Welcome to Hodwarts
Eventually, all the sweets were eaten, and the train was nearing Hogwarts rapidly. Sirius was getting more and more excited by the second, and so was everyone in the compartment. Even Remus was too excited to read.
Finally, they pulled into Hogsmeade Station. As they all file off, Sirius realises that it was night time. The horde of first years are directed to a dock with a fleet of boats. A big man (Sirius is pretty sure that his name is Hagrid) directed them towards the boats.
“Four in a boat!” yells the man Sirius supposed was Hagrid. James, Serius, Remus, and Peter all scramble into a boat together and the boats begin to move across the water. They can’t see anything of Hogwarts- not yet, at least. Sirius had heard so many stories about how magnificent it was. He didn’t want to be disappointed.
All of a sudden they turned a corner and the castle appeared. It was astonishing. The castle was lit up with pinpricks of light coming from the windows. The towers, well, towered over them. Hogwarts was the most beautiful thing Sirius had ever seen. He definitely wasn’t disappointed. He could hear gasps coming from other students as well. He turns to Remus and grins. Remus’s eyes are wide and amazed.
“It's…beautiful,” Remus breathes.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” whispers James. Just then the small fleet of boats comes to the dock. The first years all get out of their boats and are guided up a steep path towards the castle by Hagrid. Once they get up to the castle, Hagrid knocks loudly three times in a row. The door creaks open to reveal a strict-looking witch wearing an emerald green robe.
“Ahh, Hagrid, you're here. And so are the first years. Well, do come in,” said the witch in a strict, prim voice. All the first years file inside, and the professor leads them somewhere. Sirius briefly wonders where they were going, but he shrugs that thought aside and instead he focuses on the strange witch leading them. She is tall, severe-looking, and had dark hair tied up into a tight bun. She could be any strict teacher-for Sirius is now sure that she is a teacher at Hogwarts. Eventually, the first years come to a small chamber.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” says the witch once they are all inside the chamber. “I am Professor McGonagall. I am sure that you are all hungry, and the start-of-term banquet will begin shortly. However, before you may sit down, you must be sorted into your houses. Your House will be something like your family here at Hogwarts just as Hogwarts will be like your home-away-from-home.
“You will sleep in your House dormitory, eat meals at your House table, have classes with the others in your House, and spend your free time in your House common room. While at Hogwarts, your triumphs will grant you House points, and any rule-braking will lose house points. The House with the most House points will be awarded the House Cup, which is a great honour.
“The four houses are Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryfindor. The Sorting Ceremony will begin soon, so I highly recommend that you smarten yourself up as much as possible while you are waiting. I will return when it is time for the sorting, so please wait quietly.” With that Professor McGonagall left, shutting the door behind her. Whispers erupt everywhere, as everyone speculated about the Sorting while attempting to stay quiet. James yawned.
“Well, that was quite a speech. I wonder how she remembers all that….” James trails off when he sees Remus. James nudges Sirius and points to where Remus was standing, trying to get his book back from another boy.
“What, too short to reach, Maggot?” sneers the taller boy.
“Hey!” Sirius exclaimed, snatching the book from the boy and handing it back to Remus.
“Awww, does the little Maggot have a guardian angel?” sneers the boy.
“Who even are you? And stop calling Remus a Maggot!” says James.
“Ohhh, Maggot has two guardian angels, I see. Well, I’m Snape. Severus Snape.” says the boy. He has greasy hair, gaunt skin, and an abnormally-large nose.
“Make that three! Guardian angels, I mean,” Peter pipes up bravely. He then immediately hides behind James as Snape glares at him.
“Well then, Snape, you can just bug off” snarls Sirius.
“Hey! Leave Sev alone!” says a new voice. This one is female, and has a slightly higher pitch. The girl that the voice belonged to appears next to Snape. She has red hair and bright green eyes.
“Who are you?” asks James.
“Lily Evans. And I think that you should leave Sev alone” says the small girl. Sirius whistles, grinning.
“Damn, Snape, aren't you a little young for a girlfriend?” he asks.
“I am not his girlfriend!” Lily snaps. “You two are hopeless. Utterly hopeless,” Lily says as she dragged Snape away. Sirius and James high-five.
“Why… why did you do that?” asked Remus, sounding confused.
“Awww, we wouldn’t let him take your book,” Sirius and James say teasingly, ruffling Remus’s hair. He grins and squirms away.
Just a few seconds later, a sharp voice carries through the room.
“Come with me! And stay quiet! It is time for you to be sorted!” Professor McGonagall had returned. All the first years line up and are immediately led away by Professor McGonagall.