Choosing Marauders *DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 5

Hagrid raised his massive fist, and knocked on the huge, oak door firmly. It swung open almost immediately. A pale, black haired witch was standing in the doorway, she looked young, but had a stern, no-nonsense expression, that told you she was not a person you wanted to cross.

"Better keep the pranking to a minimum around her" James whispered to Sirius.

He grinned.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door open fully. The entrance hall was massive, like you could probably fit a whole house in it! It was lit with flaming torches in brackets on the walls, a majestic marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They followed professor McGonagall across the stone floor. Sirius could hear hundreds of other voices chattering excitedly from a large doorway. The older students must already be there, he thought. However, that were not led into that room, instead she took them to a small chamber off the hall. They stumbled in, all rather tightly packed together.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room.

"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She left the chamber. James explained to Sirius that you were sorted using an old hat that could read your mind. This made him slightly uncomfortable. what if it saw his family? Their expectations? His mothers cruelty? The belt that his father kept handy?

"But don't worry, it doesn't say anything out loud" James said, reading Sirius's expression.

This calmed him down a bit, although his nerves came back when Professor McGonagall returned.

"Now, form a line," She told the first years "and follow me."

They walked out of the chamber and across the hall, through a pair of double doors that could only be the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

The first years were lead up to the staff table, where they turned around to face the students, their backs turned to the teachers. Professor McGonagall placed a three legged wobbly stool in front of the students. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. They all just stared at the hat, unsure what to do, when suddenly a rip opened, sort of like a mouth, and it began to sing"

'Oh you may not think me pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap! '

Everyone applauded when it was done. it tilted its point to bow at each of the four tables and then went still again.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Allenby, Charlotte!" a pretty girl with dark skin and a bun walked forward, picking at her nails. When she put on the hat, it fell right over her eyes, after about 15 seconds the hat shouted.

"RAVENCLAW!"

She pulled it off her head, glowing with happiness and relief.

Alice Fortescue was sorted into Gryffindor, Theodore Knott into Slytherin, Lily Evans into Gryffindor and Elise Prewett into Hufflepuff. There were plenty of others, but those were the only ones Sirius could remember.

After what felt like an eternity, Sirius heard his name being called. He broke away from the line, and walked over to the stool, he had barely lifted the hat onto his hear when it shouted

"GRYFFINDOR!"