As you might have noticed, I changed the title of the story. The idea remained the same. The reason for the change was the poem in the beginning, from which the title follows. It has been driving me mad and wouldn't work for a long time, but I finally came up with a more satisfactory (although far from perfect) translation of the poem, and with it came the refined title.
I also changed the original story's title from "The Web" to "Spider Web", since in the Sphynx's original the original story, the sequel, which I am translating now, and the prequel all start with the same letter. Just trying to be precise... Enjoy!
Chapter 7. Albus Potter.
The train arrived at the station in full darkness. The corridors were clamorous as students hurried to get outside, into the carriages and on – to the feast. He could hear rattling of carts and cages, loud mewing of a cat.
"Well, here I am," he winked at his reflection in the mirror, then stood up, picked up his rat from the seat, and left the compartment, smiling.
After all, how could he help smiling, when that morning he, along with his entire big family ate cake, which he stuck with many lemon candles; then Dad led him onto the secret platform, as he, instead of riding on top of the baggage cart pushed it himself, clad in the school uniform, with his own new wand safe in his pocket.
Scorpius shook his hand and wished to avoid falling into a hidden tunnel; James asked to say hello to Mr. Filch (and hardly grumbled at all); Lily instructed him in finding The Room of Requirement; and Dad and Hermione assured that they would miss him dreadfully. Pity that Hugo wasn't there – he had left for the Astronomy Academy, somewhere far, far away, from whence post was brought by bright birds with crests. Theo didn't show up either, but Albus wrote him a letter, and Rose promised to deliver it. Grandpa Arthur brought him candy and a present from Uncles Weasley: disposable invisibility cloaks and a bunch of joke toys from their shop, which made Albus' father chuckle and James – nod appreciatively.
And now he is almost at Hogwarts, his dream of many a year. How could it not have been, if two of the school headmasters were most remarkable wizards, after whom his Mum and Dad named him? Who have been coming to him in his dreams to teach him, reminisce about the past battles, or just eat some candy together, which he liked a great deal… The adults told him often enough about the Name Magic, but Albus couldn't care less for why they visited him in his sleep… He simply loved them dearly – his Gramps Albus and Uncle Severus. Them and everything linked to them. And Hogwarts was very tightly linked to them, indeed…
"Firs' years! Follow me! Quickly!"
A group of slightly frightened children began to assemble around Hagrid, staring up at the giant man in awe. Albus ducked behind the others' backs, as though playing hide-and-seek, and Hagrid didn't let on. They followed down the path, and soon saw Hogwarts. Albus had seen it before and even lived there for a time, and so he did not ooh and aah over it, like others.
"Hagrid, I can't swim," pipped a little girl with a long braid, when they came to the lake and saw the boats.
"Sit with me," Albus offered, smiling and reaching his hand to the girl, to help her into the boat. Well, his brother always said that one had to be chivalrous with girls. Especially since Albus knew how to swim and was not afraid of the giant squid, whom he had even befriended a little.
"I am Bertie," the girl pulled the hem of her skirt over her knees and watched, a little warily, as the boat approached the tall cliff atop which stood Hogwarts.
"I am Al. Do you like candy?"
"Yes."
He took a handful of assorted drops out of his pocket and handed them to her. The boat rocked, almost causing Al to fall overboard, and Bertie cried out.
"You know how to swim, don't you?"
Al smiled, unwrapping a piece of candy:
"My brother says that my kind does not sink…"
"Meaning?"
"Not sure. That's where Dad would always smack him on the head," Al laughed, picking up the spilled candy from the floor.
"And I play the piano," Bertie was busy with her candy and not as afraid of water anymore. Al chalked it down as the benefits of the drops.
"Will you play for me?"
"Sure. And do you play an instrument?"
"James says that my instrument is nerves," Al shrugged his shoulders, smiling again.
"How is that?"
"Dunno; this is where Lily, our sister throws something heavy at James…"
"Oh, that pour James…"
"No, he is rich! He signed the contract, and now he gets to play Quidditch for a major team."
"Which one?"
"I don't know; he never tells me… He thinks that I don't get how great a player he is… But I do. He is very nice, when he doesn't grumble… Xenia says that it is his way to hide how much he loves me…"
"Xenia?"
"Yes, my brother's wife; she is great," Al looked up, in time to see the boat enter a low-ceiling grotto. The boat bumped the shallow sandy bottom, and Hagrid ordered everyone to walk toward the entrance to the school.
They were met by a tall wizard in dark embroidered robes. He looked over the first years. Albus recognized him, but did not let on.
"I am Professor Faust, the Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts. We shall now enter the Great Hall, where you will be sorted into Houses…
"My Mum was a Gryffindor," Bertie whispered while the professor talked about the House Cup.
"And mine…" Al grew a little sad, and the girl felt uncomfortable.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No. You know, my entire family, with a couple of exceptions, were Gryffindors."
"You think you will be sorted there?"
Al shrugged his shoulders: he didn't really know himself yet whether he wanted to be a Gryffindor. After all, there was his Gramps Albus, but also Uncle Severus… There was Dad, but also Xenia.
They were led down several corridors before finding themselves in a huge hall. As they were walking toward the teachers' table, Al counted over a hundred trays with sweets. The boy hoped that by the time they were sorted, there would be some candy left.
"When I call out your name, you come forward, sit on the tabouret, and put on the hat. It will tell you at which House's table you should sit," Faust curtly informed the students, while Al smiled, adjusting his glasses: there was something familiar about this professor; something about him reminded him of Uncle Severus. Still, he couldn't possibly be related to Uncle Severus, whose only living relative, Theo, was a healer and lived in a cottage with Rose. Al liked visiting their garden and chasing gnomes. And he also liked watching Theo mix potions, and Al even got to help Theo mix them, with the latter's permission.
"The Headmistress is staring at you," Bertie whispered to Al. Albus looked up and smiled widely at the familiar elderly witch, who had once helped his Dad. James didn't like her very much, but Hermione was very fond of her. And so did Gramps Albus. "Does she know you?"
"Yes, we were once walking in the woods together," Al vaguely remembered that walk, mainly his fear and a big dog, but he knew that the Hogwarts Headmistress was there.
Bertie's eyes grew wide, but she didn't say anything.
"Nilsen, Alberta."
"Oh!" Bertie jumped nervously and almost fell, causing several students to chuckle. Al frowned and was about to turn toward them and say that it wasn't polite, but Bertie had already sat on the tabouret, and The Hat almost immediately cried: "Ravenclaw!"
Bertie smiled, waved at Al, and hurried toward the table, where sat boys and girls with blue stripes and bird embroidered on their robes. At the table was also the Ghost of Gray Lady, whom Marie-Victoire performed on the stage. When Sirius, her and Lupin's son cries, Teddy tells him about Marie-Victoire walks and dances around the stage. Teddy even sometimes shows it to Sirius and Al, and they laugh. But Sirius is still very little and doesn't understand; he is just amused by Teddy waving his hands and wrapping himself in a blanket….
"Potter, Albus!"
It turned out that he had missed his name being called the first time, and the Great Hall grew quiet. The teachers half-rose from their chairs; the students were whispering to one another. Maybe they are thinking that he will be like James? No, he will be better…
The boy smiled at the curious faces and sat down on the tabouret, putting the hat carefully and neatly into his head. Amanda Dursley waved at him; she was his Dad's niece (she had said that her dad, a Muggle, still couldn't believe that "he had been thus punished"), and often stayed at their house. He waved back.
"Hello."
"Oh, you are a brave one. Well, hello, the yet another Potter. Although… you probably should not be called just 'another'."
"Do you like candy?"
"No, dear, I like poems."
"Hmm, are they tasty?"
"Try it, and you'll find out. Will you let me think?"
"Oh, I am sorry, I didn't mean to be disruptive. It's just that Gramps Albus has said such interesting things about you."
"Dumbledore? Albus Dumbledore?"
"Gramps Albus, who has the same glasses as me. He likes lemon drops."
"And I'll bet, so do you."
Of course! Daddy says that…!"
"Listen, keep quiet, or we shall talk until the exams."
"Sorry."
Al tried to sit still, so as not to disturb the hat, but it continued to stall, while everyone was staring at them in slight confusion.
"Where would you like to be Sorted, Albus?" the Hat finally asked.
"I don't know. Uncle Severus was a Slytherin, and that's cool. And Xenia was one, and so was Scorpius. And Marie-Victoire was a Ravenclaw. And Dad and Lily were Gryffindors. And I think Uncle Severus would say I belong in Hufflepuff."
"SO, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?"
"Can't you decide that yourself?"
"No! For the first time ever I cannot make a decision because you are equally suited for any House. So it is up to you!"
"May I think about it?"
The hat huffed indignantly and almost flew off the boy's head.
"So, Potter, you are going to…" the hat began, waiting for Al's decision.
"But it's not fair! I cannot decide for myself; Gramps always said it was your job!"
The entire Hall burst into laughter; professors were conferring in whispers; Professor Faust frowned as he exchanged glances with the Headmistress.
"Then go to the…"
"Gryffindor!" Albus finally ventured, smiling. The hat sighed in relief. "As are Dad and Mum, and Uncle George, and Uncle Charlie, and Rose, and Lily…"
"Gryffindor," Faust nudged Al as he relieved him of the Hat, which seemed more ancient, worn and frayed than ever.
Albus set his half-moon glasses straighter on his nose, and headed to his table, where he was greeted warmly by other Gryffindors.