I do not own Harry Potter, if I did then Snape would not have been redeemed

Second year, here we go! Newbies are Alexa and Liana Green, and Louis, Lucy, and Roxanne Weasley

So it is apparently unknown as to when the letters come in, so I'm gonna have it be anywhere between 8 and 3 weeks before the school year starts (why? because I like that idea)

I also forgot Albus had a ferret until I was rewatching the movies and was reminded so um...yeah that's now here!

Anyways, this is also posted onto my Tumblr account imnotobsessedwfictionalchracters and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 and my AO3 account s0m3kind0fmagic so you can check it out on there too!

Chapter 13. Always Find Your Way Back Home

Albus looked up from his cereal as he heard the sound of an owl dropping in. He saw the two letters that were with the paper as his dad grabbed them. He looked back down and ate more of his breakfast before he heard his dad finally speak:

"Letters are here."

Albus took his from his dads hand gently as James harshly grabbed his. He stayed quiet as he read through the list, not many new books for this year. Just the second edition of Standard Book of Spells, a defense against the dark arts book, as well as a new potions book. He was thankful enough that he didn't have many books to buy, however he knew he would have more next year since he got to add two more classes onto his schedule.

"Bloody hell, I didn't get captain. I swore Elizabeth was gonna give me it!"

Albus spared a small glance to James before he put his letter down and went back to finishing his cereal.

"Well, it is only your fourth year, James. Not most fourth years become captain." Albus heard their dad reason.

"Yeah, but she did! And she acted like she was gonna put me up for it all year!"

Their mum hummed, "And most people don't switch positions after playing the same one for two years."

"Do you know who got it?"

"No Lily, I don't. I won't know who the bloody captain is until we get back to Hogwarts in three weeks!"

Albus sighed and pushed his spoon around in the bowl, trying to bring up the topic of him thinking about trying out for the Quidditch team. Or even how to interrupt James being well...James. He stared at his bowl of, now soggy, cereal as it minutely angered him. But not enough to actually make him react to it. It was more of an annoyance of everything going on and how he wished it could be different, in some way.

As James continued to speak, going through the different members of the Gryffindor team, trying to figure out who could have been made captain, Albus let out a breath before just speaking: "I'm thinking about trying out for Slytherin's Quidditch team." He heard everyone at the table go silent and he continued to stare at his bowl of cereal that wouldn't get eaten anymore. "I also only need three new books."

"You're trying out for the team?" He heard the sneer in James' voice, "Slytherin has a Seeker, a sloppy one, but they have one."

Slowly, Albus closed his eyes, wishing he could just disappear under the table before his mum spoke up: "I think that's good. Going for Seeker or another position?"

He reopened his eyes to look up at his mum, who had a small smile on her face. "Seeker. We have one, but Annie says that Matt wants to replace Dominick so he might do a full team tryout."

"How do you already know who's captain for Slytherin?!"

He sighed, "Previous Captain chooses the new one. Annie's brother Aiden was the old one and he said that he chose Matt. And apparently he's been speaking about it and said that was what he was planning on doing."

"Well...will you want to take your broom with you?"

He shook his head, "I'll send a letter if I make the team, otherwise I'll be bringing it for no reason and it will just be stuck under my bed all year and I'll forget about it."

"Well, there's only one place where we can get all you two need, Diagon Alley."

Albus nodded, and fiddled with his spoon once more, some sinking feeling settling in him as the thought of school starting back soon settled in him.

Albus silently stood by his dad as he searched for Albus's defense book. Lily was with their mum, looking for James's things, while James was off with his friends at their Uncle's shop. He hadn't been paying much attention until he heard the voice of someone saying his dads name. He held back an eyeroll, thinking it was someone that was a fan or who he had gone to school with.

Albus just continued to look through the shelf trying to find the book until he felt someone punch his shoulder. He sharply looked, annoyed and about to say something when he saw it was just Scorpius. Not one of James and not one of his friends or cronies.

"I said your name like, five times dude. It was like you were in another world or something."

"Sorry, trying to find the stupid defense book for this year." He glanced over to his dad, seeing him talking to a man with long silvery-blonde hair, noting it was Draco Malfoy, before looking back at Scorpius. "Have you ever seen or heard of our dads talking?"

He snorted, "Nope. I knew our mums have, on occasion. My mum said that after we both had sent letters that we had made friends with each other, they ran into one another here in Diagon Alley and got talking. Mum jokes that they're friends now and are trying to recruit Aunt Dany to join."

Albus laughed, "So our mums found out we were friends and used that as an excuse to become friends?"

Scorpius joined in the laughter, "Yeah. I guess so."

Albus sighed as the laughter faded, "Have you seen Annie?"

"Nah. Her family will probably come later so that they can ensure Nick will fall asleep without a fuss. Or at least that was what she told me last year when it took forever for her to join us." Scorpius brushed his hair from his face, "By the way, did you know that her brother, Tony, works at Slug and Jiggers Apothecary?"

"No. Had no clue."

Scorpius nodded, "Yeah, found that out the other day when my dad said something. Apparently he started not long after school got out. Surprised she didn't tell you when you stayed over after the wedding."

Albus shrugged, "We didn't really talk about stuff like that."

Scorpius nodded, "Well, anyways, the book is here-" He lifted his hand over Albus's head and reached to grab a book over him. "Took dad and I forever to find it ourselves. Shocked you didn't know since James already needed it."

"Different book from two years ago, otherwise I would just use his. Assuming he didn't write anything stu-wait, you said our moms are friends and are trying to recruit Annie's mom; what does that mean? Are they gonna make some weird club together? Take over our friendship or some other absurd sounding thing."

Scorpius snorted, "Yeah. Sure. I think that they're more planning on making sure that they can all put out the same punishment whenever we get in trouble."

Albus nodded and looked over to the side, "There she is." He ignored the sound Scorpius made as Albus moved past him to get to Annie. As he made his way closer to the girl that was still slightly taller than him. "Keeping the hair dark?"

She turned and rolled her eyes, "Yeah." She wrapped and adjusted her robe around herself, "Where're your parents?" He saw her glance behind him, "And yours. My mum was actually looking for yours."

He glanced behind him, seeing Scorpius mere meters behind him before he heavily sighed. "Why are you both taller than me? It's so bloody unfair."

Albus sighed as he closed Casper's cage, his parents had agreed to allow him to take his ferret this year after saying no last year. He understood why he had to leave her, he was sure that he would have lost her at some point during the year. He ran a hand through his hair, holding back a groan as it slightly got stuck. He heard a knock at his door, pulling his hand out of his tangled hair, he turned to see his dad in his doorway.

"We're about to leave, you have everything? Books, wand, clothes?"

Albus held back an eye roll, albeit a playful one, but he still was not sure on how his dad would react to it. "Yes dad. I have everything."

Harry nodded, "Good." Albus watched as his dad tapped on the wall before he spoke again. "You know...your mum and I talked and we decided that you kids can redecorate your rooms come next summer. We can repaint these walls and put up some new posters if you'd like."

Albus tilted his head to the side while sitting on the edge of the bed. "Why?"

His dad sighed heavily, "Well...we noticed that you took down a lot of your old banners and posters so we thought that you, as well as your siblings, could do with a change in your room. Hasn't happened since you were younger. Lily's room is stuck like a five year olds...not that I think she minds." His dad added the last bit with a small laugh and Albus joined in.

"I think Lil's likes it because she still enjoys all the pink and glitter and fairy-princessness of it all."

"And you?"

He looked at his dad oddly, "What?"

"Do you still like your set-up? The walls are a pretty dark red, very..."

His dad trailed off but Albus knew what he meant. "Very Gryffindor? Something I'm not?"

"I didn't mean it like that, I want you to-"

"I know dad. And I think that it would be nice to change things up, make things more me now." He looked down for a moment before continuing, "That is if you and mum are alright if I wanted to change the color of my room."

His dad shrugged, "I don't mind. That is part of the point of it all. If any of you kids want to repaint the room and change it completely, then that's alright. We'll do it. You three are of the age where change happens. You'll be 13 when you come back for the summer, it's only right."

Albus nodded, "So even if I decided to go like a dark green and hang up Slytherin banners...you wouldn't care?"

His dad shrugged, "Not my place nor my job to do so. My job is to make sure you're happy and healthy. Your mum and I agree that allowing you to change your room up however you want is a way to make sure that you're happy and in the long run healthy." He watched as his dad adjusted his glasses, "You know...your mum and I are happy for you. Happy that you made friends and are happy in your house. I know James hasn't been the best, but-"

Albus let out a heavy sigh, "Dad...let's not." He let out the best smile that he could, "Let's just get going before mom gets upset, yeah?"

His dad nodded, "Yeah...yeah okay."

Albus held his breath as he ran through the wall, safely making it to the platform. He let out the inhaled air with a puff as he made his way over to the familiar red sea. A familiar sea that left some odd feeling in his stomach. A feeling of...of something he couldn't tell. Something that perhaps his 12-year-old mind couldn't comprehend just yet. Or perhaps it was a feeling that it could, but refused to. Refused because of course he was happy to see some of them. He sighed as he got closer. Some of his Uncles and Aunts and maybe even a cousin or two. But as he grew closer, as he grew nearer to James and Fred, the pair locked in a conversation and throwing looks his way, the feeling grew.

"There's the final three Potters. Or two Potters and Weasley."

He looked behind him, forgetting his mum and sister had been behind him. He turned back, looking at his Aunt and Uncle, an almost forced smile on his lips as he tried not to let it slip of his nerves. "Hey Uncle George, Aunt Angelina."

Angelina smiled. It was gentle. Not as gentle as his Aunt Audrey's nor his own mothers whenever he was comforting him. But it was still gentle. Gentle in her own way he supposed. "You ready for this year, Albus?"

He shrugged, "I guess, I just can't wait for Annie to drag me to study again." He rolled his eyes, "But I'm trying out for Quidditch this year...if they're looking for a Seeker, that is."

"Aw, why don't you go out to be a Beater? Sure you'd be pretty good at it. Make me, your Uncle George, proud!"

He laughed, genuinely laughed and rolled his eyes again. "Have I ever actually played as the Beater and been good? I thought we had all been in agreement that I can be a Chaser or a Seeker and that is it."

He looked at his Uncle, waiting for his response, smiling slightly as the older man simply nodded. "Alright...you got me there." He watched his Uncle sigh and move to grab Albus's trunk, "Lemme get that for you, that way your poor mother doesn't have to get it."

Even without seeing his mum, he could feel the eyeroll she gave. "George, I am almost certain I could take you in a fight if I wanted."

His Uncle scoffed as he handed the cage that held Casper to Albus. "Depends on the type. Magic I think we could go to a draw, but hand-to-hand," He tossed the trunk into the train and turned back to Albus's mum. "I think it would depend on the day. And since I just realized you decided to wear heels today, I will concede before my beautiful wife has to be embarrassed as she drags me out."

Albus looked away and began to look around the platform as he heard his mum say something back to his Uncle. He let out a breath as he tried to find the dark hair of Annie or the light one of Scorpius. But he kept finding himself unlucky. He couldn't locate the large family that belonged to one of his best friends nor could he find any older man with freakishly white-blonde hair that belonged to the father of his other friend.

He jumped as he felt someone put their arm around his shoulders, terrified for some reason that it might have been James or Fred or one of their other friends. Only relaxing as he heard the familiar voice of Scorpius. "Okay, so, Robyn already has a compartment ready for us but she said that if we don't get there within five minutes of the train leaving and some of the older kids try to take it, she'll let them."

He laughed slightly and looked at his friend who was just barely taller than him. But still tall enough that he had to glance up slightly at him. "Is Annie with her or...?"

"Because you totally don't feel the person standing behind you, do you?"

He laughed slightly as he turned, "Do I get points if I say yes?"

She snorted, "Nope."

"Well that sucks."

"Yeah, it does." She smiled almost goofily, "You ready?"

"Just gotta say bye to my family then I will."

"Then hurry up. I don't want Rob to lose our compartment."

As Annie smacked Scorpius's arm, Albus turned to his mum, who had a small smile on her face. He knew how she was so he gently hugged her. That unease he had been feeling drifted momentarily as he felt her arms around him. Felt a love he hadn't felt from her since he was a child and was hurt. Similar but also different from the hug she had given him last year.

He felt her squeeze tightly and as she pulled away, he smiled. "I'll see you at Christmas."

She gently put her hand on his cheek, "I'll miss you sweetheart. Be good and don't get into any fights." She kissed his temple, "Or at least don't get caught."

He smiled at her, "I got it mum. I will try not to get caught when I get into trouble."

She scrunched her nose, "Good."

He turned to his dad, some weird tension having grown during the drive to the station, leading to a weird feeling as he looked at him. "See you later dad."

His dad nodded, "Let us know if you make the team."

"I will." He looked at Lily, who still had a minor sour look on her face. He playfully punched her shoulder, "I'll write to you everyday, telling you how amazing Hogwarts is."

"You promise?"

"Promise."

"You promised last year and you didn't."

He sighed, "Well I will try this year, how about that?"

She glared slightly before nodding, "Fine. but you have to tell me if you make the team. I don't wanna hear it from mum or dad or someone else. I wanna hear it from you."

He rolled his eyes and began to walk back to his friends, "I'll try! But if it's between you or mum killing me, I'd rather you cause I can bribe you!"

"Can not!"

He laughed as he jumped into the train door, looking back at her and yelling out: "Can too!" Before he fully entered the train.

He quickly moved around and followed his two friends down to the compartment Robyn had apparently been saving. Barely getting there as the train jerked into motion, sending him to fall into the spot across from the twins, Annie sliding into his side.

He glanced out of the window, just as the train zipped out of the station and he could see the open green of...he actually wasn't sure where it was meant to be. But he looked away from the window as he heard Scorpius let out a sigh:

"Man, I wish I had siblings."

Albus snorted Robyn and Annie busted out into laughter. He looked at his friend, seeing the look of confusion on his face and let out an almost choked back breath. "Don't tell me you're questioning why we're laughing."

"I am. I don't see what's wrong with wanting siblings."

"I'd gladly trade places with you, Scor. You can take my 14 siblings and I will graciously take your parents as mine."

"That's not what I meant! I meant one or two. Not the 14 that you have." Scorpius moved and leaned his back against the glass that allowed people to look in. "I just meant that it would be nice to have someone else around my age in the house. Like...sure, I hear you guys complaining about your siblings all the time, Robyn and Rohyn do it in front of one another even, but I just...I dunno, maybe I'm ridiculous."

Albus threw his friend a small sympathetic smile. "Nah, I get it. You see us with siblings and want it, it makes sense." He sighed before continuing, "I honestly envy you. No siblings to hate you just 'cause of your friends and your house. Must be a blessing."

"James still causing you issues cause you're a Slytherin?"

He nodded, "Yeah...it wasn't as bad as it could have been since we didn't see each other most of the summer, but when we did..." He trailed off, not really wanting to think about it. "But Lily was excited for me to be home. She's jealous that I get to go to Hogwarts and she still has to stay home. Plus she hates that I get to try out for the Quidditch team."

"Dude! You're trying out too?! Didya hear that Matt's gonna make everyone try out so now any and everybody has a chance?"

Albus nodded, "Yeah, otherwise there would be no way I would even try." He scratched the back of his neck, "Annie and Scorpius actually had to convince me to even try out anyways."

"Seriously? You have like...Quidditch royalty in your blood! Your dad was literally the youngest Seeker in a century, making the team as a first year which never happens! Your mum was a world class badass Chaser for the Harpies! Half of their fans now are because of her! How could you even think of not trying out?!"

Albus shrugged, not feeling like disclosing that he didn't want to try for Chaser and be compared to James since he was switching positions this year with Jason. Albus had heard all about it all summer. Of course, he knew that there was a chance for people to say something about him going for Seeker when that was what James used to be, but he could only hope that it would be against James. Hope that someone would say something about him switching cause he was scared to go against Albus. That was all the 12-year-old could hope for.

And sure, if it was just Annie and Scorpius, or just Annie herself, he would say that. But it wasn't just them. It was two other people. Two people that he considered friends but not that he knew well enough to say things such as that to. To let his fears be known to them. His thoughts out to them.

Then again...he really didn't even let Scor or Annie know so why would he even think to let Robyn and Rohyn know?

The sun was slowly being hidden by incoming clouds as Scorpius, Albus, and Rohyn talked about Quidditch tryouts and Annie sat on the floor, back to the window, reading a muggle book called Percy Jackson. Robyn was on the opposite couch from the boys, talking to Holly Goyle, who had shown up not long after the train ride had started. They all stopped what they were doing, however, when they heard the compartment door open and saw a small boy with deep blue eyes, and blonde hair similar to Scorpius.

Albus raised a brow at his cousin, "Hey Louis, what's up?"

The younger boy looked around the compartment almost nervously before focusing on Albus. "Can I sit with you guys? James keeps talking about how bad it would be if we weren't in Gryffindor and it's making me uncomfortable."

Albus smiled, understanding the boy's uncomfortableness. "Yeah."

Robyn scooted over, making room for him. "You can sit here, if you'd like."

He nodded and quickly took the seat, letting out a quiet thanks, before looking back at his cousin again. "Thanks, Albus."

Albus shrugged, "No problem. Pretty sure none of us here care about you joining us." He looked around at the other Slytherin's in the compartment, all of them shaking their heads, and he smiled at his cousin. "And besides, being in another house besides Gryffindor is so much more fun. You can learn stuff about a house that you didn't know. And you can make friends that aren't friends with someone in our family."

Louis tried to smile, it came out awkward and almost off. "Thanks."

Albus nodded as everyone went back to what they had been doing before. Louis even got Annie to look from her book as he had read the very same series over the past few summers. Everyone was in their own worlds, not paying attention to the people they weren't interacting with, until they heard the sound of the old witch that pushed the trolley around.

Annie was the one who stood as the lady looked into their compartment, "Anything from the Trolly dears?"

She grabbed a sack from her bag that was wrapped around her waist before beginning to list off what they had all agreed on at the start of the ride (plus what Louis had asked for after he had gotten on). "Seven bottles of Pumpkin Juice, a box of Bertie Bott's, three Chocolate Frogs-wait no, four Chocolate Frogs, three packages of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and six Pumpkin Pastries."

"Will that be all?"

She nodded, "Yes ma'am."

"That'll be two galleons and 15 sickles dear." She counted the amount of sickles out and handed it to the witch and she handed her the candies and drinks.

Annie turned back and began handing everything out to everyone. She handed the beans and the gum to Albus, the Chocolate Frogs to Scorpius, the Pumpkin Pastries to Louis, Robyn, and Holly, while taking the Pumpkin Juice herself.

"Damn," Albus cursed, "I got another one of my dads."

"I got Rowena Ravenclaw." Louis mumbled.

"Oooo, maybe that means you'll be a Ravenclaw." Holly teased.

Louis laughed, "Maybe."

Rohyn showed Albus the card that he had gotten, "Look at that, I got your namesake Albus."

Albus groaned, "I really wish I knew why my dad named me after him."

Louis laughed, "I'm surprised Aunt Ginny let him."

Albus was about to say something about how he wasn't when he realized that he really...was. It was such a shock that he was allowed to be named Albus Severus. "Actually, I'm surprised my mum did too."

"Maybe you should change your name! Something cool like...like Robin! Then you could say you're named after a comic-book character!"

"You know Robin is a girl's name, right?" Robyn retorted, "I mean...I would assume you do as we've been living together for the past 12 years. Heard mum and dad and everyone we've ever known called me that for just as long."

"You know what-"

"No! No fighting! We had an agreement! No fighting until we get back!"

"I wasn't going to-"

"You were, Robyn. I've known you as long as Scor. You were gonna fight him."

Robyn scoffed and crossed her arms, "You guys are no fun."

"We're loads of fun. We just-"

Albus shook his head at his friends before looking at his younger cousin. Louis was looking out the window as the hills and trees flew past. Albus knew the look. The look of fear and nerves. Fear that everything was about to change. And assumed that it was. He hoped that Louis didn't get in Gryffindor for the sake of the kid still being him. So that he wouldn't become another James or a person who just defends him mindlessly.

So he didn't become Rose. Become the person who Albus used to always be able to rely on. The person that Albus had called his best-friend for 11 years before he was placed in Slytherin. The person who seemed to be able to push him to the side so easily after he had been placed in a different house than her and his brother.

But he knew that unlike him, Louis had both of his sisters who would support him in a different house, no matter which it was. Afterall, Vic was a Hufflepuff and Dom went to a different school all together. He was sure that his Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur wouldn't care. It never seemed as if either of them cared about Albus's house.

Albus was sure that unlike him, Louis wouldn't have to worry that his siblings would hate him for being himself.

They jumped off of the train as it reached Hogsmeade Station. Everyone had changed into their robes. Robyn had put her hair up and Holly had used some clips that Annie had and put them in her hair. The 12-year-olds were ready to start their second year at Hogwarts. Just as the 11-year-old boy was ready to start his first year.

The first year started to the boats while the second years turned to make their way over to the carriages. They were about to hop in one when Robyn noticed something out in the distance. "Is that Lottie with your sister Genevieve, Anne?"

Albus and the others looked over to the carriage in front of them as Annie sighed. "Yeah. I think they became friends at Aidan and Cass's wedding."

"That's so..."

"Weird? Yeah, I know. Come on, let's go before someone else takes this carriage."

The other five followed Annie as she climbed into the black box. When they finally settled and the carriage jerked into motion, Robyn spoke. "You guys ready for this year?"

"Yeah, I'm happy to be away from my grandfather again." Scorpius rolled his as he mentioned him. Albus knew he had issues with the man, mostly pureblood problems, but he actually never knew how deep it went.

"Same here with my mum. She's been so overbearing about literally everything since I started school."

"Yeah, but your mum has always been like that though."

Holly ran a hand through her short gingery-brown hair. "Yeah, but never this bad. It's like I can't do anything fun anymore."

"My father won't let me do shit, that's why I always go to mum for things."

"Aunt Danielle is the best."

"Yeah, she is." Annie said almost quietly and Albus shot her a questioning look and she just waved him off.

"Hey, we never asked, what was it like being surrounded by a bunch of Slytherin families, Albus?"

He laughed almost awkwardly at Rohyn's question. "It wasn't bad. Different from my family."

Definitely odd as it was different from his family. He had felt a different tension from the people there. But it was a tension that had faded as time went on. By the end of the night, outside of Annie's one aunt, Albus had felt welcomed and comfortable around all the Slytherin families. Something in him wished that he had been able to thank Mr. Malfoy more for getting him away from Annie's aunt. Even for saying what he said. He knew he had to be careful with Annie's Bulgarian family. They were raised differently and thought differently than everyone he had ever known.

He knew he had to put that into context whenever he thought of how rude they were to Annie.

"Well, on to a different topic, who here has newbies?" Annie and Albus both raised their hands, "And that's Alexa and Liana for you Anne. Anyone else other than that cousin that joined us, Albus?"

"Yeah. Molly's younger sister Lucy. Lucy's like Louis, quiet and reserved. And then Roxanne, she's Fred's younger sister and has a similar outgoing personality."

"Question. Isn't Fred like James's best friend?"

Albus nodded, "Yeah, but he isn't as bad." Because he was sure that Fred wouldn't bully Roxanne for being in Slytherin. "And honestly, Lucy gets her personality from her mum. Molly is similar to how everyone has always explained her dad when he was her age. So focused on studies and being a good student that others sort of get pushed to the side."

The first years had entered the hall, everyone watched as Professor McGonagall sat back down, getting done explaining what Albus was sure he would learn to hate by the time his Seventh year came out. And as Professor Longbottom began to read the names, Albus noted the nerves on nearly every first year's face. And on the faces of everyone who he knew had siblings starting this year.

Professor Longbottom cleared his throat before announcing the first name, "Flint, Stephanie!"

A small girl with long black hair walked up to the hat. She looked similar enough to her brother. Hair same jet black and almost oily skin. And with that, it didn't take long for it to yell out Slytherin. He saw the girl let out a breath as she quickly made her way over to her older brother. A smile on both of their faces as she sat by them. A twinge of jealousy hit him as he saw it. But he pushed it out. Pretending it didn't exist.

More names were called, a guy with the last name Carlson was put in Gryffindor, "Green, Alexa!"

Albus watched as Alexa walked up to the hat, her blonde hair that looked so different from Annie's was pulled back into twin braids. She pushed her glasses up as she sat on the stool, under the hat. After a few minutes of silence, the hat finally yelled out "Slytherin!"

He saw Annie let out a breath as her sister made her way over to the Slytherin table. Sitting next to Liam and Randy as Liana's name was called. Liana looked like her twin. But she lacked the glasses. And her hair was down, not in braids. Almost messy like he had seen Liam and Antonio's hair a lot. She had a nervous look on her face. More nervous than Alexa had been.

He watched hand gently coming to Annie's shoulder before the hat yelled out; "Ravenclaw!" He could feel Annie tense under him. He looked and saw the look on all of her siblings' faces. Confusion with almost terror was written on all of them. The Slytherin's clapped with confusion while the Ravenclaws cheered with enthusiasm.

Albus leaned forward, whispering in his friend's ear. "What's wrong?"

Slowly, she looked back at him. "Our father is going to kill her."

He tilted his head to the side. Surely he heard her wrong. "What do you mean?"

"He said how we would be disowned if we didn't get into Slytherin. That as Green's we have to be in Slytherin."

"Did he really?" She nodded and looked back to her sister at the Ravenclaw table before paying attention to the sorting.

Albus turned back to the sorting. Listening as Michael Thomas had been put into Hufflepuff. Other students were put in other houses by the time that Neville called out: "Weasley, Louis!"

He watched as Louis walked about. He could see how nervous he was. He wondered if this was how he looked as he walked to the hat. Wondered if everyone could tell how scared he had been to be put into a different house. Wondered if they had seen how he felt at the same moment his cousin was at. And when the hat yelled out: "Ravenclaw!" For the 11-year-old, Albus let out a breath he hadn't even realized he had been holding in.

Perhaps being in Ravenclaw would be easier for him than it was for Albus to be Slytherin. Afterall, James wouldn't be able to easily or quickly find an excuse to hate him. Afterall, Ravenclaw wasn't considered the "bad guy" house. And perhaps the tinge of jealousy that Albus could feel wouldn't come out, but he knew that it would.

All of Albus's emotions were going to bubble over one day.

Both Roxanne and Lucy had been sorted into Gryffindor. Alexa was sitting with Stephanie Flint, tears evident on her face. Albus sat between Annie and Scorpius while the latter traded chocolate frog cards with Rohyn. He saw Annie continuously looking over at her sister, he knew that she wanted to talk to her. But he also knew that she wouldn't. That was a way that they were similar. Neither of them really expressed their emotions and thoughts how they should.

And truthfully, Albus knew that it wasn't a bright thing for the two 12-year-olds to do, but he also knew that he wouldn't be able to help it.

"I asked this question about this year, but what about next year? Does anyone have anyone that they know starting next year? Siblings, cousins, an aunt or uncle that for some reason is barely younger?" Albus held back a laugh as Robyn said that last bit.

Charlotte Montague leaned back, head hitting Scorpius's shoulder. "My sister Megan is."

He looked from her back to Robyn, "My sister and cousin are."

He heard Jordan Boles let out a choked laugh, "Bloody hell Albus, how many people in your family do you have? I thought Annie was the one with the huge family!"

He chuckled before sighing, thinking about it in his head. "I have nine cousins on my mum's side, four on my dad's, as well as two siblings."

"So 14 cousins and two siblings?"

"Yep."

"How are each of them related to you?"

He looked at Charlotte, "Well...obviously my siblings are from my parents. James being older and Lily younger. Then technically there's Teddy who's my dads godson, but he's basically my brother...even though it's weird as he's dating Victoire. But anyways. Vic, Dominique, and Louis are all from my Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur. And then Molly and Lucy are from my Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey. Rose and Hugo, who is the other one starting next year, are from my Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione. And then my dad's cousin, Dudley, had four kids. But they're all muggles so it's not like you'd be seeing them here anytime soon."

"Either way, what're their names?"

He looked at Holly, "Uh...there's Daisy who's James's age. Then Bryce, who I think is my age. Then Ariel and Lena are twins and are...four years younger? I'm not entirely sure honestly. I don't see them often and dad doesn't bring that side of the family up much."

But Albus wished he did. He wondered if perhaps he would get along with them more than he did James and some of his other cousins nowadays. If they wouldn't judge him cause what would they know about the wizarding world? He was sure Dudley wouldn't have told them anything. He remembered his Great Aunt Petunia's funeral two years ago. They had done everything in order to appear as a normal muggle family. Lied and said that James was going to a private boarding school in Scotland. That it was the same Harry had gone to.

Albus was certain that people who didn't know him, who didn't know the Wizarding world and didn't know to hate Slytherin's, would like him.

What else could he do? Say people who don't know him won't like him? That would just confirm his anxiety that it wasn't his house. That Albus was truthfully just unlikeable nowadays.