The Sorting: Choices and Consequences

Albus' first impression as he entered the Great Hall was of warm golden light, flickering from hundreds of candles suspended in mid-air above the tables. Al let his gaze drift upward, smiling in wonder at the clear night sky depicted within the ceiling. He glanced sideways at Scorpius, gratified to see a similar expression of awe on his friend's face.

"Hearing about it just is not the same," Scorpius murmured. Al nodded, sending half-dried strands of hair slapping into his eyes. He ran both hands back through his black hair, grateful that he didn't need glasses like his dad did - they'd probably have ended up on the bottom of the lake.

Scorpius snorted at him. "I'd give it up as a bad job, mate," he smirked. "Seriously."

Al sent him a skeptical glance. "Look who's talking." Both of them had water squelching from their shoes and dripping from their uniforms; although Scorpius' robes were almost dry now, due to the fact that they hadn't gone into the water. A sudden loud yell from the Gryffindor table made him wince.

"Hey, shrimp! What'd you do, swim across?"

Al blushed and glared, while Scorpius looked over curiously. Two red-headed boys were grinning and waving. "Great, brother James and cousin Louis." Al stared down at the floor as the first years came to a stop at the front of the hall.

Uncle Neville - no, Professor Longbottom stepped up beside a stool with an old ragged, patched and burned hat sitting atop it. He shot a warning look at the laughing Gryffindors and they quieted. Everyone in the Hall focused on the Hat as a rip in its brim opened.

I welcome you to Hogwarts
For if you did not attend
There would be no Sorting
And so my job would end

I have many choices
Of where you may belong
In a thousand years and more
I haven't yet been wrong

If you are fast to learn
Fond of study, quick of mind
You should look to Ravenclaw
There you'll find your kin and kind

Perhaps if you are one of those
On whom all can depend
You may find in Hufflepuff
Your true and loyal friends

Yet if you are ambitious
Cunning in pursuit of goals
You belong in Slytherin
With those enterprising souls

Or do you have great courage?
Are you reckless, are you bold?
Then you will go to Gryffindor
Where they have hearts of gold

Cunning, wisdom, courage
Steadfast friends so true
You are here at Hogwarts so
I'll find a place for you!

The Hall filled with applause as the Hat completed its song and bowed. Professor Longbottom held up a long roll of parchment. "Alright, when I call your name, come up and sit on the Hat, and I'll place the Sorting Stool on your head." The older students laughed, even the nervous first years were giggling, and the professor grinned. "Okay, okay. Sit on the Stool and I'll put the Hat on your head. Gosh, you young people are so demanding." He sobered up.

"Ambrose, Pearl!"

A tall girl with auburn red hair darted forward eagerly. The Hat was only on her head for a few moments before it yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Cheers and applause rang out from the Gryffindor table as Pearl hurried over to take a seat. Scorpius nudged Al and whispered, "She'll fit in perfectly over there - I've never seen so many red-heads in one place."

Al grinned sheepishly as "Bragg, Horatio!" became a Hufflepuff. "I have. Most of them are my family."

"Cobb, Phineas!" was a tall blond boy who Al recognised as the second boy from the capsized boat. He was sent to Ravenclaw, quickly followed by "Cochran, Samantha!"

"De Lyons, Kaiserin!"

Scorpius snorted softly. "Oh, look, another red-head. I thought they were supposed to be rare."

Al watched as a small girl with curly deep red hair made her way confidently up to the front. As she sat down, her blue-green eyes fell upon him and she smiled just as the Hat came down to hide her face. Without thinking, Al said absently, "I'm going to marry her."

Scorpius' eyes widened. "What, right now?"

Al went white as he realized what he'd just said. "If, no, I -" he stammered. "If you ever tell anyone -"

The blond boy laughed. "Your secret's safe with me," he said with a delighted grin as the girl became the first new Slytherin.

The colour slowly returned to Al's face as "Dunlap" , "Evans" and "Fisher" went through. Scorpius was still chuckling when "Galloway, Sawyer!" was called. He was a pale skinny boy with gangly arms and legs, and a shock of wild black hair. (Al felt that his own hair was quite tame in comparison.) The Hat thought only briefly before announcing "SLYTHERIN!"

Then came "Gray", "Greenwood" and "Higgs" before "Hunter, Mitexi!" hurried forward, with a grin and a wink aimed at the two boys. She perched on the stool, her incredibly blue eyes darting back and forth with excitement.

"What's taking so long?" Scorpius muttered after several minutes had passed without a sound from the Hat. "Doesn't it know where to put her?"

Al shrugged. "According to my dad, some people take longer than others. I think she's maybe a Gryffindor?"

Scorpius grinned cheekily. "Home of the red-heads! Except for your fiance, of course."

Al jabbed him hard in the ribs. "Shut it, Malfoy," he growled.

His friend's response was cut off by the Sorting Hat finally coming to a decision. "SLYTHERIN!"

Al raised his eyebrows as Mitexi took a seat at the Slytherin table next to the girl with the blue-green eyes.

"Knight, Jessica!" also became a Slytherin. Then "Longbottom, Alyssa!" was called, Professor Longbottom offering her a special smile. Al joined in the applause when she became a Hufflepuff, leaning over to murmur to Scorpius, "Her mother was a Hufflepuff, she'll be very proud. Lyssa's got an older brother, Frank; he's in Gryffindor."

The next name called was "Malfoy, Scorpius!" Whispers and murmurs swept across the room and Scorpius stiffened.

Al gripped his friend's elbow. "Remember - you have a choice. And it doesn't matter where you go - it's how you go there."

Scorpius smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Al," he whispered as he squared his shoulders and started forward. Al watched him closely, feeling a little vulnerable without his friend beside him. He saw that Scorpius was biting his lip nervously, and around him the whispers continued.

The minutes ticked by slowly and the students began fidgeting impatiently. Al remained still, eyes fixed on Scorpius, who had his eyes closed tightly. Then he heard another first year say clearly, "Maybe the Hat's just waiting for us to take a hint and kick the Death Eater out," and he snapped his head around to stare at Rose in utter disbelief. Professor Longbottom was giving her a stern look, but as Al turned back to look at his friend, he saw that Scorpius' grey eyes were fixed upon Rose, and he knew that he'd heard. A moment later, the Hat cried "SLYTHERIN!"

Apart from at the staff table, there was very little applause this time, even at the Slytherin table. Instead, the whispers became louder, and most of the Slytherins just stared at Scorpius with hostility as he made his way over.

Then he heard a voice call out, "Yeah, Scorpius!" Mitexi was on her feet, clapping and cheering. Al couldn't help smiling as she waved Scorpius into the seat next to her. Most of the staff were smiling at this display as Professor Longbottom continued the Sorting.

"Mason, Rebecca!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Nott, Zachary!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Pendra, Bethany!"

Al felt a jolt of fear as an anxious girl with fine light brown hair was Sorted into Hufflepuff. They'd reached the P's already. It would be his turn soon.

"Potter, Albus!"

Again, whispers swept through the Hall. Al felt every murmur, every voice, surrounding him. He made his way slowly forward, trying not the shake.

"Is that really- ?"

"Yeah, that's Harry Potter's youngest son-"

"James' little brother-"

"-he looks just like his father."

Al reached the stool and Professor Longbottom smiled at him reassuringly. As he turned to sit down, he caught sight of the Hall and blanched, the blood flooding away from his face so fast that the edges of his vision began to close in. Faces... so many faces... so many pairs of eyes all focused on him... just him... He sat quickly on the stool as his knees threatened to buckle, and the Sorting Hat was lowered, hiding him from view.

Well, another Potter, a voice hummed inside his head. Oh, yes, definitely your father's son; your brother is such a Weasley, there was never any doubt about where to put him. But you you will be difficult to place. Oh yes, just like your father...

Al was quivering, still picturing all those eyes staring at him waiting for him.

Oh, that's something you'll have to get used to, I'm afraid, the Hat informed him. As your father's son, the attention is quite unavoidable.

Al swallowed heavily. I don't want to be stared at; I don't like people seeing me. His tremors worsened and he twisted his hands together in his lap.

Well, although the courage is certainly there, Gryffindor is not really the place for those who wish to remain out of the limelight.

Al blinked. I have courage? Where?

The Hat laughed. Oh, hidden deep. You'll only find it when you really have need of it. Ravenclaw might be good for you, bring out the talent and the brains, hmm, maybe, maybe...

But Al thought of Scorpius... and of being in a House without his friend...

Ah friendship and loyalty; and judging by the way you stood up for young Malfoy, you have an innate sense of fairness as well... yes, yes, very Hufflepuff of you...

But Scorpius was in Slytherin... and Al was afraid of Slytherin

Oh, so was your father... yes, Harry Potter almost begged me not to put him in Slytherin... he'd made his choice... But tell me, young Albus... why are you so frightened?

Al bit his lip in thought. Yes, why? Slytherin's reputation was dark and grim - but... it was a Hogwarts House like the others... He feared what it said about him as a person... what sort of person was represented by a snake? Then his own words to Scorpius came back to him. It doesn't matter where you go; it's how you go there.

The thought suddenly struck him. No one should have to be afraid of going into any of these Houses. It should be seen as a self-discovery, not a trial.

Precisely, precisely! the Hat murmured excitedly. Yes, put it together, young Potter, put it together...

Al held his breath for a long moment... the Hat seemed to be leaving this decision up to him... he thought of what his family might think and say... his father's words... It doesn't matter to us. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose...

It matters, Dad, he thought, it matters.

He let out his breath slowly. I want to make it so being a Slytherin is something to be proud of for anybody, not something to be feared... I want to redeem the name of the House...

Oh, bravo, the Hat told him. Oh, yes, very ambitious that hope is, you ll definitely fit in with...

"SLYTHERIN!"

Al heard the word bellowed and the Hall fell into complete silence. After a moment, the Hat was lifted from his head and a torrent of noise fell upon his ears. He resisted the urge to screw up his eyes to block out all the faces and to clap his hands over his ears to block out the voices. As he slid off the stool and headed for the Slytherin table, he saw that the Weasleys at the Gryffindor table had risen to their feet as one and were shouting angrily - even Head Girl Victoire. But it was the voice of the lone Potter in their midst that rang out loud and clear.

"Sort him again!" James Potter cried out. "The Hat's wrong, Sort him again!"

Professor Longbottom frowned severely. "Sit down, the lot of you! Now!" he insisted as the Weasleys continued to yell. "Or I shall start docking points, handing out detentions and suspending you all from Quidditch! That includes you, James Potter!" They slowly subsided, still muttering rebelliously under their breaths.

Al was shaking again, as all around him, voices were raised in speculation and debate. He raised his head only enough to lock his gaze onto Scorpius and hurry to slide into the space beside him. His breath was coming in short gasps.

The Slytherin table, in contrast to the others, was almost silent, only the barest whispers disturbing their shock. Al just clenched his fists in his robes and stared unseeingly at the gold plate in front of him, now gulping for air.

After waiting a moment for the furor to die down to an acceptable level, Professor Longbottom continued. "Smith, Nathaniel!"

Al felt a hand rubbing his back soothingly and he glanced sideways at Scorpius, who had a slightly dumbfounded look on his face. "Mate," the blonde boy murmured softly. "Mate, what are you doing here? I- I thought for sure that you were a Gryffindor. I -"

Al just shook his head, unable to speak, unable to think, barely even able to breathe. He felt another small warm hand join the one already rubbing his back. "Easy, Albus," Mitexi said gently from his other side. "You're okay. Just breathe. Don't worry about anything but that. Breathe. Breathe. Out as well as in, Al. Breathe."

Al gained control of his breathing while "Thomas, Michelle!" , "Turner, Christopher" and "Ward, Felix!" all went to Ravenclaw amid distracted applause, and was able to raise his eyes and fix them on the Hat as the next name was called.

"Weasley, Qi Yang!"

Rose had started forward, only to stop in bewilderment at the unfamiliar first name. The small Chinese girl made her way forward amidst renewed calls from the Gryffindor table.

"Who's she?"

"She's no Weasley - where s the red hair?"

"Who do you think you are?"

Al managed a wobbly smile. For once, he knew something before the rest of his family did. Scorpius and Mitexi shifted their hands to rest on his shoulders as the Hat cried "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The professor had to threaten the Gryffindors with detention again before they would settle down enough for the Sorting to continue. Qi Yang settled next to Alyssa at the Hufflepuff table, waving to the Slytherin trio as she went, seemingly unperturbed by the turmoil.

"Weasley, Rose!" was next, and as his cousin took her seat, Al met her brown eyes, only to see them harden, and her mouth pursed into a disapproving line. Within a moment, the Hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" and she was off to join the rest of the family.

"Wiseman" , "Wood" and "Young" followed her there, but the last first year, "Zabini, Isabelle!" became a Slytherin. As she sat further up the table and the Headmaster stood for his speech, Scorpius leaned closer to Al. "Why are you here?" he whispered urgently.

Al glanced over to where the rest of his family sat in angry bewilderment, then back to Scorpius.

"I made a choice."