Harry Potter: 19 Years Later

Chapter 1: The Hogwarts Express

Albus Potter smiled and waved at his parents, Harry and Ginny Potter, as the Hogwarts Express started moving down the tracks of Platform 9 3/4. His father had tears in his eyes, which made Albus almost tear up also. He expected his mother to cry when he left for Hogwarts, but his father? His father was always overprotective of him and his siblings, James and Lily. He knew what his father had done when he attended Hogwarts. His father was the famous Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived.

Maybe his father was scared that Albus would go through the same troubles that he did, along with his Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione. Albus heard the story many times as a child, and he remembered begging his father to tell him why his face was in almost every history book there was those days. He immediately regretted it, and now that he was maturer, he realized how hard it must be for his parents to live with the memories. Albus mentally promised himself not to get into trouble at school like his father told him he always did...

"Earth to Albus. Are you there?" Albus snapped back to reality when he saw his cousin's hand waving in his face. Rose Weasley sat in the seat directly in front of him, with one of her Hogwarts textbooks cracked open in her lap. How normal of her, thought Albus. She was Albus's best friend, and always had been. He was just glad he wasn't alone on his first day at school.

"Oh, sorry, Rose. I must have been lost in thought." He said.

Rose smiled and rolled her eyes, then continued peering into her copy of "Hogwarts: A History."

"You know, you'll have plenty of time to study that book when school ACTUALLY starts." Albus said.

Rose looked up from the book and glared at him. "My mum always says it's-"

"-better to do some extra studying. Yeah, Aunt Hermione tells me that almost every time I see her." Albus said, finishing Rose's sentence. Again, Rose rolled her eyes, tucked a piece of her frizzy Weasley red hair behind her ear, and peered into her book again.

Albus hated the lack of conversation. He was already nervous enough. Rose was quiet when she was nervous, so it was best that Albus left her alone, unless he wanted to see his cousin's snappy side. So, he decided to stare out the window of the train.

The countryside flew past the window as the Hogwarts Express made its way towards the historic school Albus had been craving to see ever since he could walk and talk. Ever since he discovered that he was a wizard and had powers, and of course learned of his parents' pasts, he wanted to learn more. This opportunity to attend Hogwarts meant the world to Albus. He just hoped that it would be as amazing as his elder relatives said it was.

Albus couldn't help but wonder: Would he make any friends to make memories with at Hogwarts? Would he succeed at his lessons? Would he be sorted into Slytherin house, which he dreaded almost more than anything? Would he be able to live up to the Potter family legacy, and be just as amazing as his father? He knew he shouldn't compare himself to his famous father, but his mind couldn't help but bear the thought. As for the friends situation, he knew he would always have Rose and his brother James, but he wondered if he would make new friends. What if he possibly found love there, as did his parents? And as for the housing situation, what IF he was sorted into Slytherin? He remembered his father telling him that he was named after a great Hogwarts headmaster, named Severus Snape. His father loved the man, and he was Slytherin during his years at school. Deep inside, he hated the idea of him wearing green and silver on his robes instead of scarlet and gold, like his family. This terrified him. But Albus would only have to find out when he got there. The next few years of his life started today.

All of a sudden the compartment door slid open, and James Potter walked in and sat beside him. James was already in his third year at Hogwarts, and Albus heard that his brother had already earned himself a big reputation. He was most popular in his year, and pretty well-known in Gryffindor house. James even played as Gryffindor's Keeper on the Quidditch team. Albus wondered if he would live up to his brother's standards. Would he have the potential to do so?