A/N - Thanks to techiwiz, SiriusBlackLivesOn and Olympia for reviews

Disclaimer - I own nothing

The great door opened and Hagrid marched the students through the corridors to the great hall. Everyone was spell bound by the beauty and magnitude of the place. Thousands of candles were floating in mid air over the table. The ceiling was giving the look of sky and it was as though it does not exist. Students were looking everywhere in awe when a professor came up to them.

"Good evening First years, I'm Professor Longbottom. I hope your journey was fine. We'll be beginning with the sorting soon and I want you to form a line for the sorting. Now as many of who already know that Hogwarts has 4 houses named after its founders Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The sorting ceremony will begin shortly."

As the professor went away, Albus looked around once again to see students nervously making a line. He was feeling a bit relived after seeing Professor Longbottom. And he has every reason to feel relaxed, he has often met him when Neville has visited them at their home. He, Rose and Tim were standing together. In front of them a few places ahead Scorpius Malfoy was standing and Ryan was almost at the end of line. He could see a shabby old hat on the top of a four-legged stool and Professor Longbottom was standing near the hat holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will come forward, put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," he said. "Carter, Kate."

A skinny girl with short hair moved forward, put on the hat and sat down. After some moments the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW."

Ravenclaw table errupted in cheers. The sorting has begun. Students would move forward, put the head on and get sorted. Louis Vincent was Hufflepuff, so was Leo Boxter and Emma Kent. Austin Bradley was sent to Ravenclaw and Bruce Bronson became the first Gryffindor.

"Malfoy, Scorpius."

Hat took only a moment to declare "SLYTHERIN."

Next was "Longbottom, Milia"

Professor Longbottom himself seemed a little nervous to know the outcome. Sorting hat took some time and finally declared "Slytherin" for the lovely looking girl with dark hairs and a confident face. Though the look on Professor Longbottom clearly suggested that he was not happy as Milia herslef, who went to Slytherin table with a big grin on her face.

"Parker, Tim" was sent to Gryffindor and so was "Weasley, Rose."

Finally hat shouted "Potter, Albus" and it seemed that the Great hall had became very quiet. Albus moved confidently, put on the hat and sat down with only one thought in mind Gryffindor. After some time hat shouted, "Gryffindor."

Albus moved to the Gryffindor table quite happily and joined Rose and Tim. James looked at him and grinned. He smiled back at him and looked around for Ryan and saw him standing at the last. Soon the line was over and Professor Longbottom shouted, "Slade, Ryan."

Albus looked as he moved forward with calculated steps, put on the hat and sat down. Everyone started looking but hat remain quiet for some tme and finally when it seems that Professor Longbottom is going to interrupt, hat shouted,

"SLYTHERIN."

Albus was somewhat disturbed by this announcement. He didn't know why but he has felt a sort of affinity towards Ryan and now he was going to be a Slytherin. But Ryan had the same indifferent expression on his face when he put the hat back on stool and started walking towards the Slytherin, no, Gryffindor table. He walked straight towards Albus and asked in a matter of fact tone, "Can I sit here?"

It took only a moment for rest of the Gryffindors to overcome the shock and the Gryffindor table erupted in shouts, "Hey, this is not Slytherin, go away." , "Have you lost your mind, Slytherin", and many more shouts like this followed. Many were laughing clearly thinking that the boy has lost his head. Rose was looking at him in disbelief. Even the Slytherin table was throwing daggers at Ryan and there was a huge commotion at the Ravenclaw and the Hufflepuff tables as well.

"Silence," Voice of Headmistress McGonagall carried through the hall and at once everything went quiet. She was looking at Slade and Albus couldn't figure out what her expressions was.

"A great wizard once said that it's our choices that really shows what we are. I have chosen Gryffindor because of two reasons. One I'm not a pure blood and second because I'm sure my guardian would want me to be in Gryffindor" He was looking at McGonagall in a strange way when he said those words.

Albus was constantly watching Professor McGonagall and for a fraction he thought he saw a motherly expression on her face and then it was gone. Finally she said

"Very well then, you can be a Gryffindor."

There was a wave of protest from Slytherin and Gryffindor tables. Even the teachers were looking at McGonagall with doubt but she just raised her hands once again and everybody was silent.

"I think we should better start with the feast and then the Prefects can take first years to their house. Some basic rules are to be obeyed by first year which will be that the forest on the ground is forbidden to enter and no magic is to be used in corridors. There are some floors in the castle where they are not supposed to venture. You will not venture in night alone and without any reason. Now let the feast begin."

Through out the feast there were murmers on all the 4 tables. Slytherin were seething with anger and the loathing looks they were giving to Ryan was clear indication that his preference of Gryffindor over Slytherin didn't went good with them. The Houses enemity was not that hard as it used to be at the times of Voldemort. With the efforts of Harry and others it was known to everybody what a heroic rule was played by Snape in the battle and how Peter, even though he was a Gryffindor, was a traitor. The sterotyoe of Slytherin being bad was brought down considerably over these years. Though for House Cup and Quidditch matches Gryffindor and Slytherin were still mortal enemies. Students at Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were also discussing this matter animatedly. Gryffindors were shocked to see a potential Slytherin sitting at their table.

Ryan however was concentrating on his dinner. Rose was clearly appalled and James was looking at him with great interest and distrust. He gave a look to Albus which was clearly conveying that he want him to stay away from the Slytherin boy. Albus shrugged his shoulders, looked at Ryan and said , "Welcome to Gryffindor."

Ryan looked at him, nodded and resumed eating.

After the feast Prefect took their respective house years with them. As no one in Gryffindor house was willing to walk with Ryan he walked at the back.

"My dear Minerva, how can you let that boy go to Gryffindor on his own will when the hat sorted him in Slytherin?," Demanded Professor Horace Slughorn, head of Slytherin house, once the hall was empty.

"Horace, Slytherins would have never accepted him after he has clearly shown where his loyalty lies and especially after knowing that he is not pure blood," Replied McGonagall and left the Great hall with 1 thought in her mind, " You were right Slade, I'm very happy that you chose Gryffindor."