The Fifth Marauder

Year One: The Headmaster

His jaw dropped as he entered the Great Hall. The other students were seated at four long tables under a ceiling that looked like the night sky. Candles floated above their heads and Percy worried that wax would drip down and burn them. No one else seemed concerned about that.

Professor McGonagall walked up to a wooden stool where an old, worn hat was sitting. "When I call your name," she announced, the students quieting instantly, "you will step up to get Sorted. Arnold, Simon!"

The boy went forward, sat on the stool, and hat the hat placed on his head. It took only thirty seconds before a fold on the hat ripped open and it screamed, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Percy nearly jumped in shock as the kid ran over to the yellow table on the middle-right. They had to sit under a talking hat? The absurdity of it made him want to laugh. He felt like he ought to not be surprised by the wizards' nonsense at this point, but they continued to surprise him in unexpected ways.

Shortly later, Sirius's name was called. The boy winked at their group, trying to mask his anxiety, before jumping up to the stool. Despite his showy attitude, he looked scared out of his mind. Percy remembered something about the boy saying his whole family was in Slytherin.

It took a few minutes on Sirius's head before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius's face paled in a panicky expression and he looked at the green table in terror. A few of the older students there were staring at him in disgust. The hall cheered after the delayed silence and Sirius went off to the far left table with tense shoulders. Based on what he knew and the school's reaction, Percy realized that Sirius going to Gryffindor was a big deal.

After him, a girl with blonde hair was sorted into Slytherin. Lily got Sorted next into Gryffindor, followed by a boy who went to Ravenclaw. Percy got lost in his thoughts after that. At least Sirius would be with their new friends. Potter and Pettigrew had both said they wanted Gryffindor, and James had declared his whole family had been in the house. Percy just knew that the four boys would end up in Gryffindor and he'd been stuck somewhere else and would have to make new friends all over again. The thought filled him with fear. These were the only friends he'd ever had!

"Jackson, Perseus!" Professor McGonagall cried.

Percy walked up to the stool with shaking hands. He saw Potter give him a thumbs up, and Lupin nodded at him. The hat was lowered on his head, and a voice filled his mind.

Hmm, a peculiar mind here.

Percy immediately disliked the hat. He had been told he was dense and stupid by humans enough and did not need a talking hat to tell him the same.

You're cunning when you need to be, oh yes, that is very clear. Smart, with untapped potential, but not particularly interested in that. Courageous, too...But wait...perhaps Hufflepuff? Yes, I see it now. Loyal to a fault, you are!

Oh no, Percy squeezed his eyes shut. This hat was going to put him in Hufflepuff. It seemed like a fine house, one he would be lucky to get in. But he wouldn't get to see any of his friends. He felt like the universe was against him. He couldn't leave them, they were the only friends he'd ever made. He had to be in Gryffindor!

I should put you in Hufflepuff just for that, the hat chortled. But very well. If you wish it, you'll be in "GRYFFINDOR!"

Percy grinned in relief as he hopped off the stool. He ran over to the Gryffindor table, plopping down across from Sirius and Lily as the others were Sorted. He was too excited to even worry that he should really be in Hufflepuff. Right after Percy was Remus, who ripped the hat off his head after getting sorted into Gryffindor as well. He came to sit next to Percy, who clapped him on the shoulder eagerly. Surprisingly, Lupin hadn't seemed to mind that. And sure enough, Percy had been right, for both Pettigrew and Potter joined them at the table a little while later.