When It's All Over

September 1, 1971 (part two)

Remus found that he did not like the small, enchanted boats that first years had to ride in to get to the castle. He very much preferred his feet to be firmly on the ground.

Peter was in the same boat (quite literally), and could not stop himself from getting sick into the lake. Sirius and James, who also accompanied them in the boat, were switching between hysterical laughter at the green look on both of their faces, and absolute disgust when Peter would hurl.

"Blimey, Peter, it was a five minute boat ride," James commented as Peter leaned against the railing on the docks when they climbed out of the boats.

Peter was too afraid to open his mouth to dignify James' teasing with a rebuttal.

"First years! Gather around!" A professor, probably early to mid thirties, exclaimed from the front steps. She was wearing long, deep emerald robes and a pointed hat. Remus' first assumption, based upon what James and Sirius had talked about on the train, was that she was head of Slytherin house.

The professor spoke with a Scottish accent, and her words were so rapid-fire that Remus had trouble comprehending everything she was telling them.

Sorting Ceremony. Speech. Feast. Prefects. Dorms. Dumbledore.

The words flew around them at a million miles a minute. Remus' head spun as he tried to keep up.

"C'mon mate," James nudged him, and Remus realized that the crowd of students had begun moving up the front steps, following the professor that had been speaking to them.

The entrance to the castle was beyond breathtaking-- so much so that Remus wondered how the castle could become even grander. It wasn't until they entered the Great Hall that his question was answered.

Floating candles bobbed lazily above four long tables, all of which were filled with students dressed in robes that matched their designated flag.

On the far left end of the hall, a series of green banners donning a serpent hung. The children who were sitting there fluxuated between rowdy and prissy, just as Sirius had described. This, Remus put together, was the Slytherin house.

In the center of the hall, next to Slytherin, was a table full of bubbly kids all greeting one another enthusiastically. They wore yellow and black, matching their house flag that had a badger upon it. Remus smiled to himself as he realized this was the Hufflepuff house, and that Peter may not be too far off. He could see the boy among these enthusiastic personalities.

Beside Hufflepuff was a table that Remus took a particular liking to. Blue and silver decorated their flag, with an eagle being the center. Many students chatted politely and quietly, while others excitedly showed off a few of their new accomplishments from over the summer.

The table at the very far right of the hall was the loudest, by far, but the students were exuberantly reuniting. This was the Gryffindor house, there was no doubt about it. The gold lion crest in the center of the red flag confirmed this for Remus, and he hoped once more that this is where he ended up.

Students were starting to make their way up to the top of the steps, Remus noticed, realizing that he had zoned out as he took in his magnificent surroundings. He wanted to pinch himself to make sure it was real. 

The girl sitting on the stool wore a hat on her head, and Remus watched in amazement as it boisterously bellowed "RAVENCLAW!" 

The table with students decked out in blue and bronze cheered excitedly, and Remus watched as student after student walked up to the front and were sorted to each house. 

"Sirius Black!" The professor, who Remus believed introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, exclaimed. 

Sirius suddenly looked quite timid, his face having gone pale. He made his way up to the stool where Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head. There was silence for a moment as the hat pondered Sirius' placement. Remus glanced towards James who was watching the sorting ceremony closely.