James Potter and The Marauders' Map

Chapter Four: Hogwarts

"Are you alright, Prongs? Are you sure he didn't jinx you?" Said Sirius anxiously while all four of them hopped out of the red and black train.

"I've got to escort the first years. See you." Said Remus coldly. All throughout the ride, he did not speak to the other three. Sirius started saying bad things about Snape but James just kept on glaring at him, silently telling him to stop.

"See you then, Moony." Shouted Peter as Remus went to the scared first years. James was sure that he saw Remus give a piece of chocolate to a scared boy because of Hagrid. Hagrid was twice as big as an ordinary human, he was the gatekeeper of Hogwarts.

The three of them went to the other students of Hogwarts. They were able to get a self-moving carriage all for themselves. The whole ride was pure silence. Not a single one of them talked, even Sirius. When they reached the castle, they went to the Great Hall and it was blindingly beautiful.

There were 4 long brown tables each representing the different houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. There were floating candles above all the tables and all the students went to their respective tables. James sat beside Sirius while opposite him was Peter and he saved a seat for Remus. There were chattering of students from every corner, but still the three of them remained silent and waited anxiously for the first years to arrive.

On the end of the Great Hall was a long table for staffs of Hogwarts. At the end, the Divination teacher sat beside Professor Flitwick, who was the Charms teacher. Beside them was an empty chair which Hagrid usually seats, but since he was still escorting the first years, he wasn't there. Beside Hagrid's empty chair are 2 more chairs with Professors seated on it then on the middle sat an old looking man. He was seated, not on a wooden chair like the others, but with a rather dashing gold throne. It was Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster. Beside him was Professor McGonagall's empty chair. She was the head of James' house. After the empty chair, several more chairs with teachers seated on it can be seen.

"I'm starving. Where are the first years?" Muttered Sirius and James heard it. He just nodded at him. There he saw Lily, a few seats behind Remus' seat, who had just arrived. She was talking to her fellow fifth year Gryffindor girls and they were giggling and talking. James just sighed and looked at the great dark brown oak door which opened and Professor McGonagall was escorting scared and worried first years. Hagrid's empty chair was no longer unoccupied.

The sorting ceremony ended (Sirius unconsciously yelled "Yes!") and Dumbledore speech was shorter than usual. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter did not mind it though for they were all hungry from the long ride from Platform 9 and 3/4. At last, the food appeared right after Dumbledore's speech and James helped himself with the baked turkey right in front of him. Sirius' plate was full of mashed potatoes, a turkey leg, and chopped carrots and celery. Remus and Peter both ate turkey and mashed potatoes with extra gravy, of course. After the feast, Remus stood up and escorted the first years to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Peter and James waited until Sirius took one last bite on his turkey and stood up. They were already a foot away from the Great Hall when someone yelled James' name.

"Potter!" It was Professor McGonagall. James' heart sank and started to turn pink. Professor McGonagall was beside Professor Horace Slughorn, Head of Slytherin House, with Snape beside him.

"Pr-Professor?" Asked James although he knew exactly what she was going to say. Sirius hand touched James shoulder.

"We'll meet you in the Common room. Come on, Wormtail." He said then both of them vanished from James' sight.