Chapter 2: The Sorting and the Feast.

Disclaimer: Nope, unfortunately you guessed right, I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. However, I do own the mysterious girl, she is entirely my own creation!

Thanks to LunayesLuna for her lovely review and also thanks for correcting me on Scorpius' name, I don't know how to fix his name in the first chapter but I'll make sure I won't make the same mistake again. On with the second chapter!

As the boats slowly glided to a halt at the side of the lake, nervous chatter resumed. Glancing at Rose, Albus spotted beads of sweat beginning to form at the top of her head, matching how queasy Albus was feeling. However, nobody looked as bad as Scorpius, he had turned a light shade of green and looked like he was about to throw up any minute. Albus couldn't help but feel sorry for him, he wondered if Scorpius was under pressure to be sorted into Slytherin by his father.

Suddenly Albus was startled out of his thoughts as Hagrid shouted, "Firs' years, get inter two's, form a single line an' follow meself!" There was a mad scramble as everybody rushed out of the boats and obeyed Hagrid's instructions, Albus could see a lot of people were afraid.

By an unspoken agreement, Albus immediately paired up with Rose. Silently they followed Hagrid up the path leading to the Hogwarts gates and into the courtyard. Once they reached the courtyard, people began to murmur as they looked around, but really it was too dark to see anything.

Without a moment's hesitation, Hagrid pushed hard on the double doors leading into the castle and they entered Hogwarts for the first time. As they walked towards another set of closed double doors, Albus looked around.

Hogwarts had been rebuilt after it had been left to almost rubble, after the great battle in which Voldemort had been defeated. This had happened 19 years ago and Voldemort had been defeated by Albus' very own father. Albus always felt a great sense of pride shoot through him when he thought of this. However, his father rarely spoke of this great defeat, Albus suspected that it brought up very painful memories for his father. Many people died in the great battle in Hogwarts for his father, including Uncle Fred.

However, before Albus was completely consumed in his thoughts, the set of double doors opened, revealing a pretty woman with wavy brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Albus recognised her as Parvati Patil, she had been in the same year as Albus' father. The soft chatter faded away as professor Patil cleared her throat.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she announced. "Behind these double doors is the great hall, where you will be sorted very shortly into one of the following houses, Gryfindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. My name is Professor Patil and I will be your transfiguration teacher. I will also be your head of your house, if you are sorted into Gryfindor." Professor Patil smiled kindly down at them.

"You had better smarten yourselves up a bit though, the headmaster will kill me if I bring in scruffy 1st years!" Professor Patil laughed kindly.

There was a great scuffle as everyone tried to smarten themselves up a bit. Albus nervously tied the top button of his cloak and watched as Rose attempted to flatten her curls a bit. For the first time since they had arrived, the wispy haired girl wasn't staring at him. She seemed to be staring off into space, muttering to herself. Albus wondered what she was thinking about and then decided he didn't want to know, she was very odd.

Professor Patil cleared her throat again and the scuffling stopped immediately. "Follow me," she announced brightly and led the way through the double doors.

Albus decided he liked this professor already, she was very bright, kind and cheerful. There were gasps of astonishment as people viewed the great hall for the first time and Albus would have gasped too, if he hadn't already been shown it by the odd girl. Even still, he stared around the room, at the long tables, while the older children stared back at them. As they walked, he heard Rose murmur, "That must be the enchanted ceiling," and Albus glanced up too. He smiled as he remembered his mother telling him that the ceiling was enchanted to show what the weather was like outside. Sure enough, the ceiling showed dark clouds that threatened rain, matching the weather perfectly.

As they reached the end of the hall, several of the first years were pointing at a ragged looking hat, perched on top of a stool and Albus knew straight away that that was the sorting hat. As the muttering died down, the hat suddenly burst into a song, shocking most first years.

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find,

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryfindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryfindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

These patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a thinking cap!

As the hat finished singing, all the Hogwarts students and the teachers burst into applause and the first years hesitantly joined in. After the applause mostly died down, Professor Patil reached for the sorting hat and read the first name off the long piece of parchment that she held, "James Anderson!"

A chubby, brown haired boy stepped hesitantly out from the crowd of first years and sat down on the stool. Professor Patil placed the sorting hat on James' head, covering his nervous face completely. After a minute or two of complete silence in which James fidgeted nervously on the stool, the hat called "Ravenclaw!"

The table second from the left burst into applause and James toppled over to the table, relief etched on his face.

Nora Burke, a small, red headed girl became the first Hufflepuff, Lisa Dunne became the first Gryfindor and Tom Henderson, a sly face boy, became the first Slytherin.

As the crowd of first years slowly began to dwindle, Professor Patil called "Alyssa Lovegood!" and the wispy haired girl stepped forward. It took less than a minute for the sorting hat to call out "Gryfindor" and Albus groaned. He wanted to be sorted into Gryfindor, but not if she was in it!

"Scorpius Malfoy!" was then called and Albus was right, the boy that was in the boat with them was indeed Draco Malfoy's son. The Slytherin's smiled, they knew without doubt that he would be sorted into their house. However, the hat was sitting on Scorpius' head for at least 3 minutes until finally it called… "Gryfindor!"

Everyone gasped in astonishment, even some of the teachers. Never, in the history of Hogwarts, had a Malfoy not been sorted into Slytherin. Scorpius' own father had even been a Death Eater!

Recovering from her shock, Professor Patil removed the sorting hat, revealing a shocked and shaking Scorpius. Tears glittered in his eyes as he slowly made his way over to the Gryfindor table. Not a single Gryfindor clapped as he reached the table, in fact, most Gryfindor's were shooting him hostile looks as he hesitantly joined the table. Apparently, even though he had been sorted into their house, the Gryfindor's believed that he truly belonged to Slytherin.

Professor Patil cleared her throat and called "Julie Price!" in an attempt to bring everybody's attention back to the sorting. However, it wasn't until Albus' own name was called, that everybody began to pay attention again.

As he gave Rose's hand one more desperate squeeze, Albus took a deep breath and headed up to the sorting hat. As he passed through the remaining first years, a couple of whispers caught his ears.

"Did she say Albus Potter?"

"He's the second son of Harry Potter, isn't he?"

His brother is in Gryfindor, he definitely will be too."

"The sorting hat is full of surprises today though, maybe he'll be in Slytherin…"

That was the last thing Albus heard before the sorting hat was placed on his head. However, like many others, it fell over his eyes and the hall fell silent as Albus was plunged into darkness.

"Ah now who do we have today…. another Potter!"

Albus gulped, startled, he hadn't expected the hat to quietly talk to him.

"Hmmmm….. you seem very like your father, great courage and a thirst to prove yourself as well….. you seem to have your mother's brains however…."

"Don't put me in Slytherin!" Albus thought desperately.

The sorting hat laughed. "Oh certainly not, Slytherin wouldn't suit you at all! No, that is the one thing that is different from you and your father, well then again, I suppose your father did have a piece of the Dark Lord's soul inside him….."

There was a piece of Voldemort's soul inside his father! What was the sorting hat talking about?

"Hmmmm…. Yes I think that would be best….."

"Gryfindor!" the hat suddenly shouted, startling Albus who had been musing over what the hat had just told him.

As the hat was removed from his head, happiness filled him so much that he felt like skipping over to the clapping Gryfindor table. As he passed Rose, she gave him a nervous smile, which he returned.

As "Sophia Richfield!" was called Albus settled down at the Gryfindor table, next to a tall, skinny boy with dark hair. Albus glanced up the table and spotted James, beaming at him and holding his thumbs up. Albus laughed softly and winked back at him.

As the Gryfindor's clapped for Sophia, the dark haired boy turned to Albus and extended his hand.

"Ben Simons," he announced, his blue eyes sparkling happily as Albus shook his hand.

As Albus opened his mouth to tell him his name, Ben cut across him, "Oh, no need to tell me your name, you're obviously Albus Potter, Harry Potter's son."

As Albus nodded to confirm this, Ben smiled.

"Oh and this is Sam Wright," Ben informed, nodding at a fair haired boy who smiled and mumbled hello.

Ben looked like he was going to continue speaking but at that moment, Albus heard, "Rose Weasley!" and he quickly whipped his head around, just in time to see Rose's face disappear under the hat.

Albus waited anxiously for a minute or so, desperately crossing his fingers under the table and praying she would be in Gryfindor.

"…..Gryfindor!" the hat cried and Albus was one of the loudest cheering Gryfindors as Rose ran over to join him, grinning from ear to ear.

When she reached Albus, Rose launched herself into his arms and the two stayed like that for a minute, giddy with relief and happiness.

When they broke away, Ben was eying them, smirking.

"It didn't take the two of you long to get to know each other, did it?"

As Rose glared at him, Albus realized what he meant.

"She's my cousin."

Not looking sorry at all, he said, "Oh sorry," and turned away.

"Dope," Rose muttered under her breath as Albus smirked.

At that moment, Jean Young was sorted into Ravenclaw and the sorting ceremony was finished.

As Professor Patil removed the sorting hat and stool, the headmaster, Professor McGonagall, got to her feet. Albus' father had told him that she used to be his transfiguration teacher, but after the Great Battle, she had been appointed headmaster, which she still was today.

Professor McGonagall stared at everyone sternly but then broke into a smile.

"Welcome everyone to another year at Hogwarts, and a special welcome to our new first years. Before we begin our feast, I have a few rules to give out. First years should note that wands are not to be used in the corridors at any times and that the forbidden forest is forbidden, hence the name."

Albus thought he could see a small smile on her lips as she finished her last sentence and a couple of people laughed.

"These rules of course, regard everyone else as well, just in case you have forgotten over the summer."

This time Professor McGonagall did smile as several people groaned in disappointment.

"And now I shall not keep our hungry stomachs waiting any longer," she then waved her arms in the air, "let the feast, begin."

Several first years gasped, and if Albus hadn't known what was going to happen, he would have gasped too. Even still, he couldn't help but stare at all the food that had just appeared on the table.

There was turkey, beef, pretty much every type of meat possible, roast potatoes, mashed, boiled, carrots, onions, peas, gravy… the list went on and on and Albus just sat there, unable to choose.

Out of the corner of his eye, Albus could see James laughing at his face, so he quickly lunged for the first thing available, boiled potatoes.

As he piled his plate high with food, Albus glanced at Scorpius for the first time since he was sorted. He was picking at a piece of potato and his eyes were puffy and bloodshot. Everyone was totally ignoring him, except for one girl, the strange one, what was her name, Alyssa? Yes Alyssa. She seemed to be muttering to him, but he was steadfast ignoring her. It wasn't until she touched his arm that he reacted; he flinched at her touch and moved further down the table, away from her.

He heard her sigh as she looked up, and caught him staring at her. Her face was miserable looking, in fact it was on the verge of tears. Curious to know what had upset her so much, he decided not to look away as their eyes locked and an image burst out in front of his eyes.

It was a bright sunny day but with a slight chill to the air, that made him think it must be October or November. He seemed to be looking at the Hogwarts grounds and with jolt of surprise, he saw himself walking down the path towards a small hut, probably Hagrid's. He didn't look much older than he did now but his face was contorted into sadness and his eyes were slightly bloodshot. As he continued down the path with his head down, he watched himself suddenly lift his head, as if he heard something. His future self turned slowly sideways, facing a grassy hilly area. As his future self trudged slowly up the grassy area, Albus spotted a small, fair haired girl, kneeling in front of a small gravestone, sobbing. It didn't take long for him to realize that it was Alyssa. As his future self reached Alyssa and put his hand on her shoulder, Albus spotted the name on the gravestone. Shock, dread and sadness filled him as he recognised the name, it was Scorpius Malfoy.

A/N: So that's it for this chapter! I'm not going to say when I'll have the next chapter up because last time I said I'd have it up in a day or two and it ended up being over a week! But I promise I won't abandon this story! I'm kind of disappointed though, I know that my story got 36 visitors but only 2 bothered to commented, and they're my friends. So please after you read this, can you take the time to leave a quick review, praise, criticism, I don't mind!