"Gryffindor!" yelled the Sorting Hat, and Albus Severus Potter breathed a sigh of relief. He had never wanted to be in that ambitious Slytherin house.

He walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down beside James, his brother, and Rose, his cousin.

Professor Molly Weasley, the Head of Gryffindor house, came running by and whispered to Albus,"Well done, Albus! Your father would be so proud of you!" She turned and patted Rose, her grandaughter, on the cheek, before returning to her seat.

Ex-Professor Minerva McGonagall clattered her spoon against her goblet, a gesture of silence from her students. The students of Hogwarts had been told that the former headmistress was retiring this year. Seeing her on the staff table brought puzzled glances from the Great Hall.

"As some of you may already know, I was planning to retire this year, but the Ministry of Magic has allowed me more time in the position of headmistress. Now, let the feast begin!"

Cheers erupted from the hall, drowning out the groaning from the Slytherins, as silver plates appeared in the corridors, carrying traditional Hogwarts food onto the tables.

"May we welcome the newest members of our staff. The position of Transfiguration Master will be taken by Fleur Delacour, former student at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic." At the mention of her name, the new professor stood up and waved, closely followed by lots of clapping, and some snickering from the Bloody Baron.

The moon was high when the houses returned to their dormitories. Albus followed the Gryffindors as they walked into the main cooridor, and up the stairs. He swore he saw the portrait of Albus Dumbledore nod his head at him in approval.

Passing the Quidditch exhibition, they stopped in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Fawkes!", someone yelled, and the frame gave way, revealing a spiral of stairs that lead to the Gryffindor Tower. He was delighted to find an empty bed beside Louis Weasley, his cousin. His snowy owl, Hedwig II, was waiting in a cage beside his bag, along with his trunk and Chocolate Frog Card Collection.

Louis peered over his shoulder and commented,"Wow, that is one big collection!"

"I'm only missing Circe, Cliodna and Gulliver Pokeby."

Louis' jaw dropped so low, it touched the carpet beneath.

Tucking himself into bed, the rest of Louis' endless yammering about Houses and House Points drifted off into nothingness, and Albus silently drifted off into sleep…

Albus soon figured out that Xylomancy was a devastating waste of time, especially for Gryffindors like him. The class was held at the North Tower, one of the tallesttowers in Hogwarts.

Professor Sybill Trelawny was waiting on the table, looking rather bored. Her eyes, mysterious as always, lit up when we poured into the classroom.

"Ah! First years. Please take a seat." Albus positioned himself between Louis and Rose.

"Does anyone know what we will be doing today? No? I supposed not. We will be looking into the future with twigs! Isn't that exciting?"

"No." came a muttered reply from Louis, bringing laughter around the tables.

Proffesor Trelawny shrugged,"Well, let's get on with it!" Her somewhat ridiculous smile returned.

"Now everybody get some twigs from the box. No pushing! No shoving! And definitely no levitating your fellow classmates! Ridiculus!"

She didn't notice Molly Weasley II perform the Fire-Making Spell on the professor's cloak.

"And what's this… Ahhh! Fire! Fire! Fire on my cloak! Where's my wand?

Where is it? Help! Somebody help!"

Albus couldn't help but laugh at the professor's silliness.

'FOR DUMBLEDORE'S SAKE! WHERE IS MY WAND?" Eyes crazed, Professor Trelawny was now a flaming ball of anger.

Rolling on the floor with the other kids, Albus threw her wand back. It jabbed the teacher in the eye. The class roared with laughter.

"Aguamenti! Aguamenti! Aguamenti!" screamed Professor Trelawny, as the school bell rang.

Without waiting for permission to go, the first-years rushed out, heading toward the dungeons.

"Stupid teacher,"came a murmur from Molly.

Proffesor Horace Slughorn was a jolly old man with a very big stomach. As soon as everyone was seated with their books on the tables, Slughorn stood up and began his mini speech.

"Welcome to Potions, one of the most important subjects one learns at Hogwarts. Today, we will be experimenting on Cure for Boils. Can anyone tell me the ingredients needed?"

Rose's hand shot up faster than a Firebolt Supreme.

"Horned Slugs, Porcupine Quills and Snake Fangs."

"Very good, Miss-"

"Weasley, sir. Rose Weasley."

"Miss Weasley. Got your intelligence from your mother, if I have not mistaken. Miss Granger, the most brilliant witch of her time, am I right?"

Rose blushed and gave a shy smile.

"Ten points to Gryffindor."

Albus had heard all about House Points last night, when Louis had been yammering about Hogwarts customs.

"For the rest of the lesson, you will be brewing Cure for Boils. Now, everybody choose a cauldron and start brewing."

Opening his Magical Drafts and Potions to the fourth page, Albus carefully followed the instructions printed on the paper:

1. Add 6 Snake Fangs to the mortar

2. Crush into a fine powder using the pestle

3. Add 4 measures of the crushed fangs to your cauldron

4. Heat to a high temperature for 10 seconds

5. Wave your wand

6. Leave to brew

7. Add 4 Horned Slugs to your cauldron

8. Add 2 Porcupine Quills to your cauldron

9. Stir 5 times, clockwise

10. Wave your wand to complete the potion

Throughout the process, many potions went horribly wrong. Molly mixed up Snake Fangs with Porcupine Quills and ended up having her hair standing on end when she heated her cauldron.

Rose did an exceptionally good job until the last few steps, when she stirred her potion five times anticlockwise, which resulted in the ingredients exploding and leaving bits of slime everywhere.

"Time's up!" shouted Slughorn, who came around trying to find the perfect potion. Louis frantically tried to stuff a few more ingredients into his cauldron, which now had fifty-two ingredients instead of ten.

The Professor suddenly stopped in his tracks. He scurried over to Albus' cauldron and took a great sniff. He filled a small vial with the solution and reluctantly drank the whole thing in one gulp. A broad smile appeared on his fat face, as the boils on his hand disappeared.

"I think we have found a winner."

He dragged Albus to the front of the room, and held his potion up high for everyone to see.

"Congratulations, Mr-"

"Potter, sir. Albus Severus Potter." This led to a few gasps from the students. Even Professor Slughorn looked surprised.

"You are saying that you are the son of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, conqueror of the Dark Lord, Head of the Auror Department, one of my best and favorite students at Hogwarts. Is that true?"

Albus nodded bashfully.

Professor Slughorn took his hand and shook it with so much strength, the table beside them quivered. "It is such an honor to have you in my class, Mr. Potter."

Slughorn then turned to the class. "Thirty points to Gryffindor for Mr. Potter's achievement!" Cheering from the Gryffindors in the room.

"I believe it is time for your next lesson. Hurry and pack up, all of you. I'll see you all tomorrow."

As Albus walked to the Great Hall for lunch, he heard Louis mutter under his breath, "Stupid Potions." But Albus could not agree less, as he couldn't wipe that smile off his face.