Prologue

Albus stood up straight, trying to not seem as scared or anxious as he felt. Trying to set himself apart from the other first year students who looked scared or anxious. It was just a sorting ceremony. They were only Houses. They didn't mean anything, right? Beauxbatons Academy didn't have houses, neither did Durmstrang. They were merely a method of organizing students. Of find a place for them to stay during school with people they're likely to feel comfortable with. If it was such a non-big deal, then why did Albus feel so worried about which house he ended in?

His fists clenched and unclenched waiting for his name to be called. Why did he have to be a P-name instead of say, a C-name or damn, even an H-name would've been nice.

"Emma Macmillan," grand, they were only on M. That left the N's and the O's and however many other P's there were here. Albus' teeth trapped his lower lip, waiting for it to be his turn to go up to the hat.

Emma was sorted into Hufflepuff. She didn't look disappointed or excited. She looked accepting at least and quickly went to sit at the Hufflepuff table with Monique Creevey and Frank Longbottom. Both of whom he knew and was surprised they'd been sorted into Hufflepuff. Monique was Victoire, Dominique and Louis' other cousin and had always seemed very sharp and clever to him. Then again, Albus wasn't quick with words so anyone was sharp and clever to him.

He was hoping to be a Gryffindor, of course. The only trouble was, Albus was not brave. He was shy, afraid of his own shadow. He avoided confrontation at all costs unless it was with James, but that was only natural because James was his brother. Whether or not Harry had told him his House didn't matter to he and Ginny, Albus still felt positive that they'd be disappointed in him if he weren't a Gryffindor.

"Scorpius Malfoy," Albus snapped back to attention. He was positive this boy was going to be a Slytherin. His father had been a Slytherin, his father's father, and so on through the generations. Or so Albus had been told. The hat was merely a formality for the small eleven year old boy about to put it on. It made Albus slightly jealous that this other boy had it so easy while he had to stand here in such suspense.

Scorpius was indeed sorted into Slytherin the moment the hat touched his white blonde hair. The boy's lips curled up in a reserved smile, moving fluidly toward the Slytherin table instantly. Albus was a little bit surprised by how gracefully Scorpius Malfoy moved. He himself was awkward and constantly tripping over his over-sized feet, much like the greater part of the students in his year.

"Albus," he was shoved by his cousin Rose as she hissed his name.

"What," he hissed back, tearing his gaze from Scorpius to Rose.

"We don't have all evening, Mr. Potter," said Professor Longbottom, a friendly smile on his face to let Albus know he wasn't sincerely irritated… yet. He was the Herbology professor and deputy Headmaster. McGonagall was still alive and well, now the Headmistress.

"Oh," Albus said, stepping forward. He was embarrassed now, having drawn undue attention to himself. He wet his lips nervously, swallowing as well, balling his fists as he walked up the steps to sit on the stool. Albus didn't know if twenty seconds or twenty minutes had passed when the hat was placed on his head, but he figured it could only reasonably be the former. This was it, he was about to be sorted.

"Oh, the second Potter boy," came a voice in Albus' head. His stomach tensed even though he'd been warned about this. He swallowed even though there was nothing to be swallowed; his mouth had gone dry now.

"Not so quick," the hat went on. "Lacks cunning, bravery seldom shown…"

"Please," Albus thought, "Gryffindor. I'll beg."

"Are you sure," the hat asked. He wasn't sure.

"No," he answered honestly, frowning with shame now. He didn't put up much of a fight ever. He wasn't confrontational.

"Do you trust me," the hat asked him another question. The answer was yes, after some consideration. "Then it'll be…" The hat paused, probably for effect.

"HUFFLEPUFF," the hat's voice rang across the Great Hall. Albus' green eyes became saucers. He was a Hufflepuff!?

Albus just sat on the stool for a few moments, stunned. He shook his head and snapped back to life when Professor Longbottom patted his back; a silent prompt to get Albus out of the way of the next student, Celeste Pucey. Albus stood up and walked quickly over to the Hufflepuff table. He looked at his feet the whole way there, embarrassed.

Frank, Emma and Monique greeted him with excited smiles. "This is so great," Monique chirped, throwing her arms around him. She wasn't his cousin, but they were good friends anyway.

"What's wrong," Frank asked, furrowing his brow. "You're not disappointed to be in Hufflepuff, are you?"

Albus didn't know what to say. Yes, he was disappointed. "Yes," he answered honestly. Emma looked mad then.

"What, you think Hufflepuffs are lesser because they're not stupid enough to thrust themselves into dangerous situations, not selfish enough to step on people to get what they want and not," she stopped there, too miffed to come up with anything for Ravenclaw.

"I'm sorry," Albus mumbled, back hunching and cheeks flushing. "You're right," he added, looking at her apologetic. Albus Potter was not confrontational.

Emma shook her head, stabbing her fork into some steak that had just appear along with other dishes. "You're such a wuss," she said bluntly, looking right at Albus.

"Emma," Frank hissed, giving her a look. Monique was giving Emma one of those acidic girl-nonverbal-communication looks that Albus could never decipher.

"Well he is," Emma exclaimed, not backing down from her statement. "Don't look at me like that. He's a wimp who can't keep his opinion once someone challenges it."

"Emma!"

"No, Monique," Albus said, patting her arm. "It's okay. Emma's right. I just don't like confrontation," he explained, looking at Emma. This was gutsy for him.

The rest of the feast went alright. Albus' opinion had genuinely changes once Emma had put things in that context. Who was he to act like he was above Hufflepuff or like Hufflepuff was below the other houses? It was rude and unjust of him to think that way. Albus was easily swayed.

September the second brought the very first day of classes. Albus' first class of the day was Potions with the Slytherins. He wasn't all that anxious about the class being with Slytherins; that is, until he ran into Scorpius Malfoy on his way.

"Do you mind," Scorpius snapped indignantly, picking himself up off the floor and dusting off his nice robes.

Albust stared stupidly for a moment, tongue tied. Scorpius gave him a look and said, "are you going to say anything?" He didn't seem like he was being nasty. He sounded like he was genuinely asking the question, but his expression seemed just a bit patronizing.

"I'm sorry," Albus blurred, raising his dark eyebrows and biting his low lip. Scorpius snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Well of course you're sorry," he said, giving Albus a more patronizing look than before.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, picking up his bag from the floor. "I'm just… Hufflepuff."

"Don't use your house as a cop-out for poor manners and lack of vocabulary," Scorpius snapped, frowning now. "Anyway," he continued, "we're going to be late." He then turned on his heel and walked several yards before turning around and staring incredulously at Albus, who was still just standing there. "Oh Merlin," Scorpius drawled, rolling his eyes. "Fine, get points taken from your House on the first day. Not my problem," he said, putting his hands in the air and then walking away again.