"Dad, hurry up!" exclaimed a small, brown haired boy as he jumped out of the car and began to heave his trunk out of the boot.
"Hold on, Shep, we have plenty of time before the train leaves," came Dean's amused voice as he watched his son struggling to carry a trunk that weighed more than this tiny 11 years old self.
"Yeah, but I know you and dad will take forever talking to everyone you meet, and I'm not missing the Hogwarts Express because you both were busy reminiscing," said Shep with a roll of his eyes.
Dean heaved the trunk and a smaller bag onto a trolley and started walking towards platform at King's Cross station. His son ran ahead, nearly tripping over his laces in excitement. As Dean slowed down to a stop in front of the barrier, he smiled remembering how terrified he was going through the barrier for the first time. That was nearly 24 years ago.
"Dad's waiting for us on platform nine and three-quarters. Race you through the barrier?" asked Dean grinning down at his son.
"Hell yeah!" came the excited reply.
"One, two, three…go!"
Father and son raced each other to the barrier and quickly passed through onto platform nine and three-quarters, where a scarlet steam engine stood gleaming in the sunlight.
Shep gazed at the platform in wonder. It was packed with parents come to see their children off. A variety of different owls were hooting out to each other and here and there, cats of all sized and colors were being carried onto the train.
"Dean! Shep! Over here!"
Turning around Dean saw Seamus waving at them to come over. Shep ran over to him as Dean got the trolley around and gave his husband a quick peck on the lips.
"So," said Seamus looking at his son, "Sheppard Thomas-Finnigan, are you ready for your first year at Hogwarts?"
"Of course he, Mr. Finnigan!" said James Potter, appearing beside them. "We've been preparing for this day our entire lives!"
"Yeah dad, James and I have everything down. We've already planned our first prank," replied Shep proudly.
As Seamus, Dean and Harry, who had walked over to them, started to laugh, a loud voice said, "James Sirius Potter, if I get a letter from McGonagall in the first week you're there, you better watch it!"
Ginny looked at James sternly as he quickly tried to school his expressions into something innocent. Shep followed his lead, because as cool as Mrs. Potter was she could also be very scary when she was angry.
James and Sheppard had known each other since they were three. Harry and Dean worked together at the Auror Office, while Seamus worked for the Department of Magical Games and Sports, so he frequently met Ginny at many of the Harpies press events. They had ended up sending their sons to the same pre-Hogwarts wizarding school and that is where James and Shep became best friends. It was impossible to separate the two.
A loud whistle broke up the conversation.
"All right buddy, time to get on the train," said Seamus giving his son a quick hug and ruffling his hair. "Have a great first semester and write to us after dinner. I know you're going to end up in Gryffindor like both of us."
Dean hugged Shep as well and whispered in his ear, "remember kid, it doesn't matter which house you end up in. Hogwarts is going to be your home for the next seven year. Make the best if it."
Once they James and Shep found a compartment, they hung out of the window to wave goodbye to their parents.
"Give Neville a kiss from me won't you?" said Seamus grinning, as Dean, Harry and Ginny laughed at the look of disgust on the boys' faces.
"Bye dads! I'll write you soon!" yelled Shep as the train started moving.
Once they were siting down in the compartment, James looked at his best friend and asked, "Ready, Shep?"
Grinning back at him, Shep replied, "Ready, James."