After the first week of classes, James and his friends were looking forward to going down to seeing Hagrid.
"Welcome, come on in." Hagrid said as he welcomed the 4 friends into his hut.
"Dad said he, Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione used to sneak down here all the time when they were at school." James said.
Hagrid chuckled and said "Yes, those 3 probably spent more time here than any other students. They're actually the ones who made it possible for me to become a Hogwarts teacher. Cleared me name for a crime I hadn't committed."
"Dad told me about that. Said he was furious with Riddle when he found out he framed you." James said, since his father had told him and Albus all of the stories about his adventures at school, since he and his mother had decided that Lily was too young for those kinds of details.
"Yes James, I owe yer father everything I've got. He's a great man. Always stops by to go down to the 3 Broomsticks with me for a drink after his lectures here. Harry Potter has never once shown to let his celebrity status go to his head. He's still as modest as the 11 year old boy that came to Hogwarts all of those years ago." Hagrid said.
"What was my dad like during school?" Frank asked.
Hagrid chuckled and said "You wouldn't have recognized him. He was a completely different person than the man he is today. He was shy, clumsy, forgetful, and nervous, you never would've guessed he was a Gryffindor. The only thing he truly excelled at was Herbology."
"What caused him to change?" Frank asked.
"If you ask me, too much exposure to James's father and uncle. They were always reckless and irresponsible at school and as Neville began to spend more time around them, he began to loosen up and stopped trying to live up to his parents' legacy. But still he really come out of his shell until after You Know Who came back into the open. Something inside of him just clicked and when Harry began teaching the students how to defend themselves when the ministry wouldn't, Neville improved greatly. It was as if someone had lit a fire inside of him that wouldn't be put out." Hagrid said.
"Did you know my family?" Diana asked.
"Yes, and honestly, I'm glad you were put in Gryffindor, so maybe you won't be so bad, after all, look at what happened to Sirius Black." Hagrid said.
"Who?" Skye asked.
"My dad's godfather. He was killed in dad's 5th year." James said.
Hagrid nodded and said "What I mean is that Sirius came from a family just like yours, if not worse, seeing as how his brother was a death eater before he died. But just like you, Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor and made real friends due to it. Like your grandfather James Potter I. Sirius was a good man, just did some hard time for some things he was accused of doing but didn't. But anyway, my point is, Sirius was different from the rest of his family and was a better person for it. Hopefully, you'll prove to be the same. Though Sirius was disowned by his family."
"So was I. James's parents already said it was okay if I stayed with them though." Diana asked.
"While I can't say I'm surprised, I'm still shocked that they would cast an 11 year old girl out on the streets." Hagrid said.
"Dad was more than happy to take her in. Says she seems more like a Potter anyway." James said.
"I don't know how yer father could know that, but I'm not surprised, a week before the start of term, he spoke with Professor Durango (the current school headmaster), about setting up precautions to keep an eye on you, for while I'm sure he doesn't mind you causing trouble, he doesn't want you to do anything that could put your life on the line. Not that I blame him. Yer dad's already lost too many people that were close to him in his life, I can't imagine what would happen to him if he lost his oldest son too." Hagrid said.
"What are you talking about? Dad never mentioned any deaths in his stories. I mean, I know he lost his parents and godfather, but who else?" James asked.
"You can't tell him I told you this. Yer father lost more people he cared about in the war than anyone should ever have to. Not only did he lose his parents and Sirius, he also lost Professor Dumbledore, who was like a mentor to your dad, yer Uncle Fred, Teddy Lupin's parents, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks, and so many others. Yer father was different after the war. He became secluded, depressed, isolated. Yer aunt and uncle tried to help him, but they had no idea how to. Yer father had nearly lost his will to live. We thought he was going to end his life to join the ones he felt responsible for the deaths of." Hagrid said.
"What changed his mind?" Diana asked.
"Yer mother James. Ginny Potter is known for her temper and her lack of patience. She's cared for your father since the day they met and she couldn't bear the thought of losing him. She'd already lost one of her brothers, she didn't want to lose the man she loved to. So she stormed onto your father's property and began to force Harry to eat again. She healed him, made him realize that he was dishonoring all of those people's memories by mourning them, reminding them that they gave their lives so he could keep his. She is the one who returned his will to live." Hagrid said.
"That is probably the most romantic thing I've ever heard." Skye said.
"Dad always said that he loved mum like no other woman before. And now I know why." James said.
"Indeed, yer mother and father probably have the strongest marriage I've ever known." Hagrid agreed, right as the kids wrapped up their visit with Hagrid to return to the castle.