The small carriage on the Hogwarts Express was packed. Phineas and Jasper sat talking about quidditch, on one side of the carriage, with Aria and Willow listening intently, and on the other side of the carriage, Amethyst and Morgause sat talking about how excited they were to be in their second year and about boys. Raea listened to both conversations as she sat next to her cousin Teddy and his girlfriend, Victoire.

"So are you going to try out for the team?" Jasper asked Phineas excitedly.

"I will if I can," Phineas replied, "But first years never get picked."

"Yes, they do Phin," Willow answered, "Mum was a chaser in her first year and when she was in her fifth year she became the captain. And don't forget the boy who lived."

Phineas rolled his eyes at his cousin.

"His name is Harry Potter, only Bella calls him the boy who lived, and that's only because she can't let go of the past," Phineas said, before adding, "Apparently his youngest son is starting Hogwarts this year as well."

"Yeah, I saw his kids on the platform;" Jasper added eagerly, "James told me about how his brother worries so much about being in Slytherin. I don't what the big deal is about Slytherin. I mean... you have to admit Slytherin is so much better than Gryffindor and miles better than Hufflepuff."

"Cheers, I really hope I get put into Slytherin," Phin said gravely.

"You will," Jasper replied, "The sorting hat pretty much keeps all of the old families together, all of the Blacks and the Malfoys and the Weasleys, of course it sometimes likes to shake things up. You needn't worry; I'll only disown you if you end up in Hufflepuff."

Both of the boys laughed. Moments later a chocolate frog whizzed through the open carriage window hitting Amethyst on the shoulder.

"James!" Amethyst screamed as the rest of the carriage roared with laughter.

James entered the carriage laughing and hugged Amethyst, kissing her on the cheek.

"I missed you," James said as Phin, Jasper, Aria and Willow all pretended to be gagging.

"I missed you too," Amethyst replied dreamily before leaning in to kiss Jasper on the lips.

"Get a room!" Phin shouted throwing a snot flavored Bertie's every flavor bean at his cousin.

Amethyst gave Phin the 'evils' before turning back to James.

"Is now a good time to mention that your mothers were mortal enemies?" Teddy interrupted.

Of course, everyone knew the story. Vivianna had tried to defend Bellatrix after one of her curses had been sent in the wrong direction and had nearly killed Ginny Weasley, but her mother hadn't listened. She and Bellatrix had fought, and Bellatrix had died. Vivianna had been distraught at her aunt's death and had fought Ginny when she said that Bella had deserved to die. Only Slughorn and McGonagall had stopped it from becoming deadly. And then Vivianna had resurrected all of them anyway, Tonks, Remus, Bella, Mad Eye, Dobby, all of them apart from Voldemort.

"That's all in the past, Ted," Amethyst said rolling her eyes. James laughed.

"Yeah but you can be a lot like your mum," he added.

Mordred and Morgana sat in the teacher's carriage eating lunch as they listened to Neville Longbottom as he talked about his recent study into the effects of the mandrake root. It was a subject close to Morgana's heart; often the mandrake root had been her weapon of choice against her brother, Arthur and his father, Uther.

Mordred sat silently, only half listening. He stabbed at the cold meat pie with his fork. He could not eat today. Leaving Kara behind at the train station only amplified the loss he had felt when his sister, Vivianna, had died. Memories of the battle of Camalan still haunted his mind.

Why didn't she just let me die? He thought. His sister had used the resurrection stone to bring him and Morgana back to life again. But it had severely drained her magic and Emerys had used that opportunity to kill her.

But of course, Arthur had been killed. Firesworn, his loyal sword, forged in a dragon's breath, had served him well. And Aithusa was also now the magic world's most infamous dragon.

Mordred looked at Morgana. She had only recently celebrated her 40th birthday, but she looked much older. Her long wild black hair was flecked with grey and her once bright green eyes, which often held an energy that had both excited and frightened Mordred, were now dull and lifeless. The years of fighting against her brother had worn her down reducing her from a beautiful young woman to a pale, haggard ghost. Azkaban had done the same thing to his aunt Bella. The women of the Black family were notoriously beautiful and also notoriously cursed. Even his sister, Vivianna had suffered her fair share.

Turning to look out of the window he saw that they were not far from Hogwarts, soon another year would begin.