a/n: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
"Do you really think three in the morning is the appropriate time to be discussing this?" Albus Severus Potter questioned his sister with a yawn.
"Now's as good as any." Lily Luna Potter nodded quickly. Albus sighed, but sat up in his bed. After looking at the alarm clock again to confirm the early hour, he rubbed his eyes and motioned for his eleven year old sibling to start talking. "Albus...tomorrow's September first."
"I know." he replied as Lily sat beside him on the bed, "Which is why we shouldn't be up right now Lils."
He was expecting a glare at the nickname but instead received a worried look. "What if I don't get into Gryffindor, Al? What if I get put in Slytherin? What if nobody likes me? James told me we had to fight a dragon, which determines what house we get put into-"
"When have you ever listened to James?" Albus raised an eyebrow. Lily swallowed and Albus continued, "He's just messing with you Lily, you know James. I promise you, all that happens in the Sorting is a talking hat is put on your head."
"Really?" she replied, thinking about how anti-climatic that was. "I'm so going to prank James!" she crossed her arms, looking so much like their mother Albus almost laughed.
"Really. And so what if you're not in Gryffindor?" Albus hesitated for a brief second before saying, "Last year...I had the same thought. But Dad talked to me...he told me that he knew brave people in Slytherin. Mum and Dad will love you no matter what house you're in, Lils. And so will James and I. Even the rest of our family will." the twelve-year old assured his sister.
"B-But what if no one likes me, Albus?" she said, looking a bit relieved at her brother's words but still worried.
The boy gave his sister a disbelieving look, "Who have you ever met that didn't like you?"
She thought for a second before smiling, "Point taken."
They both laughed quietly before Albus asked, "You okay now?"
"Yeah, thanks Albus."
"No problem Lily. When you do your first prank on James, let me know." Lily's pranks were always just as good as James' were, and when the two siblings got into a prank war it was definitely a sight to see.
Lily nodded and made her way back to her room. Taking a couple of deep breaths to calm herself, she knew her brother was right. Of course she wanted Gryffindor, all of her cousins and brothers, including Teddy Lupin, were in that house. But, if she got Slytherin, or even the other two houses, things couldn't be that bad. Besides, she'd still have a family that loved her, no matter what house she was in.