As Albus runs through the barrier for a moment he doesn't think he'll come out, that he'll be lost forever, but then an instant later he's through. The big red Hogwarts Express is gleaming in front of him am hundreds of children racing around with massive trollies – just like him. This was definitely Platform 9 and three quarters.

Albus lets out an overwhelmed breath, "this is it" he says as confidently as possible. His sister Lily still in awe and excitement is buzzing around him. "Platform nine and three-quarters." Albus says with the last bit of his nervous breath. He's completely unaware of Lily's buzzing excitement which is growing by the minute. Albus is buried in thought, scared of what might happen next. For a brief moment he's distracted by the arrival of Uncle Ron and his jokes but not for so long.

His daughter Rose is there too. Rose Granger-Weasley, a beautiful auburn haired girl whom will be Albus' only friend on the Hogwarts express. Albus isn't so sure about Rose, true she's beautiful but she definitely picked up some of her mother's serious no-nonsense traits. They'd been friends when they were kids but slowly they'd grown apart, she'd be in Gryffindor, Albus thought.

Slowly but surely most eyes in the station begin to turn towards them and Albus' embarrassment sinks lower and lower. Of course, it isn't Uncle Ron's weird nose tricks, it's Albus' father, Harry Potter. Albus begins to feel more uncomfortable, knowing the rest of his school year might be like this. James seems alright, cool and collected, but as more and more eyes turn, Albus loses it.

"Everyone's staring again." He says in a not so hushed voice. The adults seem to shrug it off and exchange small talk once again about muggle driving and confundus charms but Albus s feeling very vulnerable.

Having a famous father held high expectations and for the last 24 hours Albus was constantly worrying that he wouldn't meet those expectations. If he wasn't in Gryffindor he would look nothing compared to James, or worse if he was in Slytherin. What if he wasn't a good Quidditch player, or if he was in Slytherin. Even the word Slytherin began to make Albus' stomach nauseous.

"Dad" Albus tugs on his father's robes, breaking him away from the conversation – now turned family argument of the Granger-Weasleys. "Do you think…" no don't say that, "What if I am" no just say it "what if I'm put into Slytherin" Albus stutters. His Dad looks at him with some pity before sending down a calm relaxed response.

"And what would be wrong with that?" Albus feels quite embarrassed but he knows his Dad's just saying that. There is something wrong with Slytherin, he thinks. "Slytherin is the house of the snake, of Dark Magic… it's not a house for brave wizards" Albus mutters stopping himself before he added, just like you. Albus knew his father doesn't consider himself brave.

"Albus Severus, you were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was in Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." His Father said with a confident smile. This doesn't really help Albus because he knows that all the other brave wizards his father knew were in Gryffindor.

"But just to say" Harry cuts him off before he can finish.

"If it matters to you that much, the sorting hat will take your feelings into account." Albus lights up immediately. "Really?"

"It did for me" His father says, and in a moment Albus is filled with hope but then it turns to confusion. Which house did the sorting house want to put his father in? Was it Slytherin? Judging by the look on his father's face, he had never told anyone that before and Albus decides not to ask.

"Hogwarts will be the making of you, Albus. I promise there is nothing to be frightened of there." His father says reassuringly and confidently to try and block out Albus' next question.

"Apart from Thestrals. Watch out for the Thestrals" His brother James snidely adds. Albus then shoots back into little brother mode. "I thought they were invisible!" Before James is allowed to reply his father cuts them off.

"Listen to your professors, don't listen to James and remember to enjoy yourself. Now if you don't want this train to leave without you, you should leap on…"

Albus suddenly remember the train and ignoring Lily's mischievous excitement hugs his mum and dad and heads on to the train with Rose.

"Okay, then. Bye" are his last words to his parents.

As the train leaves the station Harry feels he might cry but put on a strong show for his friends. Why is his son so worried about being Slytherin? Harry thinks, remembering his own worry after meeting Draco Malfoy. Maybe Al will be in Slytherin? No, Harry thinks, he's brave and lovely, and Harry couldn't think why the sorting hat would do such a thing.

"Strange, Al being worried he'll be sorted into Slytherin." Harry says lost in thought.

"That's nothing, Rose is worried whether she'll break the Quidditch scoring record in her first or second year. And how early she can take her O. ." Hermione says in both parental worry and pride.

"I have no idea where she gets her ambition from." Ron jokes, but Harry doesn't feel much like laughing.

"And how would you feel Harry if, Al – if he is?" His wife puts her reassuring hand on his shoulder but he doesn't wish to answer.

"You know Gin, we always thought there was a chance you could be sorted into Slytherin." Ron once again swings the conversation and lightens the mood.

"What?"

"Honestly, Fred and George ran a book." Ron continues to joke but everyone else seems done.

"Can we go?" Hermione turns down her voice "People are looking you know"

"People always look when you three are together. And apart. People always look at you." Ginny says in a quite grateful voice, as she luckily not as recognisable as her husband, brother and sister in law.

"Harry" Ginny sighs "He'll be alright won't he?"

"Of course, he will" Harry sighs, trying to convince himself more than his wife, Ginny.