Prologue
Albus could not believe that autumn had come so quickly this year. The first day of September's morning was crisp like and apple and golden like honey. Al's family moved up and down through the smoky station with the fumes of cars and people's breath sparkling in the air like snowflakes. Two cages with owls rattled on top of trolleys their parents were pushing. A little girl whined behind them holding her fathers arm in a death grip.
"It won't be long, and you'll be going to," said Albus's father, Harry, told her.
"Two years," his sister Lily sniffed. "I want to go now!"
This was drawing a few stares from the Muggles surrounding them. Then Al's voice drifted up again, continuing the argument from their car with his brother James.
"I won't. I won't be in Slytherin!"
"James, give it a rest." Said his mother, Ginny.
"I only said he might be," said James grinning slyly at his younger brother. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth-"
But James, thankfully, saw the look his mother had given him and shut up. Just then they came to the entrance to the platform. James gave Al an arrogant look over his shoulder and ran through the barrier.
"You'll write to me won't you?" Al asked his parents right away, as James was no longer there.
"Everyday if you want us to," said his mum.
"Not every day," said Al hurriedly "James says most people only get letters from home about once a month."
"We wrote to James three times a week last year." Said his mum defiantly.
"And you don't want to believe everything your brother tells you," his father added. "He likes a laugh, your brother.
Then through the barrier they went with an unnecessary wince (for he felt nothing). Then Al saw the platform. It was huge with steam billowing everywhere. People were moving every which way, slightly obscured by smoke. James, though, was nowhere to be seen.
"Where are they?" Al asked urgently, as he peered through the smoke.
"We'll find them," said his mum calmly.
But because of the steam it was still very hard to see even two meters in front of him. Al thought he heard his uncle Percy expressing his annoyance with broom regulations when his mum said, "I think that's them Al."
Al expressed a sigh of relief. Now he would, at long last, have someone to talk about his fears with.
"Hi," said Al to Rose, his cousin, who was already wearing her Hogwarts robes. She gave him a relived smile, and Al knew she felt the same way he did.
Al heard his Uncle Ron say to Al's dad, "Parked all right then? I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test did you? She thought I'd have to Confund the examiner."
His Aunt Hermione replied defensively that she had complete faith in him, but Al had lost interest in their conversation. Al watched as they lifted his trunk and owl onto the train. Al, though, had begun to think of Slytherin. To his immense discomfort Al walked into Lily and his younger cousin Hugo (who was Lily's age) having a discussion about which house they would be in when they went to Hogwarts. To make matters worse his Uncle Ron said, "If you're not in Gryffindor then we'll disinherit you, but no pressure."
Hermione replied, "Ron!" but the damage was done. Now Al felt even worse, even though he knew his Uncle was joking.
"He doesn't mean it," his mother and aunt said at the same time, but Ron was no longer listening.
He looked at Al's father and pointed. Then he said, "Look who it is."
Al looked and saw a man with pale white hair and a child Al's age that looked almost as much like his father and Al looked like his. The man was wearing a dark coat and Al recognized him but could not place his name.
"So that's the little Scorpius." Ron murmured. "Make sure you beat him at every test Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."
"Ron for heavens sake," said Hermione, stern but with a little laughter in her voice. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school.
"You're right sorry. Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie." Ron added anyway. "Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood."
Al did not understand why Ron did not like that man so.
"Hey!"
James had come back. He was free of his trunk, owl, and trolley and was clearly bursting to tell them something. "Teddy back there," James practically shouted. "Just seen him. And guess what he's doing. Snogging Victoire!"
James looked up at the grown-ups, and he was clearly disappointed to see that they really did not care.
"Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing-"
Al's mum interrupted say that he was like Uncle Ron for some reason, why, Al did not know, but then James continued.
"-and he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away. He's snogging her!" James added even though he had made himself quite clear.
"Oh, it really would be lovely if they got married!" said Lily in a quiet but excited voice. "Teddy would really be part of the family then!"
"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week," said Al's father. "Why don't we just invite him to live with us and have it done with?"
And then, to Al's horror, James added, "Yeah! I don't mind sharing with Al- Teddy could have my room!"
Then Al could heave a sigh of relief when his father said sternly: "No, you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished."
Al's dad checked his old watch and then said, "It's nearly eleven, you, you'd better board the train."
"Don't forget to Neville our love!" Al heard his mum remind James when she hugged him.
But James replied, "Mum! I can't give a professor love!"
"But you know Neville-"
"Outside yeah," James replied with an eye roll. "But at school he Professor Longbottom, isn't he." I can't just walk into Herbology and give him love…"
Then to "prove" he wasn't embarrassed James aimed a kick at Al, who dodged quickly.
"See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals."
Al panicked. "I thought they were invisible? You said they were invisible!"
Then James just laughed, let his mum kiss him, gave his father a quick hug and then leapt aboard the almost-full train. Al saw him give a wave goodbye and then ran off to sit with his friend, cousin, and partner in crime, Fred Weasley.
"Thestrals are nothing to worry about," said Al's father. "They're gentle things, there's nothing scary about them. Anyway you'll be going in the boats."
Al's mum kissed him goodbye with a, "See you at Christmas."
"Bye Al," said Al's father. Then he reminded him of everything. "Don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you've learned how. And don't let James wind you up."
Now was his last chance. Al reveled his worst fear to his father. "What if I'm in Slytherin?"
Al's father crouched down so he could look Al in the eye and said quietly so no one could hear him but Al, "Albus Severus, you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."
"But just say-"
"-Then Slytherin house will have gained an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us Al. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryfindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."
"Really?"
"It did for me," said Al's father. Al could sense that he had not told this to Lily or James before.
Al hopped on the train but when his mother shut the door, Al noticed that a great many people were staring at his father. "Why are they all staring?" asked Al inquisitively.
"Don't let it worry you," said his Uncle Ron. "It's me. I'm extremely famous."
Despite his fears, Al found himself laughing along with Rose, Lily and Hugo.
As the train pulled away Al could see his father, waving farewell. Then the train pulled out of the station and Al could see him no more. Albus Severus Potter, was off to Hogwarts.
Thanks so much for reading my first fic. I should have another chapter up sometime soon. I won't force you to review like other authors (if they can force you) but it would be great. No flames please.
