Title: Hogwarts, Class of 2024: Year One
Setting: Hogwarts; September 2017 to June 2018
Summary: Albus Potter and Rose Weasley find their own way in the world during their seven years at Hogwarts, taught by Professors Neville Longbottom, Gabrielle Delacour, and Teddy Lupin.
Author's Note: Well, this is the last chapter of Year One. Six more to go. As always, reviews are appreciated; please let me know what you thought about the whole year so far, both good and bad. Also, the first chapter of Year Two (which has already been finished) will be up shortly, posted as Chapter 11 of this same story, just to make it easy for everyone to find, especially those who have subscriptions to this story. Each year is going to have ten chapters, for a grand total of 70. A little daunting, but I'm confident we can all make it that far.

Hogwarts, Class of 2024
Year One

Chapter Ten

The last few weeks of the semester went by quickly and uneventfully; Albus was pleased to discover that he had the highest marks in his class–followed by a very close second, Scorpius Malfoy. The professors were all happy for him; they said he took after his namesakes, and it wouldn't be long before he proved himself to be a powerful wizard in his own right. But Albus didn't think much of that; academic marks weren't as fulfilling as he thought they would be.

A certain nagging feeling filled his mind over the last couple of weeks. What if he hadn't mailed his father–and what if Thomas Carrow hadn't been kissed and sent to live in St. Mungo's? It was a long train of "what-ifs," of course, and Albus knew that Carrow probably would have been caught anyway–but he just wished he didn't have to be the one to turn him in. He had lied to Katie–twice–and had consoled her when she thought someone else had tipped off the Ministry. He didn't dare tell her now. And he hated himself for that. He shouldn't have done anything; he should have honored his promise, and let Carrow stay free. But he was too scared; he couldn't have slept with the thought of werewolves running around the forest. And he hated himself for that too–and he wished he could be brave like his dad.

"This summer," Oliver said, in response to a question that Brendan must have asked, "I'm going to tour with my dad and Puddlemere United, all over Europe. I can't wait." He looked to Brendan. "What–are you going back to Dublin this summer?"

"Yeah," he said. "It'll be great; I can't wait to see my mum and dad again–and all my friends from back home."

Oliver gave a bit of a weak smile, then darted his eyes to the fast-moving countryside out the window of the Hogwarts Express. "Yeah, I wish I was going back to Dorchester to see all my friends, and all–but seeing a Quidditch team go for the European Cup will be pretty cool too."

"Oh, the coolest," Brendan agreed quickly. "What about you, Potter? What are you doing?"

"I'll just be home," he said, "with my family. My dad insists upon it." With a grin, he added, "I'd love it if you guys could come and visit."

Brendan just nodded appreciatively, but Oliver looked genuinely excited. "Really?" he asked. "I think I might take you up on that–you know, if traveling Europe with Puddlemere United becomes too strenuous."

Albus nodded, smiled knowingly, and said, "You're always welcome, Oliver."

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Teddy sat alone in a train compartment, still thinking about Victoire; he missed her–they had dated, after all, for three years now. And it was summer, he reasoned, so it's not as if Charlie or the governors could do anything about it–but he knew that would only make it harder. How could he spend all summer with Victoire, then give her up again when school started? No–it was easier to continue cold turkey, not seeing her, not even thinking about her. That would be better for everyone; when she graduated, perhaps, things could be different.

Gabrielle and Neville slid the door open, stepped inside, and sat down–suddenly reminding Teddy of the start of the year. He couldn't help but smile. Things were different, sure, but he had made it through his first year–not unscathed, of course; he had nearly been fired, placed on probation, and lost his girlfriend. But he had done it. He had been successful–and he knew that going back next year would only be easier.

"Are you all right?" Gabrielle asked. "You're not still thinking about Victoire, are you?"

"I am," he said, "but just a little. I'll be all right."

"Good," Neville chimed. "You know, it was really big of you to break things off; I can't tell you how much I respect you for that." He smiled, turned a bit pink, and sheepishly said, "Of course, I've never been in love before, but–"

At that moment, Professor Lovegood walked past their compartment–and Neville shrunk down in his seat. Gabrielle and Teddy looked at him, and couldn't help but laugh; Neville cracked a shy smile.

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The train pulled into Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and Albus already saw his parents, and his uncle Ron and aunt Hermione, standing together at the platform, waiting for the train to get in, and he thought, perhaps, the one thing that his father never did on the Hogwarts Express–that he couldn't wait for the summer.