Albus' letter

Albus Severus Potter was no ordinary child and he was part of no ordinary family, even in the Wizarding World. He was the son of Harry Potter. The hero of the Wizarding World, vanquisher of the Dark Lord Voldemort, the Chosen One, the Boy Who Lived, Head Aurora, his list of achievements is almost infinite.

Albus sighed. For more than once he just wished he could be normal. He loved his family. He, like the rest of the Wizarding World – well most of the Wizarding populace, loved his dad unconditionally. But he knew being the second son of the chosen one was a heavy burden on one's shoulders so small. He had to prove himself.

Albus, or 'Al' as his friends and family called him, was currently sitting at the small kitchen table at the Potter home in Godric's hollow. Albus looked up at the empty portrait above the wooden mantel piece in their kitchen. The silver label on the frame read, 'Headmaster Severus Snape. A Hero.' He hoped his namesake would return soon, he was dying to show him his acceptance letter. After the Second Wizarding War, Harry had fought tooth and nail to persuade the Governors of Hogwarts to put Snape's portrait in the Headmaster's study. At first, they were too stubborn to even let Snape have a portrait in the castle, so Harry had one made at Godric's Hollow. As you can imagine, Snape wasn't too pleased when he woke up to discover that he was not only not at Hogwarts, but at Harry bloody Potter's house. Let's just say many curses were sworn by the insufferable Professor – directed at Harry in particular. But then, as fate would have it, as soon as Albus Severus was born, Snape did not want to leave. The bright, green eyes and Al's innocent grin, captured the cold heart of the Professor and warmed his soul.

"Lily…" The portrait choked, "He has, he has her, your, he has her eyes…" For once Professor Snape was lost for words as Harry Potter, with the support of his wife, adjusted his hold on his two-week-old son in his arms so the portrait could see him. The small baby had opened his eyes for a few seconds, but he soon shut Lily's eyes again and slept soundly in his father's arms.

"We named him Albus Severus." Harry said quietly, and he could have sworn a tear in his old Potions Master's eye.

"I…" Severus took a deep breath, "Thank you, Harry."

Harry blinked in surprise, Ginny squeezed his shoulder warmly and smiled as Harry was clearly too shocked for words at that precise moment. After all these years, this was the first time Snape had referred to Harry as Harry, just Harry, not Potter. It was Ginny who saved him. "Harry would not be alive if it were not for you Professor," she said.

Snape smiled. It wasn't his normal cold, arrogant sneer, but a warm genuine smile.

"Thank you, Mrs Potter." Snape sighed, that name always filled him with regret, "Lily… I only hope she has forgiven me."

"She has." Harry whispered. "I know she has."

Many years it took to convince the Wizarding World, but finally Snape was allowed a place in the headmaster's study but he did not want to leave the Potter home as well. Instead the painters placed one portrait in McGonagall's office, and one in Godric's Hollow, were he saw Lily every day, in the eyes of the youngest Potter boy.

Al grinned as the black robbed Professor glided effortlessly into his portrait and sat on the chair by the desk in the large frame. He smiled as he saw Al, clutching his Hogwarts letter as though it were his only life line on a sinking ship.

"Professor Snape!" he said excitedly, "Look, look! I got my letter! Isn't that great! I'm going to Hogwarts! I'll have awesome adventures! Maybe I'll join the Quidditch team like dad did in his first year! Look!"

Severus grinned as his favourite Potter bounced up and down in jubilation. "That's fantastic news. But Albus Severus, Hogwarts is not only about having adventures, please don't get in as much trouble as your father. Study hard and you will be great."

Al nodded profusely and then went back to eating his breakfast.

"Well, I, don't need to spend all my time studying as I'm just too smart." The cocky prankster James Potter sat down next to his brother and ruffled Al's already messy hair, much to the annoyance of the young sibling.

"James." His mother snapped, "Don't set a bad example for your brother. I remember Victoire telling me how she forced you, Louis, Fred, Colin and Dominique to study at least a month before your end of year exams."

A light blush coloured James' cheeks, but he did not reply, he knew what his mother would not sign his Hogsmede form if he was behaving badly, so he refrained from any back chat.

"Yes, listen to your mother Albus, not this great buffoon." Severus sneered at the eldest Potter child, who turned even redder.

"Thank you Severus." Ginny said cryptically.

"Why? Why me mum? Why is everyone going except me?!" Lily stomped into the kitchen and sat down harshly on the chair next to Albus and glared at the letter in his hands.

"Lily Luna Potter." Ginny snapped, but then her voice softened as Lily's full attention was on her mother, her eyes wide with the fright that was being told off by Ginny Potter. "I know you want to go to Hogwarts, but you can't screech at the table." Ginny paused as she plated her children's plates up with more bacon and eggs, as well as her own, before sitting opposite her children. "I'll tell you what, you're lucky Lils."

Lily's mouth gaped as though her jaw had stopped working, her eyes almost protruded out of her sockets, she didn't even care that her siblings snickered at her expression. "Lucky? How am I lucky when those two," she glared at Albus and James, who quickly stopped sniggering at her, "Get to go two whole years before me?"

Ginny smirked, "I was the youngest of seven Lily, I had to wait for six brothers to go to Hogwarts before I went."

Even Albus and James sent a sympathetic look to their mum. "Imagine how many years that was Lily." Ginny said.

"A lot." Lily said quietly.

"A heck of a lot." Ginny agreed.

"Well I didn't know Hogwarts even existed, so I guess I was quite lucky in that respect." Harry Potter strolled into the kitchen, looking tired but his green eyes were filled with excitement.

"Harry!" Ginny squeaked and rushed towards her husband, the two kissed briefly. James made a gagging sound, whilst Al and Lily looked down, embarrassed.

"Knock it off Jamie." Harry warned as he sat down whilst Ginny quickly fetched him a plate of bacon and eggs.

"Dad I thought you were on a mission?" Lily asked, confused.

Harry grinned, "I couldn't miss Al's big day now could I?" Harry and Albus shared a grin. "Show me the letter buddy." Harry beamed as Al passed him the treasured letter.

Severus thought Potter's entrance would be the best time to slip quietly out of the portrait. This was a family occasion after all, and he was only a mere portrait.

Harry grinned proudly as he read Albus' letter. "Congrats son, I'm very proud of you. Diagon Alley anyone?"