Albus Potter slowly moved up on the stage, trying to relax a little. He felt as if he would vomit. He didn't want to look up. He knew every eye in the room was looking intently at him. How did James do this? He dropped on the stool and sat, in front of the the whole school, with his eyes firmly shut. Professor Fera dropped the hat over his head. For a moment, all was silent, until -
"Hello Albus Potter. You remind me very much of your father. Brave, perhaps a little more talented. You have much more of an understanding of how I work, but where do I put you? You don't seem to be sure yourself. Hmm, I've always had trouble with the Potters. So much of everything... However, I feel we may need to break to tradition a little here. Hmm...
'Ambition and bravery, just like your brother, you know. He practically begged to become a Gryffindor. You are much more... calm. Well, perhaps a little nervous. Hmm... Yes. That should do it."
Albus sucked in air as the voice boomed out to the rest of the hall.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The hall filled with gasps. Albus didn't want to get up. He never wanted to move again. The fear was pulsing through his body and he could think of nothing else. But he had to move. Too soon, the Sorting Hat was being pulled off his head, and he was faced with the whole school staring at him. He couldn't bring himself to look over at the Gryffindor table, where he knew James would be sat in disbelief. The first Potter to become a Slytherin. Albus couldn't help the tingle of excitement in the pit of his stomach and he moved across the hall and sat by Scorpius. Scorpius gave him a reassuring smile.
Rose was sorted into Gryffindor, and she literally started jumping up and down on her seat when the Sorting Hat announced it, but there was still a strange feeling in the air. How could a Potter be sorted into Slytherin? The last person, Valdire, Jenny, was sorted into Ravenclaw and the school erupted into one last final applause before relaxing once more. Then, Professor Primicerius stood up. He slowly moved and stood in front of the staff table, his red robes billowing out behind him.
"Well, well, well." He said, smiling down at everyone. "Now our new students are settled and sorted, it is time to lay down a base for them. As our other students know, no one is allowed into the forest at any time unless instructed otherwise by a member of staff. We also advise you not to leave your dormitories after midnight.
'Now, however, it is time for our feast. I hope you all enjoy your first day at Hogwarts, and... Well, as said by many headteachers before me: Let the feast begin!"
He clapped his hands and food materialized from nowhere. Dozens and dozens of everything you could imagine. Albus stared for a moment, then tucked in, Scorpius following suit. Their plates were ladled with food within seconds, and Albus looked up to see the headmaster toast with professor Fera.
He shook hands with a few of his fellow housemates, smiling and joking with them. Albus didn't understand fully what people hated about them. OK, maybe Lord Voldemort came from that house, and maybe that's where most of his followers came from, but they were each their own person, and they don't account to the other members of their house.
Albus was just starting dessert when the ghosts. The Bloody Baron swooped over their table and even took the time to learn some peoples names before sweeping off through the ceiling, wailing loudly. The other ghosts seemed to stick around however, chatting to people and flying around. Nearly Headless Nick was showing off his number one party trick. Albus caught Rose's eye and smiled. She smiled and waved back. Scorpius waved at her too. It felt strange not sitting next to Rose like Albus thought he always would, but he was happy he had Scorpius with him.
The ceiling which mirrored the night sky was twinkling lazily when Professor Primicerius stood up once more. The food disappeared and he stood and he laughed cheerily.
"Wasn't that excellent? But now, it is midnight, and you start your lessons soon, so off to bed! First years will be led out by prefects. Good night!"
The room filled with the noise of stools and chairs being scraped back as people got up, and chatter filled the hall as people filed out. Albus and Scorpius stuck with the first years, most of whom seeming to be headed toward a tall student with pointy cheekbones. He had a badge on, so Albus figured he must be a prefect. They all huddled around him and he didn't even smile as he surveyed them all.
"This way" he said, and he strode out of the hall, Albus and the other first years almost running as they tried to keep up with him. He led them down a small door into the dungeons. They were cold, and Albus could feel goose bumps form on his skinny arms. Albus tried to memorise the route as best he could. Right, then left, then right again and forward, past the statue of an old headmaster, then left once more.
"The password" the prefect said, his green eyes glinting in the dark light of the dungeon. "is honour." he said, and just like that, the wall he stood in front magically opened as if it were a door, he flounced in and the first years followed. There was a dark, semi-lit passage before finally it opened up into a large room, which seemed to be green in colour. Albus guessed that they must be under the dark lake.
The room was large and made up of several leather chairs and a roaring fire. The walls were crammed with shelves containing books, row upon row of them. There were a series of coffee tables around the room with plush leather armchairs accompanying them. The lanterns were placed haphazardly on the shelves. A large black and green rug covered the stone floor. The first years gathered around the prefect once more.
"This is our dormitory. No one enters this room apart from us. I make sure of that." he pulled at his robes, and Albus smirked. The prefect, not noticing continued.
"If you would follow me, I'll show you where your common rooms are."
The group walked around a corner where two doors lay, one to the left and one to the right. The were made of some sort of oak, and on each of them a serpent was carefully etched on in silver ink. There was no mistaking this as the Slytherin dormitory.
"Boys to the left, girls to the right. I suggest you sleep now. You can explore more tomorrow before lessons start."