Chapter 4
A/N Sorry, my writing style is pretty literal and boring, but hopefully it's a good plot! Please review-I need constructive criticism (especially for grammar!) and suggestions! Thanks enjoy!
Rose and Scorpius exited the train together, and walked towards Hagrid's booming voice. Rose spotted Albus climbing off the train with their cousins Fred and Roxanne. She motioned for him to join them, and he practically sprinted towards them.
"Thank gods, Rose! I have been stuck with James and Fred the whole ride! The whole time they were mocking me about how I was going to be a snake! In Slytherin!" Albus wheezed. Rose rolled her eyes at her over-reacting cousin. 'How…Albus-like' she thought. She gripped her cousin's shoulders solidly, and looked him in the eyes.
"Albus, look at me! James is a right prat when he wants to be, don't listen to him! As for the house situation, I know the hat will take your opinion in consideration." Rose said firmly as she smiled quickly at Scorpius. Albus gulped, again. Rose really did scare him sometimes.
"Alright, Rose. If you say so!" Albus said unconvincingly. Rose just huffed at him and crossed her arms over her chest. They were silent for a second, and Albus turned to Scorpius, but then looked at Rose.
"Who's your friend?" He asked almost suspiciously. Rose switched her attention back to the two boys. She looked at both of them.
"Oh, Al, this is Scorpius Malfoy." Scorpius did an uncomfortable half wave while Albus just looked at him with wide eyes. "And Scorpius, this is my cousin, Albus Potter. But we usually call him Al for short. It saves him from embarrassment." Rose sniggered. Al finally recovered from the shock of meeting a Malfoy, and nodded at Scorpius civilly.
"Well, Scorpius Malfoy, I have heard a lot about your family, and it wasn't exactly pleasant stuff," Scorpius looked at him bleakly, "but I don't know anything about you. I guess I'll give you a chance, since Rose likes you." Albus said, smiling up at Rose.
"You must be alright because Rose doesn't typically play well with others." Al stage-whispered to Scorpius. Rose looked annoyed again, and muttered something that sounded like 'daft boys'. She suddenly glanced around, and realized that the majority of the first years were already in boats. She squealed, and began to drag Al and Scorpius towards the lake.
"Hurry up! Or we really will have to swim all the way to the castle!" Rose said frantically.
"Relax, Rose!" the boys muttered at her. Then they looked at each other, surprised. She sneered at them, but slowed her pace.
"I don't want to miss anything!" Rose said defensively. They arrived at the boats, and climbed in one of the few remaining. It jerked suddenly, and began to glide towards the middle of the dark lake. Rose squeaked again, and Al and Scorpius exchanged mocking looks.
"So Rosie, scared of a little water are you?" Al jeered. Rose snarled at him, and Scorpius joined in. "Yeah, Rose, what's a little moisture?" Rose glared at both of them.
"Don't even think about it, or you will regret it for the rest of your life!" Rose growled, pronouncing each word separately.
"Okay, okay Rose, just chill. It's not like we would actually throw you into the lake, especially at night!" Albus said deviously.
"You better not!" Rose grumbled. Her whole face lit up with excitement, and she pointed forward. "Look! I think that's the castle!" Albus and Scorpius looked where she was pointing, and sure enough, the castle was looming in the distance. All the lights were lit up, and it truly looked magical.
Rose stepped out of the boat first, and waited for Scorpius and Al. Al looked anxious, but Scorpius looked downright petrified. She wondered why he was so scared. He had comforted her, but why didn't he get that the sorting hat would choose the right house? Rose sighed, she even felt bad for him. She wondered if his parents expected him to be in Slytherin. He seemed very unslythernish, but what did she know? She had only just met him, but she felt like she had known him for a while. It felt like they had spent the summer together, and were old friends, or neighbors.
Rose was nervous, too. Her dad had even told her that she would be disowned if she wasn't placed in Gryffindor. Her mum had reassured her that he was joking, but Rose knew that her father would be well, disappointed. But, she thought, I still might be placed in Gryffindor! She looked at Scorpius and smiled, I have already made friends with a Malfoy, at this point, anything can happen!
The group of first years was fairly large, consisting of about forty students. Only about ten of them would make it to Gryffindor, would she make the cut? The mass of first years started to move towards two immense wooden doors. A professor dressed in navy robes stood in front of the closed doors. She began to speak in a very clear voice.
"Welcome, students, to your first year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Headmistress Everard, and I teach Arithmancy. The sorting will begin momentarily, and the feast will follow. After supper, you will follow your house prefects up to your house's common room and dorms. Again welcome, and wait for your name to be sorted."
The massive door opened, and the frightened first years toddled towards the front of what seemed to be the Great Hall. The sorting hat sat on a stool in front of the faculty table. The first name that was called was 'Bradley, Alex'. A small brown haired boy stumbled to the stool, and the hat shouted "Ravenclaw!"
Headmistress read down the list, and finally got to 'Malfoy, Scorpius'. Scorpius walked calmly towards the stool, and sat down. The hat was placed on his head, and Rose waited. She waited for exactly two minutes and forty-eight seconds until the hat screamed out "Slytherin!"
Rose clapped loudly, and smiled. She was proud of Scorpius because he looked very pleased. Rose wasn't going to lie, she was disappointed. She wouldn't be in the same house as him. She knew she wasn't cut out for Slytherin, she was very determined and clever, but she wasn't cunning or deceiving. A few names later, the headmistress called out 'Potter, Albus'.
Al staggered up to the stool, and plopped down. The sorting hat was placed on his head. His sorting took even longer than Scorpius'; it was a whopping four minutes and twenty-three seconds. It might have made history. So, four minutes and twenty-three seconds later, the hat unexpectedly bellowed "Slytherin!"
Rose gasped, Al in Slytherin? He would have some explaining to do! He walked over to the Slytherin table and sat next to Scorpius, and grinned to him shyly. Rose was exasperated, now who was she going to be friends with? The two people that she was closest to were sorted into Slytherin! Oh, this was just her luck! Rose sat anxiously for the next minutes of sorting, waiting for her turn. Eventually 'Weasley, Rose' was called. She walked quickly to the stool, and sat. The sorting hat was placed on her head.
'Another Weasley?! How many of you are there?'
'Um, Sir, I believe there will be one more, and a Potter.'
'Ah, child you have a very interesting mind. You live to be taught, but you also want to be recognized as your own, not just your parent's offspring. You are very brave, but you also are eager to learn and achieve. I had the very same dilemma concerning Hermione Granger, your mother. I believe you could be happy in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, and maybe even Slytherin'
Rose's eyes widened at this. 'Slytherin? Why?'
'You strive to be the greatest you can, but I think you will grow and bloom best and fullest in "RAVENCLAW!"
Rose was ecstatic that she had been sorted into Ravenclaw, but she couldn't ignore that feeling of dread clawing at her mind. How would this all work out? Could she make more friends? Rose looked around the Ravenclaw table, looking for a familiar face. She saw none, but then she saw another first year sitting at the end of the table alone. Rose walked over to her, and sat across from her. She stuck out her hand, and said "Hello, I'm Rose Weasley."
The other girl looked at her, and then her hand. She smiled, took out her hand, and shook Rose's. "Hi, I'm Sylvie Williams." The girls smiled at each other broadly; maybe this won't be so horrible.