Chapter 1: Our Choice
It was a hot morning at the Potter household. The sun was beating down on the house, and you could tell it was summer from the soaring temperatures outside. Ginny was busy preparing the children for school.
"Hold still." Ginny said as she was trying to button Albus's shirt.
Albus Potter was the middle child. He would be starting his first year at Hogwarts today. Albus resembled his father. He had untidy jet-black hair, green eyes, and a small face. Lily was the youngest child. She resembled her mother. Her red hair was as gorgeous as a rose. She wouldn't be starting Hogwarts until two years from now. The oldest child was James. He was in his third year at Hogwarts. He was always studying and it seemed like he never wanted to have any fun.
"Hurry up you two! It's already 10:40!" Harry said checking his watch. "We'll miss the train if we're not careful!"
Ginny grabbed the luggage and told the children to hurry. Lily was starting to cry. She could not get her shoes on. Harry tied them quickly and they all ran out the door. Harry then drove them to King Cross Station. As soon as the family got out Albus began asking all sorts of questions like, "Where do we go? What time is it? Do you think people will like me?" Harry was quick to answer "I don't know" to every question that came his way. The family vanished through the platform wall. While Albus was pushing his cart he began to gain speed.
The cart kept getting faster, faster, and faster until…BAM! The cart smashed into another cart in front of it. Albus was looking more and more worried mainly from the looks of his father. Albus was about to apologize when he realized that it was the Weasley's.
"Hiya Harry." Ron said as he was picking up his things.
Harry looked and saw Rose and Hugo, Ron and Hermione's children. Rose's hair was curly like Hermione's, but was the shade of ginger like Ron's.
"Sorry 'bout the mess." Harry said fixing his eyes on Albus.
Albus was busy eyeing his new books. James rolled his eyes and continued reading "Many Fascinating Spells."
"Find a good parking spot?" Ron asked. "Hermione thought I would never pass a Muggle driving test."
"Rubbish!" Hermione said. "I had complete faith in you."
Harry and Ron lifted Albus's trunk and owl onto the train. A small boy waved to them from a nearby window. He looked like a first year. Harry waved back. He remembered his first time at Hogwarts.
"Which house do you think you will be in Rosie?" Lily asked.
"Probably Gryffindor. My mum was in Gryffindor." Rose said proudly.
"I'm sure you'll be in Gryffindor with me and Hugo, Albus." James said.
Suddenly, Harry and Ron saw three shadows coming through the steam of the train. The steam cleared and Ron could make out who it was.
"Look who it is."
Draco Malfoy was standing with his wife and son. His hair was receding a little. His son looked like an exact copy of him. Draco caught the sight of Harry. He nodded and then turned away.
"So that's Scorpius," Ron said. "Make sure you beat him in every test Rose. At least you've inherited your mother's brains."
"Ron! Don't make them enemies before term starts!" Hermione said.
"You could be in Slytherin Albus. I think you have the perfect qualities!" Hugo said.
James and Hugo laughed. They loved to mess with Albus. Albus's eyes started to tear up. His face kept getting redder and redder. Suddenly, Albus busted with anger.
"I won't! I won't be in Slytherin!" Albus said.
"James, give it a rest!" Ginny said.
Harry looked at his watch. The hands were ticking by.
"It's nearly eleven; you'd better get on board."
"Send our love to Professor Longbottom!" Ginny told James.
"Mum! I can't give a professor love!"
"But you know Neville!"
James rolled his eyes. "Yeah when I'm not at school. When he comes to visit I feel like I have to raise my hand to get him to pass the gravy."
Ginny kissed their foreheads. Lily was hanging onto her dad's shirt. She really wanted to go to Hogwarts. Ginny finally reached Albus's forehead.
"See you at Christmas."
"Goodbye Al," said Harry as his son hugged him. "Don't forget that Hagrid invited you to tea next Friday."
Albus shook his head real low-like. Harry could tell that something was bothering him. Harry looked at him in the eyes. Albus looked up at him.
"What if I'm in Slytherin?" Albus whispered this really soft so only his father could hear him.
Harry looked at him. Albus's eyes were full of tears. Harry crouched down so that Albus's eyes met his.
"Albus Severus Potter, you were named after two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew. Whatever house you get placed in I will be proud of you. Just remember that it is not our abilities that make us who we truly are. It is our choices. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."
Albus wiped his eyes and looked up at his father.
"It does that?" Albus asked.
"It did for me." Harry answered with a smile.
Albus hugged his father. Harry patted his head and his eyes started to tear up. Albus jumped onto the train and waved out the window. Harry watched as his son disappeared gradually into the distance. Ginny put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"He'll be all right." Ginny said.
Harry looked at her and knew she was right. Harry and Ginny waved with Ron and Hermione waving next to them. Every head they could see inside the train was turned on them. With one last look they left the train station. Albus sat next to James on the train.
"Sorry about you being in Slytherin Al." James said. "I just wanted to have a laugh."
"It's okay. I guess things will work out all right." Albus said.
Albus looked out the window. He saw the hills and the lakes moving by. James put his hand on Albus's shoulder. He smiled at him assuring that everything would be okay. Just then, a lady with a cart full of sweets passed by the alley.
"Any sweets little darlings?" she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Albus started to eye the packs of "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans." Hugo's face was full of happiness. It seemed like he wanted every single piece of candy.
"Could I have…um…a pack of those please?" Albus said pointing to the beans.
The small lady handed the beans to him and collected a few sickles he had given her.
"Two Cauldron cakes please." Hugo said eyeballing them.
He too was handed the sweets of his choice and handed the lady some sickles. The lady left, and Hugo handed a cauldron cake to Rose. Albus opened his pack of beans and pulled out a card. Something ironic was written on it:
HARRY POTTER
Best known for his defeat of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
Became an Auror with only six years of Hogwarts training.
Became the youngest seeker in a century.
Albus saw his own father on the card. He looked at the figure and was sure it winked at him. Rose was looking at Albus. She could tell he was worried about going to Hogwarts.
"It looks like we're going to be in the same year together. So…what subject do you think you will like best?"
Albus wasn't paying attention to her because the train had come to a halt.
"What was that?" Hugo asked.
James looked up from his reading. He looked at the scared faces of Albus, Rose, and Hugo. The train then resumed moving.
"We probably had to stop for something. Maybe one of the first years got in trouble." James said.
Albus and the others heaved a sigh of relief. James and Albus heard stories about the time their father had a close encounter with a dementor on the train. Albus was sure, when no one was looking, James heaved a sigh of relief too. After long awaited hours, the train finally reached the platform.
