Chapter 3

There was a pecking coming from the window when Harry sat at the kitchen table, reading the rest of that day's Daily Prophet as the dishes washed themselves and the laundry folded itself. He didn't look up, he was aiming to finish the article he was reading before he had to open the window. Maybe by that time, Ginny would have gotten up and opened it instead. Then, the pecking came again.

"Harry, can you get that?" Ginny called from the family room. She was watching the tele. Nowadays every household had one, be it a Muggle or a wizard home. The whole world was just becoming so hi-tech that the Wizarding World had to keep up, or the Muggles would suspect them.

Reluctantly, Harry set down the paper, it wasn't really an interesting article anyway, and went to the window to let in the owl. To his surprise, when he opened the window two owls flew in, the family owl, Nymphadora, and the Hogwarts owl, Hermes. Attached to Hermes's leg was a piece of rolled up parchment, like this letter had been written in a hurry. Harry didn't call to Ginny. He just thought this was odd. Something big must have happened, and Harry was filled with apprehension as he unraveled the scroll— was it bad news or good news? What had happened at the Sorting Ceremony that evening? Had Albus actually been sorted into Slytherin?

Dear Dad,

I know you'll eventually tell Mum about this, and that's okay, but I want you to read this first. Albus was sorted into Slytherin. I don't know what to do. It's horrible! What if he becomes, you know, bad? Why hadn't he been sorted into Gryffindor? What did he ever do to deserve this? Can you please send a letter to Professor McGonagall and ask her to have Albus resorted? Please, anything! He doesn't deserve to stay there!

Love,

James

P.S.- That Malfoy boy was also sorted into Slytherin. Please help!

Why had he ever told his children about his childhood rivalry with Draco Malfoy? He wasn't so bad in the end. But Draco had been misguided. As had Severus Snape, whom Albus was also named after... But Harry trusted the Sorting Hat, so he didn't know what to think. Not all Slytherins were bad, right?

Harry sighed and ruffled through his hair. "G-Ginny?" his voice cracked.

"Yeah?" Ginny called from the other room, not really wanting to go to the kitchen— her television program was just getting really gripping.

"Ginny, can you come in here? This is kind of important," Harry called.

Ginny unenthusiastically paused her television program and came into the kitchen. She wore a purple tank top and some sweatpants, but she still looked beautiful to Harry, she always did. Harry pushed his new semi-rectangular glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"What's the matter, Harry?" she asked.

"Well, I just got a letter from James," Harry said.

"Really?" she said. "Last year he didn't even write until a whole week had gone by and we sent him a letter."

"Yeah," Harry said quickly, "probably because this year is much different than last year." He put the letter down on the table and ran his hands through his hair. He sighed. "Ginny, Albus was sorted into Slytherin." Harry's eyes were closed, scared of what Ginny's reaction might be. But Ginny stood there. She didn't want to comprehend. Her head was spinning. What had he just said? Albus was WHAT? HOW?

Owls rained down from the sky, as was typical for the first full day of school. Parents wanted to know if their children had gotten to school safely, how the sorting went, that sort of thing. Scorpius, Tomoka, Lorcan and Lysander, and every Weasley received a letter. And so did Albus.

"Oh, don't be afraid to open it!" Tomoka said. "Ugh, come on, here we'll read mine first."

"Do you have to share it with me? Can't you share it with your friends?" Albus asked. He didn't understand why Tomoka kept hanging around him. She was a year older and nice and actually kind of pretty. Albus was a dork. He didn't have many friends outside of his family.

"Most of my friends are in Ravenclaw anyway, and I only have two friends in Slytherin— one of them is coming late because she's at her dead grandfather's funeral. Her grandfather is dead. She has a dead grandfather." Tomoka said.

"Yeah I get it, okay?" Albus said before she could continue.

"And my best guy friend here in Slytherin is probably busy making out with his new girlfriend." Tomoka guessed. "I haven't really gone looking for him. He can come to me first."

"Oh, sorry," Al said, sensing some fight had happened.

"No, it's okay, it's pretty typical." Tomoka said. "And my only family member in Slytherin, Arcturus, is a pretty big downer."

"Gee, thanks," the boy with shaggy dark hair and green eyes from the previous night sat across from them at the table again. Tomoka stuck her tongue out at him.

"Bet you didn't get a letter this morning, huh?" Tomoka pushed his buttons.

"Actually I did," Arcturus said. "And I'm planning to write back with my pretty-girl perfect handwriting in pencil on computer paper." Albus could just hear the nails on the blackboard of Tomoka's brain, though he hardly knew her.

"Why must you always punish your mother so?" Tomoka felt pain for her cousin. "She's like my favorite cousin. Why do you always do this to her?"

"Because, there's nothing wrong with it." Arcturus said.

"Maybe in your opinion their isn't." Tomoka stuck her nose up.

"So you're saying I have a shitty opinion?" Arcturus pressed.

"Well, if— well yes! In this case you do!" Tomoka said.

"Okay, then. Ravenclaw is the best House, Slytherin is the most amazing House, Moaning Myrtle is the coolest ghost we'll all ever meet, and..." Arcturus couldn't think of another thing to say, so Tomoka easily stepped in.

"Severus Snape is the kindest, bravest, gentlest, sexiest man I have ever met." Tomoka chipped in. Arcturus didn't even pay attention to what she said, and promptly repeated it smugly without thinking.

"Severus Snape is the kindest, bravest, gentlest, sexiest man I have ever met." Arcturus said. "HEY!"

"Haha! Gotcha!" Tomoka said satisfyingly. "Plus, that was a totally different case."

"Okay! Okay!" Albus said before they could start another round. "Just read me your damn letter already!"

"With pleasure," Tomoka said, fluffing her feathers, and opening her envelope.

"Dear Tomoka,

How are you? Are any of the new students anyone we know? Who are you sharing your bunk bed with this year? Hopefully not anyone you're going to have issues with like last year. How is Stefanie? Is she at school yet? Tell her we're sorry for her loss.

We're completely moved in now. Could you ask Professor McGonagall if you could still attend Hogwarts even though we live so far away now? We would rather send you to a magic school where you can communicate with everyone much easier than if we sent you to the Japanese magic school.

Nothing has happened since you left. Do you want to come and see our new house during winter break, or do you want to go to see Grandma and Grandpa like we usually do?

We miss you much!

Love,

Mom and Dad"

"Okay," Tomoka said. "Read yours now."

"I've just got one question," Albus said, "did you just recently move here?"

"No, I actually lived here for, like, two years, but now we moved to New Zealand," Tomi answered. "My parents have always wanted to live here and in New Zealand. It's my mom's dream to own a bookstore and bakery in New Zealand and live on the beach."

"Oh, okay," Albus said. He then opened his envelope acting like it was nothing, but on the inside he was going crazy with fear and anxiety. Did his parents know? If they didn't, how would he tell them? He really did not want to read the letter, but it was now or never.

"Dear Albus,

What happened? How are you? Are you okay? Why did the Sorting Hat put you in Slytherin? Are you okay there? Do you want to be moved out of that House? Has Malfoy given you any trouble? If you need anything just tell us or Professor Longbottom. We love you. You know that, right? Don't forget it. We could never stop loving you, and your house doesn't impact that. If you don't want to be there we can ask Professor McGonnagal to get you re-sorted, but wherever the Hat puts you then, that's where you are to stay. Do you have any friends in Slytherin? Are they nice? Don't hang out with the wrong type of Slytheirn. Please write back soon. And talk to James and the rest of our family at Gryffindor. James is really worried about you, and we're sure the rest of the family is too. We want to make sure you are happy wherever you are.

Please write soon.

We love you,

Mum and Dad"