Four in a Million

Chapter 1

Hogwarts Bound

PART I- Platform 9 and 3/4

James Potter was very excited about his first day of Hogwarts. He was going to the finest Wizarding school in the country to learn how to be a good wizard. He had read a few of his school books over the summer, but he had spent most of his time thinking of good pranks to play on unsuspecting roommates. James hoped that he would find a friend to help him with this.

"James," he heard a voice behind him say softly. He turned around to see who had spoken. It was his mother, Rachel. "Are you ready to go through?"

James looked at the solid barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 and nodded. He then ran with his trunk through the barrier and onto Platform 9 3/4. A few seconds later, his mother appeared on the platform. "James," she said, "Have fun this year. And don't get in too much trouble. And take care of yourself."

"Don't worry, Mum," James said, seeing the sad expression on his mother's face. "I'll write all the time, and I'll try to be good. And I'll be home during vacation, which is only four months away."

"Bye, James," his mother said, trying to hold back tears. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mum." James boarded the train and waved to his mum. Rachel Potter watched her only son go away to school, and thought about how lonely the next four months would be.

"Sirius Black, get back here right now!"

Sirius turned around to see his mother standing a few feet behind him, looking very annoyed. He walked over to her, took his trunk, and walked back up to the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10.

"SIRIUS ADAM BLACK, GET BACK HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!"

"I'm coming, Mum." Sirius walked back to his mother and smiled, pretending he didn't know he'd done anything wrong. His mother, however, knew he was just faking.

"Sirius," she said, "Next time, could you please wait for me before you go running off to school? I'm not going to see you for another four months and 20 days, so could you please just say goodbye first?"

"Goodbye, Mum," Sirius said. "I'll miss you while I'm gone."

"Listen to your sister. And write."

"I will, Mum."

"I love you, Sirius."

"I love you too, Mum."

Sirius disappeared into the crowd of people in front of the barrier. Ariel Black turned to her daughter, Merope. "Take care of him, Merope. And make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."

"I will, Mum. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

While Ariel was talking to Merope, Sirius was walking toward Platform 9 3/4. He looked up for a second before going through the barrier. He saw a girl crying.

"They must not want me at Hogwarts," she was saying. "They told me to go to a Platform that doesn't exist."

Sirius walked over to her. "Are you looking for Platform 9 3/4?" he said.

She nodded her head. "All you have to do," Sirius told her. "Is walk through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. By the way, my name's Sirius Black."

"I'm Lily Evans," she said. "And won't I crash?"

"No," Sirius replied. "Just go, and don't think about crashing. You can go now before me, and I'll see you on the other side."

Lily disappeared onto Platform 9 3/4, and Sirius followed her. They then got on the train and found an empty compartment to sit in.

Remus Lupin was slightly afraid of what stood before him. It was a chance to make friends for the first time in many years, but it was also a chance to be ridiculed by people and to have to hide his true self from everyone.

Remus and his parents walked onto Platform 9 3/4 engaged in conversation. Remus said his final goodbyes to his parents, and went to board the train. His mother spoke to his retreating back.

"Take care of yourself, Remus," she said. "And be careful. And make sure to go to Madam Pomfrey as soon as you get there. And BE CAREFUL!"

The Lupins watched their only son, a werewolf, go off to Hogwarts, the first time in hundreds of years there had been a werewolf in Hogwarts. They just hoped he'd be okay.

"Peter, honey, be careful."

"I will, Mum," came the response from a short, fat little boy.

"And learn lots of cool spells!" His dad was a Muggle but was entirely fascinated by magic. He loved when his wife performed magic, and was more excited than his wife when little Peter got into Hogwarts.

"I will, Dad."

"And have fun," both of his parents cried unison. Peter Pettigrew then walked through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10 onto Platform 9 3/4. There he stopped for a moment to take in the environment, and then boarded the Hogwarts Express.

Sirius and Lily sat talking. After a few minutes, they heard two boys arguing in the hallway.

"You so are not, Snape."

"Yes, I am Potter. Don't try to argue with me, just take my help."

"I wouldn't take your help if I needed it! Which, by the way, I don't."

"Potter, is that any way to speak to your best friend?"

"No, but you're not my best friend, are you?"

"James, how can you say that to me. We've been best friends since we were two, and now you're just ignoring that?"

"We haven't been best friends since we were two, we've been neighbors since we were two. Now bugger off, Snape."

The two boys walked into their compartment. All of the sudden, one of them said, "I have to leave now, if you'll excuse me. I'll see you later, Potter."

"In your dreams, Snape," he called at the retreating boy's back. "I wonder what made him bugger off now. Can I sit down? By the way, I'm James Potter."

Lily smiled at him. "Sure," she said. "I'm Lily Evans, and this is Sirius Black."

Sirius waved and then said, "So what's your record for most consecutive dungbombs set off within a two minute period?"

"15. Yours?"

"20. It's nice to meet you."

James sat down and smiled. It seemed he had met his newest prankster friend. They sat, for a few minutes, planning pranks to pull that year, until another boy showed up at the door to their compartment.

"Can I sit?" The boy asked.

"Sure." James said. "By the way, I'm James Potter, this is Sirius Black and that's Lily Evans."

"Remus Lupin," replied the newcomer. "Glad to meet you."

They talked with Lupin for a while. After a few minutes, another boy, name Peter Pettigrew, joined them. They talked about what they'd heard about school, what subjects they were interested in, and, in Lily's case, life with Muggles.

"My sister Petunia is horrible," Lily said.

"Hey, she can't be as bad as my sister," Sirius said. "She's been threatening to hex me since she got into Hogwarts." A girl that looked incredibly like Sirius walked into the compartment. "And here she is. Hi, Merope."

"Hi, Sirius," she responded. "I was just coming to check on you, but it seems you're okay. Care to introduce me to your friends?"

"Sure," Sirius said. "This is James Potter, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Guys, this is my sister, Merope Aero Black."

"It's nice to meet you," Lily said, very politely. "I hope to see you again soon."

"Pleasure meeting you too," Merope replied. "I'll be going now, but seeing as I'm supposed to be keeping Sirius Adam here out of trouble, I'll probably see you all again soon. Goodbye."

"Bye, Mer," Sirius said. Merope then walked out of the compartment. As soon as she was out of earshot, James started laughing. The others soon followed suit. "What kind of name is that 'Merope Aero'?" James managed to get out between laughs.

"It's not that funny," Sirius said. "My Mum's obsessed with Greek Muggle Mythology. My name's from Mythology too."

"Yes, it is," Lily said. "Sirius is the dog star who follows Orion. Merope and Aero are the two names for Orion's beloved."

"How does she know that?" James asked.

"Muggle school," Peter responded. I was in one for a few years, but then my Mum got annoyed that I wasn't learning magic and put me in a wizard's school near our house."

"Lucky you," James said. "I've always been home-schooled, me and Snape the git."

"Snape the git?" Lily said, confused.

"The guy I was talking to before," James explained. "He lives next door to me and he's a git."

Right at that moment, Snape and two of his friends walked into their compartment. "Potter," Snape said, "How nice to see you."

"Hello Snape, Avery, Nott," James said coolly. "What brings you here?"

"What, we're not allowed to come visit an old friend?" Snape said, smiling. He looked around the compartment. "We came to save you from present company."

"Oh, so you're leaving?"

"Ha, Ha, very funny, Potter."

"I thought it was," Sirius said in defense of James.

"Who are you that you think you can speak to me like that?" Snape said, with a sneer on his face.

"Sirius Black. Who are you?"

Snape's sneer turned into a frown. "Apparently we have found the wise guy of the year," he said. "Potter, you might want to stick with the friends who'll get you somewhere in life, not the ones who'll get you detention." At that point, Snape and his gang left the compartment.

"That," James said, "Was Snape the git."

"Seems like a pleasant fellow, doesn't he?" Sirius said, laughing.

"I want to know what was bothering him," Lily said.

"Probably just looking for trouble," James said. "He does that a lot."

"Don't worry about him, Lily," Peter said. "Just like in the Muggle world, there are people in the Wizarding world who are obnoxious for no apparent reason."

"And Snape is one of them," James added.

Lily smiled, and changed the topic. They talked and laughed for a while, and soon the food cart came around. James and Sirius each bought large quantities of all kinds of candy. Remus bought a few chocolate frogs, and Peter bought a bag of every flavor beans.

Lily, on the other hand, had no idea what to buy. The boys were very happy to provide her with suggestions.

"Try the chocolate frogs, they're the best," Remus said. "They also have collectors cards of famous witches and wizards."

"I, personally, like the every flavor beans, but you have to be careful, because when they say every flavor, they mean every flavor. Sometimes you get traditional flavors, like strawberry and chocolate, but there's always the occasional liver, or spinach, or something like that." Peter then took a bite out of one of his Jellybeans.

"Merope once got earwax," Sirius said. "But she still eats them, because it's rare to find weird flavors like that."

James felt it was now time to put this two cents in. "If you don't know what you want, get a little of everything. Whatever you don't want, I'll eat. Except for weird flavored Jelly Beans. We'll feed those to Peter."

"I think I'll go with James's advice," Lily said. "And in exchange for all your help, you guys can have some M & M's."

"What are M & M's?" Sirius asked.

"Muggle candy," Lily answered. They bought their food from the cart, and Lily gave James, Sirius, and Lupin her M & M's (Peter was too busy eating his every flavor beans to want any). They sat and ate in silence, everyone enjoying his/her food.

A few hours later, Merope stopped by to tell them that they were almost there, and they should change into their robes. Lily went down to another compartment, as she didn't want to change in front of boys.

Finally, the train slowed down and finally stopped. James, Sirius, Lily, Remus, and Peter left the train. They heard a voice saying: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

They followed the voice to see a large man standing in front of them. They followed him down a steep, narrow path. All of the sudden, they saw the castle. "Oohs" and "Ahhs" could be heard throughout the crowd.

They saw a large, black lake in front of them. Their guide was pointing to a fleet of small boats sitting in the water, near the shore. "No more'n four to a boat!" Sirius, Lily, Remus, and Peter got into one boat. James got into a boat next to them, followed by Snape & Co.

"Nice to see you again, James," Snape said in a very unctuous tone.

"It's too bad the feeling isn't mutual," James said.

If looks could kill, James would have died a violent death from the look Snape was giving him. They didn't speak to each other for the rest of the trip.

They sailed across the lake, got out of the boat, and walked over to a huge, oak front door. Their guide raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

PART II- The Sorting Ceremony

The door sung open at once. A tall, brown-haired wizard in dark blue robes stood there. James smiled, recognizing the familiar brown eyes and simple smile. It was Professor Gogui, the Potions teacher. James and Snape had been tutored by him over the summer, and James liked him very much.

AThe firs' years, Professor Gogui,@ said their guide.

AThank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here. Professor Dumbledore is waiting for you inside the hall.@

He showed them into the entrance hall. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, and the ceiling was very high. A magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They followed Professor Gogui into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing closer together than they usually would have done, most of them looking incredibly nervous.

“Welcome to Hogwarts,@ said Professor Gogui. “The Welcoming Feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the great Hall, you must be sorted into the appropriate house. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. I myself was in Ravenclaw. Whichever house you are sorted into will be something like your family while you are at Hogwarts. You will eat, sleep, and take classes with your housemates.

AThe sorting ceremony will take place momentarily. Please follow me into the Great Hall.@

The students followed Professor Gogui into 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. Professor Gogui led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky outside.

Professor Gogui silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool he put a pointed wizard's hat. The hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Lily smiled, thinking of how outraged her sister Petunia would be to see such a hat.

The brim of the hat opened wide and began to sing a song. I will not bore the reader with the details of this song, as it has no particular relevance to the story. The main point of the song was that the sorting occurred when you put on the hat and it tells you what house to go wit with.

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

AWhen I call your name, please put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,@ he said. AAvery, Jones.@

One of Snape's friends stepped forward. He put on the hat and it quickly shouted, ASLYTHERIN.@

Avery took off the hat and smiled. He went to sit at the Slytherin table, next to a pale, blond boy who could only be a Malfoy.

ABlack, Sirius.@

Sirius walked over to the stool, smiling and waving at the crowd. He put on the hat.

AInteresting,@ said a small voice in his ear. ASmart, like your sister. But her bravery put in her Gryffindor. I see those traits in you too. Very cunning, you'd do well in Slytherin. Loyal to your friends, a trait that would suit you well as a Hufflepuff. Now where do you belong? How about with your sister. That makes it GRYFFINDOR!@

The hat shouted the last word for the whole hall to hear. Sirius took off the hat and went to sit next to his sister at the Gryffindor table.

Professor Gogui went through the list. A few people were called and then . . . AEvans, Lily.@

Lily went forward and put on the hat. The hat very quickly screamed AGRYFFINDOR.@ Lily went to sit next to Sirius and his sister.

Remus, Peter, and James were all put in Gryffindor with Sirius and Lily, along with Josh Mosely, Briana Douglas, Jessica Ringley, Mollie Schmutt, and Eliza Lockman. Snape and Nott joined Avery at the Slytherin table. At the end of the sorting, Professor Gogui rolled up his scroll and put away the stool and hat.

Albus Dumbledore got to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

AWelcome,@ he said, Ato a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our banquet, I would like to make a few announcements. First of all, as its name implies, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Also, Hogwarts is the new home of a Whomping Willow. Unless you enjoy being seriously injured, please avoid it. And now, we may begin the feast.@

James, Sirius, Remus, Peter and Lily all sat and ate the wonderful food. They chatted with older students about life at Hogwarts, classes, and, to James and Sirius's great amusement, pranks.

When the meal ended, Dumbledore stood up again. AWe will now,@ he said, Asing the school song. Everyone pick his favorite tune.@

The school bellowed:

AHogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees.

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.@

James, Lily, and Peter sat laughing as Sirius sang to the tune of the song ABarbra Ann@ by The Beach Boys. The funniest part was that Sirius somehow managed to fit the words into the tune.

Slowly, all the students left the hall to go to their dorms. The Gryffindor first years followed Merope. They got to the entrance, a portrait of a fat lady wearing a pink silk dress.

AThe password's Good Will Hunting,@ Merope said. ARemember it.@

They went to their dorms, found their trunks, and went to sleep. The end of the first day of the first year of adventure for the Marauders.