Albus nervously chewed his lower lip as he stared at the doors in front of him, barely hearing Rose's rambling about all the things that had happened in the room they were about to enter. It was only minutes before he was due to be Sorted and he was terrified about what house he and Rose would be in. His father may have said that he didn't care what house his children were in but Albus had a feeling that deep down he did. Neville slid through the doors and a murmur passed through the crowd of First Years.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Neville began, smiling briefly at Rose and Albus. "The ceremony that is about to take place is both significant and insignificant to your lives. Our aim at Hogwarts is not to divide you but to unite you and the houses that you are Sorted into should never stop you from socialising with people from other houses. We all saw exactly what that type of divide could do in the war.
However, we are not all the same and we certainly can't all sleep or learn in the same place. For these reasons, houses are important. The people you will be spending the majority of your time with for the next seven years will be your housemates and like you in several positive ways. Houses also provide competition and, of course, Quidditch teams. So, without further ado, I would like to invite you into the Great Hall where you will be Sorted in alphabetical order by the famous Sorting Hat."
Neville winked at Albus and dramatically opened the doors and let them into the Great Hall.
From behind him Albus heard several whispered questions about the scars that marred Neville's face and upon hearing the answer felt a surge of love and pride for his Godfather pass through him. Neville had bravely risked death for his friends and Albus could not love him more for it.
Albus zoned out as the Sorting Hat sang and the Sorting began only to refocus when he heard the name, "GRANGER-WEASLEY, ROSE" called out by Neville. He watches as his cousin stood up from behind him and walked up to the stool. She put the Sorting Hat on and waited for what seemed like hours before the hat finally yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!"
There were several shocked gasps around the hall at this and Rose's face turned ashen. Visibly shaking, she took off the hat and quickly walked to the Slytherin table.
The only other person that came before Al in the Sorting that he recognised was Draco Malfoy's son, Scorpius. Out of curiosity alone, Albus watched as he was Sorted into Slytherin.
Alubs was so torn, he wanted to be in the same house as Rose but guessed, from all he had heard about Draco, that he would not get along with Scorpius.
Just as the Sorting Hat called his name Albus finally decided what house he wanted to be Sorted into. The moment that the Hat seemed slightly indecisive over which house he would be best suited to Albus requested the house he had chosen and heard the hat pronounce it so. Looking straight ahead, Albus walked over to his house table and sat down next to Scorpius.
"Hey," he whispered, breaking the stunned silence that had settled around them, "I'm Albus and this is my cousin Rose."
He stuck out his hand and saw Scorpius smile slightly before he grasped the offered hand and shook it. "Scorpius Malfoy," he answered. "Pleased to meet you."