Hagrid knocked three times on the castle doors. It swung open at once and a stern looking witch with black hair tied back in a bun and emerald-green robes stood there.

"Firs' years for yeh, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said.

"May I ask why this one is wet?" she asked and her voice was just as stern as she looked.

Lily felt scared and she shivered more out of fear. Hagrid quickly told her what had happened. She looked sternly over at James and Sirius.

"We'll take care of you in a moment." she snapped.

The witch took out her wand and Lily gave a little squeak. She paused in her surprise and asked,

"Did you think I was going to hurt you?"

Lily nodded numbly as more water dripped off of her and onto the stone steps. Professor McGonagall snorted.

"Silly girl." she muttered.

She waved her wand and Lily's robes became dry and toasty.

"Lily Evans?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"That's me," she whispered.

McGonagall only nodded and turned back to Hagrid,

"Thank you. I can take it from here."

Hagrid stomped back down the stairs. McGonagall stood aside and led them into the large entrance hall. It was very large. So large Lily believed that she could stick her house in here three times over. The stone walls were lit with torches. The ceiling was so high that nobody could make it out. There was a magnificent marble staircase that led them to the upper floors. Lily looked curiously over to the right. She could hear lots of voices as they talked. The rest of the school must already be in there, she thought, what about us? McGonagall began to walk, calling over her shoulder for them to follow. They were shocked when she didn't led them into the hall with the voices but to an empty chamber instead. They all moved in as one, closer together then they normally would allow.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall said, "The start-of-term banquet will be starting soon. 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 have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"Our four houses here are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you're at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points while any rule-breaking will lose them. At the end of each year the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. 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 rest of the school. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

Everyone looked around nervously as she left the room. People were whispering amongst themselves, trying to see if anyone knew how they were Sorted. Lily was starting to feel more and more nervous. What if they had to perform some kind of spell? What was she going to do? She had no idea how to do any kind of magic, much less channel it through a wand! She looked over at Severus who had turned a sickly green color. She decided not to ask him anything and instead turned to James on her other side. As mad as she was at him she couldn't help but ask,

"How are we Sorted?"

James merely shrugged and twirled his wand in his fingers as Sirius gazed around the chamber as if bored.

"Oh please," Lily snapped, "like you could do a spell if we needed to."

James didn't say anything but when Lily looked away from him, mad, he let a little smile light up his features. Sirius winked at him as Lily twisted a piece of her dark red hair around her finger nervously.

"Form a line please," McGonagall had returned, "and follow me."

They melted together into a single file line, Lily was in front of Severus but behind James, much to her distaste. They followed McGonagall out of their chamber into the room with the voices. Lily couldn't help but look around in awe as everything came into view. Thousands upon thousands of candles were floating in mid air among four long tables were the rest of the school were sitting. They were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall there was another long table were many older people were sitting. The teachers, obviously. They stopped and stood out in front of the rest of the hall. Lily looked up and saw that instead of there being a ceiling there was just the sky which was dark with stars spattered across it. She knew it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. Severus had told her not to buy the book Hogwarts, A History but she had anyway, just for the enjoyment of reading. She was proud to tell all the first years who were looking up in wonder that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. Lily looked to see that McGonagall had silently placed a four legged stool in front of them with a frayed hat sitting on top of it. To her surprise, and all the other first years, the hat burst out into song. The hall erupted into cheers as the song closed and the hat became still again.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." McGonagall told them. She held up the list and started with the a's.

After a moment a familiar name rung out,

"Black, Sirius!"

Sirius strolled on up to the stool, flashing a smile at everyone. The Slytherin table was extremely quite. They seemed to be holding their breath.

Well, Lily thought sourly, I hope they do get him. I certainly don't want to be in the same house with him.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The Slytherin's faces fell as the Gryffindor table broke out into surprised cheers. Apparently they had also heard about the bad things the Black's had done and how the rest of them had been in Slytherin.

More names rung out and then, all too soon, it came.

"Evans, Lily!"
On shaky legs, Lily left Severus' side to go sit on the stool. The hat had barely touched her head when it screamed,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Severus let out a groan as Lily took the hat off, set it back on the stool, and walk over to the cheering, stomping table. She glanced back at Severus and there was a tiny sad smile on her face. Sirius moved over to let Lily sit next to him but when she noticed it was him she turned on her heel, chin in the air, and moved on down the table. The role call continued.

"Lupin, Remus!"

Dumbledore sat him in his chair, Lily noticed, when his name was called. The hat sat there for a few moment before declaring him a Gryffindor. Lily gave him a little smile but didn't move to join him when he sat down next to Sirius.

"Potter, James!"

James walked up to the stool with a big of a strut. He knew what house he was going to be in. Like Lily, it had barley touched his head before it screamed Gryffindor.

Shortly after him,

"Pettigrew, Peter!"

The mousy boy was up there for a few minutes, less then Remus, and was hesitantly declared Gryffindor by the hat.

Then, finally, Severus's name was called.

"Snape, Severus!"

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat screamed.

He moved off across the hall, to the Slytherin table, away from Lily. Lily watched as Lucius Malfoy, the prefect badge gleaming on his chest, patted Severus as he looked sadly at Lily from his seat across the hall.