Disclaimer: No matter how awesome you think I am, I am not J.K Rowling and do not own any of Harry Potter. All characters belong to the awesomeness (J.K Rowling).
Authors Note: Thank you all for the positive reviews and favoriting my story! That makes me feel like I'm doing a good job.
I owe this chapter to peppermint sticks, A Fine Frenzy, and Hp Lexicon.
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The trio stood outside of the Great Hall, along with the rest of Hogwarts' newest additions, anticipating what waited for them inside. A prim woman stood in front of the group, glaring at them beneath square shaped spectacles. She continued her speech, though most were more interested in their surroundings including James.
"…Now." The woman ended at last, "If you will excuse me, I will be back for you when we are ready." She nodded her head, a few stray hairs falling from her tight bun. She turned and opened the door, stepping inside. The whole crowd leaned with the door, trying to see what lied beyond the large wooden thing, though the attempt was futile.
"Did you happen to catch her name?" Sirius inquired, causing James to turn his head so violently he might have gotten whiplash.
"No." He said, shaking his head. "I wasn't paying attention…" He added, honestly.
"Professor McGonagall." Remus told them, shortly, a rather exasperated look on his face. "Honestly. Did you two listen at all?"
Sirius scoffed at this, as if it should be common knowledge. "Of course I listened," He lied, shrugging, "I just didn't get her name. I mean, her speech was so long the name seemed to get lost within the labyrinth of her other worlds."
Remus brow flew up and he looked to the ground, feeling a bit put out.
"IT'S A CONSPIRACY!" A rather wide-eyed boy yelled. James turned and noticed that it was the boy from the platform. "They're going to judge us here! Thousands of Quintapeds I suspect." He shivered, "The ones with the club foots?"
A blonde girl behind him scoffed, crossing her arms. "Oh, hush up, Lovegood." She said pushing his shoulder. "They're not trying to trap us. They want to sort us… not kill us."
This caused a few snickers to echo through the group, including one from Sirius. The conversation then dwindled down to whispers, and then breaking into small groups. Fear was obvious on most of the faces, wondering of this redheaded boy was right. James, on the other hand, knew the sorting would be nothing harsh. His mother had told him that it was not a big deal, but refused to tell him the details.
Sirius leaned casually toward him, "I suspect trolls." He told him, almost lazily, as if the thought of a troll beating his head in did not cause him a bit of worry. James frowned; this Sirius fellow was inspiring, but truly nonchalant. He looked toward Remus, wondering what he thought about it. Surely, he was smart enough to know what the sorting entailed.
He was just standing there, eyebrow arched. "Do you really think they'll give us trolls?" He inquired, shifting. "When we don't know any magic… you think they're going to put us against trolls?" He chuckled. "I don't think so."
Sirius shrugged and looked to James, lowering his voice down to a whisper. "That one will be a Ravenclaw… the-"
"Stop it!" A shrill yell interrupted Sirius' speech, causing them both to look up. James stood alert, expecting something to be attacking the group from the back. A small circle had formed in the back, the children laughing. He walked toward them and pushed through to get a better view.
"Stop it I said!" Came the voice again as James caught a glimpse of the boy laying on the ground. It appeared as if someone had pushed him over. He was a rather stubby child, his face blood red and his golden brown hair sticking up at odd angles. "I'll curse you!" He threatened, fumbling with his wand. "Don't think I won't!"
A tall boy smirked and tilted his head, "Oh will you?" He asked, kicking the boy's leg. "You don't know how to use that thing…" He scoffed.
James elbowed past a few people and stood in the center, trying to protect the boy from another well-aimed kick. "He might not know how to use it but I do!" James growled, confidently, despite the fact that he was more-or-less lying. He had only used a wand once, it was his mothers, and it was an accident… well that is what she thinks.
The boy looked up at him, eyes wide. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak but shut it quickly. He ran a hand through his greased back sandy-brown hair and stood up.
The tall boy frowned and took a step closer to James. "Do you know who you're talking to?" He asked, threateningly. "The name's Avery… I suggest you remember it." His wand rose, but he froze shrinking up.
Sirius had come behind him and squeezed the back of his neck, doing his best to cause as much bodily pain as possible. "I suggest you put that away before you lose something valuable." He whispered, daring him to make a move. Avery quickly put the wand in his pocket. "I might not know how to use magic, but I can wallop a good punch." Sirius let him go and Avery fell forward before turning. He placed hand on his neck, rubbing the sore.
"Black." Avery hissed, scooting away from him.
Sirius smiled and nodded, "Yeah, and I suggest you remember it Avery. Oh, and think before you mess with my mates." He said pleasantly, pushing his way out of the crowd, James and the chubby boy at his heals.
"Thank you…" The plump boy finally spluttered, his face blushing a deep red. His beady brown eyes were focused on James with an appearance of absolute adoration.
James returned the awe with a smile and shrugged. "Yeah, we just had to rough him up a bit. I'm James by the way, this is Sirius and Remus."
On cue the two smiled, and nodded, Sirius seemed particularly disinterested in this boy. Perhaps even more disinterested in him as he was in Remus.
"Peter-- I'm… Peter Pettigrew."
"Nice to meet you Peter." Sirius said quickly, hardly bothering to glance at him. He wanted this conversation to be over as quickly as possible. The wide-eyed kid was nice, but not his type of friend. He did not much go for the short, fat ones who looked like they might kill over from gluttony any moment.
Soon enough though, the door opened, saving Sirius from the conversation. He quietly thanked the heavens for the existence of McGoggles, or- he couldn't remember.
"This way." The woman said, smiling kindly despite her rather stern speech earlier. She turned and opened the door, allowing entrance into the hall.
The first glimpse of the Great Hall was almost like seeing the castle for the first time. The same gasp flew through the group and people were pointing around, most throwing their head back causing a few of the older students to fear they would fall down and have a fit.
James looked to Sirius, who was calm-as always, then to Remus, who looked so pale he just might be glowing, and then to Peter, who still had the same look of divine adoration in his eyes. James could only imagine what he looked like, so he ran a hand through his already messy hair for good measure.
"Now, when I call your name," McGonagall began, holding a rather large piece of yellow parchment in her hands. "I will have you come here and sit; you will put on this hand and be sorted into your house. You will then take a seat with your classmates…"
She then began to relay names off. Soon, James noted, that the hat would sit on some heads longer than others before becoming animated to shout out their house.
There had been a Slytherin and two Hufflepuffs sorted before she adjusted her glasses to call out the next name. This is a moment in her life, she later regretted in a darkened classroom watching over a clique of troublemakers.
"Black, Sirius." She shouted through the crowd.
Sirius looked toward James and winked before bounding up to the chair. The longhaired boy looked quite cool, even as he made an embarrassingly grand bowing gesture toward the Professor. She frowned slightly and then motioned to the chair. He sat, a collected and somewhat mischievous look in his brown eyes. She put the hat on top of his head and all grew silent.
'Sirius Black,' the hat thought in his head, causing him to jump. How did this thing get into his mind? Well, it just made the next part that much easier. 'Well, well, I've been waiting for you. Lets see-'
'Wait!' Sirius thought almost urgently, the hat fell silent and Sirius smiled. 'Well it would be really cool Mr. Hat sir, if you would say the words 'amazing Gryffindor' when sorting me… and my mate James Potter'
'And what makes you think you belong in Gryffindor?' The hat asked, a hit of amusement in the exchanged thoughts.
'I do, and you know I do, or else you'd put me somewhere other than there. I can see the future you know- never-the-less, I would be forever in your debt if you did. Please?' He asked, in what he thought to be a very pleading thought-voice.
'Hmm… but your cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, is doing very well in Slytherin, I can see that side within you. Buried deep, but there never the less, though you are very witty, young Black. Courageous too I see…'
'C'mon.' Sirius thought, but a secret chill ran down his spin. He was nothing like his cousin Bella, nothing at all. He almost despised the hat for thinking that, but he quickly took it back so not to offend his pawn.
'Hmm… Well then,' 'the hat suddenly became stiff, as if it had stood up. "A-MAZING GRYFFINDOR!" It yelled.
There was a silence, before the students burst into laughter, filling the room. McGonagall quickly grabbed the hat off Sirius' head, giving it and him a very strange look. That had obviously never happened before. However, behind the very distressed looking Headmistress said Dumbledore, laughing all the while.
Sirius felt the great lump in his stomach loosen and he headed toward the table, but not without a sharp reproving look from McGonagall. He pushed his way through the crowd, enjoying a few slaps on the shoulder. What a wonderful start of term prank he had made. Once he sat, he received several questions from the older students as to how he got the hat to say it. Sirius simply leaned on his hand and winked, "I'm not telling."
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A few more students were sorted then and Remus began shaking nervously. He knew with every passing letter that his name was becoming closer and closer to be called. What if the hat decided not to sort him and told him a place like Hogwarts was not one for his kind. He shivered and quickly reminded himself to stay calm. He did not need to panic, that was key, but soon his mind was off again picturing the Sorting Hat screaming out "WEREWOLF" instead of a house name, and him having to go sit in the back of the Great Hall alone. That would be just his luck.
"Lupin, Remus." McGonagall called. The boy took in a sharp breath and headed toward the dreaded stool, fists clenched. McGonagall looked at the pale boy as he took a seat, considering him a moment. He looked as if hew as going to be sick, and the Sorting Hat hated being reciprocals for vomit (as he so often stated). Never the less, she took a brave step toward Remus and put the sorting hat on his head. Remus shut his eyes tight, waiting for what was to come.
'Oh!' The Sorting Hat thought, causing Remus to jump slightly still looking as if he'd been electrocuted. 'Hmm… you will be the first of your kind I've sorted…' it mused, 'oh, and you are quite the intelligent one… Yes?'
Ignoring the reminder in the back of his mind that no one could hear his thoughts he thought back to it, feeling rather silly. 'I enjoy the occasional book…' He said, testing his theory.
'But your courage, being someone of your kind and so young. You'd gladly sacrifice yourself for loved ones.' The hat ends his speech at this. "GRYFFINDOR!" He shouted, but left one more thought in Remus' mind.
'You'll do very well there, I am sure.'
McGonagall then remove the hat and Remus hurried through the crowd, trying to avoid the eyes and attention that had been drawn to him. He took as seat opposite Sirius, he would sit next to him, but he had the strange idea that Sirius didn't enjoy his presence very much.
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"Pettigrew, Peter!" McGonagall called, after six more students had been sorted.
Peter squeaked as his name was called and hurried up to the stool, tripping over himself as he did so. His face glowed bright red, his sandy-brown hair doing little to hide it. He took a seat on the stool, almost having to jump to get on top of it. The Professor placed the hat on his head and he squealed, seeming quite happy to have this moment.
Sirius chuckled and raised a brow, interested to see where this little bloke ended. It was hard for him to think of Peter as his age. He just seemed so much more childish than they did. (Even though, he had only talked to him for little less than 10 minutes.)
"GRYFFINDOR' The hat called causing Peter to giggle with joy. Sirius sat at the table, his mouth open in a kind of shock. This couldn't be happening… not the little awe-faced bloke. There was no way. There he came, never the less, bounding toward the table giddily. He took a seat beside Remus and immediately Sirius felt as if he wanted to die.
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Potter, James, was the next name to be called. James scurried up the stairs and pushed his glasses back onto his face. He peered up at McGonagall before sitting on the stool, waiting eagerly for the hat to be placed. The hazel-eyed boy hoped beyond all hope that he would be put in Gryffindor, like his father, it would be a shame if he was stuck in some awful house like Slytherin or Hufflepuff… Ravenclaw wouldn't be very bad, though, once he thought about it.
McGonagall hovered the hat over his head and it quickly shouted, "A-MAZING GRYFFINDOR!" James frowned, wondering why it had said he was amazing. Another roar of laughter filled the hall and McGonagall looked quite distressed, as if she was about to pull he grey-streaked hair out.
James grinned and stood up almost walking away, but before he did, he made a rather grand bow toward McGonagall, hoping he didn't look as dorky as he felt.
----
"…And students let us remember, that no matter how tempting trouble-making may seem…" Dumbledore continued his speech, for what Sirius had said more than once 'hours'. A few of the older students snickered at the next part that James missed entirely. He was just so hungry and not a drop of food in front of him. Wasn't this Great Hall thing for eating? He yawned entirely too wide and his eyes drifted down the table of first years. His eyes then stopped dead on the redhead he had remembered from the train. The one that had been paling around with that greasy headed fellow.
His eyes quickly followed the line of the table, trying to decide where he was. He turned then, and looked around before finally spotting the boy, (as he later quotes he could never find him if it wasn't for the sheen off of his hair, but then Sirius would say it was the big mountain of a nose sticking off his face.) in the Slytherin house. He shivered, that was exactly where that git belonged… amongst other gits.
"Let's eat!" Dumbledore clapped his hands causing the feast to appear. Sirius immediately dug in followed by James and Peter. Remus sat there for a moment, observing the food as if he had never seen so much in one place. Soon enough though, he too was enjoying the feast.
Soon enough the feast was over and they were all settled in Gryffindor Common Room. Remus had curled up in an armchair, a book dangerously close to his face. Sirius and James were huddled in front of the fireplace that was large enough to swallow both of them whole. Peter was hovering behind them, nodding and agreeing with everything they said.
Sirius sent Peter an annoyed glance and looked at James. "So, yeah, I ask him 'Mr. Sorting Hat Sir, it would be awesome if you'd say Amazing Gryffindor when sorting me.' And he did! It was brilliant. Oh, and I put in a good word for you too mate."
Peter made a face that clearly said, 'what about me?' but he didn't ask.
"It was brilliant." James said, laughing. His eyes fell to Remus. "Hey you… Lupin!" He called, breaking him from his trance. Remus sat his book down and sighed, as if quite bothered by being included. He walked over to them and James motioned to a spare piece of carpet.
"Pop a squat."
So he did, he took a seat next to James, his eyes hovering momentarily on Sirius, who looked quite annoyed by his presence.
"So… anyway…" Sirius said, getting James' attention. "So, I brought a few dung bombs for my dearest cousin." He smiled. "I can spare a few if you want to plant it under that greasy headed boy's chair in one of our classes…"
"Don't you dare pick on him!" Came a rather high-pitched voice. James hadn't noticed the redhead, hovering a few feet away. She could hear every word they were saying. His stomach scrunched up and he felt as if he might puke.
"What are you gonna do if we do?" Sirius asked, looking up to her.
"I'll tell on you!" She said angrily. Her cheeks flushed red at the thought of how childish this sounded, but perhaps it would get to them. Lily didn't need these pricks picking on Severus, who she was sure was already angry enough with her.
"Ooooh." Sirius laughed while pretending to act horrified. "I'm so scared of you and your tattle-telling skills." This caused Peter and James to laugh outright. "Well, to bad kid, we're doing it anyway." His eyes fell on Remus, who didn't seem to find this even remotely amusing. "You can hang out with us too Lupin, if you can keep your mouth shut."
Despite how cruel that sounded, Remus scooted closer to them. He didn't want to be mean to the girl, or to the unknown greasy headed boy, but he'd rather be liked than disliked. So he nodded, "I don't tell on people." He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Actually I know how you can do it…"
Lily let out a loud huff and stormed away from them. Stupid boys. Stupid Gryffindor. Now her only friend probably hated her and would hate her even more tomorrow when people from her house picked on him. She walked up to the dormitories and sighed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day… she was sure.