Wolfstar Oneshots

The Sorting

Words: 1296

Description: The Marauders get sorted. Part 2 to The Train.

Story:

The four new friends got off the train at Hogsmeade Station as a group. James and Sirius shoved each other into walls like they'd known each other for years and Peter tried to keep up while Remus trailed behind, watching them fondly. 

The four got into the same row boat when the giant man named Hagrid told them to, and they sailed across the Black Lake, looking around in awe. 

"Careful, Petey," James whispered in a scary voice. "Lean too far over and the giant squid'll get ya!"

Peter yelped and fell back into the boat, crashing into Remus, who fought to keep a straight face through the full moon pain that was only three days prior.

"Nice one, James!" Sirius said, giving his new best mate a high five. 

Remus wasn't paying much attention to the three of them, instead staring in awe at the giant castle he'd dreamed about for years and never thought he'd see. 

The first years got off the boats and followed Hagrid up to giant doors that he said led to the 'Great Hall' and they waited there for a few minutes until one of the doors opened and an older witch stepped out with graying hair and a stern expression. Her emerald robes were hemmed to reveal healed boots and her hair was tied back into a witches hat. 

"Greetings, first years, I am Professor McGonagall, your transfiguration professor and the Gryffindor Head of House. If you would follow me in a single file line, we will begin the sorting."

Remus caught Sirius looking at him and he met wide frightened eyes with a mirrored expression. They were pushed with the flow of students into the Great Hall regardless and Remus found his heart racing at alarming speeds as he took in the vastness of the Great Hall and the many students that sat at four different tables and stared at him. 

He could practically feel their judging eyes and he hugged himself and subconsciously angled himself behind the other boys in an attempt to hide himself. 

McGonagall brought a three legged stool to the front of the Hall and set a worn old hat on top. "We will now begin the Sorting Ceremony of 1971."

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Most of the first years jumped when the brim of the Sorting Hat opened and he started to sing a song about the four houses. Not Sirius. He knew what was coming, as he'd been informed previously by his cousins. 

No, Sirius was anxious for other reasons. He was terrified, really. All his life he'd been raised to be the perfect Slytherin heir of the Most Noble House of Black. He'd always been one to cause trouble and rebel against his family's ideals, but it had always gotten him in trouble. He thought about what Regulus said, about how he couldn't wait for the two of them to be in Slytherin together. 

But then Sirius thought about his discussion with James on the train. How Sirius boldly stated that he would break tradition. Originally, he'd been acting to impress his new friend, but he had been thinking long and hard about the sorting the rest of the train ride. The more he thought about it, the more he knew he couldn't be sorted Slytherin. He just couldn't. 

He had to fight against his family's oppressive views because he knew in his heart that they were wrong. He glanced over at James who was bouncing on the balls of his feet, excited and confident that he would be sorted with the house of the brave. 

Sirius wanted to be like that. He wanted to be brave. 

He didn't miss the way the entire student body sat up a little straighter when his name was called. He didn't miss the cheers the Slytherin table sent his way, the murmurs about the heir of the House of Black. 

He walked with his head held high and his shoulders back and he sat on the stool as McGonagall set the Sorting Hat on his head. 

The hat was on his head for probably two seconds when it said, "Hm, better be...GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat came off his head and Sirius was met with a deafening silence. Everyone in the hall, including the professors stared with mouths agape. This was unprecedented. Sirius had broken tradition.

And then the Gryffindor table erupted in cheers and Sirius hopped off the stool and bounded over to wear a nice looking second year student patted the seat next to him and introduced himself as Frank Longbottom. 

Sirius couldn't keep the smile off his face, regardless of the nasty looks the Slytherins were giving him. He just knew he would have a great time in Gryffindor.

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Remus smiled at the joy on Sirius Black's face as he sat at Gryffindor. Remus wished he could be in Gryffindor, but he knew that he wouldn't. He wasn't brave. He was smart, maybe, but he didn't think the Ravenclaws would have him. He would've hoped to be accepted into Hufflepuff as well, but he knew he belonged in Slytherin. Dark creatures didn't deserve to be in the house of the brave, or smart, or kind and loyal. He didn't even really deserve to be in the house of the cunning and leaders. But he figured they would take him at least. 

" Lily Evans," Professor McGonagall announced and a red headed girl walked up to the stool and sat down. 

Remus counted seven seconds before the hat announced, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus's stomach turned when the professor called, "Remus Lupin."

James Potter patted him on the back and Sirius looked up from the Gryffindor table and watched him make his way attentively. 

Remus hid his hands in his sleeves as he sat down to hide the shaking and tried to take deep breaths as McGonagall lowered the hat over his head. He was petrified that the Sorting Hat would read his mind and see that he was a werewolf and he'd announce it to the whole school and he'd be sent to the Ministry--

"No need to worry, Mr. Lupin. Everything said under the hat stays under the hat. Why is it you think you are fit for Slytherin? They would destroy you in Slytherin if they found out your secret. You are smart and creative enough for Ravenclaw, but they will figure out your secret as well and may not be as accepting of you. Hufflepuff would be good for you, but you will not thrive there. You are quite brave, Mr. Lupin, perhaps one of the bravest eleven year olds I have ever seen. I see great things for you in Gryffindor, great friends and great opportunities."

And to the whole hall after about two minutes, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table shouted and cheered and Remus stumbled over to sit next to Sirius who was waving wildly, smiling wide.

The two sat and watched the rest of the sorting. Marlene McKinnon was sorted Ravenclaw, Dorcas Meadows Gryffindor, and then after a hat stall of three minutes, Peter Pettigrew was sorted Gryffindor. 

James was called next and he skipped up to the stool and the hat hadn't even touched his head when it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" 

Remus overheard Dumbledore chuckle and say to another professor that 'it must be a record'.

Remus had mostly tuned out of the sorting after that, tuning in to hear both Evan Rosier and Severus Snape be sorted Slytherin. 

After the feast, the four boys followed their prefects up to Gryffindor tower, amazed by the wonderful common room but too tired to explore it. They each settled into their own beds and fell asleep. 

Unbeknownst to them, that night fate brought them together, and it was the start of something great.

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