After waving goodbye to their parents, Albus and Rose sat down, and prepared for their ride to Hogwarts.
"I can't believe it's finally happening! We are on our way to Hogwarts! This is going to be so great Albus!" Rose exclaimed. Rose took after both of her parents in many ways. She had her father's hair color and temper, but she had the bushy hair, love of books and school, and incisive talking like her mother.
"Yea, I guess," Albus mumbled in reply. Albus took after his father, not only in looks, but he was shy as well.
"What's wrong Al? We've dreamed of this all our lives, and now you look like someone tied your wand in a knot!"
"I'm just scared of being sorted into Slyth…"
"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit with you? Everywhere else is full," asked a small, pale boy with platinum blonde hair from the doorway.
"Of course not!" Rose squeaked at him. Smiling at him, she watched as he sat next to Albus.
"Thanks!" He replied. "My name is Scorpious Malfoy. What are your names?"
"Oh, my name is Rose Weasley, and this is my cousin, Albus Potter," Rose explained, giddy with excitement.
"Weasley? Potter? Uh, who are your parents?"
"Ron and Hermione Weasley, and-"
"Harry and Ginny Potter are my parents," Albus cut in.
"Really?! Wow! My father has told me all about your parents!"
"Really? Well who are your parents?" Albus asked him, suddenly very interested in this boy.
Scorpious suddenly had an interest in his shoes when he finally mumbled, "Uh, my parents are Draco and Astoria."
"My dad has told me stories about your father! He told me he helped him in the Battle of Hogwarts!" Albus exclaimed. Scorpious was so stunned at what he said. No one had ever treated him this way after finding out who his father was. Ever since he could remember, once people found out he was a Malfoy, they would look at him with disdain and hate. He never completely understood why, and his father always told him to not worry about it.
While Albus and Scorpious were talking about their fathers, Rose sat there watching and listening to bits and pieces of it. Her father had always told her to stay away from the Malfoys, that they were a no good lot. He absolutely hated them, especially Draco. But she couldn't understand it, even after hearing Uncle Harry talk about Draco. He never really said anything bad about Draco, but then again, her family always tried to say as little as possible about the Battle of Hogwarts. But after hearing her father talk about Draco in such a manner, she couldn't' believe this was his son sitting in front of her. He seemed shy, but very nice. Maybe they could all be friends, despite how her father felt about the Malfoy family. Maybe after meeting Scorpious, his views might change.
The rest of the trip was spent talking about school and Quidditch. Before they knew it they had arrived at Hogwarts, and was met by Hagrid, a good friend of Rose and Albus' families. Hagrid gathered all the first years and guided them to the boats. When they saw the castle, they were completely overwhelmed. Rose was jumping up and down with excitement, and Albus and Scorpious' eyes were wide open with awe.
Once inside the castle, they were met by Professor Longbottom, another friend of the family. "Welcome students. Soon you will pass through these doors into the Great Hall, and you will be sorted into your houses. Now your house will be your family. You will earn points with your triumphs, but rule breaking will lose you points. Now if you will all follow me please." He led the excited and nervous first years through the doors, bringing them into a room with four long tables, seating hundreds of students. At the front of the room was another long table, where the teachers were sitting. The first years were so busy absorbing everything, they forgot that they were supposed to be following Professor Longbottom to the front.
After they were positioned in front of the head table, Headmistress McGonagall said a few words. "Welcome first year students, and welcome everyone to a new year." After she had sat down, Professor Longbottom started calling out names of first years to be sorted.
"Scorpious Malfoy!"
Scorpious made his way to the stool holding the Sorting Hat and sat down. Rose thought he looked even paler than usual.
"Hm, a Malfoy. You have courage, like your father, no matter what people say, but you are not proud of your name. You want to prove to be someone other than your father's son. Hm.."
After a few minutes of silence, the Sorting Hat finally yelled, "Slytherin!"
Scorpious looked like the world was lifted off his shoulders. His father would be proud of him for being put in Slytherin. He didn't know what his father would do if he was sorted into another house. He made his way to the table of cheering Slytherins.
"Albus Potter!"
Albus looked sickly as well, when he went up to the Sorting Hat.
"Potter, eh? A lot like your father I see. Courage, wanting to prove yourself, especially to him, not a bad mind either. But, I'll have to say, Slytherin!"
Albus' mouth dropped, along with the rest of the Great Hall. Many gasped and whispered as he slowly made his way to the Slytherin table to sit with Scorpious. He looked at his brother James sitting at the Gryffindor table. James was as stunned as anyone, and looked at Albus with pity and longing.
"Arianna Bell!"
A petite girl with long, dark brunette hair made her way to the stool. After saying a few words to her, the Sorting Hat shouted, "Gryffindor!" She walked calmly over to the cheering Gryffindor table, looking relieved, and sat by a fellow Gryffindor, Myra Thomas.
"Rose Weasley!"
Rose calmly walked up to the Sorting Hat. "Another Weasley! But I see you have brains! Must be from your mother! So it'll have to be, Gryffindor!" Rose was so relieved, and happily made her way to the Gryffindor to sit with her family and new friends. She glanced over to Albus and Scorpious and noticed Albus looked like he felt out of place, and wanted nothing more than to run out the door.
After the Sorting Hat sorted the rest of the first years, they all enjoyed a delightful and filling supper. The Headmistress then sent everyone off to bed, because classes began the next morning. After filing out of the Great Hall, the four houses went their separate directions, with Albus wondering and fearing what his family would say when they found out he wasn't sorted into Gryffindor.