Albus Potter and the sorting hat

CHAPTER I

 Albus and Rose stood looking through the window until Lily or the King Cross Station were no longer visible. Albus sighed in relief, with the over weight on his shoulders leaving him breath again.
"Al" Rose tried to call his attention. "Albus? Hogwarts Express to Albus, you there?"
"Um, yeah, sorry Rosie. What do you want?"
"We should focus"
"Focus on what?"
"On who we choose to be friends with obviously. Our parents met each other on their first trip to Hogwarts"
"So... we need to choose now who to be friends for life? That's quite scary..."
"On the contrary, it's exciting" Rose watched his cousins expression and explained herself. "C'mon Al. You're a Potter, I'm a Granger, we're both Weasley. Everyone will want to be friends with us. We just have to choose wisely"
"So how we do decide- which compartment to go in..."
"We rate them all and then we make a decision"
Albus nodded at her and they started wandering the train. Albus opened a random compartment door discovering a lonely scrawny blond kid in an otherwise empty compartment. The blond kid with silver eyes smiled at Albus and this one smiled back.
"Um, hi. Is this compartment..."
"It's free. It's just me"
"Great. So I might just- come in- for a bit - if that's okay?"
"That's okay. Hi"
"Albus. Al. I'm- my name is Albus"
"Hi Scorpius. I mean, I'm Scoripius. You're Albus. I'm Scorpius. And I'm rambling. It will stop in three, two, one... Done."
Scorpius looked nervous, staring at the ground while Albus was amused. A silence followed their interaction, but it wasn't awkquard. It was a comfortable silence broken by Rose interruption.
"Al. I found the one. I think. They are mostly newyears but there's a second year too and..." Rose stopped suddenly seeing his cousin shaking his head backwards. "What? Al, are you trying to say something cause..." Rose finally noticing Scorpius presence. "Oh"
"Hi Scorpius. Um. Not again. I'm Scorpius"
Rose's face grew colder by the minute. Scorpius frowned and looked at Albus looking for an explanation, but this one was as confused as him so he just shrugged his shoulders.
"Rosie?" Albus finally snapped her back to reality.
"I'm Rose"
"Hi Rose. Would you like some of my Fizzing Whizzbees?"
"I've just had breakfast, thanks"
"I've also got some Shock-o-Choc, Pepper Imps and some Jelly Slugs. Mum's idea - she says <<Sweets they always help you make friends>>" He added the last part singing but then he realised it was a mistake. "Stupid idea probably"
Rose chose to ignore it.
"Al, we should get going"
"What? Why? I do want some sweets. James always braggs about... Ouch. What was that for Rose?" Albus said clutching his sore shoulder.
"I don't know what you're talking about Al, but we really should get going"
"You just hit me on the shoulder! What's going on?"
Scorpius' face fell realising what was going on.
"She's hitting you because of me" Scorpius joined.
"What?"
"Listen, I -um, I know who you are, so... it's probably only fair you know who I am"
"What do you mean who I am?"
"You're Albus Potter. She's Rose Weasley. And I'm Scorpius Malfoy. My parents are Astoria and Draco Malfoy. Our parents... they -um, let's say they didn't like each other much."
"That's putting it mildly! Your mum and dad are Death Eaters!" Rose finally explained. Albus looked at Scorpius expectantly waiting for an explanation. The blond kid looked affronted.
"Dad was. But mum wasn't" Rose looked away, and Scorpius knew why she did. "I know what the rumour is, and it's a lie" Albus looked from an uncomfortable Rose to a desperate Scorpius.
"What- is the rumour?" Albus asked.
"The rumour is that my parents couldn't have children. That my father and my grandfather were so desperate for a powerful heir, to prevent the end of the Malfoy line, that they... That they used a Time-Turner to send my mother back-"
"To send her back where?"
"The rumour is that he's Voldemort's son, Al" Rose spoke up. A horrible, uncomfortable silence followed it. "It's probably rubbish. I mean... look, you've got a nose" The tension was slightly broken and the coment made Scorpius laugh pathetically grateful.
"And it's just like my father's! I got his nose, his hair and his name. Not that's a great thing either. I mean, father-son issues, I have them. But, on the whole, I'd rather be a Malfoy than, you know, the son of the Dark Lord" Scorpius laughed nervously. Albus looked at him and something passed between them.
"Yes, well... We probably should sit somewhere else. Come on, Albus"
"No, I'm okay. You go on..." Albus answered not breaking eye contact with Scorpius, gaining a sigh from Rose.
"Really? Please, Al? I found this great compartment, will you come?"
"I think I'll stay for a while"
"Albus. I won't wait"
"And I wouldn't expect you to. I'll see you later, Rosie"
"Fine!"
Rose left the compartment defeated, leaving the blond and the darkhaired boys alone.
"Thank you"
"No. I didn't stay- for you. I stayed for your sweets" Albus said smiling. "Which one would you start with?"
"Easy. I've always regarded the Pepper Imp as the king of the confectionery bag. They're peppermint sweets that make you smoke at the ears"
"Brilliant. Then, that's what I'll have"
The boys ate some of the sweets while talking about random things. When the trolley witch approached them, Albus bought some Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs and Cauldron Cakes. After devouring it all, Rose passed by.
"Al, we're arriving, you should probably get changed" Rose informed without looking at Scorpius. She was closing the door but then she looked at Scorpius annoyed."By the way, it might be a good idea if you cleaned up before leaving. This is a mess"
"Oh. Right. I'll do it. Just." Scorpius took out his wand and moved it around in a circle "Fregotego"
"Whoa, look Rosie! That's the one you've been trying to learn for what? Like three months?" Albus said gaining another hit from his cousin. "Ouch"
"Just get changed and try not to fall on the lake"
With that Rose left the two boys.
"She's quite fierce" Scorpius said sill looking at the door.
"Yeah... Sorry"
"No. I like it."