Although their parents had tried to push them to become best friends like they had once been, Albus had never quite gotten along with his cousin Rose. The two of them were just too different to become close friends – their parents just refused to see it.

So it would come as quite a surprise to Harry and Ginny when they got Albus' first letter from Hogwarts, informing them that he had made his best friend on the train – Scorpius Malfoy.


As soon as they got onto the Hogwarts Express, Rose and Al parted ways, Rose making a beeline towards Victoire and her gaggle of giggling girls, and Al to find an empty compartment to sit in.

Because their parents had taken so long to say goodbye, there was only one compartment that had any space left. It held only a single other person – the blond haired boy Uncle Ron had warned him and Rose against on the Platform. But then again, Al had never been good with doing what his uncles told him to do. His parents were a different matter altogether, of course, and they had definitely not said anything about the boy, which meant there was nothing stopping him from entering the compartment.

When he walked in, the boy looked up at him wide-eyed, as though he was in shock that someone wanted to sit with him. But that didn't make any sense at all, so Albus stuck out his hand toward the boy. 'Hi, I'm Al Potter. Can I sit here?'

The boy gaped at him for a second time. 'I don't think you want to sit here,' he said, not taking Albus' hand. 'I doubt a Potter would want to sit with a Malfoy. I'm Scorpius Malfoy, in case you didn't figure that out yet.'

Huh. That made sense – why the boy was so shocked when he entered the compartment. He shook his head at Scorpius. 'Nah. I think I'd like to decide for myself if I want to sit with you – and I do want to.'

The boy looked incredulous. 'So you aren't concerned about the fact that my father and grandfather were Death Eaters? You aren't worried that I'll use you as a guinea pig for practicing Dark spells on?'

Al laughed. 'You don't know my full name, do you?' He barreled on before Scorpius could reply. 'It's Albus Severus Potter – I'm named after a Death Eater. Anyways, your grandmother saved my father's life; so technically, I have your family to thank for my very existence.'

Scorpius still looked disbelieving, but he finally let Albus take a seat next to him.


By the time the boys reached Hogwarts, Albus had decided that they were going to best friends.

Scorpius had laughed at him when he had expressed that aloud. 'What if we aren't in the same house? How are we going to be best friends then?' he had asked.

Albus had just given him a secretive smile. 'Don't worry about it, Pious – by the way, I'm calling you Pious from now on – we'll definitely be sorted together.'

Now, standing in line, waiting to be sorted, Al stared at the Hat on Pious' head, willing it to speak.

Suddenly, it let out a shout of 'RAVENCLAW!' As Pious made his way to the Ravenclaw table amidst hesitant clapping, Al smirked. Convincing the Hat to put him in Ravenclaw would not be a difficult task at all.

'Potter, Albus.'

Whispers broke out as Al approached the Hat. The Gryffindor table looked all set to jump up in applause, but Al would have to disappoint them.

'Hmm…interesting. You would do rather well in the house of the cunning, Mr Potter.'

'I'd rather not,' he replied politely.

'I thought you'd say that, child. Your father let you in on my secret, did he not?'

'Yes, he did. I'd like to be in Ravenclaw with Pious, please.'

'Hmm…your quick loyalty towards Mr Malfoy indicates that you would find a place with the badgers as well.'

'No,' he replied firmly. 'I want to be in Ravenclaw.'

'Hmm…even more interesting. No, you don't have a bad mind at all. It may not be my first choice for you, Mr Potter, but like your father, you have convinced me to reconsider. You need to be with your friend, do you not? And you won't find being there excessively challenging – you would flourish there, yes you would…better be RAVENCLAW!'


For:

The Double or Nothing Challenge, 720-880 words

The If you dare challenge, Prompt 123. First Man on the Moon

Character Diversity Bootcamp, Prompt 45. Cooperate

50 Different Friendships Challenge, 26. Forbidden

The Sorting Hat Competition

The Musical Terms Challenge, Bravo

Diagon Alley Challenge, Twifitt and Tattlings