Chapter 6

Sorry I'm being a bit slow...and I can't make my chapters any longer than they want to be: P

Charlie was eating breakfast with Lily when Harry walked in the kitchen. Nathaniel was also there, reading a book on a chair in the corner, and all three of them looked up, astounded, when Harry came through the door. He beamed at them all, and sat down at the table, where Charlie

"Y-you're not at work..." Charlie said, a smile appearing on her face. Harry nodded; returning the expression, then began eating his cereal.

"Nathan, come and join us!" Harry said cheerily to his son. Nathaniel frowned, and returned to his book. Charlie gave Harry a concerned look, and sat down with her husband and daughter.

It was extremely unusual for Harry to eat breakfast with the family. He was normally at work before anyone else got up, but Charlie had not wanted to wake him this morning, thinking he looked peaceful. Anyway, Lily had been up before everyone else. She had bounced around their small house, excited at the prospect of a new school, and had woken her reluctant twin brother with her incessant giggling and noisily packing her suitcase.

After breakfast the twins were taken to King's Cross, ready to board. Harry laughed at the thought of his first day at school, and Charlie only remembered her mother, Callie, warning her not to tell a soul about her parentage. It hadn't been that long ago for either of them, and the memories brought back different feelings.

Lily gave her parents warm hugs, before picking a carriage and jumping on. She grinned at her brother and urged him on.

'Come on, Nate! We've got to get good seats!' she was brimming with excitement.

Nathaniel scowled at her enthusiasm, before being clasped in a tight embrace by Charlie. She patted down his hair, which stuck up like his father's, and being the one of the few traits Nathan picked up from his dad, Charlie loved it about him. She grinned awkwardly at him, hoping in her heart that school would sort him out.

'Be…good…ok? I love you so much Nathan.' She kissed him on the cheek and led him into Harry's hug, and then watched as he climbed solemnly onto the train. Lily put an arm round his shoulder, and waved goodbye to Harry and Charlie vigorously as the train pulled out of the station.

Charlie watched it leave, tears in her eyes. Harry took this as a mother's reluctance to let go of their children, and smiled, as many other parents on the platform were crying for this reason, but it was not this for Charlie. She was crying because of worry, for her son's behaviour and who she feared he would become, guilt, for thinking this of her son, but mostly regret, for her miserable time at Hogwarts, and her miserable life before Harry, and how much she wished she could have made peace with her parents.

Lily hugged her brother, but he just squirmed away and out of her grip.

'Come on, Nate, let's find a compartment together!'

'I'd rather not thank you. I'd like to be on my own.'

'But…but we don't know anyone…don't you want to make the same friends? Don't you want to make any friends?' Lily was upset.

Nathaniel frowned. 'I have no doubt that you'll make lots of friends Lillian, but I prefer to be alone with my books. Can you please leave me now?' He slid into an empty compartment, leaving Lily standing open mouthed, a hurt look on her face.

Opening his bag, Nathan brought out his brand new Defence Against the Dark Arts books, and began reading. He sneered at the lack of Dark Art material, in this novice book, far simpler curses then the ones he had read about in Knockturn alley once…his parents didn't know where he had gone off to that day, but he had always been keen to go where they forbade him not to go.

The compartment door slid open and a nervous looking first year walked in. He smiled shyly at Nathan, who wrinkled his nose up and put his book away, grudgingly.

'Hi, I'm Harfang Longbottom…can I sit here? I don't know anyone…' he trailed off mid-sentence, looking terrified that Nathan might say no. He liked the power he had over the boy, and nodded, a wry smile on his face.

'My name is Nathaniel Potter. Pleased to meet you. What do you know about the Dark Arts, Harfang?'

Harfang's eyes widened, as Nathan's narrowed, and he stammered quickly.

'Erm, not much, Nathaniel, but I'd like to know more!' he added quickly, seeing Nathan's growing scowl.

'Fantastic, we're going to be firm friends…did you know the Dark lord Voldemort was my grandfather?'

I like Nathaniel. He's a credit to his granddaddy...