Albus fidgeted nervously, as Professor Longbottom welcomed them into the castle. According to his father, it was always the deputy head, meaning it would have been Professor McGonagall once upon a time, and then Flitwick before he died.
"Hi Daddy!" said Layla, chirpily. He gave her a fond smile, before giving his short speech about the Houses, and waving them into the Great Hall.
The damage from the war was still evident. Great cracks ran from ceiling to floor. Albus supposed that someone could probably mend them if they tried, but no one had the heart. They left it as a tribute to the losses they had suffered.
His eyes scanned the large, memorial plaque, almost filling the wall space behind the teachers. He recognised certain names; Remus and Nymphadora Lupin, Colin Creevy, Fred Weasley, Severus Snape... He struggled to make out a small, handwritten message, carved below Nymphadora Lupin's name. With a shock, he recognised Teddy's handwriting. The words read "Don't call me Nymphadora".
He felt tears spring to his eyes, at the thought of Teddy Lupin walking through this hall alone, seeing his parents' names immortalised in metal carvings. So absorbed was he in his grief, he didn't notice that all eyes were on him.
"Abbott Emma!" Neville called, once the hall had fallen silent. She scurried up to the stool, jamming the hat onto her head. It hesitated only slightly before yelling "HUFFLEPUFF", making the table to his right cheer.
She gratefully took a seat, as "Brendan William," was sorted into Ravenclaw. Next, "Creevy Colin" became a Gryffindor, giving the nearest table something to cheer about. Albus jumped at the name, before remembering that Colin's brother Denis still lived.
He found his attention wandering while his classmates were sorted.
"Dursley Cheng!" came Neville's voice, intruding on his thoughts. He frowned. He vaguely recognised the name.
The Sorting Hat was silent as Cheng placed it on his head. And waited. And waited.
Albus began to feel uneasy, as the Sorting hat remained silent. Who was Dursley? More importantly... who was Cheng? And why was the Sorting Hat still silent?
"Slyther-GRYFFINDOR!" It cried, after approximately ten minutes of silence. With a sigh of relief, he joined the Gryffindor table. No one cheered.
Albus couldn't concentrate as the others were sorted. He just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible. The others were gradually being sorted, and he knew that he was next. The line of students appeared almost endless, but only a few stood out in his mind.
"Finnigan Lucy" became a Gryffindor, and "Longbottom Layla" became a Ravenclaw. "Malfoy Scorpius," was called, and, to their shock, was made a Gryffindor. Neville had to call for silence several times before the Sorting could continue.
And, all too soon, it was Albus' turn.