Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended. This work belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only J.K. Rowling. This is purely fictional and my own story, but I do not own Hogwarts. It is based around canonical information, but it isn't canon. I have also added a few characters that you will know immediately.

A/N: Since there isn't a proper summary on the outside of this story, the inside is where the summary is. Okay Summary:

Ever since Albus got his acceptance letter to Hogwarts, he has been hoping – praying – for Gryffindor. Anything but getting into Slytherin. But when something unexpected happens during the Sorting Ceremony, Albus finds himself in a neither. Now at Hogwarts, he makes knew friends with Scorpius Malfoy and Amelia-Jane Kemmington. One day, in the library, Albus, Scorpius and A.J. stumble across a mysterious lilac book. Upon opening it, they unleash the Faery Plagues on the school. Albus and his friends have to race against time to find the cure.

One

Boarding the Train

"We'll be on the train to Hogwarts faster than you can say Slytherin," James said, "And before you'll know it, you'll be under the Sorting Hat, and you know what it might say, don't you? Don't you, Al?" James stressed the word Slytherin, knowing that it would drive Albus to a heated retort.

"I won't!" Albus said, suddenly, "I won't be a Slytherin!" the argument that Al might be in Slytherin had been going on for some time. Actually, it had been going since Albus's acceptance letter to Hogwarts had arrived. James has seized the chance to begin to tease his brother. It was fun to tease his little brother, but James tried (Admittedly not that hard) not to go too far.

"James, give it a rest!" said Ginny, letting out a long sigh. Ginny was quite weary of hearing the same argument over and over again. It was always: you'll be in Slytherin. No I won't. Same old, same old. It was tiring and beginning to get irritating.

"I only said he might be," said James, grinning at his younger brother. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slytherin." However James caught his mother's eye and fell silent. Up ahead, James saw the barrier that would lead onto the platform. He looked at Albus, winked, then took the trolley from his mother and broke into a run.

"James Sirius Potter!" Ginny scolded, "Slow down and wait for us!" James ignored his mother's calls and continued to race toward the barrier. From behind him, he heard his father say:

"Oh, let him go ahead," Harry said, "He knows what he's doing." That's right! I know what I'm doing! James thought. James realized he's slowed down to a sort of skip.

"Oh, all right," Ginny said, then to James, "But if you find your cousins, go to them! I'm sure Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione are already on the platform!"

James nodded, and quickened his pace again, as he saw the barrier and headed toward it. He looked around to make sure that no Muggles were watching, then took the last few steps toward his destination. He and his cart then went through the barrier, and onto Platform 9 ¾. He headed across the platform, over to a group of carts full of trunks and cages. A man was putting the trunks onto the train.

"Just leave it here, sonny," the man said. "I'll get it on the train!"

James nodded and pushed the cart beside the others. He then walked off down the platform. He looked around for members of his extended family.

Albus frowned as he watched James disappear through the barrier between Platform Nine and Ten. His heart was slowly sinking. He had been through this process of going through the barrier once before when he saw James off the previous year, but now it felt like that never happened. He felt like this was his very first time going through the barrier. It was a pretty scary experience!

"You'll write to me, won't you?" Albus asked his parents immediately, capitalizing on the momentary absence of his brother.

"Every day, if you want us to," said Ginny.

"Not every day," said Albus quickly, a strange tone in his voice, "James says most people only get letters from home about once a month."

"We wrote to James three times a week last year," said Ginny dryly. Albus let a little smile spread across his lips. The thought of James writing desperately to Harry and Ginny last year somehow amused him.

"And you don't want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts," Harry put in. "He likes a laugh, your brother. He's like Uncle Ron that way… or maybe Uncle George…" Ginny snorted at Harry's indecision. Albus nodded. It was true. James would do anything to get a laugh. He looked back at the barrier... any moment now.

"We'll go together," Harry said, putting a hand on Albus' shoulder. Albus was suddenly relieved. The idea of going through the barrier without someone was scary. He was glad for the fact Harry was there.

Albus nodded again. Side by side, they pushed his second trolley forward, gathering speed. As they reached the barrier, Albus winced, and he could hear his owl, Sol, hoot softly, but no collision came. They emerged onto platform nine and three-quarters, which was obscured by thick white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist. Behind him, Albus heard his mother and sister appear, and the four of them started walking down the platform. Albus felt relieved.

"Where are they?" asked Albus anxiously, peering at the hazy forms they passed as they made their way down the platform.

"We'll find them," said Ginny reassuringly. They're extended family should already be on the platform. But the vapor was dense, and it was difficult to make out anybody's faces. Detached from their owners, voices sounded unnaturally loud.

"I think that's them, Al," said Ginny suddenly. She pointed a finger.

A group of four people emerged from the mist, standing alongside the very last carriage. Their faces only came into focus when Albus and his family came right up to them.

"Hi," said Albus, sounding immensely relieved.

Rose beamed at Albus, and he smiled back at her. As her parents talked to Albus' parents, Rose went over to Albus. She had reddish brown hair that had the same bushiness of her mother's. Her eyes were the same color as her father's.

"You ready?" Rose asked.

"I think so," Albus said, softly.

"You sound pretty nervous," Rose said.

"I am," Albus said, nodding.

"Want to know a secret?" Rose asked.

Albus looked at his cousin, slightly confused. He slowly nodded again.

"I'm nervous too," Rose said. It didn't show. Rose looked confident like always. Her eyes were bright, and her constantly slightly condescending expression was plastered on her face like always. Albus grinned. Knowing that his cousin was nervous as well, and that he wasn't the only one, made Al feel much better. Nearby, he could hear Lily and Hugo talking to each other about Hogwarts.

"I can't wait to go!" Hugo said, "I'm going to the best Gryffindor Keeper since Dad!"

"You," Lily said, giggling, "Nah, you'll probably end up in Hufflepuff." Albus could almost see Hugo's crestfallen face. He felt slightly sorry for the guy. Then again…

"Ugh," Albus said, "That would be worse than Slytherin." His sister and cousin talking about houses had brought back the sharp idea that Albus might be in Slytherin.

"Hufflepuff isn't that bad," Rose said. "Some great wizards and witches of our time have come from Hufflepuff. Besides, the attributes of a Hufflepuff are hard work, patience, loyalty, and fair play!"

"Then you join it," Albus muttered under his breath.

"If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said Ron, emerging from the train with Harry, where they had just placed Albus' trunk on, "but no pressure."

"Ron!" Hermione said, in the same scolding voice she'd use for her children. Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked at each other solemnly. It seemed like the mood of everything was solemn. Albus looked up at his father, who was looking past them. Albus turned to look, as did Rose.

For a moment, the steam parted. Albus saw a man and a woman, both with pale blonde hair, talking to a boy with pale blonde hair. "So that's little Scorpius," said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."

"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"

"You're right, sorry," said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood."

"Scorpius?" Albus scoffed quietly, "What kind of name is that?"

"I think it's kind of cute," Rose whispered, so her father wouldn't hear. Albus raised an eyebrow at his cousin, but before he could say anything he was interrupted.

"Hey!" James said, as he appeared through the mist. James seemed excited. Albus rolled his eyes. What could his brother be so excited about now? Maybe he'd come back to tease Albus about being in Slytherin… again!

"Teddy's back there," he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulder into the billowing clouds of steam. "Just seen him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!" He gazed up at the adults, evidently disappointed by the lack of reaction. Albus frowned.

"Uh…" He started, but James interrupted him.

"Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing -" James said, but Ginny interrupted him.

"You interrupted them?" said Ginny. "You are so like Ron -"

"- and he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away. He's snogging her!" James added as though worried he had not made himself clear.

"Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily ecstatically. "Teddy would really be part of the family then!" She looked at Hugo, who was nodding a little bit, like he liked the idea.

"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week," said Harry "Why don't we just invite him to live with is and have done with it?"

"Yeah!" said James enthusiastically. "I don't mind sharing with Al -Teddy could have my room!"

"No," said Harry firmly, "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished."

"That'll probably be the result." Lily whirled. Lucy Weasly, their cousin, was standing in her pleated skirt and white blouse. She looked like she was one of the Hogwarts students, even though she was two years too young. Her jaw line cut red hair was billowing around her, and her glasses were sliding down her nose a bit far.

"Hullo Lu." Lily said. "Hugo and I have been looking for you." Indeed, Lily had been scanning the surroundings for Lucy. She, Lucy and Hugo were all the same close, and all very close. They would be going to Hogwarts the same time.

"It's nearly eleven," Harry said, checking his watch, "you'd better get on board."

"Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him.

"Mum! I can't give a professor love!" James said, trying to pull away.

"But you know Neville-" Ginny said.

James rolled his eyes. "Outside, yeah, but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he?" James said, "I can't walk into Herbology and give him love…" Shaking his head at his mother's foolishness, he vented his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus. Albus scowled.

"See you later, Al," James said, grinning, "Watch out for the thestrals."

"I thought they were invisible?" Albus said, "You said they were invisible!"

But James merely laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him, gave his father a fleeting hug, then leapt onto the rapidly filling train. They saw him wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find his friends. Harry walked over to Albus.

"Thestrals are nothing to worry about," he told Albus. "They're gentle things, there's nothing scary about them. Anyway, you won't be going up to school in the carriages, you'll be going in the boats." Ginny kissed Albus good-bye.

"See you at Christmas." she said.

"Bye, Al," said Harry as his son hugged him. "Don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you're learned how. And don't let James wind you up."Albus sighed as he looked at his father. They were probably fairly good words of wisdom.

"What if I'm in Slytherin?" Albus whispered to him.

Harry crouched down, and Albus looked at him, so his eyes were level with Al's.

"Albus Severus," Harry said quietly, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." The only person who was close enough to hear was Ginny, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose.

"But just say-" Albus began.

"-then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student, won't it?" Harry said, "It doesn't matter to us, Al. But if it matter to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."

"Really?" Albus asked, smiling.

"It did for me," said Harry. Albus's eyes widened. His father had never told him that. His own father had chosen his house for himself? The idea seems strange, but not entirely impossible.

Doors started slamming all along the train. Rose, who had already said her goodbyes to her parents and brother, had stuck her head out of a window in a carriage room.

"Al, come on!" she said, "Don't want the train to leave without you, do you?!"

Albus smiled and hugged his father, then his mother again. He looked at his sister, and she hugged him, tears going down her face. "See you at Christmas, Lily," he said, "I'll bring back something for you."

"I'm going to miss you." Lily sniffed. She squeezed Albus until he was sure that his ribs were going to crack, and then went back to stand with Lucy and Hugo. Lucy had tears in her eyes, and Hugo was glaring at the ground.

Albus jumped onto the train, and found the compartment Rose was in. He looked out the window, and saw students doing the same, all looking at his parents.

"Why are they all staring?!" Albus demanded.

"Don't let it worry you," said Ron. "It's me, I'm extremely famous." Albus, Rose, Hugo, Lucy and Lily laughed. The train started to move, and Albus saw his father walking along the train as it moved away from their family. Lily took off running, chasing the quickly speeding up train.

"Bye!" Albus said, his voice barely hearable over the wind that was blowing through the window.

"See you at Christmas!" Rose said, "Love you!" Harry said something, but Albus couldn't hear it over the sound of the other families saying goodbye, and the noise that the Hogwarts Express was making.

Ginny, Hermione and Lily all had tears in their eyes as they waved. Albus smiled as he and Rose waved at them, Harry, Ron, Lucy and Hugo. Lily continued to run after the train, chasing and waving. Soon, the train left the platform, and started off down the track and Albus could no longer see his family. He sighed and sat down in a seat. His life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was now beginning.