It had been a week since school started again and, for James, it was like they had never left. Each class started the same way, "this year is seventh year, this year you do your NEWTs. You'll need to work excruciatingly hard." or something like that, and they'd been given so many lectures on how important it is to do all the work well and efficiently, that James could practically recite one to you. They kept being reminded that N.E. were the most important thing, but they weren't for James. What was important to him was the quidditch cup. This was their last chance. James needed to win, and as co-captain of the team that was his responsibility. Well, his and Martin's.

Gryffindor quidditch co-captains; James Potter and Martin Wood. That was enough to make anyone shake in their boots. There had never been quidditch co-captains before, but as Longbottom said;

"Now both of you boys are extremely talented and committed, I believe that if both of you were captain together, well Gryffindor would be unbeatable."

It had come as a shock to both of them. They'd each been trying to beat each other to the position for years.

After all, Fred had told one reporter last year. "The 'friendly' rivalry between Potter and Wood is obvious to anyone watching their games, but they still manage to work together to be the best captain Hogwarts has seen since Coppert in.2004" It was true as well, and though a bit rough at first, both he and Wood got into the swing of things and before they knew it they were smashing everyone. That was until Sabina Millard took over Elliot Omblar as Slytherin captain, and made Malfoy play seeker. That was when things started getting difficult. They'd lost the cup last year. By 20 points. Now, James was more determined than he'd ever been to wipe the absolute floor with them. This year, they were going to win. Besides, if they didn't Al would never let him forget. Ever.

The fact was, Al had no remote interest in quidditch whatsoever. You could even say he disliked it, though James didn't understand how anyone could dislike quidditch. He was good, really good in fact. The two brothers had been playing against each other for as long as they could remember, and though he always won, the matches were far too close for James' liking. Al could easily make it on to the Slytherin team, that James knew, but he never went to a single tryout. And that was that.

James pulled his focus back to the task at hand. Breakfast.

It had been a big surprise to everyone when they had walked in to the Grand Hall expecting to see the usual long house tables, and instead saw many smaller round tables. Professor Gristow stood up to make a speech at the growing number of students that stood staring into the hall.

"Over the past many years, myself and my colleagues have realised that the students in different houses do not communicate with each other nearly enough. Therefore, I have come to decide that on weekends, there will be no house tables, and students will sit with whoever they would jolly-well like to sit with. So, sit down. Have breakfast. Meet new people."

In an effort to follow his advice, the Weasleys all sat down at one table. Only just fitting around. At first it was odd, and there were many complaints about Gristow ("I thought everything was working quite well, thank you very much"). But after a couple of minutes, they settled in to their regular weekend breakfast routine.

James watched his family. Though he was not the oldest (after all Teddy, Vic, and Molly were all older than him) James had always felt like it. He'd always felt like he had responsibility over his little cousins and siblings. And, though none of them would ever listen to him, he always tried to make sure they never got hurt.

Roxy was scribbling furiously into the weekly planner she'd bought on their last trip to Diagon Alley; Lily and Hugo were playing checkers (Audrey had introduced them to the muggle game last Christmas and they had both become obsessed, their games could last for weeks); Rose and Al were both reading different sections of the same daily prophet, then swapping; and Fred and Dom, who were not morning people by any stretch of the imagination, were just eating as fast as they could, and consequently staring into blank space, before the caffeine kicked in. It was Louis and Lucy who intrigued James the most that morning. Bent over, and speaking in hushed tones, the two were obviously disagreeing. Louis had barely touched his food, and Lucy hadn't even put any on her plate.

"So, what are you two discussing?" James inquired at the two sixth years. They immediately stopped and looked at him. Lucy gave an artificially sweet smile and tucked a loose strand of her long, straight, auburn hair behind her ear.

"Nothing, don't worry about it" She replied, but dropped her façade for just a second to shoot Louis a warning look.

"Nothing, really?" Louis stared back at her, a daring gesture that few would be able to achieve, "I guess you wouldn't mind if I told everyone then." Lucy's eyes narrowed and she said something to him under her breath, something James couldn't hear.

Louis turned to address the family.

"Lucy has been seen intimately with Marius Rowle. Seventh year. Slytherin" He gave his trademark arrogant smirk as he awaited reactions.

"Intimately as in, in a deep conversation you dickhead." Lucy glared at her cousin, she also turned to face the family "Yes, I've been talking to him, is it really a crime to talk to someone of the opposite sex? Louis seems to think it is for me, but for himself it's absolutely fine" Lucy levelly responded with fake causality.

Dom gave a loud gasp; her eyes were fixated on Fred with a strange look of determination.

"Marius… He hangs out with Adrian" Roxy shut her planner and looked up at Lucy.

"Okay, so?" Lucy met her stare.

"I know it's just- well you know what Adrian did" James tried to stay calm.

"Yes. But, Marius isn't like that, "she retorted.

"That's what you think, but then-" Roxy was interrupted.

"All we did was owl each other a few times and meet up in Diagon alley once or twice during the summer. We're not dating. And even if we were, it won't affect you," She continued with that fake smile of hers.

"Excuse me." And with a quick breath, and a smoothing of her hair Lucy stood up and walked to her friends on the opposite side of the room.

The family looked at each other, baffled and worried. They all knew the risk Lucy was taking by even just

"Hugo, you tosser" Lily suddenly shouted as she looked back down at the board to find Hugo had taken two of her pieces.

"You lost focus´ He gave her one of his shy smiles. Lily smiled as well, that was the most remarkable things about Lily, James thought, his sister had the most incredible smiles. It was contagious, the wind and the wild, he thought.

"Oi Sander, wait up" She called to Lysander Scamander as he walked past her, and asked Hugo "Mind freezing the game, play tonight? You haven't won yet" before skipping off, ginger hair swinging. Hugo nodded to the back of her head.

"Okay guys, I gotta dash. Quidditch tryouts start in half an hour." James addressed the remaining group.

"Already?" Dom asked, "what positions are you looking for?"

"Wood and I both agreed we are gonna need a head start if we're going to beat Slytherins this year. That means training at every opportunity, and you need a team to train. We're looking for beater and a chaser, any takers?" James replied in earnest, hurriedly finishing up his bacon.

No one answered. James chuckled, they were some of the biggest quidditch fans he knew.

"I'm wounded" He jested, holding his hands to his heart before standing up and quickly making his way out. Only pausing to call back, "Rose, you'd better be there in fifteen minutes'.