Chapter 4

In a couple of moments you will be sorted into your house. Gryffndor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Syltherin." The stern voice of a woman, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, told us. "You will wait here until I come back to get you." Then she opened the door a crack and slipped in.

During the train ride, Sirius, Remus, and I bonded very quickly. Remus never even opened his book again after I had gotten the food. We formally introduced ourselves, telling each other our last names. Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin.

We were standing at the top of the stairs by a pair of huge oak doors. I turned around to look at the first years around me. Many of them looked anxious, some looked around in amazement, others just talked. One pair stood out to me. A taller slender boy with long black hair and a skinny red haired girl were deep in conversation. The girl saw me staring at her and smiled and waved. The boy turned around to see whom the girl was waving to. He saw me and looked me up and down. He then turned back around to continue the conversation.

"Hey James," Sirius said and I turn to look at him. "I heard the food is conjured up magically, but Lupin here says elves make it and its transported here. What do you think?"

"Oh you guys are both wrong! Obviously the food is actually a piece of a rock and it gets transformed into food!" I joke. The doors open and Professor McGonagall is standing in front of them. She motions for us to follow her and we all cautiously walk into a gigantic room with four very long tables at which many students of all ages are sitting. At the front of the room is a fifth table with all the teachers. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at the middle of the table smiling down at all of the first years coming into the hall. Many people were pointing at the floating candles above the tables and the ceiling above us that showed the night sky.

We got to the front of the hall and Professor McGonagall grabbed a rickety three-legged stool and an old patched up pointed hat and she put it on the stool. Surprisingly, a stitched line on the hat opened up creating a mouth. The hat then began to sing.

There was a letter addressed to you,

That only goes out to a select few.

You were chosen and you have come,

You will learn this school like the back of your thumb.

But Alas!

There is a test that you must pass.

A test of the mind and nothing less.

It is quick and it is easy so please do not stress.

Gryffindor!

Ravenclaw!

Slytherin!

Hufflepuff!

These are the results of the test

And they will surely put you at rest.

A thousand years ago or so,

Four were friends and then one a foe.

They made this magical school for you

So you can fly, write, cast, and brew.

Step right up when we call your name,

So I can decide your fortune and fame.

When a house is called let out a big cheer

And do not sneer.

Do not get into trouble for punishment is severe.

I hope you liked the rhyme,

I thought it was sublime.

I'll be back next year around this same time.

There was a moment of silence and then an eruption of cheers and applause echoed throughout the hall. Once everyone had quieted down, Professor McGonagall pulled out a scroll and said, "When I call your name, come up and sit on the stool to get assigned to your house." Sirius gave me an excited look. "Anthony, Blake." She called.

A girl with auburn hair went up nervously. She took a seat on the stool and gave us all a quick smile. The hat was placed on her head and as soon as it touched her head it shouted, "Ravenclaw!" She let her breath out and a huge smile appeared on her face as everyone from the Ravenclaw table cheered and clapped. She walked over to that table and sat down between a boy Prefect and a short girl probably in her second year.

Professor McGonagall went on calling all the A's, which there weren't very many, and then reached B. "Black, Sirius!" He gives Remus and I a quick smile and walks up to sit on the stool. Unlike the rest of the students, it takes a while for the sorting hat to sort him. Sirius' calm face turns into worry as he sits there. It seems as if the sorting hat is talking to him. He looks over at the Slytherin's who are smiling smugly as if they know he's going to go with them. He then looks over at the Gryffindor's who are waiting for the decision to be made. Sirius then closes his eyes and scrunches up his face.

"Gryffindor!" The hat declares. There is a huge cheer at the Gryffindor table as Sirius takes off the hat, runs a hand through his crazy curly black hair, and scurries over to their table.

"Burkes, Ashton!" A tall brunette boy walks up. The hat barely even brushes his head when the hat yells "Hufflepuff!" All the Hufflepuff's stood to applaud their first new Hufflepuff.

After him, there's a Slytherin, then a couple of Ravenclaw's.

"Evans, Lily!" McGonagall shouts over the claps. The red headed girl I saw in the hall strides up to the hat and confidently plops it on her head. The long black haired boy gives her a thumbs up. Just a few seconds later and hat announces, "Gryffindor!" All the Gryffindor's clap and cheer. Lily gives the boy a nervous look.

A few Gryffindor's are sorted, another Slytherin, and more Ravenclaw's. Remus' name is called and he sits down on the stool. He blushes at something the hat says and it shouts, "Gryffindor!" Sirius grins and pats a seat next to him. Professor McGonagall goes through M's, N's, O's, and finally gets to P.

"Pettigrew, Peter!" A short plump boy with sandy blonde hair stumbles up to the stool. The hat almost seems to cringe as he comes up. I feel bad for the poor kid. He sits on the stool but it falls over, making him fall flat on his bum. There are a few snickers from the kids around me. The hat is set on his head making him fidget.

"Grrriffindor!" The hat growls. There are a few cheers and polite applause as Peter goes to sit down across from Sirius and Remus.

"Pitts, Carter!" A Skinny ginger boy places the hat on his head.

"Slytherin!" There are many shouts of joy and cheers from that table and I glimpse another red headed boy- who must be his brother- high-five the guy next to him.

"Potter, James!" My heart speeds up when my name is called. I walk up to the stool and put the hat on. I give Sirius and Remus a quick smile and focus on a voice inside my head.

"Ah Mr. Potter," The hat says. "I remember when your mum was a first year. She has great intelligence that you share with her. Definitely worthy of a Ravenclaw. However there is bravery and courage. Yes it's there. A couple of flaws here and there but I predict they will be patched up in a couple of years…. Here we go, GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor's cheered and welcomed me over. I took a seat across from Sirius and Remus next to a blonde haired girl who introduced herself as Pat and was a fourth year, and a third year boy named Liam.

The sorting continued and the black haired boy with Lily is sorted into Slytherin. He looks delighted until he looks at Lily who sadly waves as he walks towards their table. At the end of the sorting, Gryffindor has 23 new students, Hufflepuff has 21, Ravenclaw 18, and Slytherin 23 as well.

When Professor McGonagall put the hat and stool away, Professor Dumbledore stood up to say some words. "Welcome young ones!" He smiled. "This year is sure to be a great one! I'd like to remind everyone that hexes and charms are not aloud to be used on fellow students. Also, as a reminder from our dear Mr. Filtch, please do not track mud into the castle, and above all means do not blow up the toilets!" Some Hufflepuff's snickered. "Now that you are probably tired of all the talking, let the feast begin!" He waved his arms and I turned back towards the table. All different types of foods were stacked high on different platters. Drumsticks, smashed potatoes, peas, meat pies, fried sausages, green bean casserole, Yorkshire pudding, pork chops, sprouts and many many other things. Sirius, Remus and I stacked our plates high.

"So James," Pat said. "What class are you most excited about?"

"Foshoons." I said through a mouthful of potatoes.

She laughed and nodded in approval. "Potions is a tricky class but Professor Slughorn teaches it well." After many servings and a very filling dessert, first years were led up to the common room. Our prefects, Annie Travis and Ben Kerner, were very kind and led us quickly up many staircases. It would've been even faster if the stairs didn't move. Ben went up to a picture of a fat lady in a very expensive dress and said,

"Nobis Dominum." The painting swung open revealing a very large room full of chairs, couches, and tables. There was a fireplace towards the back that was blazing with orange flames. "Boys dormitories to the left, girls on the right." Ben directed us. "Your names will be on the door." We slowly made our way up the stairs checking each door to see if it was ours. Sirius, Remus and I ended up being roommates along with the Peter Pettigrew guy. We each went to a four poster bed and flopped down.

"That was a good dinner." I sighed.

"Bloody brilliant!" Sirius agreed. We quickly got our pajamas on and climbed into bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

Hiya Snowflakes! Sorry if this was a boring chapter but it was a necessary. Sorry if there are mistakes! I try my best to catch them! I couldn't read through this very well because I need to hurry and do homework. Next Chapter coming soon!