30 Sorting Ceremony II

"Lovegood, Xenophilius!"

"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.

"Lupin, Remus!" called the teacher.

A hunched boy started to walk to the stool and sat down nervously. Within seconds, the hat spoke: GRYFFINDOR!

Remus took the hat off his head as soon as the hat shouted, not waiting for McGonagall to take it off. He hurried to the Gryffindor table, barely noticing the cheers and applause as he passed.

Macdonald, Mary, also went to Gryffindor, but Mulciber, Luke, happened to go to Slytherin. Meadowes, Dorcas, went to Gryffindor, and it was getting closer and closer to James' turn.

"Pettigrew, Peter!" called McGonagall.

A small, chubby boy began to walk nervously towards the stool. James saw him and was reminded of Toby. They had a similar aura.

The hat took over five minutes to select Peter something that surprised James and everyone present. After an eternity, he finally spoke, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Peter with a nervous look on his face for taking so long, started walking towards the Gryffindor table. Forgetting he had his hat on, he quickly backed up and handed the hat to McGonagall as the dining hall laughed at his carelessness.

"Potter, James!"

'It's my turn... I hope it works. I must keep my mind blank.' James thought, nervous for various reasons as he walked towards the stool.

The last thing James saw, before the hat covered his eyes, was the dining room full of people, who were trying to get a good look at him. The next moment, he was looking at the dark interior of the hat. He waited.

Gwen, who was at the Slytherin table, was staring at James as she clutched a very beautiful necklace she had on around her neck.

'Hum,' said a little voice in James' ear, 'I can see great courage in you and a lot of bravery. I can see it. He also noticed a great deal of intelligence. Difficult... So where shall I put you?'

James clenched his fists and thought repeatedly, 'Not in Slytherin. In Slytherin, no...'

'In Slytherin, no, eh?' said the little voice, 'I don't see any great ambition in you... so, without further ado. I'd best be...'

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat, and James opened his eyes with a big smile.

He took off his hat and walked with a smile towards the Gryffindor table. He was so relieved to not be in Slytherin and to be in the same house as his parents and his first friend, Sirius, although the latter didn't seem to be in very good condition.

Gwen clicked her tongue and clenched her necklace very tightly, her gaze disappointed. Luckily, her friend Anastasia didn't hear her over the cheers and applause from the Gryffindor table.

The Gryffindor table applauded vigorously. Peter made a place, and James sat down as he waved to some students who shook his hand. One of them was Frank, who was saying to him with a smile, 'I told you so.' He noticed Sirius looking at him, so he smiled at him while giving him a thumbs up. Sirius sketched a slight smile and returned the gesture, though his face was still a little pale.

'Looks like Slytherin was never going to be an option,' thought James, sighing more calmly. He heard from the hat that he had no great ambition. This was strange to him, as his goal was to be powerful enough to defeat Voldemort. The most powerful dark wizard of recent times.

'Well, it's a target I didn't have much choice about...' thought James. If it were up to him and Voldemort didn't exist, he would live a normal life. With friends, his family, studying the magic he liked, but without so much effort, more relaxed, but he couldn't do this.

After him, there was a boy who went to Slytherin, and finally, he heard the name he was waiting for.

"Shafiq, Emily!"

A girl with short black hair and very dark eyes started walking towards the stool. James recognized her immediately. This was his first friend.

'Her expression is still the same as ever,' thought James with a slight smile, happy to see Emily.

Emily sat down on the stool and put on the hat. Silence reigned in the large dining hall as they waited for the hat's judgment. James was more nervous than when it was his turn.

'Gryffindor...please let it be Gryffindor,' thought James.

Minutes passed, and the silence dragged on. Like Peter, Emily was sitting five minutes ago on the stool. James thought Emily wouldn't like it at all, as she never liked being the center of attention.

Finally, after a long wait, the hat spoke, "SLYTHERIN!"

James clicked his tongue. He knew it was difficult or nearly impossible for her to end up in Gryffindor, but he had a sliver of hope. Emily handed the hat back and walked over to the Slytherin table where many were applauding.

James noticed that Gwen wasn't clapping and had a very unfriendly look on her face (although this wasn't because of Emily), 'Since last year those two acted strange... although we only send each other letters, now it's easier to see' thought James looking at Gwen who still wasn't clapping and didn't greet her sister when she arrived at the table.

"Snape, Severus!"

A thin, stooped, pale-skinned, greasy-haired boy started walking towards the stool. James frowned at the sight of him. He remembered that this boy was with Lily. He didn't have a good impression of him, as he sneered at the Gryffindor when he didn't even speak to him.

"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat in a few seconds of contemplation.

"It was obvious," Sirius growled without taking his eyes off Snape. For some reason, he had already branded him as one of his main enemies, and more so now that he belonged to Slytherin.

"Looks like the hat found him some brain," scoffed James, to which Sirius laughed.

"Don't tease Severus!" said Lily with a frown. The redhead was sitting next to Sirius and heard James' mockery.

James looked with an odd expression at Lily. Many things were going through his head. He decided to ignore her, as he didn't want to argue foolishly. However, it wasn't the best choice. Lily didn't like being ignored at all and snorted furiously as she looked away from James and Sirius.

After Snape, there were few first years left. James could recognize one of them. It was Penny. The girl he met at the Quidditch World Cup final and saved from a troll.

"Umbridge, Dolores!"

"Slytherin!"

"Warrington, Penny!"

'It would be fun if she stayed in Gryffindor. She knows a lot about quidditch,' thought James. However, his wish was not granted, and Penny was left in Ravenclaw.

James cursed the hat in his mind, and after two more students, the selection ceremony concluded. Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment and took the Sorting Hat away.

Albus Dumbledore had risen to his feet. He looked radiantly at the students, arms outstretched as if nothing could please him more than to see them there.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! I see many hungry faces. Let's get the feast started!" said Dumbledore as he gave a slight clap of his hands, and food magically appeared on all the tables.

James looked down, noticing that the plates in front of him were now full of food: roast beef, roast chicken, pork and veal chops, sausages, bacon and steaks, boiled potatoes, French fries, Yorkshire pie, peas, carrots, and much more.

They all began to eat heartily. James observed a ghost flying over the table, looking on enviously as they all ate, 'That must be Nearly Headless Nick, father told me about him...' thought James curiously.

"Drink something, Sirius. You're lacking color," suggested James, seeing how pale his new friend looked. He didn't want Sirius to have to go to the infirmary on the first day of Hogwarts.

"My Mother going to kill me..." stammered Sirius. Stressful thoughts popped back into his head. He wouldn't know how his mother would react when she found out he broke with a tradition of hundreds of years.

"Don't be a pessimist. Weirdly, tradition has lasted this long. When the selection depends on a hat, you'll understand," James said to calm Sirius down, but it didn't work very well.

"What's the matter with you? Why aren't you eating?" asked James, looking at Toby, who wasn't touching his food.

"When do classes start...? Will I be able to keep up? I found out less than two months ago about magic. I couldn't study hardly at all," said Toby, biting his nails. James looked at him with a strange expression. Why were they all nervous and stressed after the selection?

'So he's from a muggle family,' thought James.

"Don't worry. You'll be able to keep up. Anything you need, ask me, and I'll help you," said James, patting Toby's shoulder.

Toby nodded and looked at James gratefully. He quickly began to eat in fear of having his food taken away.

Once everyone had eaten as much as they wanted, the leftover food disappeared from the plates, leaving them as clean as before. A moment later, the desserts appeared.

James, Sirius, and Toby were conversing while tasting desserts. Thanks to this, both Toby and Sirius put problems aside and enjoyed the moment. On the other side, Lily Evans, and Jasmine Meadowes were talking about future classes.

Finally, the desserts also disappeared, and Headmaster Dumbledore stood up again. The entire dining hall fell silent.

"Ahem... just a few more words. Now that we have all eaten and drunk, I have some announcements to make to you for the beginning of the year," he began.

"First years should note that the woods in the castle area are forbidden for all students. And some older students should remember that..." he said, looking at some students in particular who made innocent faces.

"Quidditch tryouts will take place in the second week of term. Those who are interested in playing for their house teams should contact Mrs. Hooch. It should be clarified, that from second year onwards you can sign up for team tryouts," Dumbledore continued.

"That is all. The other rules will be told to you by your prefects, as well as the class schedules. And now, before we go to bed let's sing the school song!" exclaimed Dumbledore. The teachers hearing this smiled forcedly, and many students grimaced.

"Everyone, pick your favorite tune! And here we go!" said Dumbledore and the whole school cheered.

James and Sirius looked at each other with weird expressions. It was so embarrassing to have to sing. They just acted by opening their mouths without uttering a sound, though most looked uncomfortable. James could tell several students were singing very animatedly.

"Splendid!" applauded Dumbledore at the end, "Now yes, it's time for bed!" he added.

The Gryffindor first years followed their prefect through boisterous groups. They exited the Great Dining Hall and climbed up a marble staircase. People in portraits along the corridors whispered and pointed at them as they passed.

They climbed more stairs, many yawning from exhaustion and shuffling their feet, "How far do you have to walk?" complained Sirius.

At the end of the hallway hung a portrait of a very plump woman in a pink silk dress, "Password?" asked the woman in the painting.

"Calidum scelerisque," replied the prefect, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall.

"You must pay attention to the passwords and remember them. Otherwise, you will not be allowed in and will have to wait outside for a companion," said the prefect as he entered the room, and everyone crowded in to pass.

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