Chapter 33

Platform 9 ¾, London - September 1

James Potter was looking forward to the arrival of the Evans family on the platform. He wanted to introduce this family to his parents. He was aware of how much had changed in their dealings over the past year but he hoped they would accept his choice. He sighed with relief when he saw Lily's red hair on the horizon. If she showed up, there was a good chance that Petunia would also come. She had already finished school and she was looking for a job. She wanted to be able to move out of her family home without any problems in the near future.

- Where are you looking at, honey? - his mother's voice had been bearing traces of great pain for some time. Unfortunately, that woman didn't want to share the cause of her worries with them.

The wizard looked at his mother and he ran his fingers through his hair. It was his habit. Something he do a lot when he got nervous. - The Evans Falily showed up.

Dorothea Potter raised her eyebrows slightly. It occurred to James that she might have misinterpreted something. Since he was seeing Petunia more often, he tried not to talk about her as he did about Lily. What was born between him and the shy blonde was just theirs, and until he was sure it was permanent, he didn't want to muck up anything.

- Lily? - she sighed with resignation. - I thought you forgot about that girl in the past year. Only problems arose from your unhealthy taste for that girl.

- It wasn't an unhealthy taste. I liked her. What was unhealthy in this case was how I tried to get her attention. I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for what I've done. If I haven't forgiven myself, how can he forgive me? - at the mention of Severus Snape, for unknown reasons, he still felt pain in his heart. He knew that he would have a sentiment for this man for a long time, but he wanted to build his life anew. - This time I chose better. At least I hope so. Petunia sees me as a boy she likes to spend time with, not a boy with full crypts.

- Then I want to meet her. I hope she makes a better impression than her sister.

James was glad to see the smile on his mother's face. He felt relieved as she put her hand on his shoulder.

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Lily Evans hoped things would be back to normal again this school year. She had never expected so many changes in her life in such a short time. What she hadn't really expected was the loss of James Potter's attention. She was so sure he would courting her no matter how many times she refused him that she began to take him for granted. She saw that during the holidays this wizard had grown very close to her sister. He listened attentively to everything she said and Petunia followed him with the eyes of a young lady in love. The fact that they wouldn't see each other regularly during the school year might have helped Lily sneak back into James' favors.

His favor could help her a lot after they graduate.

- Honey … - her mother's voice was impatient. - Do you see any of your friends?

- Yes. James with his parents.

Lily's attention didn't miss the smile that crossed her sister's face.

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Durmstrang - September 1

Anne Potter smiled at her husband's embarrassment. Despite his age, he still didn't tie his tie himself. She sometimes wondered if it was due to a real lack of this skill or because of a ritual they started creating right at the beginning of their marriage.

- You really don't want to live here? - Evan asked his wife. He loved her even more than at the begining. He was in love then and now he loved her even with her little quirks. - I miss you.

- And you see us every weekend. You agreed that our boys would go to Muggle school. It is important that they receive a more universal education.

She liked arguing with this wizard. At the beginning of their relationship, she was terrified of what he could do. Over the years, she began to take every weird thing he carried home stoically.

- Did you talk to Lily? - she asked, finishing the double knot. She turned and walked confidently to the chair by his desk. - She's afraid you won't accept her decision.

Evan sighed before saying, - That's not the point. We hid for so many years that my parents couldn't intervene in my life. It is hard for me to get used to the fact that my firstborn child…. My little daughter Lily Anne Potter became the Chief Wizard of ICW. She is still a child.

- Our Lily is over 22 years old young woman. She is young but capable. You know about it.

- I know. I'm just afraid for her. I am her father and I have the right to do so.

Anne Potter looked at her husband once more before leaving his quarters in search of her daughter. Lily was a surprise for them. She was just over 15 when she found out she was pregnant. Evan was only a year older than she was. They had both been extremely irresponsible by starting sex so early, but… She never wished they had bowed to Evan's parents decision. It is different to perform an abortion voluntarily and something else when someone forces you to do that.

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Severus Snape held her in his arms. His body was relaxed. She was surprised by this, because the previous day Sev had had a hellish argument over the choice of gifts for Lucius. They quickly reconciled, but Severus' body was tense until the very evening.

- I can't believe it's been a year since we're here. In a few days our friends will be transported to Hogwarts. We will follow them after the results of the draw of the tournament champion from our school are announced. Is it normal to get stressed?

- It's more than normal. - She looked into his eyes, which had so much pain in them. - You come back to a place that was a cave of horror for you. But now you aren't alone. I'll be there with you. There will also be Wiktor, Dimitr, Michaił ... There will also be girls and professors. As far as I know, even the Ice Wizard wants to be there. I heard that he wants to get the Goblet of Fire back. After all, it belongs to him.

The dark-haired wizard rested his forehead against her head and he began to sway. He knew she didn't like to dance, however ... Dancing with him was something completely different.

She felt every movement of his body in hers. Not only physically and emotionally, but also magically. Since she met him, she learned many things about him, the most important of which were the moments when he let go. As he lost himself in the pleasure of dancing, he let his magic leave him and circulate freely around him. It allowed her to see his magic. His magic was like melted darkness.

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Platform 9 ¾, London - September 1

Dorothea Potter was still reliving the news that Augustus Prince had recently given her. The witch she thought was her sister was dead. And no amount of her prayers or magic would bring her back to life. She hoped they would come to terms eventually. However, it wasn't given to her. She has failed on every possible level. She had failed, and there was nothing she could do about it.

The woman's thoughts were interrupted by a shout – James! - After a while she saw something red attacking her son. The son who stood stiffly as if at all costs didn't want to hug the someone who had just hugged him.

- Lily… - James's voice indicated he was disgusted. - Let me go. Good morning, Mrs. Evans. Hi Lily… - She was surprised at the pause he made when he saw the other girl. - ... Petunia, you look beautiful.

She saw a smile on her husband's face moments before their son approached a blonde who looked more like her mother than his friend from school.

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He didn't care if anyone saw them together anymore. He had missed her since their last meeting. He still remembered how he felt when he held her in his arms as he slowly danced. He was surprised to see that she was wearing the same dress. He walked over to her and, stopping right in front of her, did what he should have done if he were a man who is courting woman.

He held out his hand to her and asked. - Can I?

She didn't have to answer. She nodded, and after a moment he hugged her gently. Gently but firmly adjusting their bodies to each other. For Lily and her mother, it might have been a simple hug, but for any other wizard who respected wizarding customs, it was a statement. Petunia was his. Only his.

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Fleamont Potter studied his son. He could proudly say that the boy had recently become a man. He hoped the situation wouldn't change if by some miracle Mr. Severus Snape entered his life again. He knew his wife would be very happy about it. However, he wasn't sure if his son's adulthood was stable enough to survive the encounter with mister Snape.

He wasn't sure if he would be able to accept a Muggle as daughter-in-law, but seeing what brought the two teenagers together, he knew that he would support them. He won't push his son away like his parents pushed Evan away. He was looking for his brother for many years. Without success.

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Sirius Black, who along with Remus and Peter had finally located his friend on the platform, stood like a pillar of salt. He knew that the two teenagers had gotten very close during the summer holidays, but he hadn't expected this to happen. Not in public and not right next to the girl for whose he previously courted.

- Sirius what happened? - the question came from an angry Peter. The boy didn't want to explain what exactly happened during his vacation.

- James made the declaration. A serious declaration. - he could see his friends were confused. - James has just hugged an unmarried woman in the presence of both her and his family. He hugged her, asking her for permission. I don't know if Petunia is aware of what she just agreed to.

Remus looked impatient. - Could you explain that to me? Could you explain that to us?

- This is a custom practically practiced by only very traditional families. And it is not tradition with regard to blood prejudices, but tradition with regard to customs. James, hugging her in front of both families, declared to everyone around that this woman was no longer available for the taking. Declared Petunia Evans to be his.

Peter chuckled. Sirius sometimes wondered if their little friend had an extremely twisted sense of humor. More twisted than his own. - James has balls. Do something like that alongside Lily? I wrote with her letters during summer. Redhead hopes to get closer to James during the school year.

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Ice Tower, In the Middle of Wasteland - September 1

Iskrem was sitting near the North Falls. When he returned home to recover, he was surprised to find that three of the four waterfalls surrounding his homeland were active again. The magic was coming back. He hoped that someday there would come a day when most of the magical creatures would return to this place.

The next trip will be difficult for him. He wanted the Goblet of Fire back. It shouldn't be used as a prop for an ordinary interschool tournament. It shouldn't be limited. She shouldn't be held by strangers.

The Goblet of Fire will be the first to come home. Then it will be time for the others.

The Goblet of Darkness that can destroy or protect.

The Goblet of Light that can illuminate or blind you.

The Goblet of Water that can take or give a life.

And… The Void Necklace that can destroy all magic. After all, what had a beginning always has an end as well.

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Another chapter. I hope you liked it. Regards, katie-krum