Chapter 58:
Nineteen Years Later.
Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was crisp and golden as an apple, and as the little family bobbed across the rumbling road toward the great sooty station, the fumes of car exhausts and the breath of pedestrians sparkled like cobwebs in the cold air. Two large cages rattled on top of the laden trolleys the parents were pushing; the owls inside them hooted indignantly, and the redheaded girl trailed tearfully behind her brothers, clutching her father's arm.
"It won't be long, and you'll be going too," Harry told her.
"Two years," sniffed Lily. "I want to go now!"
The commuters stared curiously at the owls as the family wove its way toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Albus's voice drifted back to Harry over the surrounding clamour; his sons had resumed the argument they had started in the car.
"I won't! I won't be in Slytherin!"
"James, give it a rest!" said Ginny.
"I only said he might be," said James, grinning at his younger brother. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth —"
But James caught his mother's eye and fell silent. The five Potters approached the barrier. With a slightly cocky look over his shoulder at his younger brother, James took the trolley from his mother and broke into a run. A moment later, he had vanished.
"You'll write to me, won't you?" Albus asked his parents immediately, capitalising on the momentary absence of his brother.
"Every day, if you want us to," said Ginny.
"Not every day," said Albus quickly. "James says most people only get letters from home about once a month."
"We wrote to James three times a week last year," said Ginny.
"And you don't want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts," Harry put in. "He likes a laugh, your brother."
Side by side, they pushed the second trolley forward, gathering speed. As they reached the barrier, Albus winced, but no collision came. Instead, the family emerged onto platform nine and three-quarters, which was obscured by thick white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist, into which James had already disappeared.
"Where are they?" asked Albus anxiously, peering at the hazy forms they passed as they made their way down the platform.
"We'll find them," said Ginny reassuringly.
But the vapour was dense, and it was difficult to make out anybody's faces. Detached from their owners, voices sounded unnaturally loud.
You took your time. Harry smirked slightly at the familiar voice.
Where are you?
Just walk up the platform. Harry turned to Ginny and nodded his head before leading the way.
"I think that's them, Al," said Ginny suddenly.
A group of six people emerged from the mist, standing alongside the very last carriage. Their faces only came into focus when Harry, Ginny, Lily, and Albus had drawn right up to them.
"Hi," said Albus, sounding immensely relieved.
Rose, who was already wearing her brand-new Hogwarts robes, beamed at him.
"Parked all right, then?" Ron asked Harry. "I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confund the examiner."
"No, I didn't," said Hermione, "I had complete faith in you."
"Well I had no faith," Alicia said as Fred had an arm around her shoulder. "I bet you did confound him." Ron shot her a look and she winked.
Ron and Harry lifted Albus' trunk and owl onto the train, muttering to one another as they did.
"I still say we should have flying carpets." Fred said thinking
"And run into ducks in the sky? No thank you." Alicia responded as Harry and Ron came back.
Lily and Hugo, Rose's younger brother, were having an animated discussion about which House they would be sorted into when they finally went to Hogwarts.
"If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you," said Ron, "but no pressure."
"Ron! "
Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn.
"He doesn't mean it," said Hermione and Ginny, but Ron was no longer paying attention.
"Yeah don't worry. Harry, remember how green Ron was before he put the hat on, surprised he didn't faint." Alicia said "He always worried if he'd be a Gryffindor." she told the children.
"Ickle Ronnikins was so worried the day he got on the Hogwarts Express." Fred agreed and Albus and Rose laughed as their aunt and uncle winked at them.
"Where're the twins?" Ginny suddenly asked, looking around.
"Likely off tormenting someone." Alicia sighed, looking upwards and Fred nodded as if proud. Alicia hit him over the head, earning a laugh from the children around them.
"What about Blake?" Harry asked
"I think she actually spotted a friend of her's." Alicia said thinking "Such a popular child that one."
"Like her father." Alicia scoffed
"Like her mother." she contradicted and Fred shrugged.
"Can't be denied." and the women grinned.
Ron's attention had been caught by something and his voice drew the attention of those around him.
"Look who it is."
About fifty yards away, through the steam which had thinned for a moment, were three people, who stood in sharp relief against the shifting mist.
Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat. His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasised the pointed chin. The new boy resembled Draco as much as Albus resembled Harry. Draco caught sight of Harry, Alicia, Ron, Hermione, Fred and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly, and turned away again.
"So that's little Scorpius," said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother's brains."
"Not like you have any to give,." Fred smirked. Alicia snickered but at the look on Ron's face she turned and hit Fred.
"Don't say that!." she scolded "In front of him." she added in a whisper and Fred laughed before kissing her cheek.
"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"
"You're right, sorry," said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood."
"Oh, he'd be fine." Alicia said rolling her eyes before she leaned down "A better goal is to set yourself up to beat Blake, she's held the highest scores so far in her year." she winked and Rose grinned.
"Hey!"
James had reappeared and with him was a girl who greatly resembled Alicia with her black hair, but brown eyes from her father. They seemed evidently bursting with news.
"Teddy's back there," he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulder into the billowing clouds of steam. "Just seen him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!"
He gazed up at the adults, evidently disappointed by the lack of reaction.
"Seriously James, it's not that big of a deal." the girl, Blake, said rolling her eyes in a fashion that greatly resembled her mother.
"Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing —"
"You interrupted them?" said Ginny. "You are so like Ron —"
"— and he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away. He's snogging her!" James added as though worried he had not made himself clear.
"Well he's old enough to do what he wants." Blake added
"That's our girl." Alicia and Fred grinned, sharing a fist bump. Blake rolled her eyes at her parents antics and the two winked at her.
"Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily ecstatically. "Teddy would really be part of the family then!"
"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week," said Harry. "Why don't we just invite him to live with us and have done with it?"
"Yeah!" said James enthusiastically. "I don't mind sharing with Al — Teddy could have my room!"
"No," said Harry firmly, "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished."
Alicia laughed. "I'm surprised he's there so often."
"He visit's us twice a week?" Fred reminded her
"Yeah well your boys annoy him too much I expect for him to come more." Alicia said and Fred smirked.
"Who do we annoy?" two boys with red hair and the green eyes of Lily Potter appeared beside Alicia and Fred, both as identical as the other. Being twins themselves, it seemed only natural that the two would have twins, twin boys in this case.
"Teddy was kissing Victorie!" James exclaimed, clearly wanting a certain reaction.
"Oh that," Jack said waving his hands dismissively as if it was old news.
"They've been going out for ages." Dale agreed.
"Met when Teddy was still at Hogwarts." Jack nodded.
"You never told us?" James asked, looking at his older cousins annoyed. They shrugged.
"Now where have you two been?" Alicia asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Always the suspicious tone." Dale said in a manner much like his father.
"Like you can blame them." Blake added as she eyed her older brothers suspiciously.
"I just had to have a miniature version of Fred and George didn't I?" Alicia whispered to Ginny and Hermione, the younger of which who chuckled.
"Well who can deal with them best?" Ginny offered and Alicia couldn't argue.
"Mean's I've got someone to pam the business onto." Fred chuckled as he heard her.
"They'd do it too." Alicia mused.
Harry was checking the battered old watch that had once been Fabian Prewett's.
"It's nearly eleven, you'd better get on board."
"Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him.
"Mum! I can't give a professor love!"
"But you know Neville —"
James rolled his eyes.
"Outside, yeah, but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he? I can't walk into Herbology and give him love…"
"Yeah mum." Alicia said and Ginny shot her a look as Alicia smirked.
"All you have to do James is say we say high." Alicia shrugged "Is that so hard?" she mocked slightly as James was shaking his head at his mother's foolishness, he vented his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus. He looked at his Aunt who winked at him.
Alicia then moved behind her two sons.
"Now I don't need you being sent to the Headmaster's office once this year, you got it?" she demanded, her hands on their shoulders. The boys were fifteen and easily reaching her height. Like most of the Weasley's they were likely to be tall.
"Yes mum." they chorused, knowing better than to argue with her.
"I don't need to be seen punishing my own children every five minutes." she said as she patted their shoulders. "Or confiscating their father's merchandise." she said turning to Fred, he flashed her a grin. "Especially during their O.W.L year. Your goal is to get more O. then your father."
"Haven't we established that O. aren't necessary?" Fred asked his wife.
"Still a good goal to have." she shrugged before turning to her boys "Not that it should be hard." she whispered and they snickered.
"Bye mum." Blake hugged her mother, her black hair braided down her back, as the twins shared a grin their their father, who whispered something to them as Alicia smiled at her girl.
"Watch out for James, he's a trouble maker just like his grandfather." she warned eyeing the boy. He grinned, not at all insulted by this. "Don't forget, I know about that cloak." she warned.
"Someone's gotta keep him in line." Blake nodded in agreement.
"That's my girl." Alicia smiled, kissing her cheek. "And just watch Albus, you know how worried he can get." she whispered.
"I'll look out for him. And them too." she said pointing at her older twin brothers. Alicia grinned at her daughter.
"And don't loose that map." Blake grinned at her mother as she shook her head.
"Never." and Alicia smiled
"And Fred, what ever you tell them, I will know." Alicia shot at her husband as her twin sons disappeared onto the train with a wave. Fred shrugged innocently.
"Who said I did anything?" Blake laughed at her father before giving him a hug and grabbing James' arm.
"Come on." she said tugging him to the train.
"See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals." James said
"I thought they were invisible? You said they were invisible!"
But James merely laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him, gave his father a fleeting hug, then leapt onto the rapidly filling train with his cousin. They saw the two wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find their friends.
"Thestrals are nothing to worry about," Harry told Albus. "They're gentle things, there's nothing scary about them."
"They're amazing Al, like a pet." Alicia smiled
"Don't tell the twins that." Ginny said
"Don't worry, we've already had that conversion." Alicia sighed and Ginny and Hermione chuckled.
"Anyway, you won't be going up to school in the carriages, you'll be going in the boats." Harry continued
Ginny kissed Albus good-bye.
"See you at Christmas."
"Bye, Al," said Harry as his son hugged him. "Don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you've learned how. And don't let James wind you up."
"Bye Aunt Alicia, Bye Uncle Fred." Rose waved as she got on the train and the two waved.
"Have fun, Rose." Alicia grinned as Harry was talking to his youngest son.
"Harry, hurry up or he'll be left behind." Alicia said as the train doors began to slam all along the scarlet train, and the blurred outlines of parents were swarming forward for final kisses, last-minute reminders. "Remember when you, me and Ron missed the train once? We don't need a repeat." she warned.
"What happened?" Lily asked grinning
"We stole Grandad Weasley's flying car and flew to Hogwarts." Alicia answered
"And I'm where our twins get the rebellious nature from." Fred said with a raised eyebrow. Alicia grinned at him with a wink.
Albus jumped into the carriage and Ginny closed the door behind him. Students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned toward Harry.
"Why are they all staring?" demanded Albus as he and Rose craned around to look at the other students.
"Don't let it worry you," said Ron. "It's me. I'm extremely famous."
"Yeah, you're the famous one." Alicia rolled her eyes, but waved to a few of the familiar faces around her as they waved at her.
Albus, Rose, Hugo, and Lily laughed.
"I'll see you all later." Alicia grinned waving at those on the train.
The train began to move, and Harry walked alongside it, watching his son's thin face, already ablaze with excitement. Harry kept smiling and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching his son glide away from him…
The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded a corner. Harry's hand was still raised in farewell.
"He'll be all right," murmured Ginny.
"He's strong like his dad." Alicia smiled as she joined them.
"Strong like his aunt." Fred disagreed and Alicia smiled at him.
As Harry looked at the two, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead.
"I know he will."
The scar had not pained Harry, and therefore nor Alicia, for nineteen years. All was well.
Alicia stood beside her brother and they shared a smile as she placed her arm around his shoulders and gave it a little squeeze.
So apparently I have a few psychic reviewers, read one review that asked me to do something for the children and it turned out that's exactly what I'd already done. Must be the obvious choice.
So, Alicia becomes Headmaster of Hogwarts after Minerva McGonagall, as it turns out I couldn't find and specifics on McGonagall's successor so that works well. She was Head of the Auror office for a while. Dunno if she was an actual teacher but if she was, it would have been Transfiguration, as McGonagall couldn't teach it while being Headmaster.
Her twin boys, two years older than James and therefore four years older than Albus. Blake the daughter, the same age as James. If it wasn't clear.