Author's Note: So I'm back to being totally in love with HP again. Hope you enjoy this one. Please review (both good and bad). Also add anything that you want me to include and I'll see where I can fit it in.

Also, this is AU Next Gen. I've always been a lover of fics that show an age gap between the Potter siblings so that is what I am doing here. I always figured that JSP would be closer in age to Teddy than he appears to be in books (Post-War baby boom and all that).

I also apologize for any errors, I'm editing this (and my other stories) on my own so please be patient and if you spot something let me know and I'll try to change it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing unfortunately :(

James Sirius Potter bounced excitedly around the kitchen at Potter Manor, his father watching him in amusement from behind the Daily Prophet. Today was the 1st September and the first day of James' Hogwarts adventure.

Harry Potter watched his son with amusement and curiosity. He couldn't believe that his son was old enough to go to Hogwarts. He watched as he shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth, his honey-hazel eyes bright with excitement, his raven hair slightly tamer than Harry's own had been at James' age. Harry had watched in amazement as James had grown and picked out the various traits and habits of himself, Ginny and the rest of the family in his own son.

Harry was struck briefly by a feeling of guilt as he realized that he had actually missed out on quite a lot of his sons upbringing.

Not that he was alone in that.

Ginny felt the same.

When they had found out Ginny was pregnant with James, they were still recovering from the war and they had all these crazy plans about what they were going to do with there lives. So, the birth of James came as a temporary halt to the adventures they were dreaming. Following James' birth Harry had returned quickly to work in the Auror office (a position he held until 2 years ago when he was made Minister of Magic) and Ginny had returned to the Holyhead Harpies as Chaser. Their lives had only slowed down last year with the birth of their second child, Albus Severus Potter.

They had missed out on a lot with James and that was something that neither were willing to repeat.

Harry was shaken from his silent musing by the appearance of his Godson Teddy Lupin. Teddy, his hair a vibrant turquoise this morning, stole a piece of bacon off of James' plate laughing when James swatted his arm while continuing to munch on his toast.

"Morning Teddy..."

Teddy looked up to meet the gaze of his Godfather and smiled, "Morning...you ready to get rid of this brat?"

James looked up at that pouting, "I am not a brat! Dad tell him!"

Harry just grinned, "Of course you're not a brat Jamie..."

Teddy was a fourth year Hufflepuff at Hogwarts, the same house in which his mother had called home for 7 years. Teddy and his grandmother had been living with Harry and Ginny for the past 10 years when they moved into Potter Manor. The Manor house was big enough and Harry, still wary from the war had practically begged Andromeda to move into the Manor as it would be safer. Teddy and James had grown up close and Harry vividly remembered the crying and screaming when Teddy had first left for Hogwarts.

Ginny smiled as she entered the room with Andromeda. The room was warm with life and hope, it was a feeling that Ginny was insistent on breathing in and savoring. She knew that this day literally marked the start of James' life and the start of his decline in dependency on them. Ginny was filled with a mix of emotions on the day that she had to say goodbye to her little boy. Today was the day that he stopped being the little boy who would follow her around the house telling her every little detail about his day with his Grandparents and recalling the children's stories that he been reading.

Today he became a Hogwarts student.

Ginny remembered that feeling all too well. The bubbling excitement of finally being able to strike out on your own without an overprotective parent hovering nearby.

"Morning boys...now are you both sure that you have everything?" Andromeda said as she kissed both boys on their foreheads before taking the seat opposite Harry.

James just nodded and continue to eat, while Teddy nodded looking up at his Grandma, "Yes...Grandma we've got everything...I promise..."

"Good...and remember..."

"If we have forgotten anything to owl...yes...we know...you've told us a million times already..." Teddy interrupted with a cheeky grin making Harry chuckle.

Ginny rolled her eyes at the 14 year old, "We're just making sure you know Teddy..."

Harry glanced at the clock and allowed his gaze to settle on James, "Well...we better get going if we want to make the train...you ready Jamie?"

James looked up at his father, his eyes twinkling and replied with certainty, "Yep..."

Hours later found James and his class gathered in the entrance hall waiting for Professor Longbottom to lead them into the Great Hall to be sorted. James couldn't help but stare in awe. He remembered the stories his dad had told him about how Hogwarts had to be re-built after the war.

"Welcome to Hogwarts...now in a few moments you will step through these doors and begin your magical career...We have four houses here at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw...in a few moments you will be sorted into one of those four houses..."

Then suddenly the doors swung open to reveal the Great Hall in all its majestic beauty. As James mindlessly followed his classmates down through the hall staring up at endless ceiling, candles hovering above the heads of the students. The sea of faces seemed overwhelming to James, until he spotted the familiar turquoise head of Teddy at the Hufflepuff table and the blonde hair of Victorie at the Gryffindor table.

James continued until he came to a stop behind the blonde hair of his cousin Dominique. The two had been extremely close growing up and it had not been an uncommon sight to find James, Dominique, Victorie and Teddy curled up on the floor watching the Quidditch channel or playing exploding snap.

James snapped his attention to the front and to the little ratty old hat perched on the stool just as it began to speak:

"I may be old and worn
But when it comes to sorting a student
No hat could be more bright
And no hat could be more prudent

Our founders sought to teach
Exceptional magical technique
An amazing project to undertake
For their efforts I have no critique

Slytherin or Gryffindor
Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff
Hogwarts now is your home
And surely that's enough

Will you join the valiant,
the strong and the brave?
Or are loyalty and friendship
something you crave?

Or is the house of cunning skill
the place for you?
Or do you have a yearning to learn,
knowledge to pursue?

So climb up upon the stool
And pull me down around your ears
I'll reveal the new beginning
To your magical careers!"

The hall broke out it cheers and claps. James was struck once again with awe. Of course, he had been told all about the sorting hat but there was something so special about seeing it for the first time.

Then Professor Longbottom stepped forward and the sorting began, "Abercrombie, Maria"

James watched as the brown haired girl stumbled up the steps and sat down on the stool. After what felt like an excruciatingly long time (a minute or two at most) the sorting hat shouted its decision, "SLYTHERIN".

James watched as classmate after classmate was sorted into different houses. Ryan Murphy was sorted into Ravenclaw and what appeared to be a relative, Brianna Murphy was sorted into Gryffindor. Melissa Naughton was sorted into Hufflepuff and Thomas O'Reily went to Slytherin.

And then it was James' turn.

"Potter, James"

The Great Hall felt into silence as students craned their necks to try and view the son of the Chosen One. James walked up the steps and sat down on the stool. Despite knowing what was coming James jumped when he heard the Sorting Hat talking inside his head.

"Hmm...I was wondering when you'd get here...hmm...where to put you? Courageous and brave, yet cunning and ambitious...qualities of Gryffindor and Slytherin...just like your father...yet loyalty and honesty lie just beneath the surface...well you are a Potter after all...Hmmm...interesting...a thirst for knowledge...I think that settles it then..."

"RAVENCLAW"

Thank you for taking the time to read this fic xx