Albus Severus Potter's POV
I gasped in amazement at how easy it had been to convince this sorting hat I wanted to be in Gryffindor. According to Rose, who is really smart and Dad says she's like her mother, the Sorting Hat can see into your mind and find everything that you yourself cannot find within yourself. My dad says that's true. He said that the Sorting Hat saw bravery and courage in him. I believed the Sorting Hat was right about my Dad.
I quickly leaped off the wooden stool and regained my composure before walking over to the long table that was empty apart from the students. I was the last to be sorted and without trying to keep any unwanted attention I sat down next James and listened as he showed me off to all his friends as his younger brother.
When James was done I took a look at all the Professors who would teach me at this school. I could see Professor Maberley up on the right hand side of our head teacher. Dad said that Professor Dumbledore died a few years before he ended school at Hogwarts. I was named after the 2 head teachers that were at Hogwarts when my Dad was a student, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Henceforth, my name Albus Severus Potter. The new head teacher was called Professor Xerox and he always wore brown breeches with a casual shirt and waistcoat with his cape slung over his shoulders. I think he thinks it makes him look really intelligent but to be honest it makes him look a little strange and queer.
'Al! Are you even listening to what Bourne was asking you?' James hissed at me, bringing me out of my trance.
'Oh sorry, I was daydreaming. Sorry Bourne, what was the question again?' I asked.
'Do you like the school so far?' Bourne replied.
'Errm…it seems ok so far. I don't know how I'm ever going to find my way around.' I admitted.
'You think that now, wait until you see the changing staircases, you'll never work it out then,' James remarked before turning around and starting his own conversation with Bourne.
Rose by the looks of it had made friends with a few of the girls in our year. She smiled at me before turning back to the conversation she was having with her new friends. I looked next to me and already there were kids becoming friends. Wow! First day of a new school and the only friends I have are Rose, James, Lorcan and Lysander.
'Attention! Everyone can I please have your attention! I hope all the first years have a great year here at Hogwarts and you gain many house points for your new houses. Obey all the rules and have a good year! And with that let the feast begin!' shouted Professor Xerox over the slight chatter.
I didn't know what he meant seeing as there was no food or anything edible on the table until I turned my head a fraction and I saw the whole table full of mouth-watering delicious food!
James already had a piece of chicken sticking out of his mouth and I watched as his plate became a mountain until he felt he had a sufficient amount and carried on eating.
I tore my eyes away from his food and started gathering stuff for me to eat. If mum was here she'd probably tell me to use my knife and fork and to keep a napkin handy in case I had sticky fingers here. I could know see why James lacked table manners during the summer holidays at home.
I looked round at all the food, looking to see what was the tastiest. I saw a plate full of different meats and put a few on my plate and went back for vegetables. I quickly got stuck in and was full after 10 minutes! I leaned back and surveyed the rest of the table where most of the first years were in similar positions as me. But when I glanced over at James he was still devouring his mountain of food. I looked away and saw a boy staring at me from the Slytherin table. I recognised him from being on the platform but I had no clue who he was. Maybe he knew about my dad. As soon as he caught me challenging his glare he gave me a smug smile and looked away. I don't think we're going to become 'besties' anytime soon, you could say.
As James finished his last piece of chicken all the food mysteriously vanished and in there place sat jam tarts, jelly, fruit cakes, apple pies and custard, ice cream and my favourite cake of all… Cheesecake!
There were so many kinds that I had never seen before. I knew the obvious ones like plain, strawberry and chocolate but I had never seen a Gooseberry Cheesecake or an avocado cheesecake. I stuck to the usual flavours and had a try of the Gooseberry one but it tasted weird so I gave it to James who was more than happy to have another bit of dessert. He could really be a pig sometimes.
I sat at the table silently until people moved up and two boys I knew sat down next to me and started up a big conversation.
'So, Albus how ya' doing?' asked Lysander in a very casual tone.
'I'm ok I guess,' I replied a little awkwardly, 'How about you?'
'I'm amazing…the food here is brilliant and there are loads of cute girls,' Lysander laughed and nodded to a girl smiling at him.
Lysander was always the twin who was a ladies' man. Lorcan on the other hand was a shadow of him, the same looks, the same genes but he was dead smart and where Lysander dropped grades, Lorcan dropped girls.
It was quite funny when you compared the two. I had known them all my life as they were 2 months older than me. They had always been that and back then we had all been inseparable. Lorcan and Lysander's mum was so nice but she could be a little nutty sometimes. I wondered what Mum; Dad and Lily were doing right now. Lily would probably be spoilt rotten and I smiled at the thought of my sister. She had really wanted to come with us today. Unfortunately she can't come for another two years.
As I was remembering everyone I was remembering a conversation I'd had with Mum on the platform. Mum was asking to me look out for Professor Longbottom who was a Herbology teacher.
I remember replying that I couldn't talk to him like I could when he came round because he was a teacher and I would have to act formally. End of conversation. I ran my eyes along the line of teachers sitting at the long table. Right on the end sitting next to Hagrid was Neville Longbottom. They were deep in conversation.
Suddenly, once again, all the dessert vanished and the tables were left gleaming clean. I was astonished but no one else seemed to care, they just carried on their conversations. Lysander was chatting up a girl and Lorcan was sitting chatting to a geeky looking boy with wide eyes and glasses with huge frames.
'Everyone, I would like your attention once again. I think it's time everyone started getting to bed. Prefects, please show all of the first years to the dormitories and explain the staircases. Tell them their dormitory passwords and then first years, you'll find your stuff waiting for you. Goodnight!' Professor Xerox announced and with that he withdrew from the Grand Hall.
The Grand Hall was a flurry of excitement as the other first years from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were led out of the hall and it was only Slytherin and Gryffindor left.
'First Years, my name is Bailey. I am your Gryffindor Prefect. We will leave in a minute for the dormitory; I quickly need to consult the Slytherin Prefect. Mingle with the other Slytherins and we'll leave in a minute. 'Shouted Bailey over the noise.
I stood in the middle of a crowd and turned just as someone approached me. It was the boy that had been glaring at me earlier.
I gulped. 'Hello. I'm Albus Severus Potter, who are you?'
'I'm Scorpius Malfoy. My dad's Draco Malfoy and he said your dad and my dad hated each other at school.
'Oh, well I'm sure they don't mind each other now then,' I quietly said as I backed away.
'Even if they do like each other now I'm telling you I don't like you! I'm going to carry on hating you and your family because my dad did.' Draco snarled. 'You better watch out!'
'Errm, have fun with that. Goodbye!' I said and walked away; glancing over my shoulder once and seeing him snarling like a dog I carried on walking to Rose.
'Hey Al. Guys this is my cousin Albus. Albus this is Tilly, Sarah and Mandy.' Rose announced.
I nodded to all the girls before saying, 'Nice to meet you. I'm Albus.'
I stood on the outskirts of their conversation, looking cautiously around for Scorpius.
A few minutes later we were out of the Grand Hall doors and heading to the dormitory. The structure of the castle was amazing, I marvelled. The building was so old but had a great feeling to it. I looked at the moving paintings with a careful, artist's eye. And I paid attention to what Bailey said about the moving staircases and about how we should never enter the third floor corridor.
The dormitory was guided by a talking picture of a fat lady.
'Password!' she barked.
'Everyone listen up, the password changes every week so no other houses can enter our common room. We will always alert you of the password change. This weeks password is Mandrakes, you'll learn all about them in Herbology.
At the word 'Mandrakes' the fat lady showed the door and it slowly opened revealing a lush and relaxing common room. It was full of voices. Paintings everywhere and there was fire roaring in a fireplace. I could get used to being here everyday!