Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione waved goodbye to their children as they boarded the Hogwart's Express. James Potter was instantly called off by his friends from last year. Rose Weasley looked nervously at Albus Potter; this was their first time.

Albus tried to be the brave one and took Rose to an empty compartment where they sat down.

"I hope classes aren't too hard," said Rose. "Mum's been helping me get ahead but it's not the same unless you're really performing the spells." Rose brushed her brown hair out of her eyes, she looked a great deal like her mother, Hermione, but not as much as Albus looked like his father, Harry. They had the same messy black hair and handsome green eyes.

Albus was about to reply, but their conversation was interrupted by the slam of the sliding door opening and in stepped Nyla. Her dirty blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail with what must have been a Christmas scrunchy considering the jingle bells attached to it. Her big brown eyes surveyed them all, "Hi Rose, Albus, sorry about the door, I didn't realize how heavy it was. Quibbler?"

It was obvious from her appearance that she could be no one else but the daughter of Luna Lovegood. Her spectrospecs were resting on her head and she wore a navy jumper decorated with silver stars and moons. She was pulling along a kitty kennel in which a large white ball of fluff snored softly.

"Hi, Nyla," said Rose.

"Where's James? Off with his friends I'm guessing?"

"Yes," said Albus, "but there's no loss there. I was never much for his complaining on how full the quiddage team is. He wants to be seeker, like Dad was, and Grandpa apparently."

"You're the one I'd guess would be seeker," said Rose over the top of her book, then, blushing, looked back at the page.

Nyla opened the kennel and placed her cat on her lap. "This is Pricilla," she introduced proudly. Pricilla opened her blue eyes for a moment and regarded the kids as unworthy of keeping her awake before falling back asleep.

Then the train began to move. The scene of platform 9 ¾ was soon left behind and replaced momentarily by the vast countryside.

"This is so exciting," sighed Rose, "but I'll miss Mum and Dad so much."

"Me too, but-"

Yet another opening of the door interrupted Albus. This was rather odd, as they didn't know anyone else their age and they all turned to stare.

In stepped a boy with blonde hair and a black owl in a cage. Their stares made him blush but he refused to show his indignity.

"The other compartments are full," was his only greeting and he sat as far away from the others and as close to the door as he could.

"Hello, Scorpius," said Nyla in the same dreamy voice they heard so often from her mother, Luna.

"Hello, Lovegood, Potter, Weasley," said Scorpius coldly. He took out his schoolbooks and began paging through them.

"He's the one Dad told me to beat in every test," Rose whispered to Albus.

"He's Malfoy's son," said Albus, "but we all know that. Do you think he's as bad as his father?"

"Shh," said Rose. "Not now, Albus, for goodness sake."

As they drew nearer to the school it began to rain. The raindrops pelted the windowpane and they could hear thunder in the distance.

"We'll be soaked in the boats," said Rose.

"I just hope I'm in Gryffindor," said Albus, "like Dad, and Mum, and Grandma, and Grandpa…" He trailed off but he'd made his point. Everyone in his family it seemed had been in Gryffindor.

"Why?" asked Scorpius, speaking for the first time since he sat down. "You shouldn't want to just because everyone else was."

"You're one to talk. I'll bet you'll want to be in Slytherin," said Albus.

Scorpius just rolled his eyes, "It's bad luck to tell what house you want to be in. I thought everyone knew that."

Albus looked annoyed for a moment but then decided to ignore him; it was James, not he, that had inherited their father's temper.

"What about you, Nyla?" he asked, turning away from Scorpious.

"Ravenclaw of course," she said, "though it seems like everyone's been favoring Gryffindor ever since your father was in it, Albus. What about you, Rose?"

"Well, it's bad luck to tell isn't it? But I know Dad would be upset if I wasn't a Gryffindor…"

Scorpius smiled behind his book; mildly surprised she had taken his words to heart. He doubted her father, Ron Weasley, would care either way. From the way his father put it, he couldn't afford to be picky. (Literally since the Weasleys were apparently extremely poor, those that didn't marry into fortune anyway…)

When the train finally stopped they all found their way to the boats, which would take them across the river. The reflections of light from the windows danced on the water, the only part of the scene that wasn't black with the coming night. The rain sparkled as it fell. They did end up being thoroughly soaked as Rose predicted.

At last they entered the castle and walked into the Great Hall. They all had a very increased appreciation for the warmth and dryness of the torch-lit hall. Albus searched for his brother in the crowd but quickly gave up.

Finally the ceremony began and one by one they were sorted. Nyla was the first of them to go and she seemed oddly calm. But with her, it was hard to tell odd behavior from her usual.

She held her breath as the hat was placed on her head and was quickly sorted into Gryffindor. She was far from upset about not being in Ravenclaw and skipped down to the table.

Eventually, Rose was called and the whole time Albus could see her crossing her fingers for good luck. She needn't have bothered however, because she was, indeed, a Gryffindor.

Then went Scorpius. He sat listening to the hat for a lot longer than the others. Albus wished her could hear what the hat said to him because, against all odds, he was in…Gryffindor? That couldn't be right, and yet it was.

Albus didn't have long to dwell on it however because not long after Scorpius was sorted it was his turn.

He sat down and the hat was placed upon his head. "Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor," he repeated in his head.

Albus Severus, said the hat, I remember sorting both your namesakes, Gryffindor and Slytherin. I remember your father too. He looked just like you, and he too chose Gryffindor. Well, there really isn't much of a question to it. If Gryffindor is truly your desire then Gryffindor it will be.

Albus sighed in relief and moved down to sit at the Gryffindor table. It was all right, he was Gryffindor, how could this not be a great year?