Chapter 5: Sorting Hats, Houses and Mysterious Marauders.
Upon arriving at the school, all first years were ushered into a small, official looking room. A strict lady, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall informed them about what was going to happen next.
"In a few moments you will be sorted into your houses. You will walk through these doors and when I call your name you will come to the front and sit on the stool. Please form a line and wait here." She exited the room as the first years complied with her last order. Sirius, James, Peter and Remus were all lost in their own thoughts. The four boys could hear the excited babbling of a young redhead and her friends, but nobody really registered what she was saying.
'I really don't wanna be in Slytherin.' Sirius thought, 'but if I don't get into Slytherin, my mom will tear me apart'
'This black kid is strange. Why did he dry me off? And why did he even save me in the first place?' James thought, 'Maybe he isn't all that bad, maybe friendship material? No, I can't be his friend; he's probably just trying to get close to me so. Besides, a Gryffindor can't befriend a Slytherin, it's unheard of.'
'Strange kid, this Sirius Black is. He seems to have a sense of mischief as does this Potter fellow. Maybe I should be careful around them. James doesn't seem to realise he has found a kindred spirit in Sirius. I wonder what house I'll be in… probably not Gryffindor, because I'm not brave. Hopefully I don't get put in Hufflepuff, I would leave if I got put into Slytherin, so if I had a choice, I'd choose Ravenclaw. Wow, I even ramble in my thoughts.' Remus contemplated to himself.
'Sheesh, if she takes any longer I'll starve to death.' Peter thought.
As if reading Peter's thoughts, Professor McGonagall returned carrying a stool and what looked like a rag. "We are ready for you now. Please stay in line and do keep up."
The line of first years followed the Professor to the Great Hall. Excited whispering and nervous chatter filled the room, accompanied by gasps of amazement. The Professor placed the stool in front of the head table and the rag on top. To the amazement of most first years, excluding Sirius and a few other children from Pure-blood families, the rag straightened its self out and a mouth appeared from what originally looked like a burst seam. The hat shocked them further when it started to sing. (A/N: sorry! The reason this chapter is because I tried for almost a month to write a song before giving up. Forgive me please ) It sang about the history of the school and the four founders. It described the four houses and the requirements to get into each one. When the hat had finished its song, the hall burst into applause and the sorting began.
Anseworth, Penny was called first and the hat sat on her head for mere seconds before placing her in Hufflepuff. The table decked out in yellow and black cheered especially loud because they got the first new first year.
Auron, Richard was called next and placed into Ravenclaw, whereas Belford, Thomas went to Slytherin. Black, Sirius was called and Sirius winced as he nearly tripped over his feet from nervousness. Once he was settled on the stool, the hat was placed on his head and slipped down over his eyes. Sirius wasn't surprised when started talking to him.
"Hmm, another Black? I know just where you belong. SLYTH…. What was that boy? Is this doubt I sense? Surely you belong in Slytherin, do you not?"
"Hurry up hat. Just sort me into my house already."
"Hmm… What's this I've found? Courage? And loyalty? A sense of honour? Oh, and your very talented. A great mind you have, young Mr. Black. Why do you feel the need to hide this?"
"JUST SORT ME YOU DAMNED HAT." Sirius yelled in his head.
"Oh I will Mr. Black. But not in the house you think. GRYFFINDOR will do you fine."
A collective gasp rose throughout the hall. A Black in Gryffindor? That was impossible. The hat had finally lost its mind…
Sirius sat on the stool, almost too shocked to breathe. His mother was going to reduce him to a pile of gore. He swore quietly as he made his way to the table decked in red and gold, among the whispers and pointing fingers. He glanced discreetly at James Potter and was pleased to see him looking mildly shocked.
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James Potter stared at Sirius Black, not completely shocked but definitely a little put out. He would probably have to share a dorm room with this crazy Black kid. (A/N: I am not a racist person, I know it sounds bad but it is in no way meant to be discriminatory, just for clarification because it sounded… awkward… to me.)
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A few people later, Evans, Lily was called. A very nervous looking Lily walked to the stool and sat on it. She fidgeted as the hat was placed on her head. Impatiently pushing it back up as it fell over her eyes, she began her silent conversation with the sorting hat.
"You have a great mind, Miss Evans. Raveclaw would suit you, but you also have a thirst to prove yourself, a Slytherin trait for sure. You are very loyal I see, Hufflepuff would also suit you, as well as Gryffindor, for you are brave and have a feeling of fairness."
"If I suit all the houses how will you sort me?" Lily asked timidly.
"I will let you choose Miss Evans. Which house would you like to be in? Will it be Gryffindor for courage? Maybe Hufflepuff, for loyalty? Perhaps Slytherin, for ambition? Or will it be Ravenclaw, for intelligence and the thirst of learning?"
"I think I would like Gryffindor. They look like nice people." Lily ventured, looking around.
"Alright then, GRYFFINDOR it is!" the hat roared. The table Sirius had sat down at cheered.
Lily slipped into the seat beside into the seat beside Sirius and smiled shyly at him. When Sirius didn't smile back she turned to the sorting, trying to focus. Her mind drifted to her family back home. She would have been thinking about her old friends, if she had any, but the fact was that she had always been out of place in the muggle world. She briefly wondered if her parents would be proud she got placed in Gryffindor or whether they would even understand.
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Halfway through the sorting the sorting Lupin, Remus was called and Remus, who was nervous but determined to show his mothers family he wasn't as worthless as they were, started towards the front of the room, tripping over his robes in the process. Some of the older students, mainly Slytherins, laughed and Remus went tomato red as he picked himself off the floor. James and Peter both cheered he stood and Lily smiled encouragingly for her spot beside Sirius. Remus managed to make it to the stool without further incident.
"Ah… Mr. Lupin, I have been waiting for the chance to sort you. It's been a while since a werewolf attended Hogwarts. You have traits that could place you in any house but Slytherin is not very understanding with people who are in the same situation you are in. your mind is amazing, defiantly worthy of a Ravenclaw, but people in that house are too intelligent and your dorm mates would have your secret figured out in a few months. Hufflepuffs, although loyal, have a tendency to gossip a lot, which might not be a good thing considering your monthly disappearances. Bravery… that is something you have in vast amounts, so I will place you in GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted the last part as it finished it immense monologue.
Remus jumped off the stool, tripped over his robes again and stumbled towards the Gryffindor table. He plonked himself down across from Sirius and watched the sorting with a satisfied and proud smile on his face.
Micheals, Alice was called next and the blonde girl Lily had ridden in the boats with walked up to the stool looking quite pale. The hat shouted Gryffindor and she made her way over to the table only to be tripped by another student and fall into an older boys lap. Blushing redder than Lily's hair, she stuttered a quick apology and hurriedly sat beside Lily, still blushing. Lily leaned over and engaged Alice in a hushed conversation that Remus only heard snatches of. Sirius was muttering to himself about a mistake and getting resorted. He seemed extremely tense and continued to block out the sorting. Remus focused on composing a letter to his father. This caused his mind to wander to the note his cousin had written, stored in his bag. He would have to read it tonight. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Peter sat down beside him. James was just sitting down on the stool.
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Peter watched the people soon to become his classmates get sorted as he contemplated what his father would do if he got sorted into Hufflepuff. In fact, he was so busy dwelling on this thought that he didn't hear his name get called. James, who had been paying attention, pushed him forward. Peter, shocked out of his thoughts, fell on his face because James pushed him right into a boys extended leg.
James grabbed his arm, hauling him up. "Sorry Pete, but if you don't get up there you'll miss your turn."
Peter cursed his misfortune as he stumbled up to the stool, stuttered an apology to Professor McGonagall and took a seat.
"Peter Pettigrew, the minister's son?" The hat said quietly. "I have a great deal of compassion for you boy. Let's see, you have an average mind and your not too ambitious, so neither Ravenclaw nor Slytherin would do. You are not spectacularly courageous and you do not possess an ounce of loyalty towards anyone except for your mother. Maybe Gryffindor would suit you best out of all the houses. Learn a few things from your housemates, Mr. Pettigrew. It may just save your life one day." The hat muttered before shouting, "GRYFFINDOR."
Peter dropped the hat on the stool, scurried over to the table and sat down beside Remus. Peter's mind drifted to the hats warning. What had the hat meant? Puzzling over it for some time, Peter only snapped out of it when food appeared in front of his face. He started stuffing himself with all sorts of things.
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James watched his friends get sorted and cheered when Remus, Peter and the red head whose name he couldn't remember got sorted into Gryffindor. His name was called after Peter's and he walked towards the stool, looking outwardly calm. On the inside, James was swimming in nerves. He had doubts as to whether he would get sorted into Gryffindor. His dad would be disappointed if James didn't get into his old house. Sitting on the stool, James took a deep breath and almost jumped when the hat was placed on his head.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. I haven't sorted a Potter in many years. Your character is so much like your father's. You have a lot of courage and his mischievous side, although I fear yours is much worse. Remember, Mr. Potter, friends can be found in unexpected people. Best sort you with people you can relate to. GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted.
James sighed with relief, headed towards the table and sat down beside Remus. Grinning he watched the Prewett twins get sorted into Gryffindor. They came to the table and Gideon took the seat beside James while Fabian sat beside Sirius, who was looking dazed and worried about something.
James studied Sirius Black. There was something wrong with the kid. He just seemed so out of place compared to any of the other 11 year olds. As the sorting carried on James tried to places what seemed so wrong with Sirius. By the time Snape, Severus was called, James had Sirius pinned. Instead of being excited, Sirius looked terrified. James briefly felt pity for the boy before Sirius snapped out of his trance and gave him a glare that could make even the most powerful wizard fear for his life. As the last first year was sorted, he saw Black make a barely noticeable wand movement, turning the professors and staff at the head table into multicoloured clown impersonators. The students burst into laughter and the divination teacher, Professor Adian, let out a screech of horror and had to be restrained. There was a flash of light and then fiery letters spelt out the words, "A new era has begun. Let those who wish to stop the chaotic and mischievous prank era know that the Marauder has arrived."
James reacted quickly and added an "s" onto the word marauder and changed the word has into have. Smirking he wrote under the original words, "We Marauders are the elite; a group of tricksters so smooth we will leave our victims wondering what hit them."
Under James words appeared another set. "The Marauders are the players of pranks, the masters of mischief and the shadows of stealth. Catch us if you can."
James looked around hoping to catch the third culprit. A stifling silence fell over the Great Hall before a few older students started clapping. Pretty soon the whole populace of Hogwarts, minus the staff of course, was cheering. James glanced at Sirius to gauge his reaction and saw him glancing between himself and Remus. Peter caught James' eye and, upon seeing him, James burst into laughter. It took only a glance at Peter to send Sirius and Remus into stitches. Within minutes, half the Gryffindor table was in gales of laughter as Peter Pettigrew tried to get his fat ass off the floor.
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Authors Note: Thank you to those who are still reading this. I am very sorry it took so long to get up and too top that off its kind of short. Feedback is always nice. I realized when I was writing this chapter that I had continuously been spelling a few things wrong. Ta for the support.
Swordy
An Additional A/N: I am dreadfully sorry that it has been so long since I've updated. I am having severe problems with the next chapter, to the point that I have already rewritten it 3 times and am still not satisfied. I am adjusting a few more things and it should be good enough for me to post by Sunday, if not sooner. Sorry for the delay and lots of love to those who are still following me.