The train journey to Hogwarts seemed to take FOREVER. Albus Serverus Potter sat by the window in his empty compartment alone. It would have been a bit... Awkward, for him to have gone and sat next to his brother and his many friends, so instead he had decided to go find something to do. Failing at this last attempt, Albus had retreated to the safety of his empty compartment. He now sat, staring out of the window, trying to calm himself and the urge to throw up as nerves threatened to take over his body.

He was worried. Really worried. Even though he had been told many, many times that the sorting hat would listen to his opinion, he was worried it might forget or, even worse, just ignore it. He hated the idea of being sorted into Slytherin and shivered at the thought. He had heard about so many bad wizards and witches who had come from Slytherin, and if he turned out to be one of them, his family might disown him!

But even though he was worried, he couldn't help being just the teeniest bit excited. I mean, what doesn't sound better then learning to fly and play Quiditch and duelling and dormitories and friends...

So far he hadn't said a word to anybody since the train had departed, not even his own brother.

He had however, been stared at. Many people, it seemed, had heard about his father, therefor making it impossible to even walk down the carriage without being stared at. He couldn't say he liked the idea that his every move was being watched, and judged by the prying eyes that just couldn't break away from him. But he was sure, as James had told him, that it would die down, he would make loyal friends, and have a great time like James had in his first year.

James, however, was in his element. He was surrounded by familiar smiles, many he had seen or visited during the summer holidays. There was Rose Weasley, of course, she had been staying with him for what had seemed like half the holiday, and Frank Longbottom, who he had also become rather accustomed to see at his house; over in the corner was another Weasley, this time it was Fred, son of George and Angelina Weasley. Mei Chang was chatting with him, and laughing opposite her was Louis Weasley, youngest son and an eighth Veela of Fleur and Bill Weasley, and Anya Patil, only daughter of one of the Patil twins, which one, James did not know. There was also Molly Weasley, daughter of Percy and Audrey, but she had already left to change out of her mad muggle outfit, which had been rather eccentric.

She had, at first, entered the compartment wearing a bright orange, oversized leather jacket, a pink puffy tutu, yellow tights and green flip-flops. When Briana Finnigan had finally asked her what she was wearing, she had quite confidently said," It's what ALL the muggles wear, it's the latest fashion", And walked out.

At last, the Hogwarts Express came to a stop and children piled out. Albus, lost in the crowd, spotted Hagrid, the half giant who had unexpectedly turned up at his house last summer, surprising everyone with his birthday present for his father. He had also brought along Professer McGonagall, Albus' Fathers old transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor.

When he reached Hagrid, and as it seemed, the rest of the first years, they got lead towards a lake where boats were waiting to transport the first years to a towering castle, Hogwarts.

As Albus sat down with Hagrid, in the leading boat, he spotted Hugo Weasley, who he had spent most of the holidays with and beckoned him over. He was just the same as ever; ginger, freckly with a mischievous grin. At least he new somebody.

The boat journey was a lot shorter than the train journey, but it was just as bad. Thunder struck and rain came bucketing down, drenching the first years. Hail came and went, not only was it a painful journey, but the hail managed to cause so much chaos, that three boats toppled over. Finally, the dripping first years entered the entrance hall where a pale Professor McGonagall was waiting for them. This was the moment Albus had been waiting for.

The sorting process was about to begin.

James was sitting at the Gryffindor table waiting for Albus' name to be called out. He new how worried Albus had been and couldn't help but be a bit nervous himself. He hoped that he would be in Gryffindor and would soon be sitting at the same long table as James was. James daydreamed as the many names were called out.

"Potter, Albus"

James watched as his brother stepped forward and sat down on the old stool.

Albus sat down and waited. All he could see were eyes. Staring at him. He felt Professor McGonagall place the old sorting hat on his head. He could almost hear the hat thinking...

"Brave...clever too...worthy of a Slytherin.." Albus thought about how much he would hate to be a Slytherin, following his dad's instructions.

"But.. If he wants to excel...he had better be in...

GRYFFINDOR!"

Albus let out a sigh of relief as he joined his brother at the cheering Gryffindor table.

At last, all the Weasleys were called and all the Weasleys joined Albus at the Gryffindor table. It was like a sea of ginger from one one point onwards. The only time where James and Albus actually broke out of their daydreams was when "Scamander, Locan" was called.

Originally, two identical, blonde boys had stepped up. Then, one sat down on the stool and the other held his hand. Professor McGonagall hadn't said a word. The hat didn't touch 'Locans' head before calling 'RAVENCLAW' out loud. The same had then happened with his twin, except [as twins were separated] he was put into Gryffindor.

Finally, McGonagall sat down, next to Hagrid, at the teachers table. There was a grand chair in the middle, which, as Albus had been told, had belonged to the old headmaster who he had been named after- Albus Dumbledore.

The first meal at Hogwarts was spectacular. After a quick speech by Professor Flitwick about lost property and banned items, the plates had filled with potatoes and pastries and all sorts of different meats and vegetables.

After a delicious desert, Albus followed the prefects with the rest of the Gryffindors to find out his dormitory. Once through the fat lady's portrait, Professor McGonagall stood waiting to give notices. Albus stood at the back, out of the Professors sight, and watched as she asked for quiet.

"Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. The new password, that is not to be repeated to non Gryffindors is - Caput Draconis- meaning 'dragons head' in Latin. If it changes, which it will quite often, prefects should try and pass the message round." She paused, observing her house in front of her.

"Our Quiditch team captain is Domonique Weasley, and he will be running trials in a couple of weeks, further notice will tell you the exact times, which is open to anyone who is not a first year."

Many sighs went round the room as first years heard this last remark,

" and, may I remind you that we have won the Quiditch cup for the past years; I will be deeply disappointed if we don't this year, but, as a head of house, I wish no pressure upon the team." Albus saw, to his relief, McGonagalls lip twitch, as if restraining a smile.

"Your dormitories have been chosen and I have stuck lists upon the doors. Girls are on the right, boys on the left." She pointed to doors at either end of the room," You will find your timetables and anything else you may need on your bed, and lessons will start tomorrow. If you have any questions please ask me after I have sent everyone up, otherwise I shall be in my office, but you can always ask either the prefects, or, as we are most delighted to have the head boy in our house, Colin Creevey." McGonagall stepped aside to reveal a tall, proud boy, with sandy curls. Upon his robes was the 'Head boy' badge and he smiled genuinely at his house.

"Good night." Professor McGonagall smiled and watched as boys crowded the doorway to her left and girls to her right.

A small first year caught her attention. His messy, dark hair and green eyes were familiar. It was Albus Severus Potter, who she had met over the holidays when meeting up with his parents. He was much like his father, like his brother was as well. But she hoped he would be a lot less mischievous than James Sirius Potter, who was always brought back to her for being disruptive or causing trouble in class or hallways; whenever he got the time. She had met all the Potters over summer and had even met little Lily Luna Potter, who wasn't quite old enough for Hogwarts yet. She looked a lot more like her mother than Harry. She had the ginger-ish hair, and the green eyes, and Minerva McGonagall was hoping that she would be like her mum as well. Having three Potters all in her house at the same time sounded nightmarish, having only Harry was enough at the time.

Dreading the near future, McGonagall exited the common room and made her way to her office.

Albus scanned the lists for his name, "Potter...Potter...Potter...'' He kept muttering. There, dormitory 5. He made his way to the dormitory and found the door open. He went in and found a round room, with identical beds, cupboards and Windows. Two beds already had trunks open on them, one covered completely with magazines and comics, the other covered with clothes, and another trunk stood open in the middle of the room. Albus grinned at the sight.

A white-blonde haired boy sat on the floor reading a magazine, completely oblivious of Albus' presence.

" Er..hi," Albus had no clue what to do or say, but he new if the boy in front of him didn't acknowledge his presence, he new he wouldn't be getting anywhere. The boy looked up, stood up and walked over to the magazine covered bed, which Albus took to be his.

" Albus Serverus Potter, right? I'm Lysander Scamander. I'm in your dormitory" the boy spoke with a dreamy, high voice. He pointed his wand at his magazines, muttered something under his breath and pointed at the floor behind him. Albus stared as all the magazines and comics piled high at where the boy had pointed. He felt a breath behind him and turned around to come face to face with Hugo Weasley.

" Are you Hugo Weasley? I thought you were. Your ginger, that's how. My mother used to tell us about a Weasley that she was friendly with. Ronald Weasley I think. Do you know him?" Scamander talked fast and fluently, with quite a misty voice. Albus recognised it at once, " Oh Luna Lovegood! She came round over summer. Your one of her twin sons?" Albus asked the blonde and Scamander looked at him wildly and nodded.

Hugo walked into the room and made his way over to the bed covered in clothes. He pushed it all off and lay on his back. Scamander watched all of this with deep interest.

" Would you like me to fold your clothes? Weasley?" Before Hugo could even look up, Scamander muttered a spell and pointed at the clothes. The clothes all folded themselves and piled up next to the bed, where Scamanders' wand was now pointing.

" Um...thanks." Weasley muttered as he sat up and stared at the pile of his robes that had been folded neatly beside him. He smirked and stood up.

" So, who else is in our dormitory? Now Potters here that makes three, and there's five beds. Isn't there another Weasley? I heard there were too many Weasleys this year, and that they had to have more than one in each dormitory because otherwise there wasn't anywhere we could sleep. They don't normally let anyone in the same family in the same dormitory, but this year there are exceptions for us Weasleys." He grinned as he walked to the door to see who else they were waiting for.

"Yeah! Reginald Weasley and Gifford Longbottom are the other two in the dormitory!" Hugo shouted as he ran back; he received many furious glances from the heads that poked round their doors, trying to see what all the noise was about.

" Did someone call me?"

''Did someone say Weasley?''

''Who called me?''

Red heads came peering out of doors, trying to see who had called for them. Hugo, guilty for shouting so loud, had to announce many times that in fact he was looking for Reginald Weasley, and was sorry to disturb anyone who wasn't who he was looking for. At last, with all the Weasleys back in their beds, Hugo made his way back to dormitory 5.

'' I will NEVER make that mistake again.'' He exclaimed as he finally entered, puffing and panting.

'' What mistake?'' A small, ginger boy sat up in his bed, apparently woken from a deep sleep. Albus hadn't noticed him before.

''Oh, hello Reginald Weasley! I forgot you were there!'' Scamander said, genuinely smiling. Hugo shot him a dirty look.

This was going to be a long evening, Albus thought, as he made his way to the empty bed between Hugo and Lysandor Scamender.

James lay in bed. He was in his usual dormitory, with one exception. He was next to Fred Weasley, and on his other side would have been Frank Longbottom, but both the Longbottom children happened to have come down with SproutPox, so were unable to come to school. James grinned as he remembered how Frank had been taken home after the train journey because of the green pimples that had viscously taken over his whole body. Then there was Louis Weasley and the other Creevey brother, Terry. There was one advantage to Franks absence. Frank was a heavy snorer, James thought, and without the snoring it would have been easier to get to sleep.

But, James was struggling. He was just too excited. He had been packing last night when he had 'accidentally' come across some empty parchment. He had to admit, he did know exactly what it was. His mum had told him all about the marauders map, and James had been on a quest to find it since he new what it did, and how to use it. He had then found it, clumsily lying on his dad's desk, as if he meant for James to find it. Telling his dad that he needed spare parchment, he had then taken it from his fathers desk and hid it in his trunk.

Lying in bed now, he couldn't wait to use it. He got up quietly, opened his trunk and pulled out his wand and the parchment and whispered '' I solemnly swear I'm up to no good'' and the map revealed its secrets. James found himself and his friends all in bed, except...no...it couldn't possibly be.. instead of Frank Longbottom in McGonagalls office...it was Neville Longbottom, who was Franks father! The map surely was wrong, Frank had said in his letter he was coming, with his brother and mum, to McGonagall about all his catchup work! His dad was meant to be at work and couldn't come!

James thought hard. He knew Neville had been his fathers friend, so maybe the map was getting confused and thought that because Neville used to come to school, and it was a Longbottom in the office, that it was Neville, not Frank.

Well there is only one way to find out, and James did have his invisibility cloak...

James sighed, slipped on his invisibility cloak, and tiptoed out the room, heading straight for McGonagalls office.

authors note- hope you enjoyed this first chapter...

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Love aspiringcat xxxx