Albus glanced over at his cousin nervously. Rose smiled back and gave his hand a small, reassuring squeeze. "Albus Potter," Professor McGonagall read from the scroll. Rose kissed him on the cheek before he made his way up to the front of the Great Hall, taking a seat on the stool that the Professor motioned him to. She gave him a soft smile before placing the Sorting Hat on the top of his head.
"Well, well, well," the Sorting Hat said to Albus. "Another Potter! Smart but not studious. Most certainly not a Ravenclaw. Loyal, of course, but I don't foresee you doing well in Hufflepuff. You aren't a modest bunch, you Potters. Mmm, very ambitious. I can see your thirst for success in the magical world. Resourceful of course, I can only expect that from the son of Harry Potter. You would do extremely well in Slytherin. The first of the Potter/Weasley clan to be sorted into Slytherin?"
Albus' heart felt like it would pound through his chest. Would he be able to face his family of Gryffindors if he was sorted into their rival house? What would they think? Suddenly the world stilled as he realized he didn't care. He didn't care what they thought at all. The hat knew best. If Slytherin was where he belonged than he would be just fine there. I don't care what House I get sorted into. I don't care what my family thinks of it, he thought to himself.
"And for that," the hat began, "You'll be sorted into…GRYFFINDOR."
His heart jolted in surprise as the Gryffindor table went wild.