I Solemnly Swear
By headsfullofstars
Summary: Harry travels back in time to the Marauders Era in hope to save countless lives from Voldemort. He goes by the name 'Harry Turner', and attends Hogwarts in the 1970s. Hopefully a good read in spite of the probably generic plot line.
Disclaimer: I would like to state that I am only a thirteen year old girl and that despite I wish they were, no characters are mine besides 'Harry Turner' himself. The story is all mine, however.
Chapter 2
The Sorting Ceremony
The train ride for Harry hadn't been as good as the ones he remembered with Ron and Hermione, but it was fine none the less. Most of the time was spent looking out of the compartment window at the beautiful Scottish mountains, and of course lots of Honeydukes treats. He had to admit he did miss Ron and Hermione, but he was here to get his parents back and save countless lives, not mess about and make tons of friends as he did when he was his former self.
Harry stepped off the Hogwarts Express gingerly, looking around the Hogsmead train station. He spotted his father almost immediately, alongside Peter Pettigrew, Lily Evans and Severus Snape. He kept a reasonable amount of distance between him and the group, though he could over hear the conversation very clearly.
"I don't really mind what house I end up in." Lily said, looking around the station in awe.
"Slytherin for me." Snape grumbled, visibly uncomfortable in the situation.
"Who would want to be in Slytherin?" James asked, his head tilted sideways slightly and a frown upon his face, "I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
Lily frowned at James and turned to Severus, who looked slightly aggravated. "Come on Sev, let's go."
All students began to follow a man who looked, quite simply, to be a giant. Harry couldn't keep the grin from his face when he recognised his favourite teacher (besides Dumbledore of course) leading the way to the boats. Most students looked at the giant man with straggly hair with fear, however.
"Firs' years! Firs' years, this way! Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid called out in a booming voice which startled most of the students. The braver ones, or more excited members of the group surged forwards towards the man, including Harry, though most hung back a little in a swarm, huddled together and teeth chattering. He looked around to see James and Peter, Sirius, who was standing with this blonde-haired girl, and a few other unrecognisable students were amongst him, trailing after the giant, though they were all separated. Eventually, the whole sea of students gathered the courage to follow the man, who seemed less vicious and terrifying now as he smiled cheerfully down at the students, though still some looked quite nervous. They all trudged gradually down the steep path that the enormous man led them down until they all made a sudden sharp turn.
"Yer abou' to get yer firs' glimpse of Hogwar's." he said cheerfully, turning to face the lake. Harry looked across the Black Lake at the distant castle, recognising it immediately. The exact same as I remember it, he thought to himself, unable to keep the smile off his face. The castle was perched on top of a mountain, surrounded by many towers and turrets. It looked, quite simply, like something out of a fairytale.
"Blimey." Sirius said, his face a complete awestruck expression. All students surrounding him stood enamoured and overwhelmed by the castle's view, not one taking a wide eye off of it. He looked down and his face turned quickly from admiration to a hint of uncertainty as he studied the murky water of the Black Lake.
"All righ' firs' years, settle down for a momen'. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys n' grounds at Hogwar's." He said proudly to the hushed audience of students that stood before him in a huddled group. "Now, it's no more'n four in a boat so if you'd like to ge' yourselves seated and we'll be off!"
The body of students began to huddle into groups of four and clamber into the boats. After not much time at all, the boats had reached the boathouse, and the sea of first years were making their way up the stoney path to Hogwarts.
Harry got out of the boat he had ridden over the lake, very glad to be out as his face turned back to it's usually colour. He didn't really know who any of the people he had been in the boat with were, but he played along with it none the less. He quickly blended into the crowd of students that were huddling into the castle, standing before an elderly looking witch dressed in dark green robes and a traditional witch's hat, who Harry recognised immediately as Professor McGonagall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." She told all of the first years, looking down at them with a soft smile. "My name is Professor McGonagall. Please follow me." The body of students followed her to the entrance hall. She turned to face the students again, her expression unreadable.
"Now, if everyone will pay attention. You are about to be sorted into your houses. Your house will become like your family within Hogwarts. There are four houses, that are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. Now, if you will all excuse me for a moment. I will return when they are ready for you." She finished her speech with a smile and left.
Students whispered among the crowd, most wondering how they were going to be sorted. After about a minute or two, Professor McGonagall re-entered the room. "Now, if you will form a line and follow me." Everyone did what she asked obediently and entered the Great Hall. Some stared at the bewitched ceiling, completely awestruck, whilst some looked curiously at the old tattered wizard's hat perched on a stool. After all students had reached the end of the hall and were gathered in front of the stool, the hat began to sing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find,
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
After the song ended everyone in the Great Hall clapped, some giggling uncontrollably, and the hat bowed to each house. It then went on to explain to the first years that all they had to do was put him on their head to be sorted. Many students stared with great curiosity, though some shuffled nervously before the stool.
"When I call your name, you will put the hat on your head and sit on the stool to be sorted." McGonagall explained, before unrolling a large scroll which, the students presumed, was a list of names to be called.
"Black, Sirius." The elderly witch called. Sirius straightened up and looked around at the crowd of students, his face reddening a little. He huffed and began to make his way up to the stool, approaching it with caution. He knew he was about 95% sure he would end up in Slytherin because of his family, which eased his nerves a little, but it was still nerve-racking.
"Well, if it isn't another Black." Sirius heard the voice ringing through his head, and his eyebrows immediately shot up. "Interesting, very interesting.."
What's interesting? Sirius wondered.
"Something tells me you are different from the others, aren't you?"
The hat paused for a moment, as though it was deciding on where to put him. Ok, 80% sure I will end up in Slytherin, he thought nervously, beginning to wonder if he would even end up in Slytherin at all.
"I sense you do not want to be in Slytherin." Sirius' face turned to panic.
NO! Sirius' heart began to beat faster as he almost yelled the word out loud.
"No?"
Slytherin. It has to be. Sirius begged as the hat made it's way through the young boy's thoughts, full of pure blooded etiquette and mannerisms.
"Slytherin? Mmm, I'm not so sure."
It has to be Slytherin. Sirius' hands gripped the stool tightly for support. The hat partially covered his face, though the whole crowd of students could clearly see the worried frown upon his face.
"I see all the courage of a lion here. In Gryffindor you would thrive. You would go so very far."
Sirius thought of the attitude of the Slytherins he had met, aside from his cousins. He thought of all the horrible things the other first years had talked about Slytherin. Doubt flooded his body as he imagined himself in the warm colours of red and gold, sitting at the Gryffindor table with a grin upon his face.
"You do not belong in Slytherin, Black."
Sirius breathed heavily, silently begging for the hat to allow him to be in Slytherin so he could please his parents. Truthfully, he had never wanted to be in Slytherin; the only reason he had ever considered it was because it was expected of him. He didn't want to dissapoint his mother, or his cousins.
"Choose Black. Choose Gryffindor or Slytherin."
Sirius' eyes widened and he suddenly felt a little light-headed. The hat was giving him a choice? He didn't think he could ever decide. Was he really willing to give up everything he had to be in Gryffindor? He hated the thought of being in Slytherin, but he loved his mother. He couldn't even begin to imagine what she would do if he got sorted into Gryffindor. As he looked around at the students watching him, at the Slytherin table more specifically, the choice became ten times harder. Whispers had begun to fill the hall.
No. I can't choose.
"Choose, Black."
I can't.
"Yes, you can."
He knew where he would rather be, even before the hat had given him a choice between the two houses. He took a deep breath and looked at the floor, closing his eyes to steady his breathing.
Gryffindor. He thought, his whole body beginning to feel weak as a flood of guilt waved over him. The hat smiled triumphly, ignoring the concerned faces from the professors, who obviously hadn't expected a Black's sorting to take this long. The whole school froze as the words fell out of the Sorting Hat's mouth.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
You could hear a quill drop.
Gryffindor. A Black had just been sorted into Gryffindor.
Sirius slowly rose his head to meet the eyes of the students in the hall. Gasps escaped the mouths of the professors and some students. McGonagall quickly whisked the hat away from the boy's head, though he made no attempt remove himself from the stool as he stared at the sea of students, frozen with fear. The students in the hall were all gaping at him, their mouths hanging wide open in surprise. Slowly, his eyes made their way over to the Slytherin table, more specifically to his cousins. They were, of course, all in Slytherin, as was expected of them. They were also wearing surprised and horrified expressions as they back stared at him. His eyes met Narcissa's, who was among the group of surprised first years, and her face was full of shock, and a hint of fear. What if she got Gryffindor too?
Harry couldn't help but feel pitiful towards Sirius; he had just been sorted into Gryffindor. No Black had ever been sorted into any other house besides Slytherin. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Sirius must have felt.
Professor McGonagall gave him a gentle nudge, though she too made no attempt to hide her surprise. Sirius stumbled from the stool, however he didn't get very far before his legs seemed to have forgotten their purpose and he was standing helplessly in one spot. After a minute or two the Gryffindor gathered his courage and slowly made his way over to the red and gold table, seating on the end, away from all the other students donning red and gold who made no attempt to welcome him into the house.
A loud bang on a table echoed through the hall, and all students turned to see Bellatrix Black with her fists clenched, her face full of hatred. By being sorted into Gryffindor, Sirius had betrayed the whole Black family, his family. Gryffindors and Slytherins had long been house rivals at Hogwarts, though something in Sirius believed that there may be some hope that there was a possibility that his family could put aside their pure hatred for the house for one of their own family. After he saw the look on his eldest cousin's face, it gave him all the answers he needed. He sunk as low into the bench as possible, wishing the ground would swallow him up as the sorting ceremony continued.
"Black, Narcissa." The blonde haired witch slowly made her way up to the stool, doubt flooding over her body as she ran over what had just happened in her mind. What if the sorting hat puts me in Gryffindor too? She began to feel very nervous as she seated elegantly onto the stool.
"Another Black eh?" Narcissa winced slightly as the voice filled her head.
"Your cousin was just sorted into Gryffindor, does that come as a surprise?"
Narcissa nervously looked up to see Sirius watching her intently.
"Do you feel as though you belong in Gryffindor as well?"
Narcissa paled, her eyes widening as the voice echoed in her head.
"I do." the Sorting Hat's voice filled her head and she began to panic. The Sorting Hat believed she belonged in Gryffindor?
Please, no. I have to be in Slytherin.
"Are you sure?"
She imagined herself, just for a moment, seated next to Sirius in red and gold. And then, she imagined the horrified and angered expression on Bellatrix's face. She thought of the horror Sirius would surely go through when he returns home for Christmas. She imagined her parents reactions, how she would likely have to endure their wrath for the rest of her life should she be sorted into the house of the brave.
Slytherin. Narcissa was sure now.
"Very well."
"SLYTHERIN!"
Cheers erupted from the green and silver table, mostly from Bellatrix and Andromeda, and Narcissa couldn't help but look over to see Sirius, his face full of guilt and regret. She was overly relieved to have ended up in Slytherin, but she knew she would probably never get to speak to her favourite cousin again for it. She slowly made her way over to the Slytherin table and seated next to Bellatrix, who patted her on the back proudly.
"At least someone had the decency to have some respect for their family and be sorted into Slytherin." Bellatrix sneered, her eyes averting to Sirius.
"Lupin, Remus."
Remus suddenly began to feel very nervous as he made his way up to the stool. He didn't like being the center of attention at all, he never had. The Sorting Hat was placed on his head and it remained silent for a second.
"Oh, my. A werewolf."
Remus flinched, his eyes widening in surprise as the voice echoed through his mind.
How did you know?
"Ah, young boy, I know everything."
The hat remained silent, as though in thought, for a while.
"But where to put you? Hmm, you are very brave, and loyal. Yes very loyal, but I don't think Hufflepuff is the right house for you."
Silence fell again, and Remus began to feel very nervous as the students stared up at him curiously.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus stood up, a smile on his face, and made his way over to the cheering Gryffindor table. He eyed the empty seats around the table and eventually decided to sit by himself, convinced that no one would likely want him to sit with them anyways, due to the slightly frightened looks he received from the students sitting among the red and gold. Whatever, I'm used to it. He turned around and watched the sorting ceremony continue with curiosity.
"Pettigrew, Peter."
Peter's eyes widened in fear when his name was called. He hadn't been paying attention to most of the ceremony, only when the two Blacks were sorted, before he went off into his own little world. He cautiously made his way up to the stool, trembling slightly, and slumped down onto the stool.
"Hello, Pettigrew."
Uh, Hello.. Mr Hat?
The hat remained silent for a moment as it travelled through the boy's mind.
"You are a particularly hard student to sort, Pettigrew. You don't seem to fit any of the house qualities, do you? Not brave like a Gryffindor, cunning like a Slytherin, and you don't seem to be very loyal or smart like a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff either."
Peter winced, shuddering at the thought of not being able to be sorted at all.
"You may have trouble fitting in to any house I sort you into, though it will have to be one. I suppose you would be better off in Gryffindor than any other house, so Gryffindor it is."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Peter nervously made his way over to the Gryffindor table, blocking out all cheers, and seated next to a blonde-haired girl with a freckled face. He thought about what the Sorting Hat had said - what if he ended up with no friends? At least he had James and Marlene. He had known them since they were very young, seeing as their parents were friends in Hogwarts, which meant they had all practically grown up together.
"Welldone Pete." The blonde girl said, patting him on the back playfully.
"Thanks Marley." Peter said, smiling at Marlene. Both turned their attention back to the sorting ceremony as a certain name was called.
"Potter, James."
James grinned. About time! He thought to himself as he calmly made his way over to the stool. He wasn't nervous or scared at all, knowing he was sure he would be sorted into Gryffindor.
"Ah, a Potter."
James smiled proudly, listening to the voice in his head.
"I have never been able to sort someone so easily. You fit into the category of Gryffindor very well."
Really? James' proud smile doubled.
"Yes.. You are almost as Gryffindor as Godric himself."
James puffed his chest out, basking in the compliments being thrown at him from the hat. The hat laughed inside his head and he grinned.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James strutted his way over to the Gryffindor table, basking in the loud applauds filling the hall. He seated besides Peter and Marlene and erupted into conversation, which was soon interrupted by the final name being called from the list.
"Turner, Harry."
Harry made his way over to the stool, already knowing what to expect. He was sure he would end up in Gryffindor, as he had done back when he was Harry Potter.
"Well, this is very interesting..."
Harry smirked as the voice filled his head. Hello again, hat.
"A walk back in time I see, eh? Come to save your parents, have you?"
And the rest of the Wizarding World. Harry retorted in his head.
"Well, I have no doubt on where you are destined to be."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry smiled as the red and gold sea of students errupted into cheers. He made his way over to the Gryffindor table and looked across to Sirius. He was still by himself, looking as though he had zoned out completely.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" Harry asked, looking down at Sirius expectantly. Sirius jumped slightly, and turned to face him. He stared at Harry for a moment before cracking a smile and nodding.
"Sirius Black." He introduced himself.
"Harry Turner." They shook hands and Harry took a seat next to Sirius. He averted his eyes to the Slytherin table, for no reason in particular. He saw Bellatrix Black, glaring daggers at him, Narcissa Black, who was watching Sirius with a pitiful face, and a woman he recognised to be Andromeda Black, staring at him with a small smile on her face. She mouthed a thank you to him, before turning her attention back to her sisters.
A clinking was heard over the commotion in the hall as McGonagall got everyone's attention by tapping on her glass with a knife. The old man, who Harry knew perfectly well to be a slightly younger version of Dumbledore, stood. "Today marks the beginning of a new year, and I suspect that it will be grand. Before we dig in, however, I have some start of term rules to announce. No students are permitted to be out of bed after hours, as always, and our caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind you that the forbidden forest is, of course, still forbidden. Now since that is out of the way, dig in!" He clapped his hands and food suddenly appeared on all four of the house tables.
"Wow." Sirius said, looking at the food that had just appeared in surprise. All students soon began to help themselves to the food and the conversation had quietened a little in the hall, a relaxed atmosphere filling the air.
"So, everyone happy to be in Gryffindor?" James asked loudly, getting a bunch of nods and mouth-fulled yeses.
"Well, my parents wont be." Sirius shrugged with a wry smile, and James turned his attention to the two sitting a few feet away from him.
"Your Sirius Black, right?" James asked, tilting his head.
"Yeah, and your James Potter?" Sirius replied, holding out his hand, which James shook politely, nodding.
"This is Peter," James said, nodding in Peter's direction, "And this is Marlene." He finished, gesturing towards a blonde-haired girl with a freckled face sitting besides him and Peter.
"And your Harry Turner?" James asked, turning his attention to Harry, who nodded.
The food soon began to disappear and only conversation remained. The headmaster rose again and clapped his hands. "It's time to tuck in. Classes start bright and early tomorrow morning and we don't want anyone lollygagging around. So would the school prefects please lead their houses to their dormitories. Nook, Blubber and Snork!" He sat back down and watched attentively as the older students began to herd the younger ones out of the great hall and towards the stairs.
"Well, that was interesting." Sirius said, following the Gryffindor prefects closely, deciding he would prefer not to get lost before classes had even started. Harry nodded. It had been a very interesting evening.
"Do you mind if I walk with you guys?" Everyone turned their attention to a scrawny looking boy with a scar across his face, whom Harry recognised as Remus Lupin.
"Sure." James said with a smile as the group followed the prefects towards the staircases.
"I could have sworn I just saw a staircase move." Peter said, his eyebrows raised. James chuckled and patted Peter on the back, shaking his head.
"Who knows, wouldn't put it past the professors to make the staircases move." Harry laughed. The others laughed with him, though Peter paled at the thought of being on a moving staircase.
"Oh come on Peter, it can't be that bad." Sirius said with a smile.
A/N: I just want to say thank you for reading, and also thank you for the number of views the first chapter had been getting. I would really appreciate it if you could write a review, letting me know what you would like the next chapter to be about, as I could use the help. Incase any of you are confused, the story so far is as goes; Harry is given the task to travel back in time to save his parents from being murdered by Voldemort, and hopefully save the lives of many as well. He basically disguised himself as an eleven year old boy and attends Hogwarts in the Marauders Era.
Thank you for reading!