"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"When will we be there?"

"Soon."

"How long?"

Harry sighed, both hands on the wheel as he attempted subdue the mild irritation his ever impatient son was causing. Ginny chuckled as she sensed her husband's normally calm composure fading.

"We'll be there soon enough, honey." She told James, saving him the trouble to answering for the umpteenth time that car ride. The eleven year old humphed and turned to glance out the window.

"What do you think it'll be like?" Albus asked with a hint of curiosity. James smiled and began to run through all the amazing things he'd heard about from his cousins and family.

The next fifteen minutes were spent discussing everything from the heavenly feasts to the well loved Quidditch games, with James going into as much detail as he could without having been there himself.

His young siblings listened with awe as he went on with his elaborate descriptions. Despite being overly dramatic at times, their eldest brother certainly knew how to tell a story. In fact, he was often favored by Lily for bedtime stories.

Unbeknownst to the children, both parents smiled softly at the boy's obviously exaggerated tales and his excitement to go to Hogwarts. They had decided to keep quiet about much of the school, wanting their children to experience it for themselves.

They only hoped it would still be standing when their first born came back for the holiday.

Before Harry had even put the car into park, James unbuckled and all but launched himself out of the car.

"James!" Ginny snapped, but the youngster was already fifty feet beyond, snatching a nearby cart and returning with breakneck speed.

"Sorry mum." He smiled, not the least bit so. "I just don't want us to be late!"

"It would do you well to learn some patience while you're at Hogwarts." She sighed, though even she doubted it. James Potter simply had too much life in him to sit still for a moment. It was a quality she both admired and detested.

As if to proof her thoughts, he promptly opened the trunk and started pulling his gear out onto the cart. A shrill hoot sounded angrily at all the jostling.

"Calm down Félix." James hushed the bird in the cage. The young northern hawk owl squawked once more, still a bit peeved as he nipped at his wings to correct his ruffled feathers.

Lily glanced at the cart, now fully loaded and decided to plop on top of her brother's suit case.

"Can I ride?" She asked, looking up at him eagerly. Rolling his eyes, James tossed her a wicked grin.

"Only if you can hang on!" He teased, breaking into a sprint as they left the rest of their family in the dust. Lily's squeals of excitement brought a swell of pride to his face.

King's Cross station was just as James remembered it from last year. Although this was his first time going to Hogwarts, he had visited the station a total of four times, one for each time Teddy had attended Hogwarts.

And every single time, James dreamed of hopping onto the brilliant red express and traveling far away to the wonderous magical school. It nearly killed him to watch his 'precious' older cousin Dominique go before him, with her prim and smug attitude following swiftly behind her. Nevertheless, he thought with a grin, it was his turn. Finally.

He smiled and continued to push his trunk along, Lily swaying her feet on the end of it. She had only seen the station a couple of times, being too young to remember most of them.

Once they halted between platforms 9 and 10 and allowed their parents and brother to catch up, Ginny scooped her daughter off the luggage and into her arms, her left hand on Albus. James felt a familiar hand on his shoulder and grinned to see his dad right beside him.

"Ready?" He asked, to which his son eagerly nodded. With a quick glance at the passers by, the two quickened their pace until they were on a full sprint towards an old brick wall. But just before they were about to collide with the cracked stones, they went straight through the wall, reappearing on the other side.

On this new side, a bright red train as long as the eye could see, held itself with pride. The sign 'Platform 9 3/4' stood right beside it.

Dozens upon dozens of people were scurrying about in what seemed like every direction, saying hellos and good byes as children were loaded up onto the train. Once Ginny appeared with Albus and Lily in tow, the five proceeded to make their way through the crowd.

Growing impatient with all the foreign passers by, James was just about to give up when Albus tapped his arm and pointed. Bright smiles formed over the boys' faces.

"Teddy!" They cheered, running over and nearly tackling the teen. True to his name, the metamorphagus's normally sandy blonde hair turned a vibrate blue and he chuckled at the two boys clinging to his sides.

"Blimey. You two nearly gave me a heart attack!" He laughed, ruffling each head of messy black hair.

"Ah." Harry smiled at the trio. "I was hoping we would find you."

"Yeah. You sent a couple of blood hounds after me." The sixteen year old raised an eyebrow, Albus on his right and James on his left. The boys giggled, only to be interrupted by the shrill voice of the youngest Potter.

"Mummy, they're over there!" Little seven year old Lily Potter soon joined her brothers and Teddy in the group hug.

"What took you so long Teddy?"

"We haven't seen you for nearly a week now!"

"Can you turn your hair purple again? I like it that color."

Several laughs later, Harry and Ginny had finally pried their children off of Teddy and regained control of James's luggage. That was when he noticed an old woman standing beside Teddy, an ancient smile resting upon her face and it dawned on him that she had silently observed the entire ordeal.

"Ah, hello Andromeda." His father greeted with his usual kind smile. The elder woman nodded to him, and James couldn't help, but stare.

Mrs. Tonks was an unusual lady with graying wavy hair that had once been brown and a matching set of eyes. She had to have been quite beautiful in her youth, though Teddy had told him a while ago that her husband died in the war.

Ever the curious one, James had asked about this war, but his own father had interrupted them and he never did learn the answer. Lots of discussions ended that way in the Potter house. He'd overhear a comment or two, but would immediately be shut down by nearby adults when he brought it up. It was remarkably frustrating, until James had given up with his investigation altogether.

Nevertheless, a thousand questions still rung in his head about Mrs. Tonks. Why was she Teddy's guardian? Where were Teddy's real parents? Or more importantly, why did she always stare at James? He knew better than to voice these questions to Teddy, as it would either end in his parents telling him to mind his own business or no answer at all. And if there was one thing James didn't want, it was to upset his favorite almost relative.

"So where are the others?" Ginny asked, clearing his mind as he turned back to them. It was true. A significant portion of his family appeared to be missing. Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur were regulars, seeing as two of their three children were well into their Hogwarts years. Not to mention, Uncle George and Aunt Angelina with their two kids. And finally, Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey with their two girls. None of them were present.

"All gone and left, I'm afraid." Mrs. Tonks told them. "Percy and Audrey were here ahead of time of course. Bill was here with the kids, but he couldn't stay long. Fleur has the flu. George also had to leave early."

"Something about a couple kids running off with an extendable ear." Teddy added, recalling the crazy tale the man had been telling him.

Mrs. Tonks frowned at the time, muttering something about a doctor's appointment. She smiled at Teddy, having to look up due to the boy's growing height.

"Have a good year honey." She told him, giving him a hug and kiss. The elderly woman turned to James, that strange look in her eyes again, as she put a hand to his shoulder. "You as well James."

With her farewell to the rest of the Potters and a quick pop, she apparated on the spot.

"I'll grab us a spot on the train, yeah?" Teddy mentioned, gesturing to the magnificently huge red machine beside them. He nodded, a smile back on his face as he watched him go, but not before giving each Potter a farewell. The boy could practically hear Hogwarts calling him now, feeling the freedom just beyond his fingertips. He was so close.

While his parents chatted idly with one of the many people passing by - he was convinced they knew everyone - James turned his attention to Lily.

Realization that her eldest brother wasn't going to be with them much longer dawned on her cherubic little face, creasing her eyebrows and pulling her lips into a worried pout.

"Oh don't give me that look." He sighed, knowing full well he couldn't resist that face. "I'll be back for Christmas break."

The pout worsened.

"And I'll write to you."

Still there.

"Bloody-what do you want from me Lily?!" He groaned, exasperated. An innocent smile spilled over her lightly freckled face, her emerald green eyes shining with hope as she spread out her arms.

"A hug." Sighing once more, he pulled the seven year old in for a hug, spinning her into the air as she giggled. Once she seemed satisfied, he let her down and turned to his brother.

"I don't need a hug." James cocked an eyebrow, an expression he had been picking up from his Uncle Ron as of late.

"Good, 'cause you're not getting one." James folded his arms, keeping his face smug towards the younger Potter. Nevertheless, a smirk wormed its way to his face and he reached out to ruffle his brother's hair. "Don't miss me too much Alby."

"I told you. Don't call me Al-" But before poor Albus could finish, James moved on to his parents. Judging by his mother's face, she looked just as bad as Lily. Blimey, what was with these Potter women?

Just then, said Potter woman pulled him into another bone crushing hug. Though she had held it in well for most of the summer, Ginny Potter couldn't help but miss her oldest boy already.

"Oi! Mum! Enough of the hugs!" He groaned, trying to pull lose. "I'm going to school. I'm not dying." She sighed and nodded, regaining her usual composure.

"Be good."

"I know."

"Pay attention in class."

"Yeah."

"Give Professor Longbottom our love."

"Mum, he's a professor. I'm not giving him love."

His patience was wearing thin. He was only five feet away from the train! And time was wasting! He turned to his dad, not quite sure what kind of goodbye to expect from him. Harry Potter was never a predictable man, though perhaps it came from his job. After all, predictability wasn't a very beneficial trait among the Aurors, least of all their head.

His father tossed him a kind smile and wrapped an arm around him.

"I'll miss you, James." He told him honestly, and suddenly James found it very hard to look him in the eye, unsure how to respond to such blunt care. "But you'll love Hogwarts."

"I will! I know first years aren't allowed brooms, but once Madam Hooch sees how brilliant I am on one, surely she'll have to let me and-"

"James," his father interrupted, no doubt having heard the latest of his son's rants on the school policies. "There's one more thing. You...you're going to learn a lot at Hogwarts, more than you can even imagine. I just hope that-"

"No worries dad. I'll make you and mum proud. As proud as a Gryffindor's parents can be." He grinned. Harry paused, wanting to say more, but stopped and cast his son a hesitant nod instead. Stepping away from his family, Jame cast them one last smile before pulling his trunk up onto the train and waving goodbye just before the door closed.

He was ready for the time of his life.