-Chapter Two-

(In which Albus and Rosie get Sorted and attend their first Feast)

It was raining heavily as Albus caught his first ever view of Hogwarts. Despite the heavy rain, he could see quite clearly the outline of the castle with its many towers and turrets and lights glowing like stars form some windows. It was an impressive, proud and ancient structure but it seemed homely and welcoming. It was also getting bigger as they approached it. Occasionally there would be dim lightning followed shortly by a distant rumble of thunder. Hagrid then led them into an underground harbour. From there they went on foot but it was too dark to see. Albus felt something tickling his leg and he stumbled once or twice.

Abruptly, they stopped and a huge pair of doors stood open. They entered a brightly-lit Hall so huge it could easily accommodate a small house. To their right was a marble staircase leading to the floors above and in front of them was another pair of doors. In front of it was an elderly, stern, strict-looking witch. This was Professor McGonagall, who despite being Headmistress continued her custom of welcoming the newcomers and conducting the Sorting Ceremony.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." she said briskly "Before you join the Feast you will be Sorted into your Houses. You will attend classes; share a common room and dormitories with the members of your Houses. Good deeds will be rewarded with points for your House, while misbehaviour will result in deduction of points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points wins the House Championship. Now, when I call for you, you will walk in a single file into the Hall." Surveying the huddle of small figures trembling because of cold and nerves, she smiled and said a little less briskly: "I am sure that each one of you will be a credit to your House." She then left for the Hall.

Albus was wondering where Hagrid went when a boy with brown hair and a good-natured face came up to him. Albus realised that the boy was holding a toad.

"I'm really sorry," said the boy "my toad was trying to get up your leg back then. I'm Lesley, by the way, Lesley Harper."

"Oh, it's O.K." Albus said, trying to sound friendly because his heart was beating so fast it was almost like a vibration. "What's your toad's name?"

Before Lesley could reply however, Professor McGonagall reappeared and gestured for them to enter. Everyone stumbled to form a single file and walked into the Great Hall.

It was a large hall, illuminated by thousands of floating candles and by torches along the walls. The ceiling indeed looked like the sky outside. In fact it looked as though there was no ceiling. There were four long tables (one for each House) where the students were seated. As Albus walked, he spotted his cousins from all Houses. There was Victoire Weasley (Bill and Fleur's daughter) and Molly Weasley (Percy's) from the Ravenclaw table; Dominique (Bill and Fleur's) from the Hufflepuff table; and James and Fred Weasley (George and Angelina's) from the Gryffindor table. It was, Albus reflected, even more embarrassing with nearly half the family present (Albus was very shy), but as they walked, Rosie smiled and waved back, though she smiled nervously and her hands were shaking.

In front there was the High Table for the teachers. Professor McGonagall's chair (in the centre) was empty. It was not the magnificent chair that Professor Dumbledore had used, because Professor McGonagall believed that no one could ever replace him. Her chair was like all the teachers'. In front of the High Table was a three-legged stool with an ancient, wizard's Hat placed on it. The Sorting Hat, Albus thought. They stopped walking. Professor McGonagall stood by the stool with a large scroll in hand. There was deafening silence in the Hall. The brim of the Hat opened and it sang:

Hogwarts, Hogwarts,

This school in which we learn

You stand all here today for

Your strength I do discern

I'll look into your mind

Tell you where you belong

Show you where you're weak

And places where you're strong

Maybe you're a Gryffindor

Valiant, noble, brave.

Those Gryffindors will fight

Till they reach their grave.

Maybe you're a Slytherin

And want to be the best.

You'll make friends undertake many

Tasks at your behest.

Maybe you're a Ravenclaw

And wisdom is your treasure.

The world for you is a book

And to read it is a pleasure.

Maybe you're a Hufflepuff

Steady and accepting toil

Hufflepuffs would do their work

Where others would recoil.

Don't be afraid! Put me on

And tell me all you know

I'll run it through my clever brain

And tell you where to go.

Applause rang through the Hall. Then professor McGonagall unrolled the scroll.

"When I call out your name," she said "you will come forward and sit on the stool. I will place the Hat on your head and after that you may go to your House Table."

She read the first name off the scroll

"Abbot Maria" A small, pig-tailed girl stepped forward, looking ready to vomit. She sat on the stool and there hat covered her eyes.

"RAVENCLAW!" The Hat cried. The Ravenclaw table applauded she went off to join them.

So it went on, Albus feeling more and more nervous. Soon Professor McGonagall passed the G's, the H's…K's, the L's until finally-

"Malfoy, Scorpius"

Scorpius stepped up, expressionless. Why do they even bother, Albus thought, it's obviously going to be Slyth-

"GRYFFINDOR" The Hat bellowed. There was scattered applause from the Gryffindor table, murmurs rolling about the Hall and even some of the staff looked mildly surprised. Scorpius settled himself at the Gryfindor table with no one welcoming or congratulating him. Albus wondered whether the Hat had made a mistake and was wondering whether he could be put into Slytherin. He would have muttered something to Rosie, but had the feeling that if he did, he would be sick. Next to him, Rosie was thinking almost exactly the same thing. Then-

"Potter, Albus"

Albus heard whispers such as "Potter, did she say?" and "Not Harry's son?" and caught a glimpse of a couple of people standing up to get a look at him before the Hat slipped over his eyes.

"Well, well, well" said a small, quiet voice in his ear, "what have we here? Like father, like son, I see…not bad at all. But there's very little I can do since you already seem to have made up your mind. You're going to GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table erupted with applause and cheering as Albus half-ran to the table. There was space next to Scorpius, who was looking at him expectantly. Not wanting to appear rude, Albus took his seat there. Opposite him was James.

"Shame," James said, grinning, "You won't be disowned now. I was looking for at least half the inheritance." All the same, he looked pleased.

"Shut up" Albus snapped.

But at that moment Rosie's name was called. She was gutsy (to the point of recklessness) and also clever, so there was a chance of here being put in Ravenclaw. Albus fervently hoped she was in Gryffindor. He was sure he'd feel dreadfully lonely without her.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat cried. Albus joined in the cheering and dragged Rosie down to sit next to him.

The Sorting had ended with "Weatherby, Edgar" being Sorted in Hufflepuff. Professor McGonagall returned to the Head's seat.

"Before we begin the feast," she said to the Hall " I would like to introduce a new member to our staff. Professor Electra Wallaby will be replacing Professor Milton Frost as our new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. ."

Professor Wallaby stood up and there was polite applause for her, but everyone was starving and wanted the feast to begin. As if she heard their thoughts, Professor McGonagall smiled slightly.

"Let the feast begin." she said.