AN: In this chapter, the students get Sorted into their houses. For the Sorting Hat Song, I used a combination of JK's lyrics from the Philosopher's Stone, and some of my own that I made up, for the beginning and end of the song. (:

"Firs' years, follow me!" Rose heard Hagrid's booming voice before she seen him. She was so familiar with him by now that he no longer frightened her. She remembered seeing pictures of him from the Second Wizarding War, when he fought with her parents, and the differences between now and then were obvious. He now had small wrinkles around his eyes, and there were streaks of grey throughout his entire head of hair. However, Hagrid still seemed to bring a smile to her face whenever she saw him.

"All the firs' years, this way!" he shouted again, until all the first year students were grouped together behind him. Albus was standing with Rose, and she grabbed his hand quickly, so they wouldn't get separated.

Hagrid led the group over to the dock, where about twenty small row boats waited for them. Rose smiled up at her cousin as he helped her into the boat, and two other students piled in with them. Rose recognized one of them immediately. It was the pale-haired boy they'd seen in the station. It was obvious from the way her father spoke that their parents knew each other, but they hadn't mentioned him much before.

"I'm Rose," she said, extending her hand to the boy. She was the first one to speak, and the first to break the ice. "Rose Weasley."

"Scorpius," he said quietly, reaching out to shake her hand, once quickly. "Malfoy." He sat back in his seat after he'd spoke. To Rose, he seemed to be one of the shiest boys she'd ever met. Turning to the other boy when he spoke, Rose smiled.

"I'm Will," he said, introducing himself. "Will Finch-Fletchley." He shook Rose's hand, and turned to Albus. "Who're you?" he asked, noticing that Albus hadn't said anything yet.

"I-I'm Albus Potter," he said. "Rose is my cousin."

"What house do you think you'll be in?" Will asked curiously. Rose could tell he didn't mean any harm from the question, but once again, Albus blanched. "Both of my parents were in Hufflepuff, so it's a no-brainer for me," he bragged.

"My parents were in Slytherin," Scorpius piped up, sounded rather embarrassed by it. Rose wondered what he was so embarrassed about. Then it hit her. Perhaps his father had said the same thing that Rose's did.

"All of our parents were in Gryffindor," Rose said, sparing Albus. "Actually, our whole family was in Gryffindor." Realizing this fact made Rose feel slightly better about the situation. She hoped it did the same for Albus.

Before another word could be said, the boat stopped at the dock, and all the first years started to hop out. The four of them all clambered out of their boat, careful not to fall in the water. Rose found herself smiling as the four of them walked together into the castle. She wasn't even /at/ the school yet, and she'd already made two friends.

They entered the castle together in silence, Hagrid leading the way. Rose looked around, amazed by the enormity of it all. Before she knew it, they stopped in front of a large door which could only lead to the Great Hall. She'd read about it, of course, and she'd heard many stories from her parents, aunts and uncles.

"Now, you jus' wait right 'ere," Rose heard Hagrid saying. On the stairs next to them, a witch appeared. She was dressed in emerald green robes, with a pointy hat – Professor McGonagall, Rose knew. She was their Headmistress, and she still looked after the Sorting Ceremony.

"In just a few moments," she spoke without moving from her place on the stairs. "You will enter the Great Hall with the rest of the students, but before you can join them, you must be Sorted into your houses. They are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Please, follow me."

With that, Professor McGonagall turned and walked to the giant double doors, opening them slowly. All of the first year students filed in after her, collecting in the front of the Great Hall, where the Sorting Hat sat on a stool, before them on the platform.

"Here I am, the Sorting Hat,
Now sit me upon your head.
Let me see inside your mind,
See where you were born and bred.
Let's find out where you belong,
which house to put you in.
You may belong to Gryffindor,
Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin.
You may belong in Gryffindor,
where dwell the brave at heart.
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
set Gryffindors apart.
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
where they are just and loyal.
Those 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 pull me on,
tight over your ears.
Have trust in me,
for I've been right
these many years."

Rose smiled to herself as she listening to the Sorting Hat's song. Listening to the way the Sorting Hat described each of the houses almost made Rose feel better about the whole situation.

"When I call your name," Professor McGonagall called out. "You will come forward, I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and then you will join your house."

Silence took over the whole Great Hall, and there was a short pause before Professor McGonagall started calling the names. "William Finch-Fletchley," she called, and Will turned to look at her with a grin on his face. When he reached the platform and hopped up on the stool, he looked straight at Rose and winked. When the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, it said, "Hmm.. Yes.. Hufflepuff!" With a broad grin, Will jumped down and raced over to the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall.

"Albus Potter," Professor McGonagall called out, and Rose could almost swear she said a tiny grin gracing the professor's lips.

"Potter… Potter…" The Sorting Hat murmured. "Yes… I remember your father. And mother, too. Looks like it'll have to be… Gryffindor!" With a huge sigh of relief, Albus jumped down from the stool, and grinned brightly at Rose when he passed, headed to the Gryffindor table with the rest of his family.

"Amelia Everbloom," Professor McGonagall called her name with unnerving clarity. A moment later, she was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Rose swallowed the lump in her throat as she realized that the crowd at the front of the room was thinning, and she, as well as Scorpius, was sorted yet.

"Rose Weasley," she heard Professor McGonagall call. Drawing in a calming breath, Rose walked slowly up to the stool and sat.

"Oh my… Another Weasley. Hmm… Yes… Well, let's see… Yes, Gryffindor!" Rose let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. There was a relieved smile on her face as she passed Scorpius within the small crowd.

Professor McGonagall called out a few more names, and Rose watched from the Gryffindor table where she sat with her family.

"Scorpius Malfoy." He was one of the few students left at the front of the room. Slowly, he made his way to the front of the room and sat on the stool.

"Oh, another Malfoy," the Hat said quietly. "Yes, hmm.. I remember your father. Slytherin through and through. That, too, seems like the obvious choice for you. But… I think… It'll have to be… Gryffindor!" the Hat shouted, and Rose's jaw dropped. She saw the look on Scorpius' face as he stepped down from the stool. All the blood drained from his face, and he looked like he was going to faint. He walked like a zombie down to the Gryffindor table, and sat on the end, by himself, without speaking to anyone.

The celebrations continued, with a short speech from Professor McGonagall. Rose enjoyed the feast, laughing and celebrating with her cousins. Her eyes kept drifting over to Scorpius, though wondering how he was doing.

When the celebrations ended, and they all headed back to their dormitories, Scorpius fell behind, and Rose began looking around for him. When she realized that he was in the back of the crowd, she lagged behind, letting Albus catch up with his brother.

"Hey," Rose said quietly, when she walked by his side. "You okay?" Her eyebrows lifted hopefully as she looked down at him. He was walking with his head down and his eyes were on his feet. He shrugged one shoulder, and Rose could tell he wasn't in the mood to talk. Rose knew exactly what Scorpius was upset about.

"It'll be alright," Rose whispered, her eyes staying focused on him. She wanted to comfort him in some way, but she didn't know him well enough for that.

"Easy for you to say," Scorpius muttered. "You got into the house you wanted." He sighed heavily, rolling his eyes.

"Hey now," Rose said softly. "No need to take it out on me." Her eyebrows puckered in the middle as they pulled together thoughtfully. "You know… Most people would be happy to be in Gryffindor. Excited, even. I'm sure your dad will be okay with it."

Scorpius simply shook his head, and Rose knew the conversation was over. There was nothing else she could say to him that would convince him otherwise – Not yet, anyway.

"Rose, are you coming?" Rose heard Albus shout out, finally realizing that she and Scorpius had seriously fallen behind.

"Be there in a minute, Al!" she shouted back before taking one last glance at Scorpius. "You're welcome to join us, you know. Maybe making some friends will make this easier." However, Scorpius didn't say anything. He just kept staring at his feet, trying his best to ignore her. Rose let out a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes. "Boys…" she muttered before picking up her pace to catch up with the rest of her cousins.

"Sorry about that," Rose said, when she finally caught up to them. "He seemed really upset." With one last look back at him, Rose let out a small sigh.

James snorted, shaking his head. "He has good reason to be," he said. "His whole family's been in Slytherin for generations. Mum's and dad's sides of the family. You've probably heard stories about them before, Rosie. They're the /Malfoys/. They were one of the most loyal pure-blood families to follow Voldemort. Being in any other house, other than Slytherin, is a disgrace to them." He shrugged, like what he had said was no big deal. "But you shouldn't worry. You made Gryffindor, after all," he added with a wink in her direction.

The rest of the conversation went in that direction. They were all excited that both Albus and Rose made Gryffindor. In just a few moments, they were already at the painting that guarded the entrance to the Common Room.

Their prefect, a boy whose name Rose hadn't caught yet, spoke the password to the Fat Lady. "Draconis lacum," and the portrait swung open, allowing them inside.

Rose's jaw dropped when they stepped inside. Everything was decorated in red and gold and the fireplace was already lit. "All of your belongings have already been brought up to your dormitories," the prefect explained. Rose smiled to herself as she turned slowly, looking around the entire room.

Once again, her eyes landed on a particular pale-haired boy, who seemed quite upset, sitting in the corner by himself. Rose knew there was no point in trying to talk to him. She decided it would be best to give him some space. Let him think things through, and then perhaps she could help him break the news to his parents.

"I suggest you all retire early this evening," the prefect spoke up again. "Classes start tomorrow morning, at eight o'clock sharp!" The entire room groaned in unison before they all started to disperse slowly, finding their dormitories and their things.