Absolution: A Marauder's Tale

CH: 2- The Sorting Ceremony

Harry closed the book and wiped a tear from his eye. It was such a beautiful way to learn about his parents, through their own words. He wasn't quite ready to share it with the others yet; it was still too personal to him. He checked his watch and saw that it was only just after eight o'clock. He could at least get in another chapter or two before he went to bed.

He grinned at the prospect of learning more about his parents as he dressed for bed. His mother had hated his father from the start, but somehow they ended up together. Harry was tempted to read the last couple of chapters to ease his curiosity but decided against it. Everything would be revealed to him in time, he just had to be patient enough to wait for it.

He leapt into bed and grabbed the notebook again, and began to read the next chapter.

"Chapter 2: The Sorting Ceremony"

"Come in out of the rain," a tall black haired witch said and she herded the first years into the entrance hall. After they were inside she paced in front of them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My name is Professor McGonagall. The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily. There are four houses here, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. We adhere to a points system for discipline and rewards. Any triumphs will earn points and any rule breaking will lose you points. I will be back out in a few moments to escort you in," and she left.

Immediately they began to whisper amongst themselves. Each student wondering where he or she would be put, but not James, he knew that he would be a Gryffindor, his family had been in that noble house for five centuries and he was not planning on changing this tradition. Sirius yawned loudly and turned to Remus.

"I can't believe I have to go to school with these gits," he said sourly and James made a mental note to jinx him when he learned how. The stupid prat was just begging to be hurt and James wanted badly to be that person who hurt him. It usually wasn't in his nature to hate, but he loathed Sirius Black. James's attention was then turned in a more interesting direction, Lily Evans.

"It's so amazing here; can you believe that the castle is over 500 years old?" Alice gushed and Lily and Erin groaned.

"Not again Alice," Lily said and her friends face fell. She felt bad but what could she say, all that boring historical stuff wasn't interesting to her. What she really wanted to know was where the kitchens were. Having the knowledge of that would make it easier to get late night snacks.

"What house do you girls think you'll be in?" Erin asked and Lily and Alice fell into silence.

Lily had to think about it, where did she want to go? Her thoughts were interrupted by Professor McGonagall in the doorway.

"We are ready for you now," she said and led them into the Great Hall. James stared up in wonder at the ceiling, his parents had said it was enchanted, but he had never imagined this.

"The ceiling is bewitched to look like the sky outside," Alice said as she saw Erin's mouth drop open. "I've read about it in..."

"'Hogwarts: A History," Erin and Lily finished and they all giggled.

The witch stopped us in front of a stool with a frayed wizard's hat on it. When she stepped aside the brim opened and it began to sing.

Hello hello to one and all

To students short and students tall

This year is different than the last

For all the students through these halls have passed

Old friends are gone and new arise

Some will be truthful and some will tell lies

And this my dears is where I come in

To sort you into shrewd Slytherin

Loyal Hufflepuff or wise Ravenclaw

Perhaps even heroic Gryffindor

Each house by certain traits is defined

Where you will be sorted by your state of mind

You could belong in Gryffindor

With those daring, brave and stout

Confidence and valiant deeds are what Gryffindor's are all about

You could belong in Slytherin

With those cunning and sly folk

They are proud to wear the green and silver serpent upon their cloak

Maybe you're a true Ravenclaw

If you find joy in learning

And an ambition to be brilliant is your secret yearning

Perhaps in Hufflepuff you'll be

With devoted and true friends

They strive to do the best they can to achieve their ends

So when you all are ready to start

Put me on and I'll read your heart

For only I, the sorting hat

Can tell you where your mind is at.

Cheers erupted from around the Great hall as the hat finished. The song had been clever and funny at the same time. When the witch stood up again the hall fell silent and Lily's heart sank into her stomach. "I will call you off alphabetically," she said and then she began.

"Bagman, Ludo," was called up and promptly sorted into Hufflepuff amidst cheers and clapping.

"Black, Sirius," the professor said, holding out a piece of parchment. Sirius strode up to the stool and sat down with a bored look on his face, and put the hat on his head as if he knew what it would say. He began to mouth the word "Slytherin".

"Gryffindor!" the hat called and the boy looked stunned for a moment before standing up and putting the hat back on the stool. There was an empty kind of silence after his name had been announced, and James didn't have to wonder why. Sirius had been so sure of himself, and now he looked lost. James almost felt pity for him...almost.

"Brown, Markus" became the first Ravenclaw along with another boy "Corner, Tony."

"Daniels, Erin," was called and Lily watched her new friend walk up to the sorting hat. Erin looked nervous but as she slipped the hat over her head Lily became excited for her. "Gryffindor!" the hat shouted and Lily cheered for her along with the rest of the school.

"Evans, Lily" the witch called and she felt her heart thumping wildly in her chest. She walked up and sat on the stool, slipping the hat down over her head, until it fell on her shoulders.

"Miss Evans," said a tiny voice in her ear and she jumped, "What a difficult case you have dealt me. You have a wonderful mind, very strong and witty, but your courageous nature battles for the forefront. You would do well in Ravenclaw, bring joy to the house but I see you doing the best in... Gryffindor!"

She took off the hat and stood up shakily, walking to the house table. Several older boys whistled and howled as she took her seat, but she was done and felt wonderful. She caught the eye of James Potter and grimaced, why did he have to be so annoying?

"Lawrence, Brandon," and "Logan, Elizabeth" went into Ravenclaw and then "Longbottom, Frank" was called.

A tall boy with sandy brown hair walked up to the stool and sat down. Lily's attention wasn't on him though; it was on Alice who looked as though she'd seen her knight in shining armor come to call. Lily smiled brightly as she looked back and forth between the two of them; it was so cute. He was cute in a rather boyish sort of way, Lily surmised but the look on her friends face was priceless.

"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted and Alice clapped harder than anyone else. Lily wanted to laugh but knew it would hurt Alice's feelings; she just had to pretend like she didn't notice a thing. She thought Alice would have clapped if Frank had been sorted into Slytherin, but it really didn't matter if Alice was happy.

"Isn't he cute?" Erin asked and Lily quieted her down; she had enough boys to be getting on with. Alice deserved to have her very own crush.

"Lupin, Remus," the witch said and Remus was sorted quickly into Gryffindor. James clapped his hands gleefully; if he was sorted into Gryffindor as well he at least knew he would have someone to help him with his pranks.

"Nott, Edward" was sorted into Slytherin along with "Parkinson, Carl" and they walked to the table together amidst cheers from the green and silver clad Slytherin's.

"Pettigrew, Peter," was also sorted into Gryffindor after over three minutes on the stool, and James grinned because he had liked the boy immediately.

"Potter, James." He smiled brightly, walked up to the hat and slammed it on his head, feeling fairly confident in himself for the first time in his life.

A tiny voice resounded in his ear, "Ahhh, Mr. Potter, I can tell right away that you will be an asset and a burden to whichever house you are sorted into. You have qualities that each house would treasure, Mischief places you in the Slytherin bracket, bravery and courage for Gryffindor, Loyalty and friendship would place you in Hufflepuff and your clever wits would sort you into Ravenclaw. I have quite a peculiar mess on my hands. I think that you will do best in...Gryffindor!" it shouted the last word and James stepped down, placing the hat on the stool and walked cockily to the Gryffindor table.

After James sat down a pair of twins "Prewitt, Fabian," and "Prewitt, Gideon" were sorted into Ravenclaw. "Snape, Severus" was called up and James instantly recognized him as the greasy black haired boy who had picked on Peter. He felt his fist clench, and then unclench a bit as he was sorted into Slytherin. He saw Peter's face and suddenly felt pity on the boy. He looked terrified of the ugly, hook-nosed git.

"Don't worry, Peter, I'll protect you," he said and he felt Peter relax slightly.

"Turner, Alice," was called and she shakily stood up and Lily crossed her fingers underneath the table. She looked over at the boy Alice had been staring at earlier as if her life depended upon it and saw that he was holding his breath. She grinned and turned back to her friend.

"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted and Lily stood up and clapped loudly. Alice rushed over to Lily and Erin and they hugged each other and shrieked like mad women. They were going to be together! Then Professor McGonagall gave them a hard stare and they all sat down quickly and quietly.

"Vance, Emmeline," was the last name called and she went to Hufflepuff. The atmosphere relaxed greatly as soon as all the first years had been sorted, and then an old wizard with long silver hair and beard stood up and raised his hands. The hall instantly fell quiet and he smiled at all the students.

"Hello students, old and new. As the sorting hat said, some friends have passed on but more have just arrived. I want everyone to be at home here as we all should be; our houses are more than our families. They are our roots. The House-elves have prepared an amazing feast for us, so, without further adue, let's tuck in," he said and as he clapped his hands food appeared on the table.

"I can't believe we are all together, isn't it wonderful?" Lily asked excitedly. Erin and Alice nodded happily and dug into their food. Lily sighed and looked up the table and saw the boy who had come into her train compartment earlier. He was staring at her and it was a little unnerving.

She stared back at him hard and immediately he went back to his food as if Lily had caught him doing something wrong. She sighed and began eating; dinner was no fun without someone to talk to and Erin and Alice had full mouths.

"So, how does it feel to be out in the real world Black?" James asked with a tone of ultimate dislike in his voice. Sirius turned on him, his face red and fury shining in his eyes.

"You don't know anything Potter, so stay out of this and stay out of my way," he said and turned away from James. Remus watched the interaction between the two and sighed. Life with them would be anything but boring. In fact starting that very next day there would be more excitement than he had faced in his entire life and that was saying something.