"Come on Lily, we're going to miss the train!"
Branwen and Lily rushed through the muggle station, Tad quick on their heels without checking they raced through the barrier and onto the magical platform. It was crowded like last year but worse because it was two minutes till eleven.
They pushed their way to the front of the train and tried to push their luggage in, it wasn't working and they quickly became frustrated.
"Let me help you with those."
A pair of strong arms took Lily's trunk and pushed it into the compartment where the entire luggage was stored, he quickly moved onto Branwen's and tucked that away as well. Tad then appeared and smiled at the group.
Lily looked at the man, he had messy dark hair and clear blue eyes that were twinkling with excitement.
"Thank you sir, it was very nice of you to help us."
"No problem, it was a pleasure."
"Are you related to James Potter, you look a bit like him?"
They both looked at Branwen as she pulled out of Tad's hug and he moved to Lily.
"Yes I'm his father Henry, and who would you fine young ladies be then?"
"I'm Branwen Ddraig and this is Lily Evans, we're –"
"Friends of James' and Alice's I've heard all about you."
The whistle blew and they said goodbye to both men and jumped onto the train just as it pulled off. Sticking their heads out of the small window they waved until they were out of sight.
"Well this is familiar isn't it Lily, should we go find everyone."
"Yep we should."
They walked down the train looking into compartments as they went; about half way down they found what they were looking for.
"Hey guys!"
Sitting in the compartment were James and Remus who were playing exploding snap and then Ginny and Alice sat opposite, Ginny was braiding Alice's hair.
"Where have you two been?"
"Talking to daddy Potter if you must know"
This threw James as he stared up at the pair both smiling the same grin.
"What did you say?"
"That we were talking to your dad, or did you want to know what we said to your dad?"
Lily smiled at Branwen laughing at the way she managed to keep a straight face when James looked so panicked.
"No worry James, he helped us put our trunks on the train because we were running late and having trouble with them, then he told us he was your father and when we introduced ourselves he said he already knew us."
"Oh! Do you want to join in the game?"
Branwen joined in while Lily took a seat next to the girls and started to talk to them. Twenty minutes passed before the next person arrived.
"Hey everyone, can't stay long thought I'd come say hello."
"Mand, where you sitting then?"
She moved into the compartment and closed the door tightly before taking a seat so her feet rested on Remus' shoulders. She smiled warmly at him when he turned to look at her and he stopped whatever it was he had been about to say.
"Something's happened guys, and I don't know what. You see my father had a dinner party back at the beginning of August and everyone who's everyone came, mainly the Black's both families, Pettigrew's, Snape's, Malfoy's and the Parkinson's, although that's only because Paul has married my sister."
"And this helps how?"
"Shut up James! The men went off to talk and things have been weird ever since. They've banned us from hanging around with anyone who isn't pureblooded including you James. Well it won't last Andi's already broken the rule she's sitting with Ted, but they've put Si, Pete and me under Bellatrix's heavily make-up covered eye. I only got away by saying I needed a pee."
"Wait so you're not allowed near us."
"Yep that's about right, it won't last when we get into Hogwarts, you wait and see guys."
The compartment door opened again.
"I thought I saw you come in here, get out NOW!"
"Oh give it up Lucius, I only wanted to say hello."
"Get here now!"
Everyone watched as he moved though the compartment and put his hand on the back of his cousin's back and pulled her off the seat.
"Say goodbye Amanda"
"Goodbye Amanda!"
She laughed and winked at her friends as she was pulled backwards out of the compartment and dragged back to wherever she was sitting.
"Well that was weird wasn't it!"
"Yep I wonder what is going on."
"I heard Tad and nhad talking about it the other day."
Everyone turned to look at Branwen and she smiled and indicated for them all to move closer.
"Did you know that Peter's dad was in school was Sirius' and Amanda's."
"So what?"
"Well Alice, they were all Slytherin's and all really close as well. Andromeda's father also spent time with them all, he's Sirius' dad's brother. Well there was a fifth member to their group a man named Tom Riddle."
"I've heard of him, he's the one that they're worried about isn't he."
"Yep, like James said people are worried about him, he had a mean streak and now he's back calling himself Voldemort -"
"You said about him last year Bran when we first met."
"Yeah well he's starting to gain followers, I heard Tad telling nhad, and well his core belief is that only purebloods are good enough for the magical world. Tad's worried he was speaking to Dumbledore and they're sure that Riddle's followers are going to make their children share their beliefs and -"
"And that includes Amanda, Sirius and Peter."
They all looked at Remus as they fell quiet the compartment door opened.
"Anything off the trolley loves?"
There were a few moments of noise as they went to get things of the trolley and then they all sat in silence eating, until a bang was heard and James smiled.
"Looks like my dung bomb went off, wonder who got hit with it?"
They laughed and continued to enjoy the conversations until they arrived at Hogwarts. They climbed into a carriage, with Lily having to sit on Ginny's lap to fit in and headed up to Hogwarts. Climbing out they joined the crowds to get into the school and took their seats at the Gryffindor table waiting to be joined by their three missing friends.