Chapter 4 is written and a big part of chapter 5 is done as well. Hope you guys enjoy this!
The last weeks before school were thoroughly enjoyed playing quidditch, swimming in the pond by the Potter's house, and being lazy outside in the warm sun.
Then the morning arrived. Sirius, James, Sam, Tommy, Ari, and Oliver spent the last night before school camping on the Potter's gigantic back porch. The adults had grilled dinner and made a bonfire where Charlus kept everyone entertained with fantastic stories until late into the evening.
Then the parents had left, leaving Oliver reluctantly in charge. Despite his supposed responsibility, Oliver had joined the others in their cake induced craziness until they all dropped off to sleep sometime around one in the morning.
Katherine woke them long before dawn the next morning, and they arose slowly, groaning. Sam, James and Sirius were awake the quickest, but the two little ones refused to get up until Katherine suggested that they might be left behind while the others got dropped off. Then they hopped up, unwilling to miss the brilliant train station. Oliver lagged behind all of them, the excitement of school significantly reduced the fifth time around.
Luke greeted them all in the Potter's kitchen with a send off breakfast of waffles, strawberries, and whipped cream. After a quick but joyous breakfast they were rushed upstairs where their wisely already packed trunks were stored with orders to get ready quickly.
Sam rushed through her routine in one of the Potter's empty guest bathrooms, but took an extra minute to calm her hair a bit more, pulling it into a braid that she hoped would hold. She couldn't help feeling nervous about everyone that she would meet in the next few hours. Her entire Hogwarts life would be decided in the coming day; she would be sorted and meet the people she would spend the next seven years with.
A shout from Luke that they were going to be late brought all of the children running downstairs, dragging over-stuffed trunks behind them with loud thunks and crashes.
They all piled into the Fey's well enlarged car that easily fit everyone, even with all of the cages and trunks. Katherine drove, as she was one of the few witches who had even chosen to get a drivers license. She always said she had had to learn when she was undercover for the auror department, posing as a muggle to spy on a group of wizards who were creating and selling illegal potions.
The drive to London was a long one, but they arrived at King's Cross Station by 10:30.
Everyone piled out of the car immediately after it was parked, grabbed their bags, and headed into the station. Before Sam, Sirius, and James entered the station, Luke and Charlus pulled the trio aside. Their grave faces made the three children sober up a notch. Charlus spoke with a heavy tone, "So, we're going to be serious here for a second, when you get to Hogwarts you're going to meet all kinds of people, wonderful people. But I have to warn you that there are some dark powers on the rise and like all dark forces they will need followers. And everyone knows that one of the best place to find loyal followers is by converting them in their youth. Mindwipe a single generation while they're young, they'll follow you forever, you can conquer the world.
"Be wary, and keep your heads about you. Never take anything anyone says to you for granted, question everything, and be loyal to each other."
The three kids looked at him with wide eyes. "Blimey," James finally said. "Hogwarts is beginning to sound like a mad house."
Sirius looked at him sadly, "I have heard rumors, whispers of rumors of something gathering force, staying on the shadows."
"Yes, still in the shadows, and I know how morbid that sounds, but I just had to warn you guys," Luke said, cracking a smile.
"Yes, but onto a happier note, Sam, you guys will be perfectly free to continue with quidditch training in the mornings, and remember, don't stop your self defense trainings! Get some books from the library if you have to, and if you have any questions go to Oliver. Really guys have fun, smile! You're about to start the adventure of a lifetime!"
The training was self defense lessons that Katherine and Luke gave the children. Katherine had been a top notch auror in her day and renowned for her hand to hand and dueling skills. So from the time Sam was seven on she had begun teaching all of the children how to fight and defend themselves. Oliver and Joe had learned the fastest, and by now Oliver was well on his way to becoming an expert. Katherine had also taught them the basics of dueling without really using magic yet.
A little over a year ago, she had combined efforts with Luke Fey who had retired from a stellar quidditch career when his wife died. Together the two had come up with workouts that worked on strengthening and agility for both fighting and quidditch.
The three apprehensive faces broke into grins.
"Now get along before Katherine has our heads," Charlus shooed them away.
They were an odd group, pushing carts full of huge trunks and loud animals around the busy station, but it was London and strange was normal so they got only a few strange looks. Katherine lead the way through the wall to the platform and the others followed a few at a time.
Sam brought up the end of the procession, and when she burst onto the platform she thought that she had never seen anything as beautiful as the shining train that morning, and stopped to stare at it.
Unfortunately the next person to come running through the magical barrier had no way of knowing that she had stopped there and therefore plowed into her a few seconds later.
Sam let out a yelp and tumbled impressively, coming to an stop after a somersault. She recovered in an instant and was helped up by a steady hand.
"I'm so sorry, are you ok?" She was asked this by a worried face with brown eyes and freckles surrounded by painfully bright red hair.
Sam was about to answer when she blinked and suddenly saw two identical faces. "I'm not sure, I'm starting to see double."
The original boy looked over to his left. "Naw, that's my twin brother Fabulous. I'm Gorgeous."
The boy on the left smiled and lifted one eyebrow. "Yep Fabulous, that's me."
'Gorgeous' rolled his eyes. "I really am sorry, I had no idea that you were there and I was trying to beat my brother through the barrier. You sure you're good?"
Sam smiled, "Yeah, I was just stupid and stopped to stare at the train."
'Gorgeous' opened his mouth when a sharp, shrill voice cut him off.
"You two! What do you think you're doing blocking the path, we have to get going!" A short teenage girl with ginger curls appeared, bearing down on them.
"That's out sister Molly," one of the boys whispered conspiratorially.
"I'm really sorry for whatever they did, but we really have to go," the girl sighed, and practically dragged the twins off before anyone could utter another word.
Sam shook her head, already entertained by Hogwarts' interesting students, and went to find her family.
When she finally located them, she found that they had rounded up a sullen looking Devin, and even Joseph Fey had come to the station to see the group off. Sam's oldest brother was a tall man with long black hair, bright hazel eyes, and angular features. He looked like an older, buff, non scrawny James without glasses. He had graduated Hogwarts the year before and was now working as a curse breaker for Gringotts. He was set to leave for a few months in Egypt later that day.
Joseph gave Oliver a fist pump and hugged a disgruntled Devin. Then he turned to the trio. "Aw, the little tomboy and her two idiots are growing up!" He swept all three into a tight hug and ruffled their hair.
The three scowled. "Geroff, Joey," Sam grunted, her face squished against his shoulder.
"Blimey, you're crazy, is that what being an adult does to you?" she exclaimed when he finally released them.
Joe laughed and put her into a good natured headlock. "Just wanted to say bye, see you around Christmas!"
Sam turned from Jo and was swept into a hug by Luke. "Bye honey, I'd tell you to be good and to stay out of trouble, but I know you too well. Just... don't get expelled or injured and don't get anyone else expelled or injured."
"Except for Quidditch, right dad?" She interjected.
"Except for Quidditch, then all bets are off!" He squeezed her tight. "I love you."
"Love you too dad," Sam spoke into his shoulder.
Sam stepped back next to Sirius as soon as the adults' attentions were diverted to other children. She looked over to him and was startled to see his sober face.
"You ok?"
"Yeah," he spoke in a gruff voice. "It's just that, well, I thought they may come you know. I mean they haven't been home in a month, but I know for a fact that they came back home last night. I thought they might at least come and say goodbye or something. Not that me being gone will change their lives any." Sam purposefully stared off into the distance to allow Sirius to hurriedly wipe at his eyes.
"Well just look at your family that did show up, and I'm sure you'll find more than enough embarrassing adults to dote on you." She said, making a face and staring pointedly at the group.
Sirius let out a small watery laugh and was about to say something when Katherine was upon them.
She pulled James over and stared at each of the three of them in turn.
"Ok you three, I'd say stay out of trouble, but that's just setting myself up for failure. So I'm going to set parameters. No getting expelled. No going onto the Forbidden Forest, at least wait until you know what's in there seriously, there's stuff in there that I don't even understand, and don't get injured or die.
"Do you think you can manage that?"
They looked at each other.
"We'll try for the first semester, but no promises." James said, followed by a quick, "kidding mum, kidding!" as Katherine bore down on him.
The final whistle blew just then and everywhere kids ducked out from final embraces, calling goodbyes as they hurriedly climbed on the train.
Sam was the last to climb on the train and turned to wave a goodbye even as the wheels began turning.
Let me know what you think about this chapter! As always if you have any criticisms, praises, or ideas, let me know!
-Evan
