Year One: The Mauraders and the Forbidden Forest

Chapter 2: Acquaintances and Sorting

King's Cross Station was filled with people buzzing about in different directions. The active movement around the area caused Sirius Black to look around, dizzy and confused. It took him a while to find the right directions to his train. Why didn't his mother bring him over to Platform 9 3/4 herself? Sirius shrugged. He was told beforehand where and how to get there anyway. The boy grumbled to himself concerning his luggage and how all the Muggles seemed to be staring strangely at him.

Somewhere around the corner he heard the sound of a girl asking for Platform 9 3/4. Sirius, groaning and thinking that the girl must have been left as well, turned around to see who it was. A few meters in front of him was a girl with red hair tied in two braids. He saw her frown when the officer told her that she was being foolish in asking for such a platform.

"But, sir," was her urgent voice, "The ticket says--"

"That darn ticket, little girl, is misleading you! Now, be off!"

Put out, the girl stomped away, dragging her cart of things to bring to Hogwarts. She heard someone call to her. "Hey, you, red head girl!"

Green eyes looked at Sirius questioningly, and the girl pointed to herself. Sirius rolled his eyes and nodded, beckoning to her. "Yes, I'm talking to you! Get over here!"

Finally, the girl came over, her frown deeper than before. "Why didn't you just go over to where I was? It would have been a lot easier."

"Nice to meet you, too," Sirius replied, "The name's Sirius Black. And you are?"

"Lily Evans," the girl answered, still a bit hostile. "Why did you call me over?"

Sirius pointed towards Platforms nine and ten. "I suppose you wanted to know where Platform 9 3/4 would be found. Come on, I'm heading there myself."

In the place of coldness, Lily smiled with excitement. "So, you're a wizard, too!"

"SHH!" the boy said, covering her mouth, and dragging her along with his cart. "Not too loud! Muggles will hear you!"

They stopped next to a pillar in between the ninth and tenth platform. The black haired boy pointed to it. "We go through that. Make sure not many people see you, though. It could cause a riot around here. Go on ahead. I'll follow."

She looked at him, her expression filled with disbelief. "You want me to walk into a wall? Why don't you go ahead?"

Sirius turned to her and gave her a skeptical look. This was, of course, his first time as well, and he had no idea if the platform actually worked the way he said it would... "Are you kidding me? You go first!"

"Why don't we both go in at the same moment?" Lily asked crossly. "Look, we're wasting our time, the train is about to leave soon and I wouldn't know how to get to Hogwarts any other way."

Her "companion" gathered up his courage. He blinked twice and shrugged. "Fine, on the count of three, we ram into the wall."

Lily giggled. "What happened to making sure the Muggles don't see us?"

"Oh well, forget them," the boy said, and he got ready to push the cart into rough concrete. "Ready...one...two..."

Lily held her breath. Now was the time. When the count of "THREE!" was heard, she quickly walked to the solid pillar and rammed herself into brick and cement. Their hasty entering caused a number of things to happen. One had been the fact that they managed to make it into the platform. Sirius controlled himself and stopped in time without further collision. However, for the girl with him, she slammed into another wizard, who had been moving towards the train. Sirius laughed as he helped the bewildered Lily to her feet.

The young girl quickly dusted herself, turning as red as a beet. She apologized over and over for her rash behavior, but the young student brushed it off, mumbling to himself. "That's alright. I'm fine, thank you."

"Here, let me help you with those," Lily said, still embarrassed.

"No, that's okay..."

Sirius saw the conductor blow his whistle and warn the people in the platform that the train was leaving. The young boy also watched as students filed past, hurrying their way into the train. He looked on and finally cleared his throat. "Maybe we should all be heading towards the train now? I don't know, but it seems to me that hardly any student is left outside anymore..."

The boy grew alarmed and pulled his cart towards the train's entrance. Lily glared at Sirius and followed suite. Sirius scratched his head. "What did I do? All I said was that the train was leaving..."

By the time they got in, most of the compartments were already full. Older students closed the doors when they saw first years coming. It became obvious that Sirius and his two companions weren't welcome as he poked his head in one of the compartments, occupied by two witches. One of them glared and placed her bag on the empty seat beside her. Sirius frowned. There had to be a few first years around here, right?

***

"The train's leaving," Sarah said, turning to her friend, who was fumbling with a tiny golden object encased in plastic. Silvery wings protruded from the sides, flapping wildly.

James gave a slight nod before going back to what he was doing. He grumbled when he tried to force the golden object into submission. "Dang Snitch...it won't go inside..."

A head full of red hair popped inside their compartment. "Um...hello, do you have any space for three more people?"

The blonde girl smiled cheerfully at them and moved her stuff to make room. "Sure, why not? I'm Sarah Morran, by the way."

From outside, Sarah heard the slight whisper of, "Not fair! Her first try, and she's managed to get us a seat in this train!"

"I'm Lily Evans," the girl with green eyes said, also introducing her two companions, "That's Sirius and Peter with me."

Sarah was looking at her friend, who didn't seem to notice that three students came in to join them. His friend nudged him on the shoulder, resulting in his crying out, "Ow! Sarah, what was that for?!"

James glared at his friend, brown eyes glittering through his glasses. He did finally notice the three new people in his compartment and blinked. "Oh! Hey, I'm James Potter. I suppose you've already met my friend, Sarah."

Of course, after giving them a small greeting, the boy went back to his business, still trying to force the golden object into his bag. Lily fell into deep conversation with Sarah, who she found out was a half-Muggle. Her father neglected to tell her she was a witch until she turned ten, when the letter arrived as basic confirmation. Boy, was her poor mother completely surprised! Sarah's mum wouldn't talk to her father until he had conjured their plot of land into a blooming garden of azaleas and carnations, her favorite flowers. And, well, as Sarah mentioned to Lily, here she is. "Not to mention, I had no idea me friend James here was a wizard, too! It seemed me Dad's made sure I met someone to go to school with."

Sirius and Peter, the young boy who had bumped into Lily outside of the Hogwarts Express, were huddled near James, whispering to him. Lily glanced over and saw that the object James was handling moved about with excitement. She had never seen such a thing. So, the curious Muggle-born that she was, she came closer. "Hey, what is that?"

Sirius stared at her, amazed at her magical ignorance. "It's a Snitch. The most important object in Quidditch, a wizard game. I'll show you more about it when the actual season starts in school."

"I thought you couldn't try out for Quidditch until your second year," Peter pointed out.

James nodded, "Yeah, but hey, just because I can't try out doesn't mean I can't have my own Snitch. Call it a good luck charm, I suppose."

An elder witch opened the compartment, pushing a tray of food in front of her. "Anything off the racks, children?"

Sarah's friend tilted his head. "Any candy, Sarah? I recommend the chocolate frogs. If you don't mind, I'd like the card inside."

Taking his suggestion, Sarah bought some chocolate frogs while Lily followed Sirius' example in purchasing a small bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. A few moments later, the compartment opened up again, and a black haired student came in. He raised his eyebrow at the company. "If you don't mind, I do suggest that everyone gets dressed soon. The train will be reaching its destination in a matter of minutes."

Before leaving, the student turned to them and added, "Oh, by the way, I suggest you clean up. You're all a mess."

"What nerve," Sarah mumbled after the student closed the compartment. "Who does he think he is?"

Sirius frowned. "Probably one of those rich pureblood wizards."

James looked up, questioningly. What was bad in being pureblood? Instead of arguing back, he ignored the comment and decided to put his robes on. Besides, it didn't take long for the train to stop. The students filed out. Lily and the others heard a man screaming about for the first years. "Firs' years over here!"

They saw a towering man leading the first year students over to the lake. The group was split into two boats as they headed towards Hogwarts castle. To Lily's opinion, the castle glowed with magical aura. The lake was reflecting its luminescence. Most of the wizards, whether they be Muggle-born or not, looked up at the castle in awe. Lily read about the castle in one of her books, but seeing it in reality was even more breathtaking. She couldn't believe her eyes.

The group was led inside the castle, where a young witch dressed in dark purple stood waiting. The witch was very young, and it surprised Lily that someone as young as her would be a Head witch. "If you would please form two lines, we could start towards the Great Hall. Follow me..."

Lily looked around the lines of the first years. In the corner of her eye she glimpsed the same girl whose mother helped her around Diagon Alley. She waved to the girl, and the surprised student waved back, smiling. The young witch led them through long wooden tables filled with Hogwarts students of all ages, talking about excitedly. The red head looked at the ceiling, remembering that the ceilings were bewitched. True enough, when she did look up, she saw not the ceiling but the night sky. To her, Hogwarts was beautiful, and it took her a while to realize that candles were floating about on the sides. Many of the first years muttered and pointed at the different wonders of the Great Hall.

When they made it into the front of the hall, the young witch headed into another room, returning with a stool and an old hat. She placed the hat on the stool, and the room was pervaded into silence. The older students wanted to see which student will be joining their houses. After a few moments of silence, the hat moved and began to sing, to Lily's astonishment.

"Sometimes you think I'm worthless,

Sometimes you think I'm neat,

Dear, I wish to tell you that

Our meeting is such a treat!

Does a sorting hat need be pretty?

Should it gleam and trend in fashion?

No, but at least my words can give

More than one reaction.

Four Houses I'm to sort you in,

Which one will you end up to be?

For certainly no other hat

Can tell you this but me.

Are you brave? Are you noble?

Are you everything above?

Then Gryffindor's the place for you,

To share your warmth and love.

Are you wise? Intelligent? Clever?

Do you think your wits are sharp?

Ravenclaw house you do belong,

For no house can be so smart.

Loyal? True? Faithful, too?

Put friends and family first?

I will scream out Hufflepuff!

Kindness is what they thirst.

If you don't belong among those three,

Then power is indeed what you seek,

In ambitious Slytherin I say to you,

Not for the gentle, kind, and meek.

In Ravenclaw? In Slytherin?

In Gryffindor? In Hufflepuff?

Good luck to you as you put me on,

I think I've said enough."

The older students clapped after the hat became silent once more. The witch, who was now holding a list of the students' names, began to call each one up to try the sorting hat on. "Abessy, Elessa!"

A pale girl with light brown hair stepped up nervously. She sat on the stool and the sorting hat was placed on her head. Silence...and then... "RAVENCLAW!"

The table with blue robes clapped heartily for their new member. Again, there was silence. The young woman continued to call out names of the new students. "Belle, Melanie!"

Lily saw the girl she waved at stand up. The red head noticed that her name brought a few murmurs from the students. Peter drew in near her and whispered, "Her parents are one of the richest wizards around. No doubt she'll probably end up in Ravenclaw. All of her family's been placed there."

Sirius frowned at the small piece of information. He wasn't very fond of rich folk.

"GRYFFINDOR!" was the unexpected reply. The black haired girl froze on the stool, shocked at this strange turn of events. However, the witch next to her helped her out of the seat, and the girl was placed on the Gryffindor table. Instead of being completely horrified, Melanie merely sighed and remained silent, awaiting the results of the rest of the sorting.

"Black, Sirius!"

Sirius gulped down his nerves and walked slowly up at the chair. As the hat reached him it immediately yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

He clambered up and walked quickly towards the Gryffindor table, which applauded yet again.

"Donovan, Samantha!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Donovan, Samuel!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Elsord, Michael!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The sorting hat finally reached "Evans, Lily," and the red head took a deep breath. The girl sat down on the stool and she felt the black hat slide on top of her head. Lily jumped a bit as she heard the hat talking inside of her head. "Yes...hmm...a brave mind...but intelligent, too...where should I put you? Ah...I know! GRYFFINDOR!"

Lily bounded happily and she saw Sirius scowl. He had thought to get rid of her at this point. "Lupin, Remus!"

A thin, pale boy walked up, uncertainty in his eyes. He glanced at a man sitting at the center of the high table, where all the teachers seem to be gathered. The wizard nodded at him encouragingly. As he sat down, the sorting hat was placed on top of his head. The hat slid down his head and engulfed him inside. He was so small.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Morran, Sarah!" the blonde skipped up to the sorting hat, happily awaiting the house she was going to be placed in. "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Patil, Presea!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Pettigrew, Peter!" and "Potter, James!" were both answered with the word "GRYFFINDOR!" The black haired boy that spoke to Lily and the people in her compartment stepped up when his name was called ("Snape, Severus!"). He smiled knowingly as the sorting hat exclaimed, "SLYTHERIN!"

A few more students were sorted and distributed into the houses, and finally, the sorting was over. The wizard at the center chair stood up and requested for everyone to stay seated as he gave a few announcements. He looked at the students, shades of blue twinkling through his half-moon spectacles. "Welcome, first years! Welcome! Glad to see you here. As for all of you, I have some very important announcements to make."

"As always, in Hogwarts tradition, we will be having our Quidditch match this year. First years, of course, will not be able to try out, as they are not allowed a broom just yet. However, everyone is welcome to witness the games all season."

Lily bent over to Sirius and whispered, "Who's the wizard?"

Sirius nodded towards him, "That's Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. They say he's really powerful."

Professor Dumbledore went on speaking. "I remind you again, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all Hogwarts students, regardless of rank. I mean it...everyone."

At this point, he gave a small glance at the Ravenclaw table. Afterwards, he smiled, turning his head to face the witch that had led Lily and the rest of the first years into the Great Hall. "And, I would like to introduce you all to a few new teachers. Professor Cassandra Lobiesk is our new Deputy Headmistress. And, for you Ravenclaws, she will be your Head of House, seeing that Professor Lanceta will no longer be joining us this year. For everyone else, Professor Lobiesk will be your Charms teacher, so know her well."

The woman nodded, a slight hint of a blush creeping up her cheeks. James was amazed. She couldn't be older than 20, and she was already elected as a high ranking official in the school. After a few claps and an occasional whistle of admiration from the male population, Dumbledore went on, "Also, please welcome your new Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor! Minerva, stand up, please, so that we can see you."

Another young woman dressed in green stood up. Black hair was pulled up in a bun, and square spectacles framed the face. Also to Lily's eyes, the teacher was no younger than four and twenty. A couple of older students from different tables whistled and clapped again, acknowledging the professor as they did the Head of Ravenclaw. Professor Dumbledore chuckled, "That's Professor McGonagall, so please respect her and I'm sure she will be pleasant in return."

To finish, he turned to the students, seriousness in tone, "Lastly, I would like to tell you that we have added a new structure to our grounds. Near the Forbidden Forest there is a large tree. That is our Whomping Willow. Whoever should choose to get too close will face the consequence of death by extreme torture. Now! Please, let's go on to the feast! Enjoy!"

A variety of food appeared on the table, pleasing to the eye and pleasurable to the tongue. The whole of Hogwarts feasted that night. It didn't take long until everyone began to get bloated. However, Sirius and James were still helping themselves on mashed potatoes and turkey. Sarah eyed them with wonder. "Even after all you've eaten, you're still hungry?"

"Why not?" Sirius replied gulping down some of his food. "I'm eleven and growing, you know."

Finally, Dumbledore stood up again. "Prefects! Please show the first years to their common rooms!"

An auburn haired student with a prefect badge beckoned for the first years to follow him. They went up a few staircases and reached the Gryffindor tower. A picture of a lady in pink was facing them, and the prefect merely spoke "Silen Quietus" to open up the common room.

The females and males were separated into different dormitories. Lily, Sarah, and the girl Melanie managed to get into the same room, along with three other girls. And fortunately, Peter, Sirius, and James stuck together as well. Three other boys were in the room, among them was the pale boy named Remus. He picked the last bed in the corner and started to unpack. He was a bit nervous, and he was hardly sure what to expect. Will anyone be friendly to him? Is anyone smart enough to know his secret?

Remus Lupin was a puzzle to most, but James saw him as a particularly shy boy. The young Potter brought it amongst himself to befriend Remus and introduce him to anyone he knew. But...he'd have to wait until the next morning. He was so tired...