A/n: Hey people. I know what you're all thinking. Yay finally, an update! or maube you're not thinking that. well, anyway, i'm still updating regardless. remember, reviews are very much appreciated, and don't think i won't know if you don't review, coz i have a hit counter and if they don't add up, i get depressed. so, please review if you read this story. Any feedback is welcomed, even if it just a "cool" or "it was ok" any comment is welcomed. Also, cookies for the following people:
yogibogi ( i love your work!)
discombobulated.shoe (my faithful friend and editor)
FlutterbyPrincess (you've been there all the way, thank you!)
and that is all. to you three, if you like this, please tell your friends. writing fan fiction is all the more fun when lots of people review. I'm sure you know that first hand.
ok, enough talking, here is the long awaited chapter 4. The sorting.
Disclaimer: no rights, only wishes for Sirius and firewhiskey.
Chapter 4 – The Sorting.
The train had arrived and students were quickly streaming out. Most of them headed towards the horse-less carriages, patiently parked nearby. There was also a dock with many boats on a large lake that seemed to have no end. Standing on the dock was an incredibly tall man with a wild black beard and he held a bright lantern.
"Firs' Years, this way!" Called the tall man.
Simone, followed closely by Lily, approached him.
"Hi Hagrid. How are you?" Asked Simone.
"Hullo Simone, I'm fine thanks. Why don' you and your friend, find a boat. I'll join you in a moment." Replied Hagrid.
James, Sirius and Peter were making their way to the docks to get a boat when James ran into someone.
"Ouch!" Said James.
"Sorry." Said the boy, nervously.
"Don't worry about it." Said James, feeling guilty at making the boy feel so nervous.
"Come on there, four to a boat." Said Hagrid.
"Let's go!" Said Sirius, pulling James and Peter to a boat.
"Into that one, boy." Said Hagrid, gently pushing Remus into the boat with James and Sirius. Remus nervously sat down.
"So, kid, what's your name?" Asked Sirius.
"Remus Lupin." He replied.
"Nice to meet you Remus." Said Peter.
"Yeah, sorry about walking into you; didn't see you." Said James, genuinely apologetic.
"Forget it; it was my fault, I was off thinking, didn't pay attention," mumbled Remus.
They didn't get a chance to continue their conversation as all the boats suddenly sailed off at once and all that could be heard was the sound of the water lapping the sides of the boats, and the loud conversations form the other boats.
Twenty minutes later, all the boats arrived at the shore on the other side of the lake, just meters from the giant doors of an enormous castle that shot into the clouds. Once everyone had disembarked the boats, it was discovered that a few of the boats had tipped and their passengers had fallen out. These students were shivering in the cool evening air. The group made its way to the doors, where they only waited seconds before the great doors flew open and a strict looking woman with her hair tied tightly in a bun welcomed them in.
"I am Professor McGonagall," She announced, her glasses balanced neatly on her no-nonsense face. "I am the Transfiguration teacher here and deputy headmistress. If you would all come this way, we will enter the Great Hall and begin the Sorting."
The students all followed Professor McGonagall into a large, brightly lit room, with four long tables filled with hundreds of students of various ages. At the end of the room, was a platform with a long table that seated many adults, who were clearly the numerous Professors.
In the middle of this table sat an old, wise looking man with grey hair, moon shaped glasses and a beard that was so long, it tucked into his belt. On the front part of this platform was a humble stool with an old, ragged looking hat. McGonagall led the First Years in a line towards the platform, and stopped just before it. McGonagall walked over to the hat, and it began to sing. The song was long and rather humorous, and all about the coming year. When it ended, McGonagall stepped forward and unfolded a scroll.
"When I call you name," started McGonagall, referring to the First Years, "you are to come forward and sit on the stool as I place the hat on your head. The hat will call out your house. In alphabetical order; Allen, William."
A young boy with mousy brown hair stepped forward and sat on the stool.
"RAVENCLAW!" Shouted the hat.
"Bartley, Jessica"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Black, Sirius."
Sirius hesitantly stepped forward, towards the inevitable. He sat down on the stool and the hat was placed on his head.
"Oh, a Black, I was wondering when you would be coming," said the hat, in Sirius' head.
"Well, I'm here," thought Sirius, irritably.
"Now, I suppose you want to be in Slytherin like the rest of your family then-"
"NO! Anything but Slytherin!"
"Are you sure? You're very smart, have natural gift for magic; you would do very well there."
"NOT SLYTHERIHN!"
"Well, on second thoughts, I see you have some very un-Slytherin like characteristics; loyalty, courage and compassion. There is only one place for you Mr. Black." Said the Hat
"For the love of Merlin I hope it's not Slytherin."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Thank god!"
The hat was pulled from his head and Sirius happily (It took all of his self control not to skip) walked to the Gryffindor table.
A few other names were called out, and various people were sent to their houses. Then it was Simone's turn.
"Elva, Simone."
She walked up to the hat and sat on the stool.
"Hello Sorting Hat." She thought.
"Hi Simone, finally it is time for your sorting. Now, let's see what we have here; courage, compassion, loyalty, intelligence, much experience in battling evil and maturity far beyond your years."
"You do flatter me, Hat, I'm not always that mature."
"Maybe not, but I have always known what house you belong to. Now, it will officially be…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Simone was delighted but half expected the answer, and happily walked over to the table, and then sat across from Sirius.
"Evans, Lily."
Lily nervously walked over to the remarkable talking hat. As a muggle born, the notion that an old hat could talk and had the power to delegate the house of students for the rest of their lives at Hogwarts, seemed irregular, but she supposed that if a hat was given such an important job, it must be very good. As she sat on the stool, she experienced a most unexpected thing.
"Hello dear." Said the hat.
"Oh my, a telepathic hat! Wow!" Exclaimed Lily in her thoughts.
"Yes, well, now that is over, let's see where you best belong. Oh, you are very intelligent, have a natural gift for Charms and are very compassionate. You would do well in Ravenclaw, but something tells that perhaps this isn't so."
"Really, what?"
"I'm not sure. Call it a hunch or destiny, but I foresee that you are to be in a house more suited to your other and mostly hidden talents. With this in mind, I now decide to put you in…."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily, overwhelmed with delight, gracefully walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Simone. Next was a boy by the name of George. He was sent to Hufflepuff. And a sinister looking girl by the name of Narcissa was sent to Slytherin. As were two thick looking boys by the names Crabb and Goyle. After a few more students, it was Remus' turn.
"Lupin, Remus."
Remus nervously walked up to the hat and, like everyone else, sat on the stool. The hat was placed on his head and the soting began.
"So young man, where shall I put you?" Asked the Hat.
"I don't belong here, I might as well go home." Thought Remus, miserably.
"Don't say things like that, old Dumbledore wouldn't have invited you if you weren't meant to be here."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I sit in his office day in and day out. I of all people should know. Now, there is still the matter of where to put you. Let us see now, well, you are very smart, willing to work hard, are very loyal to those close to you and you have an unfortunate past, among other things of course."
"Is that good or bad?"
"It depends what house you are trying to get into. Any preference?"
"Not really, as long as I don't have to go home, and also, please not Slytherin."
"Why the dislike for Slytherin?"
"The people in that house don't seem very nice."
"You do have a point there," laughed the hat, "now, for you, I believe that you would be best in…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus, looking very happy, joyfully walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Lily. As McGonagall passed through the M's and the N's, (of which there was a surprising number) James couldn't help but notice the most beautiful redhead that he had ever seen.
Peter was next. He stumbled on one of the steps but managed not to fall, and made his way to that hat.
"Ahh, look what we have here, young Peter Pettigrew. How nice."
"Um…hello…hat?"
"Yes indeed, now, where shall I put you. Hmmm, you have many interesting qualities. How about…"
"GRYFFFINDOR!"
Peter jumped up and rushed hurriedly to his new friends, (almost forgetting to take the hat off). Meanwhile, James was still admiring Lily. He was so captured by her beauty, that McGonagall had to call his name twice before he remembered what he was doing, and walked up to the Sorting Hat.
"Potter, James."
James walked up to the stool and the Hat enclosed around James' head, covering his ears and shutting him off from all sound outside. He wondered why this part was never mentioned in the countless conversations with his cousin Iggy, who he later spotted further down the Gryffindor table.
"Ah, a Potter, I was beginning to wonder when you would finally show."
"Really, do you remember my father and Iggy?"
"Of course I do. I remember every student I have ever sorted. Now, there is the matter of where to place you."
"Okay."
"Let us see; you seem to have all the qualities suited to a life in Gryffindor, like all your family before you; Loyalty, courage, intelligence and, oh, look at that, there's something I haven't seen before, Maturity; not very much, but maturity none the less. It seems you defiantly got that from your mother. Ah, and a passion for pranks. I believe that you will fit perfectly in…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James hopped up and excitedly walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Sirius, all with a goofy grin on his face.
The group of waiting First Years had greatly diminished by this point. In fact, there were only five children left. Next was a shy girl by the name of Amelia O'Malley who was sorted into Hufflepuff. Then, the name of a boy, who would become one of the most un-liked people in the school, was called.
"Severus, Snape."
Snape walked up to the hat, wearing his usual grim frown. He sat on the stool and the ancient hat was placed in his greasy black hair.
"Oh well, it is very obvious where you should be."
"Just say it Hat!" commanded Snape
"Fine-- " said the hat, wanting to get away from this child as soon as possible.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Snape walked over to the Slytherin table, with a smug look on his face and was greeted by the cheerful older students, all drunk off their enthusiasm to beat all the other houses in another year.
The last three students, two boys and a girl, were placed in Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively, and sat at their tables. Once everyone was seated, the old man at the centre of the main table stood up and the room fell silent.
"Welcome students, to another year of fun, learning and good food, that is Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Said the Man, in a voice so powerful that it echoed around the room. "I trust you all had restful and sunny holidays. For those of you new to the school, I am the Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore. I personally welcome all of you to this wonderful place where you will spend the most of the next seven years. Now on to some important announcements. Tomorrow our grounds will be very much changed. I will tell you all about this tomorrow before dinner when all the details have been collected. Also, Mr Filch has updated his list of forbidden items. The new additions are Meat-Eating Book Bags and Mind-Control Hats. A complete list of the forbidden items is on the door to Mr Filch's office. That is all I have to say for now, so without further ado, lets eat!"
Albus clapped his hand and suddenly the tables were laden with dozens of dishes of all the food imaginable. Roasts, pies, casseroles, vegetables, salads, and almost everything one could ever ask for dinner.
The feast went on for a long time, concluding with the most delicious desserts. Soon, however it was time for everyone to retire to their dormitories. All the first years were led by their house prefects to their dorms and showed how to enter the portal with the password "Bumble bee".
James, Sirius, Peter and Remus all headed down the spiralling staircase, as instructed and came to their dorm, which was marked by a small black-board sign with their names. All four of them immediately fell asleep, full of food and weary from the days' events.
The girls, however, had made their way up the staircase to their dorm. Lily and Simone were put in a dorm with two other girls: Emily Metric and Kylie Smith. They stayed up for a little while talking, but soon succumbed to a sweet and deep sleep.
What did you people think? yea or nea? Oh, I know, lets play a game. Whoever tells me their favourite quote/sentence from this chapter gets vertial chocolate and cookies. Anyway, the reason for the delay was School, Exams, Exam revision and my editor's school, exams and exam revision. Thankfully all that is over and the six other chapters I have written should be updated here alot quicker than the others have been.
Bye for now and please Read and Review!