The Sorting Hat: Year One
The first years followed Professor McGonagall, a middle-aged woman who looked so strict that the first years were almost afraid of her (notice I said ALMOST), into the Great Hall nervously giggling and looking at the four long tables packed with students. They all filed up in the front of the room, as McGonagall carefully placed an old looking hat on a stool in front of them. A blonde boy with a pointy nose snorted and whispered audibly to his buddy,
"Or they could just make us wipe the dirty floors" Several of the first year students snickered while others rolled their eyes at the comment. Lily peered over Sirius' head and smiled as she saw Professor Dumbledore calmly stand as the hall silenced.
"Welcome Students, to another year of magic and mischief." He started. "Some warnings I must give to all new first years and reminders for the rest. The Forbidden Forest is strictly prohibited to all students, as well as being out of bed after ten. This year, for reasons I cannot afford to publicly share, we have planted a Whomping Willow by the lake. No student, under ANY circumstances is allowed near it, as you might suffer a most memorable death or a serious injury if that be the case. Now, for a lighter mood, I will allow Professor McGonagall to sort the new students into their respective houses". Everyone clapped. Lily gripped Sirius' hand tightly and whispered in his ear,
"Good Luck!" Sirius smiled nervously at her and glanced sideways at James, who seemed a tad too interested in his wand. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and opened a scroll of parchment.
"Abercrombie Daniel" she called out as a small red head boy emerged from the crowd of first years trembling and sat down hesitantly on the stool. McGonagall placed the old hat on his head as Daniel closed his eyes.
After a while, the hat hollered,
"HUFFLEPUFF!" and the table nearest to the left clapped and cheered loudly. When it quieted down, Professor McGonagall kept on reading the list.
"Aime Holly" A tall girl with a lot of freckles and long black hair slid out of the mass while her twin, Hope, crossed her fingers for her. The hat was placed on her head and the girl winced and then relaxed.
"GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted. Holly skipped to the Gryffindor table next to the Hufflepuff one as Hope was called in Gryffindor too. Professor McGonagall called out a few other names and then,
"Bell Michael" Lily sighed as a handsome boy with wavy brown hair and green eyes stepped up.
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat announced. Michael winked at Lily and sat down beside the Ravenclaw prefect as they shook hands. Kim elbowed Lily.
"Got yourself a crush, Lils?" she teased. Lily blushed and playfully slapped Kim's shoulder. Sirius and James didn't find the situation as amusing as they had for they both shifted uncomfortably and stared at Michael gritting their teeth. Sirius was about to say something to Lily when his name was called,
"Black Sirius" Sirius slowly made his way to the stool when McGonagall's arm waited for him to sit down. Sirius felt the ragged edges of the hat being place on his head. The Sorting Hat whispered inside his head.
Ahhh, another Black aren't you. Ohhh... I see a great future awaits you. You have guts, cunningness, complete confidence…mmmm…you're a naughty one, this is hard…I think you would do well in Slytherin, you have the pride for it but…what is that? Sirius concentrated all his brain in begging the hat, "Not in Slytherin, please, not Slytherin." The hat shifted on his head, Okay, if you insist…
"GRYFFINDOR!" Lily and James hugged each other as they cheered for Sirius. His expression was beyond blissful, he ran towards the Gryffindor table as he happily waved at his friends. Two girls named Gwen Creevey and Josie Duncan were sorted into Slytherin. Then,
"Evans Lillian" Lily stiffened as she sat down on the hard stool. The hat spoke to her, it said,
Why, you're the first witch in your family am I correct? Yes, yes you could very well be Ravenclaw you're a sharp one. But I see beyond that, you have courage and loyalty that only a Gryffindor would acquire. Yes, I've made my decision.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Lily beamed at Sirius as she gracefully sat down beside him and smiled at all the others. Dylan Finnegan became a Hufflepuff; Ashley Heartby was sorted into Slytherin, Bonnie Johnson also a Slytherin and Lucy Knight into Ravenclaw. A few people after, a scrawny looking boy named Remus Lupin was sorted into Gryffindor and introduced himself to Lily and Sirius. Sirius thought he was nice. He shook his hand and decided to become his friend. Then suddenly, after a shy boy called Peter Pettigrew was sorted into Hufflepuff,
"Potter James" McGonagall called out. James smiled at Kim and went over confidently to the hat. It had barely touched his messy black hair when it shouted
"GRYFFINDOR!" Lily giggled, he was indeed meant to be here. The three friends talked not paying attention to the rest of the sorting until,
"Vandervent Zoe" Zoe scowled but she was sent to Slytherin; proudly she shook hands with an older blonde boy in Slytherin.
"Vane Annemarie" Annie looked around nervously at James, then at Zoe and she crossed her fingers when the hat started talking to her.
I feel fear. You are a born leader, but a little insecure. You are protective of those whom you care for but tend to act like someone you're not. This is challenging, but I like challenges. I think that Slytherin is too harsh for you, Ravenclaw …nope…; Gryffindor will definitely make your great side bloom over your shadowy character so you now belong to
"GRYFFRINDOR!" the hat shouted. Annie bit her lip and strolled over to the Gryffindor table. James and Sirius frowned as she tried to force a smile in their direction. Lily thought to herself, Poor thing, she probably has no friends. I think I'll give her another chance. And she beckoned Annie to sit next to her. Annie glanced at the others nervously and finally sat beside Lily. From her place between the last people standing, Kim gaped at her friend's reaction to Annie and cursed in her mind. What the bloody hell is Lily doing? Doesn't she remember what that bitch was like in the train? That blonde won't befriend me or she'll wish she were never born.
"Whitby Kimberly" Kim walked over to McGonagall as the hat said into her mind.
Oh,…Another Whitby…Your brother is a great Ravenclaw, but you're different. You're clever and loyal, but also a bit jealous…I think I know where to put you.
"GRYFFINDOR!" it hollered. Kim grinned and ran to the Gryffindor table, where her friends were clapping loudly for her. She sat between Lily and Sirius, staring at Annie, who had her head on her arms on the table. Kim tapped Lily on the shoulder and motioned towards Annie.
"Are you serious?" she snapped angrily. Lily blinked and opened her mouth but Sirius interrupted and put his hands on both the girls' shoulders.
"Nope! That would be me. Her name's Lily, Kim. Remember?" James and Lily suppressed a laugh while Kim rolled her eyes at Sirius' amusing comment. Turning back to Lily with an expectant expression.
Lily sighed, "Look at her Kim. Let's give her another chance okay? Maybe she's not really what we thought she was." Kim snorted and looked the other direction, where Sirius was avidly starting a conversation with the boy called Remus.
"So how was your summer?" he asked. Remus looked around to see if Sirius was talking to him.
"Oh, good I guess. Yours?" he replied. Sirius smiled widely.
"Great! My family and I went to the Great Canyon in America. We had to pretend to be muggles and everything, which was hard. One day I blew up this cute girl's tent because my sister and I were…" he chatted while Remus thought. Wow, he seems very friendly; I wouldn't have thought he'd be talking to someone like me, I mean. I'm not popular and everything.
And so Sirius and Remus became friends, which meant James was in for it too. Kim still wasn't the least bit happy with the presence of Annie but dealt with it. Lily, the sweet and thoughtful one, was trying to start things over with Annie, who seemed happy with it and agreed to apologize to all the Gryffindors for the train incident.
After the banquet, the Gryffindors followed their prefect into the Gryffindor common room and were indicated their respecting dormitory. Lily flopped herself on one of the couches when everyone was settled in and smiled at James. He is very cute. She thought. James grinned back and folded his hands behind his head while thinking, Lily is so prefect. Look at her hair, so shiny and silky and her eyes are so sparkly and adorable. James! What are you thinking? You've only met her a few hours ago! Yeah…so? Well, she might not be that amazing once you get to know her well. Of course, she will, she's already proved that. Okay, whatever, but you know Sirius likes her. Argh, yeah I was suspecting that but that doesn't mean she likes him back right? I mean, she's smiling at me not him. Wait… James shook himself out of his thoughts and right indeed, Sirius had flipped Lily on his knees and was tickling her, making her laugh so hard tears were streaming down her cheeks. James felt a pang of jealousy spring up in his chest. Lily noticed him and cried for help. James considered rushing over to her side and kicking Sirius but then smirked and picked Lily up by the waist, carrying her over to the other side of the common room, Sirius running behind him shouting. Lily pounded against his back.
"PUT ME BACK DOWN RIGHT NOW JAMES POTTER!!" James smiled to himself and flipped her back onto a couch. Lily stood up and glared at him pretending to act mad. James put his most sarcastically angry expression and Lily couldn't help it anymore, she doubled up in fits of laughter while James looked down at her. That's when he realized he was in love with Lily Evans.