A/N: Technically, this September 1st could very well be James Sirius Potter first year at Hogwarts. I came to this realization earlier today and decided to write something about it. I'm a few days early but I'm sure I'll be forgiven ;-)


54. September

Ron wakes up to his kids screaming with glee and an empty bed.

By the time he groggily walks into the kitchen, Rose and Hugo are excitedly chatting about Hogwarts and Hermione is well engrossed in the Daily Prophet.

He kisses his children on the head, as Hugo tells him all about the Hogwarts Express in thorough details. Ron nods absentmindedly as he kisses Hermione hello. Her lips still have traces of her morning coffee and something carnal wakes up deep inside him. He stops himself from deepening the kiss, unwillingly so, but Rose is starting to make sounds of disgusts at them. On any given day, he'd humor her, but today is a special day and he doesn't want to be late. When he pulls back, Hermione gives him a look that he all know too well, her eyes saying "we'll continue this later."

Ron pours himself coffee, and sits down at the kitchen table, stealing a piece of bread from Hugo's plate.

They chatter happily and Ron answers his children's questions about Hogwarts and the train. Eventually Hermione joins in as he recalls his first train ride.

"I was sitting alone in a compartment and your uncle Harry showed up and sat with me. Then the Trolley lady came up and uncle Harry bought the whole trolley!"

"The whole trolley?" repeated Rose in wonder.

"That's really not healthy," mumbles Hermione.

"Where were you sitting mum?" enquires Hugo.

"Well, I put on my robes as soon as I boarded the train and as I came out of the bathroom Neville began screaming looking for his toad. I ended up asking your father and uncle if they had seen it and somehow stayed sitting with them for the rest of the train ride."

"Wait," Rose says, "does this mean that you and dad met on board of the train to Hogwarts?"

"Along with uncle Harry yes."

"On your first year?"

"Yes."

"Wow that's cool!"

They reach platform 9 ¾ early. They've been here before and every year since Teddy's first year.

This time is different though, it's their godson's first year. It's Harry's son first year, and the thought of it gives Ron chills and delighted excitement. It seems to him that years have passed by in the blink of an eye. He still remembers holding James for the first time. He cried that day for more reasons that he could understand.

Out of all his nieces and nephews, Ron always had a soft spot for James, not that he'd tell any of the others that. But the boy reminds him so much of Harry during their early years at Hogwarts, all untaming hair and lanky arms. His stubbornness is all Ginny though.

Hugo is the first one to spot them as they make their way across the crowd.

When Ron gets to James, seeing him fidgeting as Harry ruffles his hair, his chest fills with pride.

He then takes the boy aside, and hiding from the rest of the group, Ron hands him a small bag full of Galleons and tells him, "if you meet a kid that doesn't seem like they have much, buy them some candy will you?"

Ron turns around and his eyes catch Harry's looking at them, as if he heard him.

"I also put some of the newest products from the shop inside, don't tell your parents," he winks before pushing James back towards the group.

Later, when goodbyes have been bid, tears shed and the train as gone, the rest of the children staying on the platform chat about what it will be like when it'll be their turns.

"Albus and I are going in two years! I. Can't. Wait!" yells Rose excitedly as they exit the train station.

"Not if I have something to say about it," mumbles Ron. He still has a hard time believing that his little girl is already 9, he can't imagine how he will feel when she will the one boarding that train.

He figures he has two more years before he can worry about it.