Sorting Time

"...GRYFFINDOR!"

Isabella smiled brightly and took the hat off her head and walked other to the Gryffindor table, taking a seat across from Lily, who was smiling just as happily as she was.

"Oh Izzy I'm so glad you got into Gryffindor!" Lily said, clapping enthusiastically.

Isabella smiled. "Me too, I already know five people from this house and I won't have to go through that awkward silence that comes with meeting new people."

They both became silent when Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome students to another year at Hogwarts, now I only have four things to say before we eat. Dubble wuffle tootse bluff." He then sat back down.

The golden plates magically filled with food and the students began eating.

As Isabella raised an eyebrow. "Lily, is Professor Dumbledore right in the head?"

Lily nodded and filled her plate with food. "Oh yes he's an apsolute genius, and a wonderful Headmaster, I don't think there's anyone better or more powerful."

When Isabella looked at Dumbledore. "Yes he does seem better than my last Headmaster, but what are the teachers like, Professor McGonagall seems very strict."

Lily looked at the teachers table."Yes, she is a very strict, but she's a wonderful teacher. She teaches Tranfiguration and she's our Head of House."

"Ok that's one, now who are the other teachers and what are they like? I want to be warned before classes start tommorow." Isabella said.

Lily nodded. "Yes I wish I was warned beforehand when I was a first year it would have made things much easier. Now you see the short one next to Professor McGonagall?" Isabella nodded. "Well that's Professor Flitwick, he teaches Charms, that's my favorite class, he's also the Head of Ravenclaw. Next to him is Professor Sprout, the Head of Hufflepuff, she teaches Herbology.

"Next to her is Professor Sinistra, she teaches Astronomy. Then there's Madame Pince, she's the librarian. Her one love in life are her books, treat them with respect she'll like you." Isabella laughed. Lily smiled and continued. "At the end there's Madame Pompfrey, she's the school nurse, if you even get sick she'll fix you up real quick. Now to the left of Dumbledore there's the Head of Slytherin, Professor Slughorn. He teaches Potions, you may want to watch out with him."

"Why?" Isabella asked confused.

"Because he tends to pick favorites in his classes, and seeing how your just as good as me in school he'll be jumping at the chance of getting you to join his Slug club." She answered.

"Slug club?" Isabella asked giggling.

Lily nodded. "Yes it's a club containing who Professor Slughorn considers the best and brightest, he got me to join in third year. It's both good and bad, and you get to meet a lot of important people at his parties, so I'll let you decide if you want to join."

Isabella nodded. "Got it, who's next?"

"Well next there's Professor Vector, she teaches Arithmancy. Next to her is Professor Quirke, he teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts. Then there's Professor Sandkey, she teaches Divination. Personally I think that class is total rubbish. People can't just see their future in a cyrstal ball."

Isabella shook her head. "Normally Lily I'd agree with you, but there is proof that some seers' predictions actually came true. Also, as I've told you a million times, my great-great grandmother, on my fathers side, was a seer. Okay, maybe she only predicted small things, but they all came true."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Predicting whose at the door and when an owl will arrive doesn't count as a real prediction, those were guesses."

Isabella glared. "She made more predictions than that. Once she said that the family was going face a tragady, and the next week Great-great Uncle Richard died!"

Lily rolled her eyes again. "Ooookkkkaaaaayyyyy, whatever. Tell me about it later, there are still some teachers left."

Isabella pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine who's next?"

"Well then there's Professor Kettleburn, teaches Care of Magical Creatures. Some of the students think he's going to get killed by one of the creatures he brings in. You see Professor Kettleburn has a tendancy to bring in semi-dangerous creatures. But the lessons are still interesting. But it doesn't matter cause neither of us are taking that class this year, so we have nothing to worry about."

Isabella nodded but frowned. "It would have been cool to take that class.Usually the dangerous animals are the most fun to study and have as pets. My cousin Mike became a dragon trainer. Even brought me to the camp in Bulgaria."

The look Lily gave her made her laugh. Rolling her eyes Lily continued. "Okkkaaayyy, I'm starting to think you're crazy. There's one more teacher, Professor Binns, he teaches History of Magic. He's not here right now because he never goes to dinner. It's mostly because he can't eat. You see he's a ghost. Most think that he just died in his sleep then woke up as a ghost, didn't notice, and just went on with his life of teaching. His classes are a total bore, most just use that time to sleep. But others, like myself, actually take notes"

"Cool, so it's like nap time, and if I fall asleep I could always copy your notes. Cause what are friends for, right?"

Lily looked at her disapprovingly and Isabella saw that she was just about to start a lecture and quickly changed the subject. "Hey Lily who's the tall bloke sitting next to Kettleburn?"

Lily looked over her shoulder and Isabella let out a sigh of relief. That was a close one.

Lily turned back around. "Oh that's Hagrid, he's the gameskeeper and keeper of keys. And don't let his height fool you, he's one of the nicest guys you could find. He, like Professor Kettleburn, has a soft spot for dangerous animals, he once told me that he wanted a dragon."

"Cooooool" Isabella then saw Lily's look. "I mean how irresponsible." She then grinned sheepishly and Lily laughed.

It was then that the golden plates cleared and dessert took its place. Isabella grabbed some pudding and Lily a piece of cake. Looking around the Great Hall Isabella noticed that the Mauraders were deep in dicussion, occasionally glancing over at her and Lily.

Isabella looked at Lily curiously. "So Lily what's going on between you and James?" Lily looked up surprised.

"There is appsolutly nothing going on between me and Potter." She scowled. "Why would you think there was anything going on between us?"

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Lily, I'm not stupid, I can totally tell that he fancies you, and that you fancy him too."

Lily looked at her in disbelief. "You really are crazy if you think I could ever like an arrogant prick like Potter"

"Lily, what is it about James that you don't like?"

Lily looked like she was about to start ranting. "Well he thinks he's the most important person in the world, and doesn't have to listen to anyone or follow the rules. He plays dumb pranks on people, he's never serious, thinks that every girl wants him, and because I don't like him he thinks it's funny to try to get me to go out with him. The only reason I refuse him every time is because I know it's a prank of somesort. He's been doing it since third year and every year he comes up with a stupid and imature way to ask me out. Last year he set up a fireworks display so it would say 'Lily go out with me.'"

Isabella sighed. "I wish a guy would do that for me. You're so lucky Lily."

Lily gapped at her. "Wha-aa-ARE YOU NUTS?" Many students, including the Mauraders, looked at her strangely; usually Lily was calm and composed. She blushed as red as her hair, and began in a much quieter tone. "What do you mean I'm lucky? The guy totally embarassed me, which was probably what he wanted."

Placing her head in her hands Isabella sighed. "Lily why don't you just give him a chance, and if you find out that he's not sincere all you have to do is dump him. Plus by the way he was looking at you I think he's sincere." She then smirked. "And by the way you're blushing I'd say that you want him to be sincere. So just think about it and make a good decision. Plus you're going to live with James for the next year, so your going to have to try to get along. And I know the perfect way to start."

Lily, who had let her head fall onto the table with a loud 'thunk', glanced up. "How?"

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Well you could start calling him by his first name name."

Lily sighed. "Fine, I will be the mature one and once again be the reasonable one." She looked at the Marauders. James winked and waved, causing Lily to roll her eyes and turn away. Isabella smiled and looked at the Marauders. Sirius gave her a smug look, which she returned with a raised eyebrow. She looked at Remus as he smiled at her, and she returned it.

"So what about you and Remus, you two would go great together." Lily said slyly.

Isabella blushed and shook her head. "What? No! I just met him today, that's a little quick to start liking someone don't you think?"

"No" Lily said shaking her head. "I first started liking James when I first met him." Isabella gasped and Lily's hand flew to her mouth. "I didn't mean that!"

Isabella's eyes widened in delight and she started to laugh evilly. "Oh but I think you did. I knew it. I KNEW IT! I told you that you like James. Oh I can't wait to tell him." Lily paled.

"No! you can't! If he knew that I liked him a little bit then he would only try harder, that can't happen. I'm so close to being rid of him. Please Izzy, don't tell Pot-James, don't tell James!"

Sighing, Isabella nodded. "Fine I won't tell him," Lily sighed in relief, but Isabella wasn't finished. "But you will. Your going to tell him that you return his feelings once you get it through that stubburn head of yours that he really does like you."

Lily looked Isabella in the eye. "Are you ever going drop this?" Isabella shook her head negitive. "Fine, I'll tell him. But only when I feel the time is right and when I know he's sincere and isn't as arrogant."

Smirking Isabella nodded. "Alright it's your decision, you don't need me interfering."

Lily opened her mouth, outraged, then shut it quickly when Dumbledore called for silence.

Dumbledore countinued when silence overcame the great Hall. "Welcome those new and old to another year at Hogwarts, now that we are all feed and watered I would like remind everyone that the forbidden forest is off limits." He glanced at the Marauders. "Also anyone who would like to be informed of any other rule or regulations contact Mr. Filch, the caretaker.

"Now first years will follow prefects to their dormitories and the new Head Boy and Girl will come talk to me about there living arangements." He clapped his hands and the tables were cleared and the students stood up to leave, all ready for bed.

Lily turned to Isabella. "Just follow Remus, he'll lead the way to Gryffindor tower and tell you the password. I'll meet you in the morning outside the portrait at 7:30 and we'll walk down to the Great Hall together." She smiled and walked over to the Headmaster and James.

Isabella smiled back and waved a bit, she then turned and started to follow the other Gryffindors. She was going to go walk with Remus, but she saw that he was already walking with a girl who also had a prefect badge; she was really pretty, much prettier than Isabella ever could be.

The girl was currently laughing at something Remus had said and he was smiling at her. For some reason Isabella felt very sad. She let out a sigh. I wish any boy would smile at me like that.

Isabella shook her head. Stop it, stuff like that doesn't matter. She tried to memorize the way as she walked, it wouldn't do to get lost later on.

"Congradulations Isabella, welcome to Gryffindor." Isabella looked up; Sirius and Peter had fallen into step with her, Sirius on her right, Peter on her left.

Peter nodded. "Yeah Congradulations."

She smiled at them, showing her braces. "Thanks"

Sirius looked at her braces curiously. "I've been meaning to ask, why do you have metal in your mouth?"

Isabella stopped smiling and blushed. "They're supposed to straighten my teeth."

"Why don't you just use magic to fix them?" Peter asked.

Isabella shrugged. "Mama said that they will teach me that all problems can't be solved with magic."

Peter looked skeptical. "Is she muggleborn?"

She nodded. "Yes, is that a problem?"

Sirius quickly asured her, while glaring at Peter. "No! It's just that most wizarding families would just fix it with magic and not waste time with bakers."

"Braces." She corrected. "And it won't matter much longer, because I'm getting them off during winter break."

"Well that's good, cause the gleam from those almost blinded me the first time you smiled." Sirius said, laughing.

Isabella frowned and quickened her pace. "I have to go ask Remus a question, it was nice talking to you." She walked over to Remus and smiled at him, not showing her teeth. Sirius shrugged and started talking to a group of Gryffindor girls, making them smile and giggle.

Isabella glanced back, once again wishing.

Remus followed her gaze and smiled. "He loves the attention."

Isabella nodded and pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose. "Yeah, I can tell."

Remus saw the look on her face. "But he's not a bad guy, real gentleman to girls, never intentionally made a girl cry, and is really smart."

She raised an eyebrow. "By the way you're talking I'd think you're trying to get me to like him."

Remus shook his head. "No, just giving you a positive image before you hear the negative one. Besides, you're not his type."

Isabella looked back and saw Sirius talking to a pretty blond, who giggled at everything he said. Remus followed her gaze again and saw her frown. "You're too smart." Remus said.

Isabella looked up at him surprised. She smiled slightly. "Right, so do you have any tips for me so I won't get lost in the future?"

Remus smiled back pointed out a few things about the school as they walked, to both her and the first years listening in, until they reached the portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.

"Password?"

Remus stepped forward. "dragon fire."

The portrait nodded and opened, Remus and the rest entered the common room.

Isabella gasped a little, the common room was beautiful, decorated in red and gold. With comfy looking couches and chairs and a roaring fire. There were two staircases, leading to the right and left. Most of the older students left to do their own things and left the first years and Isabella standing with Remus.

"Now these staircases lead to the dormitories, boys to the left, girls to the right. Once you go up the stairs enter the door that shows your year. Curfuw is at nine o' clock, meaning everyone sould be in this common room at that time. Breakfast is at seven and classes start tomarrow at nine am, so I suggest you get a good night sleep, Goodnight." He walked over to where Sirius and Peter were sitting.

Most of the first years went up to bed, and Isabella suddenly realized just how tired she was and went up the girls staircase and into the seventh year dorm. When she found her trunk she got out he night dress and got into her bed, falling asleep just as her head hit the pillow.

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