Beta-Reading: Joycelyn Solo.

Epilogue:

The first of September, for some reason unknown to most people, quite an inconvenient day to take a train at King's Cross Station. Being one of the most important stations in England, it was usually crowded and one had to make his way through the multitude by elbowing and stepping on other people's feet and it could get a little chaotic at times… but on September 1, it was a completely different story.

First of all, there were unusually large groups on those mornings, especially around 11 AM. And what groups! Sometimes, there were entire families, and other times great gatherings of children, all carrying enormous trunks and odd packages. Some of them, even more strangely, also carried cages with cats, toads and what seemed to be owls, although the reason any child would want an owl as a pet was a mystery. Which was even weirder was that everyone seemed to know each other. Many of the large parties of people squeaked and ran to hug each other, others simply greeted each other or shook hands. It was very, very odd.

On the morning of September 1, year 1991, a tall man walked across the sation, heading towards the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. Pushing a trolley with a heavy trunk each, two children followed suit. To an onlooker, it might have looked like a young father with his children… except that there wasn't much resemblance among them. The man and the youngest child, who also carried a cage with an owl, shared jet-black hair, but the boy's was messy whereas the adult's was sleek and had an air of elegance impossible to imitate. On the other hand, the taller boy, with his light brown hair and his fair skin, couldn't have looked less like to the other two.

The group came to a halt a couple of metres away from the barrier. The man turned to the youngest boy.

'Now, Harry, going through the barrier is quite easy,' he said, in a low voice so nobody close would hear them. 'You just have to walk towards it without stopping, until you find yourself on the other side. Don't be afraid, it doesn't hurt.'

'I'm not scared,' Harry said, although he didn't sound that confident. Sensing this, the man added:

'Look, you can run if you're nervous… close your eyes if it makes it easier for you…'

'C'mon, Sirius, Harry's not a baby,' the other boy interjected. 'He'll do it just fine.'

Sirius didn't look one hundred percent reassured.

'Why don't you go first, Connor, so Harry can see how to do it?'

Connor shrugged. 'Sure.' He turned to Harry. 'See ya in a few.'

He walked towards the barrier, glanced at both sides to check that nobody was looking, and confidently walked on through the deceivingly solid-looking barrier, and disappeared. Harry blinked, surprised. Sirius smiled at him.

'See? It wasn't that bad. C'mon, let's go together.'

The look of wonder on Harry's face when he saw Platform Nine Three-Quarters for the very first time was almost comical. Sirius could barely remember what it had felt like, seeing it for the first time. To him, it had represented freedom. Finally he would get away from his asphixyating house, that could not be called a home, and his dreadful family. He guessed – and hoped – that Harry felt different. Besides, he had to consider that his godson still saw magic with the eyes of an awed Muggle-born, given his education. Sirius hoped he would keep that sense of naïve wonder for a long while, but childhood slipped so fast…

Take Connor Angel, for instance. When Sirius had first meet him, about a month ago, the boy had been a smart-mouth brat. However, he'd turned out to be a good friend for Harry, without showing signs that his friendship was influenced by the younger boy's fame. Sirius hoped that everyone could be like that, but he seriously doubted it. Unfortunately, Harry would find many people interested only in the reflected glory that light-bolt shaped scar on his forehead could give them… not to mention those who considered that scar an insult to their old master. Sirius sighed. He could no longer protect Harry and the sooner he got used to the idea, the better.

Harry himself didn't look too worried: he was too busy chatting with Connor to share his godfather's fears. Sirius smiled, and once more his mind drifted away.

Harry had grown up a lot during the summer. Not physically – he would probably be scrawny for a while before growing up fully, just like James – but he had gone through a lot. He had nearly got kidnapped by Rookwood's wife, found out the truth about his parents' death, been told he was a wizard… and, of course, Sirius shouldn't forget the quite eventful time spent at Darla's.

Sirius still remembered quite vividly the last crisis they had faced there, when Darla's secret had been revealed. Harry, to whom everything magic-related was still a novelty, accepted what Sirius told him at once. He didn't look too worried by the knowledge that Darla, the woman who had treated him like a son for the past weeks, was a blood-sucking vampire. Sirius guessed that his Muggle upbringing had a lot to do with that.

Connor, one the other hand, had a much harder time coming to terms with it. However, Sirius reckoned the boy had taken the blow rather admiringly for such a young boy. Sure, it would probably take him some time to get used to the idea, but in the last days Sirius and Harry had spent at Darla's the boy was behaving almost normally already. It was a wonder how such an open-minded, friendly boy could have been raised by Severus Snape. It was quite a mystery, as Connor couldn't have been more different from his tutor, trusting and kind as he was. Now that he came to think of it, the very same day he had found out the truth about his mother, Connor had been selfless enough to push aside his own problems for a moment and ask Sirius how his job interview had gone.

Speaking of which…

'Sirius, shouldn't you get going,' Harry inquired, a hint of worry in his voice. 'You can't be late on your first day!'

Sirius smiled at his concern and ruffled his hair fondly… when he looked at his watch, though, he cursed.

'Damnit! I thought I had more time…' Sirius bit his lower lip. 'I wanted to help you get a compartment and all…'

'Don't worry, Elvis,' Connor intervened, using the same nickname Spike had come up with for Sirius. 'I can lend him a hand.'

'Thanks, Connor.'

The boy shrugged. 'You brought me here, it's the least I can do.'

Sirius smiled but he still felt uncertain. He didn't want to abandon Harry like that, not on his first day. However, he really had to go. Harry smiled.

'Sirius, I'll be okey. Just go.'

Before doing so, though, Sirius felt compelled to give Harry a lengthy list of indications, which the boy listened to politely whereas Connor sniggered. Sirius ignored him and gave his godson one last hug.

'Have fun, and write at once if there's anything wrong, OK?'

Harry nodded and turned to find a compartment, escorted by Connor. He looked over his shoulder once more and smiled.

'See you, Sirius!'

Sirius waved a hand in his direction… and felt more lonely he'd felt in seven years.

---

'Oi! Connor!'

Both boys turned and saw a square-shouldered boy, who wore a black T-shirt with a picture of C3PO on it, running towards them. Connor beamed.

'Hi, Matthew! How was your summer?'

The boy shrugged.

'It was… good, I guess. You know my family, they aren't exactly cheerful… but it was OK. Glad to be back, though.'

Matthew's dark gaze fell on Harry and Connor made the proper introductions.

'Matthew, this is Harry. I met him during the summer, he's starting at Hogwarts. Harry, this is Matthew, he is with me in Gryffindor.'

Harry shook Matthew's hand. Then, the two older boys began to chat, until Matthew slapped his forehead.

'I'm an idiot! I forgot to tell you I had saved you a seat…'

'Great!'

'…but I' afraid that in our compartment there's only room for one more,' Matthew said. 'I'm sorry,' he added, looking like he really meant it. Harry shrugged.

'It's okey, I can find a compartment on my own…'

Connor hesitated a moment, then shook his head.

'No, wait. Matthew, you watch my trunk for a moment, I'll help Harry find a compartment. Then,' he added in Harry's direction, 'once I've put my trunk in my compartment, I'll come back to check on you. OK?'

Both boys nodded and Matthew was left alone with Connor's luggage as they went to look for an empty compartment. They had to walk towards the very end of the train, as all the other compartments were taken. Finally, they reached the last one, which was fortunately empty.

Getting Harry's trunk aboard, though, proved to be quite tricky. They had already let it fall twice and were covered in sweat when two familiar red heads poped up.

'Want a hand?'

Much to the boys' delight, the Weasley twins had come to their rescue. With their help, they had no problem tucking Harry's trunk in a corner. Harry thanked them, as he pushed a strand of hair away from his sweaty forehead. The twins' eyes widened.

'What's that?'

By the corner of his eye, Harry saw Connor stiffening.

'You know what it is.'

The older boys turned to stare at Connor.

'You mean, he really is…? Him?'

'Blimey. You are, aren't you?'

Now Harry was utterly confused.

'What?'

'Harry Potter,' chorused the twins.

'Oh, him,' said Harry. 'I mean, yes, I am.'

One of the boys shot a quizzical look at Connor.

'Why didn't you tell us?'

Before Connor could answer, a voice came through the open door:

'Fred? George? Are you there?'

'Coming, Mum.'

After the twins' had left (and they had conveyed the funny conversation they had with their mother and siblings), Connor turned to Harry.

'Don't mind that, Harry. A lot of people are going to be curious because of… well, you know.'

Harry nodded.

'Yeah, Sirius warned me. So… see you later, I guess.'

'Oh! Sure,' Connor replied, 'I'll be back in no time, and later you can come to my compartment, the boys won't mind.'

Harry supposed that, if they were all as curious as Fred and George Weasley, they wouldn't. However, he said none of that to Connor, who hurried to hop off the train.

Harry took seat by the window, feeling very lonely all of a sudden. It wasn't like he wasn't used to being on his own, but he didn't welcome back the old feeling. However, now all was different, wasn't it? Now he was with children that were just like him… things had to be easier this time…

He was dwelling in those thoughts when the door slid open and the youngest redheaded boy, whom Harry and Connor had seen through the window a few minutes before, came in.

'Anyone sitting here? Everywhere else is full.'

Harry shook his head and the boy sat down.

And then, the journey to the unknown began…

But, at least, Harry was no longer alone.

So, this is it. The End. Or maybe not. Originally I planned to write a sequel, but as this March I start university I'm not sure whether I'll be able to do so.

If I do write a sequel as I intend to, you can check my profile to find it or, if you don't have an account at you can leave me your e-mail and I'll let you know.

Till then, I say goodbye... and many, many thanks to all that have read and/or reviewed this fic.

See you!