The Great Hall was bustling with excitement. James, sitting proudly among the Gryffindors in between Connie and Ben, was also among the most excited. The first years had yet to arrive and James couldn't wait to see his little brother up on the wooden stool and immediately declared a Gryffindor.

"Has it always taken this long for the first years to get here?" whined Ben, eyeing the empty, golden plate and goblet in front of him.

Connie rolled her eyes at Ben's insensitivity. It was gesture commonly known to come from Connie.

"Here they come!" whispered a second year a few seats down.

James turned is head to the right, gazing upon the large doors of the Great Hall. The doors had finished opening and in spilled dozens of little first years. They all were so small and many had frightened looks upon their faces.

Katie Bell, professor of Transfiguration and the head of Gryffindor house, whispered quick instructions to the preteens and then shuffled past them, in between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables, to the front of the Great Hall. She placed an old, wooden stool on the ground in front of the headmaster's chair where Minevera McGonagall sat. Atop the stool, she placed an old, raggedy hat. As Katie moved to the side of the stool, all attention was on the old hat. It was a moment before a long stitch in the hat moved and immediately began to sing.

"Although you may not think it,

I've been almost everywhere.

Name any place at all,

And I swear I've been there.

I've gained loads of knowledge,

Some you may not care to know.

I have memories of happy,

And memories of woe.

And although I may not be,

A sight for sore eyes.

If you put me on,

I can tell no lies!

I sort you into houses,

Of where your attributes lie.

For this important sorting,

I would pick no hat but I.

You could be placed in Gryffindor,

Where the brave of heart dwell.

Here they show their chilvary,

Their daring and nerve well.

Or maybe you're in Hufflepuff,

Polite and kind of soul.

Don't let the badger fool you,

Don't mess around their hole!

Or maybe in Ravenclaw,

Is where you ought to be.

Where your cunning and your wisdom,

Will help you successfully.

Last but NOT least is Slytherin,

Full of cunning rivalry.

You'll always have a challenge,

Be all you ought to be.

So come, try me on,

See where you ought to be!

You'll never, ever find,

A better hat than me!"

(song written by me)

The Great Hall burst into applause as the song ended. The hat smiled then grew silent. Katie stepped up, unraveling a scroll. "When I call your name, please come forward and sit on the stool to be sorted. Archer David!"

A thin boy with sandy blonde hair and brown freckles littering his pale nose with brown eyes, shook slightly. A muggle born, James decided. The small boy made his way to the stool and sat down nervously. Katie placed the hat on the boy's head and after a second it hollered, "Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table applauded and the boy gave a weak smile, hopping off the stool and heading to the Hufflepuff table.

"Baily Harriet!" Katie called next.

A girl walked forward. She had curly, auburn hair in a high pony tail. Her eyes were a pretty hazel and were sparked with determination. She sat down on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. "Gryffindor!"

James brought his hands together with the rest of the Gryffindors as Harriet made her way to the table.

"Cooper Edwin!"

A boy with raven hair walked up and was sorted in Ravenclaw. The next girl was a Gryffindor. A few more first years where sorted into Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and four were in Slytherin.

"Malfoy Scorpius!"

At the sound of the name, murmurs began to erupt from the house tables.

"This kid has Slytherin written all over him," Ben muttered as the silver haired boy made his way to the stool.

Once in the front of the hall, the hat was placed atop his head. It slid over his ears. Everyone who thought Scorpius was predictable was wrong. It took several seconds for the sorting hat to decide but finally, it had reached its decision. "Hufflepuff!"

Almost every breath in the hall gasped in unison. The hat was lifted from Scorpius' face to show him all the shocked faces of the Great Hall.

"B-but isn't that Draco Malfoy's son!" Ben whispered in astonishment.

James' eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "Malfoy's daughter was sorted into Slytherin..."

James glanced to the silver-haired girl at the Slytherin table. She was in his year with long flowing hair and her mother's blue eyes. She went by the name of Isabelle and she was as cold as cold could get. She was brilliant though and never ceased in showing off her skills in charms and potions. Right now, her piercing eyes were following her brother as he made his way to the Hufflepuff table; they were angry slits.

After that drama, a pair of twins went to Ravenclaw and another two students went to Slytherin. One more to Hufflepuff and then,"Potter Albus."

James' eyes followed his brother to the stool. Albus looked especially like his dad but was less trouble-seeking than Dad and himself. Albus sat on the stool and the sorting hat went over his head. As the sorting hat thought, Ben nudge James in the side and James smiled at Ben, then turned to his brother just in time to hear,"Slytherin!"

James' smile disappeared almost immediately. Slytherin? Had he heard that right? Just in case he hadn't, he turned to Ben but found his face full of shock. Connie was biting her lip, glancing at James. Now, James knew he had heard correctly.

James looked to the front of the hall again as Albus made his way to the Slytherin table. Now James knew how Isabelle must be feeling. Betrayed.

James hardly paid attention as the crowd of first years got smaller and smaller until one student was left.

"Weasly Rose!"

The girl with bushy brown hair and blue eyes walked forward. Anyone who had not lost interest, watched her as she sat upon the stool. The sorting hat was on her had almost longer than anyone else until it finally exclaimed,"Gryffindor!"

James clapped along with the rest of his house. At least his cousin had found her right place. If not Gryffindor, she would have been in Ravenclaw, but at least it wouldn't have been Slytherin.

"Welcome to another year of Hogwarts," McGonagall greeted, standing to her feet as the sorting hat was taken away. "I would just like to inform you that anyone wishing to sign up for your house Quidditch team should see their house's team captain. Also, Filch would like me to remind you, as always, no magic in the corridors!"

On the left side of the Great Hall, an old man nodded. Filch now had gray hair and slouched even more than he had. His new pet was Precious, a black cat with a bushy tail and piercing green eyes. McGonagall had insisted Filch retire a few years back but he insisted that the school would go to hell without his rules.

"Now, dig in!" McGongall finished and sat down once more.

In front of James, golden bowls and platters appeared with a large assortment of food.

"Finally!" Ben grinned, immediately pulling meat from bones and slopping potatoes on his plate.

James looked over his shoulder to the Slytherin table. Albus was at the end, being ignored by the other Slytherin. Obviously, no Slytherin would accept a Potter. Albus looked up and James turned back around before he made eye contact. As he slowly poured his goblet with Mead, James' eyes narrowed. Traitor.