James, Lily, Albus, and Rose all took their first steps into Hogwarts together. They looked around open mouthed at the ancient stone archways. On their way to the Great Hall to get sorted they passed the giant hourglasses that told how many points each house had.
As Professor McGonegall ushered them into the Great Hall, they looked around at all of the other students staring at them from the tables.
The Great Hall was a sight itself. Candles floated in the ceiling, which mimicked the moonlit sky outside. As students finished their meals, the plates switched courses. Ghosts floated among the tables, talking to the students and others just getting in the way.
The Headmistress walked up to a podium and made a speech.
"I am Professor McGonegall," she said. "For those of you who have been here before, welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. For those first years, welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will learn the most basic skills like levitation, to the most advanced spells such as the Patronus Charm." She went on to introduce the different teachers before beginning the sorting.
"The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Huffelpuff and Slytherin. In a moment, I will call you each up here one at a time and you will put on the Sorting Hat and he will place you in one of the four houses." She paused and the first years started whispering.
"Guys, I'm so nervous," Rose whispered.
"Do you think we'll end up in the same house?" James asked.
"I hope so," Lily squeaked. "I don't know anybody here other than us."
"Do you think we'll be in Gryffindor?" asked Albus. "Because I really don't want to end up in Slytherin."
"Don't worry about it Albus," Lily said. "Dad probably won't disown you if you end up in Slytherin." The rest of them laughed and Albus turned white.
"Of course, I don't know," James added. "His three worst enemies were Slytherins."
"You know what? I think you will end up in Slytherin," Rose smiled.
"W-why do you think so?" he stuttered.
"Three words," she said and held up a finger with every word. "Albus. Severus. Potter."
"Two Gryffindors to one Slytherin," he said in a matter- of- fact way.
"Albus Potter," the headmistress announced. The Great Hall got quiet as he slowly stepped up to the stool and sat down, trembling the whole way.
"Hmm, you're difficult Potter," said the hat once it was placed on his head. "Just like your father. Brave, but mischevious."
"Please," he begged. "I don't want Slytherin."
"Oh, then perhaps," he paused before shouting "Gryffindor!" He sighed with relief and the Great Hall erupted with clapping again, but the loudest was the Gryffindors.
"James Potter," McGonegall announced.
"Another Potter," said the Sorting Hat. "You would do well in Ravenclaw. However, you are difficult. You would do well in any of the houses. You have a brave heart, but a strong mind. You are kind and compassionate, but you also like to deceive. Am I correct?" asked the hat, knowing the answer. James stayed quiet. "Gryffindor!" he announced.
Lily was next, and she was placed in Gryffindor almost as soon as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. Eventually Rose Weasley was called up to be sorted.
"Another difficult one. Granger and a Weasley, right?" Rose nodded beneath the hat.
"Please hat. I want to be with my family. I want to be a Gryffindor."
"But it is because you don't want to be alone. It doesn't seem like a trait of a Gryffindor," said the hat, pulling its brim into a small smile.
"I want to be with my family. I need them and they need me," she explained.
"Good." He smiled wider, although most wouldn't notice. "Gryffindor!"
After all of the first years were sorted they sat at their tables to eat and eventually were showed to their common rooms. The Gryffindors were led to a tower behind a picture of a woman trying to sing.
"Fortuna Major," the head boy said to the painting.
"As soon as I hit high c." She screamed and the students, along with most of the other paintings, covered their ears.
"Come on Fat Lady," the head boy said exasperatedly after she stopped for a breath.
She sighed. "Alright, go inside," she said and opened the door, revealing the small hole that the Gryffindors crawled through.
"Wow, this is amazing," breathed Lily. Albus started to walk over to an armchair by the fire place, but two third years ran as fast as they could, beating out about six other students.
"I can't wait for Herbology," James said.
"Yeah," agreed Rose. "But it's going to be weird having to call Neville Professor Longbottom." The other three nodded their heads in agreement.
"So, does anybody know if any kids are here that their parents went to school with mom and dad?" asked James.
"I heard that one of the Patil's had a son in Huffelpuff," responded Albus. "I heard he was a second year."
"Of course there's Scorpio Malfoy," added Rose.
"I don't know what to think of him," Albus said. "His dad hated dad and uncle Ron. He probably hated aunt Hermione more than anything. Dad hated him the most though."
"You can't judge him by what his father did," said James.
"I know, but can you imagine going home for the holiday and saying 'Dad! Guess who my best friend is? Scorpio Malfoy. You remember his dad Draco right? You saved him in the Room of Requirement, but other than that you've hated each other since the day you met. By the way, the Malfoy's are coming for dinner. I hope that's okay with you'." The rest of them stared at Albus, who'd done a spot on impression of James.
"Yeah I know," James said. "But still, they can't absolutely hate each other after all this time. And after dad saved his dad's life. People change."
"Yeah but his dad was racist against mum!" said Rose. "He was a pureblood and she is Muggle born. He was raised to hate her."
"But things have changed," Lily said, jumping to her oldest brothers defense. "Voldemort hasn't been brainwashing people lately, so people are much less likely to dislike half-bloods and Muggle-born."
"That's easy for you to say, you're a pureblood," Rose spat.
"It doesn't matter!" cried Albus. All heads turned. "Guys! We made it to Hogwarts! It's been nineteen years since the war ended. Times are different now. Do you really think that family arguing about each other's blood status is a good way to celebrate getting here after he died and is no longer influential? Death Eaters used to work here for God's sake! We're lucky that the school is still here, and we're arguing about something our parents did about twenty years ago?" He took a deep breath.
"You're right," Rose said, with her head held down with the others. "I'm sorry Lily," she said and hugged her cousin.
"We better get to bed," said Lily. "We have classes early tomorrow. Have we figured out sleeping arrangements?"
"Well, James and I will have a room," Albus said and put an arm around his brother's shoulders. "We assumed you'd be splitting one."
The two girls looked at each other and shrugged, then had a fourth year show them to the girl's dorms.