CHAPTER 2: The Sorting Hat
Albus Severus Potter had something in his mind. He had not decided yet, but it'd been bothering him ever since the last question his mysterious new friend asked.
Loneliness never appeared in Albus' living book. How could he – with a brother like James and his antics about living the Marauder legacy wholeheartedly each and every day. Or with a beautiful baby sister like Lily who never liked to play alone – therefore whenever Teddy was not around or James was busy with Freddy and Louis, Lily would glue to him shooting her big doe-eyed to Albus – and next he would find himself with a tiara on his head or wings on his back. Not yet to mention his parents – his incredible, exceptional and famous parents – Harry and Ginny Potter, or his extended family the Weasley. Who didn't know all of them? They were all practically the heroes of the second wizarding war, even his Aunt Audrey was the war healer at that time. So yeah, Albus never felt lonely in his eleven years of life. Therefore, imagining Scorpius' life so far in his giant house, without any friends to share made Albus' heart sad.
Albus didn't like being alone, nor was he liked James who took every new adventure before him without consideration. Because of this, he resented James' taunts about Slytherin very much. Picturing himself alone in the dungeon under the water without even Rose by his side, gave him chills. But it was before, right? It was different now because of the white blond boy beside him in this small boat.
Rose's muffled sigh behind brought him back from his long thoughts. "Albus, look! It's much more remarkable than a book."
Albus laughed lightly hearing his cousin's adoration. Rose was a person who always compared everything to books or Aunt Hermione's words. There were only the three of them on that boat, yet he could still hear all the sigh of admiration from first years on other boats in the middle of this great lake when Hogwarts emerged before them. He turned his face to see Scorpius' reaction. His friend was expressionless – no, more precisely he was thoughtful and a little nervous might be. Aware of the attention, Scorpius returned the gaze. His crooked smile appeared, he raised an eyebrow.
Albus grinned, "Nervous?"
Reluctant for a moment, but he nodded eventually.
"Mind if I ask about what?"
Scorpius smirked and the answer came like a question, "the Sorting…?"
Albus chuckled, "Considering Gryffindor?"
Now, it made him chortle, "Oh, you wish."
The boats reached the underground harbor – they must be right underneath the castle. Hagrid clambered out first and helped the other first years.
"All right there, Al, Rose?" The half-giant asked when he helped the three of them out of their boat.
"Great, Hagrid! Thanks." Albus could see his wide smile under his thick beard.
"I required a visit from both ye, yea?"
"Oh, we will, promise!" Rose beamed.
"Right," Hagrid smiled satisfied. "Firs' years follow me!"
Albus was standing now in the middle of the great hall. His godfather, Professor Longbottom, was carrying an old hat for the sorting ceremony. He had heard about Hogwarts from his parents and grandparents, his uncles and aunts, even his brothers and cousins gave their respective stories about this castle. But it still amazed him.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." His cousin's whispered to Scorpius when they entered the hall. 'Rose and her books', Albus thought smiling. But suddenly it reminded him of the questionable decision that still had been nagging in the corner of his mind. The solution would surely affect Rose.
Albus now was looking around. To its far right stood a black and yellow decoration with the badger serving as their animal mascot – the Hufflepuff – house of his first brother Teddy Lupin. He knew Teddy his whole life – practically he was like the first born in his family. He would support whatever decision Albus had in life. Teddy always said that Albus' self-preservation trait made him a reliable person.
The second table on his right was the Gryffindor. The gold and scarlet of the lion's pride adorned that table. He could see his brother with his cousin Fred was talking to each other ecstatically. Molly and Dominique sat not far from the both of them gazing back toward him – smiling proudly. James suddenly caught Albus' gaze – pointing two thumbs up at him, a joyful smile in his face. That was James – how many times his brother could annoy him, they both loved each other unquestionably. This decision would affect him the hardest.
On his left side, there were blue and bronze of the proud eagle – Ravenclaw. He could easily spot the shining blonde hair of his two gorgeous veela cousins. Victoire smiled brightly at him while Louis winked gracefully toward him. Somehow they both could feel his anxiety, so they'd do what they thought that could lighten him up. That was his family. Albus was born lucky with a family that would always support and backed him up.
His eyes went to the far left. The silver and green that represented the serpent with its sly nod filled his gaze – The Slytherin. Except Grandma Andromeda, none of his family was there. How ironic, Albus thought – a smirk graced in his face. Here he was considering while yesterday he'd been frantic with all of James' taunts.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted.
The first wizard had been sorted, bringing back Albus' attention to the front. His heart went its somersault. It'd already started – not for long now that'd be his turn. It's like time itself was mocking him by being so fast.
Suddenly he heard for the umpteenth time, his godfather's voice shouted, "Malfoy, Scorpius."
Scorpius couldn't look paler than he was right now. He clutched and loosened his fingers several times before stepping forward and sat.
Albus thought that he heard several whispers around the hall, but he couldn't care more. He looked only to his friend at the stool – the hat covering his face. What did Albus want? What was his expectation? Whatever it was, when his mind's still running…
"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat.
When Neville removed the hat from his head, Scorpius lifted his pointed chin arrogantly. His gaze met Albus – in a lingering manner, before he took off swaggering to the far left table, never looking back.
Unresistingly, Albus chuckled lightly looking down. The decision had been made.
"What is it?" Rose whispered beside him. His cousin's eyes widened. She was worried beyond words.
Albus looked straight at her blue eyes – lingering like what Scorpius did before. He held her hand and whispered back, "I'm sorry, Rose."
She gave him a perplexed look, "W-wha…"
"Potter, Albus."
He let her hand go and stepped forward – feeling very sure this time. If previously there had been whispers in sorting Scorpius, now the hall was silent. The last thing Albus saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was an uneasy Rose. He smiled reassuringly at her, next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited.
"Hmm," a small voice said in his ear. "So, I see you've been struggling, young Potter. You've already decided, huh?" A glint of humor colored the small voice. "Let's see if you're worthy, then. Yeah, you are different from your brother, more level-headed and sensible, a good self-preservation – and ah, a determination of your desire here. How interesting your mind is. Well, I wish you luck for your new friendship there, Mr. Potter – better be…
"SLYTHERIN!"
"What!" he'd know Fred's voice anywhere. And suddenly everyone's talking, denying, asking – wondering.
Albus' heart rushed. He did it. Before Neville took off the hat, carefully he kept his face expressionless. The first one he saw was Rose. She looked thoughtful – her eyes narrowed a little and her mouth pursed. Then, he turned to his brother. James was open-mouthed. His eyes met Neville pleadingly as asking him to repeat the sorting. Fred face's red. However, suddenly someone burst into laughter. He turned to see Louis was holding his belly laughing his head off. If he didn't remember to stay apathetic he would surely join him. He heard Neville clear his throat. Albus looked up to see his godfather's face. The wizard was tilting his head, staring and weighing Albus' feelings. However, that was his clue to move.
He calmly walked to the green and silver table when his eyes met his friend – well, best friend he hoped soon. To say that Scorpius was frantic was understatement. As if he could, he'd run to reach Albus right away. When Albus finally sat next to him, the sorting continued.
"What happened? What did the hat say?" he whispered hastily.
For the first time after the sorting, Albus grinned, "Nothing. He just put me here."
"Cut it out, Potter. You told me on the train that it's all about your choice."
Albus couldn't take it anymore – he laughed, "Yeah absolutely!"
Scorpius gaped, "Are you… are you saying that you chose to be a Slytherin? Willingly?"
"Well, one of us has to." Albus smiled gazing seriously at his friend. "And I guess you've tried to get into the Lion's den, but not working," he couldn't help but smirked, "so here I am."
Scorpius blushed and looked embarrassed, "…With hesitation. That hat was messing with my head. And, I've never been bold."
"I'm making my way to the snake's pit, Scor. Jeez, I am a snake now," Albus chuckled, "You can't abandon me, deal?"
"Y-yeah, pleasure, mate."
"I just hope my dear brother isn't too angry with me, or at least not too long." Albus turned his head around to look at James. His brother was only staring at the table now – uncaring for everything around him.
"Thanks, Al!" Scorpius murmured. "You're a good friend."
Albus gave him a sincere smile when they heard, "Weasley, Rose."
"Merlin, I forgot about Rose." Scorpius choked, while Albus said, "Ah, and there is Rose too."
"Do you think she will come here too?" Scorpius asked hopefully.
"Nah, Rose is too hot-headed for Slytherin. She will be in Gryffin…"
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted.
"What the… !" Whatever word Fred wanted to say was lost thanks to Dominique's non-verbal jinx.
"Hah! Well, at least she chose intelligence and wisdom," Scorpius said solemnly.
Albus was speechless though. He locked eyes with his cousin who smiled widely after the hat was removed. And that smile on her face made… laughter. From his veela cousin. Louis was howling with laughs. Again.
Rose proudly walked up to the Ravenclaw table, receiving Victoire's hug, then sitting close to Albus and Scorpius' seat on the Slytherin side. Louis came to her, kissed her on the cheek, and shuffled her hair briefly.
After Louis turned back, she smiled brightly to both Albus and Scorpius. "Now, you are not the only one who can surprise us all, Albus Severus Potter."
And with that the three of them laughed happily together while the various kinds of foods appeared at the four tables. Anything could be discussed later, now they were too starving to ignore all the delicious meals in front of their eyes.