A/N: Originally the chapters for this story were going to run alongside multiple ones in the Harry Potter and the Approaching Darkness story. But, upon realizing that I had much more that I wanted to put in this story, I decided to make the chapters shorter so I could keep enough saved up to upload regularly. This one will only include the Hogwarts Express, tomorrow will focus on the sorting and maybe the first day of classes. I intend to update this story on Friday-Sunday, and the Harry P.O.V. Monday-Thursday. Anyway, without further ado, let's begin.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter, unfortunately.

Albus stepped onto the Hogwarts Express still feeling more worried than excited. Even after all the things his father said about not caring which house he was in, Albus could tell that he would be disappointed if he ended up anywhere except Gryffindor. He was completely lost in thought when his cousin, Rose, pushed him up the final step. "If you don't move, the door is going to shut on you." She said. She was proven right moments later, when the door slammed closed just as they stepped onto the train fully. He turned to watch the platform disappear and his sister Lily chasing the train as it sped away. Rose tugged on his arm and said, "C'mon, let's go find an empty compartment."

They walked along the train, stopping occasionally to talk to their cousins along the way. Finally, they found an empty compartment near the very back of the train. They took their seats and Rose pulled out a large, hard cover book. Albus recognized it as the same book that his aunt Hermoine had given him on his eleventh birthday. Hogwarts, a History. "You're actually reading that? My dad said that your mum was the only person he had ever known to read it." He asked, looking at the title of the chapter she was starting. The Battle of Hogwarts, he hadn't even opened his copy of the book, but he already knew all about the battle his parents had fought in.

"If you must know, I'm only reading the chapters that talk about our family. I can't help thinking that they're not telling us everything." She said, sounding almost exactly like Albus imagined his aunt to sound at her age.

"Like what?" Albus asked, curious. His parents had talked about little else besides their time at Hogwarts, since he had gotten his letter. From their words, Albus had decided that even without a dark lord plotting his death, his time at Hogwarts would be more exciting than anything he'd experienced so far. Just as he was pondering this, the compartment door opened.

"Hiya Al!" James, Albus' brother said, plopping into the seat directly across from him. "Has the snack trolley come by here yet?" He asked, looking outside the compartment door longingly. "I missed it when it came by our compartment, and I couldn't seem to catch it."

"Maybe it was all a dream," came the voice of Fred, George's son. He was in James' year and they had seemingly caused all sorts of mayhem the year before. So much so that the former headmistress, Minerva McGonnagal, had come to the Burrow once a month to report on their exploits, instead of writing. The owls would simply die from being overworked she had said when he asked her why. He could tell, though, that even when she was complaining about the pair's troublemaking, she carried a soft spot for them.

"So, are you ready for the sorting, Al?" James asked, looking him over.

"Sure, dad said the hat will let you choose sometimes, so I should be fine." Albus said, not wanting to open his brother up for any more Slytherin jokes, he'd heard enough of those since he got the letter. James simply nodded, and pulled a box of Every Flavored Beans from his pocket.

James looked around for the trolley again, and seeing that it was nowhere in sight, he sighed. "Well, at least uncle George gave me these," he said. Albus was just about to say that he wouldn't blindly trust anything his uncle gave them, when James threw a red and black bean into the air, catching it in his mouth. "Pepper," he said, but as he opened his mouth to say something else, suddenly James was gone, a Red bird with a Black 'W' on its chest sat where he had a moment before. Everyone in the compartment laughed as James flew around their heads, chirping the entire time. After a few minutes, James reappeared, directly above Fred's head. He crashed down on top of his cousin and best friend.

"Get. OFF." Fred said, trying to push free. Albus and Rose were practically dying of laughter. Fred finally pulled himself free and everyone had settled down, when they heard someone just outside the compartment, trying to laugh silently. James and Fred obviously thought that it would be the trolley, but were disappointed by the appearance of a small, blonde boy, the same one his father and uncle Ron had been talking about on the platform.

"Hello," he said, face red from trying to hold in his laughter. "I'm-"

Rose cut in, "Scorpius Malfoy." The boy looked surprised at the fact that she already knew his name, but recovered quickly.

"Obviously, my reputation precedes me." He said, bowing slightly. "And you are?" He put his hand out, a gesture Albus hadn't expected from a Malfoy.

"Rose Weasley," Rose said, obviously taken aback also. She timidly reached out and shook his hand.

"Delighted, I'm sure." Scorpius continued, he was nothing like what anyone in the compartment had expected based on the stories. After a few moments, he had been introduced to everyone in the compartment and they were all taking turns with the box of beans. It seemed that they were all meant to turn the user into a bird of some kind. Albus was flying around the compartment as a Pheonix when Scorpius asked, "So, what house do you expect to be in, Rose?"

Rose didn't even wait a moment before answering, "Gryffindor, I am a Weasley after all. I suppose you expect Slytherin." Albus landed on his seat, watching the exchange.

Scorpius shook his head. "I expect I'll break the trend." He said, smirking. "I think I'll go Hufflepuff. My grandfather might literally lose his mind, but I just can't see myself living in a dungeon for seven years, you know?" He finished and Albus realized he was returned to himself. Scorpius turned to look at Albus, "What about you, then? Think you'll carry on in Gryffindor also?"

Albus thought for a moment. "I thought I would, but I've just realized that there are two houses that I hadn't even considered." They sat in silence for a few moments before Rose looked out the window and gasped.

"I see it, we need to change!" she exclaimed, practically running from the compartment with her robes in hand.