A.N. ~ Well I don't own these characters. First fanfic so if you are going to review, please be nice. Constructive criticism is definitely ok, being an ass isn't. That said... Please leave comments, good or bad, so that I know what readers think. Thanks

Ch. 8 Moving On Up

The morning of September the first looked calm and bright outside of Prince Manor. Inside was another story. While Severus was used to packing his trunks and had finished the night before, Harry had only ever really needed some clothing and things to entertain himself with. If he had forgotten anything or needed warmer clothing for the winter, they could always just pop home for an hour. Now that he was officially a student at Hogwarts that would no longer be the case.

"Have you seen my ink? I can't find my ink! Why isn't there any ink in this house!?" Harry was running around his bedroom in a panic. Sirius stood in the doorway leaning against the door jam with a smirk on his face when Harry finally noticed him. "Don't laugh at me! Dad said I'm not allowed to come get anything I forget."

"Did you look in your trunk?" Sirius asked walking over to Harry's school trunk. Peering inside he found three bottles of ink next to half a dozen quills. "You're nervous. It's normal to be nervous. Remember that you already know all of your professors and your friends will be with you. Your dad will be there and I'm only an owl away." Sirius smiled at Harry. Sighing, Harry walked over and wrapped his arms around Sirius, hugging him tightly.

"Thanks Pad. You always know how I'm feeling even when I don't. I'm going to miss you." Harry let go and looked up at his godfather. "Alright, enough sappy rubbish. Let's see… I believe the only thing that's really left is getting Lady ready for the long trip." With that, he moved over to the tiny snake who was napping under a heating lamp. As Harry started hissing, Severus walked into the bedroom.

"I'll never get used to that. He sounds just like… just like, Him." Severus scowled. It only served as a reminder that somehow, his son and his old Master were connected. Severus only hoped The Dark Lord died of old age before coming after Harry again. Interrupting his thoughts, Sirius touched his arm lightly. "It's not how they are alike, it's how they are not. Harry has us. Parents that love him and accept him and try our damnedest to protect him. He's known nothing of cruelness or the harshness of the world. He has so many people that love him and stand in his corner. His friends support him, as he does for them. He's not playing the vicious Master with followers. He's just a boy. Just Harry." After his little speech, Sirius kissed Severus on the cheek and left the room, not wanting either to see the wetness that threatened to spill from his eyes.

"So are you excited to be coming to school with me? I'm sure you'll love it. And the grounds are massive, so I'm sure if you wanted to hunt for mice there would be plenty." Harry happily chatted with Lady the tiny orange corn snake, oblivious to his parents conversation.

"Oh yes. I'm quite glad to be going with you. I'm not sure I trust the one who smells of canine to remember to feed me and turn the heating light on and off. I have also been wanting to get to know your friends better. Although, that one that smells like peacock seems to be a bit frightened of me. He is much to big for me to eat so I'm not sure what I've done." Lady hissed back at Harry while still curled up under the heating light.

Soon enough Harry found himself along with Severus and Sirius standing on Platform 9 , looking around for his friends. Spotting platinum blonde hair not to far away, Harry made his way toward the family with his trolley. "Hey Drake. Hello Uncle, Auntie." Harry said, hugging each tightly. While the adults turned to each other to converse, Hermione joined the small group.

"Hello Draco. Nephew." Hermione snickered, greeting the boys. "Mione. You know I hate when you call me that." Whined Harry, looking at his shoes. Draco's cheeks flushed and he looked away while mumbling his greeting.

Before anyone could comment on Draco's new found shyness, a group of red heads walked up. "Look what we have here Fred. Our little babies are off to Hogwarts for the first time." George said, pretending to wipe away a stray tear. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to greet Ron. "Hello Ronald. I see you've brought a couple of clowns with you. Might have done us all a favor and left them with your parents."

"Calm down Mini McGonagall."

"We only came over to say Hi."

"Now we're off to our friends."

"Good luck at the sorting." Fred and George said as they walked away, leaving the foursome to themselves.

"Better board the train my dears. Wouldn't want you to miss it." Minerva McGonagall said cheerfully as she approached the group of adults and children. The first years said their farewells, some more tearful than others, and boarded the massive Hogwarts Express.

Molly and Arthur Weasley smiled and waved as their three youngest boys were now off to school and out of their hair. Minerva McGonagall let a single tear slip down her cheek as she seen her only child off to boarding school, nevermind that she would be seeing her again that night. Sirius Black was holding tightly onto Severus Snape's arm, rapidly blinking away the tears that threatened to make a show. Snape on the other hand just watched as the train started to pull out of the station. He had always had Harry with him while at Hogwarts, nothing had changed. That was what he told himself, while he was feeling like nothing was going to be the same again. As the group of adults dispersed, Lucius Malfoy's voice carried through the now nearly empty platform. "200 galleons he's a bloody Hufflepuff."

On the train, Harry, Hermione, Draco and Ron searched for an empty compartment. Near the rear of the train they found one and quickly claimed it. Harry say next to Ron while Draco held the door open. Hermione sat across from them and was soon joined by Draco, who sat a bit closer than necessary.

There was a knock on the door about an hour into the trip. Hermione sat sideway on the seat having her eyes trained on the book in her lap while she leaned back against Draco's side, while he leaned his head back and had his arm flung onto the back of the seat. Harry turned from his game of wizards chess with Ron to answer the door. There stood a boy looking very panicked. "Hello. You haven't by any chance seen a very large toad around I suppose?" Asked the boy. "No, we haven't. What's your name? I'm Harry Snape." Harry introduced himself. "I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom." The boy said grabbing and shaking Harry's hand. "If you see the toad, would you be so kind as to let me know? He is one of a kind and I hate to lose him forever. I'm sitting with a quiet boy who's been reading this whole time. Said his name is Blaise. And with a girl who looks very displeased, named Pansy."

That was the only interruption during the entire train ride, other than the sweets trolley. Donning their robes, the group of four found themselves exiting the Hogwarts Express and walking into the Hogsmead station where they met with Hagrid. He was in charge of taking all first years to the castle via boating across Black Lake. It really was a sight to see, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, at night with all the lights and the reflections off the water. Every first year gawked in awe of the magnificent castle and the beauty of the lake beneath them.