Disclaimer: I don't own any of the dialogue or the descriptions that are from the book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". The only thing I own is Silas… and the Chinchilla…. XP
And here's a little bit of dailogue that my wonderful reviewer Alaskarae put into her last review! (I think it's quite amusing XP)
me: Hermione! you're supposed to be smart!
11-year-old Hermione: (arrogantly) I am smart! he's just jealous. the hero of the wizarding world would never be a prick!
Me: ...wow you're an idiot...
Hermione: Me! how dar you think that about me! You know nothing!
Me: ...i'm sixteen years old and have been reading this fic since chapter one...i think i know more.
Hermione: ...good point...
Me: (to you) POST SOON PLEASE!
Hermione: (to you too) And please make me non-stupid!
me: (to 'Mione) Is that even a word?
They got off the train to see an already dark sky.
"I didn't know the ride was so long!" Ron exclaimed to Harry over the noise of the other students.
"Well, clearly, it was!" Harry replied, looking for Neville.
"Ugh, and I still have to look after this thing because it refused to go back into it's cage…" Ron muttered, pointing at the fuzzy white lump on his head that was the Chinchilla.
A sudden voice ran out "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
Harry grabbed Ron and started dragging him over to the voice. Sulking, Ron allowed himself to be pulled away. Soon they were standing before a very large man. His size was almost scary, in fact.
"C'mon, follow me - any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" He called.
Looking down, he saw Harry and Ron. "Hello there, the name's Rubeus Hagrid. But you can just call me Hagrid." The large man informed them. "Well, anyways, let's go!" He called, and slipping and stumbling, they followed him down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much. Neville, who had caught up with them at some point, was holding his toad tightly so as not to lose it again.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "Jus' round this bend her."
There was a collective 'Oooooh!' From most of the students.
The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, it's windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting by in the water by the shore.
The jostling of the other students as they moved to get into the boats, ended up knocking Hermione into a pale boy with platinum blonde hair who was making snide comments about everything around him.
"Watch it, mudblood!" He snapped, and glared at her. "Didn't you learn your lesson on the train?"
Hagrid's head whipped around. "What did ya' say?" He asked the blonde boy in a menacing tone. The boy glared at Hagrid before walking away, his group of followers, well, following.
Harry noted that Silas wasn't there, and decided that his younger brother probably had an escort up to the castle.
Harry and Ron ended up in a boat with Neville and Hermione, which they were thankful for.
"Everyone in?" Shouted Hagrid, who was in a boat with the blonde kid (Probably to keep and eye on him. Harry suspected), "Right then - FORWARD!"
The little fleet of boats took off all at once, gliding smoothly over the black waters. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great building overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer to the cliff on which it stood. Well, nearly everyone. The blonde kid was saying loudly how he had been to Hogwarts many times already on business with his father. Hagrid shushed him up though, much to everyone's relief.
"Heads!" Hagrid's voice suddenly called as the first boat reached the cliff. and they all ducked as the boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They sailed through a dark tunnel, which seemed to take them right underneath the castle, until they reached an underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
They then clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last on to smooth damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
They trudged over the wet grass, and up a flight of stone steps, crowding around the huge, oak doors.
"Is that everyone?" Hagrid called.
Hagrid lifted one of his huge hands, and knocked three times on the castle door. There was a loud 'BOOM' with each knock, and Harry swore that he saw the door shake.
The door swung open, as if on command, revealing a tall, stern looking woman in emerald green robes, black hair tied firmly up in a bun. Her appearance gave the new students the impression that this woman was not someone to cross.
"Firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid informed the witch in front of him.
"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She turned around, and gestured for the eleven year olds to follow her. The entrance hall was huge. That was the first thing they noticed when they walked through the door. It was the size of the Potter mansion in itself, Harry suspected. The walls were lit with flaming torches which were dancing cheerfully.
Professor McGonagall led them into a small empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously. Suddenly, a short little man came hobbling in, leading Silas. He traded a few words with Professor McGonagall, and exited the room again, leaving Silas.
Professor McGonagall nodded to Silas and turned back to the other first years. "Welcome to Hogwarts." She began, "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you sit down at your seats in the great hall, you will be sorted into your houses."
She proceeded to explain the four houses, and the rules.
"The sorting ceremony will begin in a few minutes, in front of your soon-to-be peers. So I would suggest you take the next few minutes to smarten yourselves up." She looked around, her eyes resting a little longer on Ron and Neville.
"I will return momentarily." She said, and left the chamber, allowing the door to close behind her.
"What do you think the sorting is?" Neville asked nervously.
Ron leaned a little closer. "Fred and George said it hurt a lot, but I think they were just joking." Neville gulped.
They overheard one of the other first years saying to a friend that her father had told her that they would have to wrestle a troll. Harry shook his head at this – it was ludicrous!
Ron's stomach rumbled loudly, causing many of the first years to look at him, and Neville and Harry coughed to hide their laughter. It was a relief really, because it took their minds off of whatever the sorting ceremony would be.
"I'm hungry!" He said in his defense. The other first years just shook their heads and turned away. He stared down at the chinchilla in his arms. "Can I eat her?" He asked plaintively, and Hermione whacked him over the head with the palm of her hand.
"No!" She snapped. "Be patient."
Ron yelped and rubbed his head. "Woman are sure violent," He whispered so only Harry and Neville could hear. Unfortunately, it was a little bit too loud.
"I heard that!" Snapped the girl in question. Harry and Neville just stood there, laughing at their unfortunate friend.
The door suddenly swung open again, and professor McGonagall stepped through. "Form a line," She told the fidgeting students, "And follow me."
She proceeded to lead them through the entry hall, and through a set of double doors into the great hall.
The great hall was even larger, it seemed, than the entry hall. There were four long tables where the rest of the student populace were sitting, at the end of the hall, was a table sitting on a dais. That was clearly where the teachers were meant to sit.
Professor McGonagall led them up there, so that they were facing the students, teachers behind them. Harry was suddenly nervous as he looked at all the faces staring up at them.
Looking up at the ceiling, he saw that it was much like the one in Silas' room. The roof was like the night sky, velvety black and dotted with many stars. Harry could just make out the constellation of Cassiopeia.
He head Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts, a History." He blinked in surprise. He hadn't known that people even read that book. Maybe he would borrow it from the school library. He might find something interesting.
Harry looked down just in time to see professor McGonagall walk up and silently place a fore-legged stool in front of them. On top of the stool, she put a very tattered looking wizard's hat.
He overheard on of the other first years ask the girl next to her if they were going to have to pull out a rabbit. Harry and Ron snorted.
Noticing that all of the students were staring at the hat, he elbowed Ron and they both looked at it too. It was completely silent for a few seconds, and then something unexpected occurred. The hat's brim opened wide - and began to singe.
They stared, jaws dropped as the hat finally finished it's song.
"So we have to try on a hat." Neville whispered, relief evident on his face.
"I guess, but I really wish that we didn't have to try it on with all of those people watching." Harry replied, also whispering.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, a long roll of parchment held in her hands.
"When I call your name, you will come forward and try on the hat to be sorted," She explained. "Abbot, Hannah!"
A mousy girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line and up to the stool. She put on the hat, which fell right over her eyes, and sat down.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Shouted the hat, after a moment's pause.
The table on the far right cheered and clapped as Hannah went over to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Shouted the hat, and Susan ran over to sit beside Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw as well, but "Brown, Lavender" Was the first new Gryffindor. Said table exploded into cheers, and Ron rolled his eyes at Fred and George, who were catcalling.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" went to Slytherin, "Finch-Fletchly, Justin" Went to Hufflepuff, "Finnigan, Seamus" took a while, but was finally sent to Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione nearly ran to the stool, and jammed the hat hastily on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Shouted the hat, Ron groaned.
Finally it was Neville's turn.
"Good luck!" Harry muttered, and Ron echoed him.
Neville nodded and scurried up to the stool. He tripped right before he reached the stool, and had to be helped up by professor McGonagall. Blushing in embarrassment, he grabbed the hat and stuck it on his head.
The hat took much longer to decide where Neville should go, than it did for any of the other students. But finally, after some time, the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR!" And Neville took off the hat, running over to the Gryffindor table.
The blonde kid (who they soon found out was "Malfoy, Draco") swaggered up to the stool when his name was called. The hat hadn't even touched his head when it called out "SLYTHERIN!"
Malfoy smirked and walked over to the Slytherin table, looking quite pleased with himself.
"Moon" ..., "Nott, Theodore" …, "Parkinson, Pansy" …, a pair of twin girls, "Patil, Padma" and "Patil, Parvati" …, "Perks, Sally-Anne" …, and then finally –
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry stepped out of line, swallowing nervously. The eyes of the entire student body were upon him, and he even heard some one mutter, "Is he related to Silas Potter?"
Sighing, he sat down on the stool, and placed the hat on his head.
"Hmm," Said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Protective of your friends? Hmm… There's talent, very much so… and a thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting… Also a very strong dislike of your brother… And what's this? Now THIS makes it even harder… now where to put you?"
Harry sat still, eyes closed.
'Not Slytherin, not Slytherin, not Slytherin.' He thought firmly.
"Are you sure? You could be great. No? Alright, then I'll have to put you in GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry sighed in relief and walked over to the Gryffindor table to sit beside Neville.
"Hey, where do you think Ron will go?" He asked, nudging Neville to get his attention.
Neville blinked. "I don't know, but most of his family is in Gryffindor, so I think it's safe to assume that he'll be with us."
Harry nodded and looked up at the head table. At the end, nearest to him, was… Hold on, was that PADFOOT? His eyes widened as his surrogate uncle waved at him. What on earth was he doing here?
Harry shook himself and looked over at the other teachers. There was a greasy looking man that Harry remembered was Severus Snape (he had heard many stories from Remus and Sirius, and had even met him once… it had been quite and unpleasant encounter.)
Sitting beside the greasy potions teacher, sat a man in a purple turban. He looked quite strange, Harry thought to himself. HE looked up and noticed Harry. Their eyes met, and suddenly, there was a burning feeling in his eyes, and Harry was suddenly unable to see anything.
He shook his head and his eyes cleared, and he soon found himself looking into the worried eyes of Neville.
"I'm fine." He muttered
There were only three people left to be sorted.
"Turpin, Lisa" Went to Ravenclaw, and then it was Ron's turn.
Ron looked very nervous, Harry noted.
Suddenly someone yelled "Whose that kid with the fuzzy thing on his head!" Which caused most of the school to start laughing, and Ron's ears turned red in embarrassment.
He stumbled up to the stool, and sat down. There was no reason to worry, because a second later, the hat called "GRYFFINDOR!" And Ron hurried down to sit on the other side of Harry.
"Well, done, Ron, excellent." Said Percy pompously from across the table.
Harry suddenly had a thought.
"Ron, how many brothers do you have?"
Ron blinked. "Five. Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, who is studying dragons in Romania, and Bill, who's a curse breaker for Gringotts."
"Wow… how does your mom find all the time for you?" Asked Neville, joining the conversation.
"I dunno. She just does." Ron muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Blaise, Zabini" Became a Slytherin as well.
Harry looked down at his gold plate, and felt the familiar feeling of hunger. It seemed like ages ago that he had been pigging out on the train.
Suddenly, the hall went quiet as Albus Dumbledore got to his feet. He was smiling brightly, eyes twinkling.
"Welcome!" He began. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, we have one last person to sort. Professor, if you may."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Potter, Silas!" She called. Silas strode forward, head held high, soaking in the adoration he was recieving.
The hall burst out in a flurry of whispers.
"Silas Potter? The Silas Potter?... Wow, I always wanted to meet him!..." It continued like that until Silas stepped up to the stool. Harry clenched his fists. If Silas got into Gryffindor... he didn't know WHAT he'd do...
Sitting down, Silas carelessly placed the hat on his head. There was a few minutes of silence before the hat screamed out "SLYTHERIN!"
A/N: Wow am I evil or what! Who can tell me that they were honestly expecting this? (people… .you don't count if I told you…). And most people were right; Sirius IS teaching something… just not DADA. You can have your cookies anyways! - Now the question is; what will he be teaching? It's not one of the subjects already there, so you'll have to be creative… I gave you a major hint last chapter… Also, I need suggestions on good names for the chinchilla... gotta sound like something Ginny would call it though.XP. It's an omnivor! (meaning it eats both meat AND vegetables)
- Crimson Dragongem