Epilogue

19 years later, September 1st

"Potter, Albus Severus," Professor McGonagall announced.

Harry watched anxiously from the Head Table as the messy haired, green-eyed boy walked nervously to the Sorting Hat. He had been invited to watch the proceedings (as he had last year) by the Headmaster, who Harry could tell was as anxious as he himself was.

"Gryffindor!" shouted the hat.

Harry broke into a huge smile, as did Albus as he happily hopped to the Gryffindor table where his brother already sat.

Harry chanced a glance at the Headmaster who was clapping appreciatively. "I guess I'll see you for Christmas dinner at the Burrow, Dad," Harry grinned, nudging him.

The Headmaster scowled, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you coerced the Hat when I left you in my office."

"I didn't let him, Severus," Ginny said, nudging Harry playfully.

"It seems Lily is your last hope for Slytherin now, Dad," Harry said.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I give up on your children. The Weasley genes overpower the Prince ones." Rose Weasley had just been sorted into Gryffindor.

"Ron will be happy," Ginny observed. "I'll let Mum know about dinner then," she added sweetly.

"Oh, very well," Severus grumbled half-heartedly.

The Sorting had ended now so he stood up to announce dinner.

"I wonder how Albus is doing…" Harry murmured to Ginny.

"He'll be fine," she answered, placatingly.

Harry sighed. "I know, but just to be sure…"

At the Gryffindor table, food had just appeared magically and James and Albus dug in enthusiastically along with the others.

"Do you think Grandpa will be disappointed that I wasn't in Slytherin?" Albus asked, worriedly looking up at the Head Table.

"Nah," said James, his mouth full of food, "It's just a joke Dad and Grandpa have going on. He'd be happy if you were in Hufflepuff." James snorted.

"I can't believe your father is Harry Potter and your grandfather is the Headmaster," a first year who had been in the boat with Albus said in awe.

"It's pretty cool," Albus said impressively.

James rolled his eyes. "Don't get too big for your robes Albus. See that Hufflepuff boy over there? His surname is Smith and he's always complaining about me getting special treatment even though Grandpa is always hardest on me," he said glumly.

"James is right," Rose said primly. "You should act like any other student around Grandpa." She and Hugo had picked up the unfortunate habit of calling Severus 'Grandpa', much to his chagrin.

"Do you think you can get me Harry Potter's autograph?" a first year girl who had overheard the first part of the conversation squealed.

Albus shook his head. "Dad doesn't like giving autographs."

"Oh," the girl said disappointedly. Other sighs of disappointment followed.

Albus looked down at his plate, unhappy at the way things had turned out.

"Cheer up, Al," James said, still stuffing his mouth, "they'll get over it in a couple days."

Before Albus could reply, he was distracted by the appearance of several ghosts, one who was wearing a ruff.

"Welcome, young Gryffindors," he began, only to be interrupted by Rose.

"My father told me about you," she said excitedly, "you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I prefer, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington if you please," he said with dignity.

"How can you be nearly headless?" Albus asked.

Harry smiled as he removed the extendable ear he had disillusioned next to his ear. He turned over to Ginny. "I think Albus will be fine."

Harry strolled along down the dungeons nostalgically, taking his annual tour of Hogwarts. He was sidetracked by voices coming close to what he now knew was the Slytherin Common Room. "Give me my wand Nott!" a boy was shouting.

"Why should I, Malfoy, when your family betrayed mine!"

"What's going on here?" Harry sternly interceded.

The boys both paled as they recognized him.

"Nothing," the boy who Harry recognized as Nott's son said. He threw the Malfoy boy's wand at his feet and muttered the password to get into the Common Room.

The Malfoy boy, Scorpius, Harry remembered, picked up his wand and was about to follow when Harry stopped him.

"You're Scorpius Malfoy, aren't you?" he asked kindly.

"Yes, sir," the boy muttered, staring at the ground.

"I knew your father, you know." The boy flinched. "We used to play Quidditch against each other," Harry continued, "he was a good Seeker."

Scorpius looked up, surprised that Harry Potter would say something nice about his father.

"You know, my son, Albus, is a first year as well. If you're a Quidditch player too, I'm sure both my sons will be happy to make your acquaintance."

Scorpius hesitated a moment before answering, "I play Chaser, sir." He paused. "I'll be happy to meet them," he continued quietly.

Harry smiled at him. "I'll let them know. And don't worry about your housemates. If they bother you again, tell them Harry Potter taught you to duel. Rictusempra is a pretty good spell. "

Scorpius looked up at him and smiled.

On his way up to the Headmaster's office, Harry picked up Albus from the Gryffindor tower. Ginny wanted to see him one last time before they left.

"Grandpa!" Albus cried as he went into the office and hugged Severus. He stopped suddenly. "I mean…er.."

Severus chuckled. "It's okay, Albus. We're just family here."

"Now is anyone going to tell me what house Rose got into?" Ron's voice came impatiently.

"Honestly, Ron, it shouldn't matter so much. She's probably written to us anyway," Hermione said, though she too was wringing her hands.

"Albus!" Lily said excitedly, "Mum said you were in Gryffindor!"

"Yeah, Lily, the Common Room is awesome! Though I can't tell you about it of course."

"Al, what house is Rose in?" Ron asked, seeing as he wasn't getting answers from the adults who were all smirking in a very Snape-like way. Even Ginny!

"She's with me in Gryffindor, Uncle Ron," Albus said.

"Whoop!" Ron shouted. "See, I told you," he said to Hermione.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Alright Ron. We should go now."

"Bye Harry, Ginny. Good luck, Al. Give our love to Rosie." With that they left through the Floo.

"You should go now too, Al. Don't want to be late for breakfast tomorrow," said Harry.

"Okay. Bye Mum, bye Dad."

"We should get going as well, Dad," Harry told Severus after Ginny had hugged Al and sent him on his way.

"Lily turned from where she was perched on her grandfather's knee and hugged him. "Bye, Grandpa."

"Goodbye, Lily," Severus said, smiling at her. Ginny took her hand and they exited through the Floo.

"Goodnight, Dad," Harry said smiling and waving as he too left.

Severus shook his head and smiled in contentment, looking forward to the next day, the way he had for the last nineteen years.

A/N: And thus we come to the end of my first chaptered fic. Hope you enjoyed!