Minerva McGonagall couldn't remember the last time she had seen a group of students grow close as quickly as her Gryffindor first years in the autumn of 1981. The Secret Seven, the name that Felicity Herwick came up with -based on a Muggle book she claimed. There were a cheerful group, they'd spent the better part of their lives under the shadow of war and Minerva wondered if this aided their friendship. All but one had relations in the Order and knew a good deal more than eleven year olds were supposed to know.
This Secret Seven was the reason she was entering the Gryffindor Common Room, following a request from a few older students that the first years were getting too unruly, and rather too comfortable on the couches directly in front of the fireplace. She saw the seven children laughing, sprawled out comfortably, a mixture of dark and fair heads with the Weasley red one in the middle. Six pairs of eyes were fixed on a tall dark haired girl, who was miming something for her friends, many others in the room were watching too.
It was the Potter charm.
You had to watch them. All of the Potters seemed to inherit it, some more so than others. And there was no doubt about it, Josephine Potter was a performer. There was something about the little girl that couldn't be ignored. Minerva saw a lot of her uncle in her, though she seemed to have a little more sense. Proven as when she noticed the Transfiguration teacher she stopped her movements and smiled.
"Good evening Professor, do you want something?" Josie asked.
"You have all been reported for behaviour. I do not want Gryffindor prefects complaining about their own house. And the fireplace is for the whole house. Not first years," Minerva said.
"Sorry Professor," Philip Bones said, turning around in his seat to face her.
"We'll behave better," Felicity said.
"And we'll go to bed now and let someone else have these seats," Bill Weasley said, standing up. He missed the annoyed look that Grace Silverton gave him, clearly not wanting to move.
"Good. That is all again. I will see you in class tomorrow," Minerva said, beginning to walk away.
"Happy Halloween Professor," Josie called and her professor tried to hide a small smile as she left.
"Come on Firsties. Move it," a large sixth year said. The children looked at each other and nodded. It was getting late anyway.
One by one they gathered their things and headed to their dormitories. The three girls changed into their pyjamas and gathered on Felicity's bed.
The night of September 1st Felicity had originally worried about settling in. She was a muggleborn and Josephine and Grace already knew each other, not well mind you, but well enough for the two of them to have stuck together since King's Cross. Felicity was quickly welcomed by Josie with open arms and quickly became the storyteller of the group, with each day ending with the next chapter of one of the countless books the muggleborn had brought to Hogwarts.
Tonight, the tale of the four children in the magical land inside the wardrobe continued and upon finishing the chapter it was time to sleep. As Josie slipped under her own covers she pulled the photograph from her drawer. It was tattered and grubby from being held so much.
Nine smiling faces. It had only been taken a few months ago. Harry's first birthday. He was on her lap giggling as she tickled his feet. Lucie was behind her, her hands on her shoulders. She had found out that day that she'd made the reserve team for the Harpies.
Grandmother and Grandfather on either side. The last picture of them. The fire had been barely a week later. Everything was destroyed. Not a trace left of them.
Josie's mum and dad were by her grandmother – Julian and Louisa. Her dad was her hero. Him and Uncle James. Two of the best aurors in history. Or so they claimed.
On her Grandfather's side stood aunt Lily and uncle James. She spent as much time with them as she did with her own parents. Lily would sigh and tell her she was too like James as he laughed and asked was that a problem.
"Good night. I love you." She kissed each face in the picture and put it out as her eyes closed. Josie Potter drifted off to sleep, not knowing what was happening in Godric's Hollow. Not knowing what she would wake up to the following morning.