Disclaimer: This story is not mine, the Characters and other words created by J.K Rowling belong to her and only her.
Albus was sure their family was a sight to see. Three children, two of them with carts piled high with luggage and owls balance precariously on top. Two adults leading the kids not much older than thirty.
"Hey, cut that out," exclaimed Albus as Lilly once again pushed him into James. Lilly just laughed. They were walking through the Muggle train station that lead to the Hogwarts Express. "Hurry up," laughed their Mother at the sight of all of the arguing, "You don't want to miss your train."
"Are we going to miss it?" asked Albus worriedly.
"No, I just don't want you to be late," she reassured him.
Their parents vanished ahead of them into to magical wall to platform nine and three quarters. Lilly walked in after them with no hesitation. James went next, he as well never flinched. Albus proceeded slowly towards the solid looking wall. Why was he nervous now he had done this before when they dropped of James, finally Albus gritted his teeth and walked through. Nothing went wrong, Albus almost sighed with relief.
This is the part where you should read the epilogue of the last Harry Potter book.
Albus boarded the majestic train which was engulfed in steam. He wandered aimlessly down the corridor until he found an empty compartment towards the back. As he sat down the train lurched forward, starting its journey. He banged his head hard and let out shout of exclamation. Albus rubbed his head and looked out the window where his parents and Lily stood, waving at the disappearing train. He strained his eyes until he could only see the steam left behind by the departing train.
Albus sat in the compartment. Lonely, he stared out the window at the landscape flashing by in blurs of green. Suddenly, Albus's compartment door burst open, making him jump. Albus's cousin Rose and her friend Clara entered. Clara was a short girl with pale skin, and brown hair and eyes.
"Are you all alone in here?" asked Rose
"Yes," said Albus. "I didn't see anyone I knew when I came on."
"Well, we can't let you sit alone, so Rose and I will get our trunks and be right back,"
"Okay," Albus said uncertainly. "If you really want to."
Just a few minutes after that, the door opened again.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is, another Potter," sneered a boy with pale blond hair and cold eyes. He reminded Albus of his father's school enemy, Draco Malfoy, which made this boy's name...
"Scorpius," spat Albus. "How nice to meet you!"
"The pleasure's mine," Scorpius said icily.
At that moment, Rose and Clara returned.
"Well, look at that: a Weasley and a friend of Weasley," snorted Scorpius.
Roses smile darkened when she saw who the speaker was.
"Well, look who it is," she paused in regard. "Blond hair, blue eyes, ugly face... Oh I know; a Malfoy."
"Ugh," choked an embarrassed Scorpius as he got yanked from behind by his shirt collar. He fell back and James stood over him with a look of disgust.
He said, "Go on. Get up, leave, and don't come back." Scorpius scrambled to his feet but not with out glaring back at the two Potter boys, Rose, and Clara.
"Don't worry about him," James said, "Dad says Malfoy's talk about more than they can do." Albus shrugged uncertainly.
"You'll be fine," James turned and left the compartment.
"Well that was exciting," said Clara. "Why is he so mean to you?"
"Well his father went to school with mine and they didn't exactly get along, so there is a whole family rivalry between our family and theirs."
"Oh," said Clara.
Shortly after lunch, the train began to slow. Albus, Rose, and Clara were now dressed in robes and preparing to leave the train. They got off the train together and made their way to the sound of Hagrid's voice calling "Firs' years over here. Firs' years this way!"
Albus moved slowly towards Hagrid, stumbling into the many people surrounding him along the way. He looked over his shoulder for Clara, and Rose appeared.
"There you are," she puffed out, winded. "We were looking all over for you, where did you go?"
"Oh, talking to Hagrid," replied an unconcerned Albus.
They kept walking until they reached the lake. As they reached the lake Albus looked across the water and saw the most beautiful view. The sun was setting behind the huge castle, and was reflected in the water, turning it orange and red. Clara, Rose and Albus got carefully into a boat, being careful not to get wet.
"Everyone ready?" called out Hagrid. Once seeing everyone seated he shouted, "FORWARD!" and the boats glided smoothly across the lake.
Students looked silently at the beautiful sunset that was a backdrop to the castle. Shortly, the boats glided up to the shore, and the students carefully climbed back out of the boats. They all made their way up to the imposing castle doors. As they stood waiting for them to open, (after Hagrid had knocked), night fell and the sunset turned in to a deep violet sky. Slowly, the huge doors opened and a sprightly young woman ushered them in to the entrance hall. The light from inside spilled into the night, and was eaten up by the darkness and made the woman's blond hair glisten. The students poured into the castle.
The woman began to speak, "Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts. Behind the doors in front of you lies the great hall. This is where we are going to have the sorting ceremony. Sorting is where you will be divided into four houses according to your qualities. After the sorting is finished, you will join your new house for the welcome feast. There will also be a short speech from Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress. Let me remind you that you have no need to be nervous. The sorting hat knows you as well as it knows itself. Now come on in."
She opened the doors behind her and everyone followed her inside. The five long tables of people sat watching as the doors opened. Albus looked around nervously at all the people. James caught his eye and winked at him. He felt much better. A few tables, shorter than the ones that stretched across the length of the room indicated where they should sit. Up on a small podium stood the Sorting Hat. When they were seated and quiet the hat on the stool ripped open to form a mouth and began to sing:
"I'll keep it short this year
as so not to be a bore,
there are houses
and you shall be put into one of four,
The first is Ravenclaw
for those
with very smart minds,
The second is Hufflepuff
who are patient
and unafraid of toil,
The third is Gryffindor
they are brave
and have lots of nerve,
Lastly Slytherin
they are the
cunning sort,
but no matter what
house you're in
you are in the very best
so not to worry put
your minds to rest."
Albus was reassured by the hat's song that no matter where he was placed, he would be fine. His thoughts traveled while the snorting began. What if he was put into Slytherin with Scorpius? Or what if the hat decide that he was not good enough for the school? That would not happen, Albus reassured himself.
He tuned back in to the sorting, "Scorpius Malfoy," the blond lady called out.
Scorpius walked up to the stool and put the hat on with a smirk. He sat, but the hat did not call out a house. Finally after a long minute the hat called out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Albus heard someone snicker. He turned and saw Clara with her hand to her mouth.
She leaned forward and whispered to Albus, "He had high expectations of being in Slytherin, but he was wrong. That's for sure." Albus smiled in agreement. He turned back to the front of the room and saw Scorpius slowly stand up, his face red with obvious embarrassment as he walked shamefully to the Hufflepuff table. Albus watched this while thinking, maybe he'll leave me alone after that disappointment.
Albus looked at the front of the room as he hear the blond Professor call out, "Clara Pamerson." Clara walked shakily up to the front. She sat down and the hat brushed the top of her head before it called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Clara smiled as she walked over to the table for the Gryffindor students. Next the Professor called out, "Albus Potter." Albus stood up slowly and walked towards the front of the room. He sat down shakily on the stool and the old battered black hat was placed on his head.
The hats scratchy voices sounded in his ear. "Hm, Albus Potter; very intelligent, you could be a Ravenclaw. But then again you have the braveness that only a Gryffindor could have." Just please not Slytherin, thought Albus. "Alright," the hat said, "I think you'd best go in, GRYFFINDOR!"
Albus smiled joyfully and walked to the cheering Gryffindor table. He sat down next to Clara and watched kids get sorted until it was Rose's turn. "Rose Weasley." The blond professor called. Rose stood up from the small group of students left and perched herself on the stool. The hat sat on Rose's head for a few seconds and then loudly called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Clara and Albus cheered happily as Rose walked over to sit with them.
Once the remaining students were sorted Headmistress McGonagall stood up from her seat at the large raised table meant for the Professors and made a short speech. "This year we are happy to have many newly enrolled students for our school. I am happy to say that we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Cornwell," She paused for applause and then continued. "That is all for now, let's eat!"
Suddenly, yummy food appeared on the table in front of Albus's seat. He realized how hungry he was. He ate until he could eat no more and soon after he was done, Headmistress McGonagall stood up and clapped her hands. The plates and food disappeared from the tables, leaving them spotless. Albus turned to the front of the hall and listened respectfully to what she had to say. "Welcome back," she said her voice ringing throughout the hall, "now that you have all eaten I am sure you are all very tired. Please follow the older students in your houses to your common rooms and dormitories, but before you go let us sing our school song." The older students started right in on the song and the first years listened:
"Hogwarts, 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."
With that Albus, Rose and Clara stood up and followed the Gryffindors to the common room. They chatted among themselves as they walked. "Well, that went well," said Rose. "We all ended up in the same house."
"I know. I am so glad," said Clara, relief showing in her voice.
"Did the hat talk to you? And could it hear your thoughts?" asked Albus quietly.
"What did you say?" asked Rose.
"Never mind," said Albus quickly.
"Okay," said Rose.
Albus decided he was relieved she did not hear him. What if she did not have the hat speak to her? She would think he was crazy. Albus stayed silent for the remainder of the walk to the dormitories. instead, he admired the halls. They were large and brightly lit with torches and candles. It gave the whole castle a soft glow. There were many paintings that lined the hall ways too. The pictures were of people talking, eating and chatting among themselves. Often the people in the pictures would stop what they were doing and point at the kids walking by.