AN: Woo! I have a reader. :D. (Obviously I have, 'cause if no one read this no one would be around to witness this mistake. :D.) Anyways, Usual Disclaimer/Claimer. I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters that were made up by JK Rowling. I do own the ones I made up, and I have a sword left over from another one of my fics, so don't steal it. Please review if you're reading this so it'll make me look good. Uh, I mean it'll help me improve. ENJOY.
Al walked to the boats without really thinking of what was around him. If it weren't for what had happened on the train, he'd be hopping up and down, unable to contain his excitement and nerves. But now he just felt concerned for his brother. There was definitely something wrong with him. Was he being bullied or something? Maybe they were Death Eaters. He'd heard on the news that a group of masked wizards were marching round attacking and killing muggles, and that they'd be in Azkaban in no time. Maybe there was a bunch of them at Hogwarts...
He reached the boats and got in a boat with Rosie, pushing in front of Scorpius who was staring at Rosie. "Stay away from my cousin!" He yelled, pushing him.
Rosie smiled at him. She started rowing as soon as he was in the boat. Al vaguely heard Hagrid telling them about Hogwarts. He didn't care; he just wanted to tell Rosie about his suspicions. He spent the entire journey telling his cousin about James' scars and cuts. When they had arrived, she kept telling him stories about James, about how he had punched her in the face during the holidays, about how he had shut himself in his room when he had gone to stay with them for two weeks in the holidays. After a while, Al stopped listening because he didn't want to hear any of it. It only kept up his theory that his brother had changed in the time that he had been at Hogwarts. He hadn't even annoyed Al on the train that much; he'd just annoyed him at the end. He was expecting him to tell him fake stories all journey.
He was still wrapped up in his thoughts when their Professor Slughorn came to tell them it was time to be sorted. He explained briefly about the houses, but Al wasn't listening. Once he was sorted he'd be able to ask his brother what was wrong. Maybe. He was still not listening when his name was called. Rosie shoved him towards the hat and he was sorted into Gryffindor as soon as the hat hit his head. He walked numbly over to sit with James, who was sitting in between two fifth years. James grinned at him and shook his hand.
"Welcome to Gryffindor! The best house." For that second he sounded just like the James he had known for years. Maybe nothing was up and it was just an overload of homework... He decided not to say anything at the feast.
"Yeah." Al grinned back. "At least I'm not in Slytherin!"
The fifth year on James' left punched Al. "I wanted to be in Slytherin!" He said, sounding kind of mad. "The hat said I wasn't cunning enough."
"Oh..." Said Al, rubbing his arm. "I'm sorry about that. It's a pity you weren't..."
James butted in before the fifth year could punch Al again. "Al, meet Jason. He's Belatrix's son." He gave Al a shove. "Say hi then!"
Al grimaced at James when Jason's back was turned. Unfortunately, the fifth year who was next to Al saw him. She punched him in the face and smiled sweetly when Professor McGonagall gave her a stern look. She stood up and started speaking, but stopped and just said, "Welcome. Good night."