Sunday 19th August 1973

Smith Sett, 09:00

Alice continued to eat her breakfast as her father opened her Book list for the year. Something she wasn't particularly interested in. She was going to have to look at them enough in the coming months, she did not want to see them during the last bit of her summer. Not even the titles.

Anyway, it wasn't like she was the one buying them. Father was, so he was the one who needed the list. She was more concerned about if she could get away with eating another slice of bacon.

"That's a first," her father said, frowning at the piece of parchment in his hand.

"What?" Mother asked in a disinterested tone, engrossed in 'Witch's Weekly'.

"There is a misprint in Alice's list."

That got mother looking up from her reading

"I told you Hogwarts is going downhill," Mother tutted and then she returned to her article.

Father shook his head and put the parchment to one side.

"It's not even a spelling mistake. They've put a whole extra subject on her list.

"Ridiculous," mother said disinterestedly.

Alice's stomach sank and her eyes widened. Oh no. She suspected she knew what the 'misprint' was. She hadn't told her parents what she signed up for. Honestly, she meant to but she never could find the right words to say it. So, she didn't. And now Hogwarts was doing it for her.

"Honestly, why would Alice even be doing Ancient Runes," father continued in a scoffing tone.

"Um," Alice hesitantly spoke up and immediately regretting it as both of her parents turned to stare at her disapprovingly.

Nonetheless, she summoned up her alleged Gryffindor Courage and continued. "That's not a misprint."

"Excuse me?" Mother asked shrilly.

Father's eyebrows rose quite rapidly up his forehead. like they had been spelled.

"I, um, signed up for Ancient Runes."

Father's eyes widened and his jaw practically hit the table. Mother actually dropped her magazine.

"You what?" Father asked, any pretence of eloquence going out the window.

Alice wished she could just disappear, instead she slunk down in her seat but that just made the shocked looks turn into disapprovingly ones. She had a feeling those looks were going to stay for a while.

"Why?" mother spluttered out, her decorum apparently forgotten as well.

Alice shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Because I thought they would be interesting."

Oh, that sounded like a really weak excuse. Like she wasn't confident in herself at all.

Which she wasn't. Not when it came to her parents. Especially not when they were looking at her like that.

"A man doesn't like an overly intelligent woman," mother scolded her. "Especially not one who shows him up."

Alice already knew this. Of course, she did. But her knowing how to translate Ancient Runes wouldn't make her smarter than Frank - he was pretty smart. Far smarter than her. He wouldn't care about her taking Ancient Runes, would he?

"I know."

"Watch your tone," father warned her.

Alice frowned but bit back what was going to be an equally snarky retort. There was no point in getting into more trouble than she already was.

"Then why on earth would you sign up for Ancient Runes?" mother asked, a hysteric edge to her voice.

Alice had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at her mother's dramatics. It wasn't exactly the end of the world just because she signed up for an unsuitable subject.

Her parents were looking at her expectantly. Oh, they were actually wanting an answer.

"Because they are interesting."

They really were. And such pretty shapes and patterns too. It would be so fascinating to learn what they actually meant.

"Don't be ridiculous," her mother said in a disdainful tone.

Alice stared at her. She wasn't trying to be ridiculous.

"People only learn those things," Alice didn't know how her mother managed to put so much scorn into one little word, "to show off their intelligence. Which a young lady does not do."

"Yes, mother."

Hadn't they already gone over this? She knew this.

"Well, at least this is quite easily fixed," father stated. "We'll just write to the school and say that you no longer wish to do it."

"But I want to study Ancient Runes," Alice protested.

She was actually shocked by how strongly she felt about this. Yes, she had wanted to study them but hadn't thought that she cared overly much. Until it looked like it was going to be taken away from her. She didn't want that.

"Really, Alice?"

"Yes," she stated in a firm tone she didn't think she had ever use. "Please, daddy."

She didn't mean for that to slip out. She hadn't called him daddy since she was eight but it wasn't like she could take it back. Now she was going to be seen as childish and an upstart. Great.

Except, maybe not. Her father's eyes actually lost some of their sternness, they went almost soft. But father was never soft.

He gave her an appraising look that she tried to sit tall under. It must have worked because-

"Okay," he stated, putting the book lost done.

Wait, okay?

"I can take it?" Alice asked hopefully.

"Yes."

"What?" Mother demanded.


Wednesday 22nd August 1973

Grimmauld Place, 09:00

Sirius rolled his eyes as his mother flew to and fro, trying to sort out what she wanted to wear and chivvy father into getting ready. Which was silly because they were only going to Diagon Alley, she didn't need to dress up, and father was already ready. Privately, Sirius thought that she just liked shrieking. He had thought all mothers were like that but Mrs Potter didn't go around shouting at everyone all the time. Or ever, according to James. It was just his mother that seemed to take delight in it. She wasn't happy unless she was making everyone else feel bad.

"Don't slouch, Sirius," she scolded as she walked past.

All that did was make him sigh and want to slouch even more, just out of badness. It made mother give him a scolding look and open her mouth to tell him off but she was (mercifully) distracted by father.

"Orion!" she said shrilly. "Just what are you wearing?"

"My clothes," father replied dryly, causing Sirius to snort.

Mother, of course, did not see the humour in this as she shot both Black males a terrifying glare. Sirius shrunk back in on himself, not wanting to be included in the inevitable screaming match that was sure to follow.

"Not those ones you aren't!"

"There's nothing wrong with these."

"Everything is wrong with those."

Sirius didn't think there was anything wrong with father's clothes. He was wearing his usual three-piece suit. A nice navy blue one.

"Go and put your grey one on!" came the next loud instruction, no, demand.

"It's the exact same as this."

"It is not."

"You are being completely ridiculous-"

"Go and change, Orion."

"I am not one of the boys. You can't just-"

Mother crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. Sirius held his breath; you didn't ever mess with that look. Thankfully, Father seemed to realise that and deflated.

"Okay. Fine," he spat as he trudged up the stairs.

Regulus chose this moment to unhurriedly come down the stairs, pressing himself against the wall as Father went past him. Sirius felt that it was extremely unfair that he was expected to be ready and present at the Floo ages before they actually had to leave yet Reggie could just show up whenever he felt like it. Mother hadn't been screaming at him to get ready. And Regulus wasn't even ready! He didn't have a cloak on and Sirius had had to stand here for Merlin knows how long in his cloak. It was suffocating him, standing this close to the stupid fire.

"Put your cloak on, Regulus," mother told him in the nicest tone she had used all morning. "Once your father gets into appropriate clothes, we can leave."


Diagon Alley, 11:15

Diagon Alley was absolutely packed. Like, scarily so. Looks like dad had been wrong, James thought as he looked all around him, coming down on a week day did not avoid the crowds. This had to be the most people he had ever seen.

"Oh my," mum said in shock, also looking around.

Dad shook his head. "This is what happens when Dumbledore doesn't get a Defence Professor until the last minute."

He was getting another Defence Professor? That was going to be the third one in as many years. He guessed the so-called curse really was a thing. Cool?

Just then, something caught his eye. It was a huge crowd of people around the 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' Shop.

"Looks like there's a new broom out," Dad said, also noticing the crowd.

"It's not just a new broom," mum said with an insulted sniff. "It's-"

"It's the Cleansweep Six!" James interrupted excitedly. "The best broom for manoeuvres on the market!"

"And has a much better braking ability!" Mum added.

Dad shook his head at both of them. He liked Quidditch - who didn't - but he liked watching it. He didn't get all crazy over the brooms or their designs. Not like mum and James did. He just didn't see the point.

James looked longingly at the window display. He'd only seen pictures of it until now. And those were in the newspapers. Hardly the best quality. Or even good quality.

"I heard that it got the Nimbus Company up in arms," mum said. "They're bringing forward the release of their next one. Nimbus 1300, I think."

"I heard it was the Nimbus 1400," Dad corrected.

"No, it was definitely 1300."

James didn't really care about brooms that didn't even exist yet. It wasn't like he could see or touch it. Though the new Nimbus was reported to push the boundaries of speed. Again. That's all the Nimbus Company seemed to care about.

"May I go to the Quidditch Shop?" he asked politely.

There was no way he wanted to spend more time than necessary in a stuffy book store. Not when there was a new broom on display! You couldn't just walk past that.

His parents looked at each other and grinned. That was a good sign.

"Oh, okay," dad said. "But only for a short time. You've grown several inches this year so you'll need to get measured for new robes."

James pulled a face at that. That was definitely not his idea of fun. It was even worse than the books. It involved standing still and getting stabbed with pins. Did anyone honestly enjoy that?

"Yes!" James cheered, running across the street.

Almost immediately he collided with someone. It was Snape.

"Oh, sorry!" James apologised. "Hey Snape! Are you going over to see the new broom?"

Snape looked at him and then the crowded shop window with disdain, a sneer curling his lips.

"Definitely not."

James shrugged, "Suit yourself."

He hurried over, seeing a gap in the crowd and if he just sped up a little - yes! He got in! And he couldn't see anything. It sucked not hitting your growth spurt yet. He thought that was supposed to happen once you were a teenager but it hadn't happened for him yet. Like he said, it sucked.

Eventually, far too long in his opinion, he manged to shuffle himself close to the window and he gasped. It was so much more amazing than he even thought it would be. All sleek bristles and shiny wood.

"Wow," he gasped just like everyone around him.

He drooled over it for a good ten minutes before deciding to actually go into the shop. There was plenty more to see and the people behind him were getting antsy. He automatically grabbed some polish as he walked past the stand, he always forgot about it until his had run out.

The magazines and diagrams on flight patterns had caught his attention when Sirius sidled up to him.

"Sirius!"

"Shhh!" Sirius replied frantically, putting a hand over his mouth.

"Mmphhh."

"Look, I need a favour," Sirius asked him. "Don't shout or anything and I'll take my hand off your mouth."

He gave him an expectant look. James slowly nodded, wondering what on earth Sirius had managed to get himself into.

"Sure, anything," James easily agreed as soon as Sirius removed his hand.

Sirius looked around, as if he was making sure that nobody was listening in, and then leaned in to whisper, "If anyone comes looking for me, say I'm looking at the brooms at the back of the shop, yeah?"

James gave him a doubtful look and then turned to said area of the shop. It was packed. There was no way you could even get moving over there.

"But you can't make anyone out in there," he told Sirius.

You wouldn't be able to tell if someone was there or not at all.

"Exactly."


James just gave him an even more doubtful look. Unfortunately, Sirius felt like he couldn't really explain himself. It wasn't like he could say that Mother or Father wouldn't be able to tell of he was there or not if they thought he was in that crowd. Which was perfect. He just had to make sure he would avoid them in the streets and then he would be fine once he got into Flourish and Blotts, they had already got all of his other books. They wouldn't return.

James would have far too many questions if he tried to explain. Anyway, he didn't have the time. Mother and Father could be back at any moment.

"Thanks," he replied distractedly, leaving the store.

He scanned the street for any sign of his parents - shouldn't be too hard, his mother was wearing one of her ridiculous hats. Nope. Nothing. Which meant they were still getting his and Regulus' equipment. It was times like these when he was actually glad of his mother's fussiness and father's thoughts on quality.

When did Flourish and Blotts get so far away? He couldn't remember it ever being this far from the Quidditch shop. At least with them getting a Defence Professor so late, Diagon Alley was crowded. It meant that he could keep a low cover and gave him less chances to be seen. Though, he wouldn't put it last his father's eagle-eyes to spot him through all this.

But at the moment that didn't matter. Well, it did because it could stop him getting what he wanted, no, needed but it wasn't the most important thing right now. What was important and what did matter was him getting the textbook he needed. Thankfully, unlike Runes, it was just one.

He quickly pulled it off the shelf and held it against his side. No need to advertise what he was buying. Maybe he should buy another book so it wasn't so obvious? Sirius glances around the shelves and didn't see anything that the Library at home didn't already have. Now, if there were comics but of course Flourish and Blotts didn't sell those.

Deciding that he may as well get this over with, Sirius made his way over to the counter. Almost immediately, he backed away from it when he noticed the queue. Nope, that was not a good idea. Especially since Lord Nott was in it. He did not need any questions from the likes of him. Or anyone really. He'd just hang out in the stacks a bit and wait until it died down a bit.

Turning away from the queue he pretended to be absorbed in the books on the shelf nearest to him. He picked up a book to pretend to read and flipped towards the centre of it.

That was definitely a mistake. Sirius felt his cheeks burning as he quickly shut the book with a loud 'clap' and shoved it back onto the shelf. Looking around to ensure that no one saw him, Sirius walked (trying very hard not to run) down the aisle, leaving 'All You Need To Know About Female Anatomy' behind. Trying to get the images that he was sure were now burned into his skull, Sirius did a loop around the store. He heaved an audible sigh of relief when he noticed that there was no longer a queue and quickly put the book he did want, and hopefully wouldn't get scarred reading, on the counter.

The shopkeeper squinted suspiciously at him.

"Weren't you just in here?"

"Yes."

But what business of it was his? He was getting more business by Sirius being back in here, wasn't he? He gave the man a glare for good measure. It just made the man raise an eyebrow but thankfully he didn't say anything more. Not that it was any of his business.

Well, maybe it was considering Sirius had to give the man money in exchange for the book. Thank goodness he hadn't spent his pocket money yet. Though, it more than covered it.

"Just this, please," Sirius said politely, placing the book on the counter face down.

The guy at the till picked it up and raised an eyebrow when he saw the title. Sirius just stared right back at him, not saying anything. He didn't need to explain himself.

The man faltered slightly under his gaze (something that Sirius felt incredibly smug about).

"That's three galleons," he mumbled.

Sirius gave him his money and carefully muttered the shrinking charm so he could put it in his pocket. He stared antagonistically at the shopkeeper, daring him to say something about him using magic. It wasn't exactly allowed but no one was ever able to tell who did what in Diagon Alley. The children of shopkeepers always used magic to get their jobs done.

Thankfully, the man kept his mouth shut and Sirius quickly left the shop. He really needed to get back to the Quidditch Shop. That had taken longer than he thought.

The trip back was a lot shorter; the crowds had dispersed somewhat now that it was drawing close to lunchtime. Sirius felt more awkward going back, being over aware of the bool tucked safely in his pocket. He felt like everyone could see the non-existent bulge and see right through his robes. Which was stupid, he knew, but you couldn't control a guilty conscious.

It looked like James hadn't moved from where he had left him - completely engrossed in a tactical strategy book from the looks of things.

"Hey," he said quietly in an effort not to shock him.

Not that that worked as James shot about five feet in the air.

"You're back!"

Sirius nodded and scanned the shop. "Anyone come looking for me?"

James shook his head.

"I saw your little brother gawk at the new Cleansweep like everyone else but he didn't come in."

That was a relief. Actually, he was surprised that Regulus still wasn't out there. He adored Quidditch and everything to do with it. Now, Sirius loved it too but Regulus took it to a whole other level. It drove mother mad.

"Do you have to meet your parents now?" James asked.

Sirius checked his watch and then had to double check it. It wasn't even half twelve yet but it felt like a whole day had already gone by.

"No. We're getting lunch after one."

Father had booked a room in the Leaky Cauldron, much to mother's disgust.

"Want to go get ice cream?"

Now that sounded like a very good idea.


Sunday 26th August 1973

McKinnon Farm, 14:00

Why did she always end the summer like this? Again, Marlene was half under her bed, trying to find everything she needed to bring to Hogwarts. Mum was trying to get a bit of a head start this year. Not that it was working. Somehow, Marlene had already managed to lose her Transfiguration Textbook. No other one, despite all of her textbooks being in the same stack. How did that even happen?

"Lost something again?"

"Wha-? Ouch!" Marlene hissed as she forgot she was under her bed when she lifted her head to see who it was.

"That's going to leave a mark."

Marlene swore at her sister which just made Teagan laugh.

"Language."

"Get lost, Teagan."

"I think there's enough lost things at the moment."

Marlene muttered darkly at her and tried to shuffle herself out from under her bed. There was nothing graceful about it. Especially when you couldn't do it. Hmm.

"Help."

"Please."

"Teagan!"

Teagan sighed heavily but Marlene felt her grab her legs.

"Okay, fine but don't say I never did anything for you."

With a big heave Teagan managed to drag Marlene out from under the bed. Thankfully. Marlene had been starting to find it difficult to breath under there with all the dust and nasty, crusty socks (that she should probably do something about but she really didn't want to touch them).

Teagan was shaking her bead at her as she scrambled to her feet. Her knees cracked loudly as she straightened them too fast.

"What did you lose this time?"

"My Transfiguration Textbook."

Which had been Ciaran's before her and Teagan's before him, most likely all the way up to Patrick. The Transfiguration texts hadn't changed much over the years.

"Seriously?" Teagan asked in disbelief. "It lasted through four kids and you manage to lose it?"

"It's not like it's gone. It's just not here right now..."

5hat got her an unamused look.

"Which means it's missing."

"Not necessarily..."

"Uh huh," Teagan said in an unconvinced tone. "I suppose we should be happy that it wasn't your shoes that have gone missing again."

Marlene dusted herself off (how was there so much under the bed?) and frowned.

She hadn't seen those in a while. A quick look around confirmed her suspicions.

No shoes.


Thursday 30th August 1973

Snape House, Cokeworth, 10:00

Severus was halfway down the stairs when the shouting started. This wasn't normal, even for his house. Dad was supposed to be at work. It was a weekday morning after all. But he wasn't because he was now a part time worker because of "budget cuts". Which, unfortunately, meant he was going to be around a lot more.

"You don't get anything done around here-"

The more he was around with nothing to do, the more he complained. And there was always something to complain about.

"What about this then?"

Severus could just about hear his mother's faint voice from behind the closed door. She was probably trying to appease him somehow. Not that that ever worked but sometimes it made him grumble rather than complain.

This time, however, it just made him shout louder.

"I don't need your stupid platitudes woman!"

Severus snorted. He hadn't known his dad knew what 'platitudes' meant. He clutched a hand over his nose belatedly, hoping that it wasn't loud enough for his dad to hear. He wouldn't just get shouted at; he'd get another few bruises for his trouble if dad deemed him to be "giving cheek". He quite liked not having a nosebleed. It was sore and if he had a bruise on his face he couldn't go and see Lily. It would raise too many questions. Questions he didn't want to answer.

Sometimes Severus wished that his mum would fight back. Give dad even a little bit of what he dished out to her. She was better than him after all and she had magic. It should be easy to shut him up. To stop him. But she didn't.

Deciding that it was best for him to leave the house now, Severus darted down the stairs. His hand was just on the handle when-

"Where are you going then?" he got asked belligerently.

Severus didn't need to turn around to know that his dad was standing in the hall, a dark look on his face.

"Out."

It was best to keep things short and sweet. Especially when he was in one of these moves. Severus wasn't able to say anything right when he was like this.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you. Or did your mother never teach you any manners?"

Severus gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Mum taught him a hell of a lot more than you did, he wanted to say. But he didn't. He wasn't stupid.

Tobias squinted at him; his eyes slightly bloodshot. Severus didn't smell alcohol off him so he must be still somewhat hungover from last night, "commiserating" with his friends. Severus didn't care. Not since it meant that he was out of the house. Always a good thing.

"Still playing with those girls?"

Tobias had only met the Evans' twice before. Once in the town when shopping and another when Mr Evans brought Severus home late one night. Tobias didn't like them. He thought they were a bunch of stuck-up toffs as he liked to call them. He hated the fact that Severus was friends with them.

"Dunno."

That got Severus a snort of derision.

"You ought to be playing footie out on the streets not hanging around flowers like a blooming fairy."

Even though Severus always said that his dad's opinion didn't matter, that still stung a little. He braced himself for a barrage of insults that were surely going to come his way.

Except, they never did. His father seemed to have already lost interest in him.

"Can't believe I have a pansy boy," dad mumbled as he walked away shaking his head.

That didn't hurt Severus, it didn't. Because he knew he wasn't weak and pathetic like Tobias thought he was. He just wasn't bold and brash and loud and annoying like every other stupid boy his age. And he didn't want to be. Or need to. He didn't. He was happy enough being him.

Ridding himself of that thought, Severus pulled the front door open and made his down the street.

There was only one more day and he'd be back in Hogwarts for another ten months.

He couldn't wait.


Saturday 1st September 1973

10:30, King's Cross Station

Frank was just waving goodbye to his parents when he spotted Elsie. She was currently leading two smaller girls onto the train like a line of ducklings. Must be another sister of hers, though he was never sure of their ages. They were hard to keep straight, especially at the speed Elsie talked at.

Noticing that they were struggling with trunks and bags, Frank quickly grabbed a carriage and unshrunk his trunk to claim it.

"Elsie! Over here!" he called through a window; they were starting to head down the opposite end of the train.

Thankfully, she heard him and he leapt back onto the platform to give them a hand. He was soon surrounded by a bunch of giggling little girls. Or, it seemed like a bunch of them - all the Malkins seemed to talk a lot.

"Oh, you're so strong!" the middle one giggled. Sophie her name was. Maybe.

"He's so tall!" the smallest one said in awe.

Frank couldn't help but blush and shift on his feet. He'd had a growth spurt over the summer and he wasn't quite used to looking over people's heads.

"Oh, shove off you two or you'll give him a big head," Elsie scoffed but gave him a grateful smile as he grabbed one end of the trunk.

"He's got a nice head too," the smallest one said cheekily.

"Linda!" Elsie scolded, taking a fake swing at her sister, a brush staining her cheeks.

Linda just laughed at her and ran down the train.

"Sisters," Elsie said with a sigh, shaking her head.

"Hey! I'm right here!" Sophie complained.

"Well, bugger off then. Or don't you have any friends?"

That got Elsie a comically outraged look. Frank was careful to hide his smile.

"Well then!" Sophie huffed and stomped off in the opposite direction Linda went.

Frank and Elsie shoved one of the trunks onto the luggage rack. It was bigger than usual, he was sure. Definitely heavier.

"That's got some of each of our stuff," Elsie explained. "Mainly books and equipment. The bags have our clothes."

"Ah."

He wasn't sure how that worked out when the sisters were in different Houses. Did the House Elves just know what belonged to who?

Elsie threw herself into a seat.

"Urgh, I'm exhausted already."


Gryffindor Table, 18:00

"Crouch, Bartemius!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Does the Sorting always take this long," Sirius groaned. "Or is time starting to slow down?"

"Don't be so dramatic," Remus scolded.

"We're only at the C's!"

"Edgeworth, Patrick!"

"Make that E's," Peter said helpfully.

"And the Sorting has only just started," Remus finished with an eyeroll. "It isn't taking ages."

Sirius pouted. "Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is no- No! I am not getting into this with you," Remus said firmly, folding his arms.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Getting into what?" Sirius asked innocently.

"A stupid argument."

"It's not stupid! The Sorting is taking forever."

"It isn- Oh! You nearly got me there!" Remus said accusingly, wagging a finger at Sirius.

"McGonagall's going to get both of you if you don't calm down," Peter told them nodding towards the Head Table.

Processor McGonagall was a ring at them over the top of the Sorting Hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it declared as a small girl jumped off the stool.

They all cheered loudly, as was their habit now, whooping and clapping like they were celebrating winning the House Cup. It got them some weird looks from everyone else but who cared? Everyone deserved a good welcome to Gryffindor House. They needed to know how awesome they were for getting in here! Hey, it even got a shy smile from some of the new firsties which meant it worked.

"Do they get smaller every year?" Remus asked, critically eyeing the nervous students who had yet to be Sorted.

They were very small. There was no way any of them had been that small. Had they?

"Even Peter's taller than them," Sirius teased.

"Hey!"