Chapter Three – The Sorting Ceremony

"I may not be that much to see,

But I am the Sorting Hat,

I can tell where you should be

And much, much more than that!

Perhaps in Ravenclaw you'll come to live,

Where if you're smart they've much to give.

They prize their learning above the rest,

So if seeking knowledge, that's where you're best.

If wealth and power is what you desire,

In Slytherin your thirst you'll sate.

Gain and profit they inspire,

For their ambition indeed is great.

In Hufflepuff they are good and true,

Hard work they do not fear,

So if honesty is dear to you,

Your place is truly here.

Brave of heart is Gryffindor;

They seem to feel no fear,

So if you love good honour,

You will find your home is here.

So come and put me on your head

And I'll tell you where to go.

For I'm Hogwarts Sorting Hat,

And I'm smarter than you'll ever know."

When the remarkable object had finished, McGonogall cleared her throat loudly, causing the enthralled children to start almost guiltily.

"When your name is read out, come forward to sit on the stool and place the hat on your head. You will be sorted in this manner."

There was a pause as she opened the scroll and held it at arm's length before her.

"Abbot, David!" she called. The boy in question walked forward nervously, and picked the hat gingerly off the stool. He lifted it to his head and sat down. There was a moment's silence before the hat yelled out its verdict.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

David got up, removed the hat and trotted off to join the Hufflepuff table.

---

Remus watched Jacob Avery become a Slytherin, and felt a dreadful certainty settle over him like a stifling cloak. The hat will know. A strange, quivering nothingness was growing in his belly. It will see. He put a hand to his stomach. Will it tell everybody?

He remembered what James had said about Slytherin House.

I am dark, he thought. Werewolf means dark. He could hardly breathe. The hat will put me in Slytherin.

Cold fingers clutched at his throat.

What's wrong with me? Am I getting ill?

He heard Professor McGonogall call out 'Black, Sirius!' but her voice was distant and distorted as if he was deep underwater. Through a wall of grey mist he saw Sirius jog toward the Gryffindor table, and a roar of applause like the sea breaking on rocks greeted the first Gryffindor of the year. Remus looked on numbly as more first years jogged out to join their new tables

I am dark, I am dark, I am dark…

'Lupin, Remus!'

At the sound of his own name he walked forward automatically, feeling as if he was in a dream. He sat and placed the hat on his head.

I am dark, I am dark, I am d –

No, you aren't, whispered a new voice in his head.

I am dark, I am, I am, I'm –

The moon isn't dark, little lycanthrope, insisted the voice. It is only surrounded by it.

As if it had heard the hat, the darkness in Remus' mind receded.

Where will you put me, then?

Certainly not Slytherin! I've never seen a mind with so few ambitions. And you have too many secrets for Hufflepuff… But you are clever; you could be in Ravenclaw. Or Gryffindor…

But I'm not brave, Remus pointed out.

Why would you think that? You're the bravest person in the castle.

'Gryffindor!' roared the hat without waiting for a reply. Remus snatched it from his head, and then he was walking quickly to the Gryffindor table. He was completely overwhelmed by the welcome he received; he couldn't remember ever getting so much attention in his whole life. People were grinning at him and patting him heartily on the back, saying things like 'Well done Lupin!' and 'I knew you were a Gryffindor as soon as I saw you!'

Sirius grabbed his arm and pulled Remus down to sit next to him.

'Boy, I'm relieved you're in Gryffindor! I hope James will be too, we could have loads of fun together!'

Remus murmured his baffled agreement, wondering if he had missed something. This boy seemed to be assuming that they would be friends. Was he expecting something from Remus? Perhaps Sirius thought he was rich, or that he was clever. Maybe he wanted Remus to do his homework for him? He didn't have much time to wonder though, because in between sortings, the other first years were introducing themselves. As well as Sirius and Remus, Sophie Brommel, Isobel Dwinn, Lily Evans and Frank Longbottom had already been sorted into Gryffindor, and Kieran Patil, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, Sarah Reed and Alice Sandwell soon joined them. Sirius seemed delighted when James joined them, but surprised by Peter's arrival. He was positively glowing by the time Sarah, who was very pretty, had sat down at the end of the table.

---

When all the first years had been sorted into their new houses, the wizard that Remus recognised as Albus Dumbledore stood up at the teachers' table. Silence immediately fell in the Great Hall.

'Welcome to Hogwarts! I hope that those of you who are returning to life here find it at least as pleasing as ever you did, and that those of you who are new to it find it more pleasing than anything else you have ever encountered!

'I have just a few important things to tell you, and then you may forget everything I have said and get stuck into the feast:

'First, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students.

'Second, a new tree has been planted on the grounds. It is a rare and rather dangerous species, the Whomping Willow, and I ask you all to steer clear of it, for your own safety.

'Thirdly, no magic is to be done in the corridors, and duelling is prohibited. If you wish to see a full list of things you mustn't do, just ask Argus Filch the caretaker.

'Fourthly, that is all! Thank you for listening, and I hope you all have a wonderful year. Merlin's blessing on the meal!'

At these last words, countless gold and silver dishes piled high with every single type of food imaginable suddenly appeared on the tables. They all started loading up their solid gold plates with food and splashing pumpkin juice into their goblets, and for a good half an hour no one spoke, unless it was to ask for something, with their mouth full.

---

'Remus Lupin?'

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and saw a redheaded youth with a 'Head Boy' badge pinned to the front of his robes.

'Yes?'

'I'm Arthur Weasley,' he said, 'come with me please.'

Abandoning his bowl of banoffee pie, Remus got up, oblivious to the puzzled looks his new classmates threw at him as he followed Weasley out of the Great Hall.

The Head Boy explained that Dumbledore wished to talk to Remus, and led him high up into the castle through a maze of corridors and up countless staircases. Remus automatically memorised the route without even having to try.

Finally they arrived at the entrance to a tower, and Weasley murmured a password to the gargoyle that guarded it. Remus heard it, and memorised that too. The gargoyle sprang aside, revealing a stone spiral staircase.

'I'll wait here and take you to the common room when you're done,' said Weasley kindly, 'it's almost impossible not to get lost in this place!'

---

The door at the top of the staircase swung open as Remus reached it.

'Come in, dear boy,' called Dumbledore cheerfully, 'come in and sit down!'

Remus perched on the edge of a huge armchair and looked at his hands, which lay curled in his lap.

'Well Mr Lupin, I trust you are well? I thought I would just take a moment of your time to remind you of the arrangements we have made for you.

'The Whomping Willow has been planted successfully, and I feel quite sure it will guard the entrance to the tunnel satisfactorily. Rumours have also been planted successfully, in the village of Hogsmeade. They are very reliable, as I started them myself,' his eyes twinkled mischievously, 'and they should deal with any unusual noisesat full moon.'

He paused, his smile fading as he regarded the silent boy.

'Remus, you are not the wolf,' he said quietly and seriously, 'you are afflicted by it, but it is not you. Do not forget that you are as normal and as worthy a person as any of the other students at Hogwarts.'

Remus looked up and met the wizard's gaze evenly. The expression in his queer eyes was unfathomable, and Dumbledore surprised himself by looking away after a moment. When he looked back a split second later, Remus was already staring down at his hands again.

'Very well, Lupin, you may go. As your head of house Professor McGonogall will escort you to the shack on the day of the full moon. Go to her office at the beginning of the lunch hour while everyone is in the Great Hall, and you should not be observed as you cross the grounds.'

'Thank you, Headmaster,' said Remus, and rose to go.

'Remus, if you have any problems, do not hesitate to bring them to me or to Professor McGonogall. We would be happy to help you in any way we could.'

'Thank you, Headmaster,' nodded Remus.

When the boy had gone, Dumbledore sank back into his chair, feeling slightly shaken. Never before had he felt that he had completely failed to understand someone.

---

Weasley came to a halt in front of the portrait of a rather fat woman dressed in pink. She beamed down at the Head Boy, looking proud.

'Welcome back Arthur!' she said warmly. 'Congratulations on making Head Boy! I had a feeling you would. Password?'

'Thanks! Banoffee pie.'

The portrait swung forward revealing a door in the wall, and closed itself when the two boys had walked through into a large but cosy room decorated in red and gold. A fire roared cheerfully on the great stone hearth, and a few people were still sitting around on the armchairs and sofas, chatting quietly.

'Well Lupin, this is the Gryffindor common room. The password at the moment is 'banoffee pie,' but it gets changed roughly once a week. You'll be told when it changes. Don't worry if you have questions about anything, just ask me or one of the prefects. I suggest you get off to bed now, classes start at nine tomorrow. The boy's dormitories are through that door there,' he pointed to a door with a very lifelike picture of a lion painted on it, 'you're in Dorm One. Your trunk is already there. Sleep well!'

Remus nodded his thanks and made his way to the dormitory, where the other first-year boys were sitting on their beds chatting.

'Hey Remus!' Sirius grinned in welcome, 'Where'd the Head Boy take you?'

'You're not in trouble already are you?' laughed James.

'No, I'm not. The Headmaster just wanted to talk to me,' explained Remus, moving to the empty bed by the window where his trunk lay.

'About what?' asked Sirius curiously.

'He wanted to tell me some things.'

'About what?' persisted Sirius.

'About the school,' said Remus truthfully as he began to unpack his trunk.

The others seemed to accept that this was all they were going to get out of him, and one by one they changed into the pyjamas and got into bed. When all his things were stowed away in the cabinet and his trunk was under the bed, Remus climbed into the four-poster, drew the hangings around him and undressed. He slid under the duvet and lay still, staring up into the darkness until sleep came slowly and quietly to close his eyes.