Chapter 3 for Nano!

Chapter 3- The Hogwarts Express

The weeks before school started went by really quickly.  James was surprised, actually, but was happy about it none the less.  James loved going to school, but missed his family.  By Christmas he was happy to come home for the break.  He would never admit that to Albus though.  James always had on the 'tough guy' act when it came to school...at least when he was around Al.

James spent his days polishing his dad's old (and now his new) Firebolt.  Once the handle was polished and the stray twigs in the tail were clipped it actually looked like a really decent broom.  He was so happy that he decided to take the Firebolt to school because Humphrey was the best owl ever.  He was playful and seemed to know that he belonged to James.  He would sit on James' shoulder and watch him as he polished his broom handle.  He would even nip at Al if he got too close.  James was thrilled.  James had even sent some letters to Alice and Tom already just to see how the delivery would go.  It was so cool for James to have his own owl.

James and Al had also found out what their surprise was.  Their Granddad Weasley was extremely fascinated with muggles, and so he got permission from the Headmaster at Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, to take Muggle Studies at Hogwarts.  He would be at the school twice a week for his class and could have lunch with his Grandkids on those days too.  James had mixed feelings about this because he loved his Granddad and he loved spending time with him, but he also didn't really want him at school all the time.  James wanted to spend time with his friends, but he also didn't want to hurt his Granddad's feelings.  Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.

*   *   *

Albus' birthday was on August thirtieth, two days before the boys got to go to school.  Al was running around the house letting everyone know that it was his eleventh birthday, as if they already didn't know.  

The one birthday present Al kept asking for was an owl.  Al was so jealous of James' owl and Humphrey wouldn't let Al get anywhere near him, so Al wanted one of his own.  James didn't think it was fair for Al to get an owl after James worked so hard for his, but he didn't think to ask for an animal for his birthday.  He just asked for a wizard chess set (he got one from his Uncle Ron) and his won set of Quidditch balls.  There was a big red one about the size of a football called a quaffle, two black ones that had to be chained down called bludgers, and one tiny golden one called the snitch.  Harry and Ginny got James the Quidditch set, but wouldn't let him play with the bludgers.  

Al did get an owl from his parents.  It was a large Tawny Owl.  James was rather happy that it was just a regular owl and not one with character like Humphrey.  Al named his owl Jefferson.

*   *   *

September first had finally arrived.  After a quick breakfast everyone loaded everything into the slightly enchanted Volvo (it had an undetectable expanding charm on it) and headed to King's Cross.  The morning was fresh and crisp, the perfect Autumn day.  James were in the back seat of the car and as soon as they started moving James started pestering his brother.

"Which house do you think you'll get sorted into?  Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Gryffendor, like me?" asked James.

"Gryffendor," replied Al confidently.

"You could end up in Slytherin you know.  It could happen," taunted James.

"No, I am going to be in Gryffendor!" Al's confidence was starting to wane.

"All I'm saying is that it could happen," said James with a sinister smile on his face.  He knew he was wearing Al down.

"That's enough you two!" said Ginny from the front seat.  "I don't want you to fight.  Understand me?  Not another word!"

"Yes mum," the two boys said in unison.  James knew that once they were out of the car they could finish their 'conversation'.  James loved tormenting his little brother.

After what seemed like the longest silent car ride ever they arrived at the train station.  James ran to get two trolleys for their things.

They loaded the trunks, the owls and James' Firebolt onto the two trolleys and made their way across the bumpy road to the sooty station.

Harry and Ginny were pushing the Trolleys with ames and Al behind Ginny and a very tearful Lily dragging behind the boys, tightly holding her father's arm.

"It won't be long and you'll be going too," Harry told her.

"Two years," sniffed Lily.  "I want to go NOW!"

James had started tormenting Albus again.

"You might end up in Slytherin you know," taunted James.

"I won't.  I WON'T be in Slytherin!"

"James, give it a rest!" said Ginny.

"I only said he might be," said James grinning at Al.  "There's nothing wrong with that.  He might be in Slyth - "

James saw the look on his mother's face and stopped mid sentence.  The family approached the barrier between platforms nine and ten.  James then threw a cocky glance over his shoulder at Al, took the trolley from his mother and ran at the barrier.  Like a flash James was in platform nine and three-quarters.  The scarlet Hogwarts Express was billowing steam all over the platform so it was hard to recognize the people around the train.  James ran to drop off his trunk, broom and owl.  He then caught sight of something he had never expected.  Back by the wall were Teddy and James' cousin Victoire, kissing.  Their faces were smooshed together, and their arms were wrapped tightly around one another.  

"Teddy!" James hollered.  Teddy and Victoire quickly separated and tried to act as if nothing happened.  

"Yes?  Can I help you?" asked Teddy impatiently.

"What are you doing here?" asked James.

"Seeing Victoire off to school for her last year.  Why?  What are you doing here?" asked Teddy.  He was starting to get annoyed.

"Well, I was dropping off my things when I saw you snogging Victoire and I came over.  That's all," replied James.

"That's all, huh?  Well, as a matter of fact I actually have something for you.  You dad gave this to me when I started Hogwarts, and I thought I'd pass it along."  Teddy pulled out a very old piece of parchment.

"It is called the Marauder's Map.  I can't really tell you much more than that, but to activate it, just tap it with your wand and say, 

'I solemnly swear I am up to no good' and watch it come to life.  When you are done just remember to say 'Mischief managed' or anyone can read it.  Oh, and don't let any professors or parents...or grown ups in general see it."

"Cool!  Thanks Teddy.  I'll keep it to myself," said James with appreciation.  "Wait!  Can I show Tom and Alice?"

"Are they grown ups?"

"No!"

"Well then, sure!" replied Teddy.

"Okay!  Wicked!  Thanks Teddy!" and James took off to find his family and tell them about Teddy and Victoire kissing.*

James scurried through the steam and the crowds of people to find his family.  Once he found them he was just about to burst with his news.

"Teddy is back there," he said breathlessly as he pointed in the direction he just came from.  "Just seen him!  And guess what he's doing?  SNOGGING VICTOIRE!"  He looked up at his family wondering why they didn't seem very interested.

Our Teddy!  Teddy Lupin!  Snogging OUR Victoire!  OUR cousin!  And I asked Teddy what he was doing - "

"You interupted them?" asked Ginny.  "You are so like Ron - "

" - And he said he'd come to see her off and then he told me to...go away.  He's snogging her!"  James made sure to let them know what he had seen and tried to hide his lie.

"Oh, wouldn't it be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily ecstatically.  "Teddy would really be part of the family then!"

"He already comes round for meals about four times a week," said Harry.  "Why don't we just invite him to live ith us and have done with it?"

"YEAH!" said James enthusastically.  "I don't mind sharing a room with Al - Teddy could have my room!"

"NO!" said Harry firmly, "you and Al will hare a room only when I want the house demolished!"

James watched his father check his old watch.

"It's nearly eleven, you'd better get on board."

"Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him.

"Mum, you can't give a professor love!"

"But you know Neville - "

James couldn't believe what his mother was saying.  "Outside, yeah, but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he?  I can't walk into Herbology and give him love ..." 

James shook his head, unbelieving what he just heard heard.  He aimed a playful kick at Al.

"See you later Al.  Watch out of the Thestrals."

"I thought they were invisible?  You said they were invisible!"

But James just snickered at his brother as he let his mother kiss his cheek, gave his dad a quick hug, and squashed his baby sister with love.  He got on the train, gave a wave to everyone, and then turned to find Tom and Alice.

As James took off down the compartments of the trian he couldn't help but stop and look back at his family.  Al looked like he was having a serious conversation with his dad.  He made a mental note to ask Al about it later.

James found Alice and Tom already settled in an empty compartment.  They were deep in conversation and Alice looked rather animated.

"What do you mean, he's famous?  He's well known for what he did, but I don't know if he is a household name!" argued Tom.

"Not a household name?  You have no idea what you are talking about because you are muggle born.  The name Harry Potter is the most famous name in the wizarding world.  Tell him James!" Alice had finally caught sight of James and wanted him to argue her point.

"Well, he's my dad, so he is a household name in my home... But actually, Tom, my dad is actually pretty famous.  There are lots of stories about him.  He fought Voldemort, that really evil dark wizard, more than once, and has his name attached to a lot of other stories.  You know Gringotts, in Diagon Alley, right?" asked James.  Tom nodded, listening intently.  "Well, you know how they had to rebuild it because a dragon from far below destroyed it?  Apparently my dad was a part of that.  I' not sure it is true, because my dad has never told me himself, but that is one of the stories."  James was beaming with pride.  He loved talking about his dad.  He didn't really know that much about what his dad had accomplished when he was in school, because Harry didn't really talk about it much.  Every time James asked Harry would just tell him that he would rather focus on what he is going to accompish in the future, and not what happened in the past.  James just thought that his dad didn't want to brag about what he had done.  He never really liked the fame that was attached to his name.

"Well, do you think the library keeps a back-log of all the editions of the Daily Prophet?"

"Maybe, why?" asked Alice.

"We could go an see what they say about James' dad when he was in school.  If he is really that famous there should be some articles about him," explained Tom.

"That's a good idea.  I would love to learn more about my dad.  We should do it soon though, before we get too much homework," said James.

"Anything from the Trolley?" asked a plump witch with salt and pepper hair, pushing the treat trolley.  James had done some more chores to get a bit more money, so he got some Berty Botts Every Flavor Beans, some Chocolate Frogs, some Pumpkin Patties, and some Cauldron Cakes.

Alice, James and Tom had just gotten settled for the ride when Albus and their cousin, Rose, came to the door of the compartment.

"Can we sit here with you?" asked Al.

"Depends," said James, "what were you and dad talking about before you got on the train?"

"That's between me and dad.  You don't need to know everything ..."

"We were sitting somewhere else," interupted Rose, "but this really mean boy, named Scorpius, started bothering us, so we left."

"Bothering us? Rose, he was saying horrible things about our families.  He's a right awful git, he is!" said Al, getting angry.

"It's okay," said Alice.  "You can sit with us.  We were just going to play a game of Dragon Snap.  It's just like exploding snap, but all the pictures are of different dragons."  

Exploding snap was a wizarding memory game.  You had to find the matching pictures, and once you turned a card over it was just a matter of time before it exploded.  Once the card exploded, it would reappear in the package it came out of.

"Sure," said Albus and Rose together.

So, the five of them settled in for the long ride to Hogwarts in their compartment together.

** Credit needs to go to J.K. Rowling for this third chapter because parts of the conversation were taken from the 7th book in the series. I did not plagiarize, I made sure there was consistency for those die-hard fans.**