2. The Sorting
Albus and Scorpius stuffed themselves with pumpkin pasties, chocolate frogs and licorice wands as they headed closer and closer to Hogwarts (neither liked Bertie Botts Beans much).
"You went to the Quidditch World Cup right?" Scorpius inquired as the light started fade outside, and they knew they must be getting close.
"It was awesome!" Albus reminisced, recalling the exciting event. Though he had almost fallen out of the box, it was still one of the most wonderful memories of his life. "Did you support Brazil or Bulgaria?"
"Brazil," Scorpius replied promptly. "I love Diaz, he's my favorite chaser!"
"I love Flores!" Albus exclaimed. "Wasn't it amazing when they did that Hawk's Head Formation?"
The two got carried away in quidditch talk until Scorpius, wondering about the current house teams at Hogwarts, sent Albus into another spiral of nerves.
"What's up?" Scorpius asked as Albus abruptly fell silent.
"Well," Albus swallow. "I just, I'm just not very good at flying, to be honest. My brother James let me have a go on his broom a couple of times, but I can barely get if off the ground."
Scorpius shrugged. "My dad got me a Nimbus 2017, I couldn't bring it this year though. It's supposed to be a superb broom, but every time I take it out, it just dodges around. I fell from twenty feet last time."
"Really?" Albus asked in disbelief. It made his feel far better to know he wasn't the only one who sucked at flying.
"I'm probably not going to be the quidditch hero of Slytherin or anything," Scorpius concluded. "But my dad, he'd love me to play. To be honest, I'm happy first years aren't allowed on the team. I don't have to disappoint him until next year."
"My dad got on the team in his first year," Albus said, sighing. "I guess I'll be disappointing him this year."
Scorpius smiled in sympathy and then both boys stared around at a sudden change in locomotion. The train had started to slow down.
"We're here," Albus said, feeling sick and excited all at the same time.
"Let's go!" Scorpius said giddily.
The two joined the cue of students exiting the train and finally made the platform. A massive figure could be seen in the haze of steam from the engine calling, "first years over here! First years this way!"
"That's Hagrid," Albus informed Scorpius. "He's the Care of Magical Creatures teacher."
"Whoa!" Scorpius exclaimed as Hagrid emerged from the steam and his height was revealed.
"Alright Albus?" Hagrid said kindly, bending down so as to shake hands. "And Rosie, good to see you too!"
He didn't seem to notice Scorpius and time was too brief to make the introduction, so the group of first years merely followed Hagrid to the shore of the lake, where boats were waiting for them.
Albus and Scorpius climbed in one, followed by Rose.
"Where did you get to?" his flaming red-haired cousin asked, beaming at Albus now they had reunited. "I found a compartment with Lorcan and Lysander! Just ran into them by accident while I was looking for you. I thought you would find us though."
"Well, I was looking for you, but I must have gone the wrong way and I ended up at the back actually," Albus explained, feeling suddenly nervous. "I was sitting with Scorpius."
"Oh hi, I'm Rose nice to meet-" but Rose stopped abruptly upon recognizing Scorpius for who he was.
She stared from Albus to Scorpius as their boat set off across the lake, as though unable to believe what she was seeing.
"Nice to meet you," Scorpius mumbled, though these words, far from making the scene less awkward, only served to create an even weirder atmosphere.
"Wow!" Albus said suddenly, pointing. Hogwarts had appeared suddenly before them, a magnificent castle aglow with light. Rose apparently forgot the conundrum before her as she gazed up at the towers and turrets.
"I can't believe it! We're really here Al, we're really here!"
Albus was speechless. Scorpius looked dumbfounded. "It's the most incredible thing I've ever seen!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah," Rose agreed before she remembered who she was talking to and remained silently staring upwards for the remainder of their float.
The moment they exited their boats, Rose grabbed Albus's arm. "Excuse us," she said gruffly to Scorpius and marched him away.
"What are you doing with him?" she hissed, the moment they were out of earshot of the others.
"Relax Rose, he's really nice actually. Not at all like I thought a Slytherin would be."
"Al, have you lost your mind? My dad told me never to trust a Malfoy! He's a muggle hater! And the son of a Deatheater!"
"He's not like that at all!" Albus defended, although his stomach had lurched sideways the moment she had reminded him of these details.
"He's probably trying to soften you up so he can hex you!" Rose insisted.
"But we only got our wands two weeks ago," Albus reminded her. "How's he gonna hex me?"
Rose shook her head. "He's bad news Al!"
Albus shrugged and walked away from her, back to Scorpius, who was looking cagey and awkward, as though he knew exactly what they had just been talking about.
"Let's go," he said to the other boy, before Rose could catch up.
Scorpius glanced at him and then at Rose. Neither of them knew what to say, but Albus wasn't worried. He wasn't going to let Rose, or his Uncle Ron or even his father color his first day at Hogwarts. Today was his day!
They filed up to the great hall with Hagrid and were deposited in front of Professor Midgely, the Transfiguration teacher.
"Now gather round," Professor Midgely, a short willowy man instructed them. "You are about to be sorted into your houses. I will read off your name from this parchment, you will walk to the front of the hall and the Sorting Hat will be placed on your head. When it calls out the name of your house, you will go to sit at that table. The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Good luck!"
They formed a jittery line. Albus was behind Scorpius, and Rose was behind him. They marched through the doors. Everyone ceased their conversations as the group came to the front. Albus was struck by how much taller all of the other students seemed to be. He glanced at the staff table and saw Headmaster McGonagall, Professor Longbottom and Hagrid amongst others he didn't know.
The hat sang its song, as James had told him it would and then fell silent.
Professor Midgely unrolled his parchment and called, "Akram, Stephan."
A short weedy boy made his trembling way to the stool. The hat was placed on his head and there was a moment of silence.
"Ravenclaw!"
That table exploded with cheers. Stephan Akram hobbled over.
The next person was called and the next. Albus felt light headed. Then he was panicky. Then he wanted to throw up.
"Malfoy, Scorpius."
Albus had just enough time to whisper, "good luck," before Scorpius headed up to the stool. The hat was on his head for only a mere second before it called, "Slytherin!"
Well, Albus supposed he could probably still be friends with Scorpius when they had classes together and at meals, even if they weren't in the same house. Scorpius removed the hat, handed it back and gave a shrug in Albus's direction. He had known it sure enough. Albus was starting to shake now. He knew it wouldn't be long.
"Norman, Denise."
"Hufflepuff!"
"Peterson, Alejandra."
"Gryffindor!"
"Potter, Albus."
Albus tripped slightly as his feet moved a bit ahead of his mind. He felt like he was drifting forwards rather than walking. The hall was more silent than it had been all night. Everyone knew about the famous story of his father of course. That only made it worse. Albus spotted James giving him a confident thumbs-up. His heart skipped a beat. He landed on the stool and the hat slid over his eyes, obscuring the hall from view.
"Hmm, a challenging one, are you Albus Severus," a voice muttered in his ear after a few second. "A curious spirit I see. Plenty of talent to be had. Brains you have too boy, but take care where you put them. And a thirsty mind, most thirsty, yes. Pressure of living up to a legacy is never an easy path. Very challenging indeed."
Not liking what the hat had said so far and remembering his father's words on the platform, Albus thought, "please, anything but Slytherin!"
"Ah, I've heard this one before." The hat almost seemed to chuckle. "Not Slytherin eh? You did listen to my song didn't you? Cunning and ambition will bring you prowess when Slytherin is your house. Well, I'm afraid there's only one choice for you my boy. Trust my judgement I have sorted long and hard. Slytherin!"
Albus felt as though the stool had just evaporated beneath him. Surely he was falling backwards through space. He didn't move and Professor Midgely removed the hat from his head himself. Albus stared around the hall. There was not a single person applauding, not from Slytherin table, not from any of them. The silence was as dead as a ghost. Desperately he stared around for a face he knew. But seeing James made it almost worse. James was open mouthed, no longer grinning but looking as shocked as if Albus had just broken his broomstick.
"Slytherin is there boy," Professor Midgely urged his softly, pointing to the table.
For a second, Albus considered ignoring what had just happened and walking over to sit next to his brother. He could disobey the sorting. He wouldn't be in Slytherin!
But somehow, his feet were carrying his across the hall to the table under green and silver. In a panic, he saw Scorpius who was looking just as dazed as him and dove into the seat next to him, trembling from head to foot.
The sorting carried on, but Albus didn't hear a single name until the last of them, "Weasley, Rose."
Rose looked as pale as if she had left her living body behind. Albus was certain that she was dreading the possibility of joining Slytherin now that he had paved the way. But the hat needed little time to decide.
"Gryffindor!"
Rose, looking so relieved she could have cried, rushed over to James who gave her a hug, still looking completely astonished by the evening's events.
"That concludes the sorting. Now a word from our headmistress."
Professor McGonagall rose and addressed them. "Well done all of you first years. I hope each of your grow to thrive in your chosen house."
She might have paused for the briefest of moments, glancing in his direction, or maybe Albus only imagined it. "I have a few notices before we begin the feast."
"Albus?" Scorpius asked from beside him. "Are you ok?"
Albus glanced up at the blonde boy and met his eyes full of concern and kindness. Taking strength from this, he took a deep breath.
"What am I going to do?"
"You might be able to transfer, I suppose," Scorpius said uncertainly. "If your parents talk to the headmistress. Maybe they could help you get into Gryffindor?"
Albus considered this bright ray of light for a moment and then shut it off in his mind. "No," he said, straightening himself slightly and laying his fist on the table. "The hat said there was only one choice for me. This is it."
Scorpius looked surprised at his sudden determination. "You're really brave," he said, putting a hand on Albus's shoulder. "I'd have cried if the hat put me in Gryffindor. I mean, I don't even think that it sounds like a bad house. But my dad would have killed me!"
Albus felt his stomach jolt. He had forgotten that his parents would want to know his sorting results. What on earth were they going to say? His father had made everything sound fine one way or another, but Albus had a funny feeling that he hadn't actually meant it.
