A/N: I don't own Harry Potter, even though I wish I did. This fic contains Deathly Hallows spoilers, so if you don't want me to ruin the book for you hit the back button NOW! Read and review!

Chapter 1

"Good job getting into Gryffindor, Albus," James said, clapping his younger brother on the back.

"Thanks, James," Albus muttered, looking down at his plate forlornly.

"What's wrong?" James asked. He loved taking the mickey out of his younger brother, but that didn't stop him from being concerned about his happiness.

"No one's talked to me," he mumbled.

"Don't worry," he said, putting a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder, "look now, those two are coming over here. I'll see you around."

Albus turned his head and, sure enough, a boy and girl were heading over towards him. "Is anyone sitting there?" the girl asked, pointing to the space to Albus' right.

"No," he said, shaking his head. She sat down, smiling and her companion took a seat next to her.

"I'm Verity Pierce, by the way," she said. She had straight auburn hair and piercing light blue eyes. "This is my twin brother Dennis."

"Hey," Dennis said. He had the same auburn colored hair, but it was messy and unruly, unlike his sister's. He had the same eyes as well.

"I'm Albus Potter," Albus said.

"Oh, your father is Harry Potter, is he?" Verity said interestedly.

"Yeah," he said.

"We read about him in a book Verity picked up in Diagon Alley," Dennis said. "We're Muggle-born." Dennis looked down at his shoes, embarrassed, and then hastily grabbed a few chicken wings and started stuffing his face.

"Why do you look so down about it? I don't care if you're Muggle-born, half-blood, pureblood, or part troll," Albus said. "Besides, my grandfather will love you two; he's obsessed with Muggles and their contraptions."

"I told you we had nothing to worry about, Dennis," Verity said, rolling her eyes at her brother.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mumbled. The three eleven year olds immersed themselves in chatter while they ate, quickly acclimating to each other. Verity and Dennis' mom was a surgeon while their dad was an engineer.

Suddenly, Headmistress McGonagall cleared her throat, silencing them. Albus started to feel rather drowsy as she gave her welcoming speech, but he kept himself entertained with thoughts of his newfound friends. He couldn't wait to write to his parents…

Following a tall prefect through the portrait hole, Dennis, Verity, and Albus chatted nervously about the following day of classes. "I don't know about this anymore," Verity said, biting her lip nervously.

"Because you're Muggle-born?" Albus asked. Verity nodded. "Don't worry, you'll probably be brilliant. My aunt is a Muggle-born and she was the best in her year!"

"Thanks, Albus," Verity said, hugging him tightly. "You're the best." He felt a strange swooping sensation in his stomach as she did so, but he ignored.

"You better get to sleep," Dennis said, yawning as he did so.

"Please, you're the one who couldn't stay awake during McGonagall's speech," Verity said. "Good night." She hugged Albus again, then hugged her brother before trotting up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.

"Shall we go up?" Dennis said, gesturing towards the stairs that led to the boys' dormitory. Albus nodded. He and Dennis were in the same room as Kyle Thompson, Scott Creevy, and Tyler Brown. Albus and Dennis chose beds next to each other.

"Well, good night all. I think I've had one too many treacle tarts," Dennis said and promptly fell deep asleep.

Albus, on the other hand, was too excited to sleep. He grabbed the two-way mirror his aunt had made for him and his parents and looked into it. He was pleased to see his father's face peering back at him. "Albus," Harry said happily, "how is it?"

"It's great, Dad," he replied enthusiastically. "I love it here already."

"You made any friends?" Harry asked his son hopefully.

"Yes," Albus replied eagerly. "Verity and Dennis Pierce. They're Muggle-borns."

"That's great, Al!" his father said, pleased with how much his son was enjoying Hogwarts. "Will you be inviting them home for Christmas break or is the jury still deliberating?" Albus grinned at his father's comment; Harry knew his son loved studying American Muggle law, for some odd reason.

"I definitely will be," he replied confidently. "Dennis is in my dorm. The other boys are Kyle Thompson, Scott Creevy, and Tyler Brown."

"Kyle'll be Dean's son," Harry muttered to himself. "And Scott's Dennis' kid. I've never heard of any wizard with the last name Brown, though. Well, I know a Lavender Brown, but if she was married…"

"Come to think of it, I think Tyler said his mom left his dad when he was little and she stopped using his last name," Al offered.

"Well, I'll get in touch with Lavender and see. You better go to sleep, son. It's getting late and you really don't want to be late for your first day of classes," Harry said, suddenly fatherly.

"Can I talk to Mum quickly first?" he asked.

"Course. I'll get her," Harry said. "Gin! Al's on the mirror!" Al grinned with delight as his mother's face came into view.

"How are you, Al?" Ginny asked.

"I'm great, Mum. I'm just tired and I just wanted to say hi before I turned in. Is it all right if Dad fills you in on my first night?" Albus asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I suppose," Ginny said, grinning at her. "Good night, Albus."

"Good night, Mum," he said. With that, he stored the mirror safely in his trunk. He crawled into his four-poster bed and happily fell asleep.