Two: The Sorting
Albus and the others made their way through into the enormous Entrance Hall. Albus stared, wide-eyed at his surroundings, trying to take everything in at once. Paintings covered every possible space on the ancient stone walls, all the figures smiling down welcomingly at the first years. The sound of the bustling excitement of hundreds of children could be heard from somewhere further in the castle.
A tall, dark-haired wizard dressed in simple, elegant robes made his way over to them. He smiled at them, his eyes dancing in the light of a thousand candles mounted between the paintings.
"That's Professor Spence, the Deputy Headmaster," Rose whispered to Albus.
Albus may not have read 'Hogwarts – A History Vol.2' but he knew Professor Spence, as he had written Albus' acceptance letter that summer. But Albus had to admit, this wasn't what he had been expecting.
"He's a bit young, isn't he?" he hissed to his cousin.
"He's the youngest Deputy Headmaster Hogwarts has ever had," Rose informed him. "He's supposed to have revolutionised Potions classes."
Albus groaned. He had inherited his father's aversion to potion-making.
Professor Spence held up a hand to get the children's attention, and everyone quietened down.
"Welcome, everyone, to Hogwarts," he said warmly. "I'm sure you're all ready for something to eat, but before the banquet, you must be Sorted into one of the four houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Throughout the year, you will win house points for moments of brilliance, and lose points for rule-breaking. The house with the most points at the end of the year will have the honour of winning the House Cup."
A buzz of excitement spread through the children. Professor Spence smiled again. "If you will wait here for a moment, I'll be back when we're ready for you." He turned, his robes swirling behind him as he disappeared back through a large wooden door.
"I heard the Sorting Hat can read your mind!" Dorian said eagerly.
"I heard it projects all your secrets onto the wall so everyone can see!" Dathan added.
Albus wasn't listening. He was scanning the crowd for a flash of blonde hair. He saw Scorpius not too far away, and edged over, trying to be inconspicuous. He wanted to know who he was, and why his dad and his uncle had been talking about him. Scorpius looked over and saw Albus next to him. He raised an eyebrow in mild interest.
"What do you want?"
Albus frowned. Was he that obvious? "Nothing!" he protested.
Scorpius turned to look at him properly. "I meant, what do you want to be Sorted as?"
"Oh." Albus felt a bit of a blush rising on his cheeks at his mistake. "Gryffindor, like my mum and dad. And my brother. What about you?"
Scorpius shrugged noncommittally. "Slytherin, I guess, like my parents. Although Ravenclaw would be alright, I suppose." He looked at Albus appraisingly. "Gryffindor, then? What's your name?"
Albus felt he shouldn't tell Scorpius his name, but he reasoned that it didn't particularly matter; he would know at the Sorting anyway. Taking a lesson from the twins, Albus offered his hand to Scorpius. "Al Potter."
Scorpius' eyes flashed briefly. He obviously knew who Albus was. He glanced down at Albus' hand, debating, then shook it, a small smile fighting on his lips. "Potter, eh? Scorpius Malfoy. My father's told me all about your family. Somewhat of a legend, your father, isn't he?"
Albus tried not to grin too widely. "Yeah, I suppose he is."
"Hell of a lot to live up to," Scorpius added absently.
Albus didn't have time to react to that. Professor Spence came back into the Entrance Hall, and beckoned them to the doorway. "This way, everyone. In an orderly line, please."
Scorpius straightened his tie and casually ran a hand through his hair. "Best of luck, Potter. Maybe I'll see you in Slytherin."
"You seem pretty sure you'll get the house you want," Albus mumbled.
Scorpius smirked, and made his way into the line. Everyone made their way towards the Great Hall, and Rose grabbed Albus by the arm and pulled him into the line in front of her. The twins were whispering excitedly in front of him, and Albus could see Dorian's pet ferret wrapped around the back of his owner's neck, looking around with interest.
Albus knew what to expect in the Great Hall, having being told all about Hogwarts Castle by his family, but he was taken by surprise by the magnificence of it all. For long tables for four noble houses, with hundreds of expectant faces watching them pile in. Overhead, thousands of candles floated under a canopy of stars. They headed over to the far side of the room, where the staff were seated at a table of their own. But Albus didn't see any of the grown ups – he was looking at the stool sat ominously alone in front of them, with a tatty, frayed wizard's hat sat upon it.
The Sorting Hat.
As they all gathered around, the Sorting Hat twitched into life, and seemed to yawn. Then, as the whole room sat silently awaiting the ceremony. The hat sighed, and began to sing:
At times it's difficult to know
Just who you want to be,
But don't you fret; your future here
Depends largely on me.
I'll find your darkest secrets and
Your hidden, morbid fears
So I'll know where best to put you
For the next seven years.
For noble houses await you,
I have to find your place,
To learn what values you hold dear,
Which virtues you embrace.
Perhaps you are a Hufflepuff,
The fairest of them all,
Or maybe to wise Ravenclaw
You hear the mystic call.
You could well be a Slytherin
And value true ambition,
Or Gryffindor if bold and brave
Is your disposition.
So come up here; no time to waste!
I always get it right.
Just let me rest upon your head,
I promise not to bite!
The whole room bust into applause as the hat finished its song. Albus tried to control his breathing. Would the hat see the dreams he had been having? What if it saw how scared he was of the voice he'd been hearing in those nightmares? Would he be sent back home, too afraid and cowardly to be at Hogwarts at all, let alone in Gryffindor house?
Professor Spence rolled out a long parchment, and cleared his throat. "When I call your name, please come and sit on the stool, and place the Sorting Hat on your head. We'll start with Ashton, Lola."
A short girl with a long plait stepped nervously forward, took the hat from the stool, sat down and placed the hat on her head. A brief moment later, the hat announced:
"RAVENCLAW!"
Every student at one of the long tables applauded, and Lola went to join what Albus could only assume where her fellow Ravenclaws.
"Badely, Luke."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Another round of applause as Luke joined his new house at their table.
"Cromwell, Alice."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Another cheer as pale, mousy-haired Alice went to sit with her fellow lions.
"Davies, Dathan."
Dathan grinned excitedly. "I wanna be Gryffindor!" he whispered to Albus. "See you there," he said confidently, and rushed over to sit on the stool, nearly knocking it over in his haste. He pulled the hat down over his messy hair and waited eagerly.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Dathan punched the air in his excitement, and hurried to pass the hat to his brother before heading to join the applauding Gryffindors. Albus could see James, a few seats away from Dathan, grining and cheering. Dorian grinned just like his brother, and rushed up to the stool.
"Um... yes, Davies, Dorian," Professor Spence announced.
Dorian waited excitedly, grinning at his brother. The hat took a moment, then announced:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Albus stared in shock between the twins. They looked just as surprised as he was. Dorian looked up at Professor Spence, as if to check if there had been a mistake, but the wizard just nodded encouragingly, gesturing towards the Slytherin table. Dorian slowly took the hat off his head, and went to sit with the cheering Slytherins. Albus watched Dathan watch his brother sit at the next table along. Dorian turned round to look at his brother, who gave him what Albus assumed was supposed to be an enthusiastic thumbs up, but Dathan barely managed a smile in response.
Ravenclaw, another Ravenclaw, a Slytherin, Gyrffindors, Hufflepuffs were all sorted and sat down.
"Malfoy, Scorpius."
Scorpius calmly headed to the stool and placed the hat on his head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Albus noticed a small smile on Scorpius' lips as the Slytherin hopped down off the stool. He met Albus' gaze and nodded briefly before heading to his table, sitting down opposite Dorian.
"Potter, Albus."
Albus felt his heart hit his throat, and he stumbled forward towards the stool, sat down and placed the hat on his head with shaking hands. It was heavier than he was expecting.
"Hello there," he heard the hat whisper in his ear. "Worried about bad dreams, are we? Not to worry, you'll soon sort that out. GRYFFINDOR!"
Albus felt his ears ringing as he pulled the hat off his head, and felt the stupid grin on his face as he went to sit down near Dathan at the Gryffindor table.
A few more were sorted, and Rose was the last first year standing. She nervously looked round at the four full tables, and then her name was finally called. She stepped slowly over to the stool, sat down and...
"RAVENCLAW!"
Albus felt his heart sink a little. He really wanted his cousin in Gryffindor with him, but he knew that she'd inherited her mother's brains – she would be right at home in Ravenclaw. Rose grinned at Albus, and went to sit at the Ravenclaw table next to Victoire, who had shuffled up to make room for her.
Professor Spence rolled up his parchment and took the stool and hat away. A regal-looking older wizard stood from the staff table, and addressed all four tables with a warm smile. Albus knew this was his headmaster, Professor Benjamin Commonwealth. He'd heard great things about this man, from his brother, his cousins, and his father, who had been the one to find the old man and convince him to take the late Professor McGonagall's place as Head. Albus was eager to hear what he had to say.
"Welcome, one and all. I'm not one for pomp and ceremony, so please, enjoy your meal!"
Albus was shocked to find the empty plates on the table suddenly filled with food, every possible food he could wish for. He eagerly reached for roast chicken and potatoes.
"I wonder why Dorian was put in Slytherin," Dathan asked him over the table after a few moments.
Albus hadn't been sure whether to mention it or not. "Don't know. You're both so much alike."
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Dathan said absently, biting into a cob of corn.
They all enjoyed a lovely meal, but halfway through dessert, James called across the table. "Has anyone seen Nick?"
"Nearly Headless Nick? No I haven't."
"I haven't seen him."
"I wonder where he is."
The subject seemed to spread across the room, as one by one the students noticed that they had yet to be visited by the house ghosts. They all waited expectantly, but soon all the plates were cleared, and Albus and Dathan were following their Gryffindor Prefects out of the Great Hall, and still no sign of the ghosts.
"This way, follow me, please," a tall blonde boy called Timothy Jakes was calling to the younger Gryffindors. They all made their way up staircases, avoiding missing steps and the occasional trapdoor. A second year made his way to the front of the procession and tugged on Timothy's sleeve.
"Where's Sir Nicholas?"
"Oh... he's probably dealing with Peeves. I think all the ghosts were holding a council about him. Don't worry, I'm sure the first years will see them soon enough."
They all stopped outside of an ancient painting of a large, cheerful woman who beamed down at them.
"Aw, newbies! I swear, they get smaller every year!"
"Seems that way, doesn't it? Grindylow," Timothy said to her.
"In you go, everyone. Nighty night!" The Fat Lady's portrait moved aside to reveal a passageway, hidden from plain sight and heading straight into the wall. Timothy and the older children entered, and Albus and Dathan followed behind with the other first years. Inside they found the Gryffindor common room, and as soon as Albus saw it, he loved it. It wasn't flashy, it wasn't elaborate, but it was comfortable, warm and inviting, everything he could hope for.
There wasn't too long to explore though. No sooner had they got into the room then Timothy was ushering them all off to bed.
"To your dorms straight away, if you don't mind. Plenty of time to explore this weekend before lessons start on Monday. Get a good night's sleep everyone. First years, your things should already be in your rooms."
Albus, Dathan and three other boys made their way up the staircase they were directed to till they found a plaque announcing "First Year Boys." Inside the room, Albus found it to be just as James had described to him – five four-poster beds and a fireplace to keep them warm. Albus found his belongings at the foot of one of the beds, and quickly changed to his pyjamas. He noticed his owl's cage was empty, and figured his owl, Sparkie, must have gone to the Owlery.
Before getting into bed, Albus quickly checked outside the window. There was no Devil's Snare to be seen anywhere. He sighed, and tucked himself under the covers. He knew James had been lying.
Now all he had to do was hope he wasn't haunted by the blackness, by the voice, that haunting voice...
"Potter!"
Albus sat upright in shock. He'd almost been asleep, but now a figure was perched on the end of his bed. He rubbed his eyes, and Dathan came into focus.
"So..." Dathan leaned in conspirationally, his eyes sparkling. "How do we get my brother out of Slytherin?"
