*Note from the author: So I'm going to be using this symbol (*) to insert any thoughts of mine from the present at the beginning of each chapter. I added quite a bit more to this than I previously had from 4 or 5 years ago… whenever it was that I wrote this. Changes have been made to Al's conversation with the Sorting Hat and a few more descriptive details. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 2

The Sorting

The boats landed against the shore with a soft thud and first years filed out, full of anticipation. And Burt was dripping wet, grasping on tight to his frog.

"This way," the head boy shouted with a wave of his hand.

Albus obediently followed the first years up a steep flight of sone stairs into a torch lit room where a woman in a velvet green robe waited near a huge wooden door.

"I am professor McGonigall, the headmistress of Hogwarts," she announced proudly. "We look forward to..." she started to speak again when Burt's frog rocketed out of his hands and leaped towards professor McGonigal.

"Noooo Humfry, not again!," Burt cried out and bounced after his troublesome frog.

"Goodness! Your soaking wet," McGonigal exclaimed, very alarmed.

"Aquvast Ortivios" she said pointing her wand at Burt, sending the water droplets clinging to Burt sizzling in a mist of speedy evaporation.

"Thanks Professor," Burt whispered frightened, but pleased that his clothes were dry again.

"I want no more interruptions from now on," she continued, glaring at Burt who backed up meekly into the crowd of black robes.

"You will be sorted into one of four houses which will be your home from now on: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor. I expect all of you to respect your teaches and fellow students. Points will be awarded to those who've earned it and deducted from those who've disobey the rules. Any questions?" she finished, taking a brief pause and looking around at the new students frightened expressions.

"Good, follow me and when I'll call your name to come up to the stool and place the sorting hat on upon your head."

The huge doors swung open, revealing four rows of long wooden tables. Eager students' faces competing for a view of the first years stared right back at them. Albus looked up at the enchanted ceiling which appeared as a starry night's sky. Candles were hovering high above the ground and Albus looked anxiously around the room for his brother. When he picked him out among the tables he waved and smiled, James smiled back at him and gave him a reassuring nod. Albus then looked to the front of the room and saw the sorting hat on top of a wooden stool. It began to sing thus:

Hard times have come hard times have gone

like a wheel turning round and round

Yet I wonder who starts the song

Witches and Wizards fear me not

For it's not I who decide you future.

However, I can help sort you to your strengths... and weaknesses:

to become powerful and strong

to become clever and successful

to become diligent and kind

and to become brave and loyal.

Tis up to you to decide the way you use it,

For in the end, nothing matters

unless you unite all.

A couple people clapped , but most stood wondering what in the world the sorting hat was blathering about. Professor McGonigal stood up next to the stool with a list of names clutched in her hands.

"Berkly Abyon!"

A nervous looking girl with her hair pull back walked up to the stool and stat down and McGonigal genteelly placed the sorting hat on her head.

"Ravenclaw!"

Relieved, the girl skipped to join her fellow Ravenclaws.

"Dick Ackins"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Sally Bones"

"Hufflepuff!"

It seemed to Al that he was going to be waiting for a life time.

"Catriena Doewns"

"Slytherin!"

"There's not very many Gryffindoors Al," Rose remarked.

"What? oh yeah," Al mumbled. He was to nervous to be listening.

"William Locksly"

Will stared at the hat blankly.

"Come on Will it's your turn," Rose said pushing him toward the hat.

Will sat on the stool and let the hat be placed on his head.

"Brave heart... loyal... quite skilled... yes, yes," the sorting hat mumbled to Will.

"Gryffindor!" the sorting hat announced.

Will smiled at Al and Rose and walked toward the cheering Gryffindor table.

"Scorpious Malfoy"

"Slytherin!"

"The hat didn't even touch his head," Rose whispered, wondering how that was possible.

"Meav Maycock"

"Ravenclaw!"

"your name should be coming up soon Al," Rose whispered into his ear.

"Burt Poelyton"

Burt marched up to the stool and waited for the hat to be put on his head.

"Brilliant Hufflepuff blood runs through your vanes, but there's something deeper...hmm...were to put you... not many people would jump in the lake without a thought... shows bravery... your quite loyal to your frog... better be," the sorting hat grumbled:

Gryffindor!"

Burt's eyes lit up like a million candles and he ran to the cheering Gryffindor's table. Rose and Al smiled too.

"Albus Potter"

Al stood petrified to his spot. He felt Rose's hand nudge him forward a little bit and mutter "it will be fine."

He took a deep breath and walked forward. Whispers of " Is that the son of Harry Potter" swept across the room like lightening.

Albus sat on the stool, his heart beating a billion times per minuet. Professor McGonigal gave him a reassuring smile and placed the sorting hat on his head.

"Hmmmm... another Potter... yet so scared? Would Gryffindor really be the house for you..."

"Not Slytherin," Albus whispered loud enough for only to the hat to hear. "Not Slytherin , not Slytherin, please not Slytherin..."

"Not Slytherin, aye?..." the hat continued, "Slytherin is a house of power... you would become great in Slytherin."

"Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin," Albus spoke automatically now. He was living a year in in minuet.

"Well then prove yourself... what makes you think you'll do better in Gryffindor?"

"Well, I'm not self centered, like a Slytherin. I don't want to be around people who will make fun of me and others day and night."

"Aye, but it's in your soul! You're destined to lead and stick out of the common crowd. You'll need to be able to judge people for yourself someday."

"To make decisions on my own? Yes. But not the common rude gossip and mean remarks of a Slytherin."

"Slytherin isn't all mean and rude, Albus. Slytherin used to produce students who could persuade and get others to agree with their wishes. You will need to learn how to live amongst people you're uncomfortable with... you will."

"Please! I want to thrive in an environment with those who will support me, not learn how to get along in an place where I'll have to constantly compete and feel put down!"

The hat and Albus continued to talk for half an hour. The students waiting to be sorted were getting tired, anxious, and scared. Albus saw their faces staring back at him, their eyes full of worry. He and the hat were still dulling back and forth with words.

"You may place me in Slytherin," Albus finally anounced, "there are many other students yet to be sorted. They don't deserve for me to take up their time. I am no more, nor no less special than the rest of them."

"That was well spoken like a Gryffindor," the hat took into consideration. "Yet, I do think you need Slytherin."

Albus took a deep breath, looked intently at the large doors opposite him, and his face turned cold and serious as he prepared to hear the dreadful word 'Slytherin' that would change his life.

"Slyth…"the hat stopped abruptly.

He felt the coolness on Albus's head and the willingness to take on whatever challenges tumbled upon him.

"Now that's the bravery of a true Gryffindor," the hat said to himself with a smile.

"GRYFFINDOR!"The hat shouted so loudly with pleasure that it nearly blew McGonigal's eardrum out.

Albus's dark face broke into a smile that seemed as if is it glowed with sun's rays of light. The Gryffindor table clapped and shouted with joy as loud as thunder. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff table clapped too, for they were getting wary of waiting so long.

James smiled at his brother and Al smiled back. He took a seat next to Will and continued to watch the delayed sorting.

"Cathrine Watersbruke"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Rose Weasley"

Rose smiled at Al and ran up to the hat anxious to be sorted.

"Gryffindor!"

Rose smiled even more, her wavy red hair glowing. She ran to join Al and Will who were clapping along with the rest of the Gryffindors.

"What took the hat so long to sort you," Rose whined to Al.

"Benjermen Wood"

"Gryffindor!"

"The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin," Al continued.

"Anne Wonde"

"Why" Rose asked.

"Hufflepuff!"

Al sighed, still not sure if Gryffindor was the right place for him, but filled with pure, dead relief that he was in Gryffindor.

"Virginia Yeomen"

"Gryffindor!"

Professor McGonigal stood up to begin her speech.

"Now that we have finished our sorting ceremony I have a few regulations I hope all will of you will follow.

1. The Forbidden forest is forbidden, hence it's name.

2. There will be no magic used outside of the school.

3. The use of harmful magic is prohibited.

4. Unfortunately the use of the Weasley products are banned, unless you obtain permission from a teacher. But mind you! Only for educational uses only." McGonigal concluded peering out at her students.

A few groans swept throughout the Great Hall, but hushed quickly.

"Good, then let the feast begin!" McGonigall excliamed, waving her hands in the air.

Dishes of exotic fruits, fresh vegetables, simmering stew, soft mash potatoes, buttery noodles, pulled steak, spice-sprinkled salmon, homely fish-and-chips, silver goblets filled with pumpkin juice and punch mixed with berries and fruits, warm loafs of bred were piled on top of each other, jams, marmalades, and butter were set on golden trays, the air filled with many scents and everyones eye's sparkled with delight, so the feast began!

Thank you for the lovely reviews. I tried to put quotations and correct punctuation in this time. This was boring chapter, but necessary for the rest of the story, I hope you enjoyed it though. Please leave a review to help me get better! Thank you!