Dedicated to my friend and inspiration for this story, A.V.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: I rewrote this story after a year long hiatus. If you read it when I first created it, I recommend rereading the first few chapters.

A sharp rapping on Albus Severus Potter jolted him awake. He tumbled out of bed and landed in a heap on the floor. Groaning, he picked himself up.

He reached for his glasses, which were sitting on his nightstand. He grabbed them off and searched his room for the source of the noise. It seemed to be coming from his window. Wrenching the curtains back, the sun glared in his bright green eyes. Albus blinked a few times, and made out the owl tapping his window. As soon as he opened the window, the owl, a large tawny, settled on the windowsill and extended its leg in a dignified fashion. Albus untied the letter from the bird's leg. The owl gave a hoot and soared through the open window.

Closing his window, Albus turned to the letter in his hand. A large crest was embossed in the middle, an H surrounded with a badger, a snake, a lion, and an eagle. The Hogwarts crest. All grogginess forgotten, Albus opened the letter with a trembling hand. A folded piece of parchment fell out.

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Mr. Potter, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Neville Longbottom - Deputy Headmaster

Albus already knew about Hogwarts, of course. Both his father and mother had gone there, and his brother, James, was going to be starting his third year. Albus reached into the envelope for another paper. Grabbing it, he read it too.

First-year students will require:

Uniform:

Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (Black)

One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for day wear

One Pair of Protective Gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags at all times.

Books:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

Defenses Against Dark Magic by Curtis Holder

Other Equipment:

1 Wand

1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

Students may also bring an Owl, a Cat or a Toad.

Albus grinned. He read the paper over and over again. He rushed downstairs, only to find the kitchen empty. He looked at the clock that hung over the stove, and frowned. It was only seven in the morning. He opened the pantry and took out some biscuits, eating them slowly while rereading his letter. Finally, around seven-thirty, his father walked downstairs, his black hair as messy as Albus's.

"Up so early, Al?" he asked in a calm, curious voice.

"Yep. I got my Hogwarts letter!" Albus chirped in response.

"Great! Well, I have work today, but I should be able to take you to Diagon Alley tomorrow." Harry said in response. "Now, go wake your brother up."

Albus ran up the stairs and raced to his brother's room. An owl was rapping on his window, as well, but James was slumbering through it. The owl, a large snowy, looked tired, as if it had been hovering for hours. Albus crept up to his brother's bed silently and prodded him hard in the shoulder. James yelped and fell out of bed.

"Al?" he groaned.

"Yep. Dad told me to wake you up. I got my Hogwarts letter, and I think you did, too." Albus said as he walked over to the window, stepping over clothes and Chudley Cannons memorabilia. He opened the window to let the bird in. It soared over to James's bed, as the older boy pulled himself off the floor. James untied the letter, and the bird flew away.

"Cool." James said, tossing the letter on the floor. "I'll read that la- What! It pooped on my bed!"

"I'll leave you to clean that up," Albus set, leaving the room."

The rest of the day passed without incident. The Potters had a vaguely exciting Quidditch match, culminating in an exiting Snitch capture of James's, and the Albus's cousin Rose came over for lunch, but little else of note occurred. Albus went to bed early that night, in preparation of the day ahead.