AN: Hey guys!

I know it's been a ridiculously long time since I last updated this story. My muse just up and left. However, I know have plenty of ideas for this story and motivation to write them. I would absolutely love to know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not have the happy privilege of owning Harry Potter. That right belongs to JK Rowling. However, I would love to have it (nudge nudge wink wink)

Thanks

McFudge

Albus, Rose, and Evanna, who were all in the same boat were full of excitement and wonder. Hogwarts was all they had imagined and more. All they could do was stare in amazement. They had been waiting for this for so long. Hagrid led the train of boats up towards the castle. Luckily, the lake was calm that night and no one fell in. Hagrid still remembered the incident with Dennis Creevy that one year. Once the boats were safely moored, the first years exited and were ushered into the entrance hall. Albus, Rose and Evanna were starstruck. Soon enough, the herbology teacher, Neville Longbottom, who was also Evanna's dad, entered the hall and led the mob of close to 50 first years into the great hall and through the rows of house tables up to the staff table. Headmaster Minerva McGonnagal sat in the middle of the table and as soon as the first years were situated, she addressed the school.
"I'd like to welcome you all to Hogwarts and I'm glad to see that you all made it back safely. To our older students, I say welcome back and I hope you all will learn much and not get into too much trouble. To our first years, I say welcome. I hope you will enjoy your time here and learn much. It is almost time for our sorting, but first I would like to remind everyone that the Forbidden Forest is, as stated in the name, forbidden. Anyone found in the forest without express permission will be punished." she sent a pointed look towards Fred and James who sat at the Gryffindor table along with their fellow classmates. Victoire was among them, but this year she had become a prefect and seemed to feel above sitting with her younger, decidedly more immature cousins. McGonnagal continued, "I would also like to remind you that there is absolutely no magic allowed in corridors between classes or after classes unless doing class work. Dueling is absolutely forbidden at all times. Our caretaker, Thaddeus Golding, would also like me to remind you all that objects from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, while being entertaining, are not allowed at Hogwarts. Any student who is found in possession of these items will have them confiscated. And now, on a slightly happier note, let the sorting commence!"
The professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Seamus Finnegan, an old classmate of Harry, Ron and Hermione's, came forwards with the old sorting hat. The sorting hat sang it's song and then McGonnagal stepped forward with her list of names. First up was Asweran, Lawrence. The sorting hat was placed on his head and after a minute of deliberation the hat cried out, "RAVENCLAW." Lawrence got up shakily and went to join his fellow classmates. McGonnagal went through the list and before they knew it, she called out "Longbottom, Evanna."
Evanna got up shakily, a ball of nerves. Her parents came from both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, so she didn't have any direct pressure to get into any house, however Evanna still wanted to please her parents and she personally wasn't completely decided on what house she wanted to be in but she was certain she didn't want to be in Slytherin. Her friends Rose and Albus watched her encouragingly and her dad's eyes were full of pride. Evanna figured it would be weird to have her dad as a professor, but at the same time, she thought it would be pretty cool. She would have to wait and see. As she approached Professor McGonnagal and sat on the stool, Evanna took a deep breath to steady herself. The hat was placed on her head, and then moment she had been waiting for finally came.

"Ahhh… I see that you have brains my dear. And a kind soul… A Longbottom and a Lovegood eh? That's an interesting mix. You have elements of both of them inside you. But yet- you are your own person. I see you going either way. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor? Like your father I see an otherwise unknown bravery, but you share certain qualities with your mother. She is very brave as well. But then again, no one is an exact match for any house."

Evanna herself was just glad that she wasn't considered for Hufflepuff or Slytherin. She really didn't mind either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.

The house seemed to come to a conclusion. "Well, my dear, I think you may find friends here in… RAVENCLAW!"

Evanna felt the hat being taken off her head and in a daze she went over to join the Ravenclaws. She looked at her friends and saw a mixture of emotions. They were happy for her, but they had all secretly hoped that they would be in Gryffindor together. Her friends both had Weasley blood and it seemed that all Weasleys (and Potters) ended up in Gryffindor. She'd just have to wait and see what happened with them.

Then Evanna looked up at her dad. He was smiling proudly, as any father would, but Evanna could guess by the look in his eyes that he secretly wanted her to be in Gryffindor like he had been. However Evanna knew that her dad would love her no matter what.

Albus and Rose stood impatiently, waiting on edge to find out what house they would be in. Rose hoped for Gryffindor, knowing that if she was, she would be among family. Also, Rose valued bravery and loyalty. However, unlike her father, Rose was not opposed to being in Ravenclaw. She was a lot like her mother when it came to her studies- incredibly dedicated with a great passion to learn.

Albus didn't know exactly what house he wanted to be in, as long as it wasn't Slytherin. He did want to be in Gryffindor, however, at the same time, he thought it might be nice to be away from his older brother who would surely do everything in his power to make Albus' life miserable when there were no parents to stop him. Albus was very kind, but he was also quite intelligent. He was very interested in learning all he could. Additionally, Albus wasn't sure if he belonged in Gryffindor. He wasn't the bravest person out there and didn't want to feel out of place. He would have to wait and see.

Soon enough, Professor McGonnagal called out "Potter, Albus."

As Albus walked up to the stool, he could feel the eyes of all the students on his back. Albus knew that his dad was very famous and he had grown accustomed to feeling people's eyes on him when he was in the wizarding world.

When Albus sat down, the hat was placed on his head and the sorting hat began to speak into his ear.

"Ahhh… Another Potter. You're very different from your brother though… I see kindness and brains, definitely brains. Where shall we put you Mr. Potter?"

Albus thought to himself, "Any house but Slytherin"

"Not Slytherin eh? Not many people want to go there. But I don't think you will. You're too kind to be among them. However, I don't think you'll go to Hufflepuff. Ahh that's where you'll go. My final decision is…RAVENCLAW!"

Albus was in shock as he removed the hat from his head and shakily got up and walked to the Ravenclaw table to sit with Evanna. He couldn't believe that he was a Ravenclaw. No Potter or Weasley had been in Ravenclaw for a long time. He could tell that the school was in shock as well. Everyone expected the Potter to be in Gryffindor without question. However, Albus was the exception. As he sat next to Evanna, she and the rest of Ravenclaw house welcomed him. This was sure to be an interesting year.

McGonnagal's list slowly dwindled and finally she called out, "Weasley, Rose."

Rose took a steadying breath and walked up to the stool and sat down. The hat was placed on her head and the hat began to speak.

"Another Weasley? How many of you are there? Ahh… You are much like your mother. She was stuck between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor as well. I see great courage and daringness in you, but I also sense that you are very clever and have a great aptitude for magic. Prehaps you will claim your mother's title of "Cleverest Witch of her Age". I think this time you would be best suited to… RAVENCLAW!"

The hat was lifted from her head and Rose exited the stage and sat next to Evanna and Albus at the Ravenclaw table. She was shocked. Not only was she in Ravenclaw, but Evanna and Albus were as well. Their parents would certainly be shocked.

However, the placement of Albus, Rose and Evanna weren't the only shockers. Scorpius Malfoy, Draco's son had somehow ended up in Hufflepuff of all places. The poor boy's pale complexion was bright red as he departed from the staff table towards the Hufflepuff table. His head hung and he seemed very disappointed. Albus and Rose could understand. From what they heard from their family Malfoy's family was traditionally very prejudiced against Muggleborns and they had all been in Slytherin and were very proud of it.

The sorting ended not long after Rose was sorted and McGonnagal removed the sorting hat and stool with a wave of her wand and then clapped her hands and suddenly the golden serving platters, illuminated by the floating candles, were full of food. All of the very hungry kids dug in instantly. For a few minutes, Albus Rose and Evanna sat in silence, just eating and eating. However, as their stomachs became more full conversation boomed all around the hall.

"I did not expect this at all." Rose stated, wonderment in her voice.

"Well at least we're all together," Evanna stated in her normal, dreamlike matter.

"Yeah. At least we're not in Slytherin." Albus added.

The girls agreed instantaneously. There were 10 other first years in Ravenclaw that year. Albus didn't recognize any of them from his parents friends kids but he figured he would quickly make friends with all of them.

Some of the older Ravenclaws showed minimal interest in the first years, particularly Albus. However, the majority of them were too busy catching up with friends they hadn't seen all summer to pay attention to the newest members of their house.

At the Gryffindor table Fred, James, and Victoire were shocked that their siblings/cousins weren't in Gryffindor. James and Fred saw this as a perfect reason to mock Albus and Rose.

"We should totally sneak into their dormitory and leave a ton of Gryffindor stuff." Fred suggested. Then he and James started to plot their ingenious plan. They were rather like Fred's namesake and his dad, always up to something.

However, that day James' head was not entirely in his scheming. Truth be told, he was kinda disappointed that his little brother wasn't in Gryffindor. Sure he taunted Albus about being in Slytherin or a house other than Gryffindor, but he just assumed Albus would end up in Gryffindor after all. He knew his brother was smart, but he hadn't seriously considered Albus not being in Gryffindor. It would have been fun to show Albus the ropes, and having him right there would make it easier to pull pranks on after all. It was almost more surprising that neither Albus or Rose were in Gryffindor. His cousin had her mom's smarts, but she had her dad's spunk. Plus, her mom had been in Gryffindor. Aunt Hermione was pretty brave herself and Rose was no wuss. Oh well. This year would be interesting indeed.

Eventually the dessert came out and once everyone had eaten their fill McGonnagal clapped her hands and the food disappeared off the magical plates. Albus, Rose and Evanna were drinking in all the details, amazed at all the magic.

"Alright students it seems that our first meal of the year is over. First years, once you are excused please follow the prefects up to your houses. Do take care not to get lost. Your trunks, animals and other things await you in your rooms. But first, before we leave for the night, please join me in the singing of the school song." McGonnagal flicked her wand and a beam of shimmery purple light came out of the end and twisted into words. The whole school sang together, all in different tunes, pitches and speeds.

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.

After the last of the students (James and Fred) finished singing, there was a loud scraping noise as the students pushed the benches out from the tables and rose. The older students departed in groups of two or three, but the prefects stayed back and called for all the first years to join them. Albus, Rose and Evanna stood in a cluster with the other Ravenclaw first years. Convinced they had all of them, the prefects started off, instructing the first years to stay close, watch out for trick steps, pay attention for Peeves and try not to get lost. Rose Albus and Evanna trailed in wonderment. The paintings moved and talked, all greeting the students back. They small group of people wound up many flights of stairs to the north tower. When they reached the top of the stairs and saw the door with the eagle door knocker they were stopped by the head prefect for Ravenclaw, Karissa Wood, Oliver Wood's daughter. She was also the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

"Alright first years, to get into our dormitories, you must knock on the door and then the eagle will ask you a question. You may not be able to answer the question for a few weeks. It that's the case, wait here for an older student to let you in. It may seem like an inconvenience, but eventually you'll get used to it."

She knocked on the door and correctly answered the question and then the mob of first years followed her into the common room. It was a wide, circular, airy room with a ton of arched windows lining the walls that provided a fantastic view of the surrounding area. The ceiling was domed and very tall, decorated with stars. Towards the back of the room were two staircases that presumably led up to the dormitories. The room was full of tables, chairs and bookcases and a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw was centered between the two staircases. On the opposite wall was a great, big marble fireplace that would be excellent in the winter.

Karissa called for the girls to follow her to their dormitories and sent the boys to follow an older prefect, Alan Boot, who's father Terry had been in Dumbledore's army with their parents.

Albus reluctantly parted from Rose and Evanna and he followed Alan up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. There was a plaque on the door that read 1st years and Albus entered with 6 other boys. Alan then left them in the circular room with 7 four poster beds arranged around a central heater. The beds looked nice and comfortable, with midnight blue drapery and bedding. Albus found his trunk and ferret sitting on one of the beds and he started to arrange his things.

The other's boys names were; Aaron Cruza, who's family had moved to London from Spain, Adam McKenzie, Benjamin Creevy, son of Dennis Creevy, Kaleb Abbot, and Nathan Camden. When Albus introduced himself they all took notice to the name Potter, but much to Albus' relief, no one made a big deal about it.

Benjamin's bed was to one side of Albus' and Kaleb's was on the other. From first impressions Albus found them all nice and polite, but he thought that perhaps he and Benjamin could become decent friends. He was a small, blonde boy but he had a kind look about him that Albus instantly liked.

Albus suddenly found himself rather tired and started to arrange his space in order to go to bed. His ferret was named Alfonso. His dad and Uncle Ron had been all for naming him Malfoy because of an incident that had occurred in their fourth year that Harry and Ron still liked to joke about, however Albus' mom and Aunt Hermione vetoed the name immediately. Hence the name Alfonso. Albus knew that his parents wanted to know what house he was in but his brother had an owl, not him, so it would have to wait until morning when Albus would be able to talk to James.

Eventually Albus got Alfonso settled and when his trunk was at the foot of his bed and he was in his PJs Albus' head hit the pillow and he was almost instantaneously asleep, exhausted after the eventful day.

Meanwhile, Karissa led Rose, Evanna and the four other first year girls up to their dorm. The room was designed much like the boy's. Karissa let them be and the 6 girls started to get everything in order while they got to know each other.

One of the girls in their dorm was named Delia Finnegan. Her mom was Lavender Brown and her dad was Seamus Finnegan. They were both in the same year as Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Lavender had been attacked in the battle for Hogwarts but she eventually recovered. Delia seemed to be kind and very bright. Her bed was next to Rose on one side. Evanna's bed was on the other side.

Another girl in their room was Shannon Ovelle. She was muggleborn and in awe over everything that had happened since she received her letter. Her parents were stunned by the whole magic thing and almost didn't let her go, but in the end, they relented.

The other two girls in their dorm were twins- Elizabeth and Ella Tobin. Their mom was a witch but their dad was a muggle. The two of them were identical with pale skin and freckles. Ella was kind of shy, however, Eliza was very outgoing.

Both Eliza and Rose were very happy that all the girls in their dorm seemed nice and they were looking forward to a chance to get to know them better. However, they both knew that they had to get to bed to be ready for their first day of classes. Rose fed her owl Rasca and got into her pjs, cuddling into the comfortable warm bed, asleep in an instant.

Evanna didn't have an owl, but she did have a cat named Cazan. He liked to sleep with Evanna, so as she curled up in bed, Cazan did as well, and soon the two of them were fast asleep, excited for the next day and the start of life at Hogwarts.

Wow! This is the longest chapter I have ever written! Three times as much as normal!

I hope you enjoy it and I would love to know what you think

McFudge