Albus woke up early next morning, and found himself lying in a four-poster with green silks hanging around it. There was a soothing sound of water and the regularly breath of someone else. The light in the room was green, which make it look a bit creepy. 'Where am I?' He asked himself, thinking what this place actually could be. Suddenly he knew it, he was at Hogwarts! And the green light was because he was now in a Slytherin dormitory.
The feelings of de evening before came alive again, the disappointment and shock of being sorted in the enemy of Gryffindor. Today he had to tell his parents. He had to see his brother and tell him he was pride to be a Slytherin. He didn't look forwards to breakfast. Albus was afraid of the comments, the looks and whispering behind his back.
'Morning.' A voice said. Albus turned and saw Matthew, sitting in his four-poster with a sleepy smile and untidy hair. 'Morning.' Albus answered. 'The beds sleep well, don't you think?' Matthew asked with a husky voice. 'Yes, I think so. At least one benefit of Slytherin. That sound of water is truly relaxing.' 'You still don't like this house, do you?' Matthew asked. 'Nah, I think I will come used to it. I think my parents don't mind.' Albus tried to look tough, but he failed. 'I mean, my father said that a Slytherin was the bravest man he ever met, so I will be brave too.' It was a childish way of thinking, but Albus could hold on it. 'Who was that man?' Matthew was curious. 'Someone called Severus Snape. He's my namesake.' Albus said. 'Dad said that Severus was his potion master, and that he had an important role in the war, though he won't tell me what exactly happened in that war.' 'Neither will my parents. My mum doesn't know much, but my father does. He lost his parents in the wars, that's everything he told me.' Matthew sighed and studied the blankets. Albus didn't know how to answer and there was a long silence, except for the sound of water lapping against the windows in the common room. Albus felt peckish but he didn't mention it, still afraid to see his brother in the Great Hall. His mood hadn't improved by talking about the war, but at least he had forgotten his worries a while. 'Well, let's change our ropes and go to breakfast, before we miss our first class.' Matthew finally said and Albus nodded. He knew he had to.
'Hi Al.' Albus turned to look who called his name. 'Hello Rose, how are you?' He said, happy to see his favourite cousin and not his brother. 'I'm fine, thanks. And you? How's Slytherin?' She asked. 'Nah, it's okay. Luckily Matthew is a Slytherin too.' He said. Matthew turned also when he heard his name and saw Rose. 'Hi Rose, but, you're wearing Ravenclaw robes!' He said. 'Honestly boys, don't you pay attention. I'm sorted in Ravenclaw yesterday, off course I wear their sign.' She rolled her eyes. 'So you're not in Gryffindor too?' Albus said cautious, not sure if that was smart to say. 'That's correct, you're so brilliant. Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to eat my breakfast and then write home. I'm sure my parents will know about my sorting. Bye.' She turned and walked away. 'Well, I think she truly belongs there, our know-it-all. Why didn't she mention she had to go to classes?' Albus said.
'That's because it's Saturday, my dear Slytherin.' James walked in the direction of Matthew and Albus. 'Do you like the colour green? I think it fits your eyes.' Albus sighed, but made himself a bit bigger. 'Shut up James, it isn't your concern what my house colour is. Besides, it's so brave of you to bully your little brother. You are truly a Gryffindor.' Albus answered without blinking. James reddened slightly and turned around to Matthew. 'Hi, I'm James Potter, by the way, and who are you?' 'Matthew Jones, pleasure.' James looked back to Albus. 'Well, good luck with writing dad, I'm sure he is delighted to hear about your House. Slytherin people are so sneaky, you will succeed in not mentioning you live in a dungeon.' He smiled and walked away, before Albus could say anything else.
'Well, that wasn't so bad. After what you said, he was just stunned. How could you think about that?' Matthew said while he patted Albus on his shoulder. 'Thanks, I had prepared that one over the summer, in case I needed it. I'm glad it worked well. And I guess mum has warned him before we left home not to bully me about my sorting. She can really be frightening if you make her angry. But why are we still standing here, let's eat.' Matthew nodded and they walked to the Slytherin table.
The breakfast was enormous, much bigger than Matthew was used at home. There were baked eggs, cooked eggs, roasted toast and grilled tomatoes. The smell of the fried sausages which filled the Great Hall was delicious. There was also cereal in all tastes and variants and a great amount of different drinks. Matthew couldn't simply believe what he saw en choose to test everything he could find. In his enthusiasm to get food, he accidentally spilled water out of his neighbour's glass. 'He! What are you doing? Is it so difficult to control your muscles?' A boy with white hair and grey eyes said angrily. 'I'm sorry. I didn't do it in purpose.' Matthew said, trying to dip it dry with the sleeve of his robe. 'I bet you did, you're such an idiot.' The boy said. 'White hair and an arrogant tone? You must be a Malfoy.' Albus said and he looked to Matthew. 'Don't mind him, Matt, he isn't worth it. My father has told me about his family.' 'So you are the Potter in the wrong house, aren't you? Did you want to be special? Or is there some noble reason to be different?' The boy spat. Albus ignored it and looked instead to some cereal with white chocolate. 'Matt, can you give me some of that?' He said. Matt nodded and gave it to Albus. Cereal with white chocolate, this breakfast was great.
Dear mum and dad
How are you? I'm fine. Yesterday was my sorting and I ended in, well, in Slytherin.
'How am I going to say it?' Albus looked to his parchment and scratched the last sentence. 'I can't just say it and then end my letter.' 'Maybe you can describe our common room or recite your brilliant answer to James. There is enough to say.' Matt answered, without looking up. He was busy writing his own letter home. 'May I read yours?' Albus asked curiously. 'Off course, I'm almost done. One minute.' Albus waited and thought. He hated writing, you just missed so much non-verbal language. How could he describe the feeling when the hat cried SLYTHERIN through the Great Hall? The gasps and then the heavy silence, before the Slytherin table cheered enormously. Or something as the discussion with the hat, whether it would be Gryffindor or Slytherin. It was impossible. 'Done!' Matthew cried. Albus was startled, he had been in deep thoughts. 'Here it is, maybe it will inspire you.' Matthew gave Albus a piece of parchment. Albus read it.
Hi mum, hi dad
Hogwarts is brilliant, better than I had expected. It was indescribable what I felt when I entered the castle yesterday. The sky ceiling in the Great Hall or all those talking portraits. I was a bit nervous for the sorting, but I ended up in Slytherin with my new friend, Albus Potter. I met him in the Hogwarts Express and we talked the whole trip. I share my dorm with him and some other boys. I have also met Scorpius Malfoy. However, I don't like him. He's a bit arrogant. Don't worry, it doesn't bother me. Al and I are able to handle him.
I really look forward to Monday, I'll finally learn magic! I suppose it's boring after a few weeks, but now I can't wait.
Write back soon!
Love
Matthew
P.S. I included a pic of the common room, I bet you haven't seen the Slytherin dungeon before.
'Wow, it's brilliant. You just say your house matter-of-factly.' Albus said. 'I know. I mean, it isn't that important. I haven't got any problems anymore with Slytherin.' Matthew said. 'But your whole family was in Gryffindor. Isn't it just a little bit shocking that you're in another house?' Albus was a bit confused. He simply couldn't understand that Matthew's parents were so easy. 'As I said before, my father was in Gryffindor, just like his father and grandfather. My aunt and grandmother, however, were in Hufflepuf and my cousin is sorted in Ravenclaw. She's now in her third year. I'm just the last piece of our house puzzle.' Matthew explained. 'So it doesn't matter.' Albus concluded. 'Yep. And for you? Is it really so important to be sorted in the same house as your parents? Your brother had no problems with it.' 'Well, that's true. I think you're right, I'm just a bit overreacted.' Albus reached for his quill and a new piece of parchment. 'Let's try it again.'
Dear mum and dad
How are you? I'm fine. I think you don't believe it, but I'm in Slytherin! It isn't bad, though. Slytherin has a beautiful common room with green light instead of yellow and a view over the inhabitants of the lake. I've already seen several fish and mermaids. I've got a friend here, too. I met Matthew Jones in the train and Rose, Matt and I have talked the whole trip. He's also fan of the Holyhead Harpies, though Gwenog Jones isn't family.
At breakfast I met Scorpius Malfoy. He was insulting Matthew because of nothing. I couldn't stand that and turned him down (with words only, so don't worry). He's just as arrogant as his father.
James reacted surprisingly okay to the news about my sorting. Maybe that's because I had my answer ready: 'It's so brave of you to bully your little brother. You're really a true Gryffindor.' He just didn't know where to look. I expect a prank soon, together with his friends here he's worse than at home. But again, don't worry, I'm eleven now, I can handle him.
Well, that's it for today. Write back soon and give Lily my best wishes. I miss her.
love
Al
'Ready.' Albus looked confident to the letter. 'Finally.' Matthew said and he laid his book away. 'What were you reading?' Albus was curiously. 'Hogwarts: A History. It's absolutely an interesting book.' 'Are you mad? They say history of magic is the most boring subject and it's taught by a ghost!' 'They say so, but as long as I haven't experienced myself, I don't know. And besides, did you know that the stairs to the girl's dorm change into a slide if you try to enter?' Matthew's eyes glistered when he said that. 'Now, no. But I do know that we have plenty of staircases to go before we reach the Owlery.' Albus smirked and stood up. 'You're right, we need to deliver our letters.'
'Here, White Magic. Take this home. Fly fast and nibble on dad's fingers until he writes back. I want to know the answer. Understood?' Albus stroked his white owl softly. The Snowy Owl hooted and spread his wings. 'So this is White Magic? He's beautiful.' Albus turned and saw Matthew looking to him. 'Thanks mate, I got him two months ago, but I never needed him before to deliver a letter. I hope he will do well.' 'I think he will. Err, I gonna find a school owl. Do you know which ones belong to Hogwarts?' Albus let White Magic go away and looked around. 'I think you need those Brown Owls over there. There are so many of them.' He pointed to one side of the Owlery.
'So Jones, haven't you got enough money to buy an owl for yourself?' There was a voice with a cold tone behind them. The two boys turned and saw Scorpius Malfoy. 'That's not your concern, Malfoy.' Albus answered. 'And you need a Potter to protect you? Is that why he's in Slytherin?' Scorpius smiled nastily to Matthew. 'Shut up Malfoy and bully your own friends. Or has your father not told you how to get friends?' Albus snapped back. Scorpius became paler than he normally was and turned away. 'I'll get you Potter. Just wait.' He murmured. Albus looked to Matthew, who looked a bit shaky. 'Are you okay? It's just Malfoy, don't listen to him.' He said. 'It's nothing, He only remembered me of something. I don't know what.' Matthew sighed and smiled weakly.
A/N: this chapter is a bit longer than my first one and I hope that the next one will be longer too. I've worked out the plot in my head and I can't wait to reveal some important things in the end. Just have patience and I hope you like it. Oh and please report grammar errors, so I can correct them. English is not my first language but I try to write it correctly. Thanks!