Prequel by Syriana

A/N: In this chapter, we will see what each mage is thinking as the Sorting Hat sorts them. During each visit to each person's mind, what the Hat is saying is in italics, and what the person thinks back is in bold. Thanks! Now on with the story

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Chapter 3: The Sorting and Settling in

Ahlia, Rachel, Terra and Lily boarded a boat together after being greeted by the friendly half-giant Hagrid. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter boarded the boat next to them. They admired the beauty of the castle at night, every window lit. Once they had sailed across the lake, they entered the castle through the large oak wood doors. Inside, they met a woman dressed in green robes with an extremely stern look on her face. She gave a quick explanation.

"My name is Professor McGonagall. In a short time, you will go through these doors and join your classmates, and in some cases, your siblings. You will also be sorted into your houses. They are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Your triumphs and rule braking will earn and loose you points. At the end of the year the house cup is awarded to the house with the most points. Please wait here until I return for you," With that she left, and the 8 regrouped.

"What house do you think we'll be put in?" Lily asked, and Terra answered,

"I know that we will all be in the same house," she said. "I'm pretty sure," Ahlia then answered,

"For James and I, our whole family has been in Gryffindor, so I'm pretty sure that's where we will be," after she was done, Sirius spoke up.

"My family is all in Slytherin, but I am the exact opposite of my parents, so most likely anything but," He shrugged, and Rachel said,

"My mum was in Ravenclaw, but she is muggle-born, so I have nothing to go on,"

"We'll just have to see," Remus said, and smiled. "Who knows, fate can throw us a curveball," Just as he said this, McGonagall walked into the room, saying,

"We are waiting for you now. Come this way," with that, she led them into an enormous hall, where there were 5 long tables, four of them on the floor creating aisles all the way up to the 5th, which was placed horizontally across a raised area across from the doors. They filed up to the front table and gathered around an old tattered hat. It opened at a seam like a mouth and sang,

Throughout your years at Hogwarts 4 houses there have been, 4 different traits that describe each one, People judged by what's within. How to place you after all the founders Had gone to their rest? A hat that looks inside your head While it rests on top! I can tell if you belong

In the house of Godric Gryffindor,

The bravest the wisest,

Those with the most courage

In that house reside.

I will know if you belong

In Helga Hufflepuff's house,

Talented, smart and kind,

Are the traits

In that house you'll find,

If you belong

With Rowena Ravenclaw

I will know,

You are smart, wise,

Use your brains,

When others are in danger.

If you reside in the house

Of Salazar Slytherin,

You have ambition,

You are cunning,

You own a thirst to prove yourself,

And are independent from others.

4 different houses

All are possible for each,

Though only one will be your home,

The houses must unite

To stop the castle from crumbling from within,

But no more warnings at this time,

Let the sorting begin.

As the hat closed its mouth, the whole hall burst into applause. When the last of the applause died away, McGonagall walked up to the stool that the hat sat on, saying,

"When your name is called, come sit on the stool, and I will put the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted. Black, Bellatrix!"

A girl with short black hair and a pale complexion walked up to the stool and sat down. The moment the hat touched her head, it yelled,

"Slytherin!" the table to the left erupted in applause as the other three clapped politely. The girl walked over to the table and sat down. She looked up expectantly.

"Black, Narcissa!"

Narcissa looked the same as Bellatrix, and Lily guessed they were twins. She got the same treatment from the hat, and went to join Bellatrix.

"Black, Sirius!"

Sirius got up, walked up to the stool and sat down. The hat took reasonably longer than before.

In Sirius' Head

Ah! Another Black! But you are some how different from the others. It's in your head…

Yeah. I was the only one smart enough no to listen to their 'pureblood' crap.

You are different than the others. You don't belong in Slytherin. You are not one of them. You belong in…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

this time the table on the far right side of the hall erupted in applause, and Sirius walked over to the table, but not before shooting a smug look at Bellatrix and Narcissa at the Slytherin table.

The sorting went on, and eventually after a few Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Slytherins were sorted, Lily was called.

"Evans, Lily!"

Lily sat on the stool hesitantly, and instantly felt the hat cover her face. She couldn't see anything but the black inside of the hat.

In Lily's Head

You have a fair mind, a lot of talent, bravery, and ambition. You are difficult to place. You are a mage… water if I am correct… you know your destiny.

Put me in Gryffindor. You already put one light mage there don't we belong together?

We are demanding. But you must be sure.

I am.

All right. Better go to…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

Everyone at the Gryffindor table applauded as the Hat was pulled off Lily's head and she walked, robes billowing behind her, over to where Sirius had sat down. She sat down next to him, and he put his arm around her shoulders in a brotherly fashion.

"You ok, Lily?"

"Yeah. I'm fine," she said, smiling at him. They both turned to watch the rest of the sorting.

Lily watched as 2 students were placed in Hufflepuff, 4 in Slytherin, and 1 in Ravenclaw when another of the mages was finally called.

"Lupin, Remus!"

Remus walked up to the stool and sat down. Once the hat was on his head, it began to speak.

In Remus' head

A werewolf, eh? I've never seen a werewolf come to this school…very interesting…

I know I am a first, but all the safety precautions were taken, and Dumbledore is helping me by allowing me to come to school. I need to come to school because of my gifts…

You're a mage too…earth…you are the fourth mage I have seen today…amazing…well, the little water mage stated that you would all be together…so your going to be in…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

Remus beamed and ran over to the Gryffindor table. Lily and Sirius beamed at him in greeting. He sat on Sirius' other side and they turned to watch as the others are sorted.

"Malfoy, Teresa!"

Terra walked up to the stool and sat, closing her eyes as the hat was lowered on to her head.

In Terra's Head

Your whole family in Slytherin…you are the first light mage in your bloodline, you do realize…you are destined to fight your own family…

They are not my family. I know they will disown me if I go anywhere but Slytherin. They just want me to be a dark mage, and destroy the world. It will never happen.

That is what makes you a true…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

Terra rushed over to join the others. Sirius and Remus both gave her big, goofy grins while Lily gave her a hug. They all sat down, Terra next to Lily, and waited for Rachel to be sorted.

"Martin, Rachel!"

Rachel walked calmly to the stool and sat down.

In Rachel's Head

How many mages have come to Hogwarts this year? This is the 6th that I have sorted…Go to…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

Rachel practically ran to her friends and sat across from Terra. They watched as a few people were sorted, then Ahlia was called.

"Potter, Ahlia!"

Ahlia walked up to the stool.

In Ahlia's Head

I have two reasons for your placement now, little fire mage…your in…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

Ahlia was greeted similarly by the other mages, and turned to watch her brother be sorted.

"Potter, James!"

James walked promptly up to the stool, sat and waited as the hat was put on his head.

In James' Head

Interesting, quite interesting…opposite of your sister, but a light mage nonetheless. You go to…

General POV

"Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table erupted in applause as James joined the mages. He grinned and said,

"Just waiting for Peter,"

a few minutes later, McGonagall called out,

"Pettegrew, Peter!"

The hat smothered Peter's head, and he was promptly sorted into Gryffindor. All 8 mages grinned at each other. Finally Dumbledore stood, giving the start of term announcements (that none of the mages were listening to anyway) before beginning the feast. They each loaded up their plates. Lily noticed that Terra didn't pick up any of the meat on the table. Terra caught her staring at her plate and said,

"I'm a veagan; I don't eat meat or dairy products," Lily nodded and smiled, munching on some pasta as she did. After the feast had ended, they all filed up to the common room then to their dormitories. When the girls entered their dorm, they made one observation.

"Too fiery," said Terra, Lily and Rachel in unison, and Lily Got a sudden idea and she pulled out her wand.

"Claim beds, everyone," she ordered, and they each chose a bed in the room. Terra's bed was closest to the door and Lily sat inside it and drew the curtains around it. She did several spells in succession around the curtains on the inside, and on the bedspread, pillows and sheets. When she exited, she admired her handiwork. The bed looked just as it did before on the outside. Terra went to enter the curtains, but Lily stopped her.

"Wait until I am finished with everyone's, Terra," she said, and Terra smirked, but pulled her plant out of her pocket, and enlarged it and made herself an apple to munch on while she waited. Rachel laughed and asked if Terra could make her a kiwi. Terra shrugged and grew the kiwi, and handed it to Rachel, who ate it happily as they watched Lily do her own bed, then Ahlia's, and finally Rachel's. By the time she was done, Terra was in the middle of her third apple, Rachel on her second kiwi, and Ahlia chowing down on a banana. Lily smiled and said,

"Neat trick, Terra, but can you make a pomegranate?" Terra attempted, but all that came was a peach. Terra shrugged and tossed the peach to Lily. Lily laughed and ate it. Once she had finished, she asked,

"Well, are you going to check them out?"

The three girls got up and opened the curtains to their beds. A dark green bedspread and pillow, light green sheets and dark brown and gold accent pillows greeted Terra. Her curtains now had an image of a forest on them. Lily's bedspread was dark blue, her sheets a lighter color, with black and teal accents. On her curtains was the image of a beach. Ahlia's bedspread and pillow were red, and her sheet and accent pillows were black. On her curtains, there was the image of a fiery summer sunset. A white bedspread and pillow with light blue sheets and accent pillows were revealed to Rachel, and on her curtain was the image of the sky, light blue with fluffy white clouds all around. They all tackled Lily with hugs and thank yous. They all slept wonderfully that night, surrounded by familiarity.