Prologue
THIRD PERSON
The streets of Diagon Alley were exceptionally crowded when the Potter family made a visit to pick up some school supplies for their two sons. The August sun hung lazily in the sky, watching as witches and wizards attempted to shove their way down the streets and cram themselves into the stores standing on either side of them. Not a cloud was visible and therefore there was nothing to cast any sort of shade upon the pedestrians. As a result, the youngest member of the Potter family found herself to be quite uncomfortable and had no problems in voicing this opinion.
"I'm hot," Lily told her mother, holding onto the older witch's hand as they walked.
"I know hun, but we're nearly there," Ginny Potter replied as she brushed some of her bright red hair from her face. Having cut these fiery locks recently, they barely brushed her shoulders and as a result were quite fond of blowing in front of her bright brown eyes. She then looked back at her eldest son, who was trailing slightly behind them, his arms crossed in front of him.
"James, try to keep up please. There are so many people here that I don't want to lose you," Ginny said.
"I don't see why Albus can get an owl and I can't get a broom," was James's response and he glared at his brother's back through his square-rimmed glasses.
"Albus is buying that owl with his own money and it's practical," Ginny explained. "Watch out!"
She was just successful in pulling her son away from a wizard who dropped his large stack of cauldrons. The lot of them fell to the ground with loud clattering and rolled in all directions causing all those around to scatter.
"Ginny?" Harry asked, stopping and looking back at his wife. At his side, the middle child, Albus turned as well, curiosity mingling with the evident excitement on his face. Ginny put a hand on James's shoulder and started walking again, this time the group packed more tightly together. Eventually the family squeezed into a small store, shutting the door behind them quickly.
The store was filled from top to bottom with thousands of wands, and empty except for two others. One was an older man with white hair and large moonlike eyes. The other was a young man who resembled the older man significantly except his eyes were a light shade of blue and his hair long and blonde. At the sight of the family, the elder of the two smiled and stood up from his seat on a rickety old stool.
"Harry Potter, Holly and Phoenix Feather, eleven inches, nice and supple. It's nice to see you again," he said and gestured for them to come farther in. "What brings you here today?"
"Albus here is getting his first wand," Harry said smiling with pride as he placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Ah yes. I remember James's wand as well," Ollivander said and his moon-like eyes landed upon the bespeckled youth. "Spruce with Dragon-Heartstring, 10 inches, surprisingly supple."
James blinked in surprise and brought his hand to his robe, where his wand was contained as if he were afraid it would respond to the wandmaker. Ginny placed a hand on her son's shoulder reassuringly, which he shrugged off, remembering to be mad. His mother rolled her eyes and didn't seem at all offended by James's behavior.
"Gregory here," Ollivander said, turning to face the blonde man who looked so much like him, "is my grand-nephew and is training to work here alongside me. Perhaps he can try suiting your son with a wand."
The blonde looked both apprehensive and thrilled at the idea of assisting the Potters and immediately walked over to Albus, looking him over carefully. Ollivander returned to his seat to watch his apprentice at work, his moon-like eyes never leaving him. Gregory nodded and walked over to a wall, pulling out a specific wand box. He walked over to Albus and opened it, revealing a beautiful wand.
"Cypress with a core of Unicorn Hair," Gregory said and Albus picked up the wand, giving it a wave. The light overhead suddenly shattered and Gregory repaired it quickly, putting the wand he had suggested away rather rapidly. For quite a while Gregory struggled with suggesting wands, only to have various items around the shop broken. By the time Ollivander stood up, Gregory and Albus were both looking quite flustered.
James stood near the back of the shop, a smug smile on his face. His wand had chosen him right away and he always resented the fact that Albus had been recognized in his skill for magic even before he received his letter for Hogwarts. James was also amused by the fact that Albus had broken so many objects around the shop.
"Gregory, take a seat," Ollivander said and made his way over to a wall, pulling a box right off the shelf without a second glance. The young man blushed and stepped back, looking quite ashamed of himself. Ollivander held out the box and Lily's face lit up, and she looked up at the old man with admiration.
"That one's gonna work," Lily said and Ollivander examined the girl for a second with curiosity. The little red-head smiled; revealing one missing tooth among her other growing adult teeth. The old man seemed to be amazed by the young girl, but turned his attention quickly back to Albus who had just removed the wand from its case.
"Can you tell what type of wand that is?" Ollivander asked Lily and she stared at the wand, her brown eyes squinting slightly. She nodded slightly and held up her thumb in front of one eye.
"Cedar… 10 inches…?" she asked and received a beaming smile from Ollivander and a glare of envy from Gregory.
"Cedar, 10 and three quarter inches, with a phoenix feather core. Very close, very close," Ollivander said. "Now give it a wave."
Albus waved the wand and it released a shower of sparks, giving off a light glow. Ollivander nodded and Harry beamed down on his daughter and son, both of which were glowing with their own pride. While Albus and Harry paid for the wand up at the register with Gregory, Ollivander turned to speak with Ginny.
"You've got a prime wandmaker here, Mrs. Potter. I haven't seen talent like this in anyone so young before. She's the type of witch that I'd be happy to train personally."
Lily looked up at her mother with a large grin and a look of pure hope in her eyes. Meanwhile James looked on, glowering at his little sister, who had managed to earn a little of the limelight. As soon as Albus and Harry rejoined the little group, they set off once again to finish their shopping.
September first had come at last, and after a long train ride the Hogwarts students had all gathered within the Great Hall. The various houses were buzzing with excitement and conversation, some glancing up at the new Headmaster with curiosity while others discussed the upcoming sorting and school year.
Sitting proudly at the Gryffindor table alongside his friends was James, anxiously awaiting the Sorting. His younger brother was starting his first year and he was silently hoping that he'd be a Gryffindor just like him and their parents. Despite taunting his brother thoroughly about the possibility of becoming a Slytherin, he was actually quite worried about his brother's fate.
Suddenly the doors to the Great Hall swung open and in marched the First Years. They were all dressed in plain black robes so at first James had trouble locating his brother. He sat up higher, craning his neck in attempt to see Albus.
"There," Fred, both cousin and best friend to James, said as he pointed out Albus. The green eyed youth was standing next to their other cousin, Rose.
Albus could barely contain his excitement as he looked around the Great Hall. He glimpsed his brother amongst the Gryffindors and couldn't help but feel his heart soar at the prospect of joining them. Beside him, Rose was bouncing on her heels, her excitement shining brightly in her chocolate colored eyes. In an almost dreamlike state he listened as the other First Years made their way up and were sorted into their new houses.
Familiar names were called, including those of Taylor Finnegan: Ravenclaw, Scorpius Malfoy: Slytherin, Jasmine Longbottom: Hufflepuff, and Lucy Thomson: Ravenclaw. Before Albus was truly aware that the events were reality, his name was called by the Deputy Headmaster Flitwick.
Pushing his way from the crowd, Albus felt all the eyes upon him as he made his way to the elevated platform. Taking a seat on a rickety old stool, the Sorting Hat was lowered onto his head and the Great Hall fell silent. For a while Albus sat upon the stool, the Sorting Hat silent to everyone except him. Minutes passed until the hat seemed to finally make a decision.
Opening the rip that served as its mouth, the Sorting Hat exclaimed, "SLYTHERIN!"
A new type of silence filled the Great Hall, one much less apprehensive; more shocked and even a little hostile. As Albus took a seat at the Slytherin table, James felt a sort of anger bubble in his chest, followed closely by a sense of betrayal. There was silence until the Headmaster suddenly stood, clapping for the youngest Potter son. The Slytherins quickly picked up as well, leaning over to congratulate and welcome the newest Slytherin. Gradually the rest of the Great Hall followed suit until everyone was clapping, except for one seething James. The Sorting recommenced.