Chapter 2 - The Nerves for Hogwarts
Albus, Rose and Scorpius spent the last ten minutes on the Hogwarts Express silent. They all sat in their compartment, not talking and just staring out the window towards Hogsmeade. Albus' butterflies in his stomach were starting to get fiercer and he wasn't sure if they would ever go away. He was extremely nervous and looking around at the other two, he knew he was not the only one.
The train came to a halt and Rose, Scorpius and Albus waited in their compartment until all the seventh year students had gotten off first. Albus poked his head out of the compartment to see if the coast was clear for them to leave the compartment. They didn't want to be in the bad books with the older students before they had even arrived at Hogwarts, after all they were more skilled at magic than them and could easily defeat them in a duel.
The three were discussing the seventh years before they left the compartment, or more so Albus was.
"Do you think the rumours are true? Do you actually think that the seventh years actually hang you by your feet above the toilets in your first year?" Albus was clearly very nervous about the prospect of Hogwarts.
Albus had been so excited about it the whole year but now he wasn't sure if he wanted to go because he was so nervous. Neither Rose or Scorpius answered Albus as they were too nervous to speak to anyone.
They waited until all the older years were off the train, and the three first years walked out of their compartment and off the train.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here please!" Rose, Scorpius and Albus looked towards the giant figure at the other end of Hogsmeade Station, who was yelling for the first years to come to him.
They all walked towards him in silence, still nervous about Hogwarts. They walked for what seemed like a year until they finally reached the tall dark figure, Hagrid.
"Well if it isn' Albus Potter, you look more like your father every day, eyes an' all!" Hagrid said to Albus as he approached.
James walked past just as Hagrid said this and gave a wink to Albus and greeted Hagrid. He also wished Albus good luck in the sorting ceremony.
"Oh! And Rose Weasley, well I'll be! I remember when you were just little and I could fit you in one hand!" Rose smiled at this and gave Hagrid a hug.
Hagrid looked towards the third member of their group and immediately changed his expression on his face and his mood.
"Scorpius Malfoy, is it? Well, I remember your father." Hagrid said to Scorpius.
Albus and Rose knew this would upset Scorpius and looked towards him but he was already looking down at his feet and mumbling something under his breath to himself, clearly upset.
"Firs'-years this way!" All the first years were walking behind Hagrid to the boats, they all were sorted into their boat groups and set sail for Hogwarts.
They had been in the boats for a few minutes until the trees cleared and all the first years were able to see the magnificent castle.
Albus looked up and saw the magical building that James had been talking about all summer. He didn't blame him, It was the most beautiful building Albus had seen in his life. Albus eyes opened as wide as they'd ever been before and he couldn't take his eyes off the castle. It looked so magical from the outside and seemed to have so many surprises inside the castle. There was so many lights on in the castle and Albus couldn't wait to go and see them. Albus was excited to explore the castle.
After a few minutes of staring at the castle, without blinking, Albus looked around to all the other first years in their boats and noticed many of them were saying things like 'Wow' and 'Oh My Gosh' while looking at the magnificent building.
Albus looked to his left to see Scorpius was in the same amazement as Albus was a minute ago, with his mouth and eyes wide open. 'This was where my dad defeated Lord Voldemort, where he found the Chamber of Secrets and saved Mum, where Uncle Ron, Dad and Aunty Hermione met' Albus thought. Albus looked to the boat to the right and saw Rose staring with eyes of wonder as she stared at the castle. She made eye contact with Albus and they both grinned at one another as this was how they both imagined it.
As their boat ride concluded, Albus and Rose said goodbye to Hagrid. Hagrid reminded Albus of having tea with him and then he said his farewell to all the first years. Professor Longbottom greeted the first years and he and the first years walked towards the castle.
Professor Longbottom was talking to Rose and Albus as they walked up to the Chamber of Reception.
"How's mum and dad Al?" Professor Longbottom asked Albus.
"There good thanks for asking Uncl… Professor Longbottom. They send their love." Albus replied.
Albus was close to calling Professor Longbottom, Uncle Neville as that's what he knew him as since he was born. Neville was, in fact, Albus' godfather as well as Uncle Ron.
"That's good, what about your parents Rose?" Professor Longbottom asked Rose.
"They are good thank you Professor Longbottom." Albus looked towards Rose and then his nerves kicked in again, worse than before.
Scorpius caught up to the Albus and Rose and began walking with them.
"Where were you Scorp?" Albus asked.
"Oh, I got caught up back there at the boats." Scorpius replied.
They continued walking until the reached the castle. Albus took a huge breathe as he walked into the castle. He was in love with the castle as soon as he walked into it, amazed at the amazing walls and paintings.
As they reached the Chamber of Reception Professor Longbottom told the students to all gather round. He then began to explain the basic rules of Hogwarts and how the Sorting Ceremony works.
'First of all, Welcome to Hogwarts,' said Professor Longbottom.
'The start-of-term fest will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is an extremely important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. They are your Hogwarts family.'
'The four houses that you may be sorted into are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, each has produced outstanding witches and wizards and each has their individual qualities. I will go through the qualities for each house for you. Gryffindor 's are known to be brave, courageous and chivalrous. Hufflepuff's are known to be loyal, dedicated and hard working. While Ravenclaw's are known to be intelligent, knowledgeable and creative and finally Slytherin's are known to be cunning, ambitious and resourceful. Those are the four Hogwarts houses and their qualities.'
'When we enter the Great Hall you will walk to the front of the hall and stand there. I will be calling out the names of the students. When I call out your name you will sit on the stool at the front of the hall. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and the Sorting Hat will sort you into your house. You will then go and join your house for the feast.'
'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 honour within the castle. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I will return when we are ready for you,' said Professor Longbottom.
'Please wait in the chamber quietly.' As Professor Longbottom walked out of the room the chamber filled with whispers about what he had just said.
"I'm really nervous!" The nerves were showing in Scorpius' voice as he said this. He was becoming extremely pale and seemingly anxious.
"Same, I know what I said on the train but I really hope that I get sorted into Gryffindor!" Albus said.
Albus was anxiously waiting for Professor Longbottom to walk back into the Chamber of Reception and tell them that the Sorting Ceremony had begun. While they waited numerous first-years came up to Albus to introduce themselves. Albus was quite embarrassed by everyone coming up to him as whispers started about Albus being the son of the 'Chosen One.'
It seemed that news had gone around that Harry and Ginny Potter's second child was attending Hogwarts and that was clearly the talk of the school.
"You do realise fifteen people have came up to you and introduced themselves to you." Scorpius said to Albus.
However, it wasn't just Albus who was getting all the attention. Rose had just as many people introducing themselves to her, after all, her parents were also famous.
After everyone had asked Albus questions about his family and himself, Professor Longbottom walked back into the Chamber.
"The Sorting Ceremony is about to start, are you ready?" He asked the first-years.
They responded with a quiet 'yes', all of them too nervous to talk.
"Okay, Let's go!"
Most of the first years took a huge breath as Professor Longbottom opened the large doors to enter the Entrance Hall. Albus closed his eyes and wished for the best.
As the doors opened, just like when they saw Hogwarts for the first time, there were gasps by all the first years.