REVAMPED: 05/13/11

Disclaimer: I just own the plot, not the world. JKR does. xD

Chapter 1

"What if I'm in Slytherin?" I hesitantly asked. It was something that bugged me since I got the letter from Hogwarts. James constantly teased me that I'll be in Slytherin since then. My parents were among the most famous Gryffindors and all of my blood relatives came from that house. What if I'm not brave enough to be there? What if…?

"Albus Severus," Dad crouched down so he was a head lower than me. I clutched on my trunk so hard that my knuckles were white. My heart thumped like a maniac, dreading to hear what came next in his speech. Uncle Ron's was bad enough along with James but coming from my father, it would be even worse. However, I was wrong.

"You were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts, one of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew," He spoke quietly but I'm sure mom heard it. His emerald eyes reflected in mine, only mine stared back at him in confusion. I was expecting him to remind me that I should be in Gryffindor or else I'll be disowned, like Uncle Ron's message was.

"But they say -"

"—then Slytherin House will gain an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us, Al. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."

"Really?"

"It did for me." Dad said, standing up and pushing me a little towards the train. I nodded my head slightly to them my mom smiled warmly at me before I made my way to the train, lodging at the compartment where Rose and James were. It's time to start the journey.

The castle loomed majestically as the magical boats paddled us towards the edge of the Black lake and into the Hogwarts grounds. It seemed as though the magic that gulped the whole place was inviting us to enter its halls and uncover the secrets of magic, and the life beneath studying.

"A 'right firs' years! Professor Longbottom will take o'er yah in ter castle." Hagrid's loud and deep voice grunted and shook the awed-struck students as we finally made it to the dock. He led the group with his dog, Fang and a single lamp- the only illumination in our short walk.

The double doors of the castle opened and there stood Professor Neville Longbottom who greeted us with a stern yet warm look on his face. "I will take it from here, Hagrid. Thank you," He said to the half-giant who gave him a curt nod in return before entering the castle towards the feast.

"Now, in a moment, you will be entering the Great Hall for the sorting ceremony. The house will be your family while you stay in this school. There are four houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Your triumphs will get you house points and any rule breaking will let you lose them. By the end of the year, the house who gets the most house points will win the house cup. I suggest you smarten up as you wait. I will be back when we're ready for you." He said in a deep and friendly voice, the same one he had always used when he visited our house during mom's dinner parties.

I let my eyes glance towards my fellow first year students. Their faces held various expressions. Some held excitement that was almost pouring out of their souls and any moment would be ready to burst, like Lorcan and Lysander's. Others were anxious and fidgeted in different manners to release such cooped up nerves like the Rose's. And still others were trying to be indifferent as they could be, notably Scorpius Malfoy. I wonder which group I belong to; the excited, the anxious or the indifferent. Ah, maybe I had my own group; the observer.

The large oak doors burst open and Professor Longbottom gestured us to line up and follow him towards the Great hall. The hall was amazing beyond words. James's description came nothing to Teddy's but the actual stood beyond their words combined.

I looked up at the house tables my eyes lingering at the Gryffindor table. There sat James, Teddy and Victorie, the last two snuggled against each other and the former sneering at them. I snickered because they painted an exact picture of what was normal at the Burrow. Rose nudged me and narrowed her eyes. I pointedly looked at our relatives and she too snickered a little before shaking her head and finally turning to face the front. I looked at the table at the other side of the hall. The Slytherins were the exactly the opposite of the Gryffindors. They sat stiffly while the latter were so comfortable on their benches. They had sneers on their faces as they looked at us and indirectly at the Gryffindors who wore smiles both warm and mischievous.

We stopped at the front where the old stool and the Sorting Hat rested. Neville tapped the parchment that held our names with his wand and it rolled off, floating in front of him. He cleared his voice and started calling off our names. For the second time that day, my heart beat faster than necessary.

I will be in Gryffindor was the mantra I kept saying as names were called and houses were said. Rose squeezed my hand when her name was called and after a few moments the hat shouted 'Gryffindor' and said house clapped and roared at the new addition. I smiled at her when she passed me, walking towards her table. After her was Scorpius Malfoy, the room fell silent for it had been a long time since the last Malfoy graced the halls of Hogwarts. He walked towards the stool with an air of confidence and slight arrogance that was expected of a Malfoy; of course I know that because Malfoys and Potters had a certain civility close to a friendly relationship with each other, but that story was for some other time. Scorpius sat on the stool and the hat barely touched his head before it shouted 'Slytherin'. Unlike the Gryffindor's welcome, the purebloods clapped laboriously as if they were at a very formal dinner.

I was startled when I heard Neville's voice boom in my ears, 'Albus Severus Potter'. The hall went silent and I slowly stepped towards the stool. Every step became heavy and the heaviest step fell when I reached it. The professor put the oversized hat on my head and it started talking.

"Another Potter eh? Hogwarts has another Mischief Maker in the making. Fair-minded and hard working you are. Not a bad mind either. Not lacking in bravery part, I see. Ooh, very cunning and sneaky, indeed. Where to put you? Where," it said. I was trying hard to keep the mantra in my head but once again interrupted by the voice.

"Gryffindor eh? Oh, you'll do great in that house. But I see second thoughts. Not very applicable for daring Gryffindor you see."

I was about to begin the mantra when dad's voice cut me off. "—then Slytherin house would gain an excellent student won't it? It doesn't matter to us, Al. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter." It kept repeating in my mind and I allowed my eyes to avert its repetitious gaze on the floor and the Gryffindor table to the house in question. What's wrong with Slytherin? It's just a house like Gryffindor. Nothing different. All of the houses are the same, so why bother choosing? Then I'm decided. My house doesn't matter. I'll be fine if I'm Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or even Slytherin. What's important is my performance, not the house I'm in.

"So I see you've decided then. If it doesn't matter to you, then you'll better be…" the hoarse voice of the old hat said. "SLYTHERIN!"

Silence greeted the hall after the announcement. All was in shock but after a few moments, murmurs erupted and collectively it became a noise. 'A Potter in Slytherin. The world's in chaos!' I heard them saying as I walked to the Slytherin table and to Scorpius, the only person in the house that I knew.

He clapped my back as I sat down on the bench next to him, and heard someone say surprised, 'A Malfoy and a Potter, friends? The end is near!' I saw Scorpius shake his head and whispered that I should ignore it.

Suddenly, someone clapped their hands that broke the sea of murmurs in the hall. Up at the Head table was Aunt Hermione and Scorpius' dad, Draco Malfoy, both clapping their hands. Aunt Hermione smiled warmly to me while Professor Malfoy raised his flute of wine in salutation. I returned their gestures with a small smile before turning to the Headmistress who now stood at the podium for her welcome speech.

The feast ended soon and everyone scrambled up from their seats and made their way to the door. But I was one of the few who were still seated along with Scorpius. It was too crowded for his liking, while my reasons were different. Most Slytherins glared at me or pretended that I did not exist.

A tap on my shoulder pulled me back to reality. I turned my head and saw a smiling Victorie, indifferent Teddy, roguish –looking James and a very grumpy Rose stood behind me. "Congrats, Al, I'm sure Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny would be very proud of you."

"Speak for yourself Victorie, Mom would be hysterical if she found out." James said teasingly and the blond girl pushed him. "Stop it, James! You're scaring him!" She shrieked then turned to me, "Ignore him. It doesn't matter to us and you know it," she ran after my brother all the time shouting 'Come back here you bloody Potter! How dare you tease your brother like that! I'll make sure Aunt Ginny won't hear the end of it!'

Teddy shook his head and patted me at the back before following them. Finally the grumpy Rosie turned to me. "Congrats though I won't say I'm very happy with it Al. We're in rival houses and I don't think it'll be very… very easy us, cousin." She said gloomily, yet looked irritated once again when Scorpius cleared his throat. "Finished with the dramatic goodbyes? It's not like the end of the world, you know Weasley. You're just in different houses; you'll still be cousins for Merlin's sake. Pathetic, time to go Al," he drawled as Rose glared at him.

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious, almighty Malfoy," she said her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm just congratulating my cousin and being sorry at the same time because he'll have to be with you for his whole stay in Hogwarts. O sweet Merlin, why am I wasting my precious time explaining this to you, it's none of your business anyway." Her temper was quickly rising and it was very obvious as her expression imitated Aunt Hermione's when she's mad at Uncle Ron for his lack of manners at mealtimes. I remembered Uncle Ron's parting words to her, and decided it's too early for a full blown fight.

I stood up and placed myself between them for Scorpius' indifferent façade was slowly falling away with his temper matching hers. "Calm down you guys. Thanks Rose, and I'm sorry too because we're cannot do our plans, but I'm sure we can work it out." I leaned to kiss her cheek and patted her other. She relaxed slowly, finally leaving the hall. "Let's go Scorp, long night I say." I patted him and his barriers were up again. Together, we walked towards the Slytherin dungeons to have our first night in Hogwarts.

Just want to say that this is the same chapter but edited by my lovely beta. Thanks Tanny Apple. XD

R&R?

love,

~elaine