A deafening sound was filling the great hall. The last first year had been sorted (Elias Zabini, Slytherin) under the applause of his table (measured let's be honest, Slytherins did not have the reputation of giving warm welcoming) and everyone was turning towards their housemates to pursue the discussions started earlier on.

Slytherins were the discreet ones. A natural restraint emanated from the green and silver house. The youngest whispered to tell all about their summer, while giving worried side looks to the older students. Hierarchy and respect for the older were very important values, and the sixth and seventh years knew how to uphold the traditions. These latter seemed also caught in a discussion, but it was much harder to read a single emotion on their faces. On top of the traditional courses given at school, if there was one thing that the Slytherins had mastered throughout the years, it was how to forge an impassive face-mask. The majority of them came from very old families known as "Purebloods," for whom showing feelings was a true weakness.

The Ravenclaws, usually relatively calm, were celebrating being back at school. After all, classes had not started yet, and they could afford to talk about all and nothing. Soon, the subjects of conversation would be books, assignments, and classes, and the more futile talks (because they were still teenagers after all) would be held in a more discreet manner so as not to disturb their housemates who were reading.

For the Hufflepuffs, hugs and kisses mixed with the sound of happy reunion laughs. The faithful and loyal friends rarely spent a summer without seeing or writing to each other but were always happy to be back for a new year.

As usual, it was the Gryffindor table that was the loudest. It was a true party at the red and gold's. Jumping from seat to seat to great a classmate. Screaming to catch the attention of those seating further down the table. Still acclaiming the newly sorted first years. Laughing, dancing and singing. It seemed like every year, the newly appointed seventh years tried to beat the record of the previous ones. However, one had to admit the following promotions would have a hard time topping the year of 1977. Indeed, in the middle of the effusion of joy around the table, it was impossible to miss a group of four students, standing on the table, starting songs, followed by the entire table, raising their glasses to the first years and telling jokes that made the table roar.

- Minerva, please, do something, your house seems to be even more unruly that the previous years. It's unbelievable!

One could hear if close enough to teachers' table. The strict face of the transfiguration teacher moved to a half-embarrassed, half-upset frown.

- Horace, you very well know as much as I do that the first feast of the year is always loud… Moreover, I think we all now that nothing or no-one seating at this table will have a single chance at calming the students responsible of the chaos.

If the so-called Horace had looked into the face of Minerva McGonagall, he would have seen a discreet smile appeared when she had landed her eyes on the group in question.

- Let them celebrate, they should enjoy this first day of school more than ever dear Horace. Let them enjoy the joy and carelessness of youth. I fear the future will not always be as bright for them once out of the school walls.

Faces around the table grew darker. All teachers knew perfectly well what the headmaster was referring to. If this night was warm, light, and joyful, outside the castle, times were getting darker and darker, and they all knew that they would need to believe in the light to hopefully vanquish the darkness. For those not already lost in it, at least…

Despite the cheerful atmosphere, students were slowly starting to turn their heads towards the teachers' table. One question in their eyes: Where the hell is the feast? And when the Gryffindor table started slamming the table with cutlery, the professors started asking themselves the same question and turned to Albus Dumbledore.

He shrugged with a malicious blink, then got up and amplified his voice with a swift of his wand. Silence took over the hall while all students looked at him expectantly.

- Welcome back to all and welcome to every first years, I know that you'll find in your new houses a second fam…

- The feast before the speech professor! interrupted a voice in the room

Applause followed for three tables over four, Slytherins glaring at the voice. The voice belonged to one of the four troublemakers previously cited. He was wearing rectangular glasses placed crookedly above his nose, his brown hair was disheveled (it was a very studied messy-hair style, it seemed), he was tall, thin but athletic, and he gave off a very self-confident attitude, as evidenced by his proud smile. Those closest to him could see him slightly turn to send a wink to a red-headed little witch sitting a few seats further. She rolled her eyes before looking the other way, which did not seem to disconcert the young man as he threw his hand to mess his hair even more. James Potter was looking at the headmaster with a smirk.

- Mister Potter, I see you're taking really seriously your new head-boy duty by seeing the great feast is running smoothly, said the headmaster with his eternal mischievous smile. Do not worry, I certainly did not forget about the food, I have to admit I cannot wait myself to taste the delicious feast prepared by our beloved elves. I know for a fact that they made a particularly grand effort on the desert menu. I can only advise you to try their heavenly lemon tart…

Minerva McGonagall discreetly cleared her throat.

- Hm yes thank you Minerva, I do have a tendency to loose my train of thought when talking about the delicious sweet treats, but you know, no later than yesterday I was…

A lingering look from the deputy headmaster was definitely worth a thousand words.

- So as I was saying. This year, exceptionally, we still have a last student to sort. Miss Cassiope Elezy attended the school of Durmstrang for the first years of her education and have pleasantly decided to come and join us in Hogwarts for her seventh and last year. Please step in front of the sorting hat Miss.

There was total silence in the room as a shadow stood out from the back of the room where nobody had noticed her. A petite, graceful, and slender silhouette walked toward the headmaster. Head straight, confident deep blue eyes, delicately curled dark brown hair cascading to the middle of her back, her features were fine, almost aristocratic. Her beauty was undeniable, but what made her truly hypnotizing for almost the whole great hall was the smile she wore. It was enigmatic, soft but perfectly calculated. There was no sign of nervousness on her face; truth be told, despite her smile, no emotion could be read on her face.

She walked forward with confidence towards the stool while Dumbledore raised the hat.
All the while, at the red and gold table, even the Marauders (the name the four troublesome students had given themselves) were silent. At least for a moment.

- Prongs… I think I'm in love.

In front of him, said Prongs, also known as James Potter, chortled. Beside him, Remus Lupin raised his eyebrows while trying to mask his amusement. The last Marauder, Peter Pettigrew, looked at his friend with big eyes and a hanging mouth.

His friends' reaction might not have been the most understanding, but the words spoken by Sirius Black were surprising, to say the least. Indeed, the last Marauder bragged about it himself, he had a reputation to uphold: romantic relationships did not interest him. He explained to whoever would listen that he would never, ever, lock himself in a relationship with one person. Because if there was one thing Sirius Black loved and pursued above all, it was his freedom. Not that he was not attracted to the female gender (or male, for all it mattered, he proudly declared himself free to date whoever he pleased). The whole school knew Sirius was a loose cannon, and that was precisely what drew a major portion of the female body students towards him, that and, let's be honest, his flawless physique. He was tall, like James, but his body, shaped by years of Quidditch as a Beater, was more defined and developed. His slightly waved hair fell on his shoulder, with some strands often loose in front of his forehead. His face was lean and angular, with a strong jawline and high, sharp cheekbones, although most people would describe his traits as soft. He had large, dark, and piercing steel eyes. He often wore a small grin that melted many of his peers. Truth be told Sirius' reputation was mostly built around rumours and gossips. True, he surely had his fair share of flings in the past, probably a bit more than others. But he was certainly not the Casanova his reputation made him to be, supposedly moving from partner to partner every few days. Although he did not seem to mind being seen like that, found it rather amusing actually.

But, let's go back to the words he had just pronounced and to his friends' reaction. He was wearing a falsely outraged air, even though, being honest with himself, he didn't understand where those words came from. Luckily for him, he wouldn't have time to question himself much longer about it because, before even touching Cassiope's head, the Sorting Hat burst out:

- SLYTHERIN !

He furrowed his eyebrows instantly with spite. Remus looked at his friend with a sorry look.

- Oh well, that settles it. And honestly I guess it is the attraction for novelty she is not THAT exceptional, he proclaimed with a careless tone while shrugging his shoulder.

The look on the three others clearly stated that he was not fooling anybody with his hypocrisy, but nobody said anything. After all, if Sirius was proud to be free to date whoever he wished whenever he wanted, there was one type of person he would NEVER allow himself to be drawn to : Slytherins.

On the other side of the great hall, a strange clamor rose from the snake's table. All welcomed the new girl with enthusiasm (and restraint, they were not savages after all!). She graciously slid to the table without losing her assurance and her smile, looking even more satisfied than she had a few minutes before. The usually closed circle formed by the seventh years opened in front of her (pushing away a poor fourth-year peacefully seated there), one of them even took her hand to help her sit while kissing her hand.

Sirius, who hadn't let her out of his sight, sneered and shrugged again before turning towards his plate, which had just been filled by magic.