The Jimmy Potter Stories

Jimmy Goes Hogwarts

Chapter Three

Jimmy didn't know what he saw when he fell through the iron barrier that led the way to platform 9 ¾. There was the Hogwarts Express, and the platform was filled with loads of students, heaving trunks inside, saying goodbye to parents and younger brothers and sisters, greeting friends and catching up about the summer.

"Welcome to platform 9 ¾ Jimmy!" Richard said as he stood next to Jimmy.

Jimmy had never been on the platform before, as he was the first of his family to leave for Hogwarts.

"It's quite something, isn't it!" Richard added.

Jimmy nodded. "It's amazing!"

"Hey, keep moving alright! Let's get those trunks on the train!" Ron appeared behind his cousins. Richard nodded and started heaving his trunk towards the train. He threw it inside, and took Jimmy's afterwards. He was about to board the train when he heard someone call his name.

"Rich! Hey Richard!"

Richard turned, and so did Jimmy. He saw a young man and a young woman walking towards them. Richard waved and greeted them.

"Francis, old mate! And Donna, how've you been!"

As Richard was catching up with his friends, Jimmy took a chance to look around. He saw Nicolas and Jeremy, saying goodbye to Ron. Ron gave them both a hug, and gave Nicolas a particularly long one. Dylan and Jonah were heaving the other trunks on the train and Evelyn was meeting some girls from her year.
Then he saw him. A pale man with blond hair was staring at him, a boy, probably his son, stood next to him. Jimmy didn't know why that man was staring at him, so he tried to avoid his eyes by turning back to Richard and his friends.

Richard put his arm around Jimmy's shoulder. "This is Jimmy, my cousin! He's starting at Hogwarts this year! Jimmy, I'd like you to meet Francis Longbottom and Donna Jones. They're in my year!"
Jimmy smiled and greeted Francis and Donna.

"Nice to meet you, Jimmy!" Francis turned around and called someone. "This is my little brother, Isaac!"

A long, thin boy joined them. He had blue eyes and dark blond hair and seemed a little nervous when he greeted Richard and Jimmy.

"Isaac is also a firstyear!" Francis said. "He's kind of nervous but I told him a thousand times he shouldn't be!"

"Not to worry, Isaac! I've got four cousins who are all starting their first year!" Richard said friendly.

"Hey guys, we should get on the train!" Dylan bellowed to his cousins and as a mother duck who is leading her children, Dylan led his cousins to a compartment.

The train started to move slowly and the children waved goodbye to their uncles. Fred and George told Nicolas to send them a toilet seat but before Nicolas could ask them why, they had vanished from the platform.

Once they all had found a place to sit and put their trunks away, Dylan, Jonah and Evelyn got up. "We're supposed to be in the Prefects carriage!" Dylan said proudly and the three of them left. Jeremy got up as well. "I'm gonna go find some guys from my year!"

Leaving Jimmy, Nicolas, Jessie, Lizzy and Richard together with Francis and Isaac Longbottom and Donna Jones. After the other three introduced themselves to Nicolas, Jessie and Lizzy the conversation ended up at quidditch.
Apparently Francis was the Gryffindor Keeper and Donna a Gryffindor Chaser. Richard himself was a Seeker and captain of the team.

"Do you know what your uncle will do?" Francis asked Richard. "I hear the Canons want to keep him on as trainer."

"I don't know really. Uncle Harry never discusses his work with me!" Richard admitted.

"What else can he do? He can't continue as a Seeker, that's for sure!" Donna said. "He's getting to old to be a Seeker!"

"He can become an Auror!" Nicolas said. "Mum told me uncle Harry did finish the training with her and dad, but dropped out when he got the chance to be the Canon's Seeker. Don't you know something about it?" He turned his head towards Jimmy, who had been staring out of the window, trying desperately to stay out of the conversation.

All of sudden all seven heads jerked to Jimmy and Jimmy felt he started to blush.
"Uhm, I think he said something about staying on as a trainer." He then said.

"How do you know that?" Francis asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Well, I heard him and mum talk about it a thousand times over dinner!" Jimmy said.

"Over dinner? Does he often eat with you then?" Francis asked, surprised.

"Well, almost every night, if there's no business dinner he has to attend." Jimmy said. "But let's talk about something else."

"Yeah, do you know is Snape's still teaching Potions?" Richard said, knowing Jimmy didn't like talking about his father.

"Wait wait, what do you mean? Is he your father or something?" Francis said, talking over Richard's words.

"No no, that can't be it!" Donna interrupted. "Potter's son is called James, after Potter's father."

"Hello! What are you people? Stupid or something?" Jessie bellowed. "Jimmy is short for James, Jimmy is Potter's son blablabla. And now I want to know who Snape is!"

Francis and Donna looked pretty stunned.
"Are-. Are you really?" Francis asked.

"Potter's your father?" Donna asked.

Jimmy turned, if possible, even more red. He didn't like this at all. What if every meeting with people from Hogwarts would go like this. He started to feel terrible and sent a look for help at Richard.

"Okay guys, that's enough alright! He's Jimmy, just Jimmy. Not Potter's son or something." Richard quickly said. "And now, Francis, is Snape still teaching?"

Francis cast an impressed look at Jimmy, before answering Richard's question.
"Yeah, he does!"

"Dammit! I hoped he would've drowned in his cauldron or something!" Richard growled.

"Who's Snape then?" Jessie asked, impatiently.

"The Potions Master at Hogwarts and Head of Slytherin House." Donna explained. "He's been there for thirty years or something and he is terrible!"

"He's a monster!" Francis added.

"A monster?" Lizzy asked, a little frightened.

"Not a real one!" Richard said soothingly. "But he acts like one."

That didn't seem to relax Lizzy a bit.

"How do you know he's still at Hogwarts?" Jessie asked curious.

"Dad told me! He's the Herbology teacher. Neville Longbottom. Maybe you've heard of him. He invented a potion that cures dragon poison." Francis told them proudly.

"Oh yeah, dad mentions him sometimes. That potion saved dad's life a couple of times!" Lizzy said.

"Who are the other teachers then?" Jessie asked.

"Well, there's professor McGonnagal, the Headmistress of Hogwarts. Came when old Dumbledore died, which was a terrible pity. Dumbledore was a great man! And there's professor Lupin, who returned at Hogwarts a couple of years ago. He teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts, and is probably the first one who succeeded to stay on the job longer then a year. And he's Head of Gryffindor House. There's professor Binns, the only ghost that teaches had Hogwarts. He teaches History of Magic."

"The most boring subject there is!" Francis muttered.

Richard smiled. "Yeah well, there's nothing he can do about it. Let's see, you'll probably have professor Chang too. She teaches Transfiguration and is Head of Ravenclaw House. And for Charms you'll have professor Flitwick I believe, an old tiny man, very nice! And there's professor Wood as well, the old Puddlemere United Keeper"

"That guy is over-active you know! Keeps popping up at training sessions of the four house teams." Donna smirked.

"I'm just glad he keeps doing that! He usually gives loads of advice." Richard added. "Well, he'll be teaching you lot how to fly!" He taught for a moment. "I think that's about it for you lot! Those are the subjects you will take!"

"So, we'll have Potions, Herbology, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration and Flying." Lizzy concluded. "That sounds like fun!"

"Sure thing!" Richard said. "I think you'll like it!"

The food trolley past by on the corridor. Richard bought them all kinds of sweets and soon Jimmy, Nicolas, Lizzy, Jessie and Isaac were enjoying their candy as Richard, Francis and Donna were discussing all different kinds of brooms and especially the Lightning Richard owned.
An hour later, Lizzy fell asleep on Richard's lap, Isaac was reading a book, were Nicolas and Jessie discussing ways to pull pranks on teachers and was Jimmy staring outside with an aching in his stomach. He was getting nervous. The train should nearly be there.

"I think we better change into our school robes!" Richard finally said. They did so, all of them looking surprised when they saw Richard's newest robe, a dark blue with vertical yellow stripes.

"I still don't believe they allow you to do so!" Francis muttered as the train slowed down and they reached Hogsmeade Station.
They all got out, and Richard held Jimmy back for a second.

"They'll be staring at you when you get sorted. Don't worry about them! I'll probably see you at the Gryffindor table later tonight. But when they stare at you, don't give a damn! You're just Jimmy, right!"

Jimmy nodded. "But won't we go to the castle together then?"

Richard shook his head. "Next time, cousin. You'll take a different route!"

And just as Richard finished his sentence, Jimmy heard a hoarse voice behind him.

"Firs' years over here! All firs' years over here!"