Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Albus Potter, and other characters or elements you may recognize belong to J.K. Rowling. Everything else is the product of my imagination, so therefore, belongs to me.


Chapter Two: James's Suspicion

At the third knock, the gigantic oak door opened at once. Every single muscle in Albus's body tensed in response. He half-expected huge, disgusting trolls to come lumbering through the open entrance. Unbeknownst to him, Albus was holding his breath...

Only to see a fat, short man with a great pudding-bowl belly and a magnificent, silver, walrus-like mustache. Even with most of his visage bathed in darkness, Horace Slughorn was unmistakable. Albus groaned silently. It might as well have been a troll; at least a troll would never pinch his cheeks every time he sees him.

"Ah, Hagrid! The first years! Wonderful, wonderful." His eyes roved up and down the petrified-looking first years until they skidded to a halt at the familiar jet-black hair, bottle-green eyes, and grimacing expression of Albus Severus Potter. "Albus Potter! Just the boy I was hoping to see!" Slughorn– Professor Slughorn, Albus reminded himself– practically bellowed in his excitement, the gold buttons of his waist jacket straining against his great bulk.

Albus noticed that Professor Slughorn's right fingers twitched a couple of times, no doubt out of the habit of pinching Albus's cheeks. He knew Rose noticed this tiny movement, too, for he saw her bite down on her lip to keep from dissolving into giggles. Albus closed his eyes and counted to ten, wishing the nightmare would disappear. When he opened his eyes, Horace Slughorn was still there, fatter and more solid than ever.

"Here yeh go, Professor Slughorn!" Hagrid said cheerfully as Professor Slughorn flung the door open wide to receive the new students. "I'll see all o' yeh at the feast!"

They were all inside the cavernous entrance hall now. The warmth from the flaming torches on the wall enveloped them in its comfort, and even Albus cheered up a bit after making sure that there was a good distance separating him from Slughorn and that there weren't any hidden trolls in sight. He looked, though, just in case. He didn't want to be caught off guard by a troll, which James had told him was likely to happen.

"Now come, come! Follow me!" beckoned Professor Slughorn, shuffling off down the entrance hall and leading them past a huge doorway on the right, where the sound of muffled voices could be heard. They entered a small chamber off the hall, squeezing in rather close together to accommodate everyone. Albus was immensely glad that he was not one of his poor, unfortunate fellows who were squished up uncomfortably against Slughorn.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Professor Slughorn boomed at the tittering first years. One snooty-looking boy who Albus recognized feebly as Albert Smith, Zacharias Smith's son, winced painfully as one of Professor Slughorn's waistcoat buttons jabbed his rib. "Before I send you off on your merry way to the start-of-term banquet where you will be sorted into the four houses, a few explanations are in order!"

As Professor Slughorn rambled about the Sorting and the four Hogwarts houses, which James had relayed to him with increasing detail, Albus's attention wandered elsewhere as he deduced that they were not going to be attacked by trolls– at least not yet– while in a tiny room stuck with "Old Sluggy," as uncle Ron called him. As he glanced around the room and its inhabitants, he vaguely recognized some other familiar faces, like those of the Thomas twins– Nate and Naomi, and more familiar faces like his cousin Phoebe Weasley– whose dad Percy his dad avoided like a banshee. He also spotted Scorpius Malfoy and his dark-haired companion standing a little ways off, looking completely bored out of their minds.

"– so the Sorting will take place in a few minutes in the Great Hall. Let me just nip back in there to see if they're ready for you." Professor Slughorn squeezed his way to the door amidst stifled shrieks and left them alone, scared and anxious at what awaited them. With Professor Slughorn gone, Albus could feel the familiar coils of fear forming in his stomach once more.

Meanwhile, people around him were beginning to straighten their robes and smarten themselves up. He watched as Rose nervously ran a hand through her hair then combed Mica's green fur with her fingers. Nearby, Jake was rearranging his robes so it would fall just so, while a couple of girls Albus sort of knew but forgot the names of swiped on tiny tubes of something over their lips. Albus figured that if they were really going to be fighting trolls, they wouldn't need to have sticky stuff on their lips or have their hair perfectly groomed. But then again...it wouldn't hurt to look presentable in front of the entire school, though, would it? Getting more apprehensive by the second, Albus feverishly flattened his unruly hair, eyeing Scorpius Malfoy's neatly combed hair from across the room.

After he did the best he could with his hair, Albus resumed staring at a point in the ceiling above everyone's heads, simultaneously petrified about trolls and being sorted into Slytherin.

Rose caught Albus's glassy stare and ashen face before sighing, exasperated. She said, fuming, "For Merlin's sake, Al, we're not going to be battling any trolls!" At the mention of trolls, all the first years in the room shrieked and gasped, causing a rather big commotion in the cramped space.

"Alrighty!" Professor Slughorn's rotund frame suddenly appeared in the doorway. Everyone froze. "Form a single line, form a single line!" They all quickly got into place, tussling a little so as not to be the first in line, and therefore, the troll's first victim. Once they were all settled with an annoyed Albert Smith heading the line, Professor Slughorn led them straight across the hall and through the pair of double doors.

As they entered the Great Hall, Albus faltered in his step– as did many others– as they beheld the hovering candles, the glittering golden plates and goblets, the four house tables, and the vast enchanted ceiling that was dotted with stars. Amidst welcome applause, they made their way up to the single long table where the teachers sat, and Albus recognized his Aunt Minerva sitting in the center, Uncle Neville who was waving excitedly at him and Rose, Aunt Luna wearing one of her oddly-shaped earrings, and Hagrid, of course. When he turned to look at the house tables, he thought he saw a brief glimpse of James craning his head for a view from the Gryffindor table.

When they approached the front of the room, they could see a dirty, ragged, and patched-up wizard's hat on a three-legged stool. The Sorting Hat. Albus fleetingly wondered whether the troll would appear like a gigantic booger from underneath the hat, or perhaps they must fight the troll to get to the hat? The rest of the hall fell into complete silence as the hat gave a twitch, revealed a rip near the brim, and started singing.

Albus and the rest of the first years stared as the lyrics sank in. He was going to jinx James the second he was sorted, going on about trolls and brute strength...

The hall broke into applause again once the hat finished its little performance, and Albus glanced towards the Gryffindor table only to see James give him a cheeky wink. He should have known trolls didn't quite fit into the equation when his dad had told him the Sorting Hat takes your choice into consideration.

Professor Slughorn unraveled a long roll of parchment, sticking it out before him authoritatively. He cleared his throat several times before loudly saying, "When I call your name, please step up to the hat and put it on your head to be sorted!" Albus was rooted on the spot, apprehension kicking in. "Ackerley, Timothy!"

A small blond boy with humongous glasses broke off from the line, sat on the stool, and crammed the battered hat on his head. A minute passed–

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat yelled.

Loud applause ensued from the Ravenclaw table as Timothy Ackerley joined them, red-faced.

"Baddock, Forest!"

A huge, brawny boy that looked fifteen instead of eleven stepped out of the line and grunted as he yanked the Sorting Hat on.

"SLYTHERIN!" The table closest to the door rumbled in approval, and Albus shivered at the primal, unfriendly Slytherin welcome.

"Boot, Cordelia" was also sorted into Ravenclaw along with "Bradley, Brad." "Cauldwell, Ethan" became the first Hufflepuff, while "Coote, Gregory" was sorted into Gryffindor after sitting for at least a good five minutes on the stool. The Gryffindor table thundered with applause as Gregory Coote stumbled his way to the farthest table from the door, his ears bright pink. Albus could see his cousin Victoire Weasley, her Head Girl badge gleaming in the light, patting Gregory on the shoulder. Gregory's knees seem to have buckled.

As more and more people were sorted and the line of first years shrank, Albus grew more and more afraid. What if he had to negotiate with the Sorting Hat for so long that he would sit there for ages, pleading not to be put into Slytherin, until everyone booed for him to go home? His mum and dad would be so disappointed, although they won't show that they are, which would be even worse...

"Greene, Jacob!"

Jake, his face drained of its usual sanguine coloring, darted up to the Sorting Hat and put it on with trembling fingers. A minute passed...two minutes...three minutes. Albus felt quite sorry for Jake who was starting to wobble on the stool.

"GRYFFINDOR!" Albus's eyes lit up momentarily in jubilation for his new friend who eagerly joined the Gryffindor table. Jake gave him an encouraging thumbs-up, looking substantially more relaxed.

A few more people were sorted before Professor Slughorn called out, "Malfoy, Scorpius!" The pale blond took his sweet time getting up to the stool and put on the hat in a nonchalant manner. Barely half a second passed before the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" He stepped off the stool smugly and strutted pompously to the Slytherin table.

Albus snorted. Typical.

After "Peakes, Yvonne" was sorted into Gryffindor, Albus knew his turn was next. Sure enough, Professor Slughorn announced the next name extra loud, "POTTER, ALBUS!"

The hall fell silent at once. As Albus walked stonily up to the stool, people buzzed with whispers all around him.

"That's Harry Potter's second son!"

"Harry Potter has another son?"

"He looks like a miniature version of Harry Potter! Without the glasses! And the scar!"

"Do you reckon he'll be as funny and agreeable as James?"

Albus slammed the hat down on his head, feeling it slip over his eyes. The hat's cool interior muffled the heated murmurs of the students. He concentrated hard, trying to block everything else out of his mind. "Not Slytherin, not Slytherin, not Slytherin!"

The hat chuckled, sounding amused. "Not Slytherin, eh? Sounds just like your father. Your brother was rather confident that he'd be put into Gryffindor. Alright then, guess you'd better be in GRYFFINDOR!"

The hall ruptured into wild cheers and applause. As Albus took off the hat and set it back on the stool, he saw James jumping up and down, roaring with excitement and punching the air with his fist. He almost doubled over from all the hearty pats and slaps on the back courtesy of the Gryffindors. Rose beamed at him from the line of remaining first years waiting to be sorted, while Jake gave him a high five.

"I knew you could do it, Al!" James yelled, crushing Albus into a one-armed bear hug. "I gotta owl mum and dad right away after the feast!" James's best friends, Connor Finnegan and Theo Towler, hoisted Albus onto their shoulders and bounced him up and down like a victor. Albus laughed. These were the boys who used to chase him all over Grandmum Weasley's garden on toy broomsticks and who had told him all about the trolls.

"I'm so proud of you, Al!" Victoire said approvingly once he was put down by Connor and Theo. She kissed him squarely on the cheek. Albus blushed furiously. Even though Victoire was his cousin, she was still exceedingly beautiful for a girl, seeing as her mother is part-Veela. He could see Jake gawking. He'd have to explain that to him later before Jake got the wrong idea.

Rose, Phoebe, and the Thomas twins joined them soon enough at the Gryffindor table, which was growing more and more boisterous by the minute. The Slytherins sulked and scowled across the room.

"So you won't be disowned then!" Albus practically shouted at Rose to be heard, clapping her on the back. She gave him a weary smile but didn't say anything. Maybe Rose really did want to get into Ravenclaw, Albus thought with a jolt.

Once the last student was sorted into Slytherin– Scorpius's dark-haired mate Titus Zabini– Minerva McGonagall stood up at the long teachers' table and raised her hands for order. The years have started to show on Professor McGonagall, who now had streaks of gray in her hair and extra wrinkles lining her severe face. Albus still remembered, though, how the elderly witch had transfigured pillows into fluffy, white bunnies on his sixth birthday party.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" Professor McGonagall's voice rang out loud and clear throughout the Great Hall. "Before we begin our feast, I would just like to make a few notifications and introductions.

"As always, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, wishes me to remind you that students are not allowed in the halls after curfew and that magic should not be used between classes in the corridors. The Forbidden Forest is also off-limits for all students." Professor McGonagall added a stern gaze here, and Albus thought he saw a corner of James's mouth pull up in a smile. "Second years and up will be able to try out for Quidditch trials, which will begin in the second week of term. Please inform Madam Hooch if you wish to try out or enter your name on the sign-up sheet in your respective common rooms."

She cleared her throat before going on to say the next thing, "And now please let me introduce you to a couple of new professors who will be teaching here at Hogwarts. First, Professor Luna Lovegood who will be taking over for Professor Flitwick as the Charms professor."

The hall enthusiastically applauded the thin, reedy witch who waved at them dreamily, her silver eyes huge and protuberant. A pair of bulbous radishes hung from her ears and her long, dirty-blonde hair was pulled back into a loose bun secured by her wand. Albus did not know anyone else funnier than his eccentric Aunt Luna, besides his Uncle Ron.

Once the applause died down, Professor McGonagall resumed, "Last but not least, I welcome Professor Donovan Draconis who will be taking up the Defense Against the Dark Arts post."

A good-looking wizard with wavy, black hair nodded at them from towards the end of the teachers' table, a good-natured smile on his handsome features. He seemed nice enough to Albus, and infinitely more so to the tittering girls around him who had identical goofy looks on their faces.

"And now let the feast begin!"

Albus's jaw dropped as mounds of food literally appeared out of thin air on the golden platters. There was roast beef, roast chicken, and roast lamb; pork and lamb chops; potatoes served in every way possible; sausages and bacon... Albus's head spun while his mouth watered. He no longer felt like throwing up. In fact, he just realized how ravenous he was.

"This is bloody marvelous!" Jake exclaimed next to him, filling his plate with surprising speed. As Albus helped himself to some sausages, the tiny boy next to him– he forgot his name– tugged excitedly on his sleeve.

"Albus Potter?" the mousy-brown-haired boy squeaked. He must be the smallest one out of all of them. "I'm Alan Creevey. Dennis Creevey's son!" Albus stared blankly. What was up with these people expecting him to recognize their last names? First Scorpius and now this Creevey bloke?

"Er..." he replied, confused.

Alan Creevey didn't seem to notice. "My uncle, Colin, was in the battle against You-Know-Who with your dad! He died, but your dad didn't, of course! My dad says Harry Potter is the best thing that's ever happened to the wizarding world, next to Albus Dumbledore!" Albus didn't know what to say to that. Was he suppose to pat Alan Creevey somberly on the shoulder like a fellow comrade? Was he suppose to thank him for calling his dad a wizarding hero?

"Err..."

"Budge up there, kid! Let me sit next to my brother!" James shoved Alan lightly out of the way and plunked himself down next to Albus. For once in his life, Albus was thankful for his brother's interruptive nature. That moment with the Creevey kid had been an awkward.

"So who do you reckon that man is?" James asked Albus in a low whisper, his eyes on the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Albus followed his gaze. "Uh, you mean Professor Draconis? What about him?"

James frowned. "You're too naive, Al." He shook his head. "He's going to be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, yet I've never seen him around or heard about him. His last name 'Draconis' doesn't ring a bell, except for the fact that it sounds somewhat like Draco Malfoy's name. That makes him probably a foreigner of some sort."

Albus gaped at his older brother. Who knew James is capable of thinking about other things than pranks and Quidditch? And how did he know the name of Scorpius Malfoy's dad? "So? What if he is a foreigner? What are you getting at, James?" Albus knitted his eyebrows, glancing again at Professor Draconis eating quietly at the staff table. "He seems like a nice enough bloke to me."

James rolled his eyes. "Everyone seems like a nice enough bloke to you." Albus looked insulted. "I'm just saying that there's something odd about him... I don't know. Something that's not quite right..."

Now it was Albus's turn to roll his eyes. "James, he's a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He's probably had loads of run-ins with the Dark Arts. Things like that can change a wizard."

Out of nowhere, James smacked Albus across the back of the head. His eyes started to water. "Our father battled with the Dark Arts all the time! You see anything wrong with him?!" And with that, James stood up and rejoined Connor and Theo, an irritated look on his face.

Albus glanced back up at the staff table to inspect Professor Draconis once more. He didn't see anything odd about him. Well, perhaps his eyes are a tad heavy-lidded and, although he couldn't tell the color of his eyes from where he was sitting, it looked very dark. But he had a smile on his face and laughed at all the jokes that Hagrid threw his way. He reminded Albus of the pictures of his Uncle Sirius Black in his father's photo album– young, handsome, and charming.

After the last traces of dessert disappeared from the golden platters, Professor McGonagall bid them good night and the prefects sprang up to lead the first years to their respective dormitories. Albus spotted his redheaded and bespectacled cousin Egbert Weasley, Uncle Percy's eldest son and Phoebe's older brother, rounding up first years and pompously puffing out his chest to show off his Ravenclaw prefect's badge.

He himself followed the Gryffindor prefects out of the Great Hall, up the marble staircase, along portrait-lined corridors, up more staircases, and through secret panels and tapestries. Jake yawned next to him and Rose rubbed her eyes sleepily, while Albus felt his eyes growing heavy with fatigue. He was quite tired now from the long train journey and all the excitement surrounding the Sorting.

They approached the end of a corridor where a portrait of a fat lady wearing a pink dress was situated.

"Password?" the lady in the portrait asked.

"Mallowsweet", said the Gryffindor prefect, and the portrait swung forward to unveil a round opening in the wall. They all clambered through it– the prefect gave Alan Creevey a boost– and emerged into the Gryffindor common room, which was a round room full of squashy armchairs and sturdy tables. A lively fire was blazing in the fireplace, and there were two staircases opening off the common room. The girls were directed to one, while the boys were directed to the other.

Albus, Jake, Alan Creevey, Nate Thomas, and Gregory Coote climbed up the spiral staircase until they found the first year dormitory. Inside the circular room were five four-poster beds with scarlet velvet hangings. Their trunks were already brought up, and Albus's owl Olympus was hooting from an open windowsill, waiting for his arrival. He rushed to stroke Olympus's head before it hooted once more and soared out the window to the owlery.

A few minutes later, as soon as Albus's head hit the fluffy pillow of his four-poster, he dreamt of battling trolls and a tall, dark-haired wizard with amethyst eyes.


A/N Thank you to those who reviewed and gave me their opinions! I tried to put in as many children of familiar characters as I can, and there will be more appearing in future chapters. The only original character I made up is Jake Green; the other lesser-known names like Coote and Towler are actually Gryffindor last names I found in Harry Potter Lexicon. I know this chapter is pretty boring, but I promise there will be more adventure to come in later chapters! Please keep reading and reviews are much appreciated!