Author's note: Hello everyone! In case you didn't know, this story is going to most likely be a two-shot, but I'd still really, really, REALLY appreciated it if you reviewed anyway. :) Thanks! Also, yesterday was Severus Snape's would-be 52nd birthday today (January 9th) Happy Birthday to the Slytherin who died a Gryffindor. (I'm such a nerd… wishing happy birthday to a person who some people believe to be fictional and comes from the amazing J.K. Rowling's mind… who I am not, by the way.)
~TwiHarInk113
Part 1: Hugo's Sorting
"Come on, Rose! We're going to miss the train!" Eleven-year-old Hugo Weasley called up the stairs to his thirteen-year-old sister. Rose could be so slow sometimes.
"Hugo," Rose sighed as she and her trunks appeared at the top of the stairs. "How many times do I have to tell you? We will not miss the train."
Hugo sighed, but rushed up the stairs to help out his sister anyway. Not only was Rose struggling with her trunks, but she also had her cat's carrier to carry as well. "Here, let me take one of your trunks for you." Hugo offered.
Rose smiled. "Thanks, Hugo." She said and the siblings made their way down the stairs and out the door, where their parents, Ron and Hermione, were waiting.
"Hey Dad, can you tell us the story of your, Mum's and Uncle Harry's third year?" Hugo asked as the family of four piled into the car and started to drive. The journey to King's Cross Station was long, and they were forced to drive the car there so that they wouldn't risk muggles spotting them traveling in a magical way. Ron and Hermione had made it a tradition to tell a story of one of their years at Hogwarts. As this was Rose's third year, they were on the "third year" story. Ron's story included a man named Sirius Black, who had escaped for Azkaban. Everyone thought he was trying to kill Uncle Harry, but in reality, Sirius was just trying to get back at the man who had betrayed Uncle Harry's parents. They also learned that their mother had used a time-turner in order to complete more classes, and Uncle Harry once snuck out of the castle in order to go to Hogsmeade because his aunt and uncle hadn't signed his permission slip.
"Do you think I could use a time-turner to attend more classes, Mum?" Rose asked curiously.
Hermione hesitated. "You'll have to discuss that with you headmistress." She told her daughter.
Before long, the family had arrived at King's Cross. Hugo watched carefully as Rose ran through the barrier between platforms nine and ten, soaking in every move his older sister made before following her.
Once on platform nine-and-three-quarters, Hugo searched the crowd for a familiar face. He did have ten cousins, four aunts, and four uncles who would be here today, so he was bond to see at least one of his relatives before boarding the train. Finally, Hugo spotted his favorite cousin, Lily Potter. Lily saw Hugo at the same time that he saw her, and she waved. Hugo waved back before quickly walking over to join her.
"Hey, Lily, did you know that your dad sneaked off to Hogsmeade in his third year?" were Hugo's first words to his cousin.
"No way! Not my dad. Uncle George, more likely, but not Dad!" Lily exclaimed as she looked at her father in amazement and remembered all of the times Harry had scolded James for stealing the invisibility cloak from Albus's dorm in order to complete one of his pranks.
Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron. "I assume that was part of your annual story."
Ron grinned. "Yep. I can't let my kids think you were a perfect child when you went to Hogwarts, can I?"
Everyone, even Hermione, laughed, and Rose, Albus, and James ran off to find their friends, leaving Hugo and Lily to say goodbye to their parents.
"Are you sure you have everything, Hugo?" Hermione asked her son.
"Yes, Mum." Hugo sighed. "And even if I did forget something, you could always send me an owl right?"
Hermione smiled and kissed Hugo once on each cheek, causing him to blush. Lily giggled until her mother, Ginny, gave her a set of kisses to call her own. "Mum, not here!" Lily hissed, causing the adults to laugh. Then, Hugo and Lily climbed on the Hogwarts express for the first time.
After a while, the cart full of sweets came rolling by. "May I interest you in anything?" asked the lady pushing the cart.
"Oh, no!" Lily gasped "I left the money Dad gave me for sweets in the car."
"Don't worry, Lily, I can buy for you." Hugo offered.
"Are you sure, Hugo?" Lily asked.
"It's fine." Hugo replied.
As the cousins were enjoying their candy, Hugo suddenly asked, "Do you think we'll both be placed in Gryffindor?"
Lily smiled. "I hope so. I also hope neither of us are in Slytherin. They're mean and nasty, and as bad as their rotten deatheater parents."
Hugo frowned. "You don't know that for sure, Lily. I mean, they could be really nice. Don't judge them for who their parents were."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Sure, Hugo. Why do you have to be so… nice all the time?"
Hugo shrugged. "I just don't think it's fair to judge people before you get to know them."
Soon, the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station. Once off the train, Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures professor, gathered up the first years and led them to the boats. As they approached the castle, Hugo realized Hogwarts was both bigger and better than he had ever imagined. Once they entered the Great Hall, Hugo saw several of his cousins' faces as he walked with the other first years to the front of the room.
Lily was called to be sorted before Hugo. Nearly as soon as the sorting hat was placed on her head, it called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Lily beamed as she went to sit with the majority of her family at the Gryffindor table.
Hugo waited patiently for his turn with the sorting hat. When the Deputy Headmaster, who was also the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Clearton called out, "Weasley, Hugo", Hugo nervously walked to the stool and sat down.
"Another Weasley?" The sorting hat asked as it was placed upon Hugo's head. "Hasn't there enough of you already?"
I'm the last one, until the next generation, at least, so you don't need to worry. Hugo thought.
"Well, you're definitely not a Slytherin like your cousin, Louis." The sorting hat declared. "And I don't think Ravenclaw's a good fit, either."
Hugo smiled. Maybe the hat's going to put me in Gryffindor with Lily. He thought. That would be –
"No, I'm not exactly sure if Gryffindor's right either." The hat interrupted. "Then again, both of your parents were Gryffindors, and your sister Rose is there now. I'm going to say… HUFFLEPUFF!"
Hugo's eyes grew wide as he slowly made his way to the Hufflepuff table. He couldn't be in Hufflepuff! His parents, who were two out of three members of the Golden Trio, would be so disappointed in him. Hugo's cousin, Lucy, a fourth-year, smiled encouragingly at him as he sat down at the table, but he ignored her. Hugo was quiet the entire feast, and when he went up to his dorm, he just threw his trunks on the bed and went to read in front of the fire like he always did when he was upset. Everyone was busy unpacking, so the Hufflepuff common room was silent, and except for Hugo, abandoned. It wasn't silent for long though.
"Hey, Hugo! Welcome to Hufflepuff!" Lucy said cheerfully as she plopped down on the couch next to him. Lucy may have been Uncle Percy's daughter, but she was nothing like him in the sense that she was always cheerful, bubbly, and extremely optimistic.
"Hey, Lucy." Hugo replied dolefully.
Lucy frowned at her younger cousin. "What's wrong, Hugo?"
"I wanted to be in Gryffindor. Mum and Dad will be so disappointed in me."
Lucy sighed. "Hugo, If I know your mum and dad, and trust me, I know my aunts and uncles like the back of my hand, then they will always be proud of you."
Hugo stared at his cousin. "How do you know?" he muttered.
"Can I tell you a story?" Lucy asked.
Hugo sighed. "Why not?" he said, and Lucy began her tale.
Author's note: I meant to post this yesterday, but was having technical difficulties with the websites. (Anyone else not able to log in at about 5:30 pm central time last night?) So, now, I am (hopefully) going to post this at 6:30 this morning. I'm not sure if anyone will see it, but… it's worth a try. :)
