The first years stood in one big hall in front of two big, oak doors. Professor Flitwick looked at, or up, at the first years crowding the room.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said in his squeaky voice. "The start of term banquet will begin in a moment but before you take your seats in the Great Hall you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because your houses will be like your family. You will attend classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitories, and spend your free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has it's own important history and each house has produced outstanding witches and and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will gain you house points and any rule-breaking-" He eyed the crowd of first years testily, "-will take them away. At the end of the year, the house with the most points gets awarded the House Cup, which is a great honor. The sorting ceremony will take place in a few moments in front of the whole school. I will return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." He walked through the doors leaving Albus with a stomach full of butterflies.

"Alright, come along." Professor Flitwick returned. "The sorting ceremony is about to start." The first years followed him through the big oak doors and into the Great Hall. Four tables sat in a row around the room. Each table was crowded with students of all ages, 11-17. The ceiling...sky? was lit by thousands of candles making it look almost like the many stars outside. The ceiling looked just like the sky outside-pitch black with a few stars here and there but most of them hidden by rough storm clouds. Albus looked around at the tables, where he was going to be eating everyday for the next year. Each table was laid with golden goblets, plates and silverware. All gold. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Pale faces sat staring at the first years, all smiling and laughing. Some making faces and telling jokes to the person sitting next to them.

The first years walked along the hall in a group, no longer in three lines. The stopped in front of the teachers table where a stool was sitting just a few feet away from Albus. The thing old garment that was sitting on the stool made his stomach twist and turn but in a good way. It was an old, floppy wizards' hat. It seemed to be broken at the seams. His father told him about this. The hat speaks from the seam. He was excited to see what house he would be placed in but he was also worried. Everyone here is expecting him to get into Gryffindor like his father. What if he doesn't get into Gryffindor? What was everyone going to think?

"Alright," called Professor Flitwick. "When I call your name sit on the stool and place the hat on your head. Abbot, Edmund."

A short kid with blond ruffled hair and shocking gray eyes walked up to the stool and placed the hat on his head. It fell below his eyes and some of the students laughed.

"Hmm..." said the sorting hat. It sat and Albus could almost imagine a little brow furrowing above brown eyes, thinking. Finally it said. "Quite difficult, yes, yes, quite difficult but I am quite... No? Yes! RAVENCLAW!"

The table on the far right stood up and cheered loudly, clapping Edmund on the back as he sat down, blushing.

"Cole, Emily-" And it went on until a name was called that made the hall grow silent. Of course not as silent as they were when Harry Potter's name was called or as silent as they were when James Potter's name was called but still silent. More silent then they were with anyone else. Even Rose, who got placed in Gryffindor. Or Scorpius Malfoy who, of course got placed in Slytherin. Ruby wasn't sorted yet.

"Potter, Albus." Albus walked up, his head down so that he wouldn't have to look at the crowd of students staring into the back of his skull. Professor Flitwick picked up the old hat and placed it on Albus' head.

"Oh hello..." It groaned. "Another Potter. I rather like the Potters... Yes, very nice. Your brother is quite the bit of trouble though. Maybe you could calm him down..." Albus didn't hear half of what the sorting hat was saying. All he was thinking about was how he might get placed into Slytherin. Then he remembered what his father had told him before Albus had left for Hogwarts:

"If it matters, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The sorting hat takes your choice into account."

"Really?"

"It did for me."

Those last four words changed Albus It did for me... He didn't care now. If he was going to be placed in Slytherin then he'd be happy to go somewhere his dad had almost been. Finally the sorting hat decided,

"SLYTHERIN!" That one word made the whole hall gasp. The Gryffindors were already standing up and slowly sat back down, muttering as they heard the name of their enemy. Surprisingly, Albus smiled. He got up, off the stool and walked to meet the table situated at the far left of the Great Hall. He sat across from Malfoy. He smirked at Albus and Albus shrugged in return.

Finally he heard the name "Finnigan, Ruby" called and looked up expectantly, knowing for a fact that she was going to into Gryffindor. Apparently, Malfoy was thinking the same thing and said,

"I bet she'll get into Gryffindor."

"I think so." Albus replied.

Then the sorting hat' voice rang out:

"SLYTHERIN!" Albus' and Malfoy's jaw dropped. Albus watched as the girl with bushy red hair and green eyes skip towards the Slytherin table. She smiled at him and Malfoy as she sat down.

"Well," she grinned. "I never expected this."