Chapter 2 - The Sorting
Hagrid had led the first years to the castle. He extened his arm. "Filch here will take over and lead you to the entrance of the Great Hall." he stated.
Filch hobbled foward with his cat, Ms. Norris. The cat stood close to his feet never leaving his side. It gave a slight meow. "Come on, come on no one's got all day!" he yelled over his shoulder as the first years began following him in.
He led them down the hall and up a few stairs before stopping in front of the Great Hall. It's huge doors were massive. "You all will wait here for Professor Longbottom." he stated.
At the name Rose and Albus looked at each other with excited smiles. They knew Professor Longbottom he was one of their parent's greatest friends, and also the Herbology professor but that was irrelevent to them.
"Longbottom." A voice sniggered. "What kind of a name is that?" the person asked as Flich became out of ear shot.
Albus turned on his heels to look at a first year standing behind him. Near white hair and grey eyes. He knew who it was and that was where the voice came from. "Malfoy watch your tongue." Albus stated firmly.
The grey eyes looked to green eyes as Scorpius glared at Albus. "Potter." he muttered. "And what gives you the right to say so? Longbottom is an uncommon yet stupid name." he stated.
Rose gave a slight gasp. How could anyone be so rude?
Albus glared at Scorpius. "Professor Longbottom is a hero from the Wizarding War, and a friend of my dad's!" Albus stated, nearly too loud.
"Oh ho so we should all be respectful and love the professor?" Scorpius asked. "Just because Pottie's daddy is friends with him?" he asked. There were a few snickers around as Scorpius stated this.
"My dad is the top auror at the Ministry, watch out Malfoy." Albus stated. "Perhaps you know him? Harry Potter?" Albus asked. "You know the one who defeated Voldemort?" Albus asked casually. There were a few murmurs at that.
Rose sighed. The two of them were fighting like cats and dogs, and they hadn't even gotten to know each other yet, but Scorpius was being really rude, and Albus was really behaving no better.
Scorpius opened his mouth to say something but there were loud footsteps to be heard as a figure showed itself at the top of the stairs.
They cleared their throat and then spoke. "I am Professor Longbottom." he stated clearly. "I will be your Herbology professor." he stated. He looked to each individual first year. "In a moment I will take you in for the start of term banquet." he stated. "But before you are able to take your seats you will be sorted into your houses. This is important because while you are here your house will be something like a family. You will attend classes with your house, eat with your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend your free time in the common room." He had paused for effect. "The four houses are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. You will earn points for your outstanding rewards and behavior, rule breaking will lose you points. At the end of the year we have a ceremony. The house with the most points is awarded the House Cup. It's very important and an honour. Look lively now we're about to go in." he stated. He looked at each student again making sure they were well and ready. He caught a few of them trying to look a bit better than they were and he mentally laughed. "Now how about it shall we?" he asked and turned. "Follow me in." he stated and began walking forward.
The first years followed him in, passing between the Gryffindor table and the Ravenclaw's. The older students stared at the younger and vice versa. But the first years were also staring around the whole Great Hall, from the hanging school banner to the floating candles, to the staff table. Everything was so much more amazing than they could have imagined.
When they reached the front of the room, one stool could be seen in front of the staff table. With what looked like a witch's or wizards hat on it. Professor Longbottom appeared next to the stool and was holding a parchment roll. "I will call your name and you will walk up here and sit on the stool. I will then place the Sorting Hat onto your head and you will then be placed into your House." The first years instantly stopped talking, and the hall grew quiet. He unrolled it and read the first name. "Jeffery Bell." His voice carried.
The small first year stepped forward. He walked to the stool and sat down as the professor lifted the hat and sat it upon the boy's head. "Gryffindor!" the Hat shouted. The boy beneath the hat jumped not expecting it to talk. The first year's eyes widened.
"Walk on to your new house." Neville whispered with a slight smile and nuged the small boy off as he ran to the cheering Gryffindor table.
Neville waited for the cheering to die down before he called the next name. "Angus Bones." he stated.
The boy proceeded to the chair and sat as the boy previous to him did. "Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted. The Hufflepuff table cheered and the black haired boy ran off.
"Maude Bulstrode." The Herbology professor stated.
A girl with long black hair walked towards the stool in silence. Albus thought she could use some sun but that was just him. The girl sat on the stool, the professor placing the Sorting Hat on her head. "Slytherin!" the hat shouted. Cheers from the Slytherin table errupted and Maude went to sit with her new house.
"Samuel Dursley." Neville stated. He stared at the list wide eyed. He knew that name briefly. Hadn't heard it in a long, long time but he knew it.
Albus had also heard it, and his eyes were wider than Nevilles, so was Rose's.
"Is that?" Rose asked.
Albus nodded. "That is..." he muttered.
"Your dad's cousin, his kid?" Rose asked.
"Uh huh, my cousin..." Albus whispered. "I didn't know he was magical!" He shot at Rose. "Uncle Dudley hasn't even contacted us in years." Albus whispered to her, his eyes had never left Samuel as he talked to her. "Look he's got green eyes like mine, but lighter hair."
"Your uncle was on speaking terms with your family?" Rose asked.
"Yeah dad always talks about him. And I think I remember seeing Uncle Dudley once when I was like five." Albus muttered. "But he never came with a kid my age." Albus whispered so he wasn't heard by anyone but Rose.
His new cousin was sitting up at the stool, Neville had placed the hat on his head a few minutes ago. The sorting was taking a moment. "Slytherin!" the hat shouted.
Albus' eyes widened slightly. There was a reason one was sorted into Slytherin, and from what Albus had heard from his father, when he was younger his uncle would have sorted well into Slytherin. Was his cousin the same way?
"Scorpius Malfoy."
The small boy stepped forward to the stool.
"Slytherin!" the sorting hat instantly called.
"Albus Potter." Neville stated. He had a smile on his face and Albus had jumped at the mention of his name. He hadn't been paying attention.
Now he walked forward his hands shaking a little. He didn't know what house he was going to be sorted into. He walked to the stool, sat, and felt the Sorting Hat be placed upon his head.
"Hm..." the Sorting Hat stated. "Hmm...a Potter." it muttered. "Always the hard ones. Could be Slytherin, could be Gryffindor, but then again the same traits as a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as well."
'Not Slytherin.' Albus thought. 'Please.' he thought.
'Not Slytherin?' the hat asked. Nearly a part of Albus' mind. It wanted a private conversation he guessed. 'You coud be great.' It added.
'Slytherin is a bunch of snobs.' he thought.
'Perhaps so, perhaps not, but there is one who is going to need you. A test of sorts I should say. You'll see for your own good.' The hat stated. "Slytherin!" It shouted.
Everyone was pitch quiet. Albus' heart sank. He opened his eyes and could see his brother's confused face. He groaned. His worst fear yet. He knew his parents would love him still but Gryffindor seemed to be their family's house. Why wasn't he sorted there?
"Off you go now." Neville stated pushing Albus off towards his new house.
Albus had a few cheers as he sat down at the table. Near the front closest to the gathering.
"Margaret Song." The girl from Albus and Rose's boat had gone to the stool.
"Hufflepuff!"
"Rose Weasley!" Came Neville.
"Another Weasley!" The hat shouted. "Gryffindor!"
Albus sighed. His cousin flashed him an apologetic look. Rose had sorted into Gryffindor, and he was a Slytherin. With the already made prat, Scorpius Malfoy, and his cousin Samuel Dursley. Albus groaned and dropped his head in his arms for the rest of the feast.
