The Sorting
Professor McGonagall led them out of the chamber and through the doors of the largest room Sirius had ever seen. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles floating in mid-air over four long tables which stretch almost the entire length of the room. These tables were filled with staring students and glittering gold goblets and plates. At the farthest end of the hall, there was another table, this one filled with, what looked like, teachers. Sirius glanced up, and saw that the ceiling looked as if it just opened into the night sky. Sirius knew that it was bewitched, but it still looked so realistic.
As he stared in wonder, Professor McGonagall led them up to the Staff Table, bringing them to a halt so that their backs were turned to the teachers, and they were facing the audience. Professor McGonagall then brought out an old, four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of this stool she placed an old, patched, dirty hat. Everyone in the hall went quiet. At first there was a few seconds of silence, then the hat began to sing.
The hat sang of the houses, and explained about brave Gryffindors, loyal Hufflepuffs, smart Ravenclaws, (Sirius nudged Remus when the hat sang about Ravenclaw) and cunning Slytherins. Once the old hat finished its song, the Great Hall erupted in applause. Professor McGonagall then stepped forward carrying a large scroll.
“When I call your name, you will sit on the stool and get sorted,” She explained. “Andrade, Mae!”
A small girl with blonde hair stepped forward. She put on the hat, which fell way past her eyes. The sorting hat seemed to think for a little while, then shouted “Ravenclaw!” The second table from the left went up in a round of applause and Mae ran off to join her new house.
Next Alverez, Bertha became a Slytherin, and then two twins, Babbington, Alanna and Babbington, Alan became the first Hufflepuffs. Then Professor McGonagall was shouting Black, Sirius! And Sirius was stepping forward. He sat down, and placed the hat over his head.
Hmmm said a small voice in his ear. Another Black. I’ve sorted so many of your family, you know. Lots of potential. Could be a Slytherin. But then, so much bravery as well.
“Please, not Slytherin. Please” Sirius whispered.
Not Slytherin? Well let me see…Yes… I suppose you would do well in “GRYFFINDOR!” Sirius slipped the hat off his head and went to sit down at the Gryffindor table. A few people seemed surprised. There had never been a member of the Black family in Gryffindor before. Sirius was so shocked that he didn’t really pay attention to the next few names. He briefly recognized the fact that Lily Evans was now a Gryffindor. By the time he was paying attention again, they had gotten to the L names. Tyler Lane became a Syltherin, and Sarah Larson became a Hufflepuff. Then, it was Remus’s turn.
Remus stepped forward, and the hat covered his entire head. After around 40 seconds, the hat yelled out Gryfindor. Remus got up and raced over to Sirius, who immediately gave him a fist bump. After him, “Landle, Oak!” also became a Gryffindor.
More students were sorted until they finally got to the P names. Peter went before James, and nervously jammed the hat onto his head. The hat took so long deciding on him that even the teachers began to whisper nervously. Finally, after what seemed like years, the hat decided that he would go to Gryffindor. Peter scrambled away, his face a bright crimson. He sat down across from Remus, and the three of them watched as James stepped forward confidently. The sorting hat didn’t take very long with him, almost immediately shouting out Gryffindor. James sat down across from Sirius, and the two high-fived.
The rest of the sorting seemed to take forever. The sweets on the train seemed to be a millennia ago. None of the four boys were paying much attention anymore, but they did grin when Snape was declared a Slytherin. Finally, the last kid (Jake Zimmerman, a Hufflepuff) was sorted, and Dumbledore stood up.
“Welcome!” he said. “To a new year at Hogwarts! Before the feast starts, I would like to thank you all for coming!” he sat back down, and soon food began appearing on the plates. There was so much food. There were hundreds of dishes piled high with just about every food Sirius could possibly imagine. Everyone started digging in, and so did Sirius. He grinned at James as he bit into a drumstick.
“This stuff is awesome!” he said. James grinned.
“Wonder who that is?” James asked, gesturing towards a ghost in a ruff a few seats down.
“I can hear you, you know,” grumbled the ghost as he floated over. “I’m nearly headless, not nearly deaf.”
“Your Nearly Headless Nick!” Remus exclaimed.
“Well, I would rather be called Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-”
“Nearly headless? But you’ve got a head!” said Peter. Nick groaned, as if he got the question a lot-which he probably did.
“Like this” he said tiredly as he grabbed his left ear and yanked on it, so that it swung there like a hinge on a flap of skin.
“Ugh,” said James, looking disgusted. Nick flipped his head back on, and grinned at the boys.
“Well, I gotta go, but I hope that you all become a great asset to Gryfindor!” Nick said cheerfully as he floated off.”
“That was weeeeird,” James said. Sirius just ginned.
Once dinner was done, the desserts came. There were blocks of ice cream in every flavour imaginable, chocolate eclairs, doughnuts, pies, puttings, and SO much more. Sirius, who had thought he was full, decided that he wanted to try everything there was.
“Mate, slow down! You can’t eat everything!” James said.
“I can try!” Sirius said cheerfully. He had decided that the strawberry ice cream was his favourite.
“Fine. But it’s not my fault if you get a stomach ache because you ate too much,” James said. Sirius just rolled his eyes.
“Go bother someone else, Potter. Annoy Pettigrew, for all I care!” Sirius said, laughing a bit.
“Don’t say that!” Peter squeaked, “He’s always annoying me!” James laughed and ruffled Peter’s hair.
“Now look what you’ve done!” Peter said indignantly.
Finally, all the desserts disappeared, and Dumbledore stood up.
“Now that we all are full, there are a few things that I would like to say” he began. “All first year students should note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. I have also been reminded by Filch that there is no magic aloud in the corridors.
“Quidditch trials will begin next week. If you are interested in playing for your House, contact Madam Hooch before trials begin. And finally, I must remind you to stay in bed, as there is a curfew. All first years follow a prefect up to your dorms. Thank you and good night!” As Dumbledore finished, a wave of applause travelled through the room. Then they were being led away to the Gryffindor tower. At first, Sirius tried to keep track of all the corridors, but he eventually gave up. He was too full and sleepy to pay attention.
Eventually, they got to a portrait of a fat lady.
“Now, there is a password that you must say to get in,” said the prefect. He then turned to the portrait and said, “Gaggerark.” The portrait wung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. It was a round, cozy room full of squashy armchairs, comfortable-looking couches, and tables that one could do their homework on.. On one wall was a giant fireplace with a crackling fire in it.
“Remus Lupin? If I could have a word with you?” asked the shrill voice belonging to Professor McGonnagall. Remus and the three other boys all turned around.
“Jeez, it’s your first day here and you're already in trouble?” James whispered, along with a soft whistle.
Remus rolled his eyes. “Just go up to your dorm. I'll meet you up there,” Remus said as he slipped out of the portrait to the corridor outside, where Professor McGonnagall was presumably waiting. Peter shrugged and went upstairs to where the prefect had told them the dorms would be, and James followed him. Halfway there, James turned around to look back at Sirius.
“You coming, mate?” he asked.
“Naw. I’m waiting for Remus.” Sirius responded.
“Suit yourself,” James said with a half- hearted shrug. After around 10 minutes, the portrait swung open and Remus stepped inside.
“What was that about?” Sirius asked as he walked next to the slightly taller boy.
“Nothing. And shouldn’t you be in the dorm?”
“Well….Yeah, but I wanted to wait for you!” Sirius said brightly. Remus just rolled his eyes. Eventually they got to their dorm. It was a round room, with five four-poster beds. At the foot of the bed were each boy’s trunks.
Remus, Sirius, James, Peter, and a boy named Oak all shared a dorm. The five boys changed into their sleep clothes and collapsed into bed. Although Sirius was tired, he couldn’t sleep. His mind was filled with questions. How would his family react? Would he like it here? Would he go home during Christmas, even though his parents were probably furious with him? The first one was easy: badly. His parents would probably be furious. As for the second one, he guessed he would. Hogwarts seemed like a wonderful place to prank as many people as possible. That only left one question. He might stay here. There probably wouldn’t be any stupid Christmas parties like the ones back home. But if he stayed here, he wouldn’t be able to see Regulus.