The Sorting
Lily's POV
I look around amazed. No matter how much I've read about this hall, nothing can express through words just how magnificent it truly is. Severus sees me gaping at the enchanted candles floating casually and gives my hand a squeeze to assure me it'd be fine.
We approach the staff table and turn around to face the four houses from which hundreds of eyes are fixed upon us. I gulp, wondering what sort of test this Sorting might be. I've just realized I haven't asked Severus about it and now it's too late.
The strict-looking tall witch who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall comes forward with a long list. A scruffy-looking man is placing a three-legged chair in front of McGonagall and afterwards hands her the oldest and most patched up hat I've ever seen. She takes it mumbling a 'thank you, Filch!' And then clears her throat, silence instantly taking hold of the hall. The most amazing thing so far happens: the hat starts singing.
Sirius's POV
If anyone asks me later, my knees weren't shaking as I walked towards the chair. Neither were my palms sweating as I felt the hat drop on my head.
I close my eyes and hope that I might be the one to break the Black tradition. I just cannot be in Slytherin. Anything but Slytherin. I can't handle all that pure-blood talk; I get more than enough at home. I imagine myself having to cope with Bella and Cissy and that stupid Malfoy who apparently fancies my cousin. I try to think that I'll at least have Andy but she already has her gang of friends...and I have found some of my own.
I think sadly of the guys I met on the train and whisper under my breath 'not Slytherin, please not Slytherin'.
Suddenly I feel the hat being lifted from my head and I hear a deafening sound of applause. Damn, I haven't heard what the Hat's decision was. I look around the hall, preparing to obediently walk towards the Slytherin table, when I notice that neither of them is clapping. In fact, the noise is coming from...I open up my eyes in surprise and delight: Gryffindor.
"Move along, Black!" I hear McGonagall muttering but I catch a hint of a smile in her tone. As I head towards the Gryffindor table, I glance at James who gives me a large smile and a huge thumbs-up.
Snape's POV
The hat shouts 'Gryffindor' as soon as it touches Lily's head, wiping away the grin off my face. She does give me a sad smile as she walks past, towards the cheering idiots. I snort, heartedly disappointed. Probably Slytherin accepts only pure-bloods...which is exactly what troubles me. Oh, well, at least I can take pride in mother's ancestry. Must count as something. Too bad we won't be in the same house.
"Don't bother, Snivelly," I hear a jeering voice behind me. "We both knew she never wanted to go in the snake house..."
I turn around sharply and glare him in the eye. "You do not want to make an enemy of me!" I snarl.
The boy bursts out laughing so hard he has to be shushed by McGonagall. Hatred pulses through me as I whisper "You'll regret this.", and walking away briskly. I'm not foolishly brave. I know how to pick my fights. And this isn't one I can win...not just yet...
Remus's POV
The Hat seems to be taking a while to decide, which is really unnerving. I start to worry whether I'd be left out. What if people like me aren't really supposed to be here, despite of what Dumbledore says?
"You'd do well in Ravenclaw..." the Hat suddenly says, scaring me out of my wits."I see an uncanny intelligence and wit within you..." it continues mulling and I urge it to make up its mind.
"However, " it ponders furtherer, ignoring my request, "I get a glimpse of something more...an unique sense of duty and honor that tells me you belong in...GRYFFINDOR!" it roars and I get staggering off, relived that it's over.
I see Sirius waving me over and smiling widely I sit down next to him.
"Glad to have you here!" He says clasping my hand. "I see a great future in our friendship."
"Ew, Sirius, stop being cheesy; it doesn't suit you!" I reply jokingly, although I take delight in his kind words.
He gives me the bark-like laugh I've already grown accustomed to. Turning away to face the rest of the Sorting, I notice the red-headed girl for the train, Lily Evan, sitting opposite me staring into space.
"Lily," I shout and she turns sharply with an annoyed expression prepared, probably for Sirius, but seeing it's not him, she blends it into a kind smile.
"Oh, you're the boy who agreed to-" she begins cheerfully.
"Change places, yeah! I just wanted to thank you from saving Peter and I from those lousy Slytherins. Hope they didn't give you a too hard time." as soon as I start, I know I've taken the wrong path as her face begins to harden, though not losing the smile. I begin to grow worried that I've screwed up a nice potential friendship.
"Can't have been much worse than James and I, right Evans?" Sirius says coldly, not even looking at her.
I give him a nasty look, but all he does is grin back and wink. He's getting quite exasperating.
Lily humps and ignores me. "I should thank you, Remus!" She says briskly and turns to chat with a first-year called Marlene.
"Girls are weird!" Sirius mumbles in my ear and I have no choice but to agree.
Peter's POV
I need to be in Gryffindor! Please let it be Gryffindor, I hope under the Sorting Hat.
"Hmm...sure you're up to the House of Godric?" It suddenly asks, almost making me fall off the stool. "Not exactly what I'd call brave..." the Hat hesitates, "Although it's clear you haven't got the loyalty of Hufflepuff nor the wit of Ravenclaw...You'd do well in Slytherin if only you didn't lack the characteristic ambition...Well, well..."
I keep hoping for Gryffindor trying not to be offended by the Hat's remarks.
"For the first time, I really don't know where to put a new student. You don't quite fit in anywhere..." it says on a sad note and I start panicking.
"What do you mean? Just put me in Gryffindor!" I think desperately.
"Oh well, it is our choices which define us...hope I don't live to regret this...GRYFFINDOR!"
"Thanks" I whisper to the Hat. At least I know for sure that I can make friends here.
James's POV
McGonagall doesn't even get the chance to properly drop the Hat on me when it shout "Gryffindor!" I walk away dazed and elated. Not that I ever doubted that I was a true brave knight. I slap Sirius and Remus on the back and squeeze in between them. I glance over at Evan who is in deep conversation with Marlene but I sense she's been watching me out of the corner of her eye.
"Hia, Evans! I shout, and she cringes trying to ignore me. "Just can't seem to get rid of me, can you? Too bad we both know your dear friend Snivelly won't ever be accepted in this house. Not that he wants to anyway..."
"Can't you just shove off, Potter!" She shouts annoyed, taking most of us by surprise. I'm suddenly pissed off by her rude attitude.
"All I've ever done is tried to be nice to you, Evans. Why you keep sticking up for that greasy-haired idiot beats me!" I snap and open my Quiddich magazine for showing off with the newest number. Marvelous girl, I tell myself, either I'm gonna jinx her or I'm beginning to like her.
Snape's POV
"Your red-haired little friend means a lot to you, doesn't she?" The Sorting Hat asks. "I could put you in Gryffindor..."
"No, please!" I grown, "Ain't I good enough for Slytherin?"
"You choose Slytherin instead if Lily Evans?"
"Just because I want to be in Slytherin doesn't mean I don't care about Lily!" I mutter under my breath.
The Hat shouts 'Slytherin' and I trot happily towards the applauding table. Only after I sit down next to Malfoy, who has made space for me and who greets me smiling, surely remembering me from the train, do I realize I've forgotten to wave to Lily. However, when I look over at the Gryffindor table, I can't distinguish her from the others who have started tucking in.
"Welcome to the house, kid!" Macnair claps me friendly on the back. I grin widely, forgetting all about Lily and those Gryffindor fools. I'm at Hogwarts, in the house I've always dreamed of. What more could I wish for?
