OLD GRUDGES NEVER DIE

N.B. Thanks a lot to DarkRoseDevon, Lovebites and Popcorn, teshara, sawiuk, Sakura evil twin of Sango and I'm not that insane for reviewing! Lady V., you never know what might happen :) And sawiuk, Albus is just one big blur boy! Lol. You'll understand here.

Albus stared as Scorpius took off the hat and proceeded to the Slytherin table, where the students were cheering loudly. Malfoy, he thought, remembering what his father had always said.

"We were, well, enemies. Draco Malfoy was always out to get us remember?" Harry said to Ron.

"Haha. But we got him a few good times too. But now they're finally subdued. Serves them right," Ron replied, muttering at the last part.

"Ron!" Hermione interjected. She glanced at the Albus, Rose, Lily and Hugo, who were all seated in front of the fire, playing a complicated game of Gobstones. However, their faces were all turned to their father's conversation. Lily's gobstone rolled to a stop and squirted nasty smelling black liquid in Hugo's eye, who yelled and jumped up. Hermione rushed over to siphon it off with her wand while her husband rolled over with laughter at his son and the rest of them chuckled quietly.

"Potter, Albus!"

Professor Neuro repeated himself. Everybody had their eye on him, wondering why he wasn't moving. Rose nudged him with her foot and whispered a soft "go!" Albus stumbled forward, tripping slightly on his robes. He walked towards the hat, and noticed the students were whispering among themselves, some craning to look at him. Then the hat fell forward over his eyes, and he saw no more.

"Ahh… I thought I might be seeing you soon," a voice said right into his ear. Albus gripped the stool firmly with his hands.

"Now, no need to be scared! I remember sorting your father you know…" the hat reminisced. "He was difficult, yes… Extremely difficult. But now, you're not so different from him I see! Not Slytherin huh? Is that true?"

Albus shut his tighter. And he nodded.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat announced to the hall.

Albus took off the hat, holding it by its tip lightly and silently thanked it. Then he walked over quickly to the Gryffindor table, which was applauding loudly, led by his brother and his friends. He gave James a shaky smile, and seated himself to a fellow first year that had just been sorted. He held his hand out to Albus.

"Ian Finnigan," he said, smiling. "I know who you are already," he added with a chuckle. "Good one with the sorting!"

Albus laughed, "Thanks!" He turned back as Professor Neuro announced loudly, "Weasley, Rose!" He watched as Rose made the customary walk down the now disbanded line, and towards the hat, which she put on eagerly.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally declared, and Rose appeared and plunked herself in the space Albus had saved for her.

"That took a while," he said.

"Yeah, it wanted to put me in Ravenclaw," she replied, shaking out her napkin. "It happened to my mom too!"

"It's because you're so smart," Albus said, and Rose smiled.

"Whatever!"

When the last first year was sorted, Professor Neuro rolled up his scroll and took away the hat and the stool. The Headmistress stood up. She had a stern expression on her face and wore deep emerald green robes; her black hair drawn up into a bun.

"Welcome," said Minerva McGonagall, "to a new year at Hogwarts. I hope you've all had a fulfilling holiday, and you're all ready to begin a new year. Enjoy the feast!" Everybody applauded and Albus turned expectantly to the table, where food magically appeared before their eyes. He piled his plate high, as did Rose and Ian, with a bit of everything. It was delicious, and just as their parents had said.

"The house elves really are awesome!" Rose exclaimed. "Mom was right; we really need to appreciate them more. Maybe I should continue her SPEW club…?"

"House elves?" A girl asked, puzzled. She had dark blonde hair and deep blue eyes. "Who are they?"

"How can you not know what house elves are?" Albus demanded.

"Well, I'm Muggle-born," she laughed. Rose kicked Albus and rolled her eyes at his ignorance and tactlessness. Honestly, she thought to herself. She smiled at Ella nervously.

"Sorry, he's insensitive," she said to him. "I'm Rose Weasley and this is Albus Potter," she said as Albus choked on his roast potatoes. He grabbed his glass of pumpkin juice and drank it quickly to clear the temporary blockage.

"Well, I'm Ella Lucile. Nice to meet you!" she said, beaming at them all. Ian smiled and introduced himself. They talked about how good the food was and families. Rose explained to Ella about house elves, and even got her involved in some SPEW issues. The boys all talked Quidditch. As the food faded from their plates and puddings appeared, the talk turned to lessons.

"I heard Transfiguration was really hard!" Another boy, Sebastian Summers voiced worriedly.

"I'm more worried about learning how to fly! I'm terrified of heights."

Albus heard snatches of conversation as he turned to the teacher's table and looked at them. Professor Longbottom was contentedly finishing up his strawberry trifle, while talking to a short, round witch with blonde hair and wearing blue robes with yellow stars. After that was a thin man with a stern parting and a handlebar moustache. Hagrid was seated after him, waving at Albus as he realized he was watching. Albus waved back, and then turned to look right at the other side of the hall. He browsed the through the throng of students until he saw Scorpius' tell tale pale blonder hair. Scorpius was talking animatedly to his fellow Slytherins, and also eating. He looked up suddenly, and smiled when he saw Albus looking. Albus returned it and turned back to his pudding. His treacle tart shone invitingly, and he resumed talking and eating excitedly and contentedly with the others.

The prefects led them to their dormitories after the banquet, leading them down the old stone floors and corridors, hidden paths concealed by tapestries, past the moving paintings that yawned and snored. They dragged their feet and climbed what seemed to be all the hundred and forty two staircases at Hogwarts, until they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. She was wearing her pink silk dress as always, and asked a familiar question.

"Password?"

"Domi adsum," Ryan the prefect said, and the portrait swung aside to reveal the Common Room. The first years hiked themselves through the portrait hole and emerged to see a comfortable and cosy looking room; sofas covered with red cushions, wooden tables and chairs, huge rugs that covered the stone floor. A fire crackled merrily at them as they entered, giving out a comfortable warmth that deepened their desire for beds and sleep. The girls were shown to their dormitories and the boys to theirs. The same four posters were there, with 5 beds. Albus saw one with his trunk at the end of it and made a beeline for it, as did Ian, whose bed happened to be beside his. Sebastian yawned a hasty "good night" and crashed as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Albus sunk down into his comfortable bed and smiled as he drifted off to sleep. It really is awesome, he thought, before he fell into a deep sleep involving him flying on his broom to the highest tower of Hogwarts, waving to Scorpius who was at the window and laughing…

Sunlight streamed onto his face and Albus mumbled sleepily as he awoke. With a start he remembered where he was and got up to dress hurriedly for breakfast. He and Ian shook Sebastian awake and they headed down to the Great Hall together. It was full of students noisily eating breakfast and chattering with friends. The three of them headed to the Gryffindor table, and as they sat down, the post owls swooped in with a rustling of feathers and parchment; delivering parcels and letters alike from concerned parents and relatives. A snowy white owl, Hedwig the Second, flew in and landed in front of Albus' porridge bowl.

"That's a pretty owl," Ella said as she and Rose arrived at the table and helped themselves to fluffy eggs, crispy bacon and toast.

"Thanks, she's called Hedwig. Well, Hedwig the Second," Albus said, and he stroked Hedwig's head affectionately.

"Hedwig the Second?" Sebastian asked, swallowing his last bite of sausage. "What happened to the First?"

"Oh, she was my father's," Albus explained. "She, well, died." Albus started to take off the letter attached to Hedwig's leg while she dipped her beak into his pumpkin juice repeatedly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Ella said sympathetically.

"How did she die though?" Ian asked curiously.

"She got hit by a curse; that's what my dad said," Albus said. He gave Hedwig one last pat and she flew up to rest in the Owlery. He opened his letter, and found that it contained one for Rose and handed it to her, while he read his own.

Dear Albus,

Hope you're having a good time there. James told us you've made it into Gryffindor! Congratulations; I told you it was nothing to worry about. Keep your chin up and pay attention in lessons, except History of Magic. Don't tell mom I said that. She sends her love, as does your sister. Be good.

Dad.

Albus smiled as he read his letter and looked up to see Rose happily folding hers away as Professor McGonagall approached the table.

"New timetables!" she said, handing out sheets of parchment to everyone. She was the Headmistress, but Head of Gryffindor she remained nonetheless. Along the other tables, the other Heads of Houses were doing the same. Albus, Ian, Sebastian, Rose and Ella put their heads together and realized they all had Herbology with Professor Longbottom first. The finished up their breakfast and started across the lawn to the glass greenhouses, sparkling in the sun. The Hufflepuffs were already there, standing around in groups. A tall man with dark hair and a kind face emerged from the first greenhouse. Professor Longbottom motioned for them to gather round, dusting his hands off on earthy yellow robes.

"Good morning all! Welcome to your first Herbology lesson. I'm Professor Longbottom. Today you'll be working in Greenhouse One. Divide into groups of three to a pot," he instructed, holding the door open and they trooped in. The greenhouse was hot and crammed full of greenery. Albus saw a large purple flower swaying lazily in the heat. He felt himself start to sweat in his dark robes, and saw that Rose was fanning herself briskly too. They both settled around a large pot, which was full of brown earth and were joined by Ian. Sebastian and Ella took the next pot, and were joined by a pale girl from Hufflepuff. She tied her long brown hair back and introduced herself as Annabelle.

"Alright! Let's get started. Today, you'll all basically be planting these." Professor Longbottom held out a hand of bright pink seeds. "I think you'll find them most entertaining," he added, and shelled out a few to each group. They got started on their work. Albus, Rose and Ian all dug a reasonably large hole in the earth in their pot and dumped the seeds inside unceremoniously. Then they covered them back up and Rose watered them briefly.

"Done," she said, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. Ian sat down, but then exclaimed loudly as he looked at the pot.

"Look!"

A tiny green shoot had shot out of the dirt, twirling and looping around, with more leaves and branches coming out of the stem and making decorative swirls, and then with a final thrust, a bright pink flower had blossomed and opened, showering the air around them with golden sparkles. All around the greenhouse, other students' seed had also grown and the air was soon filled with golden sparkles. The scent of the flowers was wonderful and soon filled the greenhouse. Professor Longbottom instructed them to take care of these plants, and dismissed them.

"That was really cool!" Ella said. She held a petal from their plant and rubbed it against her cheek. "That was just really magic!" They headed into the Entrance Hall and glanced at their timetables for their next class. Potions lessons were in the dungeons, a welcome place to be after the hot early morning sun. The cool braziers cast shadows on the stone walls and it got cooler as they descended. Potions was with the Slytherins. They stood around outside the classroom already, and Albus was excited to see Scorpius among them. He was with a group of first year Slytherins, who stopped talking as the group of Gryffindors approached.

"Hey Scorpius!" Albus said.

"Hey Albus," Scorpius replied smiling. He waved at Rose and the rest of them too, acknowledging them with a nod of his head. He smiled shyly at Rose.

"Hey Malfoy," a Slytherin hissed softly, "Why are you talking to this lot?" Scorpius turned to his friend and then looked bemused.

"We met on the train; they're my friends," he replied. The Slytherins laughed.

"You're friends?"One of them said incredulously. They were all smirking, and Scorpius didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. "Yes, my friends," he said, stressing on the word.

"Gryffindors and Slytherins aren't friends," one of them with dark hair, who Albus recognized as Tony Amish said. "We'll never be friends." Their conversation was cut short. The door to the class opened with a loud whine, and a tall woman with long dark curly hair walked out.

"Inside," she said softly. The class trailed in, one after the other, and as they sat down in groups of four, each house sticking to themselves, Scorpius and Albus caught each other's eyes. They were both wearing an identical grimace, mirrored on the other's face.

N.B. Hey people, sorry that took so long to come up. I was having exams. Review please :) And enjoy.