The longer this went on, the more Harry felt right. He knew these people around him, and he knew the things that were coming. He also knew that, they weren't all good things, but after that first chapter, he decided that knowing was still better than nothing.

This chapter in particular was going to be special, of that he was sure. His guardians were speculating all sorts of things from the house he'd be in to the friends he'd make, and even his first trip on the train. It made a warm feeling settle deep within him, and he was eager to read on.

Harry's last month with the Dursleys wasn't fun.

"What, why?" Lily and James both yelped, fearing that the Dursleys really had punished Harry for Hagrid's act.

"Relax," Harry said at once, "they mostly just ignored me. That was kind of boring so yeah, not fun."

Remus was shaking his head and saying, "come on now Harry. Was it ever fun there, really?"

Harry fidgeted a bit, knowing full well that all present wanted to have a full on talk with him about his life at the Dursley's, but he wanted very much to avoid that at all costs. It was in the past, there was no need to keep bringing it up, so he quickly pressed on.

The good part was that Dudley was now so terrified of Harry he wouldn't be in the same room as him, and Vernon and Petunia now out right feared shutting Harry away in his cupboard, or to shout at him, or in fact speak to him at all.

Lily sniffed in disdain, "I suppose that is the vaguest form of improvement."

"Better than the alternative," Sirius muttered darkly.

Therein lay the bad part. Harry was more actively ignored now more than ever before, and this isolation became downright depressing after a while.

"I can see that," Remus agreed sadly.

Harry kept to his room with his owl, choosing to name her Hedwig,

"Oh, that's adorable," Lily beamed, Harry smiled sadly to himself, happy that another piece of him felt right again, but for some odd reason the sad feeling lingered. He didn't really want to dwell on why.

a name he had found in one of his textbooks about the history of magic. He found his books fascinating.

"Don't even," Lily said at once, when it looked like Sirius was about to make a snide comment at that, "imagine you knew nothing of the magical world. Harry logically chose the History of Magic as a basis of understanding this."

Sirius grumbled under his breath for a bit, but Harry knew better then to ask about what.

He lay up at all hours going through them, letting Hedwig swoop in and out of his room to her heart's content. It was a good thing Petunia didn't come in to clean anymore, because the owl kept bringing back dead animals.

"Ew," Lily crinkled up her nose, "no wonder my mother never wanted us to have an owl."

"Oh mine was awful about that," Sirius laughed, "always left them right on the kitchen table. Kreacher's spent most of his life chasing Buggle out of the cupboards."

Harry winced slightly, recognizing something in that sentence, but after a moment it faded away again, too vague to even form a feeling about it. Sighing in annoyance, he kept going.

Harry also set up a calendar, which the date of his departure was marked, and every night he ticked off another day in anticipation.

Sad as this was, none of them could really blame Harry for this.

The day before he was supposed to leave, he went downstairs to talk to the Dursleys about getting to King's Cross station.

"Leaving it a bit late there," Lily worried.

"Probably so he doesn't have time to reconsider," James huffed.

When he got into the living room, he found all three of them watching a quiz show on their TV.

"Bet you a galleon none of them could answer a single question," Sirius snickered.

When he cleared his throat to announce his presence, Dudley screamed in terror and ran from the room.

All four boys laughed a bit at that, hoping that one never got old.

Harry calls for Vernon, who merely grunts in response. Harry voices that he needs to get to the train station tomorrow, and he grunts again. Harry asks if they'll take him, and receives another grunt. Harry assumes that means yes.

"What if it meant no?" Lily worried at once. "How would you get there?"

"The knight bus," Remus offered.

"He doesn't know how to use that," Sirius frowned, "and he didn't get a broom either."

"Hagrid," James said with high confidence, "if the Dursley's don't take him, Hagrid will be back that very night, I'm positive."

Feeling relaxed again, Lily asked Harry to keep going.

Harry thanks him

"Really, I want to know where he learned manners," Lily smiled sadly, knowing it didn't come from those people.

"School I suppose," Remus said thoughtfully.

and was about to turn and leave again when Vernon actually speaks, making the comment that the train was quite an odd way for wizards to travel, and then makes a joke about not having any magic carpets available.

"Oh that's really clever," James muttered, more than sick of this man's supposed sense of humour.

Harry doesn't respond, and Vernon asks where the school is.

"Why does he want to know?" Remus demanded.

"So he can safely know how far away the evil wizards are from him," Sirius huffed.

Harry admits he doesn't know, his ticket didn't say the location, only the platform number he was to be on; nine and three-quarters. Petunia and Vernon stare at him for a moment, before the demand of which platform appears.

"Who said that?" Lily asked. "Vernon or Petunia?"

"Uncle Vernon," Harry said cautiously, Lily had a very peeved look on her face. She ground her teeth for a moment, but waved Harry on.

Harry repeats the odd number, and Vernon tells him what rubbish that is, that doesn't exist. Harry insists it's on his ticket, and Vernon huffs and says they'll take him up there, but only because they have business up there as well.

"Can't just say one decent thing to him can you?" James groaned.

Harry seems determined to keep things friendly by asking what that was.

"Why!" Remus half demanded, not really expecting a good answer.

"I'd had no conversation for nearly a month," Harry defended.

Vernon tells him they were going to a hospital to get rid of Dudley's tail before he went to school.

"Pity that," Sirius laughed darkly.

"I do wonder how they explained that away though?" Lily said, a bit vindictive herself.

"I think they told them it was a mole that had grown out of hand or something," Harry vaguly recalled the put together story.

Harry woke very early the morning of his departure, and was far too nervous to go back to sleep. He dressed in normal clothes, deciding he'd change into his robes on the train.

"Honestly, the robes would have been better than the garbage they say you had," Lily huffed.

He checked his school list again, made sure Hedwig was shut away, and then paced his room nervously until the rest of the Dursleys were up and around. Petunia had to talk Dudley into sitting in the backseat with Harry, and then they were off.

"The one good thing that's come of this so far," Sirius laughed, "Dudley won't ever hit you again, that's for sure."

Harry nodded absentmindedly, touched a spot on the side of his head without seeming to realize he'd done it, and then pressed on.

When they got to the station, Vernon went and found Harry a cart and put his trunk on it for him and began wheeling it to the station.

"Nicest thing he's ever done for him I'm sure," Remus snarled quietly, while baby Harry began to doze in his arms.

Harry found this strangely kind, but realized his intentions when they reached Harry's desired platform. Vernon pointed out that there was a nine, and a ten, but Harry's just didn't seem to be there.

"Oh the joys of magic," Sirius said, thinking of all the other things hidden right under muggles.

Laughing cruelly he went back out to the car and Harry watched the three Dursleys laugh as they pull away.

"I wish you were joking," Lily said, going red in the face.

"You are joking right," James demanded, leaning over Harry to see for himself.

"They are so lucky that you're in the right place or I'd-" Sirius muttered darkly for a moment, but Remus must have heard what he said because he laughed and gave an approving nod.

"But, Petunia knows where the platform is," Lily hissed, which was almost unmanageable

through the gritted teeth. "Couldn't she have simply walked him in, pointed him through for all its worth, and be done with it?"

Harry was thinking privately to himself, he was quite glad his Aunt and Uncle hadn't done this. Not sure why, but he knew if he kept going he would find out, so he kept reading, despite they were all still grumbling death threats.

Harry found a guard and asked for directions, but the man was no help at all, and seemed to think Harry was being stupid on purpose.

"In a way, you kind of are," Sirius forced a laugh, which sounded almost hollow, "cause even if you could have told him, it's better that you shouldn't."

Harry was still frowning though as he asked, "How come there's not some wizard around who noticed me and helped? I can't be the only one who doesn't know how this works if it's not on my ticket."

"That's because Hagrid forgot dear," Lily sighed. "Most Muggleborns who would be in that same situation and are helped through the introductory process, such as their first time to Diagon Alley and such, well their guid remembers to tell them this trick."

Harry sighed as well, but couldn't find it in himself to blame Hagrid for this, as it was probably his first time doing this role. He doubted he was a common help in this situation, and Harry probably just got special treatment because of his name.

The guard walked away, and Harry began to feel a little panicky. He only had ten minutes left to find out where his train was.

Lily and James were both shifting in real fear now, what would happen to their boy if he was left in the train station like that?

Remus on the other hand was quick to point out, "Relax, all of you. There's always a late party, I'm sure Harry will spot a wizarding family and follow them through."

Sirius nodded quickly, saying, "Yeah, remember that one year I was so late, I had to hop aboard as it was pulling off."

Harry realized there must be something Hagrid hadn't told him, and wondered whether he should pull out his wand and begin tapping on the bricks in between platforms nine and ten.

"That might have worked," Lily said making a face, "your wand would pass through the barrier, and you would have figured it out."

"But it is rather dangerous," James disagreed, "pulling your wand out in front of the lot of

muggles like that."

"Let's just read eh?" Remus put in when it looked like the two were about to start a real argument over this simple fact.

Then his luck took a spin, and he heard from behind himself a voice say the word Muggles.

"You see," Sirius said, brightening at once, "never doubt Moony. I learned that a long time ago."

The parents relaxed at once, egging Harry on.

Harry turned on the spot and saw a family all with bright red hair, pushing trunks his way, and one of them had an owl. Harry hurried after them, and stopped a polite distance away, though close enough he could still hear. The mother of the group asks for the platform number.

"Why would she ask?" James asked, "it never changes, and there's no other wizarding trains."

"A reminder I suppose?" Remus offered, having no real idea himself.

The youngest child, a little girl, replies with the correct number, and asks her mother why she couldn't be going as well.

"Ah there you go," Sirius said, "she probably said that every year, so in case one of her children got lost they would know to ask someone about it."

"But we've already established that Muggles don't know about the platform, so who would she ask in a station full of them?" Lily asked.

"Another wizard," James offered, "like what's happening now."

The mother refers to the girl as Ginny,

For the briefest moment as Harry first said that name, his ring seemed to have a warm glow on his finger, but his sudden urge to understand the connection made it fade so quickly he had no time to dwell on why.

and tells her she isn't old enough, then instructs a boy named Percy to go first.

Harry gasped, the book nearly slipping out of his hand.

"Harry dear?" Lily asked at once.

Harry didn't answer, because he knew this. Knew these names, this memory. This was the good feeling he'd had at the beginning of the chapter. He read on so quickly that the words were almost unintelligible.

Harry tries to watch as the eldest redhead goes forward, but at that moment a crowd passed in front of him and he missed what happened. The woman was still talking, instructing a boy named Fred to go next. The boy replies that he's not Fred, he's George.

"Harry slow down, you're slurring," James said, concern colouring his tone, Harry's hands were starting to shake a bit.

"I know this," he told them quickly, without looking up, "I need to know why I know this."

Not Fred laughs at his mother and exclaims that she can't tell the two apart. The mother apologizes, but then he tells her he is indeed Fred, before running off.

"I always wanted a twin," Sirius laughed to himself, "just so I could pull that one joke."

Harry didn't even respond, because somehow he just knew that there was going to be one more name, and it was important to him.

The twin calls after his brother to hurry up, and he must have, because when Harry can properly see again, both are gone. Harry decides there's nothing left to lose, and comes forward. The woman spots him and greets him politely, asking if he was a first timer at Hogwarts to, then introduces him to her last son Ron.

The book slipped from his grasp, and Harry was suddenly clutching his head in pain all over again. Having almost expected this, after the way he'd been acting, Sirius lunged from the couch and was rummaging through the kitchen cupboards almost before the book had hit the ground.

He came back into the room to see both parents trying to calm him back down, while Remus was pulling out his wand with one hand and trying to lay down the baby as gently as possible without waking him.

Trying to be gentle himself as he slightly pushed Lily out of the way, Sirius pushed Harry back against the sofa, pried open his jaw, and put the smallest bit of some foul smelling green liquid on Harry's tongue.

The boy reacted almost at once, relaxing back against the sofa, his eyes opening in a lazy haze, while James punched Sirius in the shoulder, hard.

"Ouch, what the bloody hell was that for?" He demanded, rubbing the spot, and putting the vile down on the table gently.

"What did you do?" Lily demanded, putting her hand on Harry's forehead in concern. "We agreed no potions, no spells, he's already having enough troubles Sirius."

Remus reached forward and snagged the bottle up, then quickly cut in before Sirius could give a snappy reply, "calm down you two, Sirius just gave him something to relax. James was right, he's going to hurt himself if he keeps straining like that, but this wasn't anything that will affect his mind. Just his body."

James immediately looked apologetic for punching his best friend, that hard anyways. "You could have explained that."

They didn't have time for anymore conversation, as Harry was already coming around. Shaking himself slightly, his eyes instantly came into focus on Sirius, then the rest of them, then frowned and began rubbing his head at once.

"Don't." All four said together.

"But I-" Harry tried, but Lily said quickly, taking his hand away, "Harry dear, please. We know this must be so frustrating to you, but if we can't go and punish those Dursley's for what they've done for you, then you must promise us you won't sit here and strain yourself to remember these things. It will come back, I am positive it will."

Green met green for a long time, Lily's wide and pleading, Harry's sad and desperate. Finally he nodded his consent, but when Lily merely tightened her hold on his hand he let out a huge breath and said, now looking around at all of them, "Alright, alright I promise. No more pushing it."

"Thank you." James sighed, leaning back out of his son's personal space, "I promise son, we will get through this."

Lily still kept a light hold on his hand for a brief moment more, but then Harry gently took his own hand back and reached down for the dropped book.

Sirius and Remus both got up to head back to their seats, but Remus stopped him and said, "Here," while handing the baby to him and said, "might stop you from jumping around every five seconds."

Remus then took the bottle back and went to put it back where it belonged. By the time he came back, Sirius was sprawled back out, with the baby sleeping on his chest, and Harry was ready to start again.

Taking his seat, Remus vowed to keep a much closer eye on him now. He believed Harry's promise, but he knew better than anyone that sometimes you couldn't help your nature, and Harry clearly had a very curious nature. He may not even be able to help himself next time.

"I do know him though," Harry huffed to himself, then shook his head and began again.

The boy was tall with lots of freckles.

He only winced for the briefest moment, but kept his promise and did not press on the feelings that were swarming in him again.

Harry agrees he is, and admits he doesn't know how to get onto the platform. The woman tells him not to worry at once, and explains that Harry merely has to go through the barriers of nine and ten. He shouldn't stop, or be scared, or he may crash. If he's to nervous, he should take it at a run, and then instructs him to go now before Ron does.

"That was very kind of her," Lily said sadly, her concern for Harry more prominent now than the feeling of loss she now had.

Harry thanks her, and pushes his trolley around to face the barrier. He notes how very solid it looks, but begins taking a few steps forward. Fear begins building up in him, and his brain is insisting he's going to crash.

"Nah," Sirius chuckled slightly, "no magical person has ever been barred entrance."

Just as Harry breaks into a full run, he's passing through, and suddenly laying eyes on this new world.

Pride swelled up in all four of them, finally this was it. Harry was back where he belonged, and away from those Dursley's.

The train itself was scarlet, and all around him were kids unpacking luggage onto it. He overhears snatches of all sorts of conversations, including one from a boy who's saying to his gran how he's lost his toad. The old woman sighs 'oh Neville.'

"Oh," Lily said brightly, "remember James, Alice and Frank had a boy named Neville. I kept saying we should bring Harry 'round there. They're practically the same age."

James nodded, smiling to himself, but privately thinking this couldn't be the same boy. Alice and Frank would have been mentioned, and they wouldn't have missed Neville's first train ride to Hogwarts anymore then if he and Lily had been alive to see Harry there.

The next group he passes by are boys slightly older then him, all gathered around a box. One of his friends is insisting they have a look inside, and Harry notices a hairy leg poking out.

"Someone got a new pet spider it seems," Remus chuckled to himself.

Harry keeps going until he finds an empty compartment, and loads Hedwig up first before struggling with his heavy trunk. He tries lifting it several times and only manages to drop it

on his foot.

"That happened to me," Remus said sadly, "I was limping for half the day."

Sirius and James again winced at the harsh reminder that they weren't there, that no one was there to help him.

One of the red headed twins from before spots him and asks if Harry needs help. Harry agrees he does, and the twin must have been George, because he calls over Fred, and the three of them manage to lift Harry's trunk and put it away.

"That was so sweet," Lily beamed again.

"Are you going to be like that this whole chapter?" Sirius asked, still feeling rather grumpy.

"Yeah Lily," James defended Sirius, "it's not so weird that students help each other out."

Lily frowned severely at the pair, couldn't she just be happy that someone was finally taking the time to help her boy.

Harry brushes some of his hair back as he thanks them, and one of the twins notices Harry's scar. At once he demands if to know if Harry was-, but his twin cuts him off and says that of course he is, then turns to Harry and agrees he is, isn't he?

"Well that was descriptive," Remus chuckled.

Harry asks what, and they speak in unison Harry's full name. Harry agrees he is, and the two can't help but gawk at him for a moment while Harry starts to blush,

"Oh not this again," all four adults groaned.

"I really don't want another Leaky Cauldron scene," James sighed, placing his face in his hands, "except this time with the whole bleeding platform."

"Better get used to it now," Sirius grumbled bitterly, "he's going to be dealing with it at least the first week he's at school."

"Well in that case, I'm hoping he'd be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw," Remus sighed, "at least those two houses are more likely to show a bit of decorum."

"And you were the one who said not to believe the house stereotypes," Lily reminded him, while privately agreeing.

Remus spluttered for a moment, but Harry decided it was time to keep going.

but to Harry's relief their mother's voice calls for them.

All four adults muttered a silent thank you for that mother.

The twins exit the compartment with one more curious look back. Harry takes a seat where he can see the family interacting.

Lily sighed, wanting to reprimand, but unable to when it occurred to her that this was most likely the first time Harry had ever seen a real family interaction.

The other three were just slightly happy that this was a good omen to Harry being the next Marauder Junior. Not even at Hogwarts and already being a bit sneaky.

The mother of the group takes notice of the youngest, telling him he's got dirt on his nose. She grabs a handkerchief and tries to clean it, but Ron wiggles free.

"That poor kid," James said sadly, "no mother should do that in public."

"She's got at least four others, you would think she'd know better," Sirius agreed, "no mothering in front of the piers."

The twins begin picking on him at once, using a baby voice to mimic their mother in saying Ron's got something on his nose.

"Well his siblings are no help," Lily muttered.

The mother then asks where the eldest boy had gone, but he shows up then with a badge inscribed with a P on it.

"And here's the newest generation of Prefect's," Sirius said in disgust.

"Come on now Sirius you can't still be holding a grudge can you?" Remus asked, feigning hurt.

"You bet your arse I can," Sirius grumbled, without any real heat in it. After all when two of your best friends were Prefect and Head Boy, you couldn't stay mad forever.

He tells her he can't stay long, that the prefects have two compartments to themselves.

"Well he's not starting off very well," Lily said, "rubbing that in a bit."

"Just showing off to his siblings or friends I'm sure," James grinned, throwing a look at his two friends, who both rolled their eyes at this.

The twins turn their jokes on their other brother, making the snide comments they had no idea Percy was a prefect. Oh wait, yes they did, he'd been saying it all summer.

"Yeah okay," James finally conceded, "I wasn't that bad."

"Neither was I," Remus agreed. There was being proud of an accomplishment, and then there was just being vain.

"Honestly Moony," Sirius chuckled, "you looked like you were going to faint when you told us. So you were kind of the opposite of this lad."

Harry blinked, dearly wanting to ask what all the fuss about this Prefect badge was, but he also had that feeling again. One that meant something really important was about to happen, so he decided that he would simply take his answers from the book on this one.

One of the twins asks his mother why Percy got new robes that semester, and his mother coos that it's because he's a prefect.

"That's favoritism," Lily said, now frowning a bit severely, "and she really shouldn't let them bicker like that. It could cause tension between siblings."

"Agreed," Sirius said, mostly to himself, but the others all heard it anyways.

Harry quirked a brow, this being the first mention of Sirius having siblings, but since his persona, and the looks from the others, made it quite plain he didn't want to discuss this he let it go for now.

She requests Percy send her an owl when they arrive at school, and he departs. Then she turns her attention back on the twins and warns them not to be getting into trouble, don't even blow up a toilet.

"Oh," Lily said, rolling her eyes a bit, "I get it."

"Get what?" James asked, not seeing any meaning in what Harry had just read.

"She was being affectionate to Percy, rewarding his good behavior. I'll bet anything those two are as troublesome as you four."

"Us, troublesome?" Remus said, feigning innocence.

"Whatever do you mean dear?" James demanded, trying to hide a twitching smile.

"I'm not even going to bother," Sirius laughed, and then went on, "and she's doing a horrible job of it mind you. Never, ever, give a prankster ideas. Even just in passing comments. Keep going Harry, you'll see what I mean," he finished, when he saw Lily and Harry's confused looks.

One boy exclaims that they've never done such a thing, while his twin follows up with what a great idea that was.

"That's what I meant," he laughed again, a bit harder this time, and the baby on his chest curled up to him more tightly, he placed a hand on his back, and just waved Harry on when it looked like Lily might argue the point.

She ignores the jokes and tells them to look after Ron. The twins ignore that just as well by changing the subject to the fact that they'd just seen the Harry Potter. Harry hears the youngest girl squeal in delight and beg her mother to be let on the train to go and see him.

Lily frowned severely, but sadly all the same. Despite wanting to protect her boy, could she really blame the wizarding world for wanting to meet, in their definition anyways, a savior? Still, she was really hoping this mother wouldn't allow this.

The mother scolds her, telling her the boy's not something to be gawked at. Then she asks her son how he knew.

"Thank you to her," James said what they were all thinking.

The twins say how they saw his scar, and one voices the question of whether Harry remembers what You-Know-Who looks like. The mother turns on him and snaps she forbids the twins from asking.

"I'll second that thank you," Remus agreed, not that Harry did anyways, but it was the thought that counted.

Just then the whistle sounded on the train, and the mother loads them all up. While they all hop aboard their little sister begins crying, and one twin decides to comfort her by saying they'd send her a Hogwarts toilet seat.

"Very sweet those twins," Sirius laughed.

Harry watches the two girls disappear, then houses begin flashing by, and he feels a huge jump in excitement. He didn't know where he was heading, but it must be better than what he was leaving.

"Anything's better than what you're leaving," James grumbled, but finally shook of the last

vestiges of hatred for that place, for now. Harry was finally heading to school, with any luck he'd never be sent back to those Dursley's again. Though that still didn't excuse them from punishment.

Not moments later the youngest redhead makes another appearance, sliding Harry's door open and asking if he can sit with Harry, stating everywhere else is full.

"Why do I somehow doubt that?" Sirius chuckled.

Harry quickly invites him in, and Ron takes a seat opposite Harry, and can't help but look to his forehead. Then he quickly looks away before Harry could notice. Before either could say anything, the twins were back.

Harry sighed in annoyance, this had gone on long enough that he had been hoping to learn this Ron's last name. He knew for a fact that the moment he heard it, he was going to receive another painful jolt. This boy, Ron, he had a very good feeling about him though, so he couldn't wait for it this time.

The twins tell Ron where they'd be, then formally introduce themselves to Harry as Weasley's.

Harry yelped as if being electrified, but true to his promise, he did not pry open that pain. He simply took a deep breath, and then opened his eyes to see the four of them looking at him with deep concern. Quick to explain he said, "I knew that. I know the Weasleys. Ron Weasley. We are friends." He said this with such conviction, that he didn't care if he had the memories to back this up. It was true, and nothing could change his mind.

Lily beamed, and wrapped an arm around him, "I'm so happy dear."

"I'm sure he's very worried about you," James said, also smiling at this. After all, he'd met his best friend on his first train ride as well. They were still best friends to this day, he had no doubts that Harry's friendship would last as well.

"I think I know the Weasleys," Sirius said, mostly to himself, "Molly and Arthur Weasley, yeah sounds familiar."

"Cousins then?" Remus asked, feeling as happy as the rest of them that Harry finally had a friend, someone he could really count on.

"Think so," Sirius said, trying to drag up old memories that he had tried very hard to get rid of over the years. "Weasley is an old pureblood family, and unlike most lines they prospered after the dark ages. Got a ton of lines that are still pure and traceable, but they're also well known for having survived through relations with muggles. I think that's how they stayed so many lines. They get a lot of flak for it though, which is probably why I never met them. Being muggle sympathizers and all."

"I think I met a Molly Weasley once," James said slowly. "The Prewett twins in the Order, I met them at Diagon Alley once, and they introduced me to their sister Molly. She had just recently gotten married then, after all this was a few years ago."

"Well she's clearly been busy then," Remus chuckled, thinking that five kids was more than enough work to put up with.

Harry beamed around at them all, happy that he was finally getting somewhere. He also knew that, there was something else though. Or someone else. He had another feeling that he was going to meet someone else really important on this train ride, and he asked if it was alright for him to continue.

Then they leave. Ron blurts out if Harry's really the Harry Potter.

"Subtle," James chuckled.

Harry just nods, and Ron admits he thought it was one of Fred and George's jokes.

"I hope Harry gets to know the twins really well," Sirius laughed, "I'd love to see what the next generation of pranksters puts this school through."

Lily sighed, hoping the exact opposite.

Ron asks if Harry really does have a scar, and Harry shows it. Ron exclaims that was really where You-Know-Who had tried to kill Harry, and he agrees, admitting he doesn't remember anything about it. At Ron's prompting though, Harry admits he may recall green light.

Lily huffed in real annoyance now, "his mother specifically told him not to ask that."

"And you always did exactly what your mother told you to do eh?" Remus asked her knowingly.

Lily wanted to mutter that this was different, but had no real way to.

"Besides," Sirius scoffed, "technically, she only forbade the twins from doing that. She didn't direct that at Ron."

Lily gave him the stank eye for that, his ability to find the vaguest of loopholes to throw in the teachers faces had always annoyed her, but didn't argue the point for now either.

Ron stares in awe for a few more moments before he seemed to realize what he was doing and quickly looked back out the window. Harry found Ron fascinating though, and asks if all of his family are wizards.

"Fair enough that," James said.

Ron agrees most of them are, except some accountant on his mum's side no one talks to.

Sirius spotted Lily pursing up her lips tight in her urge not to say something about that, but Sirius fielded her anyways. "Don't automatically blame the magical side of the family for that part, it's not uncommon for them to want to be left out and alone." He admittedly didn't know the Weasley's well, but for a reputation of blood traitors, it made sense to him.

Lily let the expression go.

Harry says he must know a ton of magic already.

"Not necessarily," Sirius stretched carefully, "just because you have magical parents doesn't mean you get to skip to second year."

Harry remembers the blond boy from the shop, how he'd mentioned old wizarding families, and decides these Weasleys must be one of those.

"Not the best example, but you're not wrong," Remus agreed.

Ron asks about the Muggles Harry lives with, and Harry just says they're awful, though not all muggles are.

"At least you acknowledge they're horrible," they all agreed, hoping Harry would tell a teacher this before the year was up.

Then Harry expresses the wish he had three elder siblings.

Ron corrects him, saying five.

"Five," Remus spluttered.

"So she has seven kids?" Sirius demanded.

Lily looked a little pale and in shock. She loved her son, but without the help of her boys, she would have gone stir crazy taking care of him. The idea of six more children was unbelievable.

James smiled sadly to himself, saying, "I don't blame them really. I always wanted siblings. They help build character, and I told you Lily, I do want more kids."

Lily looked at him like he'd grown a second head, "Yes, but seven!"

Still smiling James said, "maybe not that many." Then he frowned and winced slightly as he realized, he probably wasn't going to have any more kids.

Remus caught on to this, and said quite loudly, "Yes well, I don't see how it's our business how many kids they had, so let's press on then."

Harry nodded and kept going.

Ron is decidedly upset about this topic, explaining how he's the sixth to go to Hogwarts. How two of his elder brothers had already left, but one was head boy, and the other was a Quidditch captain. Now his brother Percy was a prefect. Fred and George were really popular and still got good grades, and he fears that his family expects him to do just as well, but he knows if he does it won't matter, because one of the others had already done it.

"That's just sad," Lily said frowning.

"Okay, so I can see a downside to that many kids," James agreed, "but you have to give them all special attention."

"We are not having seven kids Potter," Lily said, rounding on him, "so drop that idea."

Harry was finding this more amusing as time went on, briefly thinking about the idea of siblings, but decided to keep going.

He continues explaining how he always got hand me downs as well, having gotten one's old robes, ones old wand, and Percy's rat.

Harry felt a hiss of air escape him as another sharp stab plagued him, this one not nearly as pleasant as the last, but already having suffered enough from something in his memories today he refused to take notice of it as the others commentary continued, this time without seeming to notice him.

"Why would he have his brother's wand?" Sirius demanded, "his brother didn't die or something did he?"

"I doubt he would have said it in such a blase' way if he had," Remus said, frowning in thought, "but perhaps his brother had to get a new one for some reason, and gave that one to his brother."

"What would require a new wand though?" Harry asked.

All four sat there, genuinely stumped at this, so James finally told Harry to just keep going.

Ron then pulled out an old grey rat, which was asleep.

"Now I really wish Peter was here," Sirius cackled, "Harry's best friend owns a pet rat. Oh I could take the mickey out of Peter for ages for this."

"I'm sure he'll turn up here eventually," Lily sighed, already getting a headache from that endless joke.

Harry held himself very still, lest he start swaying dangerosly in his seat. He wouldn't do it though, no matter how much the pain built, he would not even chance a look at why he felt lik he was missing something.

Saying his name's Scabbers, and how all he does is sleep. Percy got a new owl because he was made a prefect, and begins to say that they couldn't aff- then cuts himself off and just mutters that he got Scabbers.

"That's sad," Lily sighed.

"But sometimes that's how it works," Remus muttered, poking a finger through a hole in his robes.

Ron blushed then, seeming to think he'd confided too much, and went back to staring at the window. Harry however didn't think there was anything wrong with hand-me-downs. He told Ron all about how the Dursleys hardly ever acknowledged his birthday, and he was lucky he even got such rotten presents, which seemed to cheer Ron up

Lily frowned, but Remus was quick to say, "Look at this from Ron's point of view. Harry's just identifying with him, no need to be angry at the boy."

Lily sat back, still frowning slightly, but now wishing Harry would tell Ron everything that had happened, Ron wouldn't feel better then. She, however, doubted that he had, if his attitude today showed anything.

and finished with telling him he'd only just learned about the magical world through Hagrid. He hadn't a clue about Voldemort- Ron gasps cutting Harry off. Harry asks what's wrong, and Ron splutters that Harry said You-Know-Who's name! Ron thought that Harry of all people wouldn't do that.

"The poor kids," Sirius chuckled, "being afraid of something as silly as a name."

Lily frowned at him this time and said, "It's the meaning in the name Sirius. They're afraid of what it stands for and-"

"Lily," James sighed, "what on earth are you telling Sirius this for?"

She deflated at once, even muttered a quick apology before Harry went on.

Harry quickly says he wasn't trying to be brave by saying that name, he just didn't know you shouldn't.

"Hagrid didn't make it seem that way?" Remus asked, slightly amused.

Harry simply shrugged and said, "Hagrid was the first wizard I ever met, I thought he just didn't like saying it. Not all wizards."

Going on to worry out loud about how he had loads to learn, and how he thought he'd be the worst in the class.

"Highly, highly doubt that," they all said at once, while James continued on, "Harry, you've

shown tremendous skill already, without any proper training. No I am sure you will be just as good as everyone else, probably better really."

Harry gave them all smiles, wondering if they were just saying that to make him feel better, but then deciding he didn't care if they were. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him.

Ron reassures him, saying Harry wasn't the only person from a Muggle family, but they all learned fast enough.

"You don't say," Sirius laughed, throwing a sideways look at the muggleborn in the room.

While talking the scenery outside is going a bit wilder, and the boys seemed to run out of topics for a moment as they lapse into silence. The quiet is broken when the door slides open and a woman pops her head in to ask if they'd like anything to eat. Harry hadn't had breakfast, and gets up to see what she's got. Ron mutters something about how he brought food, and Harry goes into the corridor.

"My favorite part of the train ride," Sirius stated, "getting hyped on as much sweets as I wanted."

Harry first asks for a muggle sweet, but the woman doesn't have anything Harry

recognizes.

"It's too bad they don't carry muggle sweets," Remus sighed, "I could go for one of those every now and then."

The descriptions cover all sorts of the magically named sweets that Harry had never heard of.

"A genuine pity that," James sighed, licking his lips slightly, "since all of it is delicious."

At Harry's confused look upon reading most of these, Lily said, "I think Sirius still has some Liquorice Wands about, you can have some later if you'd like?"

Harry smiled and agreed at once, while Sirius didn't even begrudge Lily offering up his candy. He'd share anything with his pup.

Not wanting to miss a thing, Harry gets some of everything, managing to spend eleven sickles.

"That's nothing," Remus laughed, "our last train ride seventh year, the four of us actually managed to spend seven galleons worth of food before we came back to the station."

"Yes I remember," Lily agreed, "I was worried I was going to have to scrape you lot off the

ceiling you were so hyper by the end."

Harry comes back in with his arms loaded and dumps the pile onto an empty seat. Ron has pulled out a couple of sandwiches, muttering how his mother always forgets he doesn't like corned beef.

Remus winced at that saying in sympathy, "can you blame the poor woman, having to make all of those lunches for them."

Harry offers up one of his candies in trade, and Ron tries to deny, but Harry insists, since he'd never had much to share before, or anyone to share it with.

"I can't decide if that's the nicest thing, or the saddest," James said frowning.

"The first," Lily said quickly, not wanting such a good mood to go down again.

Harry was thoroughly enjoying himself as they went through the packages, while the sandwiches lay forgotten.

"No love loss there," Sirius agreed.

While digging through, Harry comes across something labelled Chocolate Frogs. Harry uneasily asks if they're real frogs?

"Well," Sirius drawled out.

"Don't even," Lily said at once.

"I wasn't going to Lily," he quickly backed down, "I was only going to tell him that they are, you know, most of the time."

"In other words," Remus grumbled, rubbing his stomach in remembrance, "don't take any sweets from Sirius if you've recently denied him access to your homework."

"I fixed you up in the end," Sirius cackled.

By this time Harry was laughing so hard, the book nearly fell out of his grip again. He loved watching this family, his family, joke around with each other.

Ron tells him no, but it's the prize inside Harry will be wanting, and that he was missing someone called Agrippa.

"I own every card there is, that one's really common now," James said with pride, it was one of his proudest achievements, until a little baby came along that is.

"You do know they distribute new cards every year," Remus reminded him, "so by Harry's year, you won't have."

"No why would you say something like that Remus," James said, looking genuinely hurt, "now how am I supposed to keep up with that?"

"I'm sure you'll have no problems keeping up dear," Lily said in exasperation.

Harry asks what that means, and Ron tells Harry how the Chocolate Frogs contain famous wizard cards, and lists some that he's missing like Ptolemy.

"Ptolemy's new," Sirius said, as James still looked a bit downcast. He'd come to the awful conclusion that he had died back in the first chapter, but it was the little things like this that were still a shock to him. Sirius understood this, and tried his best to cheer his mate up, "make sure you remember that and keep an eye out for it yeah?"

"Yeah, sure," James said, perking up almost instantly.

Interested Harry asked, "Why would Agrippa be common now, and rare then?"

"Supply and demand," James offered, "in say what, eleven years from now, they'll have more cards, but not redistributed as many. So if they stopped making as many of them, it becomes rare."

Harry nodded along, rather intrigued, and privately wondering if he had a collection back home, the one he couldn't remember. One his father might be proud of?

Very curious now, Harry unwraps his own frog and finds the card for Albus Dumbledore.

"That one is super rare right now," James said eagerly, "it just came out this year."

Lily rolled her eyes, but Harry smiled, fascinated to see his father so excited about something.

While Harry exclaims his excitement, Ron asks if he can have a few frogs, hoping to get some of the ones he's missing. Harry happily hands some over while he reads the back of his own. The card details about Dumbledore's life, including his position as headmaster of Hogwarts,

All of the adults beamed, glad that in Harry's ten years growing up Dumbledore hadn't left

Hogwarts. They would have been genuinely concerned for the school if he had.

and some achievements he's done, such as helping a Nicolas Flamel with alchemy.

When Harry was done reading that, he at first didn't understand why Remus and Sirius suddenly busted out laughing, until he glanced over at his dad again, and saw he was grinning in triumph.

Lily told him, "your father was mouthing along with you as you read that, proving he'd already memorized that card."

Harry then chuckled slightly, he loved watching them interact so much that he hardly noticed the flutter something on that card caused him, before moving on.

Then Harry flips the card back around, to see the image of Dumbledore gone. When Harry asks, Ron just laughs and says Harry shouldn't be surprised, and then notes the card he got, Morgana which he already had, offering it to Harry to start collecting.

"That one's old," James commented, "practically an antique."

"Really James, are you going to comment on all of them?" Lily demanded.

"Probably," he grinned, "for Harry's benefit after all."

Lily was unable to argue with that logic.

Ron's eyes linger on the pile of unopened frogs, and Harry tells him to help himself, then explains to Ron that in muggle pictures, the people don't move. Ron seems to find this just as weird as Harry found the pictures moving.

"It is a bit odd," James agreed, "I still don't understand why they don't get bored."

Remus and Lily shook their heads at the ceiling, both having tried to explain that concept to James, and it still being lost on him.

Harry spends some time on his journey looking at all of the new cards, including Hengist of Woodcroft

"Another new one," James said in excitement.

Alberic Grunnion,

"Oh I've got two of him."

Circe,

"Only one of her, she's a bit rare."

Paracelsus,

"Like, eleven of him."

and Merlin.

"I think everybody has fifty of him, since there's one in every ten frogs."

"Really James, are you quite done?" Lily demanded, his silliness getting a bit out of hand.

"That depends, are there any more frog cards Harry?" James asked in excitement.

"No," Harry told him, just as disappointed as he seemed to be, "at least not listed, oh hang on there's one more," he said, looking back down at the page and reading quickly.

Harry looks away from one called Cliodna

"Another new one," he cried eagerly, making to get up and go fetch a quill to write these all down.

"James really," Lily huffed, "the books aren't going anywhere, and I want to see Harry get to school. You can write them down later."

"Oh fine," he huffed, slumping back down.

and instead turns his attention to another candy called Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Ron warned Harry he should be careful with those, because of all the exotic flavors you could get. His brother George swears he got a booger flavored one.

"I got candle wax once," Sirius said, thinking back.

"Worst one I ever got was strawberry," Remus laughed.

"Yeah, yeah Moony, we all know your uncanny ability to never actually pick a bad bean," James grumbled.

"One time he ate a whole bleeding box without making a face once," Sirius agreed with a humph. "I didn't even know that was possible."

Ron picks up one bean and bites it carefully, then gags and states that it's sprout flavored. Harry tries several flavors and gets quite a variety.

"Depending on how you like curry, and sardine, you got almost all of them as good," Remus approved.

"I've never heard of a grass one," Sirius said.

"Really, you lot are dragging on about this sweet thing far too much," Lily said in exasperation.

None of the boys looked the least bit repentant.

The fields outside were now getting wilder in shape, turning into forest. Then there was a knock on the door and a boy poked his head in, asking if they'd seen a toad.

"Poor dear, lost his pet on the first day," Lily said in sympathy.

"Remember Harold's cat. That thing snuck into every room in our dorm, except its own!" Sirius laughed.

Both boys say they haven't and the toadless boy wails how he's lost him. Harry tries to reassure him, saying he was sure it would turn up somewhere. The boy nods sadly and leaves. Ron makes the comment that he probably would have lost a toad on purpose, but he has Scabbers, so he can't say too much.

"That wasn't very nice," Lily huffed, "pets are important to their people."

"Oh he's just joshing," James said, "I'll bet you anything he's plenty fond of that rat."

Both boys look down at the sleeping rat in Ron's lap. Ron grumbles that all he ever does is sleep again, he could have died and no one would have noticed*. His brother gave him a spell to turn him yellow, to make him more interesting.

Remus looked surprised as he said, "you don't learn color changing charms until the end of first year. I'm not that surprised he couldn't pull it off."

"Well there are those exceptional students who can do stuff before their time," James said with quite a bit of vanity.

He turns and digs up his wand, noticing something coming out of one end. He mutters how the unicorn hair is poking out

"That's it," Sirius said in excitement, "that's probably why his brother had to get a new one. I'm betting if he worked with say, live animals, it's against regulation for a wand to have its core compromised. Too dangerous to work with the animals that way. Charlie probably had to get a brand new wand, so Ron got his."

"That was very insightful," Lily said in surprise.

"Though pointless if he doesn't work with animals," James said with a sly grin.

"You just wait," Sirius said, firing up at once, though still remaining absolutely still so as not to disturb the baby now sleeping heavily on him, "I am right."

before raising his wand and beginning before he's cut off by the toadless boy returning, with a girl this time.

Harry frowned, and his hands began to shake again. 'Your promise' he quickly reminded himself, even as the jabbing pain returned. Sucking in a deep breath he said to the others, "It's happening again. I know this, I know what's about to happen-" then he paused, and winced before continuing, "-but then I don't. Urgh, I don't know, but I should and-"

Lily placed her hand on his again, then said quietly, "don't force it love. Just keep reading, it'll come naturally."

Harry nodded, sucked in a deep breath, then quickly read on.

She spoke briskly to pair, asking if either of them had seen Neville's toad.

Harry winced again, harder this time, but quickly tried to keep going.

"That boy was just in there, why didn't he tell her he'd asked them?" Sirius rolled his eyes.

Harry had the distinct feeling this was the type of girl who would want to check for herself, getting a rather bossy feel for her the longer he thought on this girl. He didn't say that aloud though, since he felt it would come out wrong about someone he was so sure of as a friend.

Ron repeats that they haven't seen it, but the girl takes no notice and sees Ron's wand in hand, and declares she wanted to see him do magic, before taking a seat. Ron is rather startled-

"I don't blame him," Sirius agreed, "who'd want to be put on the spot like that?"

Then Ron really does begin his rhyming enchantment.

All four adults blinked once in shock before bursting out laughing. Sirius even laughed so hard that the baby began stirring on his chest. Quickly controlling himself, he managed to come to first and explained to Harry's confused look, "that's not how spells work pup. Not at all. Someone lied to him."

James wiped a tear out of his eye before continuing, "Honestly, has he never seen his parents, or any of his older siblings do magic?"

"Yes well, I think it's his own fault," Remus gasped, still rubbing his ribs, "we've already

established those twins were troublemakers. It's his own fault if he listened to them and took that spell seriously."

Sirius quickly opened his mouth, and before any of the others could tell him to stop he blurted out, "I take everything seriously."

Harry looked over at him for a moment, before he began laughing as hard as the other adults just had. The other three just groaned, having heard that joke more than enough in their life. Honestly, it was a bloody miracle they'd made it this far without Sirius bringing that up again.

Finally, when they were all calm again, Harry finally managed to continue, still eager to read about this new girl. He just knew he knew her.

When he was done, nothing happened, and Scabbers was as grey as ever. The girl states that she doesn't think that's a real spell, they were nothing like the ones she'd done, and they'd all worked.

"Wait, wait, back up," Lily quirked a brow, "how was she doing spells and they worked without her getting in trouble?"

Harry puzzled on whether he'd ever asked her this, but James quickly waved her off and said, "she obviously means on the train Lily, probably before Neville came to find her and ask for her help. Don't take everything so literally."

Going on to say how she was muggle born, and that she'd taken the initiative to learn all of her course books by heart,

"What?" Remus spluttered.

"She can't mean that," Lily said, smiling indulgently, "there's coming prepared, and then there's just over achieving to the extreme."

"I'm pretty sure she's serious," Harry agreed, following his gut feeling on that one.

Sirius opened his mouth again, but James quickly cut him off, "alright Sirius, you got to do it once for Harry, but you are not making that crack every time."

Sirius huffed, and muttered, "you're just jealous you can't have your own running gag."

Lily twitched, looking like she dearly wanted to hex him, as that wasn't really an 'okay I'll stop' but with her son on his chest, she was a bit constrained.

and worries out loud how she hopes it will be enough to get by.

"Oh I'm sure that will be quite enough," James agreed.

She finishes off the whole thing by finally introducing herself as Hermione Granger.

Harry yelped again as if he'd just been electrified, the book falling out of his hand again. However at the concerned looks crossing all of their faces, Harry quickly reassured, "I know, no pushing it. But I was right, I do know her. We're friends too, just like me and Ron are, I'm positive of it."

Lily smiled before saying, "That's lovely dear, I hope we get to meet them then."

Harry went to pick his book back up, which let him not see the looks all three boys were now exchanging. That had been quite the reaction, perhaps Harry was a little more than friends with this girl.

Harry glanced over at Ron and was relieved to see by his stunned face that he hadn't learned all of the course books by heart either.

"No one has," Sirius agreed, "not even Remus was ever that bad."

"Thanks, I think," he muttered.

When the boys introduce themselves, Hermione, like everyone else, does a double take at Harry's name, and then begins spouting off all kinds of books that he's been in.

"Guess I'm not surprised," Lily said, with some real interest.

James grimaced, as if he'd just been punched in the gut all over again. He'd always wanted to be famous, but not like this. Certainly not at the cost of his own son being shoved into this role. What a twist of irony.

Harry just asks if she means it, feeling a bit dazed by learning that.

"Don't blame you there one bit," Remus agreed.

She exclaims her surprise that Harry didn't know this, then moves on to talk about the houses she's read about. Noting that Gryffindor sounded like the best, that Dumbledore himself was in it.

"Which is true," Sirius said at once.

"Don't be biased Sirius, you said you'd outgrown that," Lily frowned at him.

"Some things never fade," he said in a tragic type of voice.

"What house were you lot in?" Harry asked curiously, realizing they'd never told him when he asked earlier.

"Gryffindor," they all said together.

James quickly jumped in, when he saw the look on Harry's face, "but we don't care what house you're in. No matter what, we just hope you're happy."

"Even with Slytherin or Hufflepuff?" Harry asked, eyeing Sirius warily.

Sirius snorted, looking genuinely offended the kid had to ask, "but of course, you'd be the bloody best Slytherin I ever met. Plus I dated a Hufflepuff for three years, yeah they're just as much fun."

Harry beamed at him, causing a warmth to build up in Sirius. He hadn't realized how much that had been bothering the kid.

Then admits to herself how Ravenclaw wouldn't be a bad choice either. Then she states how they should continue looking for Neville's toad, and the two leave as abruptly as she entered.

Harry frowned a bit now, he had thought there was something else that had happened on this train ride. Just an odd sort of feeling, maybe he had it wrong.

Ron grumbles that whatever house he's in, he hopes that girl wasn't in it.

For some reason that made Harry want to laugh, like he had a feeling Ron would regret saying that someday, but he repressed even the thought of saying it as his head still hurt slightly from the last thing he'd remembered to soon.

Then he puts his wand away and grumbles that George had been the one to give him that spell, and probably did it as a joke.

"Well then that's just a bit of his own fault," Remus chuckled. "If Ron hasn't cottoned on by now that he shouldn't be taking them too literally, then I can't say I pity him much."

"Blind faith in your siblings I suppose," Sirius said absentmindedly.

Harry decides to change the subject, instead asking what house Ron's brothers were in. This wasn't helping at all, as Ron just got gloomier while answering Gryffindor, also stating that his mom and dad had been as well. He was rather afraid what they'd all say if he wasn't, but acknowledged Ravenclaw wouldn't be as bad, still better than Slytherin.

"Those stereotypes clearly haven't gotten any better over the years," James laughed.

Harry tells him that he'd heard that was the house You-Know-Who had been in. Ron doesn't seem very enthused, so Harry tries another tactic by stating he thought Scabbers' whiskers looked brighter in color. Then he decided to take Ron's mind off of houses and instead asked what his older brothers did, wondering what kind of careers wizards could have.

"Oh tons of things," Lily said, eyes brightening at once.

"Now Lily," James said sternly.

Sirius continued for him, just as stern, "if we can't educate him on Quidditch, there's no way we're going to let you go on for an hour about every job you'd like to have."

Lily frowned at the pair, but conceded now wasn't the best time to go into excruciating details.

Forestalling all of them Harry promise, "it's okay, you can tell me later," he knew he'd listen to every word.

Ron tells him that the one named Charlie was studying dragons,

"Ha!" Sirius cried, throwing one arm up in the air in triumph, while admittedly, his cry of triumph wasn't nearly as loud as normal. He didn't want to wake baby Harry after all, "didn't I tell you."

"Yes fine," James conceded.

that the other was Bill, who was in Africa for Gringotts.

"You see Remus, Africa. You really want to travel that far," James said sadly.

Remus chose to say nothing, feeling now wasn't the time for this conversation either.

Speaking of Gringotts, Ron asks if Harry had heard about the break in.

"Now who was suicidal enough to do that?" Lily demanded.

Harry asks what happened,

"Got turned into a crispy critter most likely," Sirius said absently, really with all the treasure down there, he wasn't too surprised.

and Ron explains that nothing did, that was the weird part.

"Really?" they all said in surprise, now this was unheard of.

"That must be driving the Goblins crazy," Remus murmured.

The person who did it hadn't been caught. Ron's dad said it must have been a powerful Dark wizard to have done it, it takes a huge amount of skill to pull something like this off. Of course everyone else was terrified it was You-Know-Who back again.

"Oh I'm sure it's not," James said at once, seeing Lily go pale, "no, I'm sure it's nothing. Probably something Ron just wanted to talk about to change the subject."

Lily nodded, and slightly relaxed, but none of them really believed this. Ron was right, it would take some real Dark magic to pull off a stunt like this.

Harry was turning all of this over in his mind, feeling like there was some sort of significance to this tale, but having no way to know what.

Harry thought about that for a while, feeling a prickle of fear beginning to come up in him at the mention of You-Know-Who.

"A prickle is how it starts," Remus agreed sadly.

Thinking to himself that he'd been a lot more comfortable saying Voldemort.

"I don't see why they can't now," James asked, "Voldemort's been dead for eleven years. You'd think that old superstition would die."

Lily rolled her eyes to the ceiling, contemplating the pros and cons of explaining, again, what just wouldn't sink into these boys' minds. Yes they were brave, sometimes idiotically so, and yes they feared Voldemort as much as any proper wizard did. What they didn't understand was that calling him You-Know-Who was sort of like a coping mechanism.

Finally, as Harry decided to keep going, she decided against it.

Ron switches topics again by asking Harry what his Quidditch team was. Harry confesses his lack of knowledge on the subject, and Ron goes into all sorts of details about the sport that Hagrid hadn't.

"Wish you would have gone into more detail," Sirius said enviously.

"I'm just happy someone is explaining this all properly to him," James said with glee, watching Harry's face as he slowly nodded to himself as Ron's details came rushing back to him now.

Ron was taking Harry through some details of the game when the door opened again.

"Whoever it is, I'm automatically annoyed," Sirius sniffed, "they interrupted Harry's very

important Quidditch education."

"I'm pretty sure that's the first, and last time you've ever said important and education in the same sentence," Remus told him.

Three boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle one as the pale boy he'd spoken to in Diagon Alley. He was now looking at Harry with a whole new light of recognition.

"Well he clearly knows who you are now," Lily said sadly.

"Let's see how much his attitude changed," James grumbled.

He demands to know if he's really Harry Potter, and Harry agrees he is, while looking at the boy's two companions. They were clearly physically stronger then he or Ron, and were on either side of the blond kid, almost like bodyguards. The boy introduces them as Crabbe and Goyle, and finishes with saying his own name was Draco Malfoy.

"Great, yeah. I was right, I hate him," Sirius snarled.

Harry on the other hand, was having another of his more painful reactions. However, the more often this happened, the more easily he could discipline his mind, almost as if he'd had practice with it. He schooled himself, so that the pain he was feeling at such sharp memories trying to force their way into the foreground, faded and became as blocked as before. After only a few brief moments of electrifying pain, he eased back, though with a frown on his face this time.

"That's not a good look," Remus observed, "though I'm quite proud that you seem to be getting a handle on this memory bogging issue, normally when it happens it's been something good. You trusted Hagrid, then Ron, now this new girl. Is it safe to say you're not good friends with the Malfoy boy then?"

"Very safe to assume," Harry assured, feeling pain, anger, and several other emotions cropping up just at the mention of his name.

"Well I'm glad to hear it," James said at once. "The Malfoy's are known Voldemort supporters, at least among the Order. I don't like to judge a child, but if he's anything like his father..." he trailed off with a muttered curse.

Lily frowned sternly at her husband and said, "Now James-"

But Sirius and Remus were quick to back up their friend, giving her quite a bit of evidence. After a bit of mulling over, Lily finally nodded and said, "yes alright. I'm glad as well, here's hoping Harry sticks with Ron then."

"I'm positive I will," Harry sighed, wishing he could do more then go on a feeling, but pressing on all the same.

Ron tried to muffle his laughter with a cough, which wasn't very successful since Malfoy turned his attention on him instead and snarked that he could tell who he was. His father had told him all about how the Weasleys had red hair, and more children than they could afford.

All five people in the room frowned, as if they needed evidence to back up Harry's bad feelings, which they didn't, here it was right out of the boy's mouth.

He dismissively turns his attention back to Harry, stating that Harry shouldn't be making friends with his kind, that some families were much better off, and then offers Harry his own hand, which he doesn't take.

"Very good instincts then," James approved.

"He's just insulted my new, and first friend," Harry agreed, "I didn't like him much at all." 'And the feelings only get worse' he mentally added on, but declined mentioning that in case he was wrong.

Harry calmly replies back that he can tell the wrong sort for himself.

"And snippy as his mother," Sirius chuckled.

Malfoy is clearly displeased, since his next action is to insult Harry's parents for making the same choice.

"Oi!" They all hooted in indignation.

"Honestly, is Harry the only boy around with manners then?" Lily demanded.

Saying they didn't know what was good for them either. If Harry continued hanging out with nobody's like the Weasleys and Hagrid, he'd go the same way as them.

"Why that little-" James muttered, his fists clenching up at once as if he were suddenly eleven years old again, and Severus had just insulted his pureblood status.

"While he is in the wrong," Lily said at once, as they had all stiffened up slightly, "I don't really think fighting it out is the answer."

"Says the girl who once set a cat after a certain Slytherin girl who called her a two timer after she started going out with a certain Potter?" Sirius asked casually.

"A cat that you had transfigured from that girl's hat I might add," Remus smiled.

Lily went a bit red about the ears, and declined further comment.

Both Harry and Ron stood up. Ron snaps at him to shut up, and Malfoy just laughs, asking if they were really going to pick a fight. Harry agrees they will if they don't get out, though with less confidence than he would have liked, after again taking in the sizes of Crabbe and Goyle.

"I'm sure you can still take them," James said with confidence, "you've probably got a bit of practice taking down bigger blokes from Dudley. Plus Malfoy should be no problem, I'll bet you anything that pampered git hasn't had a fight in his life."

Harry cleared his throat softly and said, "erm no, at least to the part about Dudley. I've never actually tried fighting back at him, he is a lot bigger than me, and if I'd won, I'd have only been punished for it."

James deflated at once, and Harry quickly hurried on before he could ask anything else, "but you're probably right about Malfoy. He seems the type."

For some odd reason, this didn't actually make James feel better, but he let Harry keep reading to see what would happen.

Malfoy merely sneers, and makes the comment he was starting to feel a little comfy here, noting Harry's still lingering pile of sweets. Goyle reaches for one, and Ron leaps forward hands stretched, but before he even touched him, Goyle leaps back with a howl.

"Accidental magic you suppose?" Remus asked.

Sirius rolled his eyes, once again avoiding the temptation to point out that none of them actually knew the answer to that.

Scabbers was hanging off his finger, his teeth sunk into Goyle's knuckle.

"Alright!" all four boys cheered.

"Now I really, really wish Peter were here for that," James cackled.

"Oh yes, why didn't we ever think of that," Sirius agreed, holding the baby to his chest to stop himself from rolling around in laughter.

Even Remus was cracking up at this, deciding those boys had just learned a valuable lesson about food that wasn't theirs.

The other two quickly exited into the corridor, and after shaking his hand to free himself of Scabbers, who slammed against the window, all three of them disappeared.

Now all the boys were frowning, a might concerned. They didn't want the little guy to get hurt after achieving that kind of victory.

Maybe they feared more rats were hiding in the sweets, or perhaps they heard approaching footsteps, because the next person to come in was Hermione Granger again, demanding to know what was going on with all the yelling. Ron goes over to his pet and picks him up, worrying that he's been knocked out, and then realizes he just decided to go back to sleep.

This caused a fresh round of laughter from them all, even Lily giggled a bit at this.

James was leaning back into the couch, which was clearly the only thing keeping him upright, as he said, "Oh man, getting back at those nitwits, and going right back to take a nap. This rat has it good."

Harry jolted, feeling another shock strike him. Why though? He hadn't thought much of Ron's rat, why would he? Yet at his father's words, he felt a sense of wronged, like this rat should not have any kind of good life. Why though? After all, Harry had no doubts that his feelings about Ron being his best friend were completely true, why would he wish ill will on his pet.

Perhaps Scabbers had once bitten him, and he was harboring a grudge? This must be it, so he decided not to press on the matter too much.

Ron asks if Harry had met Malfoy before, and Harry explained about the meeting at the robe shop. Ron tells him about how he'd heard of the Malfoy's, how they'd claimed to have been bewitched to do the terrible things they'd done, and that they were one of the first to come back to the good side.

"Not surprised on that front," Sirius muttered darkly.

Hermione tells them they're about to reach school and they should get dressed, and scolds them for fighting before they even get there.

"She's got a point," Lily said in defense, as at once the four boys looked about to defending themselves.

Ron snaps that it was Scabbers who was doing the fighting, not them, then tells her to leave while they change. Hermione agrees and begins to leave, then turns back and tells Ron he's got dirt on his nose.

Remus chuckled a bit. While she had a small bit of a personality issue, it was clear she'd be fun to have around. If only for her outward going nature.

Harry on the other hand was frowning. He was so sure of his feelings towards Hermione, that she was going to be a friend of his. Yet what he felt now, was annoyance at such a bossy sort of girl, shaking his head slightly, perhaps she was just as nervous as he was, he kept going.

Ron glares at her as she leaves, while Harry looks out the window again. It's getting dark now, and he can see mountains and forest all around. He and Ron change into their school uniform now, and just as they're done a voice comes over the speaker announcing that they will be arriving at Hogwarts soon, and to leave their luggage on the train, it'll be taken care of for them. Harry could feel his stomach tighten up with nerves, and one glance at Ron showed the same. They both crammed their pockets with the rest of their train snacks and exited the compartment.

Lily felt like doing a little happy dance, finally her little Hare Bare was at Hogwarts. She was so grateful for these books being here, to show her what it was like for him. Circumstances that led this to happening aside of course.

When the train came to a complete stop, the two of them went out onto the dark platform outside. Harry could feel the cold sweeping through them all, and focuses on a lantern heading their way, and a familiar voice calling out for the first years to come his way. Then Hagrid spots Harry in the crowd and calls out a greeting to him.

They all smiled to themselves again, happy that Hagrid's affection towards Harry hadn't lessened any now that the boy wasn't his responsibility anymore.

Hagrid grins at Harry then repeats his call for the first years, a throng beginning to follow him to a path. Harry spots Neville through the crowd, still sniffling a bit.

"Poor dear," Lily wanted to give him a hug, "his first day there should be exciting, not miserable."

"Harry's just lucky it's a nice night out," Remus laughed, "they all should. Remember our sixth year, it was pouring down so bad, the teachers considered not even using the boats for the first years."

"Yes well, the squid spit that kid out in the end, so it was alright," James said, smiling in

agreement and laughter.

Then they come around a bend, and the Hogwarts castle comes into view. All of the new students let out surprised and excited 'oh's' and 'ah's.'

"Is there ever not?" Sirius smiled in remembrance.

They are now at the edge of the lake, the castle sitting on top of a mountain on the other side, the abundance of windows, turrets, and towers all gleaming with a merry and welcoming light.

All four adults smiled with both happy and sad memories mixed together, despite everything that had happened there, they all loved that school.

Harry too was smiling to himself, but it was all with happiness. Home. That one word came to mind for him like nothing before ever had. This was Hogwarts, his home.

On their side of the water are a row of boats, and Hagrid instructs four to each. When Harry and Ron climb into one, they are joined by Neville and Hermione. When Hagrid is sure everyone is in, he commands forward

"Remember that's how we met Peter," James and Sirius smiled at each other.

Sirius laughed a bit saying, "'Course I do. Puny little kid he was. His eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head."

and the boats begin moving on their own, going across the smooth water with ease. The crowd was silent as the castle continues getting closer. Then they reach the opposite edge, and climb out. While Hagrid is doing a sweep of the boats, he comes across a toad, and calls out to Neville if it's his.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Lily cried in joy.

"You are way too invested in this boy's toad," James told his wife indulgently, it was one of the things he loved about her, how she seemed to care for everyone endlessly.

Lily simply kept smiling, knowing full well her husband meant nothing by his comment.

"I am curious though," Remus said, "how it got lost on the train, but ended up in the boats."

"Maybe one of the other students found it, and were taking it up to the school," Sirius offered, "then it slipped away from them to."

"Tricky little pet he is," James laughed.

Neville jubilantly exclaims the name of his pet, Trevor, and clamps the reptile firmly in his hands as they begin their way up to the castle doors. Hagrid does one last head check to make sure everyone's still caught up, then asks Neville if he's still got hold of his pet.

They all laughed a bit at that, Hagrid was such a caring person, and he did love all of the creatures at Hogwarts, even a random first year student's toad.

Then Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

"That's the end of the chapter," Harry told them, looking about, and smiling so much his face looked like it was about to fall off, "who's turn now?"

"No, no," Lily said, getting up from the couch, and offering her hand to Harry, "mark the place, and we should all get some shut eye, it has been the most bizarre day of my life, and I can't be the only one exhausted from all of this."

James quickly agreed with her, and after a moment's more hesitation and a longing look at the books, the keys to his memories, he agreed and took her hand. Lily and James led Harry upstairs to a guest room, and made sure he got settled in for the night.

Sirius and Remus on the other hand, were exchanging meaningful looks, and decided they needed to have a talk with James and Lily before they too hit the sack.

HPHPHPHP

To all who are worried by the way, this is going to be as canon as possible, which means this isn't Harry/ Hermione like some of the adults make jokes about over some of the series. They're doing that purely out of the ignorance that a boy and girl can't just be friends. I promise, you'll see much more instances of Harry finding any mention of Ginny more adorable then taking notice of his family's teasing.

* Scabbers 'the ironic rat' actually did 'die' and plenty of people noticed. The first of Ron's many times a joke became a foreshadowing.