HEYO! I just wanted to let you know that I've gone over all the chapters and fixed as many mistakes as I could. If you find any more, let me know, and I'll fix it as soon as I can!
To my reviewers:
BrookeJamesSP5- As always, thanks a lot for your review
Also, to Blue Luver5000 – It's good to hear you're so into my story :P Thank you
OH yeah! You should also know that BrookeJamesSP5 is now my unofficial beta to help me with the mistakes and do some of the corrections.
And now, on to the story:
DISCLAIMER!
No matter how much I wish I did, I do not own harry potter or any characters you might recognise.
The five marauders
Chapter 8
At once, the door swung open, and there stood a tall Witch, with black hair and emerald-green robes. She had a very stern face, and I straight away knew this was not someone I should prank.
"The firs'-years, professor McGonagall", The giant man said.
"Thank you Hagrid", Said professor McGonagall, "I will take them from here".
AHA! So his name is Hagrid! I won't have to call him 'the large, hairy man' anymore.
Professor McGonagall opened the door wide, and I caught my first sight of the Entrance hall. If you've ever been to the Westminster Cathedral in London, you would know how big it was. If you haven't, it's so big, it could fit one or two large houses with ease! The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, and the ceiling was too high to make out. Near by, was a magnificent marble staircase, leading to the upper floors.
We followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor, past a doorway, from which I could hear hundreds of voices, probably the great hall I'm planning on flooding, and into a small, empty chamber. We all crowded in, most people standing closer together then they would usually, everyone (except James, Sirius and I), peering around nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts", McGonagall said, "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the great hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor", me, Sirius and James cheered, earning a half glare, half smile from McGonagall, "Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin", The three of us booed, earning another half smile, half glare, "Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you points, while any rule-breaking will lose hose-points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the whole school", I let out a quiet 'yes!' while many people around me groaned, "I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting", with that, she left the chamber.
"Well that was a bloody long speech!" I said loudly, once the doors were firmly closed behind the witch. I turned to Sirius and James, "Do you think she spends her free time practicing it? She didn't even stutter, so she couldn't have been making it up on the spot".
They grinned, and shrugged their shoulders.
I looked around at all the first years. I noticed greasy Severus standing with a bunch of mean looking kids. I could also see Remus and Peter standing not to far away from us. Then I noticed the red-head girl from the train standing away from the group, looking positively scared and nervous.
"I'll be right back", I said to the boys, and walked over to her, "You ok?"
She looked at me, with her large, green eyes, and turned away, "I don't want to speak to you".
"Are you worried about the sorting?" I asked, ignoring her.
She looked at me again, and then whispered, "maybe".
I smiled at her encouragingly and said, "It's nothing to worry about. All that happens is you have to put on a hat, which talks to you in your head, and then tells you what house you belong in".
"Seriously?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, I read it in 'Hogwarts: A History' when I was younger".
"What if the hat just says that there was a mistake, and I'm not a witch after all?" She panicked.
I grinned at her, "Don't worry, you most certainly ARE a witch".
"How do you know?" She challenged.
"Well firstly, you have a wand, don't you?" I grinned even wider when she nodded, "Exactly, a wand wouldn't chose you if you weren't a witch. Also, when you were younger, haven't weird things happened when you were feeling any particularly strong emotions?" She nodded again, "This happens to all witches and wizards, which you, most certainly are! And don't be worried about the sorting, from what I saw so far, you possess traits which could end you up in all four houses: You were loyal to your friend, Severus, when we got into that little verbal fight with him, which could end you up in Hufflepuff, You were smart enough to leave the compartment before things got more heated, which is something worthy of a Ravenclaw, You were determined enough to help your friend, a trait prised by all Slytherins and you were Brave enough to stand up for yourself and your friend, and bravery is very important to Gryffindors. I think, that you will be one hell of a witch when you're older!"
The girl managed a smile.
"Thank you. You're quite Ok when you're not being annoying", She grinned, "I'm Lily, Lily Evans", she added, extending her hand for me to shake.
"Jamie White", I grinned back, and shook her hand, "Do you want me to stay here with you?"
"That wont be needed", A cold voice said from behind me.
I turned around to see that slimy friend of Lily's, Severus.
"I wasn't asking you, was I Snivellus?" I asked, "See you Lily", I threw over my shoulder, before walking back to my friends.
"What was that about?" Sirius asked once I was standing next to him.
"Just giving people moral support, and having other people butt into my business", I answered cheerfully.
"Snivellus is saying something while glaring at you… Probably insulting you… And now that ginger girl is glaring at him and saying something back… I think she's defending you, because Snivellus is looking a bit shocked", James told me.
"Well pals, I guess I've made a friend", I smirked.
Sirius looked completely shocked, "You made friends with a girl?"
I laughed, just when professor McGonagall came back.
"Form a line", she said sternly.
We all did, I stood between some girl and Sirius, who stood behind James.
"Now follow me".
I literally skipped out of the chamber. The girl behind me was staring at me like I was some sort of filth, but I shrugged that off.
"Probably a Slytherin", I thought.
Then finally, McGonagall led us through the double doors leading to the Great Hall. I stopped skipping, so I don't make too much of a fool of myself before even being sorted.
The Great Hall fell silent, as they watched us, the first years, walk between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. As we walked, I noticed many people looking at the enchanted ceiling, obviously in awe. It looked just as if the great hall opened to the heavens, yet being one of the only ones who read Hogwarts: A History, I knew that it was all the work of the founders.
I high-fived Kieran as I walked past him, earning a glare from professor McGonagall. Once we stopped, I looked around at all four tables, taking in the faces of the students. Some smiled when they noticed me, obviously recognising me from the train (You know, when I knocked half of the people over chanting "Coffee" and "Hogwarts"), or from the station (As I've said, you don't always see a gagged eleven-year-old being carried through a train station). When I looked back at professor McGonagall, she was placing a four-legged stool in front of the hall. On top of the stall was a patched, frayed and extremely dirty pointed wizard hat.
I recognised it straight away. Although I've only read 'Hogwarts: A History' once, I remembered every detail of it. In the book, was a perfect drawing of this hat, labelled 'Sorting Hat' . Sirius won't be too happy about this filthy hat toughing his beautiful hair.
After about a minute, the hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened like a mouth. Then the hat began to sing:
(A/N – Yes, I know, This song is from Harry's first year, but trust me, I tried, and tried, and tried, and failed miserably at writing my own song)
Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
I clapped along with the rest of the school, and couldn't help thinking that the song I sang on the train was so much better.
The hat then bowed to each of the four tables and became still again.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward with a long scroll of parchment in her hand.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted", she said, "Ayodele, Daniel".
A dark skinned boy stepped out of the line, and made his way towards the hat. McGonagall placed the hat on his head, and after about five seconds, it yelled, "RAVENCLAW!"
"Barn, Rebecca".
The girl from behind me went forward
"SLYTHERIN".
Knew it.
"Black, Sirius".
I gave Sirius a pat on the back, and he stepped out of the line. He confidently walked to the front of the hall, looking like he owned the place. When the hat was placed on his head, straight away, it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
I cheered along with the Gryffindor table, knowing that my best friend got his wish. Uhh I sense a howler from his mummy.
A few names later (I ignored most of them), I heard another familiar name, "Evans, Lily".
I watched curiously, as McGonagall dropped the hat on Lily's head. It wasn't even two seconds before the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
I heard someone behind me groan, and noticed that I was currently standing in front of Severus. Lily glanced our way with a small sad smile on her face. Snape's face didn't change, so I flashed her grin and winked. She smiled at me and went to sit down. I saw Sirius move up the bench to make space for her. As soon as she saw this, she ran to the other side of the table, where she sat between two older girls. I mouthed "Bad Luck", to Sirius when he looked at me, and went back to listening out for familiar names.
A few minutes later, over half of the students were already sorted, and Pettigrew, Peter was just sorted into Gryffindor. He went to sit next to Lupin, Remus, who was already sorted, and Sirius, when,
"Potter, James".
I watched my best friend step out of the line and walk up to the stool. Same as with Lily and Sirius, the hat barely touched his head before…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
What a surprise huh?
There were only about five of us left now. "Smoke, Jessica" was sorted into Hufflepuff, and "Snape, Severus" into Slytherin.
And then, finally, "White, Jemmia".
I cringed at the name, and walked forwards.
I winked at my four friends at the Gryffindor table before the hat covered my eyes.
"Hullo Mr Sorting hat, how you doin'?" I thought.
"I'm doing as well as an old hat can", A voice echoed in my head.
"Oh, because of course, an eleven-year-old girl knows full well how an old hat feels", I thought sarcastically.
I heard the hat laugh, and judging by the whispers around the hall, he laughed out loud.
"You're a difficult one Jemmia", he told me.
"I thought you were supposed to be a mind reading hat. If you are, you should know how much I hate being called Jemmia".
"Well, It's your name"
"Congratulations Capitan obvious"
"If you keep fighting me, I might not sort you at all"
"Nothing is more discouraging than unappreciated sarcasm".
The hat laughed again, and got on with the sorting.
"You fit into all houses Jamie. You're loyal and friendly, which are the qualities of a Hufflepuff, but I don't think you'd do very well among the good children.
"You are smart and intelligent, like your parents and brothers, yet Ravenclaw might turn out to be a challenge for you. Not that you don't like challenges. But I see you don't necessarily want to be put into Ravenclaw.
"Then we have Slytherin. You are cunning and determined. Very ambitious as well. Interesting".
"Bloody hell! Don't put me there!" I whispered out loud, earning a few chuckles from students close enough to hear me.
"No? I dare say you fit into Slytherin Perfectly. You'd do very well amongst it's students. But if you're sure… How about Gryffindor? You are highly brave. Not scared of anything I see. And very daring…
"I've made up my mind…"
"Hats have minds?!" I asked out loud, causing the whole hall, including some of the teachers and hat itself, to laugh.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I hopped off the stool, and said, "Goodbye Mr hat, I'll visit you someday", before skipping off to the applauding table.
I sat between Sirius and Peter, and watched the last kid, "Zabek, Patrick" get sorted.
"What did you say to that hat to make it laugh? I thought that's impossible" Sirius asked, just as the hat yelled "RAVENCLAW!"
"Well, I was being nice, and asked Mr Hat how he is, but he was being difficult saying stuff about how old hats feel, so I turned on queen sarcasm", I whispered, and watched the headmaster stand up.
"Welcome!" he said, "Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. I'm sure you're all hungry, and don't want to hear old man's grumbling, so tuck in!"
"Hear Hear!" Sirius, James and I yelled.
Suddenly, the empty dishes in front of us were piled with food! There was anything you could possibly think of! Steaks, potatoes, macaroni-cheese, even humbugs!
I piled my plate with everything I had within reach.
The feast went by smoothly. At one point I got into a food fight with James, but we were quickly stopped by Professor McGonagall. At one point of the feast, we were joined by many ghosts, who seemed to be angry to arrive late for the sorting. I was keeping my eye out for Peeves the poltergeist, who I promised myself I'll try to befriend. It'd be good to have such a good ally in troublemaking.
Before I knew it, Dumbledore stood again, and all the food disappeared.
"Ahem- just a few more words now that we're all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils", I looked around at my friends. I'm pretty sure we'll quickly forget that warning.
"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes and corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested to play for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And now, bedtime! Off you trot!" he concluded.
The Gryffindor first-years were called over by a cute fifth-year prefect, who started leading us towards the Gryffindor common room. On our way there we stumbled upon, guess who!
"PEEVES!" The prefect yelled, "Do you mind not spilling ink on the floor when people have to walk through?"
"Uhh! Little Firsties!" Peeves squeaked, and flew closer, "They will be so fun to annoy!"
"So you're that famous Peeves?" I asked, grinning widely.
"Yes, Peevie is meee" He screamed, flying up to me, and hanging upside-down in front of me so his eyes were level with mine, "Who are you girliii?"
"I'm Jamie White. I heard stories about you from my brothers. I'm impressed to say the least!" I told him.
"Are you that girl who made the sorting hat laugh?" He asked curiously, and laughed when I nodded, "Yupppie! Finally someone fun has come! I already like this one!" And with that he flew off.
The fifth-year prefect stared at me, with a shocked expression.
"Did you just befriend peeves?" He asked.
"I guess I did", I replied with a shrug.
I'm already lovin' this school!