Well, I'm probably going to regret having two stories on the go again but I found myself keen to write this one and incredibly, since it didn't seem like anyone was reading my HP stories, I did get asked for another one. Reading of the first four stories is recommended.

CHAPTER ONE: Eleven Years Later

It was a September morning at Kings Cross Station and for most of the patrons there the day was not special at all. But for one brown-haired girl, walking down the walkway between Platforms 9 and 10, it was a day she'd been looking forward to as long as she knew what it was. The girl's name was Nymphadora Potter.

Harry and Hermione, walking a step behind their daughter, exchanged a smile. The look of excitement on her face was one that was very familiar to them, both from their own first time, longer ago than either of them cared to think about, and from those of their other children, now grown up and, in many cases, with children of their own. Nymphadora was the only child of their second marriage to each other, and they had never expected to be making this journey with a child again. But they wouldn't change a thing.

Harry took his daughter's hand. "You ready?" She smiled and nodded. Hermione took her other hand and together they stepped through the barrier onto Platform 9¾.

Nymphadora had only been three years old when her youngest half-siblings, Lily and Hugo, had left Hogwarts, so she had never really seen the platform before. For a moment, she was overwhelmed by the huge crowd of people and by the Hogwarts Express. Then she realised just how many people she recognised there. All of her half-siblings were present – James, Albus, Lily, Rose and Hugo. James and Rose had their families with them. She also noticed Harry's godson, Teddy Lupin, with his wife Victoire and their daughter Flavia. She was starting at Hogwarts that year as well.

Her ponderings were cut short by Albus, who gave her one of the massive hugs he was famous for. "Just wanted to wish you luck, sis."

"Thanks, Alb,"she answered. She exchanged brief hugs with Tracey and Joshua, James and his wife Emily's two children. Tracey would be starting at Hogwarts in two years and Josh in four. She looked at Lily. "Is Amy here?"

Lily shook her head. "No, we thought she was too young." Lily's daughter had turned five a few months earlier.

Harry and Hermione were inevitably attracting a few looks from the students and their parents, especially the first years. But even more attention was being diverted towards the Minister of Magic. Ron Weasley was standing with Rose and her husband, Scorpius Malfoy. Their daughter Gemini was another of the new first years; her younger brother, Balthasar, would be starting with Tracey. "I wonder if I can make it a rule that you have to be in Gryffindor,"Ron joked to his granddaughter. "Maybe offer the Sorting Hat a ministerial post…"

"Dad,"Rose scolded. "You'll worry her if she doesn't get in now."

"So long as you don't end up in Slytherin."

"I was in Slytherin,"Scorpius reminded him. He nudged Gemini jokingly. "It's better than Hufflepuff."

"I was in Hufflepuff,"Teddy offered.

Ron grinned at his son-in-law. "We can't win, can we?"

"It's what happens when our generation don't all marry people we shared a common room with,"Rose replied stiffly. She looked at Nymphadora. "And you make sure you look after her."

"We might not be in the same house,"Nymphadora suggested. "I could be in Slytherin."

"That's what I said when I was last here,"Albus remarked. "Of course, that was mainly because James was winding me up."

"I've grown since then,"James assured Emily.

"And I'll say to you what I said to him,"Harry remarked. "Nymphadora Ginevra Potter, named after two of the bravest witches I've known…" – he saw James and Teddy briefly go misty-eyed at the reference to their mothers, while Albus gave Lily's hand a squeeze – "…it won't matter to either of us which house you get sorted into."

"No, it won't,"Hermione agreed. She gave her ex-husband a challenging look.

"I'll still be cheering for Gryffindor in the Quidditch Cup,"Ron replied. He patted their granddaughter on the shoulder. "But if you're on the other team, I'll hope you don't lose by much."

"Thanks, Grandad,"Gemini answered, smiling at him fondly.

"You'd better be getting on,"Hugo suggested, gesturing to the near empty platform, with most of the other pupils already onboard the train. Nymphadora grabbed Gemini's hand and they jumped onto the nearest carriage.

James gave Emily a quick kiss. "I'll see you in Hogsmeade later on." He turned to Harry and Hermione. "Come on, I'll show you where the staff carriage is."

Nymphadora and Gemini made their way through the corridors of the Hogwarts Express. The two girls made quite a contrast, with Nymphadora's subdued brown hairstyle initially drawing less attention that Gemini's flowing blonde locks. But as usual when it was the two of them, Nymphadora, older by three months, was the one that took the lead.

She stopped next to a compartment and saw it only had a solitary occupant, a dark-haired boy who seemed to be another new first year. "There's room in here,"she snapped, grabbing Gemini's hand and dragging her in. She stopped as the boy looked up, suddenly aware she was being a bit presumptuous. "Er, can we sit here?"

"Sure." The boy gestured to the seat opposite him. He had been in the middle of reading a book which Nymphadora saw was a guide to Quidditch. He looked like he wanted to carry on reading it but politeness seemed to stop him.

"You play?"Nymphadora asked, nodding to the book.

The boy nodded. "My grandfather got me and my brothers playing as soon as we were old enough to ride a broom. Shame we won't be able to try out for the house teams until next year."

Nymphadora noted Gemini looking awkward and handed her a few sickles. "Go and see if you can find the sweet trolley."

Gemini smiled. "Sure, Auntie Dora."

Nymphadora rolled her eyes. "I told you not to call me that at school."

"Sorry, Auntie Dora!"Gemini called back down the corridor.

The boy had observed the exchange with slight bemusement. "Are you really her aunt?"

"Her mum's my half-sister so…yeah."

His face seemed to clear as something occurred to him. "You're Nymphadora Potter, aren't you? Daughter of Harry and Hermione Potter?"

Nymphadora sighed. No-one ever managed to use her name without adding that last bit. But this boy at least seemed to say it out of simple curiosity, without the gushing tone of delight that often accompanied it. "That's right."

The boy held out his hand. "Bradley Wood."

She accepted the normal gesture gratefully. "Pleased to meet you, Bradley."

"Pleased to meet you…Dora?"

Nymphadora nodded. "My full name's a bit of a mouthful so, yes. Dora's okay."

"I guess you'll be in Gryffindor?"

"I don't know. My parents were so I suppose there's a chance. What about you?"

"My dad was in Gryffindor, so were his parents, but my mum was in Hufflepuff."

"What about her parents?"

"Didn't go. She's muggleborn. Same as your mum, I guess."

It was at that moment that Gemini appeared, her arms full of sweets. Nymphadora gestured to their new friend. "Gemini Malfoy, meet Bradley Wood."

Bradley offered his hand to Gemini, who shook it. "Are you related to anyone famous?"Gemini asked.

Bradley gave a slight laugh. "Well, my grandad was fairly famous as a Quidditch player." He turned to Nymphadora. "Actually, he was on the team with your dad. Always makes out he discovered him. And my dad was on the team with your brothers. And I think you know my Uncle Martin?"

"James' brother-in-law?"

Bradley nodded. "He married my mum's sister."

"You know who his dad is?"Gemini asked.

"Oh yes. Gonna be strange having him at school."

Nymphadora exchanged a grin with Gemini. "You should worry…"