The Sorting
She led them up the trail to the huge wooden castle gates, they opened automatically. She gave no them no time to look around as they were herded into the great hall. Sirius was taken aback as he entered. The vaulted ceilings showed nothing but the starry sky they had just left behind. Four large tables were set along the hall; at the head of them was the teachers table. In front of that was a small wooden stool with a shabby pointed hat sitting on top of it.
"Just walk to the end of the hall where I will call your name and you shall be sorted."
They walked down the hall and arranged themselves in a line in front of the hat. The occupants of the four tables were all staring at them, sizing them up.
"Attlee, Chloe." Professor McGonagall called. Chloe walked up to the stool and sat down, the hat was placed on her head. The hall was silent for a few moments before the hat broke the quiet.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat yelled. The Hufflepuff table burst into clapping and whooping. As it died down the next name was called.
"Black, Sirius."
James wished Sirius luck and patted him on the back as he strode up the stool and had the hat placed upon his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
This time the Gryffindor erupted into shouts of congratulations. However a couple of people from Slytherin got up and yelled something inaudible to Sirius. Beaming, he went and sat down at the Gryffindor table. The sorting continued with Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin and Lily Evans also being sorted into Gryffindor. At the latter Severus looked severely disappointed and his groan was very noticeable.
"Potter, James."
James got up and walked over to the stool. The hat had barley reached his head when it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
He got up and sat next to Sirius who was clapping heartily, a look of knowingness on his face. The hat continued to call names with Severus Snape being sorted into Slytherin and last of all Robert Young was sorted into Gryffindor.
A tall man with twinkling blue eyes and a long silver beard stood up and waved away the stool with a swish of his wand. He held up his hands for silence and began to speak.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts for those returning and a merry reception for those new here." He had a soft voice and he looked grave as he spoke. "I have a few announcements before we begin our feast. Firstly the Whomping Willow is now part of our school; it is on the grounds near the forbidden forest. I must express the importance that you do not go near it; to do so would be folly. Secondly Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that magic is forbidden in the corridors. Lastly please enjoy the feast laid out for you; I'm sure it will be magnificent."
With a clap of his hands the tables were laden with all kinds of food, all looking exceptionally delicious. Sirius and James loaded their plates with everything they could and started to tuck in, too busy to talk. The boy to their left was more reserved and ate slowly and politely. He had woody brown hair and a very pale face. Sirius recognised him as Remus Lupin who had been called earlier.
"Hey, can you pass me the lamb please?" Sirius asked him. "Whoa, that's a lot of meat on your plate; you must like food more than me."
The boy turned to face Sirius, looking mildly surprised someone was speaking to him. "Here." He gave Sirius the plate of lamb. "I'm Remus, I just joined too."
"I'm Sirius and this is James. We'd better get to know each other then; we have seven years to go here."
"I hope you're not complaining Sirius. It doesn't look that bad." James replied.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Sirius grinned. "Anyway who could ever think of leaving when we've got Remus here for company?"
Remus smiled and started ploughing through his plate of food, evidently more relaxed now he knew somebody. They ate for a while longer until everyone had finished. Dumbledore stood up again and faced the school.
"Well, that was an excellent feast. I hope you are all fed and watered well enough because it is now time for you to be shown to your common room. Prefects if you please."
Several people got up from all the tables and each told the first years of their house to follow them. Sirius, James and Remus got up and followed hanging back a little from the group.
"Well where now?" Sirius asked James.
"Dunno, how about we look around?"
"Hmm – I think maybe we should get to our common room so we know where it is at least." Remus interjected.
"Yeah, I suppose he's right." James said looking at Sirius. Sirius looking slightly crestfallen recovered quickly.
"Better get there quickly then so we don't get that Peter kid following us around."
They ran up the stairs to where the group was and followed them up more stairs until they came to a painting of a fat lady.
"Password is Pig snout." Said the lead figure, standing more than a foot taller than everyone else.
The painting swung open revealing a hole whereby you entered the common room. Everyone climbed through and a breath of heat greeted them. The fireplaces were roaring and people were talking and laughing on the old squashy chairs dotted around the room. There were a group of people gathered around someone in the room. As Sirius drew nearer he saw a boy lying on the ground holding his foot. Apparently he had dropped his wand on his foot and ignited his shoe.
"Aguamenti!" Shouted one of the prefects and a jet of water shot out of his wand on to the boy's foot, extinguishing the fire.
"I didn't mean to – sorry for – thanks." The boy could be recognised as Robert Young the last person to be called and placed in Gryffindor. He got up gingerly, his wand held as though it were made of glass, and went upstairs to the dorms.
"The pride of Gryffindor, he is," said Sirius sniggering. "A true asset to our house."
"Could be worse," said James. "We could have Snivellus."
They both went upstairs to their dorms, laughing all the way, pulled on their pyjamas and flopped onto their beds.
"Goodnight Sirius."
"Goodnight James."