I was rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in preparation for the movie (SO AMAZING), and when I got to the epilogue I found myself intrigued by Harry's assurance to Albus that the Hat takes your choice into account. Of course, most readers assume that Albus would've chosen Gryffindor, so I, naturally (being the weird person that I am) wondered if he wouldn't have chosen the other way instead, and this story was born. Enjoy!

Albus bit his lip as he approached the Sorting Hat, the eyes of everyone in the hall on him. James had warned him that everyone would want him in their house because he was Harry Potter's son, and he now realized just how right his brother had been. He looked around at the hall and every face was watching him. His eyes passed over his brother at the Gryffindor table, who have him a smile and a thumbs up. He appreciated it. James wasn't normally that nice. When he looked at the staff table all of the heads of houses had looked of hunger in their eyes, especially Professor Slughorn, whom Albus thought was looking at him as if he were a rare piece of merchandise.

He took a seat on the stool and Uncle Neville placed the hat on his head. He was grateful that it covered his eyes, which meant he didn't have to look at all of the people watching him or appear foolish for shutting his eyes so as not to have to see them.

Ah, a Potter. Came the voice of the hat inside his head. He was glad he'd heard the voice already when the hat had sung its song because if he hadn't he'd probably have jumped a mile off the stool. And a Weasley too. Well, this should be easy, but much better not to jump to conclusions. Very bright, a different kind of bright than your brother, I'd say.

Albus didn't think the hat had to be very smart to deduce that. James was smart enough when he put his mind to it, but he only ever seemed to put his mind to it when a prank was involved. Albus, on the other hand, cared much more about how he was going to do in school, if his grades would be as good as Rose's, and if he'd live up to the title of 'Harry Potter's son.'

Very loyal, to your family at least. And ambitious. Ready to prove yourself, eh? Ready to show the world what Albus Severus Potter can do? Bravery and family loyalty point to Gryffindor, but the cunning skill, wit, and ambition point in a very different direction...

Albus cringed. The hat would surely put him in Slytherin! But, he remembered what his father had said: the hat takes your choice into account. Did he want to see the looks of disappointment on his brother's face, or Rose's when she, inevitably, got sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw? Did he want to disappoint his Grandparents, who were, of course, expecting another Gryffindor? Did he want to be in the same house as Scorpius Malfoy, the son of his father's enemy? But, on the other hand: did he want to be a Gryffindor if he really belonged in Slytherin? Did he want to be just another Weasley in Gryffindor? Did he want to be Harry Potter's other son: the less funny, less entertaining, quiet one? If he was in Slytherin, no one would be able to assume they knew him based on who his father was. He could be his own person, couldn't he?

He thought all of this in about a second, but the Hat heard it all. Even if he hadn't specifically asked for anything, the Hat knew what to do.

"SLYTHERIN!"

So, yeah, that's it. Please review!

XOXO

GossipGirlHere