Chapter 3

"Good morning sweetheart." Chi Chi greeted Gohan in her usual fashion, pulling open the curtains to his Eastward facing window so that morning sun shown into the boy's closed eyes. "Get up, get dressed, breakfast is almost ready. Today is a very important day!" Chi Chi rattled off while making her way out of the room back to the kitchen to finish making breakfast while Gohan got up.

Rubbing his eyes and yawning, Gohan slowly came to his senses and realized that today was indeed an important day. He would be going to Mrs. Potter's house and going shopping for all his magic school supplies, and then the next day going to start school at Hogwarts! Jumping out of bed, Gohan scurried to the bathroom to shower and get dressed. Not more than ten minutes later Gohan was ready to go and he headed to the kitchen to quell the rumble in his stomach calling out for food.

Chi Chi looked up as Gohan entered the kitchen giving her son's appearance a once over which produced a frown on the woman's face. "Gohan, you are not wearing that," Chi Chi said referring to the purple gi he had been wearing most of the summer. "Didn't you see the clothes I laid out for you?" Chi Chi demanded of her son. She was not going to let her son enter the magical world looking like some fighting delinquent boy.

"Aw Mom, you mean the suit? No one's going to be shopping in a suit, I'll look weird." Gohan protested his Mom, he had seen the suit hanging on the back of his door but had hoped his Mom had just left that there to make sure he packed it, even if he didn't want to.

"No Gohan, not the suit." Gohan's face brightened a little at those words. "You'll being wearing that tomorrow for the train ride" Gohan's face fell again "But I did leave your outfit for today on the back of the bathroom door, I thought you couldn't miss it in there."

"Oh. Guess I didn't see it, I'll go change I guess." Gohan decided he must have missed seeing the outfit in his rush of excitement to get ready. He was just hoping it wasn't a terrible outfit, he'd had to wear too many in his short life already.

"No, eat now, might as well not mess up the clothes you're going to be wearing." Chi Chi said while she started placing the dishes, a huge stack of pancakes in front of Gohan, a small stack of two for herself. Gohan dug in before Chi Chi even brought over the bacon, which was consumed moments later. Chi Chi shook her head at her son's eating habits, 'just like his father.'

"Now Gohan, when you're at school, you might want to eat slower, most people aren't the bottomless pit you are, you might scare them." Gohan looked up as he finished the last bite of pancake with a smile.

"That was delicious Mom, thanks, I'm sure gonna miss your cooking." Gohan complimented satisfied and hunger satiated.

"Thanks Gohan, glad to hear that's all your going to miss." Chi Chi smiled teasing her son.

"Aw Mom, you know I'm gonna miss you too!" Gohan quickly retorted.

Chi Chi smiled, but could feel the tears starting in the back of her throat as she thought about her son leaving her for months at a time, but now was not the time for that. Pushing her feelings aside she got back into morning business mode. "Alright Gohan, go put on your clothes and check that you have everything packed. It's already 6:40, and we can't be late!"

"Right Mom!" Gohan got up from the table and hurried upstairs as Chi Chi started cleaning the remains from breakfast trying not to think about her little boy leaving her after this afternoon.

Gohan arrived at the bathroom door and took down the clothes that were on the hanger. They consisted of a pair of khaki pants and a button down blue shirt. Gohan sighed, but realized that it could definitely have been worse. Getting into the outfit he folded the gi he was wearing and placed it in the duffle that was open on his bed. Retrieving the suit that was indeed hanging on his door, Gohan contemplated "accidentally" forgetting to pack it, but he put that thought away when he realized that his mother would probably skin him alive when he got back home for break. Gohan saved some room in the duffle for the school robes that were on the supplies list, he wasn't sure what he thought about wearing robes for school and couldn't help but picture someone who looked like Master Roshi in his brown robe doing magic tricks.

Looking through the rest of his belongings he was bringing, Gohan decided he had everything. Zipping up the duffle he placed that, as well as the yellow satchel his mom had gotten him to use as his school book bag for the year into a capsule. He placed the capsule into a case which held one other capsule. That capsule was filled with all the schoolwork and books Chi Chi had assigned Gohan to complete while at Hogwarts. Needless to say, it was quite full.

Gohan tucked the capsule into the pocket of his pants and took one last look around his room, the last time he'd see it for four months. It wouldn't be the longest he'd be away from home in his short life, but it was only the second time he was intentionally leaving, the first being when he volunteered himself to travel to Namek. Gohan closed the door to his room before heading back to the family room where his mom was waiting.

Gohan walked into the family room and saw his mother sitting on the couch looking through her purse, checking to see that everything she would need for the day was there. Chi Chi heard Gohan come in, this time nodding in approval at the outfit she had chosen for him to wear.

"All ready Gohan? You did remember your school work right." She questioningly accused her son in only a way that Son Chi Chi could.

Gohan sighed and replied, "Yes Mom. Do you have the portkey?" Chi Chi pointed to the small wooden horse which was currently standing on the coffee table. Gohan checked his watch. "We have five minutes, but maybe we should just hold onto to it now to make sure we don't miss going for some reason." Chi Chi nodded in agreement and Gohan sat next to her and picked up the figurine. Gohan held onto the front of the horse with his right hand while Chi Chi held onto the back.

After what seemed like hours to Gohan waiting for the five minutes to pass he noticed his watch change to 7:00 and started to feel a very strange sensation like a hook pulling at his navel. Gohan with wide eyes looked up into his mother's eyes, clear that she had felt the same sensation.

"Hang on Mom!" Gohan said and the very next second he saw the land flashing past in blurs of colour. The sight starting to make him feel sick, Gohan closed his eyes until he felt his feet pound onto what felt like wet grass followed closely by his bottom. Opening his eyes he saw his Mom sprawled out on the ground just as he was, both were still clutching the wooden horse. Gohan started to laugh suddenly realizing their error, "Guess we shouldn't have been sitting down Mom."

"No one's first portkey is ever graceful, I would know." Gohan turned around at the sound of a strange voice and saw a man with messy black hair, green eyes and glasses grinning at him from the porch steps of a house.

"You must be Gohan," said the man again looking first at Gohan's confused face, then turning to Chi Chi's "and his mum, Mrs. Son right?" Gohan felt a tug at his right arm forcing him to his feet as he realized that his mother had quickly stood up when she was addressed by the strange man.

The man laughed again. "You can let go of the portkey now, you're here. I'm Harry Potter, you've met my wife Ginny, she should be here shortly, she's been dealing with our rambunctious son's this morning." Gohan felt his mother's hand release the horse as she turned and gave a short bow to the man in greeting. Gohan held onto the horse, not knowing yet what he should do with it and greeted the man in the same way.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Potter, thank you for helping us out and for letting my son stay with you for the night." Chi Chi greeted the man in a level voice, Gohan smiled and nodded adding in his own thanks as well.

"Okay, enough with the formalities, come in please!" Harry said while gesturing for the Son family to follow him inside the house. As soon as Gohan passed through the door, he could hear a voice he remembered as being Mrs. Potter scolding someone. Gohan didn't even need to rely on his more sensitive hearing to hear the "conversation" that was coming from a room upstairs.

"James Sirius Potter, you DO NOT bring snakes inside the home! And you certainly DO NOT put said snakes into your brother's sock drawer! And no but mum's, I don't want to hear it! Now get your shoes on and come down stairs, you too Al!" Gohan heard the rumble of feet on stairs and saw the emergence of the red headed witch that came to visit them a month ago. Upon spotting the small group with her husband in the hallway near the door, Ginny regained her composure from yelling at her son and smiled at the two guests.

"Wonderful to see you again Gohan, Mrs. Son." She said to the two in turn.

"Good to see you too Mrs. Potter, and please call me Chi Chi now that we know one another."

"Of course Chi Chi, and please Ginny for me. Sorry about not meeting you outside, I had to deal with my sons." Ginny released a frustrated sigh and turned to her husband. "Harry, our lovely son James is grounded when we get back this afternoon, remember that please."

"Ginny, they're leaving tomorrow you know, not much time for grounding is there?"

"I know that, doesn't mean he's not grounded, and don't let him off the hook this time Harry dear!" Ginny replied through gritted teeth, turning back to her guests.

"I apologize for all this, it's been a rather challenging morning in this house. Please come in for some tea. We're planning on traveling to Diagon Alley by eight o'clock, that's when the shops open." Ginny lead the way into the kitchen where the group sat at a large oak table, which sat six. There was already a young girl sitting there staring at her breakfast bowl in front of her, two other bowls were placed on the table around the girl.

"Please take a seat, that's our youngest, her names Lily. Lily say hello to Gohan and Mrs. Son." The young ginger headed girl named Lily's face turned a deep shade of red as she quietly said 'hello' to the Son's and returned to poking at her cereal with her spoon. Gohan smiled and as he was about to say hello back to the girl two young boys burst through into the kitchen and took their seats in front of two bowls of cereal and began to dig in.

"Boys, manners!" Ginny scolded the two. The boys, one who looked to be older sporting messy black hair and brown eyes looked up at his mother, a bit of fear evident in his eyes. Gohan recognized that look, he must be James, the one who was in trouble. The other younger boy had the same black hair as his brother, and was matching his father with his green eyes looked up at his mother as well. "Say hello to our guests, Gohan and Mrs. Son." Both boys said hello, the one Gohan identified as James turned back to his cereal, the younger boy stayed looking at the Son's. Ginny continued introducing. "The one stuffing his face is our oldest son James, he's going into his second year at Hogwarts. And Albus, the one still being polite" Ginny emphasized the last word hoping her older son might take a hint, "is going to be a first year just like you Gohan." Ginny smiled. Gohan finally took the opportunity to say hello to all of the Potter kids. Albus smiled back before starting to eat his cereal, James picked his head up for a moment in recognition while Lily buried her eyes and spoon deeper into her bowl.

Chi Chi, and Gohan finally sat at the table while Ginny went to get the kettle and Harry the teacups from the cupboard. Placing the cups on the table and pouring the tea, Ginny realized that there weren't enough chairs for all of them and quickly summoned a chair from the living room to add to the table.

Gohan watched the simple feat of magic with wide eyes, sure she had done that same thing with the picture at his house, but the ease with which the woman made a chair almost appear out of thin air was amazing. He couldn't wait until he was able to do that!

After a bit of small talk, and once everyone was finished with their tea, Ginny made her announcement to the group. "So, we are planning on taking the floo into Diagon Alley. It's really not that difficult but you must be sure to pronounce everything correctly. My husband here can attest to that, can't you dear." Ginny smirked and poked Harry in the ribs in jest. The man rolled his eyes.

"That was the first time I ever flooed Ginny, and it didn't turn out that bad!" Suddenly James piped into the conversation, "Dad was that the time you went to Knockturn Alley?"

"Yes James, your father wound up there, it was just a good thing Hagrid found him or you might not even exist. And that is why I'm warning Gohan and Chi Chi because it will be their first time as well." Ginny turned from her family to look at the Son's and upon seeing the quite concerned look upon Chi Chi's face explained further "Oh Chi Chi it really is safe and easy no need to worry!" Ginny gave Chi Chi a reassuring smile which she hoped would settle the woman's nerves some before checking her watch.

"Ok, it's quarter till, we should start getting ready. James clear the table." James gave his mother an exasperated sigh "Don't give me that James, this is only part of your punishment young man!" Chi Chi was watching the interacting with approval, she was beginning to like Ginny even more.

Gohan and Chi Chi remained sitting at the table at the insistence of Ginny as the Potter family cleaned up and got ready to travel, Ginny dolling out instructions and reminders for her kids and Harry putting on his own shoes before pulling out a large pouch from inside a kitchen drawer.

"Okay, looks like we're ready to go, come into the family room we'll show you what to do." Harry said, Gohan and Chi Chi followed the family into the living room and joined the semicircle around the fireplace. Harry ignited the logs with a quick incendio and held out the pouch to Ginny who threw a handful of powder into the flames which turned green. Harry turned to Gohan and Chi Chi and said,"Watch closely."

Ginny proceeded to step into the flames, earning a wide-eyed look of shock from the Son family. She then shouted "Diagon Alley!" and disappeared in the flame. "Alright James you go next." Harry said offering a handful of powder to his eldest son. James did the same thing as his mother and once again disappeared in the flames. Gohan and Chi Chi still stood with their eyes open absorbing yet another astounding piece of magic. Albus went next, followed by Lily before Harry gestured for Gohan to go next.

"Alright, you ready Gohan? Just remember to speak clearly." Gohan nodded before asking one last question, "Is it like a portkey, cause that was…interesting?" Harry gave a chuckle to the young boy's question. "Not exactly Gohan, but you'll see, now grab and handful throw it in and make sure, speak clearly."

Before reaching into the pouch for the floo powder, Gohan realized he was still clutching the wooden horse portkey in his hand. Gohan quickly shoved the figurine into his pants pocket before digging his hand into the pouch. Gohan took the fistful of the powder and threw it into the flames which once again turned green. He then turned to look at his mother who gave him a nod even though she still looked apprehensive about the whole procedure and walked into the fireplace.

The flames felt pleasantly warm with a light breeze, it reminded Gohan of his ki. With a last look at his mother's concerned face and Harry's warm smile, remembering his instructions, Gohan spoke loud and clear,

"Diagon Alley!"

~~~Thanks for reading, let me know what you think!