Chapter 1:

Albus climbed into the Hogwarts Express for the first time in his life, and he was, though he didn't want to admit it, pretty nervous. His cousin Rose Weasley was next to him, her trunk right next to her. Albus's older brother, James was already off with his friends, dragging his trunk behind him.

"We'd better get going, Albus," Rose said, "we'd better find a compartment before they're all taken." Rose looked extremely nervous, her ears had turned bright red, just like her father's did when he was embarrassed or angry.

"Yeah," Albus replied, "I suppose we should."

The two of them set off down the corridor, dragging their heavy trunks behind them. They finally found an empty compartment. When they had their things inside, they hung out the window to wave to their parents. Albus's eyes started to water as he waved, the fact that he wouldn't see his parents again for nearly a year made him kind of sad, but the prospect of going to the highly famous school, Hogwarts, excited him beyond any excitement he had ever felt in his life.

"Well, we're off to Hogwarts!" Rose said excitedly as the train turned a corner, and Platform Nine and Three Quarters went out of sight. Her ears were still pink, and she looked incredibly happy.

"Yup," Albus said, "I can't wait to get there!" He replied as he sat down, his nervousness now turning into excitement. "I wonder what house we'll be sorted into, I can't wait till the Sorting." He said, he was still nervous about the Sorting, he really didn't want to be in Slytherin.

"Me neither," Rose said, "Oh, I hope we're in Gryffindor!" She responded. "You know, both my parents, and your parents, and Grandma and Grandpa Weasley were in Gryffindor?"

"Yeah, I know, I really hope we get sorted into Gryffindor." Albus said. He was still thinking about what James had said about him being sorted into Slytherin, even though his father had told him about Severus Snape.

As the train wore on, it started raining very hard outside. The rain was so thick Albus and Rose couldn't see more than a foot outside the window, but it was getting dark outside so they probably wouldn't be able to see much anyways. Their sweet supply was getting low, seeing as it had been about three hours since the lady with the trolley had come by.

The compartment door slid open, and Albus's older brother, James walked in. "Hey, Al," he said, "you ready to be in Slytherin?" He asked with a smirk.

"Shut up!" Albus yelled at his brother. "Just leave me alone!"

"Slytherin!" James shouted as he walked out and closed the compartment door. James could get so annoying sometimes.

"Oh, it'll be fine." Rose said, trying to tame her bushy red hair with a comb unsuccessfully. "The Sorting Hat will know where to put us," Rose said, "It'll be fine."

"Yeah…" Albus said, pulling his black school robes on.

As they got off the train, they heard a deep, booming voice yelling "Firs' Years, Firs' Years over here!" It was Hagrid, the half-giant he had heard so much about from his father. "How yeh doin' James?" He boomed to Albus's older brother.

"Fine." He heard James shout back.

"An' there's Albus!" Hagrid boomed, having just found Albus in the crowd. "Come on, you Firs' Years! Come on!"

Hagrid led the First Years to the Black Lake, where boats were waiting for them. The rain had died down, but it was still sprinkling, so they were all cold and damp.

"No more'n four ter a boat!" Hagrid yelled, taking up an entire boat himself.

"Come on Al!" Rose piped, pulling on Albus's arm, trying to get him to get into her boat.

"I'm coming!" Al replied, clambering into the boat.

And the boats took off. They glided across the dark water, all the children looking up at the great castle, the lit windows like little stars on the dark surface. The grounds of Hogwarts were completely amazing, the hills, and forests, and all.

"Come on, all of yeh, we're going into the castle now!" Hagrid boomed as the boats stopped at the opposite bank. All of the children clambered out of their boats, sopping wet now and getting cold. Hagrid led them into the castle, and told them to stay there in the Entrance Hall.

The Entrance Hall was amazing, but Albus didn't have time to admire it now, somebody was coming out of the Great Hall. It was Neville Longbottom. Albus knew him quite well, since he was a good friend of the Potter family.

"Hello, First Years," The round faced man said, "In a few moments you will walk through these doors, and be sorted into your Houses." A little bit of talking broke out at those words. "Excuse me, excuse me," Neville said, "As I was saying, you will be sorted, and then you will sit at the House tables you have been sorted into. We will tell you when we're ready for you." At those words Neville left the First Years standing in the Entrance Hall, winking to Albus and Rose as he closed the large door to the Great Hall.

"Oooh! I can't wait!" Rose piped, her ears turning pink.

"Oh, look, red hair, freckles, astoundingly stupid, and bushy hair. This must be an offspring of a Weasley and Granger." A cold drawling voice sounded from behind them. Rose and Albus turned around to see whom was talking to them, and found it was none other than Scorpius Malfoy.

"Shut it, Malfoy." Albus said, getting angry.

"Oh, do be quiet, Potter." Malfoy drawled back.

Albus was about to yell at Malfoy, but just at that moment Neville came back through the large doors, and said "We are ready for you now."