Soooo children, I am back! Seems like it's been years since my last post, huh? Well, that's because it has been years! But nevermind that, here is another wonderfully gay fic from the world of Harry Potter, which I obviously do not own! Enjoy!

The thick, white steam billowed through the air around the secret platform nine and three quarters, as boys and girls made their ways onto the scarlet steam engined train, waving goodbyes to their families. A small boy stood on the platform, only half listening to his father's words. There was a lump in his throat that he couldn't seem to swallow away. Anxiety bubbled in the pit of his stomach as he gazed up into the bespectacled eyes of his father, the exact startling shade of green as his own. He tried to focus on what his father was saying.

"-Hargrid's invited you to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you've learned how. And don't let James wind you up." The boy tried to nod, but his neck seemed too stiff to move. The question that had haunted him for months now was forcing itself unbidden from his lips. He heard the whispered words leave his mouth as though he was hearing someone else speak them.

"What if I'm in Slytherin?" said the boy in the barest of whispers. His father crouched down until his face was slightly below Albus'.

"Albus Severus," the man said quietly, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."

"But just say-"

"-then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us Al. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account." Relief seemed to flood Albus' whole body, warming him to the tips of his fingers.

"Really?"

"It did for me," said his father. Wonder filled the boy. He had never known that his father had almost been placed in Slytherin House. He felt infinetly better, and as he gazed into his father's face he heard doors start to slam all along the scarlet train, and parents were swarming forward for final goodbyes. Albus turned quickly and jumped into the carriage, and his mother closed the door behind him. As he turned around to face his parents and his little sister Lily, still too young to attend Hogwarts, he saw many of the other students' faces pointed toward his family.

"Why are they all staring?" demanded Albus as he stared back, his cousin Rose also looking curiosly at the other students gazing down the train.

"Don't let it worry you," said Albus' Uncle Ron, "It's me. I'm extremely famous." Albus laughed and his sister Lily and his cousins Rose and Hugo laughed with him. Then the train lurched forward and started moving down the tract. His mother and sister remained where they were, waving farewell, but his father walked along side the Hogwarts Express as it started picking up speed, his already untidy black hair, exactly like his son's, blowing around his face in the wind swirling around the train. Albus watched him until they rounded the corner, excitment mingling with anxiety. He was on his way. On his way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The boy turned around, brushing a strand of ebony hair out of his eyes, and his cousin smiled at him.

"Come on," Rose said with an encouraging smile, "let's go find somewhere to sit." The two eleven year olds took hold of their trunks and Albus' owl, and dragged them down the aisle, looking for a compartment with room for them. As they passed door after door Albus could see people staring at him curiously, whispering to each other as the two went by.

"Why do you think they keep staring?" he asked his cousin quietly, unnerved by all the eyes that followed him. Rose glanced over at the onlooking students and shrugged.

"Well isn't it obvious?" she said, sounding so much like Al's Auntie Hermione that he had to smile, "It's because you're Harry Potter's son, of course. He did save the wizarding world from the most evil wizard of all time! They're bound to be curious."

"Yeah, but..." replied Albus, starting to become more and more uncomfortable as they passed compartment after compartment of staring faces, "What does that have to do with me? They already know James, so why are they still staring?"

"Well," said Rose thoughtfully, "perhaps it's because you look so much more like your dad than James does. Oh, finally, here we go!" And she stopped at the door to one of the very last compartments. There was only one person within it, and small blond haired boy who was facing away from them, gazing out the window, his forhead almost touching the glass. Rose pulled open the door and the two cousins pulled their trunks inside, helping each other lift the heavy luggage into the overhead racks.

"I hope you don't mind," panted Rose to the boy who already occupied the compartment, "everywhere else is full." The blond took his eyes away from the window for the first time since Al and Rose had entered. They were the palest of blues, his skin as fair as a porcelin doll's.

"It's ok," he said in a soft voice like wind through willow branches, before turning quickly back to look out the window. Albus watched the boy curiously as they settled in, and his cousin started to chatter breathlessly. Albus only half listened to her, nodding whenever he thought he should. He recognised the boy as the one his Uncle Ron had told Rose to beat in every test, a few minutes before on the platform. Which of course she would, unless the pale boy was also a genius. Al wondered why his uncle had insisted on this. He must have gone to school with the boy's father or something, and they must not have liked eachother very much. At least, that was the only reason Al could think of for his uncle's word's.

As the train moved through the countryside Al kept stealing furtive looks at the other boy, who hadn't turned away from the window since they first entered the compartment. At around half passed twelve the door slid open and a smiling, dimpled woman looked in at them, a cart filled with snacks before her.

"Anything off the cart, dears?" Albus and Rose stood up, but the blond boy remained seated, still staring out the window at the countryside flying past. Albus bought some Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, a few Licorice Wands, and more than a couple Cauldron Cakes. He and Rosie sat down with their treats and began eating, Rose finally too preoccupied to continue her constent chatter.

Albus looked over at the other boy and said, "Hey, would you like any?" For the second time the blond boy looked back away from the window, his pale blue eyes slightly startled.

"Were you... Were you talking to me?" he asked quietly, his soft voice a little surprised.

"Yeah," said Al, smiling at the boy, "Aren't you hungry? I got plenty, if you'd like some."

The other boy stared at him for a few moments, then he replied, "Don't... Don't you know who I am?" He seemed worried as he looked at Albus, and before the latter could reply his cousin spoke up.

"You're Scorpius Malfoy, aren't you? I heard my dad say that was your name." The boy turned his eyes to Rose and nodded slowly, then he glanced back at Albus, looking more worried than before. Al couldn't understand why the boy looked so nervous, like he was afraid Albus would retract his offer now that he had heard his name. Al smiled at Scorpius, holding out his hand.

"I'm Albus Potter, but you can call me Al." The blond looked from the outstretched hand to Al's eyes and back again, then slowly he raised his own hand, hesitating inches away. Albus closed the distance and grasped the boy's slender hand in his own, shaking it with another smile.

"It's nice to meet you Scorpius," Al said warmly, then he waved to the food on the seat beside him, "Please, take whatever you'd like!" The pale boy watched him for a moment more, his eyes wide, then a small, hesitant smile crept across his face. Al smiled back encouragingly.

Scorpius picked up a Cauldron Cake and muttered quietly, "Thank you..." After that Scorpius remained facing them, listening to Rose and Al talk but not saying much himself. He seemed afraid to speak more, and Al wondered why. Hours later, when the sky outside started becoming dark, the compartment door slid open and Al's brother James poked his head in.

"There you are," the older boy said, "Just came to check on you. We're almost there, so you should probably change into your robes now." And then he was gone; clearly he had better things to do then hang around his little brother and cousin. The two boys pulled their cloaks from their trunks and changed quickly, (Rose was already wearing hers), their excitment building. A little while later the train started to slow, until it finally came to a halt in Hogsmeade Station. The three made their ways off the train onto the crowded platform, jostled back and forth as they went. The cool night air slid over Al's skin and he shivered.

Then a deep voice called, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Albus looked around and saw the familiar form of his father's old friend, Hagrid, towering above the crowd. Al grabbed hold of Rose's and Scorpius' arms and steered them through the pressing bodies toward the half giant.

"All righ' there, Al, Rose?" Hagrid boomed happily as they broke free and stumbled into the open space beside him. When Hagrid was sure all the first years were before him he turned and led them down a steep, narrow path through thick trees. Then they rounded a bend and gasps filled the air. They were now at the edge of a great black lake, and across the water, perched atop a high mountain, was a huge castle, it's many windows twinkling with light. Albus looked around at Rose and Scorpius, and they both smiled back, Rose excitedly, and Scorpius still a little hesitantly...