Albus-Severus Potter

[Pafoo]

Ah, a thread for that character whose name we love to hate, Albus Severus Potter. Any discussion goes here.

Obviously.

First off - really think that he's a Slytherin. I mean, look at his name: Albus Severus Potter. A. S. Potter. A. S. P. An asp is a type of snake that lives in Northern Africa and Egypt. Or maybe I'm just enchanted with the idea of a Potter being in Slytherin.

Second: I'm writing him as an adult, and I don't know what he would be like. I mean, would he be nice, mean, or somewhere in-between? (ex: Dr. Cox). Just thought I'd ask.

Emery

[SiriuslyMental]

I was certain he would be Slytherin.

I think he is a nice person, but very clever, somewhat aloof, and independant. I think he has probably grown up being teased by his older brother James, and though the two love one another, they would often butt heads. I think he likes to butt heads with people like James, but at the same time is nervous to voice his own opinion in situations he is not familiar with. I always pictured a boy with Snape's cleverness and aloneness, but better-looking, with a few close friends, a family relationship like Ron has with the twins, loves his family but feels at times that he may have disappointed them with his Slytheriness, which, in turn, only makes him slightly prouder of being a Slytherin (through time - at first I think he would have been devestated, but would have turned to pride as a defence mechanism against people like his brother James, who would have teased him for it). I see him with Ginny's temper, Hermione's bookishness, and Harry's bashfulness, but the same cunning that drove people lie Dumbledore. A snake that appears quite harmless, and for the most part can be, but is still harbouring a dark side that instead of being used for evil, is put to work for his own personal ambitions that defy white and black.

If that makes any sense at all?

[untitlednine]

I definitely seeing his relationship with James Jr. as being the same as Ron's with Fred and George.

Also, I think he would be in Slytherin, or if he was sorted into Gryffindor, have the same thing as Harry - only getting there because he asked to.

[Padfoot Patronus]

On the topic of Albus’ house, I agree with untitlednine’s “if he was sorted into Gryffindor, have the same thing as Harry - only getting there because he asked to”.

Jo gave us a very clear fact that Albus resembles Harry in appearance. However, reading towards the end of epilogue, I think she also tried to show how much nature-wise he was like Harry. The anxiousness, fear and eagerness all at once. By looking at the following quotes, analyze how even their speech and thirst for some sort of acceptance from the people who mean to each of these two Potters (Harry for Albus and Remus for Harry) is so similar. Jo amazes me sometimes. Make it, all the time.

From HBP (p.311)

‘But,’ said Harry, ‘just say – just say Dumbledore’s wrong about Snape – ’

From DH (p.758)

‘But just say – ’

‘ – then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student…’

This is shown to justify the point that I think even after Harry’s assurance, I’m sure Albus would have sat with trembling fingers on the stool, hoping and begging that the Hat not put him in Slytherin.

Why?

Although, Pafoo is right to say that ‘asp’ is a snake in Northern Africa and Egypt, I don’t think Harry would have thought about this when giving Albus his middle name. Call it a coincidence.

Harry was not just making up something to assure Albus when he said that ‘Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student’. He meant it. He probably nurses such views since after the defeat of Voldemort and Snape’s redemption. And this obviously would reflect in his upbringing of his children. It is for this reason, I say that James, Albus and Lily were not raised with prejudice against Slytherin like Draco was done against Gryffindor and James Potter Snr. was done against Slytherin.

And you see, Albus still has his doubts about being sorted into that house, although as my droning suggests, he was never taught that there was something ‘not okay’ about being sorted into Slytherin, in the first place.

The meaning of it all?

Despite the fact that I think the Potter children were never manipulated or even teased about House sorting (Remember Ron’s comment to Rose. Their views on this matter I think would differ very much with Harry’s), if Albus still feels insecure about being a potential Slytherin, then as Harry says, I think he’d really be able to ‘…choose Gryffindor over Slytherin…’

…which I think he does accomplish too.

-

Well, from my above justification, you may also extract some answer to Emery’s second question. “What he would be like” as an adult?

Like I said: Like Harry.

Albus’ Hogwart years would definitely be like Harry’s, except you can minus a determined-to-kill Lord Voldemort, mind-reading-master Severus Snape, love-starved childhood and some other little things.

Ugh, okay, well not altogether like Harry. But his nature: the anger, “bashfulness” as put by SiriuslyMental, the restlessness, extrovert-ness where emotions are considered, the occasional cheek. I also think that if both James and Albus were to go out for a nighttime adventure, Albus’ is more likely to do what Harry would do; James would probably come up with something Fred-George might have pulled up.

In addition to SiriuslyMental’s characterization of Albus, for some reason, I see an adult Albus, as a dedicated and hardworking employee, involved family man, understanding and helpful fellow wizard, and all the things that Harry grew up into (as seen in the epilogue) without having to go through the chaos and life-changing experiences his father faced as a teenager.

I see Harry becoming Albus’ mentor, father and best friend, someone who taught him these things.

And reading about the scared and nervous eleven year old in the Epilogue, and reading all those seven books before that, I have no doubt that as a cliché Albus would be the perfect son, brother, husband or any other relation you can think of.

On another note: my train of thoughts make me ponder over how James Snr., Harry and Albus look alike, but how different they could all be. Remember, we still have pages and pages of imagination to fill up. Maybe Albus won’t be like Harry at all…

Akay

P.S: Don’t sue me for wasted time on reading an ‘incomprehensible’ post. As far as I’m concerned, lol, I had fun. Nice one Emery!

Beth: Interesting post! 5 points

[Merlynne]

JKR has given us a tidbit, and now it's time to say 'but!' or 'and!' I do think it would be completely justifiable to put Albus in Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin (just because Ravenclaw is the only house who's traits he doesn't really convey in his brief introduction in the epilogue.) I think a Ravenclaw would have been a lot less worried about what house they got into, knowing in the long run it didn't matter, and he probably would have been a bit more worried about classes and curriculum.

I too am infatuated with the idea of Albus as a Slytherin. I think, coming from a famous father, he would have an immense desire to succeed and prove himself. JKR's mentioned that he and James fight...about what? It could be just a sibling fights, but what if it's different than that? Perhaps Albus disdains James recklessness and self righteousness (Gryffindor traits). IF so, then he'd have to be somewhere else.

One has to remember, Slytherins aren't just "mean." Give us a little credit here Slytherins are described as being very ambitious, and cunning, using all their means to achieve their goals. Maybe Albus has a dream that he'd do anything to achieve. He's named for 3 very great people (2 of which at least are well known for their deeds). Maybe he wants to live up to that. Everyone Albus has met has probably said, "Albus like in Dumbledore! Potter's boy! So are you going to be a great wizard, too?" That's got to affect him somehow. After all, everyone DID stare at their party on the platform, so there is some hype about the Potters still.

And Harry was almost a Slytherin, voila. Harry's not a nasty person, is he? It's possible for Albus to exhibit almost all of the same traits and still be a Slytherin. Perhaps he didn't want to have to choose his own destiny. It's a weighty question, perhaps he'd rather the hat made it for him. Harry took things into his own hands, maybe Albus wouldn't?

As an adult, I think Albus would have to be very focused and goal oriented (if he was a Slytherin, that is). Being a Slytherin doesn't change the fact that he was raised by parents with a good grip of right and wrong. He'd probably be an upstanding citizen, but always live in his father's shadow. Much less war-scarred than Harry (I assume he'd always be a bit jaded by all he's seen), but otherwise a balanced, successful individual. I see him having a temper, though. That might just be my characterization, looking for some dynamic flaw. The son of Harry and Ginny can't be a completely complacent kid. As for James, I always thought he'd be a lot like James I or Sirius.

Beth: Good points. 5 points!

[Silver_Mist]

From a source I found on here (can't remember the site, sorry)it said that Albus was put into Hufflepuff - though it says nothing ab though as said before, I think that he could be put in any house. I imagine him a lot like Remus, so maybe that gives some ideas of how he would be as an adult.

[untitlednine]

Personally, I can't see him as being in Hufflepuff. I can see him being either Gryffindor or Slytherin, for some reason.

But then, when I think about it, it does make sense. I can definitely see him as being loyal, hard-working, and friendly.

I think James would definitely tease him about his house placement if it was anything except Gryffindor though, and if he did get into Gryffindor, i think his James would tell him he didn't belong there.

[A.H.]

I mean, would he be nice, mean, or somewhere in-between? (ex: Dr. Cox). Just thought I'd ask.

Ha! If Albus grew up to be like Dr. Cox, I think he'd be my favorite HP character, ever. He would also be the greatest FF character too, if you happened to portray him like that.

The way I see it with next-gen characters, (the kids, really) is that we can ulitmately decide their fate. We have barley an inkling of canon characteristics to go by, so their fate is ours for the taking. If you believe that he would have been put in Slytherin, then give him the personality of the Slytherins that we see.

They are rude, snide, proud, determined - well, you know their triats. So, since you're writing about Albus as an adult, give him these traits, just more matured. Mix Harry and Draco, and what do you get? A Potter with the personality of a Slytherin. Perfect, really.

Personaly, I have always imagined Albus as the next Dark Lord. He was raised by Harry Potter, the most notorious wizard known, with an older brother, who was, as we saw, very popular in school, and he was, as we saw, teased alot. These things could definately create a physcho. No? Well, just consider it

Over all, I think Albus would be most like Ron. Jeaslous easy, and always shoved out of the limelight. But, I don't think he would ever be uncaring - he would understand love, being raised by Harry and Ginny (so I guess he couldn't really be like Voldie).

Well, there's my ramble. Good luck

-Arianna

[Pendraegona]

While I have to agree with Merlynne's point that Al demonstrates characteristics of every House except Ravenclaw, I can't see him realistically being sorted into Slytherin. (Merlin knows I like the idea, though, makes for lots of good arguments in fanfiction.)

Blood counts. When it comes down to it, that's one of the things you just can't get around. There's three generations of Gryffindors to contend with here, maybe more--we know that James' father, James, Lily, Molly, Arthur, Harry, and Ginny were all Gryffindors. These were all strong people, raising their children to also be strong and brave people, and if you believe life experiences and family matter, then Gryffindor it has to be. It's not a bad thing, but it definitely runs in the family.

Also, Al wouldn't have been so anxious on the Platform about not being in Gryffindor if he didn't actually WANT to be in Gryffindor. In the end, he has a choice, doesn't he? And unless something monumental happened on the train ride and totally revamped everything he's ever been raised to be, Slytherin wouldn't be his choice.

The question of ambition: there's considerable difference between wanting to be better/the best and being afraid of not being good enough. Voldemort and Draco are examples of the former. Ron is an example of the latter. Arianna has a point with Al being sort of like Ron, in that respect. It's not quite "ambition", per se.

The question of his name: Dumbledore was supposedly a Gryffindor, and Snape--"the bravest man Harry knew"--was a Slytherin, but choice prob. factored in there, and anyone remember Dumbledore saying, "Sometimes I wonder if we sort too soon?" after Snape turned spy? And yeah, asp is a snake. I agree with whoever said that was coincidence. If ASP initials suggest Slytherin, then would him being named Severus-Albus (SAP) suggest my house, Hufflepuff (assuming we're dodders and all that? No offense intended to anyone)?

Speaking of Hufflepuff, I did think there was an aura of Hufflepuffiness around his character on the Platform. But I also thought there was an aura of Hufflepuffiness around Neville for years and years, even up through HBP in spite of his character development. It took that last jaw-dropping chapter of DH for me to realize suddenly that the Sorting Hat was dead right about Neville being a Gryffindor. Whatever initial Hufflepuffiness I may have attributed to Al, I can't pin on him permanently on account of that one scene.

Yep, Definitely a Gryffindor.

Oh, and because I'm entitled to a bit of stupid amusement, I was thinking the other day that if Al hyphenated "Weasley-Potter" and added one more syllable to "Severus" in the right place, "Albus Severus Weasley Potter" would be like a line in iambic pentameter. *ducks head*

Okay, leaving now! Cheers!

[Sly_ther-in]

I personally see Albus Severus Potter as a Hufflepuff.

I know....(GASP!)

He and Rose seem to be really close....LOYALTY!

He was really upfront with his dad about his fears...HONESTY.

Besides, putting both he and his bullying older brother James Sirius in the same House would seriously stunt his development.

In him I see a young boy having a desire to be different from his famous father. I don't see the ambition and cunning required for Slytherin. I don't see the studiousness required for Ravenclaw. And I don't see the aggression and boldness required for Gryffindor.

So why not sort him into a House that had the second most fighters at the Battle of Hogwarts?

Why couldn't he be a Cedric Diggory type?

Honesty, Loyalty, Hard Work, are not bad attributes for a Son-of-Potter to have.

Let's face it. With Hufflepuffs lack of respect, sorting a Potter, Weasley, and a Malfoy into that House would definitely turn the Wizard World on its ear!

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SLy