Author's Note: This chapter takes place at King's Cross. It is the same scene as the epilogue, but as seen from Lily's perspective. As dearly as I want to leave the dialogue in its original form, I will have to change the words slightly to comply with website policy. So don't report me for copyright, the text is different! If it irritates anyone as much as it irritates me, I apologize! I don't want to risk losing my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not own the epilogue of the final book!

Chapter 6

He loved his family very much. But he was still haunted by demons within him. Whenever he said their secondhand names, or looked into his son's bright eyes, he felt a pang of sadness. The Room was his place to let his sorrowful emotions out, but it did not heal him entirely. The lives of those lost still lay heavily on his soul. He may have saved the world, but his broken heart felt damaged beyond repair. In his dreams, he returned to the surreal station again and again. He had the option of boarding the train. But instead, he had chosen life. Hadn't he?

It was a bright, sunny autumn day. The sun was shining, the leaves had all turned, and the air seemed crisp and fresh. Some might call it a perfect day. But it wasn't perfect to me. I was already teary-eyed as we entered King's Cross, my excited brothers leading the way.

"It won't be long, and you will be going too," Daddy told me.

"Two years! But I want to go now!" I sniffled. I felt like a baby, but I could not control my tears.

Muggles stared at us as we walked along, on account of Al's and James' owls. Al had just received his that morning, as a parting gift. Jet black with pale, orb-like eyes, Dad had recommended the name Moony.

James' voice carried back to us, he was terrorizing Albus about his future House once again. "I…I won't be in Slytherin!" Albus cried desperately. As Mum went to split them up, lightly reprimanding James, Daddy squeezed my hand. "Looks like you're the only one left at home, Lil," he said. His eyes looked sad, as usual. But there was another emotion there too. He was proud to have Al going to school, just as he was proud of Teddy for being finished with school. "You kids grow up too fast!" His sad smile hurt my heart.

Mum fell back with us as James picked up speed, approaching the barrier. The moment he disappeared, Albus rounded on us. "You will write to me, won't you?" He demanded. I could see the distress in his bright green eyes. "Every day, if you want," Mum replied. Albus quickly frowned and responded, "No, not every day. James said most people only get letters about once a month from home." Oh, like you suddenly care, I thought crossly to him.

With a smile, Mum retorted, "We wrote to him three times a week last year."

"Don't you believe everything your brother tells you about Hogwarts. He likes a laugh," Dad added.

With that being said, the four of us walked through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, arriving on 9 ¾. I saw Albus wince, despite having entered the platform numerous times before.

"Where…where are they?" asked a concerned Albus, searching for our cousins. "We'll find them soon," Mum reassured, as we walked through a thick cloud of vapor. I heard Uncle Percy, discussing his boring work loudly. I was worried we would have to stop, but Mum pulled me along with a slight smile.

"I think that is them, Al," Mum said abruptly.

"Hi!" Albus called to Rose, in her new robes. As well approached, the rest of her family appeared as well. Ron and Dad talked about Muggles and their driving, and I gravitated toward Hugo.

"We have to be Gryffindors!" Hugo exclaimed immediately, "The whole family is!" To this I quietly replied, "What if we aren't brave enough?" My cousin frowned, understanding that I was worried. "The other Houses wouldn't be too bad. As long as we aren't Slytherins."

Uncle Ron made a joke about being us possibly being Slytherins, but I was secretly troubled. I wasn't very brave. If I was, I would certainly be able to help Dad.

"Look who it is, over there," Ron muttered, interrupting my thoughts. I stared curiously at the family a few meters away. Judging by the adults' expressions, I figured they were the Malfoy family. The father nodded briskly to us before turning away. I felt a twinge of annoyance at his rudeness. Everywhere we went, people talked to my parents. Why didn't he?

As Ron and Hermione affectionately bickered with one another, I wondered to myself about the Houses. Is this how all Slytherins act? Could I be one? Was Albus right to worry so much? What if I become a Slytherin and turn evil? Isighed; Albus and his anxiety were rubbing off on me.

James reappeared with a cry of, "Hey!" He ran over, clearly ready to give us big news. "Teddy is back there," he said excitedly, as I looked around curiously, "I've just seen him! And guess what he was doing! Snogging Victorie!" He grinned, thinking he would get Teddy in trouble somehow. To his obvious disappointment, the adults grinned back. With a frown, he continued.

"Our Teddy, our Teddy Lupin! Snogging our cousin! Our cousin Victorie! I asked Teddy what he was doing –"

Mum interjected, "You interrupted them? You are so like your Uncle Ron –"

"–and he said he had come to see her off! Then he told me to go away! He was snogging her!" James finished, clearly horrified.

"Oh, it would be lovely if they were married," I whispered thoughtfully.

"Teddy would really be a part of the family then!" Al added.

"He already comes around for dinner several times a week," Dad said, "Why don't we just invite him to move in and be done with it?"

"Yeah! I don't mind sharing with Al – Teddy could move into my room!" James stated happily.

With a chuckle, Dad argued against the notion of my brothers sharing a room. As he checked his watch, I felt my eyes fill once again. I choked down a sob. "Give Neville out love!" Mum told the boys as she hugged him. "Mum! I can't give a professor your love!" James replied, looking mock disturbed, yet rolling his eyes. As he explained how that would be socially improper to Mum, Al winked at me. I knew he would pass on the message. James directed a kick at him, and then took his last opportunity to terrorize him before school began. I tuned it out, spinning slowly as I looked at the people on the platform. We were receiving several stares from the other people on the platform…

As James bounded onto the train without a look back, Dad quietly talked to Albus, reassuring him in a way that he alone could. I tried not to listen, but my ears caught his name. "Albus Severus," Dad said quietly. I shuddered once again, wishing it was my time to understand. I turned to wave to my cousins with Mum, blocking out Dad's words.

I felt arms around me as Albus gave me one last fleeting hug. "Take care of him," he whispered, jumping onto the train. Mum shut the door behind him. Hanging out the window with Rose, he looked about the platform. "Why is everyone staring?" he demanded, almost defensively.

"Don't let it bother you. It's me. I am extremely famous," Ron said, with a grin toward my Dad. Dad wasn't listening though; he was slowly following the train as it pulled from the station. Albus smiled back at us, waving with Rose. As they turned the bend, Dad waved, then returned to us. "He will be fine," Mum murmured comfortingly. Dad nodded, rubbing his scarred forehead slightly.

"I know. He will."

I walked back through the platform with my remaining family, everyone much older and taller than me now. I felt someone grab my hand, and saw Teddy smile down at me. I squeezed his hand gently.

I felt uneasy as we walked through the station. Something had changed as the train pulled out of the station. There were bad times ahead for my Dad…