A stern-looking witch, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, led them inside and told them to wait.

Peter was telling James about his family. As it was not a favourable topic with Sirius, he let his eyes wander across the room lazily.

He saw red haired Lily standing beside Snivellus. She looked scared. Snape looked nervous and kept glancing over at her.

At the far end of the line stood a tall awkward looking girl with golden hair and deep blue eyes. She was looking scornfully at the short, round faced girl standing beside her, who was obviously on the verge of tears. Sirius noticed that the blonde girl was taller than all the girls and most of the boys except James, himself and a few others.

She caught him looking at her, and unblinkingly, blankly stared at him. They played an unannounced eye fight, and though he tried his best, Sirius couldn't help blinking first.

Sirius grinned at her, but she continued staring fixedly at him till the Professor came back and took them into the Great Hall.

A black, frayed hat which was lying on a stool near the teachers' table suddenly came to life and started a song:

Oh, you may not think I'm 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 folk 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!

Hearing that, Sirius thought that Gryffindor was indeed the best house. But his family had flipped when Andy became Ravenclaw, and Sirius could only guess what they'll do if he became a Gryffindor.

Professor McGonagall stood up with a list in her hands. The first name to be called was "Black, Sirius!"

Sirius walked to the stool and sat down, and for the first time in his life realized what being terrified meant. He put on the Sorting Hat.

"Not Slytherin-not Slytherin," he thought desperately.

"Not Slytherin, eh? That's only the second Black who asks for this. Let's see...lots of brains...and courage...and loyalty too..."

"Please not Slytherin," begged Sirius in his mind.

"No Slytherin qualities anyway...you'd better be...GRYFFINDOR!"

There was a pin drop silence in the room. Then the Gryffindor table began to clap, and James gave him a high-five as he walked to the table. Sirius chanced a glance at the Slytherin table where his cousin Bellatrix Black was glaring at him. As he turned to the Ravenclaw table however, he saw Andy smiling at him warmly. He waved at her and then turned back to listen to the Sorting.

"Evans, Lily!" It was the red haired girl from the train. After a few moments, the hat shouted "Gryffindor!" As she came to the Gryffindor table, Sirius moved to make space for her, but Lily, obviously recognizing him from the train, folded her arms and firmly turned her back on him.

After some others, came "Lynn, Alice!" The round faced girl went up, looking terrified and after a minute, she too was Gryffindor.

"Lupin, Remus!" A thin white faced boy walked shakily up to the stool. Sirius was surprised to hear the hat call out "Gryffindor!"

Remus came and sat beside Sirius. Sirius gave him a friendly smile, but Remus only smiled wanly at him before looking down.

The next name he heard was "McKinnon, Marlene!" It was the tall blonde girl. She became the Gryffindor at once.

Peter came next, and the hat was quiet for two minutes before declaring him a Gryffindor. Right next was James. He had barely placed the hat on his head before the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

James came over to Sirius, grinning.

"Snape, Severus!" It was the greasy boy. James saw Lily tense beside them.

The hat called, "Slytherin!"

As Snape walked towards their table, he turned to look at Lily, who gave him a sad smile.

Then the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore stood up, beaming.

"To my new students, welcome; to my old students, welcome back!" He opened his arms as if give a group hug to all of them. "Another new year at Hogwarts, which I hope, will end with your brains a little fuller than it is now. I also need to add that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds for all students." He glanced at two grinning boys sitting at the Gryffindor table. "And Mr. Filch tells me that Dungbombs are strictly banned in corridors. The list of other banned items may be seen on the notice board. I will not keep you any longer. Tuck in!"

On all the tables, loads of food appeared on golden plates and goblets.

All the first years exclaimed in delight, but Lily seemed to be most incredulous of all.

"How did this happen?" she asked.

Marlene, who was sitting beside her, said, "This is Hogwarts. Get used to it."

As they were eating, the two boys at whom the Headmaster had glanced during his speech, waved at Marlene.

"Glad you're in Gryffindor," said the elder one.

"Cheers!" said Marlene.

"Do you know them?" Lily asked curiously.

"They're family friends. Gideon and Fabian Prewett. How's Molly?" she asked them.

"All right. Did you know she and Arthur just had a baby boy?" said Gideon.

"No! Really?" asked Marlene, looking delighted.

"The McKinnons and Prewetts have always been friends, you know," said James in a low voice.

Sirius nodded. "Our family's close with the Malfoys. Heard of them?"

"Yes, I have. Sirius, I do think it's awful that your family-"

"Quite," said Sirius, shortly, wishing that he'd not said anything.

"Sorry, I didn't-" began James.

"It's all right, never mind," said Sirius, grinning.

The meal was over at last. A tall boy at the Gryffindor table stood up.

"First years, follow me," he said commandingly.

"That's Benjy Fenwick. Our 6th year Prefect," said Gideon to the group of first years.

They moved through the moving stairs and dark confusing corridors-with Lily exclaiming and asking Marlene for explanations all the time-and reached for the portrait of a fat lady.

"Password?" she asked.

"Fortuna Major," said Benjy. She swung open to reveal the common room. Benjy showed them their dormitories.

"There are four of you, isn't it? Normally there are five," said Benjy, ushering James, Sirius, Peter and Remus in. Then he sent the girls-Lily, Marlene, Alice and Mary MacDonald-into their dorm.

In the boys' dorm they undressed and went to bed straight away, tired out.

"G'night James, Peter, Remus," said Sirius sleepily.

"Good night," came three answers.

A/N: Please do vote!