Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Harry Potter.
Albus made his way into the great hall for the first time. His brother, James, waved to him from the Gryffindor table. Albus nodded politely but was barely too nervous to walk much less wave. His cousin Rose walked closely next to him, her bushy red hair bouncing briskly. She reached out and took his hand and squeezed it.
"What if I'm in Ravenclaw?" She whispered. "Mum said she was almost put in Ravenclaw."
"I doubt you have anything to worry about," said Albus. It didn't take a sorting hat to tell his cousin was brave. But he wasn't so sure about himself. Out of the two clasped hands it was his own that trembled the most.
Professor Longbottom, head of the Gryffindor house, placed the sorting hat on a three legged stool. The sorting hat started to sing, but Albus barely noticed. He was too busy looking around at the other first year students.
Mona Thomas was gazing around almost amused at the whole ordeal. Albus remembered his dad saying that Mona was a lot like her mother, Luna.
Albus saw his other cousin Fred in the back of the first year group. Normally Fred would be teasing somebody or cracking a joke, but right now even he was getting nervous about his own sorting. You couldn't tell if you didn't know Fred, but they way he was looking at the hat while it sang was more of an enthralled look than his usual mock-interest.
Then Albus saw Scorpius Malfoy. He had heard many stories about the Malfoy family and he did not want to get tangled up with this guy. What will I do if I'm in the same house with him? Albus thought distressed. He knew his dad said that not everyone in Slytherin was bad, but he could help but notice a majority were.
The sorting hat had finished its song now. For a fleeting moment, Albus felt guilty for not listing. That passed though when Professor Longbottom called Adams, Eloise to the sorting hat.
"Hufflepuff," said the sorting hat. This was soon followed by a series of
"Gryffindor,"
"Ravenclaw," and
"Slytherin."
Finally, "Potter, Albus."
Time seemed to freeze as Albus felt his feet move him toward the stool and the hat. He faintly heard his brother cheer him from the Gryffindor table.
Albus sat down and the hat was placed over his head. In the darkness inside, Albus heard the hat speaking to him.
"Hmm… what have we here?" The hat whispered. "I can see a lot in you Mr. Potter. There are the brains of a Ravenclaw in here. There is also the strive of a Slytherin." Albus fought the urge you say something at this. His dad did say the hat took your choices into consideration, but he also said that Severus Snape was the bravest man he ever knew. His curiosity took over for him and he let the hat continue. "I also see a deep kindness and love like a Hufflepuff. But there is a lot of strength and courage in you too, just like a Gryffindor. You are as tricky as your father, boy. But I can tell you would like to be in GRYFFINDOR!" The hat said this last word out loud.
Relief spread over little Albus like warm water as he went and joined his brother at the Gryffindor table. James threw one arm around Albus and rubbed the knuckles of his free hand into Albus's scalp playfully.
Albus watched the rest of the sorting with interest now that his was over. Mona Thomas was put into Ravenclaw, and Fred and Rose were sorted into Gryffindor as well. Finally a Yester, Maria was sorted into Ravenclaw. Everyone was expecting the feast to start but, there was one person still left.
"What's your name?" Professor Longbottom asked.
"Scorpius Malfoy," he said. The Professor's face flushed as he looked through the list again.
"I'm sorry, Scorpius," he muttered. "You were right after Malser, Silvilia and I didn't even see your name." He had Scorpio sit on the stool and the Sorting hat went over his head.
It wasn't long before the sorting hat made its decision and the whole Hall rang with its choice.
"GRYFFINDOR!"