*Sneaks sheepishly out of the shadows and drops new chapter before running for cover.*

Sixteen months since my last update, I am a very bad author for keeping you waiting so long- and I must thank any of you who are still reading this.

Thanks to everyone who's read and reviewed, followed and/or favourited this. You guys rock.

XIII: One Step Forward.

Harry awoke on the cold dark January morning of the day he was to return to Hogwarts with mixed feelings. On the one hand he wanted to return to school so he could see Hermione and Neville, and to finally find out what had happened to Ron in this world: there had been no mention of his best friend in the entire time he'd been in this world. Robyn was friends with Percy and spoke often, and fondly, of him and the twins, little Ginny- but never Ron.

He also wanted to return to school so he could put to use some of what he had learned from his parents' teaching. The ever more prominent marauder in him also wanted to know whether there was a Fluffy in this world.

On the other hand, he didn't want to leave his family. For ten of his eleven years of life he had been without his parents, and other extended family members; and now two months seemed far too short a time to have lived with them. He wasn't famous here; yes his apparent return from the dead had earned him a similar level of notoriety- but it had passed, and now he was just another boy… or so he hoped.

Mary and Poppy were still in their Pyjamas when he arrived in the kitchen- Mary was due to start in the reception class at Poppy's school the following Monday: although she was already five, she had only just learned to control her transformations and it would raise many, uncomfortable questions for their family if her abilities were noticed by the muggles. He, Robyn, Will and Teddy were all dressed and Harry's school things were waiting by the fireplace.

After another delicious breakfast: pancakes today swimming in syrup, sugar and lemon juice (yum) and hot chocolate (double yum); Will and Teddy had made their goodbyes and returned to school. Robyn was next to leave, courteously taking Harry's trunk along with her leaving him alone with the adults, Poppy and Mary for the last time before summer.

James pulled Lily close as Harry disappeared through the Floo after Robyn.

"He'll be fine Lily love," he promised her. "Bobbie, Will and Teddy will look after him."

"I know," Lily sniffled, brushing away her tears with the back of her hand. "It's just; I got so used to him being here all day… I never thought I'd get to see my baby boy grown up, not after Wormtail betrayed us…"

"I know," James murmured; rubbing soothing circles into his wife's back. She'd cried when Robyn had gone to Hogwarts for the first time, and back in September on what would have been Harry's first day- he wondered how she'd be when it came time for Poppy to start school. "I feel exactly the same, but hey, you've still got Poppy around the house outside of school hours."

Lily sniffled again, but nodded against his shoulder. "I'm being silly I know, but…"

"No buts Lily-flower," James interrupted her, kissing her quickly. "I've got the day off today- Padfoot's covering for me; I'm all yours, anything you want to do, we'll do it."

"But Poppy…?" she protested weakly

"Sarah and Chloe are taking the girls to the siny-man,"

"Cinema dear," Lily corrected giggling; after seventeen years together he still slipped up on Muggle terminology on occasion.

"Yeah, that." James nodded, encouraged by the fact that she had cheered up. "So, where do you want to go first?"

"Please join me in welcoming Harry James Potter."

Harry rose on wobbly legs and looked around at his schoolmates; there was a mixture of familiar and alien faces but as his gaze travelled to the Slytherin table, a shock of red hair caught his attention. Ron Weasley sat there in green and silver emblazoned on his uniform between Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry stared at his first friend- the boy who had told him that everyone in Slytherin was doomed to go bad. How had he been sorted into that house?

Something yanked on his arm. He looked down to find his sister on the other end of the limb in question. "Merlin Harry, sit down and stop staring."

Harry sat heavily. Stunned.

"Percy?" he heard himself ask. "Are all of your brothers here at Hogwarts?"

"Well, my three younger ones are." the Gryffindor prefect nodded. "My older two, Bill and Charlie, have already finished. Why?"

"I think he saw ickle Ronniekins." one of the twins (Fred he thought) put in. "Yeah, he's our brother. Fred Weasley by the way."

He offered his hand and Harry shook it. "Pleased to meet you, Harry Potter."

"I know," Fred nodded and Harry was inexplicably relieved that Fred's eyes didn't stray to his scar. "Perce, told us about you- believe it or not, our sister Ginny fancies you."

Harry's eyes widened.

"Merlin Gred, you've just killed Harry Potter." George Weasley stated.

"Ah, it's ok," Robyn quipped. "Give it ten years and he'll be back again."

The small group snorted.

"How come you have a brother in Slytherin though Percy?" Harry persisted.

Percy shrugged. "I don't know- Ron's always been a bit… resentful of being the sixth brother, I reckon he just wanted to stand out you know. I think he asked the hat not to put him in Gryffindor."

Harry blinked, mulling over this new information- it was further proof of the the fact that he wasn't where he was supposed to be and for the first time he wasn't comfortable with the change.

(On the other side of the mirror)

The school day had finished and Miss Chloe Cockgolde had just had a rather strange visit from an ill looking gentleman named Black. Apparently one of her former pupils, Harry Potter, had gone missing and he was looking for the boy- trying to see if she knew anything (must have been getting desperate if he was coming to her). Young Potter was a wizard; she'd been able to see that from the moment he'd entered her life. He was everything she would have been if her father hadn't intervened.

It hadn't taken her long to come to resent the boy. He was the one who would get to learn to use his powers: all Chloe had was partial control over her magic, a tenuous hold which she lost whenever her emotions got away from her. Every day that he had been in her class she had treated him terribly; and now, it seemed he had disappeared... god she was an idiot, it wasn't as if it were her fault he'd gone missing.

Chloe had turned her back on magic long ago; but still, she couldn't help wondering what might have happened had she escaped from her father's clutches and gone off to learn magic. Would she still know Lily Evans? Would she be married? Or was she just doomed to this lonely existence, magical training or not?

A knock on the door startled her out of her uncomfortable ruminations. Looking up in the direction of the knock, Chloe was surprised to see Mr Black standing in the doorway.

"Did you forget something Mr Black?" she asked.

"Mr Black was my father, I'm Sirius," he told her. "And yes, I forgot to ask if you wanted to go for coffee or something."

Choe blinked. "Y-you're asking me out?" she couldn't remember the last time she'd been asked out- it was pathetic really.

"Only if you're interested," he seemed uncomfortable too, as if this was awkward for him. "I'm sorry, I've not done this in a long time..."

"It... it's been a while for me too." Chloe admitted. "But coffee sounds lovely."

"Shall we then...?" he asked, gesturing to the door.

"Now?" she blinked again.

Sirius had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry, I... I said it had been a while."

Chloe actually giggled. "No, you just surprised me- now is fine. There's a lovely little coffee house not far from here."

Sirius smiled, and offered her his arm. "Milady?"

And so, a step was taken towards Chloe Cockgolde achieving something she had always wanted, and never before had the strength to gain; freedom to be who she truly was.

~V~