It was the largest room any of the first years had ever seen; huge bronze gargoyles sprouted from the pale stone walls atop dishes of fire that filled the hall with blazing light. More light came from the thousands of candles that hung in the air, held there by magic. The enchanted ceiling was a shining black, peppered with bright stars. Five enormous dark wooden tables stood on the grey flagstone floor; four were parallel to each other in the centre of the room, the other faced them from a raised stone platform. In the centre of this platform were three things: a grand empty golden throne; an occupied elegant ebony high-backed chair; and a small three-legged stool, on top of which was a tatty pointed hat. The first years filed into the Great Hall and stood in front of the raised platform and the stool. Albus suddenly felt very, very small. His anxious thoughts swooped and dived in his head, he felt sick to the bottom of his stomach. Oh God, thought Albus, what if I throw up over the Sorting Hat? I'll surely be put in Slytherin then!
Silence filled the babbling Hall as the occupant of the ebony chair stood. She was a tall witch dressed in tortoiseshell green robes with bright silver hair, her sharp face bore the lines of many years but her grey eyes warned that this wouldn't make her any less of a threat in a duel. A pair of half-moon spectacles sat on her long nose. When she spoke her voice was clear and strong, wrapped in the burr of a Scottish accent. "Before we begin our excellent feast, it is time for the Sorting of our new students. Professor Longbottom, if you will." She gestured to the stool and the hat.
"Of course, Headmistress McGonagall." He stepped up and brought out his wand, with a single tap, the pointed hat awoke.
"Is it that time of year already? Well, if you insist." The hat spoke in what seemed like a grouchy Yorkshire accent from a rip in its brim. "Hmmm… let's see who I've got this year… Any true-hearted loyal Hufflepuffs, I wonder? Or quick witted hard-working Ravenclaws? Some cunning, ambitious Slytherins, perhaps? Or maybe a courageous Gryffindor or two?" The Sorting Hat paused, as if thinking deeply. "Well, we'll never know if they don't try me on, will we? Better get on with it, Neville." This last comment was directed at Professor Longbottom, who looked quite offended at being called by his first name in front of the students. With a huff, he brought out a long roll of parchment and began to read names from it.
"Ashworth, David!" A sandy haired boy with glasses stumbled over to the Hat and sat on the wobbly stool. There was barely any pause before the hat cried:
"Oh, this one has courage, GRYFFINDOR!"
"Avery, Megan!" This was a short girl with black braided hair who was placed in Hufflepuff. Rose leaned forward and whispered to Albus.
"I'm Weasley, I'll be here forever!" Albus tried to hold in a snigger at her comment. On and on the list went, through Babbages and Drumwells, Jacksons and Lloyds, until it came to-
"Malfoy, Scorpius!" A disapproving mutter rippled through the students as a tall blond boy stepped up to the Hat. This time it was Albus who whispered.
"Malfoy? As in Draco Malfoy? Didn't he go to school with our parents?" Rose shrugged. There was a hush as Professor Longbottom placed the Sorting Hat on Scorpius' head. The hat frowned.
"There have been Malfoys at Hogwarts before, but none like you. They were filled with power-hungry ambition but in you I see only a desire to prove your distance from them. I see intelligence, oh yes, but a different kind to Slytherine cunning, this is an intelligence that you would use for others, not yourself. I think you would find yourself in RAVENCLAW!" There was a long pause before the end table began to applaud hesistantly, Scorpius hung his head as he sat on the bench.
After 'Noble, Hannah!' and 'Olivers, Xavier!' came "Potter, Albus!" Albus stepped up to the stool and sat down slowly. It seemed as if the entire castle held its breath. When the hat spoke, it spoke to Albus alone.
"Interesting… very interesting. You are ambitious, resourceful and determined; all the qualities of a good Slytherin, yet… You resist it." Albus looked at the floor and clenched his fists.
"I don't want to be in Slytherin!" He pleaded quietly.
"Whyever not? You could be great. There's so much potential for you!"
"Please… not Slytherin. I was told I could choose Gryffindor. He said you'd listen to me!"
"Oh ho! Your father told you that, did he? Well, he was brave in being the first person to ask for a House, I put him in Gryffindor for his courage. There is no bravery in mimicking someone else's deed, nor in hiding a part of yourself."
"Please… not Slytherin." Albus whispered, faintly. The words caught in his throat. He could almost hear the hat thinking.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Albus felt a wave of relief wash over him, he felt almost giddy with euphoria. He felt as if he could fly, he felt as if- "Not so fast, Potter." Albus froze with fear. "Though you may sit at the Gryffindor table, sleep in Gryffindor tower and study in Gryffindor's Common Room, you will always be a Slytherin. It is written in your heart, no amount of red and gold will change that." Then the Sorting Hat fell silent.
Albus stood up shakily and wandered over to where James was sitting at the Gryffindor table. He didn't hear the applause or James' congratulations; he only heard the Sorting Hat's voice. You will always be a Slytherin, it is written in your heart. "Al? Al?" James concerned voice woke him from his thoughts. "Al, are you okay? I thought you'd be pleased with Gryffindor?" Albus shook his head and faked a smile.
"What? Yeah, I'm fine. Just… relieved." James squinted at him, unbelieving. "I'm fine, really!" Albus lied. "Look, let's just watch Rose's Sorting, she'll be up soon."
"No she won't. There's still loads of people before 'W'." James said, seeing through Albus' distraction.
"I'm fine! Quit pestering me, okay?" Albus burst out. "I'm in Gryffindor, that's it." He turned away from his brother and looked to where 'Price, Madison!' was being sorted into Hufflepuff. They didn't speak until much later, when it was Rose's turn.
"Weasley, Rose!" Professor Longbottom called out.
"Another Weasley? How many of you are there?!" The Sorting Hat commented. At the Gryffindor table, Fred Weasley (the 2nd) leaned over to James.
"She'll be Gryffindor, too. We always are." Rose sat down on the stool as the professor placed the Hat on her head. Her frizzy curls nearly pushed it off again. "Well, 'cept Teddy." Fred continued. "Hufflepuff traitor…" There was barely a pause.
"It'll have to be RAVENCLAW with those brains!" The Hat said matter-of-factly. There were gasps of outrage from the Gryffindor table, almost a third of which was the extended Weasley family. To their surprise, Rose looked quite happy with her Sorting and went over to sit with Scorpius Malfoy at the Ravenclaw table.
"What's she sitting with him for?" James hissed. Then Professor McGonagall stood up again.
"Now that our first years have been Sorted we can officially begin a new year at Hogwarts. However, I must say a few words beforehand: The Forbidden Forest is completely out-of-bounds to all students, as is the Retricted Section of the library. All Common Room passwords will change monthly and there is now a third dormitory in each House Tower to accommodate any students that do not feel comfortable in either of our girls or boys dormitories, as put forward by our own Theodore Lupin." There were a few elated whoops from certain students. "Finally, for the first time in Hogwarts history, first years will be able to try out for their House Quidditch team for all positions except Beaters." Albus didn't need to look to know that Rose was grinning. "Now, let us begin our feast!"
Food filled the golden plates and candlelight warmed the hall. Rose was talking animatedly with Scorpius about Quidditch; Albus sat in the silence of his thoughts.
Their first year at Hogwarts had begun.