A/N: So this is a Rose/Scorpius but I had to get this topic out of the way first! It'll switch to either Rose or Scorpius POV after this!
I board the Hogwarts Express, still extremely nervous. Dad’s words were little comfort. What if I was placed in Slytherin? That would make me a house traitor to the whole family.
“Hey Al, come and sit with me and Rose!” James calls from one of the compartments. I quickly go in with them, so I can be rid of all these people staring.
Of course, Dad and Mum warned me about this earlier. My dad happens to be Harry Potter, so people tend to gawk when they see us. Apparently, defeating the most evil wizard ever makes you somewhat famous.
“So, are you excited for the Sorting?” James asks once I get settled. You know I’ll kill you if you’re not placed in Gryffindor, right Al?”
There he goes again talking about houses. I don’t know how much more of it I can take. Maybe I’ll find a way to convince the Sorting Hat what a loyal Gryffindor I am.
Wow, that was some Slytherin thinking. Trying to come up with a cunning way to get what I want. Maybe I should be in Slytherin. After all, my middle name is after a Slytherin, and according to my dad he was a good guy.
“So what if I am in Slytherin?” I ask James perhaps a little too rudely. “It’s not like I’ll never see you again. Or become the next Voldemort or anything like that.”
“I know,” James answers, “I’ll just kill you for being a traitor to the family. Rose here knows she’ll be in Gryffindor, right Rosie?” And of course, Rose agrees right away.
“Don’t worry Al,” she says. “Both your parents and your brother were in Gryffindor. So were your Uncle Ron and your Aunt Hermione. Grandad and Grandmum, too. There’s no way you won’t be in Gryffindor.”
“Yeah, and even if you are, I could use a spy in the Slytherin House. You could be useful.” James adds.
“Anything off the cart, dearies?” and old woman with a tray of sweets inquires. Thank God. If there’s anything James cares about more than what house I’ll be in, it’s sweets.
***
We get to our stop faster than I had expected. James goes to one of the carriages with Teddy Lupin, leaving Rose and myself to walk over to Hagrid calling us and the other first years.
I don’t quite understand why we take the boats to the castle for the first time. At least one boat capsizes every year; I’ve asked around. I’d much rather take the carriages with my family. Even though only six of us are attending this year as the others are too young, my family is too large to explain here. Anyways, I won’t have a shortage of family during any of my Hogwarts years. Of course, they are all already in Gryffindor or will be, so I’m screwed if I’m in Slytherin.
I get in one of the boats with Rose. Alice Longbottom joins us. She’s Neville and Hannah Longbottom’s daughter, and she is very quiet, but very nice. When she talks, you better listen, because what comes out of her mouth is always very intelligent. But nothing was as shocking as who joined us next.
“Anybody sitting here?” Scorpius Malfoy asks. He’s Draco and Astoria Malfoy’s son, and he looks exactly like his father. Uncle Ron told me I should never trust him. But hey, nobody was sitting in the seat that he wanted, so how could I deny him?
He sits, and immediately introduces himself. Rose gives him a funny nod. Alice just looks on and nods at him. I give him a curt nod. He starts discussing how his father told him he’d be disowned if he wasn’t in Slytherin. “I’m sure I will though” he says, but his eyes show otherwise.
The castle comes into view. Alice finally speaks, talking about the different rooms you can see from this angle. Rose joins her. All four of us have seen the castle already, so it’s not a big deal for us. We’ve attended many parties to celebrate the defeat of Voldemort, and I’m sure we will attend many more.
The girls are still talking, so I decide to make conversation with Scorpius. I mean, how bad can he be?
“Are you sure you’re going to be in Slytherin? I ask. “Not at all” he replies, “I’m scared to death I’ll be put in Huflepuff.” I didn’t even think about Hufflpuff in all of my Slytherin worry, and many new scenarios pop into my head, but none of as bad as me being in Slytherin and James never speaking to me again. “I’m sure you’ll be fine” I tell him. Well, I tell him and myself.
***
As we wait outside the Great Hall, I talk to Rose about how amazing the feast is going to be. She doesn’t ever bring up houses, and I’m grateful for that.
Too soon, Professor Longbottom comes and tells us to prepare for the Sorting. We have to line up in alphabetical order. I give Rose a hug. “See you at the Gryffindor table” she tells me, and goes to the back area of the line. I find myself between May Peterson and Mitchell Roberts, both of whom I’ve never met in my life.
We enter the Great Hall and the Sorting begins. I don’t pay much attention to the beginning as I’m telling myself that I’ll be in Gryffindor. I do listen enough to hear Alice become a Ravenclaw and Scorpius to become a Slytherin. Awesome, if he got what he wanted, won’t I?
May Perterson get selected for Hufflepuff, then it’s my turn. I walk up and tenderly put the old hat on my head. “Hmm, Mr. Potter,” he says in my ear. “Just like your father, I don’t know whether to put you in Gryffindor or Slytherin.”
“And just like my father, I want to be in Gryffindor.” I say, not trying to sound too scared.
“I let your dad have his way, but I don’t think I can with you. Your dad would have done better in Slytherin than he did in Gryffindor. I can’t make the same mistake with you.”
I try to protest, but I’m too late. “SLYTHERIN!” the hat shouts.
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