Albus nervously fidgeted with his robes, his palms sweaty, as he waited for the Deputy Head Master to call "Potter, Albus". Rose stood nearby, and Albus wished he felt as confident as she looked.
"Malfoy, Scorpius!" the Deputy headmaster called. Albus turned to watch the blonde Malfoy boy stride forward. He looked a little nervous, but gave Al a small smile as he passed. Malfoy sat on the stool and the sorting hat was dropped on to his head and over his eyes. The Great Hall was quiet, everyone seemed to expect the hat to shout out at any minute, but it didn't. Malfoy sat there for a few minutes before the Hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" and the Hall erupted with noise and confusion. Scorpius looked relieved, however, and happily sat at the table adorned in Gold and Red. Al felt glad that the boy had escaped his family's dark legacy, but became more nervous for himself. The day a Malfoy is a Gryffindor could easily be the day a Potter is a Slytherin...
"Potter, Albus!" the Deputy finally called. Albus walked forward with leaden feet thinking; "this is it... after this it'll just be over and done with..." he sat on the stool and watched the Hall disappear as the hat covered his eyes. It got very quiet, but Albus couldn't tell if the Hall was actually quiet...or if it was just the hat...he took a deep breath and let it slowly, waiting for the hat to make its proclamation.
He almost jumped off the stool when the Hat buzzed in his ear, "Another Potter, eh? Well let's have a look... Smarts, yes, Loyalty and Bravery too... and some of that Slytherin ambition to boot..."
"Oh no...I don't want to be a Slytherin!" Albus thought desperately.
"Hold on to your hat there, Potter, I haven't decided anything yet!" the Hat chuckled at his joke. "Hmmmm... Potter where do YOU think you belong?"
Albus thought for a moment, surprised the hat was asking HIM where he was supposed to go. "I... dunno…Gryffindor I suppose, that's where my whole family is..."
"Is that where you belong? Or is that where you want to be?"
"Where I want to be I suppose...I don't feel like I belong anywhere…I'm not terribly clever, or brave, and I'm certainly not conniving..." Albus sighed.
"No, but you are loyal to your family and friends and honest through and through, and these traits will serve you well in HUFFLEPUFF!" the last word rang through the hall and suddenly Albus could see again. The Hufflepuffs were cheering loudly for him, "Potter! Potter!" Al gave a sheepish grin and made his way towards them, knowing deep down the Hat was right. He hadn't even considered Hufflepuff... and Teddy had been one. It was going to be just fine.
Al sat happily watching the others get sorted, enjoying the look of relief on their faces as the hat shouted out their new home.
"Weasley, Rose!"
Rose strode forward confidently and sat on the stool. Al seemed to be the only one not surprised when the hat barely brushed her head and immediately proclaimed her "RAVENCLAW!"
He was happy for her, but sad they weren't in the same house... "Of course, that's not reason we can't still hang out!" he thought happily. These days it wasn't uncommon to have friends from different houses, though he had heard it was almost taboo before the war had happened, and the Slytherin's were still sometimes that way.
Al went to bed that night full and happy. His bunk mates seemed very nice and friendly, already making plans to sit together in tomorrow's classes and sharing the last of the goodies bought on the train ride over. Albus fell asleep with no problems at all.