Normally I place Al Potter in Gryffindor in my stories becuase I think that's what he would hope the hat would pick, but for this little story I had him be a Slytherin, just so James could tease him a bit. :) I hope you enjoy! I think this goes along nicely with my story Middle Names, where Harry tells Lily Luna about her namesakes.
"Hey Sevvie! It's a shame you're in Slytherin- we Gryffindors always win the Quidditch Cup. And the House Cup. And the Bravery Award." Albus's older brother, James, elbowed him in the stomach.
The eleven-year-old scowled. "Don't call me Sevvie. I hate my name, okay? And there is no 'Bravery Award', smart-aleck."
"There soooooo is, Sevvie. Just you see. First years like you don't know anything," James replied with a wicked grin.
"And I suppose second-years like you do?" Al retorted. "And, for the last time, don't call me Sevvie!"
James smiled widely. "Good, you won't tell me not to call you Sevvie anymore, right, Sevvie?"
Al closed his eyes tightly. "Why me why me why me why me why-"
"James, don't taunt your brother," their mother ordered. "In fact, since you're sitting there being useless, why don't you go help Grandmum Weasley with the Christmas pudding?"
"Mu-um!" he whined. "I was going to go play Quidditch with Teddy!"
"You are not playing Quidditch until you go see if Grandmum needs help. Go on." Mrs. Potter shooed James away.
As soon as he vanished around the corner, Al got up. "Thanks Mum," he told her quietly. He was a little embarrassed when she got up from her writing desk and gave him a hug.
"Al, you know we don't care that you're in Slytherin, don't you?"
"Yeah, Mum, I do," he choked out. "It's just…just…why did you have to give me such an awful name?"
His Mum drew away and bent down so that they were eye to eye. "Albus Severus Potter is not an awful name. It's a name to be proud of."
"But Mum, it's terrible. I'm supposed to be glad I was named after two dead wizards, one of which was the greatest wizard in the last century and quite possible insane and the other of which was a double agent for him? Because Professor Snape's portrait is always so mean to me, and Dumbledore's is always telling me to defy conformity. And everyone teases me because of my name. How can I be proud of it?" Albus gasped for breath. He actually felt a little better saying all this, but he was still pretty miserable.
"Al, you don't have to honor your namesakes. You don't even have to like them. Dad and I gave you their names to show that we honor them and their bravery. But even more than we admire them, we admire you. It's your name. It won't be Albus Dumbledore or Severus Snape who grows up to be the greatest Quidditch player or the most acclaimed author or the most courageous Auror or the most brilliant healer or the fairest judge. It'll be you. Just you. Just Albus Severus Potter. And Dad and I will always be proud of you, no matter what you do, because you are our son and we love you more than anything. It doesn't matter what house you were put in, or what classes you're good at, or what people call you. It only matters that you are yourself. Nobody can change who you are, Albus." His mother smiled at him and kissed his cheek, but right then, Albus didn't mind a bit.
"Thanks, Mum. I understand better now. I'll try not to let the other kids' teasing get to me as much." Tentatively he smiled back.
"There's my Albus," she said, giving him one more hug. "Now what do you say to going and beating Teddy and James at Quidditch?"
Albus grinned, feeling his spirit rise with each moment. It was Christmas, he was surrounded by his happy family, and he didn't even have to worry about being a Slytherin and being teased. He began walking towards the stairs to fetch his broom. "I think that's a great idea."