Friday 28th June 1974

King's Cross Station, 16:00

"Bye, Remus! Have a good summer! I'll see you soon!"

Remus waved back at his enthusiastically waving friend. Which was James because of course it was James. No one else would dare make such a spectacle of themselves.

"James?" Dad asked in amusement as they walked along.

He had taken half day from work, like he usually did. Something about not trusting his mother to Side-Along him properly. His mother was rather enthusiastic about everything. Remus didn't ever want to see her driving.

"Yep," Remus replied with a grin.

"Uh, is he always like that?"

Worse sometimes, in fact, but Remus didn't want to give his father a bad impression.

"Yeah, he is."

"Sounds exhausting."

"Sounds like a boy who enjoys life properly," mum sniffed.

"James definitely does that."

That was definitely a good way to describe James actually. He was always looking for ways to have more fun. Do bigger and better pranks. Like their, what was becoming traditional, end of year prank. It had been great, even though Slytherin had won. Which had been cause for much grumbling but it did mean that they got to make everyone shriek by making fake snakes appear on the tables. In their respective House colours, of course. It had been James' idea to make them do a wriggle or two for maximum effect. The shouts had been fantastic, if a little deafening.

Thankfully, they had deliberately made them look fake so there had been no real hysterics over them and the shouts had quickly turned into laughs. Especially when the snakes from the three losing Houses started complaining why they hadn't won instead. The Slytherin ones made smug remarks about winning. It was all good fun.

He told his parents this, getting the expected result of his father laughing good-naturedly and his mother scolding him.

Outer London, 16:30

Severus tried not to sigh too loudly as they came to a stop and yet another set of traffic lights. See, this is why apparating was better. No time wasting. Not that either of the Evans' could do that. But still!

"Traffic's ways awful in London," Mr Evans said, making Severus blush.

He hadn't meant to be rude or ungrateful sounding. He just really wasn't used to traffic. Or being in a car at all, really. Actually, he still thought they were basically giant, metal death traps. Some of the stunts he'd seen people pull through red lights only cemented this opinion.

"Really?" he asked, not wanting to sound like he was complaining.

"It's because it's rush hour," Mrs Evans explained. "Everyone's coming home from work."

"I'm never complaining about my trip into Manchester every day again."

"You always say that when we're coming home, daddy," Chryssie said from the right of him.

"Because I always forget."

"And then it's all he complains about for the first week of summer and the school term," Mrs Evans said in a conspiring tone make everyone laugh.

Well, except for Severus because Mr Evans was right there. But it seemed like he found it funny too?

"I'm shocked every time!" Mr Evans complained and then glared out the window and honked the horn. "You can't walk into the middle of the road like that!"

Thankfully, Severus was not the only one who jumped. He was, however, the only one to cover his ears.

"Gavin!"

"Daddy!"

The poor man got scolded by all the females in the car.

"Did you see that?" he demanded. "They just walked right in front of me!"

"Was the horn really necessary?"

"You have to be firm with these people!"

Severus still didn't understand why his mother had asked the Evans' to pick him up. It barely took five minutes for her to do it. But here he was in their car and it looked like it was going to take them five hours to get home at this rate.

"So, how was Hogwarts?" Mr Evans asked, glancing into the rear-view mirror.

Apparently, he and Mrs Evans had finished arguing about his use of the horn.

"Good," Lily said. "Exams went well and Marlene invited me over again this summer."

That was going to be another week where he wasn't going to see Lily.

"I went swimming in the Lake," Chryssie said proudly. "And I suppose exams went well too."

That got her some chuckles. Even Severus cracked a smile.

"So, you both had fun this year?"

"Oh, yes."

"Definitely!"

"What about you, Severus?" Mrs Evans kindly asked him.

"Huh? Oh, the year went okay," he said hesitantly, not sure why they were asking him.

He was sure they weren't really interested in his answer. They were just being polite.

"Lily says you've been brewing Potions a lot this year," she continued.

Lily told her that? Why would Lily tell her that?

"Yeah."

He couldn't exactly lie when she had obviously told them, could he?

"Potions always sound so fascinating. Always loved hearing about them in the fairy-tales..."

Monday 1st July 1974

Potter Manor, 10:30

James stretched luxuriously in his bed. There was just something so satisfying about sleeping in the first few days of summer. Normally he would be up early, he naturally woke up with the sun, but the first few days of holidays were different. The first few days home were for being lazy and appreciating his bed. Scholl beds just weren't the same. He didn't sink into them the way he did with his at home.

No bells directing you anywhere. No rush to bag a shower. No having to make sure you made it down in time for breakfast. Heck, he didn't even have to be dressed for breakfast at home. As long as he wasn't naked or something, it was good. Though, who came down to breakfast naked anyway? That would be weird. But yep, home was perfect.

His stomach grumbled. And breakfast would be perfect too. The House Elves always made pancakes for him at home. Something he didn't get a lot of at Hogwarts. They went quick when they were a part of the breakfast fare and he was never down early enough thanks to his slow poke friends.

But this summer was going to be great! His friends were going to come over. There was the lake to swim in. And he was going to get this mandrake business sorted! The full moon was in three days and he was going to start yet again. Stupid swallowing. Why did humans have to swallow when things were put in their mouths?

Saturday 6th July 1974

Smith Sett, 19:00

Alice seemed to find herself sighing an awful lot more when she was at home. Which was awful, namely because it was so impolite but she really couldn't help herself. Her parents, they could just be so infuriating sometimes. Well, infuriating was rather a strong word. Annoying or a bit of a bother was better. Probably more accurate but Alice was feeling rather fed up at the moment and when she was fed up, she tended to become a bit dramatic.

She was fed up at the moment because her parents were tutting at her report card (why was it called a card when it was a piece of parchment?) without saying anything else. At all. Alice probably should have been worried but she knew for a fact that she hadn't failed anything this year. She had got pretty good marks actually so she had no clue what the tutting was for.

"You got higher in Ancient Runes than you did in your Healing," her mother said disapprovingly.

Alice shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

"It's only a few marks higher."

Literally only three marks. They were basically the same score. She earned the exact same grade in them and everything.

"Don't be cheeky, Alice."

She didn't see how she was being cheeky. She was just pointing out the truth and she was sure her tone had been polite.

Her mother turned to father and shook her head. "See? This is what I was talking about."

Alice sighed again but didn't say anything further. She would only end up getting scolded even more and she didn't want that.

The corner of her father's lips quirked upwards briefly before settling into a stern look.

"Your Healing should be much higher," he said. "That's the most important subject."

She got an Exceeds Expectations. A high one too. What more did they want? She had never gotten an Outstanding in anything before, nor had she been expected to. But now she was? It didn't make any sense. Alice had always been told, for as long as she could remember, that no one liked an overly intelligent woman. They just didn't. And getting Outstandings was being too intelligent for her parents. She wasn't intelligent enough to get Outstandings anyway which is why she was pretty pleased with her Exceeds Expectations in three quarters of her subjects. Surely that was something to be happy about?

Her parents definitely didn't seem to think so. Which was rather unfair.

"I'll work harder at it next year," she promised.

"You would have done better if you weren't doing that silly Ancient Runes," mother sniffed.

Yes, she had spent a lot of time on studying Ancient Runes (panicking over it, more like) but Alice didn't think it had come to too much expense of her other subjects. The upside about not being expected to get top marks. But mother would find any reason to complain about Ancient Runes, even if it meant contradicting other things she had said.

"I like Ancient Runes," Alice said quietly, looking down at her feet.

Well, she didn't. Not yet anyway. But she still liked the idea of being able to read them and it looked like she would eventually be able to. She hadn't failed her exam, after all. There was still a chance.

"You don't get through life by doing things you like doing," mother scoffed. "You do things that need to be done."

"Celia," father said warningly.

"No, Quintus! I won't have you wrapping her up in cotton wool! She's old enough now to act appropriately. She's fourteen! She's not a child anymore!"

Father sighed heavily.

"She knows how to act appropriately, don't you Alice?"

"Yes, sir."

Just because she took a subject that she enjoyed didn't mean she suddenly didn't know how to behave! Of course, she knew how to behave. Learning Ancient Runes was not going to make her suddenly act like some sort of common Gryffindor like her mother seemed to think.

"See, Celia?"

That didn't seem to satisfy mother at all. If anything, she looked more annoyed.

"I don't understand why you're encouraging this!" mother exclaimed in exasperation.

"There's nothing wrong with Alice learning Ancient Runes," father said impatiently. "I learned them and it didn't do me any harm."

"Because you are a man, Quintus. You are expected to be learned. Alice is definitely not."

"It's good for her to stretch herself. Builds character."

"She doesn't need to stretch herself," she scoffed. "She needs to be a lady."

"She can be a lady who knows Ancient Runes."

Tuesday 9th July 1974

12 Grimmauld Place, 15:30

"I'm bored," Sirius declared, bouncing into his room as he threw the door open with a 'BANG'.

Regulus looked up from the Quidditch magazine he had been perusing with a completely disinterested look on his face.

"And you are informing me of this why?"

"Because you might be doing something interesting. But you're not."

"This magazine is pretty interesting."

"Reading is boring," Sirius scoffed.

"Even Quidditch magazines?"

"Playing it is better."

Now that was something Regulus could agree with. The feeling of zipping through the air was something that nothing else could compare to. Hopefully, he'd get more of a chance to do it next year, the Slytherin Seeker was graduating and Regulus thought he had a fair chance of getting in. His flying was good and he was a Black, after all. Maybe father would get him a new broom...

"Well, go entertain yourself then."

He was not responsible for keeping his brother occupied. Nor was he in the mood to.

"I can't"

Regulus sighed and tried not to pinch the bridge of his nose. If Sirius knew he had annoyed him he would just become even worse. Why was his brother so dramatic? It wasn't that hard to occupy yourself.

"Hey, you were choosing your Electives this year, weren't you?" Sirius asked.

Regulus gave him a suspicious look. "Yes..."

"What did you end up picking?" came the predictable, curious question.

Oh, now he was interested, was he? Where was he when Regulus could have done with some help? Mind you, getting help from someone who willingly chose Muggle Studies probably wouldn't have been a good idea.

"Just how bored are you?"

Sirius looked insulted at that question.

"Hey! I'm genuinely interested in what my baby brother chose."

"I'm only a year younger than you."

Not that Sirius listened. Regulus felt like he was going to be making this argument until the end of time.

"Yeah, exactly. Baby brother."

Regulus sighed. See? Never going to win. Sirius was now looking at him expectantly.

"What?"

He used the rudest tone he could muster; it was really only used toward Sirius. Brothers. Honestly.

"Are you going to tell me or what?"

That really was atrocious grammar. What did he learn in that Gryffindor Tower of his?

"You aren't going to leave me alone until I tell you, are you?"

"Nope."

Regulus frowned at him. "Stop being so uncouth."

There was absolutely no need for him to speaker like some sort of mudblood commoner. Sirius' mouth just stretched into a grin.

"Nope."

See what he meant about being childish? Maybe he really would leave if he told him.

"Arithmancy, Divination, Ancient Runes," he listed off, counting them out on his fingers.

It had been a difficult choice, having been tempted by Healing but he wasn't a girl so Divination it was. That could be useful for him. Lots of people were influenced by Divination and the like, knowing it would help him manipulate people better. Not that he would put it like that if he was ever asked. Shared interests, that's what sounded better.

Sirius scrunched up his nose. "Divination? Really? You do know ow that's a load of nonsense, right?"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

Just that he had no idea what could be useful to win people over. Or that having extra knowledge never hurt anyone, especially when you didn't need to put a lot of effort into learning it.

"Nothing."

He didn't need to have an argument with Sirius over something so pointless. Nor did he want to garner the attention of either parent, which an argument was sure to do.

"Whatever," Sirius scoffed in annoyance before bouncing on Regulus' bed again. "Come on entertain me."

Honestly, he was like a dog with the way he went on. The bed rattled again. A very poorly trained one.

Thursday 11th July 1974

Potter Manor, 14:00

"Finally!" James sighed as Peter came through the fireplace.

"I'm on time," Peter told him, after a quick check of his watch. "Aren't I?"

"Ignore my dramatic son," Mrs Potter said with an eyeroll, stepping over to brush some soot off him and give him a brief hug.

Mrs Potter gave nice hugs. Peter smiled at her and then asked her. It was always nice to hear that they weren't the only ones who thought James was dramatic.

"I'm not dramatic!" came the predicted cry.

"You're the one complaining that your friend is on time."

"Everyone else is here," James whined, indicating to Remus and Sirius behind him.

Peter waved at them before his view was blocked by the typical bear hug from James. He still hadn't realised that people still needed to be able to breathe when he hugged them.

Thankfully, the hug didn't last as long as usual and Peter quickly regained the ability to breathe again. Mainly because Sirius and Remus had taken it upon themselves to forcibly yank James away from him.

"I think Peter likes breathing," Remus told him.

"Hi, Peter," Sirius greeted with a cheerful wave.

Peter ways found it amazing how different Sirius was at the Potters. He hadn't been able to put his finger on it for a while because it wasn't really something his friend did or said. It was more like his demeanour changed. It was more relaxed. At ease. Comfortable even. Which was odd considering Peter always felt slightly on edge whenever he was at someone's house, like he was going to do something wrong. Though, the Potters were very welcoming and somehow managed to make what was basically a mansion feel warm and homey.

"Hi, Sirius. How's your summer been?"

"Better now I'm here."

Sirius sent Mrs Potter a charming smile which made her laugh but ruffle his hair affectionately. Something else that amazed Peter because Sirius did not let anyone near his hair.

"Oh, you," she chided before looking around at the four of them. "Now, there are snacks in the kitchen if you want them, the Elves have been busy making plenty for four growing boys, and dinner will be at five. If Mr Potter doesn't require a deep cleaning."

That got a laugh out of all of them. Mr Potter caused enough minor explosions that at least every third day he came home completely coated in something. Apparently once he came home looking more like a pile of mud than anything else.

"Have fun, boys," she said, leaving them.

"Bye, mum!" James responded before turning back to them with a massive grin on his face. "I have the best idea."

Friday 12th July 1974

McKinnon Home, 09:00

Marlene tilted her head to one side as she was buttering her toast.

"Do you hear that?"

"What?" Mum asked, not looking up from her newspaper.

"The music."

She could hear faint strains of it. Well, more like the faint thud-thud-thud of a drum.

"The muggles must be at it early this year," dad commented.

It was the Twelfth of July and yes it was in capitals like that because this was Northern Ireland and it was an Important Date. To roughly half of the country anyway, whether you were muggle or magical. Sort of. Purebloods didn't tend to follow religion really. The older families didn't anyway - choosing to adhere to the Sabbats instead. Like the McKinnons did. There were still some that followed Muggle religions but they usually weren't overly involved. More of a habit than anything else.

"I hope they don't mistake us for Catholics this year and try to burn down one of our sheds again," Ciaran said with an eye roll.

It was something that was easily fixed and no real damage had been done except to a corner of the roof but it was still a bother. Just because they didn't go out and marched in their stupid parades didn't mean they were Catholic. They weren't anything! But in Northern Ireland you were expected to be something and if you were the wrong one, trouble could start. Especially in recent years. It seemed that the muggle world over here had gone more than a bit bonkers with their marching and their explosives and their killing each other. They were nuts really. Almost as nuts as what was going on in the Wizarding World which thankfully seemed to be restricted to mainland UK.

"Do they only know one song?" Marlene complained as the drumming sound didn't get any quieter.

"Pretty sure they know a few," dad said with a chuckle.

"All with the same tune?"

It was the same bloody beat year after year. Honestly, Marlene didn't believe that it was multiple songs.

"I never said they were creative."

The drumming got louder and Marlene let her head drop to the table with a groan.

It was too early for this.

Sunday 14th July 1974

Potter Manor, 17:00

"Do you have to go so soon?" James complained as Peter gathered his things together.

Three days was far too short for them all to be together. It just wasn't fair!

"I'm going on holiday," Peter said apologetically even though it wasn't his fault that he was going to Wales for a week.

"I still don't see why you can't just come back after that."

Peter sighed heavily. "Family is going to be visiting."

James couldn't help but pout. It just wasn't fair! Wait, he had already said that. But that's how much it wasn't fair! He wanted his friends to be around all the time. Was that really something too much to ask for?

That, and be needed help. Sirius had already managed the mandrake part of the Animagus Transformation and Peter was nearly there. He could keep his mandrake leaf in his mouth, unlike James. Peter needed to tell him how he did it!

"Remember to keep trying," Peter told him quietly as James gave him a final hug.

James knew it was soppy and sentimental and not something a fourteen-year-old should be doing but he couldn't help it. He was affectionate, okay? His friends didn't seem to mind.

"I have to wait until next month now," he grumbled in response.

He had swallowed the stupid mandrake leaf again. It was getting annoying. He was never going to get past the first attempt at this rate. What was even more annoying was the fact that Sirius had already managed it. And wouldn't stop being infuriatingly smug about the whole thing.

Peter gave him a sympathetic look before giving them all a last wave and stepping into the flames.

"One down," Sirius sing-songed.

Remus smacked him upside the head. "This isn't a competition!"

"One that I'm going to win!"

He was staying right up until James and his family were leaving for Wales. James had wanted to bring Sirius with them but mum said that she wasn't opening that can of worms with the Blacks. Which should be taken as a sign that Sirius should be kept here as long as possible!

"There's nothing to win, you idiot."

James turned his attention back to his friends and chuckled. He better go and sort something out to occupy them.

Tuesday 16th July 1974

Shacklebolt Flat, 18:00

"And the staircases move!"

Kingsley had to duck to avoid being stabbed or gouged by Hayden's flailing limbs. Not that his limbs were pointy or anything but he was holding his cutlery. He didn't want to go to A and E with a fork in his arm. That would just be embarrassing.

Dad chuckled and nodded along to Hayden's stories. Which didn't even make sense because he had gone to Hogwarts so he had lived through this himself as well as near things from Kingsley and Hayden!

Kingsley didn't understand why Hayden was going over all of this. Surely, he knew that he had told their parents all of this years ago? Hayden had even been there, listening with wide open eyes. But here he was, saying the exact same things Kingsley did.

Oh well, at least he had enjoyed his first year at Hogwarts. Kingsley hadn't seen him as much as he would have liked - the downside about living in opposite towers.

"Sounds like you had fun this year," dad said.

Hayden nodded enthusiastically.

"Hogwarts is the best!"

Now, that was something Kingsley couldn't argue with.

Saturday 20th July 1974

Potter Holiday Cottage, Wales, 12:00

James lay on his back and sighed in satisfaction. That was an extremely good lunch, even by their Elves' normal standards. Which was fantastic so this was even more outstanding than that. Everything just tasted better out in the open air. It always did. There was a kind of magic about it.

Magic that made him stuff himself like an absolute pig. In fact, behave so much like a pig that his parents scolded him about his manners.

Whoever came up with the idea of a picnic lunch was genius. Absolutely genius. His stomach felt like it was about to burst.

"I think you are more than the entire Opening Feast at Hogwarts," Dad teased.

James just groaned in response. Talking was too hard.

"Shhh," mum chided, also stretched out.

Another thing about picnics. They made you sleepy. Thankfully, dad seemed to agree and also lay back. James closed his eyes again and just went limp. This was so nice and peaceful and...

Just then, his dad broke the silence by swearing loudly and jumping to his feet.

"Fleamont!" mum scolded.

Dad paid her no mind as he danced in place like a crazy person and brushed at his trousers.

"Dad?"

James got no response either. Mother and son exchanged confused looks as finally dad dropped back down to the ground, glaring at said ground quite venomously.

"Are you quite okay?" Mum asked loudly in a scathing tone, not looking at all impressed.

Dad actually poked at the ground and gave it a final glare before he looked up at them.

"Ants!"

Sunday 21st July 1974

Longbottom Manor, 22:00

Frank yawned widely as he rubbed at his eyes. Was it a sign that he was getting older when the aftermath of his parents' parties left him feeling exhausted? Putting on a polite mask and being a good host took a lot more out of you than you thought. The party had been good, however. A lot of his classmates had come which was always fun. Even if they were all quite stiff due to the wearing of their best robes and being pressed to be on their best behaviour.

That's what Frank had missed James for, a bit of spontaneity and cheekiness. That was always entertaining. But his friend was on holiday this year. The first Longbottom Summer Gathering the Potters had missed in a while. Frank was sure the last they had missed was when he was seven. That had been a very boring party if he remembered correctly.

On the plus side, Alice had been there. That had been nice. They hadn't been allowed to be alone or anything but he had still enjoyed her company. She had seemed really happy to be there too. Frank couldn't actually remember talking to anyone else, though he was sure he must have or else he would surely have been scolded about being a poor host. But yes, even if the evening had had no excitement it was still fun. And now he was exhausted and just wanted to sleep.

"Sign of a good party," father said with a grin as he spotted Frank.

How was he not exhausted? He looked just as neat and tidy and refreshed as he did at the start of the evening. Frank, on the other hand, was sure his face was bright red from the heat of dozens of bodies mulling around and felt like he could fall asleep standing up.

"It was a good night," Frank agreed.

"Especially when you're talking with a Miss Smith?"

"Don't tease him," mother scolded as Frank went bright red.

"Augusta-"

Mother just gave him a look and he pouted. Honestly, parents were just ridiculous sometimes. Though, Frank was grateful. There was nothing to tease about between him and Alice. He yawned widely again.

"Time for bed," mother announced, clapping her hands together.

Saturday 27th July 1974

Tonks House, 15:00

"Mum, do you think we could invite Sirius over?"

Dora wasn't looking at her mum as she asked her question. Too busy nervously tracing patterns on the table. She didn't like the look that appeared on her mum's face whenever her family was mention. Or, well, looks because it depended on who was being talked about. Angry and annoyed was when she talked about her parents. Sad was for her sisters and cousins. Either way, Dora didn't like to see them play across her mum's face because it couldn't be fixed.

"You know that can't happen, Nymphadora."

Dora ignored the use of her full name; mum was never going to change.

"And why not?"

"Uncle Or-, his parents would never allow it."

She huffed and crossed her arms. It wasn't fair! Sirius was family and she couldn't even see him because of their family. Or was it his family? Was she even considered a part of the Black family of her mum was disowned? Probably not. Which was a good thing. From what she'd heard, the Blacks were not good people.

She just got so bored over the holidays now. It wasn't like any of her friends lived close by and she definitely wasn't friendly with many of the kids who loved on her street. Tonks had had to keep them at a distance due to her abilities, they weren't exactly easy to hide when she didn't have any control over them. Which sucked. Now, she had cousins on her dad's side (who she could actually talk to) but she only really saw them at Easter or Christmas. And birthdays. Sometimes. If they fell on a holiday. Which most didn't. They didn't really live close and since she started Hogwarts it was just awkward to get everyone together. Which left her alone more often than not.

This is why it sucked that she didn't have siblings. At least she'd have more people than her parents to talk to.

"Can we try?" Dora asked.

Surely it wouldn't hurt to ask? The worst they could say was no. But they could say yes.

Mum shook her head, a sad look on her face.

"They wouldn't even look at a letter from us."

"They would probably just burn it," dad snorted.

"Ted!"

"You know that's what they did with the letter you sent when Dora was born."

That got a heavy sigh from mum and the sad look didn't leave her face. Dora was kind of wishing she never brought the topic up.