-0-« 10 years ago»-0-

"We don't have to leave the world James!"

"We?"

"Bloody right 'we'..." replied Sirius, "…we just have to leave the country."

-0-« Present day: Hogwarts Castle»-0-

Two friends waited on the shore of a black lake. There only common feature being there magnificent beards and there anxious expressions.

The taller of the two pulled a pocket watch the size of a small plate and checked the time. He was a giant of a man. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes glinting like black beetles under all the hair. The other was tall, all though not nearly as tall as the black haired giant, thin and very old. Judging by the silver of the hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple coat that swept the ground and high-heeled buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-mooned spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked as though it had been broken at least twice.

His blue eyes twinkling, the older wizard turned to his colossal friend, "Any minute now, Hagrid." said Albus Dumbledore with a smile.

"Aye, I know, Perfessor Dumbledore…" said Hagrid. "…it's very excitin'. I ain't seen 'em in 10 years en' more."

Reaching up to pat the half-giant on his arm, "It is a shame that we must endure long absences to experience the pleasure of reunions," said the most powerful man in the wizarding world, in a grandfatherly way, "Ah! And here they are now!"

With an inlet of breath Hagrid gazed back and forth across the still lake. Not seeing any indication of his old friends. Hagrid glanced to the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and then looked back at the calm lake, listening as the water gently lapped at the shore.

"Ah! But of course...my apologies Hagrid." Looking up and locking eyes with the half-giant and speaking very purposefully, "James and Harry Potter, Sirus Black, and Remus Lupin reside on the M.S.S. Marauder." As Dumbledore finished speaking, they both returned their gaze to the lake and the magnificent sight before them. In Hagrid's eyes, the scenery changed, where moments before the lake had appeared calm and relatively still, masts and sails of a ship breaching the surface of the water suddenly appeared, followed by the majestic prow of a sleek sailing craft easily a hundred feet from bow to stern. Despite the relatively calm day the white sails were full of a charmed wind. Droplets and torrents of water banished themselves off the dark stained decks and sides of the ship. Across it's prow in bold white letters it read "M.S.S. Marauder".

Hagrid grinned, fondly thinking of old memories of the sight of his old friend Sirus as he watched him and Remus Lupin on the ship's deck, point there wands levitating a strange bundle of wooden planks and logs over the side as the ship began to come to a halt 40 yards from the shore. As soon as the bundle hit the water with a splash it expanded and began to unwrap its self. Planks lined up in rows, nails drove themselves in as the self-expanding dock unwound its self from the side of the ship to the shore in front of Albus and Hagrid. As soon as the dock finished it's deployment, with thick mast like beams extending from just above the surface of the dock down to the lake bed, two elves in sailor uniforms scampered over the side clinging to thick ropes and with practiced ease moored the M.S.S. Marauder to the newly placed dock while others scampered about the rigging, reefing the sails. With a snap of the elf's fingers a gangplank appeared.

Hagrid eagerly followed Dumbledore onto the docks as three men and a boy walked down the gangplank. The first off the boat was a tall man wearing dark brown dragon-skinned boots, a long dashing coat, and an enormous grin as he sauntered proudly towards his old friend, Hagrid. His long black windswept hair pulled back into a pony's tail, the man Sirus Black hurried to Hagrid catching the larger man in a brave if somewhat ineffective bear-hug. The two greeted each other as only old friends can.

Seeing that Sirus was now hopelessly entangled in a bone crushing greeting, Dumbledore smiled and shook the hand of the approaching Remus Lupin. The meticulous and studious Lupin, werewolf, scholar and one time ledgendary-prankster returned the Headmaster's greeting with a firm handshake and respectful smile. "Headmaster, it's so good to see you again," His eyes glancing to the venerable castle behind the older man, Remus continued, "thank you for breaking away from your busy schedule to greet us in person."

"Oh pish tosh, if half the rumors I've heard about this ship of yours are true, I'd have wanted to greet you all even if I weren't here on official business" Dumbledore replied pulling a large envelope from inside his robe. Dumbledore turned and examined the father and son standing behind Remus.

James Potter stood grinning behind his somewhat out of sorts son, his palms rested affectionately upon Harry Potter's shoulders. To Albus Dumbledore's eyes, young Harry Potter looked very much as his father did at eleven years. Father and son shared glasses, build, and unruly mop of raven-colored hair. On the boys' forehead, behind his hair, Dumbledore knew lie the lightning shaped curse scar that was evidence of a mother's sacrifice and love. Harry's other gift from his mother, his inquisitive emerald green eyes, examined the approaching Headmaster.

With a subdued flourish Dumbledore presented the letter to the 11 year old boy. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Mr. Potter."