Disclaimer: You guys know the drill, I own nothing, everything belongs to J.K. Rowling (a genius)
Chapter Three: The Feast
The Hogwarts Express soon came to a sudden stop at Hogsmede Station. Lily and her friends grabbed their trunks and pets and jumped out of the train.
"Ooh, this year is going to be good." Charlotte commented as their carriage lurched forward towards the school.
"Why?" Alice and Lily both asked.
"You and Potter as the Heads." smirked Charlotte.
Lily blushed but didn't say anything, she knew that Charlotte would keep this up but if Lily didn't give her any reaction perhaps she would get sick of it after a while. Well, it was certainly worth it. Anything to shut Charlotte up.
They got to the Great Hall several minutes later. Lily kept looking at Charlotte who kept smirking. Only God knew what ridiculous idea she was thinking, if she entered her mind, it would probably be a dark place. They took their seats at the Gryffindor table and Lily looked up at the High Table where all the teachers sat. The usual teachers were there like Sprout and Flitwick and in the very centre of the table sat Albus Dumbledore: the greatest wizard of all time. It was very hard to not feel safe while in the present of Dumbledore, after all, he was the only one that You-Know-Who was afraid of.
"Wish they would hurry up with the Sorting!" Charlotte complained.
Lily was about to open her mouth to remind her friend that patience was a virtue but at that very moment the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor McGonagall led a long line of students.
"Man," Evangeline whispered to her friends. "Is it just me or are they getting smaller?"
"Or maybe we're getting bigger." Alice said.
"True, very true."
McGonagall led the students up to the Head Table where a hat stood on a three legged stool. Many of the students were giving it puzzling looks. Lily couldn't blame them; the hat was clearly a mystery to all those students that came from Muggles. The brim opened wide and the Hat began to speak.
Oh, I may not look much to you,
But listen to what I do,
I'll sort you, you'll see,
And I'll place you where you're ought to be.
I've sorted hundreds when a student tries me on,
To many to count,
I've never been wrong,
On any account.
All you have to do is try me on,
And I'll tell you where you belong,
In any of the houses – four
Where I'm sure, you'll help settle the score.
You may be in wise old Ravenclaw,
Where the others look in awe,
At their cleverness,
And their wittiness.
What about in Hufflepuff,?
Where they are just and loyal?
Who will save you from any kinds of toil.
Or perhaps in brave Gryffindor?
Those Gryffindors could truly be your saviours,
Those Gryffindors are indeed courageous,
And where you'll find true trust.
Or yet in devious Slytherin,
Where they won't turn you in,
As you'll make you true friends,
Even if they use any means you achieve their ends.
So listen to what I have to say,
Because it will be useless another day,
Although I may divide you all,
And I may help put up a wall,
Remember your friends,
Remember how they've shown you no ends,
Division is our greatest enemy,
So don't take this warning lightly.
I've seen a lot in my time,
But nothing that has happened,
Can compare what is happing in this lifetime,
So what which side will you choose?
So put me on, do not be afraid,
Just because I'm different to the rest,
Do not be unswayed,
As this is no test,
So where will you wind up?
Which house will get an extra member?
Guess you will have to wait and see,
Because as you never know,
Even if you can't see clearly,
So I'll put on a little show,
And I'll tell you so,
That you are in safe hands,
Even though I have none,
I'll unravel your thoughts,
I'll make them come undone,
So where will you be?
So Just put on me,
And I'll see,
Where your ought to be.
The whole hall began to clap. The Sorting Hat bowed to each of the tables before becoming still once again. McGonagall brought out a long list of parchment and began to read out names.
"Anderson, Carter."
A small skinny boy with fair hair stepped forward and placed the hat on his head. The brim opened wide.
"Ravenclaw!" shouted the hat.
Carter Answer ran to the Ravenclaw table as McGonagall read out the next name.
"Baxter, Jeremy."
"Gryffindor."
Lily and her friends clapped loudly as Jeremy joined their table.
"When do you reckon Katelyn is?" Lily asked Charlotte as Kathryn Clearwater joined the Ravenclaw table.
"Coming up, look there she is!" Evangeline said pointing to a girl near the front.
Katelyn spotted them and waved. Lily and her friends waved back as Warren Craves became a Slytherin.
"Dawson, Juliet."
"Gryffindor!"
The whole Gryffindor table clapped loudly as Juliet Dawson sat down just a few places from Potter and his gang. Then it was Katelyn's turn.
"Derwood, Katelyn."
Charlotte was tense as her sister placed the Sorting Hat on her head. There was a pause before the Hat shouted:
"Gryffindor!"
Charlotte clapped the loudest as her sister sat down opposite her.
"Good job sis!" Charlotte said.
"Thanks." Katelyn said as Nicholas Jackal became a Hyfflepuff.
"Hurry up McGonagall!" Charlotte whined or as close to a whining as possible because Charlotte 'never' whines.
She received a well earned rolling of the eyes from Evangeline. Lily just sniggered, it was like this every year.
The Sorting continued. Lily kept checking her watch to see how much longer it has to go. After what seemed the twelfth time, Lily swore it had stopped working. Finally after Michal Zandor became a Ravenclaw, Dumbledore got to his feet.
"Now I have a few things to tell you before all of you get too immersed into the feast to pay any attention."
"Like the Marauders." Charlotte grinned at her friends.
"Now firstly: Mr Filch has me to remind you that no magic is allowed in the corridors and that the list of forbidden items is available in his office should anyone wish to check it. If anyone wishes to play for their house teams should contact their Heads of Houses and thirdly first years should note that the forest on the ground is forbidden to all pupils." Dumbledore beamed down onto them. "Now, tuck in."
The plates in front of them suddenly became filled with food.
"Yes!" Charlotte cried as she grabbed a huge stack of food and placing it on her plate.
Lily just rolled her eyes as she reached for the sausages.
After the feast they trampled up, one by one, up to the Gryffindor Common Room, where the Fat Lady sat, in her portrait, waiting for them.
"Password?" she asked the four girls.
"Uh…." Alice began and quickly turned to Lily.
Lily, at that present time, hadn't been paying attention. She had been wondering what had cause James Potter, the head trouble maker in the school, to change all of a sudden. For some reason, she couldn't get him out of her head.
"Lily!" Alice continued when she had noticed that Lily had not being paying attention.
"What?" Lily said jumping and snapping out of her thoughts.
"What's the new password?" Evangeline asked.
"What makes you think I know it?"
For an answer, she tapped her Head Girl Badge.
"Oh right! The password is Bowtruckles."
"Correct!" the Fat Lady said as she swung open.
They weren't the first ones back, Lily observed as her eyes fell upon some students by the fire and some playing games like Gobstones, Exploding Snap and Wizard Chess.
"Fancy turning in?" she asked them and they nodded.
They all headed up to their usual dormitories. Their friend Mary Macdonald had already unpacked, in her pyjamas and was sitting on her bed reading a book.
"Is that one of the books I lent ya Mary?" Lily asked.
"Yeah." Mary said without looking up.
"What book is that?" Alice asked.
"Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. It's actually really good."
"I love those series." Lily said unpacking her pyjamas.. "One of my favourites."
"Is it a series?" Mary asked looking up.
"Yeah, there is like seven more."
"Wow." Was all she could say.
Ten minutes later, all five girls were in bed fast asleep except for the redhead of the group. Lily kept turning over in her sleep. She had noticed that James had been looking slightly at her throughout the feast. But what about what happened on the train?
I'll never understand James Potter, Lily thought before going on sleep.
A/N: Hey guys sorry for the late posting - been busy with Mock Exams. Hopefully I will post again soon but it might not happen as I have finals very soon and I am currently trying to study.
But please Review =)