The first day at Hogwarts didn't go exactly as Albus had planned. Nor did the second day. He was late to every class, and the only room he could find without fail was the Great Hall. He constantly got the feeling that someone was following him, but could never see anyone there.

The next day it got worse. Scorpius asked him if he wanted to walk to classes together. He agreed, but this only resulted in the pair of them getting lost, and walking into Transfiguration 10 minutes late.

Upon closer inspection of the classroom, every student was reading their textbook, but Professor McGonagall was nowhere to be seen, just a silly tabby cat upon her desk.

"Phew," Scorpius said, "can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?"

The cat jumped off the desk, and turned back into a human as it walked towards them. Scorpius gulped.

"That was bloody brilliant, professor," Scorpius said.

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Malfoy. Perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? Then one of you might be on time," McGonagall said.

"We got lost," Albus said, quietly.

"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats."

After the lesson, McGonagall asked Albus to stay after. Scorpius dawdled just outside the door, but McGonagall gave him a look, and he scurried for the Great Hall. She. Was. Terrifying. McGonagall led Albus through to her study.

"Have a seat, Potter," McGonagall said. Albus sat. "I must say I was quite astonished when you weren't sorted into my house."

"Oh, yeah," Albus said, awkwardly. "Er…"

"As Headmistress, I really am supposed to be impartial, but Professor Longbottom… well. I wish you all the luck in Slytherin." It seemed as though these words were the toughest she had ever had to speak, the very venom of them eating her alive, Harry Potter's son, a Slytherin.

"I chose to go to Slytherin," Albus said. "I don't want to live in the shadow of someone else's life. Not my dad's, not my brother's, not anyone's. Just mine."

"That is completely your decision," McGonagall said. "I just want you to know that Professor Slughorn isn't always the easiest man to talk to, and that if you ever need anything, you can always come to me, or Professor Longbottom, or any of the staff."

"Thanks, professor," Albus said. "Right now the only thing I really need is a map." McGonagall smiled at him, and he left her office. However, he managed to get thoroughly lost. He ended up on the third floor somehow… or maybe he was on the seventh. He didn't know. Suddenly…

"Oi." A voice came from behind him. He whipped around. Teddy Lupin was standing there, next to a suit of armor, casually leaning on it as if he belonged there, his turquoise hair spiky and short as usual.

"Teddy? What are you doing here?" Albus asked, walking over to him.

"Visiting Victoire," Teddy said, nonchalantly. "How's Hogwarts treating you?"

"It sucks," Albus said. "I keep getting lost and I–" Something had appeared in front of his face, held by Teddy's hand, that cut off his speech. "What's this rubbish?" he asked, taking the bit of parchment.

"That, my friend, is the secret to all the pranking that goes on in Hogwarts. And now it's yours," Teddy said. He took out his wand and cleared his throat. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map came to life.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers, are Proud to Present The Marauder's Map

Albus looked at Teddy skeptically. Teddy rolled his eyes, and started to unfold the map.

"Where do you suppose your brother is right now?" Teddy asked.

"I dunno, dinner probably," Albus replied.

"Wrong," Teddy said. "He's on the fourth floor with Fred and Louis about to make the biggest mess since the Weasley twins were here." On the parchment, three tiny dots labeled "James Potter", "Fred Weasley", and "Louis Weasley" were in a huddle at one end of a deserted corridor, and one labeled "Peeves" was at the other end of the corridor. All of a sudden, there was a loud BANG that shook the whole castle. "That's my cue to get out of here. Should be yours too. Here, just take the map. Merlin knows you need it more than us. And when you're finished tap it and say 'Mischief Managed' or anyone can read it." He scurried off. Albus stared at his new possession.

The more Albus looked at the map, the more he liked it. He finally found his dot, standing in the middle of a corridor on the 7th floor. Another dot approached his. 'Nearly Headless Nick'. He hastily folded the map and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Why, young Albus," Nick said, spotting him. "What are you doing up here?"

"I was lost," Albus said, nervously. He'd never really talked to a ghost before.

"Your cousins and I were quite disappointed when you didn't join us in Gryffindor, I must say."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Albus said, off handedly. "The hat says I'm a Slytherin. I don't know, I just–" Another loud explosion shook the castle.

"I must go see if I can find the Bloody Baron," Nick said. "Farewell, young Albus."

"Bye," Albus said. After he was sure Nick had gone, he took the map back out of his pocket. There was his own dot, halfway down a deserted corridor. A gargoyle looked at him from a little way off. He walked over to it. A small speech bubble appeared next to his dot. It read 'Sherbet Lemon'.

"Sherbet Lemon," Albus said to the gargoyle, which immediately jumped aside to allow him passage. Albus boarded the moving spiral staircase, which led him to a door. Knowing he was probably getting himself in more trouble that it was worth, he opened the door and walked through it.

A/N: I own Harry Potter, and I also invented the space shuttle and microwave popcorn.
Love, Samantha/LilyLuna