The first time the Potter family goes to Kings Cross is a memorable moment. Harry's and Ginny's excitement is unwavering, as if it is their trip to Hogwarts and not Albus'. They hardly even notice the press. Adults and students are catching up with one another, causing loud noises, voices and laughter. Besides that many of them are highly aware of the man who is in their midst. Harry Potter. The saver of the Wizarding World. The vanquisher of the Evil. Albus braces himself, trying hard to ignore the constant flashing lights, like Harry did before.
But now precautions have been taken. They are used to the press, but somehow its absence is uncomfortably noticeable. People make a show out of pretending not to care for the Great War Hero, while catching glances anytime they can. Now he is nervous- almost as nervous as Albus himself is. He talks to Ron and Hermione , as if he couldn't have talked to them all the year. Albus tries to catch his fathers eyes and then his mothers but both of them are too busy talking and exchanging interviews for the press. Once again to Albus great annoyance they remind themselves of the time Ron and Harry went to school by a flying car. It has been bearable the first time but after the tenth retold version it's just annoying, however they still laugh. Only Albus doesn't laugh. No one pays much attention to him anyway. Undoubtedly, people will merely think of him as a Potter. Son of. Brother of. He is already tired of it and it hasn't even begun. His father glances at him with a smile. It's funny how that only happens after Albus had already decided that it won't be worth seeking his parents sights. Finally they board the train. The entire experience brief as it may be, is incredibly freeing .He looks out of the window willing to say good bye. As surprising as it sounds they were talking to people but however it has never been Albus they have been talking to.
Now Albus is left with Rose. She reminds him of his mother. The air between them is somehow strained as if there have been millions of people taking all the air with them. At first he doesn't look at anyone. He wouldn't be surprised if there is a neon sign above his head saying Son Of The Strongest Man In The Galaxy. After a short while though he realises that hardly no one pays much attention to him. And a sense of relief enters him and stays there.
Except of one person, Rose Granger-Weasly who wears of confident smily ang greets everyone just a little bit too cheerfully. This gives Albus the perfect opportunity to look at the other students. Their faces are filled with expressions from anxiety to excitement.
"We should make a careful choice were to sit."
Rose shakes him out of his thoughts. He gives her a questioning glance. The ride to Hogwarts takes only one day, and if the company is more pleasant anywhere else who is to stop them from moving. There is something familiar about the way she looks at him. It reminded him as the look Aunt Hermione sends Uncle Ron everytime he doesn't exctly get what she is at.
"Our parents met on this train."
She sounds like her mother, no doubt. Albus waits until she turns around again before shrugging and answering wonderful. He has learnt not to express his opinion to loudly. When they walk past another compartement that is empty except of a boy, Albus stops. The boy is resting his head on his hands, hunched over, and staring bored out of the window. They see each other in the reflection, but the other boy isn't moving at all. He looks as ecstatic as Albus feels.
"You are not going there, are you?" Rose says irritated.
Somehow, her words determine him even more to do that. Staring at her right in the eyes, he slowly pushes the comprtement door open. She takes a deeply breath, without saying anything. Instead, she spins on her heel. Albus looks a little victorious from the back.
The boy stares at him as he enters the carriage. Albus moves awkwardly to sit across from him. The blond boy straightens himself as Albus is seated. Although there is no enthusiasm to him as there was before a certain determination flashed his face. As this happened, a memory flares up in Albus head. He has definitely seen this face before.
"Malfoy", he extends his arms. "Scorpius Malfoy!"
"Hi." Albus says repeating the name over and over in his head.
"I am Albus" then more quietly,"Potter."
Scorpius only raises his eyebrows briefly in response, follwed by a small nod of acknowledgement.
"I am the son of Draco Malfoy."
Albus gives him another stiff nod. He is relived that there is no shower of questions about is dad. He wonders wethher his father would discourage him from sitting next to Scorpius like Rose did. It strikes Albus that the both of them have one odd thing in common: Famous fathers. Admittedly thats not something people typically argue with.
"Hello son of Draco Malfoy. I am the son of Harry Potter."
Albus says in an very exaggeratedly posh manner. A shy smile spreads across Scorpius' face. To his own surprise, he replies with the most genuine smile he has mustered up for a while now.
The one-day-trip to Hogwarts has been much better than he had expected since he boarded the train. The headmistress is a strict looking witch, with golden hair and a voice that cuts off every conversation. He wonders whether she expects him to be sorted into Gryffindor as well. Like everyone else does. His parents were in Gryffindor. Even his grandparents. All Potters must have been Gryffindors. Albus hears Rose's name, she is walking up to the front and sitting on a small stool. He counts the seconds it takes for the Hat to decide. One,two,three,four-.
"Gryffindor"
No one is surprised. Albus could have sorted her. When the names starting with an "L" come to an end and "M" begins Albus finds himself paying more attention. Since the Hat is placed on Scorpius' head everyone is silent, including the Hat. Albus isn't sure he is breathing. The headmistress less composed, and automatically moves to remove the Hat again before she realises it hadn't said anything yet. She swiftly straightens herself again, and waits as patiently as she did with everyone else. Albus hasn't counted the seconds since the Hat was put on Scorpius head. But everyone notices that it takes longer than usual. Then in a tone that indicates a carfully made decision.
"Slytherin"
As soon as Scorpius disappears towards the Slytherin table, Albus' attention flashes again. He wonders whether he would mind being sorted into Slytherin. He has a friend there now, or at least he likes to think that he does. Has not his dad said it wouldn't matter. And his mom wouldn't mind, would she. Could it be that bad.
"Albus Severus Potter"
Everyone is staring at him. A little embarassed he makes his way to the Sorting Hat. The old Hat is placed on his head, and immediately magic begins trickling down his head.
Ah, another Potter, an old voice appears in his ear.
I am not just another Potter, he thinks. To his suprise, the Hat appears to hear his thoughts perfeclty well, as it replies to his comment.
"Not just another Potter? So let us see. What. No! That can not be. How can it be?"
As if he is not confused enough he asks himself or obviously the Hat.
"What can not be? What do you mean?"
"There must be a mistake. But how? I do never make mistakes! How can that happen", the Hat answers almost as confused as Albus himself is.
And now Albus feels like their conversation has ended or is blocked somehow the time the Hat had said a word that doesn't just appear to be inside his head but in front of the entire Great Hall. He didn't get what it was but he could read it out of the people's expression.
"Slytherin"
Ginny's large brown eyes, framed by freckles and stay locks of hair, peer into Harrys thoughts without any magic. He wishes she could decipher his exact doubts just like that so he would not have to say it.
"What if Albus really is sorted in Slytherin?"
Ginny arches her eyebrows
"Then thats what you get from giving him Serverus for a middle name."
No Ginny had not been fond of his idea. Harry had carefully mentioned that he owes Severus Snape a lot of things and thats how he thinks he could pay him. The idea didn't leave Harry though. Snape had saved their lives and never asked for something in return. And now he has a son named "Albus Severus Potter" and he realises how that perhaps he should have listened to Ginny. Throughout the years, Harry learnt an important truth: Mothers are always right. Although she is not even his own mother, Ginny has a knack for knowing better. Harry glances at the clock. It's almost midnight by now. The train is not punctual.
"They have been sorted by now."
Ginny rolls her eyes and plays lazily with his hair.
"For all I care he should be a Hufflepuff."
Harry embraces her casually, arms around her waist.
"Because no one expects it?"
"Exactly," she says drawing him closer, "Imagine the entire Wizarding World somewhat awkwardly processing that the famous Albus Severus Potter is neither Gryffindor nor Slytherin. The Daily Prophet just wouldn't know what to do with itself."
Harry pauses for a moment and shrugs.
"I am afraid he will be sorted in Slytherin, he does not fit there. He needs a disciplined society."
"He will be fine" Ginny says in a calming voice.
"Imagine he sees his face plastered on the Daily Prophet with an entire title 'Harry Potter's son breaks tradition. THE SLYTHERIN POTTER'"
"Judging by Albus' reaction to the Daily Prophet, he might as well be alergic to it. Never seen someone avoiding any contact with a piece of paper with such an determination. He wouldn't read it for hundreds of galleons." Ginny says in a very worried mood.
"But what if-"
"I think," she interrupts him sternly "that you should let this matter rest for now. Seriously you are more worried then I expect him to be. He will be fine. It will be fine." And thats how she ends the conversation.