Chapter 2: The Sorting Ceremony

As the first years entered the Great Hall, they gasped in awe and wonder.

"The ceiling is bewitched to look like the night sky," Rose whispered excitedly.

Albus was about to make a sarcastic response, but it looked like Scorpius Malfoy beat him to it.

"And you're ugly. What, are we just stating the obvious now, Weasley?" He said in a sarcastic drawl.

Rose scowled and turned away. Albus was going to make a snappy retort, but Headmistress McGonagall was starting her speech.

"Welcome, students, to another year at the magnificent Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Our caretaker, Filch, has asked me to remind you that all products from Zonko's Joke Shop or Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes are banned, and will be confiscated if you are found in possession of them. Again, the Forbidden Forest is obviously, forbidden. If it were not, it would be called the Come-In Forest, or the You're-Allowed Forest." She glanced at James as she spoke these words, as he was grinning at Fred and Louis, two of Albus' cousins. "There will be a change in staffing. Filling in for Professor Rilington while she is on maternity leave, we are pleased to welcome Professor Harry Potter for our Defence against the Dark Arts position."

At these words, Albus perked up. How could he not notice his own father sitting at the table? At first, he was jubilant at the thought that his father would be there to take care of everything. But then his stomach lurched. What if he was sorted into Slytherin in front of him? He would be a disgrace to the family. It was bad enough that James and most of his cousins were here. As if Professor McGonagall heard his thoughts, she announced the beginning of the Sorting ceremony, and Neville (or Professor Longbottom, as Albus probably had to address him as now) started to read names of his scroll.

"Adams, Evelyn!" Neville called. The sorting hat bellowed "HUFFLEPUFF!" as soon as the hat touched her head.

This went on for a while. Albus yawned, feeling bored as the names went on. Finally, he heard a name he was interested in.

"Malfoy, Scorpius!" The Great Hall broke out into loud whispers.

"He's that Malfoy kid!" "Looks evil to me..." "Why the formality? Just put him in Slytherin!"

Albus had to agree with that last one. After what he had heard, he wondered if there was another house that would welcome him.

The Sorting Hat was seemingly arguing with Malfoy; it was around ten minutes when the crease in the folds of the hat opened and announced "GRYFFINDOR!"

Albus gaped, as did the rest of the Great Hall. Even the professors looked flabbergasted. Apparently, Malfoy was too, as he wrenched the hat off his head and stared at it. After what seemed like forever, Albus heard a light applause coming from the staff table. There, his father was clapping quietly with a smile on his face. After a few moments, the Gryffindors joined in, but only did so half-heartedly.

Professor Longbottom, hiding his look of shock, continued with the list like nothing happened. Finally, he reached the P's, and Albus was called up to the hat. Feeling nervous, he stumbled forward. However, his dad nodded at him encouragingly, and Albus went up to the stool and put the hat on.

"Ah, another child from the Potter-Weasley clan! It seems as though there are a never-ending supply of you. Hmm...I sense great intelligence...but Ravenclaw would not be quite right for you...no doubt you have loyalty, but Hufflepuff wouldn't take you to the top..."

Please not Slytherin, I don't want to be in Slytherin! All my friends will be in Gryffindor! Albus thought.

"Yes, but are you your friends Mr. Potter? No badgering me now! See what I did there?" The hat chuckled at his terrible pun. "Anyways, I've made my choice...Slytherin will help you rise to greatness...no, you don't want to be Slytherin? I suppose you think you're being brave..."

No, Albus thought, shaking his head vigorously. I'm not being brave, I just think it's the right house for me.

"What would you know about houses, Potter? That's for me to decide, and for you to find out. I sense something...else in you. Perhaps a fear of sorts." Again, the hat chuckled at a pun it made.

Albus rolled his eyes. No, I'm not afraid of where I'll be sorted! He thought desperately; trying to make the hat believe he was brave. You said it yourself, none of the other houses were right for me!

"No, I said Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were not the best choices. I said nothing for Slytherin. But I sense a family honour you must gain...I know the real you, Mr. Potter. I can only hope you come to the same thought as me in due time. For now...well I think I know what to do with you now...GRYFFINDOR!"

For a moment, Albus sat there, stunned. Then, the Gryffindor table erupted with applause and Albus noticed his father was clapping hard too. Smiling as though he hadn't a care in the world, he skipped to the Gryffindor table, feeling a great weight lift off of him. He thought about the Sorting Hat's words, but deided to forget about them, knowing he was a Gryffindor and he always would be; completely proud of it. James hugged him, and said "I always knew you would be in Gryffindor!"

Albus looked at him in disbelief and said "But all week you've been telling me I'd be in Slytherin!"

"Well, what are big brothers for if they don't annoy their siblings?" James replied, grinning.

Albus smiled back and sat next to him. As he watched the rest of the sorting, Sapphire and Rose were sorted into Gryffindor with him as well. The feast began, and Albus began to stuff himself with potatoes, chicken, and shepherd's pie. Just when he thought it couldn't get any better, desserts arrived, and he found himself trying to force down some treacle tart. He sighed with happiness, and was taken to the dormitories with the prefects. "Boys on the left, girls on the right!" They yelled. Albus, Sapphire, and Rose bid each other good night, and scattered to their dorms. The other boys started talking about Quidditch, and Albus joined in for a while. Then, he went back to his bed, which was incidentally next to Scorpius Malfoy's. He hadn't said a word since the time he was sorted. Ah well, Albus thought. Can't let him bring me down. I've made a friend, was sorted into Gryffindor...what could go wrong? With these thoughts, Albus slowly fell asleep, not realizing how much could and would actually go wrong.