An eleven year old boy streaked through the crowded streets of Diagon alley. His messy dark hair stuck up in all directions and his glasses looked ready to fall off but he didn't seem to care about that or the number of people he crashed into as he hurried past them.

Upon reaching the leaky Cauldron, he scanned the crowd before starting to wave excitedly.

"TEDDY! TEDDY" He shouted loudly even as he managed to squeeze himself through the crowds.

"James?" Teddy asked surprised to see his god-brother back so soon.

"I saw her!" He exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he eagerly waited for Teddy to understand.

"Her who?" Victoire asked, not too pleased at the intrusion of privacy; not that they had too much to begin with in the crowded bar.

"The girl I'm going to marry" James answered excitedly. Victoire looked skeptically at her cousin.

"Okay, what's the punch line?" She asked when she couldn't figure out his intentions.

"What?" James asked, still too dazed to answer properly.

"Who was she?" Teddy asked, much more patient than his girlfriend and also far too fond of his god-brother to not be affected by the younger boy's obvious happiness.

"I don't know! I never got her name" James answered with an honest shrug.

"Let me guess, she was at the joke shop discussing some marvelous prank that you overheard and you instantly decided you want to marry her?" Victoire asked with a sigh. James however simply rolled his eyes at her and turned back to Teddy who was fighting a smile

"I really cannot picture you being too speechless to even ask her name James" Teddy said, obviously amused.

"Oh but I did ask her name" James answered making the turquoise haired boy frown in confusion.

"But you said-" Teddy began when the younger boy cut across.

"I introduced myself and asked her name but she said she wasn't interested" James replied frankly but he didn't seem too bothered by it. Victoire however laughed.

"First girl you talk to and she already turns away. Great start cousin" She teased making James stick his tongue out.

"I do talk to girls, you for example besides-" James began when she interjected.

"Girls outside the family I mean" Victoire said but he continued like he hadn't heard.

"Dad wasn't interested in mom at first, neither was uncle Remus in aunt or grandma Lily in granddad. All the greatest love stories begin that way, right Teddy?" James asked confidently.

Teddy sighed, he could see the logic that kept the Potter heir so unfazed and really couldn't help but find it funny.

"What was she like?" He asked instead, choosing wisely to not answer the previous question.

"Just like Victoire!" James answered delightedly.

He had grown up watching the couple in front of him and he did all things the way Teddy did, so it was really no surprise that he wanted a girl like his cousin; the very cousin who was right now too curious to feign disinterest or tease him anymore. Upon receiving two sets of raised eyebrows James quickly launched into an explanation.

"She's blonde, not silvery like yours but more well honey blonde and her eyes are grey but that's not too far from blue right? And I bet she's going to be in her first year too and oh the best part! She also had a foreign accent just like Vic!" James said, rushing through the words in his excitement.

Victoire looked rather pleased that she was setting the standards for her younger cousin and Teddy too looked rather gratified that James was looking up to him in everything and that had them both instantly curious.

"Where did you see her? Maybe she's still somewhere here and we could find-?" Teddy began when a threatening voice interrupted.

"James Sirius Potter" Ginny Potter nee Weasley called, her eyes flashing murderously.

"MOM!" James waved happily, wanting to tell her too what had happened and hence missing her expression.

"You ran out of Madam Malkins while she was trying to get the measurement?" Ginny asked with narrowed eyes as she reached her son.

"Oh! Oh yeah I did! But I wanted to tell Teddy the most amazing-" James began but his mother didn't seem interested.

"Go back this instant and apologise" She said strictly, pointing her finger towards the exit.

"But Mom-" James began when Ginny glared more fiercely.

"GO! Now" She snapped making the boy scramble away.

"Hello aunt" Victoire greeted even as Teddy flashed her a smile.

"That boy! I've been looking for him for twenty minutes and I tell you he'll be the reason I'll go entirely grey" Ginny exclaimed as she took a seat across the couple.

"Oh but you haven't even heard Ginny" Teddy told her with a mischievous smile of his own.

"Heard what?" Ginny asked, now more worried. Her son wasn't just a magnet for trouble, he was trouble personified and she knew that better than anyone.

"He is in love" Victoire giggled making Ginny drop her jaw in surprise.

"Who are we talking about?" A fourth voice sounded as Harry joined his wife.

"Why James of course" Teddy said with a grin making Harry mirror Ginny's expression.

"I pity the girl" Victoire commented, lifting the thought right out of her aunt's mind.

"He's barely eleven, it's probably just a crush. You can't find love at-" Harry started to say before noticing the look he was receiving from his wife.

"Oh I don't know Harry. I'll not put it past James to get obsessed. Besides the girl already made the mistake of being disinterested" Teddy said cheerfully before taking Victoire's hand and excusing himself.

Harry sat staring after his god son completely stunned and also partly amused. Teddy was right, maybe James would have passed her over as a crush before but if she had seemed – oh well, maybe being romantically challenged would keep his son out of trouble or was he hoping for too much?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Yup, He was definitely hoping for too much.

It had been two weeks since the visit to Diagon Alley and all that James could talk about was the girl. Initially it had been amusing but when he tried to learn simple spells in the name of impressing her and Harry had to come home to find another damaged photo frame of broken vase, it became exasperating.

So it wasn't completely unfair that he was feeling rather relieved that it was finally the first of September. Harry trudged into the kitchen to see his son already sitting there bouncing in his seat and eating Kreacher's extra buttered toast.

"Morning Dad!" James shouted far too loudly to greet someone standing only a few feet away from him.

"Oh Jamie, I'm so proud" Ginny gushed entering the kitchen after her husband and mimicking her mother's own actions as she rushed to hug her eldest.

James, who for all his nonsense and boisterous nature was quite attached to his mother and loved being petted was more than delighted when she sat down by his side fussing over him.

Harry watched amused as Ginny tried to keep getting James to focus on the really important part of the day. He was finally eleven and going to Hogwarts, something he had been looking forward to all these years.

But James was having none of it. He had already been to Hogwarts many times and knew the castle and every secret passage way by heart from the map. He also knew he would be sorted into Gryffindor and would be the most popular kid in school. So really all he looked forward to was finding her again.

"You'll write all about her?" A small voice piped up as little Lily walked in holding Albus's hand. James nodded solemnly. His sister was his most favorite person in the world and vice versa. Lily adored James, she was the only other person in the house who was as excited as James to find out all about who she now called the pretty blonde.

"And you will come home for Christmas?" Albus checked with his brother. Despite the fact that the two brothers were polar opposites, Albus looked up to James and James was fiercely protective of his kid brother.

"Of course Al!" James promised with a wide grin "Take care of Lils till then" He added making Harry's smile widen.

"Save the farewells for the station! We need to get going or we'll miss the train. Lily, Albus you can eat your breakfast in the car" Ginny said, ushering her children out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The five Potter's were in the crowded station that had a small board hanging atop reading 9 and ¾ . A gleaming red train stood proudly, waiting for its happy passengers and it was needless to say most of the crowd was parting as Harry and Ginny walked through with their children, staring openly at the famous couple.

"Where is Teddy?" Lily asked eagerly as she clutched her mother's hand hard.

"He must be here somewhere" Ginny answered and soon enough a family of three were seen making their way over.

Ginny grinned and waved as Bill and Fleur came towards them with Victoire in toe and it was only a few minutes later that Teddy arrived from the opposite direction.

"You should wear your badge" Ginny said, greeting her god son with a hug.

"I'll be wearing it most year Gin, I could go a couple of hours without it" Teddy answered, blushing slightly as he remembered the party that had been thrown for him when he announced he was the new head boy.

"Have you seen her?" James asked eagerly, already on his tip toes looking around for a blonde head.

"No James, we can look for her when I go for rounds" Teddy assured but James was already lost to them.

"Over there! Over there!" He called loudly as he pointed to the girl not too far away from them.

Curious despite themselves, every member of the small group turned towards the direction he was pointing at. Harry's first thoughts were not that she was petite or pretty but the fact that she seemed to be there alone.

The girl looked around again towards the chatting crowds around her before heaving a large trunk and heading towards the train. James tried to follow after but his mother's restraining hand made him turn around for a second and by then she was already gone.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Twenty minutes later, he had dumped his things in Victoire's compartment and after giving cheeky replies to her friends, he was seen hurrying down the train, searching for the girl of her dreams.

It didn't take too long for him to find her sitting alone reading Hogwarts: A history. Messing up his hair and tucking out his shirt, he knocked on the compartment door before sliding it open.

She looked up with a slight smile that instantly faded when she recognized the visitor and with no greeting whatsoever she turned back to her book, completely ignoring him. James, still totally unfazed sat across her much to her annoyance.

"You look absolutely gorgeous" James told her frankly. She looked up sharply, her grey eyes meeting warm hazel ones.

"And that is your business how exactly?" She asked, her English having an accent he couldn't quite place.

"Well if its my dream, its my business" James answered with a cocky grin that had her scrunching up her little nose.

"If it's a dream that's bothering you I suggest you take a potion" She replied bluntly before returning to her book.

Before James could reply, the door was slid open again this time by a small brunette. The girl seemed rather shy and quite sick and James watched as the formerly cold blonde in front of him moved quickly.

She rushed to the girl, who was a lot bigger than her and steadied her as best as she could before guiding her into a seat.

"Is something wrong?" He watched her ask kindly "Can I get you some water maybe?"

The brunette shook her head nervously and James was willing to bet that she would throw up soon enough.

"I – I lost my trunk. I don't remember where I kept it" The girl wailed miserably but James was still staring at the blonde who was patting the other girl's shoulder in comfort.

"Its okay, we'll all have to leave our trunk behind. So no matter where it is the house elves will take it back to your dorm wherever you are sorted" She assured.

This seemed to have the opposite effect on the brunette who was by now obviously more hysteric. James was starting to wonder if he should get Teddy or maybe a prefect? This girl was definitely sick.

"I don't even know what house I'll be in!" The girl cried shrilly making the blonde wince.

"Nobody does" she answered confidently. On hindsight, James realized he should have shut up but he couldn't help himself.

"I do! I'll be in Gryffindor" He stated proudly. This got the other girl to tear up for real while the helpless blonde was torn between glaring at him and consoling the other girl.

"Its okay, it really is" She said, choosing the second option and turning to the brunette again "Most people don't know where they will end up" She assured before continuing "I haven't a clue where I'll go either"

The girl perked up at that and looked hopefully towards her "You don't?" She asked.

"Nope, not a clue" Was the warm, almost relieved answer from the blonde and James saw her smiling slightly.

"Your – your parents – aren't they – m-magic?" The girl stuttered. James watched her stiffen ever so slightly before smiling sweetly.

"It doesn't matter, even if your entire family has been in the same house there are chances you might be in another one." She answered, making James frown. His whole family was in Gryffindor, he will be too…

"But they are magic?" The girl pressed

"It doesn't matter if they are, no one really cares about such things" James answered, realizing belatedly that she was a muggle born and was scared now.

"But I heard there was a war and – and people who were not from magic families were killed?" The brunette asked, trembling again.

"Sweetheart, the war ended years ago. It doesn't matter anymore. It never has mattered. You are magic. You got your Hogwarts letter and you belong here" The blonde answered softly and James watched with a proud smile. He loved her more already.

"But I don't know a thing about Hogwarts!" The girl exclaimed, tears filling up her eyes again.

"Its my first time in the country and I don't know a thing around here. So we'll simply have to learn together" The blonde consoled patiently and James couldn't help wish he knew her name at the least. Maybe the brunette will ask or he should try introducing himself so they would too? He was sure that she was far too sweet to not give her name to the brunette at least?

"I don't want to! I want to go home! I miss my mom!" The girl began again, distracting James from his thoughts with her shrieks.

"I miss my parents too. I've never been away from them for even a day. Trust me its all going to be okay" She consoled but James wasn't really paying attention. Not to her words anyway.

He watched as she discreetly pulled out her wand and flicked it. He was stunned, her spell casting was almost entirely silent and yet a box of chocolate frogs was zooming her way. While he was still too amazed, she handed the chocolate over to the girl and then extended the box towards him out of mere courtesy.

He couldn't believe his luck. She was handing him chocolates? Oh, this was going so much better than he thought. With a mental cartwheel, he grabbed one and flashed her his best smile, completely not bothering that she was turning away unimpressed.

He was however distracted from his daze when he heard a gasp. He saw the brunette staring at the chocolate frog card with wide eyes.

"What's wrong?" The blonde asked almost worriedly. Was something wrong with the chocolate she had given, poisoned or spiked chocolates were the last thing she needed on her first day here, specially given her reputation.

"She's gone!" The girl exclaimed.

"Sorry?" The blonde asked her with a frown.

"She was here a moment ago but she vanished!" The girl said, flipping the card around so they could see.

He was about to answer when he caught sight of the expression on the blonde's face. She looked – amazed? And something else he couldn't exactly place. With a shaky hand, she reached for the card and he frowned. Why was she troubled? Didn't she know people walk out of pictures all the time?

Curious to see who had been on the card, he shifted so he could read what was written behind it even as she stared transfixed at the front.

Hermione Granger: One third of the Golden trio that defeated Voldemort (several times). Also known as the smartest witch of her age Hermione enjoys reading and believed in house elf rights and equality of blood.

Once he was done reading out loud, he looked up to see once the still stunned blonde and the confused brunette.

There was an awkward silence in the compartment as James continued to stare silently at the girl he loved, trying hard to figure out what exactly was wrong with her. He was about to ask her if she was okay but was interrupted by another gasp.

"She's back!" The brunette exclaimed and sure enough they could all see the face of a young Hermione waving at them from the photo that James knew was taken by his father three days after the war at the funeral in Hogwarts – the last picture of her that still hung on their wall.

"People come and go out of the pictures all the time" The blonde girl answered, still seeming oddly uncomfortable somehow.

"Oh" The brunette mouthed, not really knowing what else to say as she looked at the card again.

"They are trading cards, you should start collecting them!" James added; his eyes still on the blonde in front of him.

The brunette shook her head timidly before saying "you can have it if you want"

"I already have at least thirty of aunt Hermione besides I only want Rowena Ravenclaw, I have all the rest" He stated before noticing two pairs of eyes looking at him, one awed and the other positively angry.

"What did you just say?" The girl all but hissed.

"I have all the cards?" James asked with a frown. Why was she so furious? Why did her eyes narrow dangerously now? Did she collect? Did she think he was lying because he had so many?

"I'm not lying! I really have all 394 cards, just Ravenclaw is missing." James defended but she wasn't relaxing her glare.

"About this card" She corrected and his frown deepened.

"I have at least thirty of Aunt Hermione?" He asked still confused.

"Thirty? Of the same person?" The brunette asked quietly, now scared of the blonde by her side and wanting to talk about something before the tears spilled again.

"I would generally exchange them with my cousins but dad would never let me give away one of Aunt Hermione's" He answered mechanically and seeing the confusion from the corner of his eyes added "She was his best friend, he has over hundred of her cards"

He could swear the girl in front of him reached for her wand but the next second, the two occupants of the compartment were staring after a stiff blonde stalking out, slamming the door on her way seething that after everything Potter and Weasley had done to her, the brat had dared to call her mother his aunt.