The Sorting (year 1)
The train ride had passed by very quickly.
Even though it had taken around eight hours to get to Hogwarts James had enjoyed every moment of it. Mostly he and Sirius Black had talked about Quidditch Players and had exchanged chocolate frog cards while Peter sat beside them nodding along and every once in a while squeaking in approval. James, who had known Peter ever since he could remember knew that this was normal behaviour for the boy, especially around Black who James immediately sensed intimidated Peter.
Remus Lupin had been the quietest though. He had been sitting in the corner of the compartment wedged in as tightly as he could almost as if he had been trying to melt into the walls. Mostly he had been reading from a large leather-bound book but when it had gotten too dark inside the compartment to see the words clearly he had stuffed it into his trunk and leaned his head on the window to look outside. James couldn't remember him saying anything throughout the whole ride other than introducing himself at the beginning, and since the boy was so pale almost green, skinny, and sickly looking James decided it was best to just let him sit in silence.
Now that James was standing in front of the great hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry though, he found that he couldn't say anything himself. Next to him, Sirius Black was trying to get Lupin and the red-haired girl that they had met before to talk to him. Neither of which seeming very excited about it.
"So what house are you hoping to get in?" He asked swinging his arm around the small boy. Remus coughed uncomfortably and lightly pushed Sirius's arm away.
"Um...I don't really know yet...maybe Ravenclaw...or I don't know...I mean my father was in Ravenclaw...it seems cool I guess."
Sirius raised his eyebrows and laughed. "Cool? Ravenclaw? Wow, well you do you I guess. How about you, Evans? You better not say Ravenclaw too. Or that Slytherin bullocks your bloke was talking about before."
The girl flipped her red hair and crossed her arms. "Well, Black, I personally think that every house has admirable traits. All I can hope for is not to be stuck in the same one as you."
Sirius laughed openly, his grey eyes glinting almost maniacally. "Alright fair enough. That sure makes two of us."
James heard a small snicker and when he looked over he could see Remus softly laughing and shaking his head slightly. The red haired girl--Evans or...Lily?--took Remus's hand and pulled him away from Sirius. "Come on, Remus. I'll properly introduce you to Sev. Look he's right over there."
And with that, she pulled him to the front of the group and out of view. James looked after them puzzledly. They were a weird pair of people those two.
"I don't care where I go as long as that Evans girl isn't there. Imagine being in the same house as hers for seven years." Sirius whispered to James and Peter.
Suddenly a hush fell over the students.
In front of them stood a small cat perched on the ground at their feet looking up at them with a disapproving facial expression.
"Why does that cat already look dissapointed in us?" Sirius muttered.
"Maybe it can tell that- Waaa? Wow! Cool!" Right as James had started talking the cat had grown larger and larger finally taking shape into a grown stern-looking woman. Everyone gasped and stepped back, some people even tripping on their robes. The woman wore long emerald green robes, with her dark brown hair tied in an elegant knot on the top of her head, and half-moon spectacles perched on the tip of her nose, which she peered over to examine the new students.
"Wow! Cool, Ma'am!" Peter squeaked. She gave him a tight smile.
"Welcome to Hogwarts First Years! I am Professor McGonagall the Deputy Headmistress, Professor of Transfiguration, and the head of Gryffindor House. In a few moments, you will join the other students in the great hall. Once I call your name you will sit down on the stool in the front of the room and a hat will be placed on your head. This is the sorting hat and it will determine what house you will be living in for the next seven years. This house and the people within it will become your family and your home. But you will be expected to treat every house with respect. Is that understood?"
There was a slight mumble of yes's before McGonagall continued. "The sorting will begin now. Follow me."
With that Professor McGonagall turned around swiftly, the enormous doors standing behind her swinging open. For the next minute, all James seemed to hear was a collective gasp from the first years, and all he could see was the neverending ceiling melting into the night sky. Stars twinkling in and out of focus, some far away but some so close James was convinced he would be able to touch them if he jumped high enough. All around him first years were staring up pointing out constellations and enjoying the cool breeze that entered the room from above.
"Is there no ceiling?" A blonde girl asked in alarm staring up at the sky so much that she trampled onto James's heel.
Along with the stars, candles were floating in and out of view lighting up the room in a cheerful warmth. The three boys sped up trying to look over the heads of the crowd of first years in front of them frantically trying to see every single detail the great hall offered. James and Sirius both only being of average height could barely see the hat from where they were standing but Peter being one of the shortest new students there had to jump up and down in order to be able to see the top of the hat.
"Wicked," James whispered under his breath running his hand through his hair as he watched the sorting hat. Beside him, Sirius and Peter were in awe too.
At the front of the room, Professor McGonagall opened a long scroll of parchment and cleared her throat.
The sorting hat sang his song, and finally, after what seemed like ages, the sorting was beginning.
"Akins, Fatima!" McGonagall called in a loud and clear voice. A petite blonde girl (not the one that had tripped on James's foot, this one was a lot smaller) made her way over to the stool. Her cheeks were rosy and James could see her hands clenched in tiny fists. McGonagall placed the hat carefully on top of the girl's head. The hall fell silent.
Then after a few seconds, "Ravenclaw!"
Fatima jumped up beaming. She ran over to the Ravenclaw table where the older students smiled and patted her back welcomingly.
As James redirected his attention to the front he could see Remus staring at the Ravenclaw table his expression unreadable.
"Bennet, Adrian!" The sorting hat had barely touched the top of his head before shouting, "Slytherin!"
And then, "Black, Sirius!"
Immediately all the energy seemed to be sucked from the room. James clapped his new friend on the back lightly and then watched as Sirius walked up to the front of the room his head held high and his face expressionless, but by now James already knew him well enough to know that he was probably realling with emotions. James scrunched his nose sympathetically, and crossed his fingers. Please, he thought to himself, please don't put Sirius in a house he doesn't belong... James looked over at the Slytherin table where all the students were leaning forward in their seats, grinning. Then when he looked back to the front of the room he could see the hat was already on Sirius's head. James held his breath nervously.
For a solid minute, everyone sat in stillness and then suddenly, "GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a loud gasp and then for a moment, everyone sat in shocked silence. Sirius sat frozen in his seat, a look of terror on his face. James though grinned, his heart hammering in his chest. Sirius had told him that he didn't want to be like his family. Didn't want to be in Slytherin. He wanted to make a difference.
And maybe he would.
"YES SIRIUS! You did it!" James yelled pumping his fist in the air feeling a hot firey glee for his newfound friend. After that, a wave of noise followed. Sirius's faces melted into a more comfortable look, and he smiled a relieved smile. All the Gryffindors jumped up when Sirius got to their table, ruffling his hair and high-fiving him.
After a few more minutes, "Evans, Lily!" Was called and James watched the red-haired girl walk up to the stool and sit down. Before the hat dropped over her eyes James could see bright green eyes and long thick lashes, on a freckled face. A small smile playing on her lips despite having acted so annoyed at Sirius only minutes ago. James shook his head, dumbfounded by her. Girls, he thought to himself.
"Gryffindor!" The hat yelled startling James. Lily jumped up excitedly running over to the Gryffindor table where she sat down next to a second year boy.
Over at the front of the group where Lily had been standing James could Severus, the boy with black hair watch Lily with a sour expression. James immediately felt uneasy.
"Floyd, Benjamin!" Ravenclaw.
"Fischer, Maria!" Huffelpuff.
"Goyle, Jack!" Slytherin.
"McKinnon, Marleen!" Gryffindor.
"Meadows, Dorcas!" The blonde, asian girl from earlier smiled at James as she passed him on her way up to the stool. Mere seconds later, "Gryffindor!" was called.
"Odell, Aiden!" Ravenclaw.
And then, "Lupin, Remus!"
James perked up, standing up on his toes to get a better look. Peter did the same, stepping on James's food by accident. James shoved him off.
Sure enough, a few meters away from them a small, pale, Remus Lupin walked up to the front of the room. James could feel Remus's nervous energy from all the way where he was sitting. As the hat got set on Remus's head there was about a twenty-second pause of silence before the hat yelled, "Gryffindor!"
James almost had to laugh at the sight of Lupin's face which was white with shock. Before getting off of the stool though Remus looked to his left where McGonagall was standing and said something to her quietly that James couldn't hear because of the cheering. She shook her head, muttered something back, and pushed him towards the Gryffindor table where he sat down between Lily and Sirius.
"I really thought he'd be in Ravenclaw," Peter said, "with all the reading and what."
James just shrugged. "Gryffindors can read, Pete."
It wasn't long before "Pettigrew, Peter!" was sorted into Gryffindor, much to his relief (though it took even longer than Sirius's sorting.)
And then finally the moment came. "Potter, James!" James practically ran up to the sorting hat grinning widely. The hat barely even touched the messy black hair on the top of his head before he could hear its voice, "Well aren't you an easy one? Definitely brave and courageous and- oh yes! There it is! Fiercely loyal. Well, then- GRYFFINDOR!"
This whole conversation had of course only been heard by James and had only lasted a few split seconds.
Smirking to himself James made his way to Gryffindor table, sitting down beside Peter who was clapping enthusiastically.
"Look, Potter!" Sirius chuckled loudly, "Evans and I did make it into the same house!" He put an arm around her and she pushed it off. "Yippy!"
Lily who moved until she was sitting at least two seats away glared at him crossing her arms and huffing. James ran his hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly, "Yeah she looks real happy about it."
After a while, "Snape, Severus!" Got called and the boy with the long black hair sat down on the stool. The hat didn't take a long time with Snape before shouting, "Slytherin!"
Lily stood up clapping and cheering. Her face was pink, her eyes were shining and she was beaming. "Yes, Sev!" She yelled cupping her hands around her mouth. Grinning she sat down again turning her attention towards Remus. James looked over to where 'Sev' or Snape was slouching towards the table at the other end of the hall.
Raising his eyebrows at Lily, James sneered, "You might as well give up whatever relationship you had with that bloke now that he's in Slytherin." Lily and Remus turned their heads towards him, and suddenly James regretted what he'd said.
"Excuse me?" Lily raised her eyebrows questioningly.
James shrugged trying to act nonchalant. "Look, all I'm saying is that it'll be hard to maintain friends outside of Gryffindor. Besides if he's in Slytherin he can't be that good of a friend anyway."
Lily stared daggers at him, "Well, I wouldn't expect you to understand anything about friendship, Potter."
She got up from her chair abruptly and turned her head towards Lupin and the second year who was sitting on her other side, "It was nice meeting you, Remus. Frank. It's nice to know there are at least some pleasant Gryffindors."
She nodded at the two boys and then moved once again, this time to the other side of the table where she sat down with the two other girl Gryffindor first years. Next to James, Sirius burst out laughing hysterically.
"Well isn't she just a delight! Can't wait to be stuck in the same house as her for the next seven years."
Remus just shook his head.
"What?" James asked irritably ignoring Sirius and turning towards Lupin. "I didn't say anything wrong."
This time the shy boy did answer even if it was very quiet, "Potter, you insulted her only friend and shamed another Hogwarts house just because you wanted to get her attention." James stared at Lupin in disbelief and then looked down at his plate.
"I did not! I don't care about getting her attention."
Remus's eyes honey brown eyes glinted mysteriously. "Alright, Potter."
Before James could say anything Peter, who was staring at Remus, with wide eyes exclaimed, "Oh my god, Lupin are you like one of those guys on muggle TV? You know one of those ones that can read minds?!"
Remus gave a small chuckle his eyes looking down on his plate, "Of course not, Pettigrew."
Sirius laughed and clapped Remus on the back, "I like this one! Loony he is! Loony Lupin." Remus scrunched his eyebrows together in distaste.
"Please don't call me that."
"Whatever, Loony." James joined in smiling, his fight with Lily Evans already forgotten.
Suddenly a hush fell over the great hall as yet another figure got up in front of the students. He had a long white beard, half-moon spectacles, and was wearing long, slightly comical purple robes.
"That's Dumbledore!" Someone whispered in awe. James immediately felt respect well up inside of him as he had heard of the old wizard before.
"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Hogwarts! I am Headmaster Dumbledore. Before we begin with our feast I would like to go over a few rules with you. Mr. Filch has kindly asked me to remind you that the forbidden forest is off-limits to students and that each common room should only be visited by the inhabitants of that house." His eyes twinkled, "One more thing. During the summer a new tree has been planted outside of the castle. It is very rare and very dangerous. If one were to go near that tree it would easily be able to break every single bone in their body. Have no doubt, it does have the ability to kill." A stunned hush fell over the hall, ("What? That is such a health hazard!" Lily Evans muttered, "why on earth-?") "-The Whomping Willow should be avoided by all students and faculty at all times....Now then. You have waited long enough. Let the feast begin!"
Dumbledore waved his arms and the tables began to fill with all kinds of food. Suddenly the plates that had been empty a few seconds ago were now filled with potatoes, chickens, peas, carrots, steaks, porks, and many bowls of different sauces. Slowly the smells of different kinds of foods wafted into the air making James's stomach rumble unpleasantly.
Peter, James, and Sirius immediately began to fill their plates with food, stacking layers, and layers of different kinds of meats and veggies on top of each other. Remus, on the other hand, seemed overwhelmed by all the different choices of food and after a moment of hesitation reached for a bowl of mixed veggies carefully spooning some onto his plate.
"Vats phat?" Peter asked through a mouthful of food. Sirius and James looked up from their food. Remus looked confounded.
"Um...pardon?"
Peter gulped loudly before saying, "What's that?"
Remus looked around. "Um, what's...what?"
Peter stared at him like it was obvious. "What are those scars on your hands?"
Remus looked down at his hand that was holding a fork and dropped it quickly. Red-faced, he shoved his hand into his pocket and stammered, "Oh those! I don't really...I mean those aren't actually like scars scars...they're just...you know...like...."
James knitted his eyebrows together apprehensively. "Like...scars?"
"No...I mean yeah.."
"Like, what then?" Sirius asked.
Remus's eyes were wide. "It doesn't really matter. I've had them for a long time..."
The three boys blinked at him. "Um...ok," Peter said going back to his food. Sirius wasn't so easily pleased though.
"How'd you get them?" He asked disbelievingly.
"The-the scars you mean? I just...I was in an...accident. When I was younger." Remus looked down at his lap clearly not wanting to talk about whatever accident he meant.
Sirius looked like he was going to say something else but before he could, a hand appeared on Remus's shoulder. Remus jumped in his seat and turned around. "Mr. Lupin would you please come with me? The headmaster would like a word." It was Professor McGonagall the witch from the sorting. Remus nodded slightly got up and followed her out of the great hall his hands still firmly in his pockets. The three boys watched them leave in confusion. "I wonder why he has to talk to Dumbledore already," Peter said in admiration.
"I didn't even notice Dumbeldore leave..." James muttered looking at the spot where the headmaster had been sitting just moments before, "And what did Remus say to McGonagall during the sorting...?" James murmured.
"Well, he couldn't have possibly done anything yet! We were with him the entire time!" Sirius protested.
"Well either way Dumbledore already asked to talk to him." James supplied. "There's something mysterious about that kid."