• Hogwarts Express

    Albus had been waving to his parents and sister, Harry, Ginny and Lily from the window of the train – Hogwarts Express. Having just expressed his feelings to his father about what would happen if he got sorted into Slytherin, he thought about what his father had said. What did he say again?

    ‘Albus Severus. You were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts. And one of them was the bravest Slytherin I ever knew.’

    His father did not mind if he was into Slytherin, and he was rather sure that his mother would feel the same way.

    The only thing was his brother, James. He would never hear the end of it. James would go on, and on, and on about him being sorted into Slytherin. He could almost hear what he would say.

    ‘Albus was sorted into Slytherin! Albus is a Slytherin!!!’

    He shuddered, but looked up when he saw the door of the compartment open. It was Rose. His cousin and the daughter of Ron and Hermione. Or Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione, if he were to call them.

    ‘Hi Albus,’ was Rose’s greeting when she stepped into the compartment, already wearing her new school robes. The compartment was empty, so she sat down on the opposite of him and asked. ‘So, how are you feeling?’

    Albus looked at her, confused. ‘Huh? What do you mean?’ He asked. He had not paid attention to Rose’s question. He had a lot on his mind.

    Rose sighed and repeated her question, ‘How are you feeling about going to Hogwarts?’ She did not mind that Albus did not reply the first time she asked him the question. She was rather used to it. After all, she had a lot of patience.

    ‘Oh, I, um.’ Albus stuttered. Truth be told, he was afraid and nervous. His parents had told him how safe Hogwarts was, but he could not be sure. He looked at Rose, her warm, brown eyes, then sighed and said, ‘Don’t laugh, ok? But I’m scared.’

    Rose looked at Albus, waited for 10 seconds before asking, ‘But why? You’ve heard everything your parents and my parents have had to say about Hogwarts, and they’ve all said that Hogwarts is excellent.’

    ‘I don’t know…’ Albus said, ‘I just have this feeling something will go wrong.’ He shrugged.

    Then, a sound came from outside the compartment. ‘Anything from the trolley? Anything from the trolley? A rather old woman stopped in front of the door of their compartment, and asked Rose and Albus, like she had so many years before to Ron and Harry, ‘Anything from the trolley dears?’

    Rose immediately stood up, and said to her,’ A packet of Droobles Best Blowing Gum, two liquorice wands, and a stack of Cauldron Cakes.’

    Albus, however, shook his head when the lady turned to him before she could even open her mouth to ask. Rose looked at him. ‘You have to eat something Albus. Or you’ll just feel moody all the way.’

    Accepting the truth of her words, Albus finally brightened up and took a mouthful of Cauldron Cakes. When she was taking his second mouthful, the compartment door slid open once more and both James and Victoire came in, James remaining standing while Victoire slumped into a seat, saying’ Whew! I’m bushed!’

    James muttered to himself, ‘Figures, you had a good time kissing Teddy just now. ‘That was not for Victoire’s ears, but the 4th year heard him, and aimed a kick at him, her long blonde hair swinging here and there as she did it.

    ‘Ouch!’ Shouted James as Victoire’s foot met it’s mark – his foot. He rubbed his knee, where the pain was the most serious, and asked, ‘What did you do that for?’

    ‘For saying things that have nothing to do with you,’ Victoire replied, blushing furiously, but her face turned red, not from embarrassment but from anger, when James opened his mouth to retort.

    That was all it took. James took one look at Victoire and recoiled, keeping his mouth shut, but snatching a Cauldron Cake from Albus before flinging himself onto the seat.

    Albus scowled at James, but James stuck out his tongue in return. Fuming, Albus turned to Victoire, looking at her curiously. He did not know that she was part Veela, and often wondered why she was that pretty.

    Half an hour later, the foursome reached Hogwarts. Albus had went to change into his robes 10 minutes ago, and came back just in time to get his trunk and go off to the boats with Hagrid, whom he now had to call Professor, unlike the times when he had come over for tea with his father.

    Walking over to the familiar voice of Hagrid, ‘Firs’ years over ‘ere! Come on now! Don’t be shy, come on!’

    Smiling to himself, he out his trunk near Rose’s on the carriage and walked over to Hagrid, saying, ‘Hey Hagrid.’

    ‘Albus!’ Hagrid boomed, looking down at him, ‘And Rose!’ he said, looking at Rose this time, beaming at both of them.

    When all the first years had been gathered around Hagrid, he brought them to the edge of the lake, where four people were to share a same boat, with the exception of Hagrid himself, of course. Being half-giant, one boat could hardly hold him.

    Albus climbed into a boat with Rose, and a scrawny blonde boy together with a small girl with brown hair.

    The nearer the boats got to the castle, the more nervous Albus became. ‘Don’t worry Albus,’ Rose whispered into his ear. ‘Everything will be fine.’

    When they reached the castle, Professor McGonagall spoke to them, ‘ Wait here. The Sorting ceremony will begin momentarily.’

    Then she walked into through the doors leading to the Great Hall and came back 5 minutes later, beckoning them to follow her. Then she spoke to them when they had reached the front of the Hall.

    ‘When I call your name, you will come forth, and I shall put the Sorting Hat upon your head. Alkerton, Polly!’ Professor McGonagall said.

    ‘HUFFLEPUFF!’

    ‘Venice, Alivin!’

    ‘GRYFFINDOR!’

    ‘Bones, Leona!’

    ‘HUFFLEPUFF!’

    ‘Corner, Jeikora!’

    ‘RAVENCLAW!’

    And the list continued, all the way until…

    ‘Potter, Albus!’

    And the whole hall became silent as Albus walked to the Sorting Hat and placed it upon his head. Five seconds later, the hat opened its mouth…