Disclaimer/Author's note: anything in bold italics is an event/quote coming straight from the Deathly Hallows epilogue, which came from J.K. Rowling's imagination, not mine. Anything else, besides character names, is my continuation of the epilogue.

Since today is Saturday, I will need five reviews before I update, so I suggest you review… last chapter only got one review (Thanks yet again, Sweets5236!) and the only reason I updated today was because I got the most reviews I ever received for a single chapter of any of my stories last Saturday, and I hope for the same results this week. My goal for this story is to get a total of at least 50 reviews. This will be difficult, as I'm thinking there will only be two more chapters, but it is possible, with the help of my lovely readers, so please review. Please? I'll update faster if you do…. :)

Chapter 18: A Disagreement Between Cousins

September 1st, 2017

When we brought James to platform nine-and-three-quarters for his first year, Ginny and I were not worried at all. James was always very confident in himself. Some people called that confidence arrogance, but it reminded me of everything I've ever known about my father, James's namesake. James had all the signs of a Gryffindor; he valued courage over anything, had a boat load of confidence, and even had a slight dislike for all Slytherins, except his cousin Louis. He was sure, even from the time he was three or four years old, that he would be sorted into Gryffindor, and no one was surprised when the sorting hat placed him there.

Albus, on the other hand, we were a little more concerned about me. Albus so desperately wanted to be a Gryffindor, but he was afraid he'd be sorted into Slytherin instead. While James had been over-the-top-excited about his first day, Albus still had that same excitement, but most of it was over-come with a feeling of anxiety. James, as usual, did not help the situation.

"You know where you're going, right, Al?" James asked as soon as we got in the car.

"Hogwarts?"

James rolled his eyes. "No kidding. I meant, you know what house you're gonna end up in, right?"

"Gr-Gryffindor?" Albus asked hopefully.

James grinned. "Nope, you're going to be a Slytherin!"

"No! I won't!" Albus argued. "I'm a Gryffindor."

James shook his head. "Slytherin."

"Gryffindor!" cried Albus. "I'm not cunning or mean, and I'm not even sure what ambitious means! I may not be as brave as you are, but I'm still brave! I'm a Gryffindor… right, Dad?"

"You'd be a great Gryffindor, Al." I replied. Of course, he'd do well in Slytherin too, as well as Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. I turned to James and added, "And James, stop tormenting your brother."

"It's not my fault he's more sensitive than a girl." James muttered under his breath, but I still heard him.

"James…" I warned, glaring at him through the rearview mirror.

James sighed. "Alright, Dad, alright! I promise to always be kind and respectful towards Al from now on."

"Yeah, right." Albus muttered.

"Albus, you're not helping." Ginny said, turning around in her seat to face the boys. "Now can you please try to get along so that your father can concentrate on driving?"

The boys were silent the rest of the car ride, while Lily babbled on and on about how much she wanted to go to Hogwarts, and how it wasn't fair that James and Albus were going without her. However, after we left the car and began pushing James's and Albus's carts towards platform nine-and-three quarters, their argument was continued.

"I won't! I won't be in Slytherin!"

"James, give it a rest!" said Ginny.

"I only said he might be," said James, grinning at his younger brother. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth-"

But James caught his mother's eye and fell silent.

Together, the five of us crashed through the barrier. Once on the other side, we found Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo. Ron joked about how if his kids weren't sorted into Gryffindor, they'd disinherit them.

"But no pressure." He said.

We also caught sight of Draco Malfoy, our childhood nemesis, along with his son, Scorpius. Scorpius appeared to be around James's and Albus's age. Since James had never mentioned him, I could only assume he was in Albus's year.

"So that's little Scorpius," said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."

"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"

"You're right, sorry," said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood." In reality, Ron was really talking about himself, not his father. He just didn't want to tell his little girl.

Just then, James ran up to us, and said he caught you and Victoire "snogging". When he didn't get much reaction from the adults, he said, "Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing –"

"You interrupted them?" said Ginny. "You are so like Ron –"

"- and then he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away! He's snogging her!" James added as though worried he had not made himself clear.

"Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily ecstatically. "Teddy would really be part of the family then!"

"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week," I said. "Why don't we just invite him to live with us and have done with it?"

"Yeah!" said James enthusiastically. "I don't mind sharing with Al ¨C Teddy could have my room!"

"No," I said firmly, "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished."

I checked my watch and saw it was time for James, Albus, and Rose to board the train. Ginny told James to give Neville, who was now the Herbology professor at Hogwarts, love, but he protested against, explained how he couldn't give a professor love. James quickly allowed Ginny to kiss him, gave me a fleeting hug, and ran off to find Fred and the rest of their friends.

Just as he was about to board the train, Albus whispered in my ear, "What if I am in Slytherin?"

The whisper was for me alone, and I knew that only the moment of departure could have forced Albus to reveal how great and sincere that fear was.

I crouched down so that Albus's face was slightly above my own. Alone of my three children, Albus had inherited my eyes, the eyes that I had inherited from my mother.

"Albus Severus," I said quietly, so that nobody but Albus and Ginny could hear. Ginny was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."

"But just say-"

"-then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student, won't it? It doesn't matter to us, Al. But if it matter to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."

"Really?"

"It did for me," I replied.

I had never told any of my children that before, and now I saw the wonder in Albus's face when I said it. But now the doors were slamming all along the scarlet train, and the blurred outlines of parents swarming forward for final kisses, last-minute reminders. Albus jumped into the carriage and Ginny closed the door behind him. Students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned toward Harry.

"Why are they all staring?" demanded Albus as he and Rose craned around to look at the other students.

"Don't let it worry you," said Ron. "It's me, I'm extremely famous."

Albus, Rose, Hugo, and Lily laughed. The train began to move, and I walked alongside it, watching my son's thin face, already ablaze with excitement. I kept smiling and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching my son glide away from me...

The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded a corner. My hand was still raised in farewell.

"He'll be alright," murmured Ginny.

"I know he will."

September 6th, 2017

Today Ginny and I received letters from both Albus and Rose. Albus's said:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Guess what? I got sorted into Gryffindor! At first the sorting hat wasn't sure whether to place me in Slytherin or Gryffindor, but then I did what Dad said, and told him I wanted to be in Gryffindor, and you know what he did? He laughed at me, and said I was just like you, Dad, and that sorting you into Gryffindor was one of the best decisions he's ever made! Rose got sorted into Gryffindor too, so now we get to be together.

I always knew that Dad defeated a dark wizard when he was only seventeen, but I never knew he was so famous! Everyone here knows his name, and some people always say I look like him. It's really weird, because I'm not used to all of this. James has kind of been ignoring me most of the time, except for when I was first sorted into Gryffindor, but I don't mind, because I've made friends with most of my dorm mates.

Do you remember that Scorpius Malfoy boy Uncle Ron warned us about? He's actually really nice, and he was sorted into Gryffindor, too! I don't understand why Uncle Ron doesn't like him. He and I are becoming really good friends. Rose doesn't like him though, even though Scorpius is only trying to be her friend too. You don't mind that I'm friends with Scorpius, do you?

Love,

Albus

Rose's letter was a little less positive.

Dear Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny,

How are you? As I assume Al's already told you we both got sorted into Gryffindor, which made both of us extremely happy. I've made friends with two girls from my dorm, Lexi Thomas and Alana Finnegan. The other two girls aren't too friendly, though, I'm not sure why.

Everything going good here at Hogwarts, except for the fact that Albus has befriended that Malfoy boy Dad warned us about. Sure, Malfoy is in Gryffindor with Al and I, but that doesn't make a difference to me. Can you ask Al not to be friends with Malfoy, because I don't trust him? Not at all. Why would you let your own son be friends with a Malfoy?

Love from your niece, Rose.

Sighing, I showed Ginny the letters. After some discussion I wrote replies to them.

Dear Al,

Congratulations on being sorted into Gryffindor! Your mother and I would have been proud of you no matter what house you were sorted into, but I know how much you wanted to be in Gryffindor. I'm really glad you're enjoying your time at Hogwarts. I know I did when I was in school. To me, Hogwarts was home, and I hope it becomes like a second home for you as well.

As for being friends with Scorpius, I'm totally fine with it, and I'm glad you've made friends already. I think the reason your uncle Ron "warned" you about him is because of his family history. For years, the Malfoys, a pure-blood family, had always been Slytherins, while Weasleys had mostly been Gryffindors. Scorpius's father, Draco… we'll let's just say he didn't get along with Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermione, and I. One more than one occasion, Draco had called Aunt Hermione a mudblood. But, please, Al, don't let these things change your opinion about Scorpius, or make you hold a grudge against his father, because people change, and Scorpius is necessary exactly like Draco. Please try to remember that. Lily, Mum, and I miss you and send our love.

Love,

Dad and Mum

To Rose I wrote:

Dear Rose,

Ginny, Lily, and I are fine. How about yourself? Congratulations on being sorting into Gryffindor. All of us back home are extremely proud of you and Al. I'm glad the two of you are enjoying your time at Hogwarts.

Speaking of Albus, I will not forbid him from being Scorpius's friend because I believe he should be allowed to be friends with whomever he wants to be friends with. I think the only reason your father warned you about Scorpius was because your mother, father, and I didn't get along very well with Scorpius's father, Draco, when we were in school. But the thing is, Rose, people change, and not everyone is exactly like their parents. Take your Granddad Weasley and your father for example. Granddad Weasley and your father are father and son, yet while Granddad Weasley loves everything that has to do with muggles, your father is more interesting in Quidditch. I don't expect you to necessary be best mates with Scorpius, but I do expect that you respect Al's choice in friends, and he will do the same.

Love,
Uncle Harry

Sighing, I sealed the envelopes and tied them to Stella's, my snowy owl's, leg. I don't know what is going to happen between Albus, Rose, and Scorpius, but I hope it doesn't tear Al and Rose apart.

Chapter 19 preview: "Everyone," you said nervously, "Victoire and I have something very important to tell you. It will change all of our lives forever."

Sorry, I had to do that. How else do I expect to get reviews?

Also, I'm sorry I used about half the epilogue for this chapter. I just thought it would make a good addition to the story since it's an important event in Harry's and Albus's life. Let me know if it bothers anyone.