Author's Note: I am now thoroughly fed up with reading fanfics in which Albus Potter is in Slytherin. I've just had to write one myself for a fic exchange, and it is annoying. In these stories he either falls in love with Scorpius Malfoy, or they're best friends. People say that it would be boring to have him in Gryffindor and going out with Neville's daughter, or whatever - but no one writes it! There are very few fics like those and hundreds of fics about Slytherin!Albus being in love with Scorpius. So, I wondered: what would happen if Albus WEREN'T in Slytherin?

A Letter Across the Sea

Dear Guillaume,

I'm sorry it took me so long to write. How's it going at Beauxbatons? Say hello to Aunt Gabrielle for me!

Could you do me a favour and find out whether your school takes transfer students? I don't think I'm going to last very long at Hogwarts.

It was all going OK before I got here. Mum and Dad told me a hundred times that I had to be in Slytherin, and all that. I don't know how the houses at Beauxbatons work, but at Hogwarts, we have a Sorting Hat. All the first years have to line up and put the Sorting Hat on their heads, and it will tell you what house you should be in. So before I got on the train Dad told me a really big secret. You can actually ask the Sorting Hat to put you in your favourite house! I kept reminding myself to say "Slytherin, Slytherin" but when it was my turn, I got so nervous I said Gryffindor instead. And that was that.

Dad sent me a Howler the very next morning. I had to listen to him screaming at me in front of the whole school at breakfast. My mum didn't say anything but I could hear her crying in the background. They came up to Hogwarts to ask for me to have another go with the Sorting Hat. I wasn't allowed. Professor Sinistra says it doesn't work that way, even if your dad is Harry Potter.

Rose wasn't as lucky as me. She's quite brainy, so our family wanted her to be in Ravenclaw. The Sorting Hat called out Gryffindor as soon as it touched her head. She was called to the headmistress's office and we never saw her again.

That means she can't marry Scorpius Malfoy like Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione wanted her to. I'm a bit worried that they're having other ideas now. Last week Professor Longbottom kept me behind after Herbology because he said he had a message from my dad. He said "Albus, I know most lads of your age are interested in girls now, but have you ever thought about other boys?"

I think it's going to be OK though because Hugo and my sister haven't started school yet. I hope THEY'RE in Slytherin or Dad might have a heart attack.

What are you listening to at the moment? I used to like Grunt but they've gone all mainstream now, and James says they're rubbish anyway.

I've got to do my homework, so I'll finish this letter now. Please write back!

Your cousin,

Al