A/N: It's my first English story and I'm a Dutch teenage girl, so there may be grammar errors or other mistakes. Please tell me, so I can correct them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter. All the characters and stuff, except for Matthew Jones, belongs to J.K. Rowling.
"You are named after two Headmasters of Hogwarts, one of them was a Slytherin, and he was the bravest man I ever met." That's what dad said to me, when I asked him about Slytherin house. I think it he doesn't care whether I'm in Gryffindor or not.' Albus Potter said. He was discussing the houses of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his cousin Rose. They both were about to start their first year and had just said goodbye to their parents. The Hogwarts express was travelling fast through the landscape. 'I'm not so sure, you know, both my parents were in Gryffindor and dad said he would disinherit me if I wasn't a Gryffindor too.' Rose said. 'That was just a silly joke of uncle Ron, you know that!' Albus exclaimed, not sure whether Rose really believed it or just used it to make herself believe she would be in Gryffindor. There was no reason for her to be afraid, she was brilliant and absolutely, both her parents had been in Gryffindor and above all, she was the eldest child. There were no stupid bullies called brothers who would make her life hard if she was in another house. He, however, had such a brother. 'Still I don't think I would like to be sorted in Slytherin. James said I would be, and he's made jokes about it the whole summer. He would be glad to continue it.' Albus said and he sighed. He was staring through the window and thinking about how his brother would react if he wasn't a Gryffindor. He didn't even notice that someone had come in.
Rose was paying more attention, she was always paying attention, and greeted the newcomer warmly: 'Hello, who are you?' Albus turned and saw a boy of their age standing in the doorway. He had black hair and brown eyes and he was quite tall. There was a nervous look on his pale face when he answered Rose's question. 'Hi, I'm Matthew Jones, and you?' 'Well, I'm Rose Weasley and this is my cousin Albus Potter, this is our first year at Hogwarts.' Rose said, before Albus even could think about an answer. 'Pleasure, it's my first year too. May I sit here?' Matthew looked down upon one of the empty seats. 'Sure.' answered Albus, and he threw his stuff away to make place. 'In which house do you prefer to be sorted?' he asked curiously. 'I don't know. My dad was in Gryffindor, but he says I have my mother's brains.' Matthew answered. 'Was your mother in Ravenclaw?' Rose asked. 'Nope, my mum went to Beauxbatons. She grew up in France, you know. They met each other at Gringotts. They both work there.' Matthew smiled. 'Wow, have you been downstairs there? How are the goblins? Are there really dragons in Gringotts? And is it true that' 'Rose, calm down, we just met him.' Albus interrupted his cousin, looking a bit ashamed of her curiosity. Matthew didn't seem to bother though and he started answering the questions.
'Firs' years over 'ere.' A giant man shouted. 'Follow me firs' years.' 'Hi Hagrid.' Albus said, hoping that he would recognise him. 'Err, yeh must be a Potter, I think. Yeh look like yer father.' Hagrid turned around and spotted Rose. 'And yeh are a mix of Hermione and Ron, aren't yeh?' Albus and Rose smiled, their parents had told them about their friendship with the half giant. 'But yeh,' Hagrid continued, while looking at Matthew, 'well, yeh look like someone, but I can't remembe' who.' 'That's maybe my father, Peter Jones. He was once in Gryffindor.' Matthew said. 'Ah maybe yes, but still I dunno.' Hagrid said. The three first years, however, weren't paying attention anymore. They had spotted the small wooden boats and were already climbing in one of them. It was an old tradition that new students entered the castle by boat, and every year the students were impressed by the sight of Hogwarts. It was just beautiful. There was a great black lake with a vast castle with many towers and turrets. The castle stood upon a top of a high mountain. As the boats came nearer, the castle towered over them. The lake was as smooth as glass and above it was the starry sky. And in that giant castle, magic would come alive.
When they finally entered the great hall, all other students were already sitting at their house tables. Albus saw his brother James sitting at the Gryffindor table, together with his cousins Fred and Louis. They were laughing and obviously not paying attention. Albus was afraid of how his brother would react if he wasn't joining him today. 'Please let me be in Gryffindor.' He whispered, hoping that nobody noticed. Matthew smiled at him. 'Don't worry, everything will be okay.' He whispered back. They had arrived at the front of the great hall and the first years grouped up. They were all smiling sheepishly, trying not to look nervous. The woman that had led them to here turned around and cleared her throat. 'I'm professor Sinistra and I'm headmistress of Hogwarts. When I call your name, you come for worth and I will put this hat on your head. He will announce in which house you are. The houses are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuf. Your house will be like your family when you are here. Good behaviour will gain your house points and rule breaking will make it loose points. The house with the most points will win the House Cup at the end of the year. Well, let's start. Brown, Alice.'
A small girl with blonde hair came forwards. Her face was red and her knees shaky. She sad nervously down and Sinistra put the hat on her head. Everybody was silent, even James Potter. 'HUFFLEPUF!' The hat cried and the Hufflepuf table burst into applause. Alice smiled and walked to that table.
There were several more students sorted before professor Sinistra said: 'Jones, Matthew.' Matthew's eyes widened. He took a deep breath and walked to the stool next to Sinistra. He sat down and his hands became sweaty. Everybody was looking at him. The hat was placed on his head and begun to speak in his mind. Ah, difficult, you are so difficult. You are bright, you know, you are very smart. Ravenclaw would be glad with you. Your dad, however, was a Gryffindor, as was his father and grandfather. He is brave, you are brave too. I sense it. No, I don't think Gryffindor would be it. It's not right, no no, your blood is made for something else. You will be great, and there's only one house that will help you on your way to greatness. And that's 'SLYTHERIN!' The hat shouts the last word and Matthew took of the hat. He walked in the direction of the Slytherin table, and smiled sadly to Rose and Albus. They both would end up in Gryffindor and he wouldn't see him often, he thought.
Some other students had joined Matthew at the Slytherin table. Opposite him sat a boy with blonde hair, it was almost white. Next to him was a girl with red hair and blue eyes, she was smiling nervously in his direction but didn't say anything. Well, this is it, he thought. This is my house and here are my classmates. I can write home: mum, dad, I'm in Slytherin. But don't worry, snakes are okay, maybe a bit sleek. As long as I have friends it doesn't matter where I sleep.
'Potter, Albus!' The voice of Sinistra woke him out his deep thoughts. Maybe, Albus would join him in Slytherin. There still was a change, although his whole family had been in Gryffindor. His family had too, but he was now a Slytherin. It wasn't impossible. It seemed like hours that Albus sat there, on the stool with the hat on his head and everybody was waiting in silence. Matthew couldn't breathe, he could only wait. It seemed that everybody thought the same, and the waiting became heavier and loaded. 'SLYTHERIN!'
A smile broke through on Matthew's face, first cautious but then big. His new found friend was in the same house. It didn't matter that it was Slytherin, he would have a friend in here. Albus, however, didn't look happy. His face became pale and there was a sign of horror on it. He looked to the ground, probably unable to see the look of his cousin, or worse, his brother James. Albus walked slowly to the table of his house and sat down beside Matthew, without saying a word. Matthew pitied him, and laid an arm around his shoulder. 'Don't worry Al, everything will still be alright.' Albus was such a bick shock he didn't even notice that Rose wasn't in Gryffindor too. She was sorted in Ravenclaw.