"I guess it's true what they say," sighed Ginny. "Women really do grow up to be their mothers."
Harry chuckled. "Why is that?" he asked.
"Because I'm about to start freaking out! Elly, Teddy, Em, hurry up or we'll miss the train!" called Ginny.
"Calm down, love, there's still plenty of time," said Harry, soothingly.
Ginny looked at him. "Really? Do you see your sons anywhere? You know we're going to spend ten minutes just finding the two of them."
"James Sirius, Evan Remus, here now, boys," called Harry, authoritatively.
Harry and Ginny heard a giggle close by. Ginny sighed in relief. "Good, they're nearby. You sort the littlies out, while I go check on the girls."
A gurgle from Harry's chest made Ginny stop to coo over the three month old strapped to his chest in the baby harness. "I didn't mean you, Lil. You stay here with Papa." She kissed her daughter before going upstairs.
"We need to find your brothers," Harry told Lily, stroking her small head.
"We aint ever comin' out," called James, five.
"Never, ever," agreed Evan, two.
"Don't you want to see the big red train?" asked Harry.
"Nu-uh," said James.
"I do," said Evan, popping his head up from behind the sofa. "I do, Papa."
James stood up too. "Train takes sissies away," he said crossly.
"The train also brings your sisters home again," reminded Harry. "They'll be home for Christmas with lots of wonderful stories to tell you."
"About Hagrid?" asked James, hopefully.
"Fang too?" asked Evan, who loved all animals.
Harry nodded. "Maybe, if you boys are really, really good, we can take a trip to Hogwarts one day, surprise your sisters and see Hagrid and Fang."
"Who's going to Hogwarts to see Hagrid and Fang?" asked Ginny, coming downstairs. Em, Elly and Teddy followed, dragging their trunks. Dobby was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, trying not to cry but failing miserably. His beloved little mistresses were going away.
"We are, we are," called the boys when they saw their mum.
"Come on, Mum, tell me. Which house do you really think I'll get Sorted into?" asked Em, excitedly. She had been waiting for this day for a long time.
"Sweetheart, as we've told you all over and over, we don't care what House you're Sorted into, just enjoy your time at Hogwarts because it will go so fast," said Ginny, tweaking one of her daughter's plaits.
"At least you've got a fifty percent chance of having someone you know in a House," reasoned Harry. Elly had been Sorted into Hufflepuff, like Tonks, while Teddy had been Sorted into Ravenclaw.
Elly shrieked. "Mum, Dad, have you seen the time? We can't be late, Teddy's a prefect. She has to set an example."
"It's fine, El, we've got plenty of time," said Teddy, turning around. Her cloak knocked over a photo, and as she bent to pick it up, her broomstick knocked over a vase of flowers. "Sorry, I'm sorry," she cried.
"Reparo," said Ginny, waving her wand and immediately fixing the problem.
"Again, again," said James, clapping. He brushed his messy black hair off his face.
"Train, train," mimicked Evan, clapping his hands. His emerald eyes sparkled in delight.
Ginny scooped Evan up in her arms. "Yes, we're going to see the train," she said, blowing raspberries on his cheek and making him giggle.
"Sissies no go," said James, determinedly. His eldest sisters spoiled him when they were home, doting on their little brothers. Truthfully he was used to them being gone, except Em.
"You'll be going one day," said Harry.
"Slytherin," said Ginny softly, and she and Harry shared an amused, loving look.
"Mum, please, just take a guess," pleaded Em.
"There's no time, we need to go now!" shrieked Ginny, glancing at the clock.
James giggled. "Mummy sounds like Grandmum when she yells at Uncle George and Uncle Won."
The girls quickly said goodbyes to Dobby, who had already told them to call his name if they should need him, and he would come to Hogwarts to help his mistresses.
Ginny settled Evan on her hip and grabbed James' hand. Harry used his magic to put a featherweight charm on the girl's trunks. The girls sighed gratefully, carrying them out to the car. Ginny got the boys in then helped Harry get Lily in her car seat. Elly, Teddy and Em packed their bags in the boot and got settled too. Soon they were driving towards Kings Cross Station.
The girls sang songs to keep James and Evan amused, for they got bored pretty quickly. Harry kept his hand on Ginny's knee when he didn't need to use it for driving.
"Molly, Domi and I are going to sit together," said Em, for the hundredth time She and her cousins had planned this as soon as they received their letters.
"We'll come and check on you, Em," promised Elly and Teddy.
"Remember, when it's time for your Sorting, they'll use your full proper name," said Ginny. "So will the professors."
Em shrugged. She had toyed with using Minerva, or even Minnie, or Min, but kept coming back to Em.
Harry found a park, and pulled the large family car into it. He flicked the boot, then came around to unload it before helping Ginny with the baby and the boys. Soon enough they had crossed the platform and gone through the magical barrier.
"See, Gin, plenty of time, love," said Harry.
"There's Uncle Bill and Louis," cried James, hurrying off; Evan trailing after him. Bill had brought his young son with him to see off Victoire and Dominique.
"Dad, Mum, I have to get on board so I can help the firsties," said Teddy importantly. She hugged them both and hurried to board.
Elly looked forlornly after her. Ginny put her arm around her shoulders. It had initially been hard on the twins to be Sorted into different Houses, but in the end it had been the best thing for them.
Elly smiled at Ginny. "She's gonna be a great prefect," she said proudly.
"Yeah, she is," agreed Ginny, "But you will-"
"Elly, over here," squealed Jessica, a fellow Hufflepuff and one of Elly's best friends.
"Jess!" squealed Elly, "you got your hair cut, I love it!"
"Come on, let's get on board. I have got so much to tell you," cried Jessica.
Elly turned to face her family. "Bye Mum, Dad," she said, hugging them both. "I'll write as soon as I can," she said, kissing little Lily's cheek. She hugged her brothers too. "Be good for Mum and Papa," she told them. With a quick wave to the rest of the Weasleys, she boarded the train.
Harry turned to look for Em. He saw her standing back, looking at the train. He handed Lily to Ginny, and she smiled in understanding.
"Hey, it's nearly time," said Harry.
Em paled slightly and nodded. Then she shook her head. "I don't think I'm ready, Papa," she said, reverting back to the name she used for him when she was little. Once they had gotten older, all the girls had started calling him dad. His sons called him papa, and he was sure Lily would too.
"Of course you are, Em," said Harry gently. He stroked her hair. "You've been wanting to go to Hogwarts for ages.
"Who will you have milk and cookies with at night?" she asked. Their tradition still continued, maybe not every night, but at least once a week.
Harry chuckled. "Well, your sister doesn't have a lot to say right now, but when I give her a bottle at night, I'm going to tell her all about how I used to do milk and cookies with her big sister."
Em looked over at Lily in Ginny's arms. "I'm going to miss her growing up."
"You'll be having too much fun at Hogwarts," said Harry, "but we'll send you photos, and you'll be home for Christmas."
"Dad, what House do you think I'll get?" she asked.
Harry sighed, wondering whether it was just his kids that got so worried about their future House. "If I had to pick a House for you then I'd say...Gryffindor. You are a lot like your mum," he said. He then took her in his arms. "Guess that's why I love you so much."
Em buried her head against him, immediately feeling safe and loved. She wrapped her arms around him, holding tight. "Ready?" he asked softly.
Em drew back, nodding. "I think your mum wants to have a few last words," he told her, taking her over to Ginny.
"Harry!" said Ginny, pointing to where Evan was squatting down to check out the wheels on the train. He was close to the edge of the platform. Harry hurried over to him and scooped him up, going over to say goodbye to Vicky and Dominique. James was talking non stop with Louis. The two boys were the same age.
Harry kept an eye on Ginny and Em, the two having a quiet, emotional conversation. Suddenly the big engine let out a whistle. Ginny gave her daughter a final hug, trying not to squash Lily in the process. With tears in both their eyes, Ginny and Em parted.
Harry held Evan on his hip and kept his hand on James' shoulder. James waved enthusiastically as Em, Molly and Domi poked their heads out the window.
"Bye James, bye Evan," Em called. "Help Mum and Dad with Lily, and be good," she cried as the train started pulling away.
"Why does everyone tell us that?" James asked Harry. Harry chuckled but his eyes were on Ginny. She watched the train until it was out of sight and when she turned to leave, her eyes were still filled with tears.
He put his spare arm around her shoulders, and she put her spare arm around his waist. Together they made their way out of the busy station.
As if knowing their mum was sad, James and Evan were surprisingly well behaved that night. They ate all their tea and didn't protest when it was bath time or bedtime. Harry read them a story and Ginny came in to kiss them goodnight. She checked on Lily then went downstairs.
Harry was waiting for her, and opened his arms. She walked right into them, her favourite place in the world. "Okay?" he whispered.
Ginny smiled, her face smothered against his chest. "It's not getting any easier to send them off," she admitted.
"Lily's never going," he joked.
The flames suddenly flared up, and Harry and Ginny parted. They could hear someone calling them. "Mum, Dad?"
"Em, we're here," cried Ginny, kneeling down, Harry next to her.
"I got in Gryffindor, and so did Molly," cried Em. "Domi's a Ravenclaw. We met some girls on the train, and Hagrid invited me to tea next week. Hogwarts is the best!" she cried excitedly.
Before Harry and Ginny could utter a word she continued. "I have to go, others want to fire-call home. I love you, kiss the boys and Lil for me. I'll write soon, love you," she called, as the flames died down.
"Love you too," said Ginny softly, sitting back on the sofa. "I thought she'd be in Gryffindor," she told Harry.
"Me too," admitted Harry, sitting next to her and putting his arm around her.
"I have a whole new respect for my parents. It's so hard, sending them away. At least they don't have to deal with anything like we did," she sighed.
Harry shuddered to think of his girls competing in a Tri-Wizard tournament, or having to be part of a secret defence group. "They're good, smart kids, and they have each other."
"I guess I'm overlooking the benefits of our three eldest girls being gone," said Ginny.
"What's that?" asked Harry.
Ginny ran her hand up his thigh. "The boys are already in bed, asleep. Lil won't wake for a feed for another couple of hours, and we have the house to ourselves at, what, eight o'clock," she grinned.
"Did you have something in mind, Mrs Potter?" asked Harry.
"Definitely," winked Ginny. She stood, holding out her hand to her husband. "Let me tell you all about it in bed."
"Or you could just show me," suggested Harry. "You know me, I'm more an action kind of guy." With that he Apparated them upstairs.
Ron fire called an hour later, hoping for news on Em's Sorting, but no-one answered.
Rebecca snorted when Ron told her he couldn't imagine what they could be doing that they couldn't answer his call.
/*/*/*/*
Ginny was still asleep when Lily woke, mewling for a feed. Harry woke, tangled in his wife. He fumbled in the dark for his glasses. "I'll go, love," he said softly, pressing a kiss to her temple. Ginny sighed, already back asleep.
Harry slid on some boxers and a tee shirt, then went to Lily's room. She cried when she saw him, her arms reaching for him. Harry gently picked her up and quickly changed her nappy, then took her downstairs.
He easily heated the bottle of breast milk Ginny had expressed, then settled in his comfy chair to feed her. He loved these night time feeds with the baby. Seeing Ginny grow round with his children had been the most fascinating thing he had seen, after the birth of his three children, that is.
He settled Lily comfortably in his arms and she reached up to put her tiny hands on the bottle. Once she was assured she had sustenance on tap, she made eye contact with Harry. All was perfect in Lily Potter's world.
"Your sister got Sorted into Gryffindor," Harry told her. She had her mother's eyes, but her father's mother's shade of red hair. Harry could see she was going to a be a beauty when she got older.
"Your mum and me miss the girls when they're at Hogwarts," crooned Harry, "but we've got James and Evan and you, our sweet Lily. Even you will one day leave your old mum and dad and go to Hogwarts, but that's still years away, thank Merlin."
Lily pulled away from the bottle, so Harry sat her up and patted her back. She let out a loud belch, so Harry settled her back to finish the bottle. Her eyes were already closing slowly, so he didn't expect her to last much longer.
"Your Uncle George would be proud of that one," he said, referring to her belch. Her eyes fluttered closed, then snapped back open.
"Sleep, my Lily, dream wonderful happy dreams," crooned Harry.
He banished the bottle back to the kitchen and took her back upstairs. He checked her nappy again, before tucking her in to her cot. He left the door ajar, then checked on his sons before he finally returned to bed.
He had barely settled back in bed when Ginny rolled over and clung to him. He took her in his arms, kissing her temple before he too succumbed to sleep.
-END-