Chapter 4- The Beginning of the End

Albus was confused. He had just had the best dream he had ever had in his life, and now it was all over. He dreamt that he finally got to go to Hogwarts, made some new friends, and got sorted into Gryffindor! He lay on his bed, screwing his eyes up in concentration trying to remember the entire dream. The ruby red Hogwarts express puffing out smoke... the glamorous great hall... the headmaster who he recognised from somewhere... He sighed as he remembered the mouth-watering smell of the roast beef on the tables before him. Eventually, when he heard movement from somewhere across the room, he opened his eyes.
Shock. Confusion. Happiness. More confusion. More happiness.

Albus automatically broke out in a marvellous grin. He was sat up on his very own four-poster bed, in the Gryffindor common room, in the first year's boy dorms. He smiled at everything, from the wooden panelled floor to the deep red curtains around his bed. He looked over to his left, and saw Scorpius staring at him with laughter etched in his eyes. "Erm Albus... Why are you smiling at the curtains? Are you ok?"
"Scorpius! We're here! We're actually here!" laughed Albus.
"Yes we are. Well done." Scorpius rolled his eyes. However, Albus was too engrossed staring at the photo of a golden lion to notice Scorpius's humour. "Comon genius, we'd better get downstairs. I don't fancy being late to classes on our very first day."
"You're right," sighed Albus. "Are you nervous?"
"Nah. We'll be ok. Are you?" asked Scorpius kindly.
"A little..." admitted Albus.
"Don't worry. Let's stick together!"
The two got dressed at top speed into their black dress robes, and headed downstairs. Albus gasped.

The room was amazing. There was brilliant fireplace where the night before there must have been a cosy fire, as the ashes were still glowing bright red. Around the fireplace were several red-cushioned sofas, where a few fifth years were sat discussing Quidditch. Across the walls were different posters of famous wizarding bands and portraits of famous Gryffindors. It was breathtaking. It was home. On the wall next to the door was a notice board that held information explaining when Quidditch trials would be, and reminding students that the forbidden forest was out of bounds. While Albus was admiring the room, he didn't realise his cousin Rose and the other Gryffindor girl whose name he couldn't remember had walked up behind him. "Amazing, isn't it?" asked Rose. "Really has a warm feeling to it. Albus?".
"Oh yeah. Sorry, I'm just trying to take it all in." Replied Albus.
"I see. Aren't you going to introduce us?" Rose asked so quickly it was difficult to understand what she said.
"I'm sorry?"
"Well... your friend. You haven't introduced us." Said Rose, as though she was talking to someone very ill in a hospital. Albus hated when she did that; he scowled at her patronising tone.
"Right. Rose, this is-"
"OI YOU!" shouted a familiar voice from across the room. Albus, Scorpius, Rose and the other girl turned to see where the noise had come from. James was standing by the stairs to the dormitories. As soon as he caught his brothers eye, he sprinted towards him and smacked him around the back.
"Hey! What was that for?" asked Albus, rubbing the stinging patch where his brother had hit him.
"I just wanted to wish you good luck. And you too, Rose. Who're these?" asked James sincerely.
"That's where we were just getting to." Replied Rose.
"If you will let me talk, then I'll tell you!" screeched Albus. James and Rose fell silent. "Anyway, this is Scorpius." He pointed towards Scorpius who was stood by his side. He was very careful not to say his surname, as he knew that James and Rose would recognise it and tell Harry straight away that Albus had made friends with a Malfoy.
"Hello." Scorpius waved, and a flush of red appeared on Rose's cheek.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" asked Albus in Rose's patronising tone, indicating to the girl standing at her side.
"Of course. Everyone, this is Amy. Amy, this is Albus, Scorpius and James." Said Rose.
"Hi!" said Amy. Her voice wasn't unpleasant, but Albus thought he would be very tired by the end of the day if he had to listen to that the whole time.
"Best be off. Don't want to be late on the first day back. See you later." Said James. He walked at a quick pace to the door to catch up with his friends.
"He's right. Let's go." Said Scorpius. To Albus's annoyance, Rose and Amy followed them so they wouldn't be able to have a private conversation. Albus zoned out from Rose's voice behind him ("Oh I do hope that we get to use our wands today. I've been waiting all summer, you know! I wonder what we've got first. Of course, I've read through all of my books already so I have a little bit of knowledge before we start...") and looked at the portraits that were on the walls. He was used to the people inside moving from one picture to the other, but he thought it was rather funny how a painted knight was trying to run with the group while trying to kill them. "Back you foul beasts! Nothing can get past Sir Cadogan!"

They had reached the great hall. They walked down the last set of marble staircases, and came to a halt. "What's going on? What's the holdup?" asked Amy. Albus pushed his way to the front of the large group of people that was blocking the door into the hall to see what was going on.
Two boys, one Gryffindor and one Slytherin, were having a duel. By the looks of it, no teachers had made it to the scene yet. "HA! TAKE THIS YOU LIER!" screamed one of the boys. The other ducked, and the spell came flying straight for Albus and hit him square in the face.