Chapter 2: Step Two: Get the Kids to School

Nearly a week later Josh and Ann Marie were welcomed into her home by the schoolgirl like screams of their mothers. Both teens looked at each other wide eyed, clasped hands together then entered the living room ready to be pulled into the screaming, jumping, and excited ramblings that the two women were displaying.

"Oh it's so wonderful Emma it means you can finally break free! I'm so happy for you dear!" Ann said hugging her best friend. She then leached onto her son. "Emily is going to get away. Isn't that just grand?" she asked him. Knowing not what else to do Josh nodded and grinned.

"Yes, Mum. It's great."

Though, he didn't really believe this. In his heart he knew that if Emily left then he'd never see Ann Marie away from school, which, in turn, meant that he'd lose his best friend. Getting a hold of them selves the mothers sat down and instructed their children to do the same. With out thinking about it the teens took hold hands as they prepared for the speech on how this would change nothing.

"Now, of course this means things are going to have to change around here. But Uncle Charlie says you and your mother can come visit me at his school. Ann Marie I'll want you to visit me this Christmas but when summer comes you'll be a legal witch and I won't try and stop you from staying here. I might come back myself." Emily took a deep breath to calm herself. "I know it will be hard but this is something I want to do. I'll write all three of you as often as I can. Annie and I have already worked out the detail for a lot of things. Such as the holidays and bills here."

"But we want to know where you two stand in all this." Ann said looking at both of them. "You've both taken swell care of each other and are so very close we'd hate to split you up. So we want to know what you want to do this summer."

"I don't know about Josh, but Mum, you know I want to stay here. I'm already registered and there is nothing for me in the states. Aunt Jenna and Uncle Zander haven't ever been that big of an influence on me. Plus, my family is here." Ann Marie said in a pleading voice.

"AM, wait to make your decision after holidays. See what you think of the place. Maybe, you'll enjoy it more. We've both read the papers, mutants aren't registered there. You'll be safer and won't have to worry." Josh told her. Ann Marie turned to look at him she brushed way the stray hairs from his face and smiled.

"But, this is home. Besides England has something the states don't."

"What's that?" he asked trying hard not to look into her eyes, know there laid his greatest weakness.

"You." She said barely above a whisper. Ann Marie looked back to the two women who had raised her. "Mum, Ann, it's time we told you something very important. Isn't it Joshy?"

"Yes, we want to raise dragons!" he sighed "Sure great to get that off my chest well, I'm hot anyone else hot?" he tried to stand up and leave but was yanked back down into his seat.

"We don't want dragons. We're dating. I know it's a little weird and trust us we didn't plan any of it but….."

"We know." Ann said with a grin.

"You know?" her son asked.

"Well, yea. At first we weren't sure. Then when we walked in on you snogging in the barn it was a little hard to doubt." Emily laughed.

"Wh…Hu…..Okay. I'm not finished packing and we have to leave in the morning. Josh, come." Ann Marie said getting up to leave. She hugged her mother and congratulated her on her way out. Josh followed helplessly.

The next morning was chaos. Ann Marie had managed to lose her favorite pair of boots between the time she kicked them off the night before and that morning. They'd all also managed to sleep in. Josh loaded both trunks in their shared car and with one hour until they had to be on the train all four of them piled in the car. Of course on a morning liked this they hit every traffic jam, road block, detour, and light. In the back Ann Marie and Josh discussed how it was their parents entire fault. In the front Emily Elizabeth and Ann grumbled blaming their children. They pushed their carts through the barrier just in time to watch the Hogwarts' Express pull away from the platform. Standing in dismay they glared at the empty tracks before them.

"Oh Now what do we do? Merlin's Beard can't we ever do anything on time?" Ann Marie asked no one unparticular.

"Well, Potter and Weasley once missed the train and they flew a car to school." Josh announced as if this was the best idea ever.

"Yes, they did and McGonagall gave them hell for it too. Last I checked she was still there isn't she?" Emily asked pacing platform trying to come up with some answer.

"Yes, the old bat won't die!" Ann Marie said sounding crushed. Before Emily had a chance to scold her Josh had already started.

"A: she's a cat not a bat. B: that woman is the most talented transfigurations professor this side of the Atlantic. C: she fought for your rights, when the Dark Lord tried to conquer the world. So, Miss Rees don't EVER let me hear you speak so badly about her." Josh had always idolized Harry Potter's story, and any character in it had become like a god to him. It was a terrible obsession but few minded seeing as most children did the same.

"Oh quiet down children. I know what we'll do." Ann said setting her purse on top one of the trunks and dug out a piece of parchment and a pen. Quickly, she wrote a note explaining their situation. After this she folded it and bound it to her son's owl, Granger, and sent it off.

"Well, it will take some time to get the letter to Hogwarts. What till then?" Ann Marie asked.

"Hmmm. Why not ask someone about the next train headed for Hogsmead." Ann said.

"Why can't we just apperate?" Josh asked.

"Because for another three days Ann Marie won't be old enough and you still haven't passed your test." Emily pointed out.

"Only because they make me nervous!" he countered.

"I don't care, young man. We aren't breaking the law just to get you to school." His mother said turning on him. Ann never did well with uncertinanty and her life was full of it.

Without another word Emily and Ann strode off to the ticket window. After explaining what had happened and what they wanted to do the man sold them four tickets for the next train and instructed them that it would leave in ten minutes. Once again the group was forced to rush to their destination but this time they got there on time. Emily aided Josh using her wand to load the trunks on the train. It was a mere three hour ride to the Hogsmead station. Then they would trek up to the castle.

"I'm sorry Mum." Ann Marie said as they chugged a long.

"For what?" Emily asked. Josh and Ann had fallen asleep already.

"For everything this summer. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I know you have to find Dad. It's just….. I don't trust the man. If he left before and you find him what makes you think he'd do anything more than hurt you again?" Emily shrugged and then touched her heart.

"I will bear whatever pain he doles out but princess I must know the truth."

"I don't think I could do that." Smiling Emily nodded toward Josh's sleeping form.

"I doubt you'll ever have to with him." She said half teasing.

"Mum!"

When they finally reached the station Ann and Emily took the trunks and started for the stables on the edge of the cozy little town. After a number of coins exchanged hands it was decided that they would ride in a carriage up the hill to the castle. They bade their children good-bye and Ann handed over a note that would explain what they'd done and excuse the two from any punishment. So, with one last look at their lives' work they sent them off.