Chapter 20

August 1st, 1991- The Leaky Cauldron, London, England

Patricia was practically vibrating as she tried not to bounce up and down in her seat. The good mood of her uncle and father had rubbed off on her, despite the fact that they still didn't know where Harry was. Just knowing that he was alive was enough to keep them ecstatic for weeks.

Sirius's Idea helped to.

The first Muggle-born and their family arrived at exactly nine fifty-five, five minutes early. Hermione Jean Granger was more excited than Patricia. Her parents, Jean and Charles, were looking around the pub with wide eyes. Professor Sinistra, who was the Hogwarts representative, went over to them and ushered them to their table.

"Are you Lord Black?" Hermione asked excitedly. Then, not giving him a chance to answer, she babbled, "It's very nice of you to do this. My mum and dad weren't sure about sending me so far away. The school's somewhere in Scotland, right? That's what Professor McGonagall told us. But having people there that I already know makes things so much better. Are we going to get our books today?"

She said all that in one breath. Merlin's beard, the girl could talk.

Then again, so could Sirius.

"None of this 'Lord Black' stuff. Call me Sirius, or Mr. Black if you must. Hogwarts is somewhere in Scotland. No one knows its exact location because it's Unplottable and stuff like that. You will be getting your books today and everything else on your list. Have a seat while we wait for the others. This is my daughter Patricia. She's going to be heading into her third year in September."

Sirius saying this caused Hermione to bombard Patricia with questions, a hail that lasted through three more arrivals before someone who Patricia knew well entered the pub with his daughter behind him.

"Mr. Turpin!"

Charles Turpin looked towards where he thought he heard his name being called. His eyes widened when he saw the familiar head of red hair.

"Patricia? You're a witch?"

Patricia smiled. "Yes, sir. Hello, Lisa."

Lisa Turpin gave a tentative wave from behind her father's Hagrid-like bulk.

"Do you want something to drink? There's pumpkin juice, tea, and my personal favourite, gillywater. No Firewhisky though. We're not that mad. By 'we' I mean the Black family."

"I'll try some gillywater, please," Lisa said as she sat down in the seat to the other side of Patricia. Hermione smiled at her, showing charmingly overlarge teeth.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger."

"Lisa Turpin."

Lisa's drink came hovering over to her from across the table. Her eyes grew wide as it landed in front of her.

"Everyone's here," Professor Sinistra said to Sirius after a blond boy had arrived with his mother. Sirius stood.

"Ladies and gentlemen, oh, and parents," A few of the new firsties-to-be giggled. "Welcome to your behind the scenes tour of the wizarding world, a never before offered experience brought to you by the Lilly and James Potter Muggleborn Education Fund."

"In English, Papa," Patricia said when most of the parents look at Sirius with confusion.

"We're going to help you find your way around, answer any questions you have, and help your kids get all their school supplies."

Jean Granger raised her hand. "Will we have time to go to the bank? I understand that wizards use a different currency than…Muggles and we haven't had a chance to change our money."

"We will be stopping at the bank, but there's no need for you change currencies. Today the Fund will be paying for anything you need." And by the Fund he meant himself, as it was he who had set up the Lilly and James Potter Muggleborn Education Fund, and filled it with Black family gold. He said that he hoped his mother was rolling over in her grave.

"Mr. Black," Professor Sinistra hissed. Sirius quickly amended his statement.

"Unless someone decides they need a racing broom. They're not allowed until second year."

Professor Sinistra rolled her eyes and, with military efficiently, began escorting the Muggleborns and their families to the entrance to Diagon Alley.

Patricia was last to get up from the table. As she moved to follow the rest of the group a white owl flew in from the direction of the stairs to the first floor. Benvolio must have flown through an open window in one of the rooms, and with as much effort he had gone through to get there Patricia was disappointed when she saw that he wasn't carrying a letter.

"No reply, Ben?"

The owl hooted and shook his head before helping himself to what was left of her glass of gillywater. Patricia let him, though she was going to finish it. Greece was a long way, after all. When he was done drinking, Benvolio hooted to her again.

"It's alright, boy. It's not like I really expected to get anything. Do you want to head into Diagon with us?"

Benvolio answered by hopping onto her shoulder and pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"Alright then. Hopefully we won't get left behind."

September 1st, 1991-Platform 9 ¾, King's Cross Station, London, England

"You need some help with that?"

The black-haired boy from the Muggle side of King's Cross looked down at George from inside the train car, his thin arms trembling against the weight of his trunk and his glasses threatening to slide down his nose. "If it's not too much trouble…"

"Not at all. Oy, Fred! Give us a hand!"

Fred hurried over from where he had been talking to Lee and grabbed one side of the end of the trunk that was hanging out of the train. George took hold of the other side and together they helped the boy hoist his trunk onto the train and into the nearest empty compartment. Fred wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

"Blimey, that's heavy. Didn't you get lightening charms put on it?"

"Err…No?"

"No wonder. Tell you what, we'll send one of our Ravenclaw friends around to do them for you. It'll make the trip back a lot easier. I'm Fred, by the way. Fred Weasley."

"And I'm George."

"I'm Harry. Thanks for your help."

Harry copied Fred and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. His thick fringe moved, leaving visible the lighting scar that stood out against his pale skin. George let out a yell and Harry jumped.

"Are you him?"

"Am I who?"

"Harry Potter!"

"Oh, yeah I'm him. I mean, that's me."

"Wicked!" Fred and George said together. The Fred looked at George.

"Is Patty-?"

"Middle of the train."

"And Sirius?"

"Talking to Mum."

"Be right back!" Fred ran down the train, leaving behind a grinning George and Harry looking like the deer in the headlights.

Thirty seconds later, and yes, someone counted, Fred was back. He'd brought another redhead with him, and Harry briefly wondered just how many Weasleys there were.

"Harry Potter, meet Patricia Adhara Stimpson-Black."

"We usually just call her Patricia. It saves time. Patty if we feel like getting our arses kicked."

Patricia gave George a light slap in the black of his head.

"She's your godsister. That's what it's called, right?"

"Yes, that's what it's called," Patricia assured Fred. "Nice to meet you, Harry."

Harry looked like he'd just been hit with a Beater's bat. "I…I have godparents?"

"Yeah, my adopted father, Siruis Black, is your godfather. I don't know who your godmother is though."

"Could…could I meet him?"

"Of course! He's on the platform right now—" Patricia was interrupted by the train's whistle. "Bother! We're leaving soon. Could you stay here while we say goodbye? Papa will want to sit down with you for hours and we really don't have the time for that."

Harry nodded and the three redheads darted out of the compartment with Patricia calling after the twins, "Don't tell your mum about Harry!"

While he waited for the train to start moving, Harry stared out of the compartment window at the mass of families on the platform. Not even at Hogwarts yet and he'd had his mind completely blown. He'd found out about family that he hadn't even known he had, wizard family!

He was shaken out of his thoughts by the jerking of the train. Then another redheaded boy looked around the door of his compartment.

"Could I sit here? Everywhere else is full."

"Yeah, sure." The boy sat down opposite him. "You're Ronald, right?" Harry asked, recalling the name from when he had approached Mrs. Weasley for help.

"Yeah, but everyone calls me Ron. Who're you?"

"I'm Harry." Ron's eyes widened.

"Like Harry Potter."

"Exactly like that. I'm Harry Potter."

"The Harry Potter! Blimey! Do you really have the, you know?" Ron pointed to his own forehead. Harry lifted his fringe to clearly show his scar. "Wicked!"

Harry laughed. "Yeah, your brothers said the same thing."

Ron's ears turned red. "Which ones?"

"Fred and George. How many are there in your family?"

"Err, well Bill and Charlie have already left Hogwarts, they're the oldest. And Ginny's the youngest, she hasn't started yet. Then there's me, Fred and George, and Percy. Oh, and Fred and George's friends, Lee and Patricia. They come round often enough that mum treats them like they're ours. What about you? Where have you been?"

"Uh, living with my aunt and uncle."

"Really? I didn't know James Potter, your dad, had siblings."

"I don't know if he does. My aunt is my mum's sister."

Ron's eyes widened even more. "You're living with Muggles!"

"Yeah."

"You're Harry Potter and you're living with Muggles."

"Yeah."

"You're Harry Potter and you're living with Muggles."

"Shame on you, Harry, you broke Ron."

Both boys turned their heads to see Patricia standing in the door of their compartment.

"So, what am I interrupting?"