Author's Note: I haven't posted a fanfic in a while but this idea would not leave me alone. I've only ever completed oneshots, but this time I have an outline and everything. It will be ten chapters give or take a few and hope to be updating on a semi regular basis. I've won nanowrimo twice now so I think I can handle this, although this is the first time I'll edit as I go. I hope you enjoy, I try not to change any of the book cannon.

Chapter 1: Hogwarts Express

"Scorp!" squealed Rose, abandoning her little brother as she ran to embrace her friend. She hadn't seen him since school had let out last spring and she'd missed him.

"Rose?" asked Hugo, eyes wide, "isn't that the boy Daddy said to stay away from?"

"What Dad doesn't know won't hurt him," she answered with a shrug and a grin.

"You're in so much trouble!"

"Not if you keep your big mouth shut," answered the Rose, now glaring and holding her wand menacingly under her brothers nose.

"That's true," he answered, looking up and grinning sheepishly, "I want to see if I can find Jake."

Rose rolled her eyes as her brother hurried off in search of his friend. Jake was one of the few kids Hugo knew who wasn't related to him. They'd been close friends since they were on the same community quiditch team. They were both starting their first year at Hogwarts and were hoping to be in the same house.

"So how was your summer?" asked Rose, returning her attention to her friend.

"Pretty good, we went on holiday to Egypt, but with the travel restrictions we weren't able to do much," he answered with a shrug, "you?"

"Same old, same old, quiditch with the cousins, helping Uncle George come up with some new stuff for his shop, pretty fun. Have you seen Al yet?" she asked, standing on tippy toes to scan the heads for her cousin.

"No, you guys didn't come together?"

"Al!" called Rose, ignoring Scorpius and running up to her cousin, giving him a massive hug even though she'd seen him yesterday.

"Hey Rose," Albus grumbled, trying not to lose his balance.

"Al! How was your summer?" asked Scorpius smiling and extending his hand for a hand shake. A much manlier greeting.

"Not bad. We had to cancel our trip to Paris though," he answered with a frown.

"The travel restrictions?" asked Scorpius sympathetically.

"Yah, they suddenly required ridiculous amounts of paper work to cross the border. My parents decided to just cancel the trip."

"We had the same problem. We were already in Egypt when the new travel document requirements were put into place. We had to stay out of the country a week longer then we planned. Mum and Dad had to go over the paper work twice before it went through."

"It's a bit strange that the bill went through so quietly," commented Albus with an air of suspicion.

"I agree," answered Scorpius, nodding solemnly.

"I don't think we have to worry about it while we're at Hogwarts," chimed in Rose with a shrug.

"That is true."

The three friends chatted happily as they made their way to an empty car down further down the train. They were waiting for the sweets cart when four first years came bustling into their compartment.

"Can we share your cabin?" asked Lilly, she was flushed as though she'd been laughing and her friends looked equally out of sorts.

"Is there no where else?" asked Rose with a groan, spotting her little brother among the group.

"James wouldn't let us share with him," answered Lilly, wrinkling her nose.

"Fine," sighed the girl heavily, making it clear that she'd rather they didn't.

"Thanks cuz," grinned Lilly, elbowing Rose with a broad, fake cheerful smile. The two girls had always gotten along, but they also enjoyed ribbing each other.

"Hey Lil'," greeted Albus, scooting over to make room for his sister and her friends on his bench.

"Hey Sev," she answered with a smile as she took the seat he offered her and then some, shoving her older brother into the window.

"Jake, I didn't know you were starting this year," said Scorpius, turning all the attention in the room to poor Jake Longbottom.

"M-my birthday's the day before the cut off," he answered, nervous with all the eyes on him.

"Ah, what house do you want to be in?" asked Scorpius, trying to make things less awkward by addressing all the first years across from him, but all attention was still on Jake.

"I want to be in Gryffindor, like my dad," he answered, eyeing the snake on Scorpius' school robes nervously, as though he expected to be thrown off the train for wanting to be in a rival house.

"That makes sense," answered Scorpius with a polite nod.

"I want to be in Gryffindor too," answered Lilly with a huge grin, "Uncle George says it's the only house worth being in."

"I don't know where I want to be," answered a shy girl sitting between Lilly and Hugo, "but Lilly says I should be in Gryffindor with her."

"The hat will sort you, not Lilly," stated Al, shooting a glare at his sister who only smiled innocently.

"What about you Hugo?" asked Scorpius, turning his attention to his friend's brother.

"Gryffindor of course," he answered but he seemed distracted and was staring at Scorpius with a mix of awe and fear, "are you really a Malfoy?"

"Hugo, shut up," demanded Rose, kicking her brother.

The kids talked amiably for a stretch of time. The train started to pull into Hogsmead station and all the first years were suddenly extremely nervous. They were summoned to Hagrid, and, after a few parting words of encouragement from the older students, made their way to the lake. The older students rushed to the thestral drawn coaches and chatted excitedly about the upcoming feast. By the time they reached the castle sorting was about to start. Al waved at his dad who was sitting in his spot at the head table. As potions master he'd shown up a week before classes started. Harry waved back to his son discreetly before motioning for him to go to his table. He grinned and made his way to the Slytherin table with his best friends Rose and Scorpius.

Harry shook his head. He knew he should tell Ron that Rose was friends with Scorpius, but he didn't want to be bearer of bad news. All thoughts of Rose and Scorpius ran from Harry's mind as McGonagall ushered in the newest batch of first years. He leaned forward in anticipation as he spotted Hugo and Lilly among the new students. He knew that as a professor he should try not to show favoritism, but as he glanced down the table all the other professors were smiling knowingly. He grinned back sheepishly and then turned his attention back to the hat as sorting began.

The hat sang it's song and everyone in the hall murmured about his newest advice. The hat had discussed the rising tensions that were felt everywhere and the need for open mindedness and unity in the face of danger. Then the sorting began. There were many first years to be sorted, more than usual, but tensions were highest as the youngest Potter took her seat.

"Ah, another Potter," whispered the hat in Lilly's ear, "I see you are very confident and eager to take on the world. Your brothers are in Gryffindor and Slytherin, but you think you will do well where ever I place you, interesting. I must say few students are brave enough to be willing to go to any house, nor are most students as ambitious as you are. Very interesting, but I believe you will do best in, GRYFFINDOR!"

Lilly was beaming as the hat was lifted off her head and she bounced over to the appropriated table. James waved at her to sit with him, but she stuck her nose in the air and made her way to join the other first years. She cheered along with the other students as other students were sorted. When Hugo took his seat she held her breath and leaned forward in her chair.

"This seems to be the year for repeat," whispered the hat in Hugo's ear, "another Weasley. I see you are very nervous about being here, but you are confident you've inherited your mother's intelligence, a trait that will serve you well here. Your love of learning would serve you well in Ravenclaw."

No! Gryffindor please! begged Hugo silently, he didn't want to apart from all his family.

"Ah, I see you are close to your family, loyalty is always admirable. If you're sure this is what you want…yes? Alright then, better be, GRYFFINDOR!"

Hugo all but feinted with relief as the hat was removed from his head. He walked stiffly to his table and plopped down in the first empty seat he found. There were a few people between himself and Lilly, but she shouted her congratulations to him anyway. He grinned up at her, but he felt sick to his stomach. He was worried that because he had asked the hat to put him in this house he wouldn't fit in, but he had really wanted to be with his family. A few students later the sorting was over and feast began. Then it was over soon then he expected and he found himself looking around the Gryffindor tower in awe before being hustled up to his room where he promptly fell asleep.

"I'm telling you Headmaster, things are not going well," urged Harry, pacing in front of McGonagall's desk. The Snape portrait on the wall behind her rolled his eyes and the Dumbledore portrait's eye's twinkled with amusement.

"Harry, you have made your concerns quite clear," snapped McGonagall, pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation.

"I'm not the only one. Hermione sees it too. Something bad is coming. The papers reflect mistrust and mounting forces that indicate plans for war!"

"We have no evidence of who this war is going to be with."

"We will be directly affected. I just know it."

"Potter, when will you learn that you cannot simply know something?" drawled the Snape portrait from the wall, no longer able to keep silent.

"Harry, I'll keep an eye out, but there is nothing more I can do," answered McGonagall, shooting a glare at Snape's portrait, "Go get some rest. Classes start tomorrow."

"But."

"Harry, go."

Harry sighed, but sensed that he wasn't going to get anywhere that evening and left the office. He was convinced things were going to get much worse before they got any better, and with that bleak thought he climbed into his bed and fell asleep.