Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. He belongs to JKR, who is, thankfully, kind enough to let us borrow his story for our own amusement as long as we do not receive any financial compensation.

Chapter 25 At King's Cross Station

Mr. and Mrs. Potter stood in King's Cross waiting for their sons to arrive. True it was unnecessary for them to do so, as the boys could apparate home, but they wanted 'To meet this Lily Evans we've been hearing so much about.'

Mr. Potter looked around him. He found Muggles and their inventions highly interesting. As he looked around he noticed a couple standing near them. They were smiling and talking quietly to each other. Occasionally one would glance at the clock and then glance towards Platforms 9 and 10. As there was no train scheduled to arrive on Platform 10 for over an hour and the train that had arrived on Platform 9 was almost empty Mr. Potter couldn't help but wonder if perhaps they were waiting for the Hogwarts Express as well.

He hoped they were waiting for the Hogwarts Express. He had never had the opportunity to get a Muggle perspective on Wizards. Any Muggles he had ever contact with who saw magic had their memories modified.

"Hello," a smiling Mr. Potter said to the couple. "Who are you waiting for?"

"Oh, our daughter is coming home from school," the woman replied. "How about you?"

"Oh, we're waiting for our son," Mr. Potter replied pleasantly. "Where does your daughter go to school?"

When he asked this Mrs. Potter gave him a significant look. Asking that would lead to the couple asking where James went.

"Oh, it's a small school up North, you've probably never heard of it," the woman answered evasively.

"Our son goes to a small school up North too, most people haven't heard of it either, actually," Mr. Potter replied jovially.

"Really?" the woman asked nervously. "Is there a teacher named…Slug…Slug.."

"Slughorn?" Mr. Potter supplied.

"Yes, that's it!"

"Why yes, there is," Mr. Potter smiled. "Smart man, really knows his potions. Little odd maybe, but a good teacher."

"That's what our daughter says too," the woman smiled. "So what year is your son in?"

"Seventh, and your daughter?"

The woman smiled, "She's a seventh year as well. In Gryffindor. She's Head Girl this year," the woman added smiling proudly.

"Your Lily's parents?" Mrs. Potter asked speaking for the first time.

"Yes," Mrs. Evans answered in surprise. "I'm Rose and this is my husband, John."

"Well, it's a pleasure to be able to meet you," Mrs. Potter said holding out her hand. "I'm Euphemia Potter and this is my husband Fleamont. We're James's parents," she explained smiling.

"Well, that's what she says," Mr. Potter said cheekily. "But personally, I blame the milk man," Mr. Potter grinned.

"Fleamont!" Mrs. Potter admonished, but Mr. and Mrs. Evans both laughed.

"It's nice to meet you," Mr. Potter said more seriously. "Our son seems quite taken with your daughter."

"The feeling seems to be quite mutual," Mrs. Evans replied smiling and shaking Mr. Potters hand.

"The train should be here by now," Mr. Evans said looking up at the clock.

"They probably have to supervise the unloading of the train," Mr. Potter said. "Plus the Porter only let's a few people through the barrier at time, to keep people from noticing," Mr. Potter explained pleasantly.

As if to prove him right Sirius suddenly appeared beside them.

"Hello, Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter," Sirius said politely.

"Sirius," Mr. Potter smiled. "Did you have a pleasant journey?"

"Yes, sir," Sirius replied.

"Good. Mr. and Mrs. Evans, this is Sirius Black, the son we always wanted," Mr. Potter said smiling.

Sirius grinned. "Lily's parents?" he asked.

"Yes, dear," Mrs. Potter replied smiling indulgently.

"Pleasure to meet you both," Sirius said shaking each of their hands in turn.

"Sirius, have you seen our other son?" Mr. Potter asked.

"He was supervising the unloading of the train and such," Sirius said mischievously.

"I assume Lily was with him?" Mr. Potter asked.

"Of course. I offered to perform a Permanent Sticking Charm, but James threatened me with bodily harm, so I came on ahead," Sirius grinned.

"Permanent Sticking Charm?" asked Mr. Evans confused.

"Never mind," Mrs. Potter said waving an admonitory finger at Sirius and Mr. Potter, both of whom were chuckling at Sirius's joke.

"Sirius, what have you been saying?" James asked as he and Lily suddenly appeared through the barrier and approached the group.

"Nothing," Sirius replied feigning innocents.

"Lily, there you are," said Mr. Evans spotting his daughter.

"Hi Dad, hi Mum," Lily replied hugging each of her parents in turn.

James hung back nervously watching Lily greet her parents.

"Hello, son," Mr. Potter said.

"Hi Dad, hi Mum," James said glancing at his parents and then turning back to watch Lily.

"Mum, Dad," Lily said coming over and taking James by the hand, "this is James."

James smiled nervously and held out his hand.

"Mr. Evans, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Mr. Evans gave James an appraising look that made James even more nervous before reaching out and taking James's outstretched hand.

"Ah, a nice firm handshake, that's what I like to see," Mr. Evans began. "I hope you have been treating my daughter respectfully," it was not a question.

"Yes, sir. Lily deserves nothing but the best," James said looking Mr. Evans right in the eye. He was nervous but he was not going to let Mr. Evans know that he was slightly intimidated by him.

At this Mr. Evans smiled. "Good, good. Well, you appear to be a nice young man," Mr. Evans said. "But I suppose only time will tell."

"Oh, John, be nice," Mrs. Evans said smiling.

Then she turned to James, "Rose Evans, it's very nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Evans," James said smiling.

"Mum," Lily chimed in. "James invited me to dinner tomorrow, can I go?" Lily asked hopefully.

"Not tomorrow, dear. Petunia is going to be visiting. She is spending Christmas with Vernon and so she is going to be joining us tomorrow instead. Any other night would be fine, but not tomorrow."

"Perhaps, James would like to join us for dinner," Mr. Evans suggested. "If it's alright with his parents of course."

Mr. and Mrs. Potter looked at each other and nodded.

"It's alright with us," Mrs. Potter replied. "As long as you introduce us to her first," she added smiling at James.

James flushed slightly, "Oh, right," he said sheepishly. "Mum, Dad, this is Lily," James said smiling.

"It's nice to finally meet you dear, we've heard so much about you," Mrs. Potter said taking Lily's hand. "You're every bit as pretty as James described."

Both Lily and James flushed when she said this.

"Lily, it's a pleasure," Mr. Potter said. "And I'd like to apologize for your having to put up with my son. I know how insufferable he can be."

Lily laughed. "Why thank you, Mr. Potter."

Lily was surprised at how old James' parents were. She had never really seen them properly before. She knew that James said they were older when they had him but she didn't realize just how old they actually were. Not that they acted old, but still. Though now that she thought about it, it went a long way in explaining why James was the way he was.

"Lily, dear, I hate to cut this short but we have a bit of a drive ahead of us and I'd like to get home before midnight," Mr. Evans said.

"Okay," Lily replied.

"James," Mrs. Evans began.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Dinner will be at seven, but feel free to arrive any time after 5:30. Mr. Evans and I would like to have time to get to know you better."

James nodded, "Thank you for inviting me."

"Not at all dear," she replied. "Do you know where we live?"

"Oh, no, I don't."

Mrs. Evans reached into her purse and pulled out a pen and paper and handed them to Lily. "I'll let you write it dear, you know what information he needs."

Lily nodded and wrote down their address.

"Apparate into my room," Lily instructed. "You can't apparate outside 'cause the neighbors might see and anywhere else might startle Petunia if she's around."

Mr. and Mrs. Evans nodded in agreement.

"We'll see you tomorrow around five-thirty," Mr. Evans said.

"It was nice to meet you, Lily," Mrs. Potter said.

"It was nice to meet you both, too," Lily said with a smile.

Before turning to follow her parents Lily reached up and gave James a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Bye, Lily," he said smiling.

Once the Evans's had left the Potters and Sirius headed to a place that they could safely apparate home.