Albus Potter: First Year

The train chugged away from King's Cross, Albus' parents' faces getting smaller and smaller. He sighed and turned to his cousin Rose and suggested they find a compartment. He didn't want to watch as his parents disappeared into nothing. They couldn't find an empty one, so settled on the least intimidating carriage - there was only one other occupant, a dark haired, lanky boy who looked like he could be a first year. Albus slid the door open and stuck his head in.

'Mind if we sit here?'

The boy shook his head, looking alarmed, but also slightly grateful to have company.

Rose dragged her trunk in behind her and struggled to put it up into the racks. The boy stared at her a moment, then got up and helped her. Albus kind of wished he'd help him as well - the boy was rather tall and Albus wasn't exactly large for his age, while the trunk seemed very big and heavy as he was attempting to push it over his head.

'Thanks! I'm Rose Weasley by the way,' Rose said, sticking out her hand after they'd gotten the trunks up.

'Simon. Simon Black,' the boy said, still looking a bit stunned at the sight of Rose.

Albus gaped at him.

'Black? But I thought they were all dead?'

Simon looked confused and shook his head. 'No, there are a lot of us...and all alive, last I checked...which was about five minutes ago.'

Comprehension dawned on Rose's face before Albus'.

'Oh, are you Muggle-born?'

Simon frowned. 'Yeah, I guess. If you mean my parents aren't wizards?'

'Yes! That explains it. Y'see the Blacks were an old pureblood family, but they died out a few years ago...'

'I see,' Simon said, although he didn't look like he did in Albus' opinion. Simon looked at Albus expectantly.

'And you are?'

'Oh! Sorry! I'm Albus Potter. Nice to meet you.' Albus sat down and the other two followed.

'Potter, as in Harry Potter?'

Rose snorted. 'Sorry,' she laughed when they both looked at her. 'I was just waiting to see how long anyone would mention Uncle Harry. Ten minutes,' she added as she checked her watch.

Simon explained that he had read a few books aimed to introduce him to the wizarding world and had come across Albus' dad numerous times. 'I hadn't realised he had kids my age though!'

He looked at Rose. 'Harry Potter's your uncle?'

She grinned. 'Yeah. Me and Al are cousins. My Dad and Al's mum are brother and sister.'

Simon thought for a moment. 'Weasley...hang on, I know that name...Ron Weasley?'

'Yep. He's my Dad. Mum's Hermione Granger...'

Simon's jaw dropped.

Rose turned to Albus who was staring at Simon bemusedly. 'I thought it was best to get that out of the way as soon as possible. Mum warned me it might be a bit weird.'

Albus just nodded. Simon still had his mouth open.

'But...but...you two are like celebrity kids...and you're talking to me!' Albus rolled his eyes.

'Our parents did all the amazing stuff. Not us. We're just normal kids. Don't expect anything special from us. So what was it like finding out you're a wizard?' Albus said, wanting to steer the conversation away from his family. The countryside rolled by as Simon started talking about how Neville Longbottom had turned up at his house one day and explained that he, Simon, was a wizard. Simon seemed to Albus, to still not quite believe his luck.

Rose peppered him with questions, which Simon dutifully answered. Albus sat back and listened, still worried about the sorting, despite what his father had told him at the station. After half an hour, James dropped by with some of his friends who he quickly introduced as Nathaniel Thomas, a tall, black boy and Thaddeus Thane, a short, round-faced blonde boy. Both threatened to curse him for using their full names. They quickly taught Simon the rules of Exploding Snap (not really all that hard) and soon had a rollicking game happening. Simon looked rather alarmed when Rose's eyebrows were singed off, but Rose just shrugged and Nate reassured him that Madam Pomfrey or one of the teachers could put her to rights in no time.

After awhile, Albus noticed that a lot of students were walking past. He could have sworn he'd seen the girl with the blonde plaits go past three times already. James noticed him watching. 'Don't worry. It was worse last year. First son of the famous Harry Potter and all, you're not so much of a novelty. You're only the second son.'

'Gee thanks. But Dad's not that famous is he?' James just looked at his friends and rolled his eyes.

'You'll see,' was all Thad would say.

Nate asked them all what House they wanted to be in, and then had to spend five minutes explaining about the Hogwarts Houses, and the Sorting to Simon. James resumed his earlier teasing.

'Al's gonna be in Slytherin, aren't you Al?'

'James! Mum said to stop it! And I'll be in Gryffindor like you and Dad and Mum and everyone,' Albus replied stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest and staring stonily out the window.

'What about you Rosie? You could be in Ravenclaw, you like books enough.'

'I might consider it, just to get away from you, James Sirius Potter!' James just laughed.

Thad turned to Simon who was watching this exchange with a strange expression on his face.

'How about you Simon?'

'I - I don't know. Gryffindor sounds pretty good...'

'Yes! It's the best!'

The witch with the food trolley came around, and they all bought a pile of food to share. Albus was having fun introducing Simon to all the wizarding snacks and watching his reactions as they ate their way through a packet of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Albus got toast, marmalade, carrot, coffee, vanilla, peach, cereal and vinegar - all in all, not too bad. Simon wasn't as lucky. He got burnt toast, kidneys, coconut, pepper, earwax, turnip and broccoli. Rose felt sorry for him and picked out a few nice ones for him.

They also had fun exchanging chocolate wizard cards. Once Simon was over the way the frogs actually moved, they proceeded to the more important task of examining and trading the cards.

'Oh damn it,' Rose cried. 'I got your Dad again Al! I have about twenty of him.' Albus swapped her Agrippa for his father and sat staring at his father's card for a while. It was rather difficult to merge the ideal of Harry Potter with his Dad. He read the back of the card after watching his father scratch his nose for a few minutes and then walk out of the frame.

Harry James Potter, once known as The Boy Who Lived. Twice defeated the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, first when he was a baby and secondly (and finally) when he was 17. Mr Potter is currently Head of the Auror Office. Mr Potter enjoys Quidditch and spending time with his family.

Simon was avidly watching three cards: Albus Dumbledore, Fred Weasley and Merlin.

'They're moving!'

'Well of course they are,' James drawled.

'Muggle pictures don't move, stupid. Simon's Muggle-born,' Rose loftily informed her older cousin. James just shrugged and asked what that mattered.

When it was getting dark, the compartment door slid open again. It was their older cousin, Victoire Weasley, shiny new Head Girl badge pinned to her robes, long blond hair and just as pretty as her mother. Simon, Nate and Thad all stared at her.

'You lot had better get changed. We're nearly there.'

'Oi! What were you doing snogging Teddy!'

'James!' Rose admonished.

Victoire glared at him. 'None of your business, James Potter! Now get changed before I take points from you.' She glared at James, who looked at her flabbergasted, until he rose and stalked out of the compartment, muttering about girls and not understanding them. Nate and Thad quickly followed him, staring reverently at Victoire over their shoulders.

Once they were gone, Victoire's face softened and she smiled at Rose and Albus. 'Sorry about that, your brother's just...'

'A pain?'

Victoire laughed, then looked at Rose properly. 'What on earth happened to your eyebrows? You look hideous!'

'Exploding Snap,' Rose muttered. Victoire got out her wand and waved it, and Rose's eyebrows were back to normal. Simon looked impressed.

'Thanks Vicky!'

'Well anyway, you really should get changed; we'll be there in a few minutes. I just wanted to make sure you two were all right.' With that she turned and flowed off up the carriage.

Simon still looked rather shell-shocked by her appearance. He gave himself a quick shake as she left.

'Wow...who was she?'

'Our cousin, Victoire, she's Head Girl this year! Grandma Weasley was so proud. Uncle George teased her terribly though,' Rose informed Simon, evidently remembering the last family gathering where Uncle George had groaned 'Not another one!' when Aunt Fleur had proudly announced her eldest daughters achievement. He hadn't let up all night, although Albus was pretty sure that Uncle George was only joking.

They all got out their robes and pulled them on. When they arrived at Hogsmeade Station an announcement came over telling them to leave all their belongings on the train and they dismantled into the swarming crowd that now covered the platform. He saw Victoire in the distance, directing students. James, Nate and Thad were whispering conspiringly as they made their way over to her.

'Firs' years! Firs' years!'

'Hagrid!' Rose and Albus cried at the same time. They grabbed Simon and made their way over towards the gamekeeper.

'Woah, he's massive!' Simon said in amazement as they drew closer.

'Yeah, his mother was a giant,' Rose informed him.

'Hello you two!' Hagrid greeted them when they reached him. He continued calling out for all first years, and when he was satisfied they made their way down a bank and along a path. It was rather dark and slippery walking along, but they finally came to the lake and Hogwarts came into view. It was spectacular and Albus heard a lot of the students gasp in wonder. Hagrid grinned down at him.

'Beautiful innit?' Albus agreed, looking at the sparkling castle on the mountain across the lake.

'No more'n four to a boat!' Hagrid called, pointing to a flee of little boats that were sitting in front of them.

Albus, Rose, Simon and a small dark haired girl with bright red cheeks who introduced herself as Katherine Roberts all got into a boat.

'Everyone in?' Hagrid called out. 'Right then, FORWARD!'

The little boats started moving of their own accord across the lake, which was slightly rough as the wind started to pick up. Everyone was silent, staring at the castle that was steadily growing larger. The boats reached the cliff that the edge of the castle stood on and they all bent down as the boats sailed through a curtain of ivy into a dark tunnel. The boats led them up the tunnel and into a small underground harbour where they all clambered out onto the pebbly shore. Simon looked rather green.

'Seasick,' he muttered when Albus looked enquiringly at him.

Hagrid called for them all to follow him, and he led them up another passageway, coming out at last onto smooth flat grass, right at the base of the mighty castle. They followed Hagrid up a flight of stone steps and crowded around Hagrid as he knocked on a huge, oak door.

The door swung open, light streaming across the lawn. Neville stood there.

'The firs' years, Professor Longbottom.'