This is a sequel to Through Thick and Thin. I would recommend reading it first before this. Go to the bottom of the page to find the link.

ANYTHING YOU RECOGNIZE BELONGS TO JK ROWLING AND WARNER BROS!

Chapter 1

Coming Home


JAMES' POV

Another school year, gone. Where does the time go? I packed up the last peices of parchment and stuffed them into my already overflowing briefcase. My mind was on Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Harry, who was now five. It was only six years before he got his Hogwarts acceptance letter, and I knew the time would fly by. Before I knew it, I'd be at his wedding. Merlin, I shouldn't think about this kind of stuff. Sirius was right last summer when we were teaching Harry how to ride his first real broomstick, all this stuff does make you feel older.

I had just managed to get my dumb briefcase closed when Remus walked into my classroom. "You ready, Professor Potter? Hogwarts Express gonna leave any minute now."

"Sure thing, Moony. Just gonna do a quick look around. Make sure I didn't forget anything. You go save a comparmtent."

He smiled and then left. I glanced around quickly on my desk, grabbing my wand. Can't forget that. I pulled some drawers open, double-checking. Then, with one last look around my beloved classroom, I was off to the Hogwarts Express.

Little did I know, a book that had been stuck at the bottom drawer of my desk, covered in a thick layer of dust,had been completely forgotten in the years. A tattered, torn copy of Advanced Potion Making that would change my life. For the better or for the worse, well, I was soon to find out.

SIRIUS' POV

The office today was completely boring. That didn't mean I had nothing to do. No sir, I had several piles of badly organized paperwork sitting in front of me. I kind of just stared at them, hoping they would disapparate to some other Ministry of Magic worker's desk for them to do.

There had been little action in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for a few weeks now. The most 'exciting' thing that had happened was Greyback attacking a few innocent witches, and I wasn't even put on that case.

I decided that I better do something, so I started to reorganize all the parchment and assorted objects in my cluttered workspace. John Dawlish, sitting next to me, seemed in the same state of bordom I was, so we got to chatting.

"How do the women do it?" I exclaimed.

"What did Kat do now?" he questioned.

"It's not what Kat did, it's what I can't do," I sighed.

"Speaking of Kat, anything new with her...or you both...as in together, a couple?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. I'm going to propose, if that's what you mean."

"You said that last summer."

"Just waiting for the opportune moment."

"It might have already passed."

"Maybe, maybe not. I certainly hope not."

"Hey, want to come to my house for dinner? That is, if you don't have plans. Sarah's making spaghetti."

"Gosh, that does sound good. Your wife's cooking is excellent, but James and Remus are coming home today so they'd be pretty mad if I didn't have dinner with them."

"Oh well. Another time then."

I glanced at my watch. "You know, the Hogwarts Express has probably already arrived. Think I could get off early?"

"I don't think 'get off early' is in Amelia Bones' vocabulary."

"Good point. But, what is there to lose?"

"Oh dear Merlin, please tell me you're not doing this."

"Why not?"

John rolled his eyes. "Since I'll never be able to stop you..."

Satified and smiling, I walked to Bones' office and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

So I entered. She was writing on a peice of parchment with a very fluffly quill. She looked up when I stepped forward.

"Ah, yes, how can I help you, Black?"

"I was wondering if I could get off early," I said.

"Why?"

"My friends, Professors Remus Lupin and James Potter are coming back from Hogwarts today and I wanted to spend some time with them."

"You can on one condition. You work late hours tomorrow."

I had a date with Kat tomorrow and in that date who knew if the opportune moment might come? I couldn't miss it. Plus, Kat'd be mad.

"That's not going to work. But it's okay. I'll have plenty of time tonight and Sunday's pretty close. I think I'll be alright. Thanks for the offer." I turned to leave.

"Wait, Black. I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Do you by any chance know the whereabouts of your cousin, Bellatrix?"

"The last written contact I had with her was during my early years at Hogwarts. The last time I saw her was two months ago."

"Okay. Thanks. You can now go back to whatever you were doing."

Going back to papers. Oh, joy, I thought as I left the room and shut the door behind me.

LILY's POV

I was waiting patiently at Platform 9 3/4 for the Hogwarts Express, like so many other parents. Harry was holding my hand tightly. His hand fit into mine like it was made for me. He loved coming here twice every year when Remus and James would leave or come back from their work.

And then I heard it faintly. A choo-choo from down the tracks. The Hogwarts Express was coming home. James was coming home.


Author's Note: There are some changes from the first book: there aren't going to be 'Next Chapter Preview's unless I get enough reviews telling me to bring them back. Also, I'm going to try and write longer chapters like this one. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as they did they last one, or even enjoy it more. Thanks for reading!

Link to Through Thick and Thin:

Go to my (HogwartsAsWeKnowIt) page and please find it from there. This is not letting me post direct links. Sorry.