Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was crisp and golden as an apple, and as the large family bobbed across the rumbling road towards the great, sooty station, the fumes of car exhausts ad the breath of pedestrians sparkled like cobwebs in the cold air.

Side by side, Harry and Albus Potter pushed the second trolley forwards, gathering speed. As the reached the barrier, Albus winced, but no collision came. Instead, the family emerged on to platform nine-and-three-quarters, which was obscured by thick, white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express.

Ahead of them was James Potter II, off for his third year at Hogwarts. Accustomed to the procedure, he hauled his trunk along to the nearest spot he could divest himself of the load. On the way he spotted a couple several years older than himself in a tight embrace, lips pressed against each other oblivious to any observers present.

'What are you doing, Teddy?' exclaimed James. Edward "Teddy" Remus Lupin pulled apart from his girlfriend's tender arms, ready to scold his godfather's eldest son.

'Can't I see someone off in peace? Go away!' he snapped. Victoire Weasley glared disapprovingly at James, whose expression had changed to the same sly looked the couple had seen on that good-for-nothing Skeeter woman they'd been acquainted with for some time. The young cheeky third-year turned on his heels and retraced to his family bearing the news.

'Teddy's back there,' they heard him say from behind the mist. 'Just seen him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!'

Teddy gave a sigh. 'Why that little-'

'Did he seriously not know?' inquired Victoire. 'I mean, how often do you spend at the Potters'?'

'Not often enough, clearly,' - shrugged Teddy, transfiguring James' trunk into a haystack. 'Don't get the wrong idea, I knew that as soon as he found out, you'd never hear the end of it. Remember what happened when you told Dominique.'

'I s'pose you're right,' she sighed. 'Thanks for seeing me off, it means the world.' She beamed at him though the radiant locks of her blonde hair, still slightly glistening though the mist. To look into her eyes and warp his arms around her, Teddy knew he'd miss anything else going on in his life. In all honesty, to the young man it felt as if every event of an entire story was leading up to this very day, and this very moment.

'Don't mention it,' he beamed back. 'Besides, it's nice to look back on this place one last time. And you saw me off every year since my first journey.'

'No I didn't!' Victoire defended herself. I just came along every year in anticipation of going myself. Lily's been doing that as well!'

Little did Victoire know that Lily was at that very moment discussing marital plans for the pair of them. It was true, at Lily's age, Victoire was just as anxious to go to Hogwarts as her cousin. Now in her final year it didn't seem real. Years had gone in a flash, and, before she knew it, what once seemed like such a day in the distant future suddenly gave filled her heart with the bittersweet aftertaste of the present. Teddy shared this sentiment, and as he waved off the love of his life on the train again, glancing to watch James brush hay off his robes and a chocolate frog bounce off Albus and Rose's window, all he could think about was how it all started so long ago.