The Great Hall

The Great Hall in the Hogwarts Castle is the main gathering area in the school, which is located off the Entrance Hall. It is a room where students and teachers dine and congregate. Three meals a day are hosted in this hall.

The Great Hall is the main place where students receive their meals and daily owl post. They also have certain special events, such as the Sorting Ceremony and the Hallowe'en Feast.

The large hall has enough space to hold every student, as well as the main staff and guests. The Hall has tall walls that reach up to the ceiling, which is covered with floating candles and enchanted to look like the sky above.

At the front of the hall is the staff table, also known as the High Table, which is designed to house the entire Hogwarts staff. In the center of the table is a throne chair where the present Headteacher sits. At the left of the table is a door which leads a chamber with portraits.

McGonagall strode into the hall, leading all of the first-years in, ignoring the gawping of all of the students.

Sirius shrank down, almost, feeling the oppression of the Slytherin table even without looking. He studiously looked away, then fixed his eyes on the Sorting Hat and gulped, almost audibly.

Lily and Leia were looking around in amazement, only stopping when they bumped into someone in front of them, as the first years ground to a halt when McGonagall stood next to a stool with an old, decrepit hat on it.

James and Remus walked behind Sirius and James took the lead as Sirius shrank back. Remus set his hand on his new friend's shoulder. "Whatever happens, we're your friends," he said softly.

Luke stared up at the hat sitting on the stool next to McGonagall. "Is that... what I think that is?" he asked.

The brim of the hat split as it came to life. He started to sing, and you could see Dumbledore smiling in amusement.

Welcome back to Hogwarts, welcome one and welcome all,
For here is where we gather you, all in the Great Hall,
Where so many before you, did answer their own call,
Calling from their houses, siren-like it drew them in,
Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin,
Sit here, now, and quickly, and place me on your head,
For as soon as we are finished, you'll eat and off to bed,
Where you'll end up, of course, is always based on me,
For I never make mistakes, just watch and wait, you'll see,
Where will you go, I hear you query,
I won't take long, and I'm not dreary,
If you go to Gryffindor, you could be daring, handsome, brave,
Or if you go to Ravenclaw, it's wisdom that you crave,
Perchance you'll welcome Slytherin, they're cold and cool, you'll find,
Or be welcomed into Hufflepuff, the lovely, warm, and kind.
So sit down smartly, don't be naughty,
Pop me on, and let's get Sorty!

Sirius looked at him, surprised. "I- thanks," he muttered awkwardly, turning back to stare at the hat with a great deal of apprehension present and evident in every line of his body.

Leia nudged Luke gently to quiet him as the Sorting Hat spoke, Lily silent next to him.

After the Sorting Hat had finished, McGonagall had a moment, staring at hit, as if she couldn't quite believe the last two lines it had spoken, then shook her head and tapped her scroll in her hand for attention.
"When I call out your name, you will put on the hat, and sit on the stool to be sorted," she addressed the first years, though her tone made the whole room fall quiet. She unrolled the scroll and started reading her list, alphabetically.

Sirius clocked on pretty quickly that he'd be the first of them to go, and his eyes flew wide in anxiety.

Remus glanced at Sirius as McGonagall began speaking. "It'll be alright, Sirius," he muttered.

James nodded. "If you want, we can try and guess the other kids' houses," he said with a cheeky grin.

Luke chuckled. "At least, I'll be closer to the end," he mumbled. "Which is either a blessing or a curse."

The Sorting Hat called out a Hufflepuff, a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor.

"It'll be alright, Sirius, my arse," Sirius muttered darkly. He looked up at James and shrugged. "I don't have long, but sure."
Leia squeezed their hands gently. "It'll be fine," she reassured him.
Lily was glancing around at the other students quietly, but nodded along to Leia's statement.

Remus decided it was best if he didn't try to comfort Sirius anymore.
"This one has gotta be a Hufflepuff," James said, pointing at a girl with wild curly blonde hair and a timid look on her face.
Luke shuffled his feet a little.

"Sorry," Sirius muttered to Remus. "I'm genetically predisposed to be cranky. I say Ravenclaw," he added, grinning a little as he looked at James.
Lily shot a glance over her shoulder at the whispering boys, arching an eyebrow at James.

Remus nodded and nudged Sirius with his shoulder to let him know there were no hard feelings.
James noticed Lily looking at him and smiled.
"Ravenclaw!" the Sorting Hat shouted.

Sirius smiled back, then glanced at the next kid to be called. "What do you think, Remus?" he asked.
Lily raised her finger to her lips to try to get him to shush, slightly irritated.

"Slytherin," Remus said.
"No way, definite Ravenclaw," James said.
Severus noticed Lily and a bright smile came to his face.

"Yeah, Rem, Ravenclaw, get with the picture," Sirius grinned, nudging his friend in the ribs.
Lily gave up on James and kept looking around, finally spotting Severus and waving with her own smile.

Remus shoved Sirius and looked up at the Sorting Hat.
"Slytherin!" the Hat yelled.
Severus squeezed his way through the crowd to get to Lily.

Sirius wrinkled his nose and without hesitating booed loudly, staring defiantly at McGonagall when her beady eyes instantly found him.
Lily wormed her way to him and hugged him tightly. "Hey," she beamed.

Severus' heart raced as her arms wrapped around him. "Hi Lily," he said softly as he hugged her back.
Remus smiled smugly while James booed along with Sirius.

Leia turned around to glare at them both in Lily's absence.
"Hi," she returned. "How are you feeling?"
Sirius booed all the louder at Leia's glare.

Remus laughed and booed along.
Dumbledore, not showing a hint of a smile, watched the boys with amusement in his eyes.
"I'm alright, nervous. How are you?" Severus asked Lily.

"The same," Lily nodded.
McGonagall cleared her throat sharply and glared until the trio quieted down.
"Sirius Black," she called, and Sirius swore under his breath. "Bloody hat. Alright, wish me luck."

Remus, who didn't realize until Sirius tried walking away, was grasping the sleeve of the other boy's robe. His eyes widened and he immediately let go.
Severus looked up as Sirius walked up to the stool. "That's a Black. He'll be in Slytherin," he mumbled.

Lily cocked her head at Sirius as he walked up, chin high and jaw set, fiery determination not to be in Slytherin burning in his eyes. "I don't know, Severus. I don't think so."

"All Blacks are Slytherin, except the one Hufflepuff. My mother told me they don't even consider her a Black anymore," he said.
James, crossing his fingers, started muttering. "Not Slytherin, not Slytherin."
Remus watched, tense and ready to leap into action to stop Sirius from tearing the hat apart.

Sirius took his seat on the stool, defiant expression remaining on his face as he did so, staring out proudly past the entirety of the crowd.
Lily shook her head. "He's not a Slytherin. Or a Hufflepuff."

"Hmm... Another Black," the Sorting Hat said lowly. "The rest of your family is already waiting for you in Slytherin. But something tells me that's not where you belong."
James and Remus watched quietly.
"His family won't be happy," Severus said.

If you put me in Slytherin I will tear you into shreds, Sirius thought angrily, teeth grinding a little.
Lily sighed. "Well, maybe he'll find his real family here."

The Sorting Hat chuckled. "How brave of you. I know exactly where you belong," he said. "GRYFFINDOR!"
James whooped and jumped in the air.
Remus applauded.
"Oh boy..." Severus said.