Chapter Two: Shock and Awe
The trolley lady push her cart down the aisle. She had to pause a few times for the students whose eyes gleamed over the sweets. Albus poked his head out of the compartment, and grinned happily. His dad had given his two galleons just for the treats. Scorpius followed suit and leaned over Albus's shoulder.
"Anything from the cart, darlings?" the woman asked, smiling as she looked Albus over.
"Yes, yes, can I get two chocolate frogs and a pumpkin pasty, please?" The lady smiled over the exchange.
"And for you, dear?" Her gaze turned toward Scorpius but smile wasn't as large this time.
"Could I get a box of licorice snaps.. please?"
"Over course. Now y'all have a great trip." With that she walked off leaving the two boys to nibble away at their treats. The atmosphere was a happy one, as they joked about.
"So, you're telling me that your uncle actually experiments his new merchandise on you?" Scorpius asked with a chuckle. Albus had told him about his Uncle George's new crazy love potions. It had been a disaster, though a successful disaster. Albus Severus Potter had spent an entire two days in love with his mother (she being the only woman Albus and George trusted enough). He had picked her flowers, wrote her poems, and even tried making her breakfast. Tried, he thought, chuckling to himself. His mother had found the entire ordeal hilarious. Thankful, the potion was only good for two days. Albus blushed, why he volunteered to help his Uncle George was beyond him.
"Yeah, it's totally awkward but entertaining. You should try it out with me sometime."
"You're crazy, Albus." Scorpius laughed. "But sure, why not? I think my father would have a heart attack just for the thought." They both laughed again.
"Albus?"
"J-james?" Albus looked up to see his brother looking at him like he was crazy from the doorway. "Wh-what's up?"
"What the hell are you doing with this creep?" James demanded, he slammed the door open completely. The emphasize his point, he pointed rudely at Scorpius. "He's a Malfoy! It's like you're purposely making friends with the enemy! Are you trying to get in Slytherin?"
"NO! No, I'm not! He's not bad!" Albus countered.
"Bad? He's father and grandfather were DEATH EATERS!"
"Yeah, the word being *were*! You know his parents have reformed over the years! Dad said so himself!"
"Dad would flip if he saw you! He didn't mean go make yourself best friends with a MALFOY!" James grabbed Albus by his collar and hauled him up.
"Hey! Let him go!" Scorpius jumped up and pulled on James' arm. "What's wrong with you?" James knocked Scorpius back harshly with one hand. His strength from playing quidditch overpowered both boys easily.
"My problem? You're my problem! You're lucky I even acknowledge you exist!" James shouted. He pulled Albus out of the compartment with him roughly leaving the blond boy behind.
"JAMES! Stop it! Please! Let go!" Albus cried, trying to get out of his brother's grasp. He was unsuccessful, and now everyone was staring at them from their compartment doors. How embarrassing, it wasn't even his first day of school! "JAMES!"
"Shut Up, Al. We're going back to my compartment." They finally reached it, James shoving Albus in before he could protest again. Everyone inside looked up in confusion seeing the bright red and unnerved boy and the pissed off brother in front of them. "Sit down. It won't be long til we're there."
"Geez, James, talk about harsh." Fred Weasley joked, he leaned against the window. "Try scaring him much? At this rate, he'll beg the Slytherins to let him join their ranks."
"Shut up! He's not a traitor, just completely mental." James sat down by the embarrassed boy. Albus couldn't even take his eyes off the floor in front of him, he was upset and embarrassed and pissed! How could James just yell at me like that in front of everyone?
"Well," Frank Longbottom looked at Albus with compassion, "at least he's brave. My dad said that Draco Malfoy was the scariest."
"Whatever, this Little Malfoy is just a sniveling and whining brat." James said, he kicked at the wall. "It'd do him some good to be put in his place." Frank cringed at the idea, but Fred just chuckled. He wasn't too different from his father, George Weasley, when it came to playing practical jokes.
"Maybe we could get a muggleborn to kiss him in the Great Hall? Taint his pureblooded lips a little?" Fred asked, laughing a little more at his idea. James looked up, anger leaving his eyes and a smile spread over his lips.
"I sorta like that idea. I wonder if the girls would play along with it?"
Albus continued to stare at his feet. He couldn't believe the nerve of his brother. He was so embarrassed, and now here his brother was planning on making an ass out of that nice boy! Albus ground his teeth together. Maybe he could warn the boy as soon as the train stopped? Would he get a chance to leave James?
To Albus's luck, when they arrive at the platform, his godfather Hagrid called him over. Albus didn't even glance back as he ran away from his brother and his brother's friends. He ran straight toward the half giant.
"Al! I'm so glad ter see ya!" Hagrid bellowed as he gave the little boy a crushing hug.
"Hagrid! I've missed you!" Albus smiled, he didn't get to see his godfather as much as he'd like. He was let down and he looked up. "I'm so excited to be here finally!"
"I can't bel'eve how big ye are! I remember it wasn't too long ago that I was holding yer pa as a baby." Hagrid mused, his eyes glistening in tears of happiness. Albus smiled at that. How gentle his godfather was. "Oh, are ye ready for the boats? It's special for the first years."
"Boats? How do the others get to the grounds?"
"The go by carriage. They need to settle in before the sorting ceremony before y'all arrive."
"Really?" Albus sighed in relief, thanking Merlin that he'd get a chance to warn Scorpius about his git of a brother.
"Now off wit ya. S'pect to see ya later." Hagrid beamed as he walked off to heard the swarm of kids. Albus looked around, trying to spot the blond boy. That wasn't hard, considering his hair stood out some much among the hectic crowd of students. Albus quickly pushed his way toward Scorpius, which was easier said than done. Many of the other students were much taller than Albus, making it hard for him to get around them. Albus could hear his godfather's call "First Years! This way!" in the direction he had just come from. The smaller students started heading toward him, Albus felt someone grab his hand and jerk him around.
"Albus! You're going the wrong way!" It was his cousin Rose. Her bushy brown hair framed her petite face which was covered in the Weasley's freckled trait. Albus worried his lip, he really needed to warn Scorpius.. "Come on, this way!" Of course, wouldn't Scorpius be headed this way anyway? Albus looked around as he reluctantly followed his cousin. He'd lost sight of the blond and now he couldn't seem to spot him.
"Great." Albus muttered under his breath as they approached the boats. As they filled with students, the boats begin to slowly drift toward the castle off in the distance. It was magnificent, the golden windows burning brightly along the tall towers set against the night sky. Albus looked in awe, momentarily forgetting about his mission to warn the Malfoy boy. "It's beautiful-"
"Yes, now come on! You'll fall in the water if you don't look where you're going." Rose retorted as she pulled Albus into the tiny boat with her. They accompanied by a few other students. Alicia Abbott, a petite blond girl with a pink face. Wubben Abercrombie was a tall brunette boy with a lanky frame but honest eyes. Next to him was Xena Longbottom, a long, brunette haired girl with misty baby blue eyes and a far off look. William Thomas, another tall boy with raven hair sat toward the back of the boat. They all appeared nervous as they sat down.
"Wait for me!" Albus looked back, hoping to see Scorpius, but instead saw his other cousin Louis Isabelle Weasley running toward their boat.
"But there's not more room." William said, looking around the cramp boat.
"But I'm really tiny!" Louis said with a huff. He didn't wait for another rejection and hoped into the boat, practically in Albus's lap. "See? I'll squeeze in just fine!" Louis beamed at the others. They all stared at him in awe before nodding in silence.
"Oi, just sit down, you!" Albus said rolling his eyes. Louis always affected people like this, they always stared in awe. Of course, Louis was special, being he was one of the few males with Veela blood in them, and it showed! Louis had inherited the Veela's silvery-blond hair, and his mother's striking blue eyes. He had no traits that the Weasley's usually carried. Louis did sit in Albus's lap then, as there really wasn't anymore room.
"Sorry, I just didn't know anyone else.." Louis whispered in Albus's ear. Albus nodded, he felt similar. Being a new kid in a new school was scary. Luckily he had so many relatives! Except for James, which was pure bad luck.
"It's okay. You're my favorite cousin still." Albus said with a genuine smile. Louis beamed at the remark. But there was a huff sounded next to them.
"Hey! What about me?" Rose asked, overhearing Al's confession. "What am I? Chopped spline?" The boys cringed and everyone in the boat turned to listen to the conversation.
"I believe you mean 'chopped liver'" Albus corrected Rose (she merely rolled her eyes), "you should totally know that, you're mom was raised by muggles! And she knows everything! And no, you're my favorite girl cousin."
Rose stuck out her tongue at Albus's reply. "Whatever, Allie."
"Yeah, Allie!" Wubben teased, hearing the pet name. Albus sent a death glare over Louis's shoulder. "I'm joking, mate!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The rest of the boat trip didn't last much longer. They all chatted quietly until Hogwarts towered over them. Eventually all the first year students were herded through the school toward the Great Hall. They all made small gasps and awes at the sights. The ghosts scared a few kids. The statues and suits of armor stunned others. And when the giant doors opened to the Great Hall, warmth and light spilled out over their excited and nervous faces. They were swallowed into the massive room fill of students. Floating candles were scattered everywhere overhead. The long tables echoed gently with whispers and faces of curiosity.
Albus turned and saw his brother making a sour face toward him, but Albus could swear he saw an evil gleam in his brown eyes. He looked away and instead focused on the long table where the faculty were seated. Hagrid had already made his way to his seat, where he made the other teachers dwindle. Albus recognized Headmistress McGonagall seated in the middle. And further down, much to his secret excitement, he saw one of the men he was named after, Severus Snape.
The students all hushed as McGonagall stood up, and greeted the students. Before them was the small stool with the old wizard's hat, the Sorting Hat! Albus felt a shiver down his spine. He reminded himself that Scorpius and him had to ask to be in Gryffindor together!
"As I call your names, please come forward and be seated. The Sorting Hat will select your house and you'll go sit with the house accordingly." McGonagall said, but she gave a small smile toward the young and nervous students.
"Alicia Abbott!" The blond girl looked pale. It took a soft push from Rose before she began walking toward the stool. Albus could see her trembling. The Headmistress placed the hat on her head, the girl closed her eyes tightly. And a few second later, "Hufflepuff!" rang out across the room. The girl looked relieved as she slipped off and practically ran to the table to the far right. The table cheered as they accepted her into their ranks.
"William Thomas!" the tall boy passed by Albus, he didn't look nearly as nervous as most of the students. It didn't take very long for the Sorting Hat to beam "Gryffindor!". More applause rang out across the room as the boy walked over toward the table next to the Hufflepuffs.
More names were called, a lot of students Albus didn't now. There were a few Ravenclaws, a couple of Slytherins (which were greeted with applause and booing), and a decent amount of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. Both Xena Longbottom and Wubben Abercrombie were sorted into Gryffindor.
"Rose Weasley!"
"Oh my god.." Albus heard her gasp quietly next to him. He brushed his hand over her arm as she walked by. She turned and gave a timid smile. He watched as she held her breath when the hat was placed upon her head. It took a few moments,and the verdict was "Ravenclaw!"
"Louis Weasley!" the small, graceful boy didn't even look nervous. "Gryffindor!"
"Albus Potter!"
It felt like every eye was on him. He suddenly felt very clammy, what if he didn't become a Gryffindor? You have to! You're brave! Dad said, I just needed to ask.. he made his way up to the stool and sat down, completely bewildered that his legs had obeyed. He felt the hat upon his head and heard a whisper in his ear..
"Another Potter, more reserved than your brother or father, but still loyal and brave. Yet, you are also smart and decisive.." the Sorting Hat whispered. "Can I be in Gryffindor?" "No, thank you. Besides, my father has plenty of power and influence even without his lack of Slytherin background. I'd really love to be in Gryffindor. Scorpius and I want to choose our own paths." "You want to be a Gryffindor for the sake of someone else? Interesting... very well..."
"Gryffindor? Why would you want to be a Gryffindor? You could do what your father didn't, become a Slytherin and take advantage over your skills dealing with power.."
"Gryffindor!"
Albus beamed, he was a Gryffindor! He made his way over to his cousin Louis. A streak of blond caught his eyes and he turned his gaze toward Scorpius's nervous smile. Albus smiled his encouragement as he seated himself.
"Scorpius Malfoy!" Albus felt his breath disappear again. It wouldn't be long now, the moment of truth! He watched Scorpius sit on the stool. The hat seemed to take its time now. The nervous expression on the boy's face became one of determination for a moment.
"Gryffindor!"
So far, when the houses had been called, the tables had applauded. But when Scorpius, a Malfoy! was sorted into Gryffindor, the entire hall was quiet with shock! But Albus felt himself grin a grin so big. He felt a rush of relief and excitement and waved Scorpius over. The blond boy swaggered over and seated himself next to his Potter companion. Then he looked up and smirked. McGonagall continued calling the remaining students and everyone turned away from the shocking news of a Malfoy being a Gryffindor.. for now.
"You were right. I just had to ask." Scorpius whispered. He looked so much happier now than before.
"Awesome! Now there's no reason for any wankers" Albus turned to glare at his shocked brother, "to be mad at our friendship." James looks like a deer caught in headlights!
"Precisely." Scorpius and Albus chuckled quietly together. Scorpius was surprised to find his hand being taken and held by Albus's, but he didn't mind. This was his first real friend ever! And he, Scorpius, was a Gryffindor! Everything had turned out like they hoped so far. "Now, I'll just have to deal with the howler in the morning." The boys exchanged glances again and laughed.
