She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…
Marauder's Phase
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Sorting
I left the hospital wing the next day, accompanied by James, Sirius, Remus and Peter.
Should they have been in class? Probably.
Did they need to be in class? Yes. Sirius and James stated otherwise. But I digress…did I care?
No way.
I was happy they were still with me. I had thought it was all over, after I had been attacked and everyone knew I was here.
What happened between me and Snape in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was a complete secret so, naturally, the whole school knew.
No doubt Myrtle had blabbed to the entire school about it…ooh, when I got my hands on her.
Oh, wait, she's already dead.
Great.
"I want to go back to the common room and collapse on a couch and sleep." I told the Marauders, when we were walking out of the hospital wing. "And don't wake me until tomorrow morning." I added.
"But you were just asleep in the hospital wing!" Peter exclaimed, as we turned left along a corridor. I wondered what we looked like, all five of us walking along, our black robes swishing…my heart fluttered in excitement.
"Em, the Sorting's not that bad." James assured me. I noticed he kept ruffling up his hair, as if he expected to run into Lily Evans at any moment now. He kept glancing around.
"Oh yeah sure, when you're one of twenty and not the only person up there!" I replied, thinking about this evening. I was dreading it. You don't know how much one dreads it until you've lived it.
"Well, it's not like everyone expects much of you anyway," Sirius said, and I frowned at him. He explained: "I mean, you're not well known at all, no one knows the name Pax, and nobody need know you're a muggle-born."
"Well, who knows?" I shrugged. "My folks might be wizards, they never said…"
"Exactly." Sirius agreed. "No one even knew you were here 'cept old Snivvy and that." (I knew who that meant). "You're only…" Whatever Sirius had been about to say, we didn't get to hear it.
Because we arrived at the staircase to the entrance hall, and suddenly someone yelled: "It's her! The smuggled-student!"
A throng of students was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs and, when they saw me, they began to ascend the staircase toward me.
I did the only thing I could do – I bolted. I turned and ran, my robes swishing, and ran back the way I'd come, taking a different path, away from the hospital wing.
I heard many footsteps behind me, but there was one pair that was right up close.
I didn't stop to worry though, as a door had just appeared to my right and, without thinking, I grabbed the handle, flung the door open, and leapt inside. Whoever was following me did too, and slammed the door shut behind us.
"That was close…" I started to say, but James clapped his hand over my mouth.
Outside, a horde of students stampeded past, and both James and I stared at the door in shock.
When the sound had passed, James let go of me, and I said: "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I grinned, although my eyes were flashing. "All this excitement?"
"Hell yeah." James nodded enthusiastically.
"Sirius too?" I asked.
"Yup." James replied.
We both turned to the room we were in.
"Ah, it's the Room of Requirement!" We said in unison. "You wanted a place to sleep?" James added, raising an eyebrow.
I nodded, a walked slowly over to a large water bed with fluffy down-pillows at the head, and a large stuffed rabbit at the foot.
"Wake me up later on." I said to James, before collapsing onto the bed, totally casual-fashion, and falling asleep.
***
I awoke to a hand shaking my shoulder, and a voice saying: "Wake up Em, it's time for the Sorting." It was Peter's voice.
"Nnn…noooo…" I mumbled, burying my face in the comfy down pillows. "No way…"
"I'll get her up." Said another voice, and then I heard: "Mobiliarbus!"
And my body was being lifted up against my own will. My eyes snapped open. "Sirius!" I cried. "I was dreaming about Quidditch!" I complained, fighting against the charm. "Sirius!"
Sirius had his wand pointed at me, and a huge smile on his handsome face. James and Peter were laughing, and Remus was smiling.
Sirius looked as if he was enjoying himself. When I was about seven feet in the air, he let me go.
I landed with a thud on the soft carpet, and was on my feet instantly. "I'm gonna murder you one day, Siri!" I cried, in indignation.
He just laughed. He knew I wouldn't kill him.
But I would get revenge, it was my turn to get him. I felt like this could become an ongoing thing.
But not now.
Now…I had to be Sorted.
***
I was standing outside the Great Hall, waiting for Dumbledore to call me in. Inside the Great Hall, he was telling everyone that I was going to become a student at Hogwarts, and be Sorted into a house. I was standing there, wondering if anyone would mind if I just ran, but I realised that I'd already caused enough trouble as it was.
"…I wonder, if she would care to join us now?"
I started. Oh, wait, that was my cue!
I took a deep breath. God help me. I thought, and pushed open the heavy doors into the Great Hall.
Everyone turned to stare at me as I made my way slowly down the aisle, I felt as if it was my wedding day, and I was nervous as hell.
One step…two steps…three steps…four… I instructed myself. I'm not very great with crowds, anymore than four or five people and I get…nervous. I hoped I wouldn't faint or anything, the Marauders would probably disown me if I did.
Speaking of which…
James and Sirius gave me the thumbs up. Remus smiled at me. Peter just looked.
Finally, I reached the stool, where sat the Sorting Hat. I glanced at Professor McGonagall, who nodded to me and picked up the hat.
I sat down on the stool, and she put the Sorting Hat on my head.
Darkness enveloped me, the hat is really that big.
Hullo Hat. I thought.
Hello, it said. It's not very often I get to meet a traveller from another world, and I wonder about those books.
Don't we all? I thought wryly.
But where to put you? The hat mused. There's a thirst to prove yourself, and a great talent – talent not even you know you possess. There's cunning and skill, and a knack for mischief…
I suddenly knew what the hat was about to say, and I dreaded it.
Better be… "SLYTH…"
"NO!!" I shouted, cutting the Sorting Hat off in mid-name.
I was suddenly aware I'd spoken the word out loud, and heard a few mumbles and general laughs from the students.
I groaned. Umm, what I meant to say was, I don't want to be in Slytherin. I made some great friends in Gryffindor already, (not to mention some enemies in Slytherin) – James and Peter, Remus and…Sirius. (And there I gulped). I also want to get to know Lily, she seems really nice. I don't want to be in Slytherin, I don't think I'm like that. I want to be in Gryffindor. There, I'd said it. Well, thought it.
There are certain qualities about you that would make you suited to Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat agreed thoughtfully. There is courage there, and the will to protect those who are dear to you. You have faced many dangers in recent times, all for your friends. I wonder…
You wonder what? I thought tentatively. This was taking forever. I reckon everyone was starting to grow restless.
If perhaps you would do well in Gryffindor, where you will be with those who will be close to your heart. The hat replied. Now what did that mean!? Yes, yes, I think that's it…better be…
"GRYFFINDOR!!"
As Professor McGonagall finally took the Sorting Hat off of my head, I smiled in relief and hopped down from the school. The Gryffindors were clapping and cheering loudly for me as I made my way to the table to sit by the Marauders, and Sirius and James whistled as Remus moved over and made room for me between him and Peter, who smiled shyly at me.
People began congratulating me and shaking my hand. One of whom was Lily, and she patted me on the shoulder too as she shook my hand and smiled at me, and I smiled back at her.
"Hey," Remus whispered to me, as things began to settle down. I turned to look into his golden eyes. They were friendly and welcoming, full of warmth. "Welcome to Gryffindor – Em." He smiled. "I mean, officially."
"Thanks – Remi." I replied, smiling back at him. "Officially." I added.
"And now…" Dumbledore said, raising his hands for quiet and smiling also. "Let the feast…begin!"
"FINALLY!!" James and Sirius yelled together, causing everyone to laugh, as the food appeared on the tables before us – a roast.
My mouth dropped open. "Oh, cool!" I exclaimed. All of my favourite things – with gravy!! I happened to glance up then, to find Severus Snape looking at me from across the Great Hall. I had heard, from James, that Snape had earned himself a fortnight of detentions for what he'd done to me. He's just lucky the curse didn't leave me with permanent scarring.
Snape and I stared at each other.
I know it probably wasn't very mature, not very grown-up, but I gave him the smuggest, most superior smile I could, and then focused on my meal.
I didn't think about Severus Snape for the rest of the evening.