Harry Potter: 19 Years Later

3: Albus' POV

"Albus Potter!" McGonagall called.

Albus swallowed and didn't realize he had been staring like an idiot until McGonagall gestured for him to go to the stool. Hesitatingly, he climbed the steps and sat down. Please be quick. Please don't be Slytherin. McGonagall placed the hat on his head. Not Slytherin. Anything but Slytherin.

"You don't want Slytherin, eh?" a voice asked.
Is this the hat's voice? Albus wondered.

"Yes, young Albus," the hat answered. "Let's see...clever, courageous, smart, kind, yes, but the ambition...yes, the ambition. It must be...SLYTHERIN!"

Time seemed to stop after that single word was screamed. McGonagall lifted the hat off Albus' head, not speaking. The entire hall was silent; not even the Slytherin table was cheering. After a few more awkward moments of silence, the Slytherin table broke into puzzled and surprised applause.
No. No. No. No. This can't be happening, Albus thought frantically as he walked towards the Slytherin table. He sat as far from Scorpius as he could. He didn't know why; he just didn't like him.

The other girl was called up and sorted into Gryffindor. Lucky her, Albus thought, wistfully watching her sit at the table where all of his family was.

"You sad you're not in Gryffindor, Potter?" sneered a boy sitting across from Albus.

Albus ignored him and tried to pay attention to the speech McGonagall was giving.

"...so no magic in the halls...don't go into the forest..."

But no matter how hard he tried to listen, his mind still wandered to the same topic: He was sorted into Slytherin! Slytherin, the House that was despised by the others. Slytherin, the House that most evil witches and wizards came from. Slytherin, the House that Voldemort had been in!

"And now that you've all had a long day, eat up!" McGonagall had finished her speech. With a wave of her hand, food appeared on the tables.

It looked so delicious, even Albus could enjoy (partially) the meal. He helped himself to baked potatoes, freshly baked bread, vegetables, roasted beef, butter, fresh cheese, pork chops, casserole, and stew. As hard as he tried and as delicious as the food was, he just couldn't enjoy the meal. Looking around, seeing everyone talking and laughing and being in their desired House just prevented him from having a good time. He didn't even have anyone to talk to. As far as he knew, everyone in Slytherin was mean and a bully.

Maybe some people are nice, thought Albus, hopefully looking around the table. Mostly everyone was laughing and pointing at other people and sneering. Albus looked at the Gryffindor table, where all of his family was. He caught Teddy's eye and instead of the usual light-heartedness and humor, he saw only confusion and something else...something as if Teddy was looking at a stranger, not someone whom he'd known his whole life.

Albus looked down at his food. Even Teddy was looking at him differently. Teddy, the most fun person he knew. Teddy, one of the kindest, most understanding people he knew was looking at him differently because he was sorted into Slytherin.

The meal was over soon and desserts appeared on the table, but Albus didn't even touch the apple pie that was on his plate. All he could do was sit there and stare at all the people enjoying themselves.

He looked over at Rose. She was talking to some girls in her year. Now he would barely see her. He had been looking forward to Hogwarts because Rose would be in all his classes. Or at least he thought she would be. Now they would only have about two or three classes together. And even then they probably wouldn't talk. Albus hadn't forgotten their fight from earlier. What had gotten into Rose? They never fought like that. They had always agreed, always gotten along, always been the best of friends. They had known each other since the day they were born.