Chapter 5: meet and greet

McGonagall almost face palmed, in fact her face even raised half an inch off the old style parchment before her to do exactly that. But through all of her history, written between her wrinkles, she had more self control than that, and replaced her hand back on the lifeless surface and the name she oh so desperately wanted to laugh at.

"Albus Potter."

Oh how she wanted to call his middle name as well, if only; such a dream! When the first Potter junior walked through those oak doors, the transfiguration professor though that clearly her old student was very sentimental, but this was just over doing it! She would have to go up to her head mistress office and tell the last two professors what she had just seen. She knew Dumbledore would smile, but Snape would probably sneer before strolling away from his portrait be jolly by himself; of course he would be secretly please at having a student named after him, even if it was one of his least favourite pupils. Perhaps he would look past it and see that Albus Severus Potter is not just the son of Harry James Potter, but the grandson of Lilly Evans.

But dear Merlin that kid looked just like his father, though with a little more style she must admit. Brown messy hair, green eyes, small in figure too, very short poor kid he'd probably get teased about unless he decided to grow soon-ish, maybe he'd pull out some Weasley genes from some where with in. she looked down on Albus, oh how she'd wanted to do that for so long (not this Albus though- she was sick of the old man's calm almighty-ness) as he climbed up to the stool and sat very nervously on stiff wood. There was the hushed silence that always ensued as someone wore that ridiculously old hat. But much like his father, there was a lovely length of time as the young lad was sorted.

"Gryffindor!" was shouted out into the crowd, followed by a massive wave of cheers and whistles. As usual the red and gold crowd all stood to try and shake hands and welcome the new member of their family. She noticed that the youngest Potter boy sat purposefully next to the blond Malfoy, screw self control she openly smiled; it was nice to see a change.

Not long after that sorting, a few names, the announcement of many she recognised. Because of this she suddenly felt that she was getting old. What a strange and terrible, terrible thought. Right then and there, as she called up 'Rose Weasley' she made a promise to herself; she would definitely out live Dumbledore; just to rub it in his face when she was hung in her own portrait up in that hidden room. Of course Ronald wouldn't stand for any sentimentality, though Hermione seemed to have gotten her way with the feminine name, though she wouldn't have been shocked if the red head had chosen something like daisy.

Rose was a definite in between with the two of her parents. She had a freckled face, with slightly buck teeth, and her frizzy hair was orange, plus she was already looking on the lanky side. McGonagall held back a frown as she waited impatiently to see which side of the family's brains she got. The ugly hat wasn't on the young girls head for long before "Ravenclaw!" was screamed.

Well that settled it.

Very suddenly something caught the professor's eyes at the bottom of the parchment; oh dear god was that a Creevey?!

Albus sat happily at his table, glancing around constantly at all of his new house mates. This was so exciting, it was so exciting! He could see, from the corner of his eye, his brother sitting further down the table, and he turned to grin, but found that James wasn't looking. The older boy turned only a second later though and he... he... Albus could cry. He would never have expected something from his brother. James Harry Potter, of all people, would smile at his younger brother. It was small, but it was also encouraging; a very small way of James saying that he was, could Albus say proud? He gave a small smile back, but his brother had already turned back to his friends. It was then that Albus felt the dark gloomy presence beside him.

"Rose Weasley!"

He heard behind him, and he quickly turned to see his cousin hop onto the stool, looking close to wetting herself. She sat there for less than half the time that Albus had been, hopping off with a great big smile as the hat shouted "Ravenclaw!"

The table of that house erupted with noise as they welcomed the young girl, she ran over and jumped into her new friends, hugging and shaking hands. Albus smiled and applauded, happy for her, before turning his attention to the looming shadow beside him.

Scorpius Malfoy sat at the table staring wide eyed, and unseeingly into his slightly shaking palms that were resting on his thighs. The blond boy looked paler that normal, and his mouth was slightly agape, his lip trembling. It looked to Al like he was mumbling something so he leaned down to listen, but his could only here tiny pitch changes in the breath, so he leant yet further to the other boy.

"I'm dead. This is the end. I can't believe this. I am going to die; my father is going to kill me. Oh dear- "he suddenly realised he had an intruder to his thoughts and he turned sharply to glare at Albus. Only the anger was sort of ruined because of the shine in his eyes. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Albus didn't understand the other boy. What was so wrong with Gryffindor? Hell Albus was begging to get into this house, where as this other boy seemed like he would prefer to be living in the sewers.

"It's okay," Albus whispered, so only the upset boy could hear him, "it'll be a good year I promise." And with that the brown haired boy promptly fell off the seat, shaking the tears from Scorpius' eyes as he blinked at the other now on the floor.

"Ahhh! I'm sorry!" A very skinny little girl screamed, jumping back from Al's new seat on the floor, "I didn't mean to, I was just trying to get your attention I'm so sorry!"

He groaned and tried to sit up before a flash blinded him, "I'm really sorry! Truly I am! I'm Eva Creevey by the way." Why did that name sound horribly familiar to Albus?

"Hello" he murmured whilst trying to get his sight back. All the while Scorpius had been glancing back and forth trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

"I'm actually not much of a photographer, this is my dad's, but he asked me to take a picture of you for him, he says he went to school with your dad and mum. He said he totally had a crush on your mum. Oh no! He also said I shouldn't say that. Bother. But um it was really nice to meet you! I'm just going to go sit down now. Sorry again!"

And she ran off. No kidding, she practically skipped right down to the end of the table and jumped right onto the seat. Al and Scorpius exchanged some very confused looks before Al clambered back to his seat, rubbing his back. The blond boy seemed to have cheered up, if only a little and Al was going to say more but a light tapping was heard towards the front. He swivelled his head around to see Professor McGonagall standing imperiously at the centre of the staff table. She held elegantly in her hand a golden goblet, she glanced at her school to make sure every one was paying attention before starting her announcement.

"Welcome! First years to Hogwarts, the school of witch craft and wizardry," she didn't raise her voice, but it appeared magnified throughout the great hall, "and to every one else; welcome back! I trust you all had a safe and wonderful holiday. A reminder that the forbidden forest is still 'forbidden' curfews for all years remain at 9pm, for the first years this means you must be back in your common rooms by this allocated time. If not then house points will be taken away. However take note that if you do the right thing; house points shall be awarded."

Albus glanced around him tried to absorb all of the information thrown at him, he wanted to see this forbidden forest, was it out of bounds all the time or just at night time? He felt a prickle of fear as he wondered whether the curfew at 9 meant that there were monsters in the school and it was dangerous; he was sure James had told him something like that at some point. He looked back to McGonagall as she continued to speak;

"Also we have a new rule in place this year so all years will listen closely, the south tower is out of bounds from the fourth floor up. Any student stepping foot there will be placed on immediate detention, with the possibility of expulsion. That being said let us eat. Together in merriness."

As soon as those last three words were spoken large piles of food suddenly appeared on all the golden silverware before Al, he and Scorpius exchanged excited looks before digging in. Scorpius, however, ate with a slower pace and continued to glance behind him at the other houses. Albus was naturally a fast eater, he couldn't help it and a lot of the time he was very embarrassed by it. Shovelling food down his throat he didn't even notice that he was being controlled by his awful habit until Scorpius turned to look at him with a disgusted expression. Al stopped eating immediately, slowly pulling the roast chicken away from his face. It left a greasy sheen around his lips, which he didn't notice as he looked down at his half empty plate in embarrassment.

"sorry." He mumbled over a mouthful of food. Scorpius said nothing but began to eat with a formal grace, heightening the red blush spilling over Albus' face, was he next to royalty or something?

He tried to eat slower after that, tried being the key word there. He ate him self silly and eventually slumped onto the table with an over flowing gut. No wonder his brother had started to eat less at home, no offence to his mother but his home food couldn't compare to this cooking! Everything tasted so good! But what he hadn't prepared for was when the main course disappeared. As soon as the desserts appeared he wanted to cry. He just didn't have enough room to fit it all in. but he had to! How could he not?! This food! It just looked so good, so delicious, drool worthy, he subconsciously picked up a piece of treacle tart when he heard a scream issued down his left.

"Sorry we're late, how is everyone this fine evening?" a ghost head had poked out from a platter and he looked around as if standing, or should I say floating, in someone's food was perfectly normal.

"Look! It's Nearly Headless Nick" some one yelled.

Nick's face automatically dropped and he muttered angrily to himself, "why must this happen every year" and he turned sharply making his head wobble slightly.

"It's Sir Nicolas De Mimsy Porpington, if you don't mind." And with that he removed himself from the table and began to float towards the students who knew him, but Claudette was far too excited at the sight of a ghost to not talk.

"Sir Nicolas! Hi! My name is Claudette! How are you."

He stopped and turned to her looking mildly surprised, but politely replied to her inquiry; "dead. Naturally. And you? Miss Claudette?"

She blushed at his gentlemanly behaviour; "oh I'm just ecstatic! I can't believe I'm here, it's all so exciting. And it is such a pleasure to meet you sir. I've been waiting to come to this school for so long, time always goes by so slowly."

Nick was suddenly very interested in this talkative girl and glided to sit next to her, effectively making the dark haired boy that had previously been sitting next to her squeal and jump onto the lap of the spiky haired boy sitting next to him.

"My dear child," he shook his loose head at her knowingly; "you have no idea."

"Oh of course! Sorry if I offended you-"

"Not at all." He managed to slip in a word.

"But this place it looks so fantastic, I cant wait to start classes. You look so regal, were you a student when you went here..." she asked a lot of questions without even allowing Nick to answer, but he seemed only amused by this. Albus who had been watching, stunned, suddenly started to noticed the excited chatter that filled the rest of the hall and he turned to see many other ghosts. There was a fat monk laughing heartily, and a pirate looking man waving his sword around proudly. And another, a lady who was sitting down elegantly having a serious conversation with Rose. There were many others as well but his attention was instantly caught by a maniacal laughter screaming over head.

"Hahahahaaaa! Looky at all the wee firstees. They're so small and easy to tease. They get so scared they go wee wees in there panties!" he finished with a cackle, he then noticed Albus looking at him with laughter in his eyes, the ghost, who was actually a poltergeist, stopped suddenly and swooped over to Al, "what's this?! Pottee wee Potter came back. You didn't even grow up!"

It was then that McGonagall looked up and saw the Hawaiian shirt dressed poltergeist hanging around the first years, "Peeves!" she yelled, catching a fair few peoples attention; "you're not permitted in the great hall!"

"Yes sir! Miss McGonagall sir!" Peeves always had this respect for the headmasters of the school, though he always enjoyed peeving McGonagall off, though never did he cross Dumbledore; for that man the ghost had a definite respect. Before leaving the great hall however, he through a couple of water bombs. He always did, and he had missed them at the doors to the Great Hall, that was why he had come in, he just wanted to throw the balloons. He left as several girls squealed and some boys yelled out, their new uniforms now dripping. His cackle could be heard from down the hall.

That was the majority of the excitement for the feast. Claudette talked for ages with Nearly Headless Nick, and he seemed to never get bored, actually enjoying her talkative behaviour, and he left with a sorry note as the tables were cleared and McGonagall stood again to make a goodnight speech.

"It is now time to return to the common rooms, the first years will leave first to be guided by this years prefects. Get some sleep ladies and gentlemen, classes begin tomorrow, your timetables will be handed out at breakfast tomorrow. Goodnight."

At that note a boy and a girl stood from the upper end of the Gryffindor table and walked down calling for all first years. The boy was bulky, and of medium height and he had wavy brown hair, bordering on sandy. The curls dangled down on his face as his hair was quite long and he had clear blue eyes. The girl was his complete opposite, tall and lady like her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her skirt was longer than most others but it actually looked fashionable. Albus thought that she could probably be a model. He stood stumbling slightly and found Scorpius wondering off ahead of him and he was quick to catch up.

"I wonder what our rooms are going to be like." No answer, so he tried again; "aren't you excited, I mean I wonder what we're going to learn in class tomorrow."

"Didn't you read any of the text books?" he asked in an almost unfriendly tone.

Albus blushed at the comment, in truth he was too excited to sit down and actually read anything, though he had glanced at the covers briefly when they bought them. He just mumbled a 'no' in reply. Luckily Claudette skipped forward and saved him from the awkward situation. She talked and talked, though Albus found himself slowly getting used to it. Suddenly they all arrived at the entrance to their common room, which happened to be the portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. She looked at them excitedly; "oo look at all of them, so cute and young! Well whats the password then?"

"Cornish spectrum" the taller prefect said with a flick of her head. She was obviously enjoying her new position of power.

With a nod of her head the portrait swung open and they began to climb through, one by one into a warmly lit carpeted room. Albus was awe smacked, looking around in amazement; it was nothing like his brother had described. It was so comfortable looking with easy chairs a fireplace, which was already alight with glowing flames. Sofas and tables with book shelves, with a colour scheme of red and gold throughout. It really was a home away from home.

"Alright first years we'll show you to your dorms, you head up this staircase," the boy Prefect was speaking now. And despite his surly figure, he actually had a kind voice as he directed to the stair behind him, "you head to the first floor, boys your bedrooms will be to your right and girls you continue up the stairs to the left. You things should be waiting for you already."

Claudette and Albus walked together up the stairs, Scorpius just a step ahead of them. The young girl continued to ramble all the way and when they went to part she said goodnight at least 5 times, Albus was sure.

His dorm room consisted of four poster beds, the colour scheme continued up here as well, it even had another heater in the middle of the room, with a grate around it. He head over to the bed which his belongings were standing next to and began unpacking. He noticed Scorpius sitting dejectedly on the end of his large bed, but when the blond looked up to seethe other look at him he scowled and began to move.

Albus looked around at the rest of his dorm mates, and he noticed the two boys from earlier, the one with spiky red hair and the one with dark hair, these two were laughing together by one of the beds. There was another boy over on the far side of the room and he was slowly and quietly unpacking all of his things, laying them in his draws with absolute care. The Potter boy strolled over to the laughing duo to introduce himself.

"Hello!" he smiled; "I'm Albus Potter, what are your names?"

They both looked at him incredibly; "Potter?! As in Harry Potter's son?!"

"Um yeah, that would be my dad."

The red head jumped forward and shook his hand, "that's flippin' awesome mate! Nice to meet ya! I'm Benny Fester and this is Callum Fawkley!"

"Pleasure man"

"Great! But umm how do you know my dad?"

The two looked at each other before turning back to him as though he was mad. Albus had a distinct feeling that these two had grown up together since all of their actions were the same.

"Mate," Benny shook his head, "your dad is like famous!"

"Oh. Yeah I know that but it was like a generation ago."

"So?! He's flippin' legend, people like him you don't forget mate!"

"Plus my dad works in the Auror department with your dad and our dads know each other." Fawkley put in with a shrug. Al nodded an understanding, and looked toward the still silently packing boy in the corner.

"Do you know him?" he asked with a jerk of his head. The other two boys leaned together to have a look.

"Nope."

"To be truly honest I didn't even notice him."

"Shall we?" with that the red head lead the other two to the meet and greet with the last of the five dorm buddies. "Hey man what are you doing."

"Unpacking." He said without turning around. The trio looked quizzically at the boy before Albus spoke up.

"My name is Albus, what's yours?"

"It's umm. I mean my name is Sirius Smidgeon."

Albus smiled as the boy suddenly turned to face them, he had a cute round face, slightly on the chubby side, with slightly buck teeth.

"I have an uncle called Sirius well he's my dad's god father so I suppose he's more of a grand father really. This is Callum Fawkley and Benny Fester."

"Hey!" the twins said in unison, raising a hand each.

"hi." The reply was rather quiet and the boy looked down at his feet and slowly began to turn around to continue what he had been doing. Albus figured that he wanted to be alone for a bit and, in an attempt to save everyone from the awkwardness that was well on it's way he bid everyone goodnight and returned to his bedside. He quickly unpacked and shoved everything into his drawers in some kind of order and, after changing into his pyjamas climbed into his large soft bed. It was so cosy, and warm. But he wondered if he would be able to sleep, he was far too excited about the next day. But before he knew, after turning over onto his other side, he was gone.

End chapter 5

A/N aw yeah woot woot! XD that was awesome! Not my writing I mean that I did this instead of my assignment which due ever so dramatically tomorrow. But all the same. Hope you guys are liking it thus far... I was going to mention something... ermmm never mind I cant remember. Well feel free to ask questions and all that shiz! Thanks for reading! By the way this chapter was brought to you by Blacksta1n incorporations yadda yadda yadda. And onto Fuzyhead!

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