes.

We stood in relative silence for a few minutes, and then professor McGonagall returned. She said, "We're ready for you."

We followed her out of the room and into the cavernous entrance hall. She stopped at s set of double doors and pushed them open, leading us through. My eyes scanned the great hall and the sea of faces that turned in our direction. Four long tables stretched out before us, covered in white linen. At the far end of the hall, a long table stood where all the teachers were situated. Professor McGonagall led us past the four tables towards where the teachers were sitting.

Trying to avoid the unfaltering stares of the other students, I looked around and tried to adjust myself to the large room. Large gothic widows stretched from the ceiling to the floor. The great hall was lit by thousands of candles floating in midair. We came to a stop at the head table. Professor McGonagall lined us before the staff table looking out at the other students. I felt so small standing there before the students. I looked away from their unceasing stares and turned my eyes upward to the ceiling….only to see that it reflecting the heavens above. It was breathtaking, but it made me feel even more insignificant. I brought my attention back to earth to find Professor McGonagall placing a three-legged stool before us. Atop the school sat a patched and frayed old wizard's hat.

It sat there for a moment, then a wide rip at the edge of the brim opened and it broke out in song:

I may be dirty ragged and torn,

But for my appearance do not mourn,

For things are different from first sight,

As I will prove to you tonight

Into a house I will sort you,

One by one and two by two,

You'll be placed in one house of the four:

Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor.

To Gryffindor I will send you,

If you be daring, brave, and true.

If Ravenclaw is your place forever

You must be very wise and clever.

To be a Hufflepuff, you must

Be a good friend and worthy of trust.

And if to Slytherin you fly

You must be cunning, ambitious, and sly

At first, the founders quartered the lot

But it all changed when an idea was thought:

For the four founders said:

Before we all are dead,

We must plan a way

To sort the students when we're away,

Thus they came up with a plan,

And I, the sorting hat began

So that is why I'm here,

To sort students year after year,

But wasting time is a sin…So let the sorting begin.

Applause filled the hall when the hat stopped singing. Professor McGonagall then stepped forward with a large scroll in her hands. "When I call your name, please step forward. You will place the hat on your head and you will be sorted," she said.

"Albertson, Thomas." A boy stepped forward, looking pale and sick. He sat on the stool and placed the Sorting Hat on his head. Barely a few seconds later, the hat called out: "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Professor McGonagall moved steadily through the A's and eventually, she called, "Black, Sirius." Sirius looked like a condemned man heading for his execution. Sirius sat on the stool and began to pull on the sorting hat. The Slytherins exchanged smug looks. James had his fingers crossed.

I held my breath. The rip opened once again, shouting: "GRYFFINDOR!" The Slytherins automatically began to applaud, but stopped abruptly. The Gryffindors exchanged looks, and then erupted in loud applause. The Slytherins looked as if they had each been smashed in the face by an iron pan.

Sirius looked as if his birthday had come early…his face was radiating happiness. He leapt to his feet enthusiastically and half ran; half flew, to the Gryffindor table. James gave me a smug look. I grinned. I was happy for Sirius.

After a few more names were called, it was Lily's turn. Professor McGonagall called, "Evans, Lily." Lily approached the stool nervously. "GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat after barely touching her head. Lily stood up and calmly joined the Gryffindor table.

Almost no time later, I heard professor McGonagall calling, "Lupin, Remus." James gave me the thumbs up. I took a deep breath and walked out to the stool. The sorting hat fell over my eyes, enveloping my in darkness.

"Well, Hello Remus," said the hat in my ear, "I must say you are the first of your kind I ever sorted." I gulped nervously. "Nothing to worry about…anyway, you are very brave, wise beyond your years, friendly and loyal…ha, I think the only house you wouldn't be happy in is Slytherin." Well, that's a relief, I thought. The hat laughed, "and a wry sense of humour…how fortunate will be any house that has you…difficult…it's between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw for you…nope…your bravery wins out…best be in… 'GRYFFINDOR!'"

The hat screamed the last part out. I got to my feet slowly, and walked over to the applauding table. Taking a seat next to Lily and across from Sirius, I saw Professor Dumbledore seated at the head table. He smiled at me encouragingly, and then turned his attention back to the sorting.

Lucius Malfoy became a Slytherin. A boy named Peter Pettigrew took the seat next to me at the Gryffindor table. Then, it was James's turn. James walked to the stool confidently. Like with Lily, the Hat barely touched his head before calling out: "GRYFFINDOR!" I joined in with the other Gryffindors' applause, but I couldn't help but wonder about how much longer I was sitting under the sorting hat than my friends. I watched Severus Snape become a Slytherin, all the while wondering about how I was different from the other students. The Sorting Ceremony ended with Zachary, Anna becoming a Ravenclaw. Professor Dumbledore got to his feet and all noise in the hall died away.

"For the new students having just been sorted, welcome to Hogwarts…for the returning students, welcome back. Before we get befuddled by our delicious welcoming feast, I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is, as its name suggests, forbidden. There is to be no magic in the corridors between classes, and most of Zonko's products are forbidden by our caretaker, Mr. Filch." His eyes sparkled mischievously and his grin broadened. Professor Dumbledore nodded in the direction of a gruff looking man leaning against the wall near the entrance doors. "If any of you wish to see the full list of forbidden objects do not hesitate to ask Mr. Filch, he will be most enthusiastic to show you." Mr. Filch nodded pompously. Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat, and I was under the impression that he, like most of the other professors, was trying very hard not to laugh.

"I will leave you to our delicious feast with one last very useful piece of advice, which also our school motto, Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus. And I will leave you to figure out why it is so useful." With one last good-natured glance about the hall, professor Dumbledore said: "Tuck in." He sat down, and instantly, all of the dishes on the table were filled with food.

Lily's jaw dropped. Sirius nearly drooled.

We loaded our plates and chattered happily. I was happier than I had ever been in my life. Not only did I get sorted into Gryffindor, the best house by far, but it also seemed that for the first time in my life, I had friends. I felt as if I had known James and Sirius my entire life. Lily was very amiable. Peter was a bit quite, but I just assumed he was shy. We had a marvellous time.

After dinner, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet once more. He led us in singing the school song, much to the chagrin of the other professors. Then he sent us off to bed.

That night as I lay in my four poster bed in the first year boys' dormitory, listening to Sirius's and Peter's snoring, I couldn't help but smile at the thought of belonging.