Summery: Lily and James are alive and have believed they're son, Harry, to be dead. What happens when they learn he is in fact, alive?

Chapter Seven

Discussions and Supplies

Over two weeks had passed since he had come to live with his family. He was still adjusting. He imagined he would be for some time, but it was much better. Everyone did they're best to make him feel welcome in everything. They invited him out with them when they went out with they're friends. They played video games; they played outside. All in all, there hadn't been a boring moment.

He was now feeling much better. His parents had gotten him to a Muggle doctor and had gotten him some inhalers. He was almost over his asthma, and he was glad for it. He hadn't liked it one bit. His illness was also gone and he was very thankful. He had been sick most of the summer and was finally feeling well.

Currently he was outside with Jamie playing with Jamie's soccer ball. Jamie and he were just kicking it back and forth, but it was fun.

From the window James watched Harry and Jamie kick the ball to each other. Everyone seemed to have adjusted to Harry's arrival; and Harry appeared to be doing just fine with his new life.

An arm came around his waste startling him from his thoughts. It was Lily. She too, was watching the boys play. "Ready," she asked. The other kids were home and now was as good a time as any to discuss the upcoming year.

"As ready as I'll get," James answered reluctantly. He still didn't know if he was comfortable sending his children off to the magical world for schooling. He still didn't trust it.

Lily nodded in understanding. She too didn't know if she was comfortable with allowing them to leave for the school year. But she also felt they deserved to be allowed the choice to choose if they wanted to go or not. "Kids!" she yelled up the stairs. James went to get Jamie and Harry from the back yard. Matt, Terri and Corbin came down the stairs and she motioned them to the living room.

James, Harry and Jamie also entered the living room. The two boys looked curious and confused. All the kids looked slightly anxious, wondering if they were in trouble for something.

"Is everything okay?" Terry ventured. James smiled reassuringly.

"Everything is fine."

"We want to talk about the upcoming school year. We want to know if you want to go to Hogwarts." Lily continued.

"You'd let us go to Hogwarts?" Matt asked surprised. They're parents nodded.

Terri looked at Matt, then Harry, then her parents. She finally nodded, "I want to go."

"So do I," Matt also answered.

They're parents looked to Harry for his answer. They had told him it was up to him if he want to go back to Hogwarts. Harry also nodded, "I want to go back," he voiced.

"Okay, that settles it," Lily answered.

"So, is that all you wanted to talk to us about?" Jamie asked.

"Yup," said Lily smiling. "That's all."

(A week later)

Dishes clanking, children's voices, silver in dishes were the sounds that accompanied the meals at the Potter house-hold. It reminded Harry a lot of the Weasley home.

"So what's your favorite class?" Matt asked referring to Hogwarts classes. He and Terri had been asking a lot about Hogwarts since they had decided they wanted to go.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Oh really? Who's the teacher?" Terri asked. Defense and Transfiguration were her favorites.

"I don't know. My first year we had a really squirrelly teacher, Quirrel. And second year we had Lockhart, who is now in St. Mungo's. So your guess is as good as mine." A tap on the glass of the window halted they're discussion. There was an owl.

"That'll be your letters," James said as he let the owl in and took its letters. He handed Matt, Terri and Harry they're letters.

"Are we flooing to Diagon Alley?" Harry asked as he read the supply list.

"No, we're going to Dragon Block," Lily answered from her place at the table. "It's our version of Diagon Alley," she explained.

"When are we going," Matt asked.

"As soon as we finish breakfast," They're father answered. Breakfast didn't take long after that comment. Matt, Jamie, Terri and Corbin had all been to Dragon Block before and loved it. Harry was excited to see it for the first time. Maybe next year he could convince the Weasleys to come along. They would probably love it.

James drove for almost a half hour before coming to a stop in front of a small inn.

The inn was out of the way of most places. It was two stories tall and painted white, the paint pealing off in areas. There was a small sign on the front of it.

Magical Rest Stop,' Harry read.

Entering the Magical Rest Stop, Harry looked around interestedly. There was a small café that had several small tables around. A door led to an outside patio that also had several tables. There were stairs that led upstairs.

"We need to use the floo," James said to the elderly woman sitting behind the counter. She nodded and pointed to a room in the back. "Thanks," James said before ushering his family to the back room.

Inside the room was a large fire place. "No, I want you to throw the floo powder in and say 'Dragon Block.' This will lead you to a book shop where we will gather your school books before we get everything else."

"Can we get some ice cream at Sue's?" Corbin asked.

"After we finish our shopping." Lily answered.

Matt, Jamie, Corbin, Lily, and James went first. Terri went before Harry, then Harry flooed through the fire place. Harry saw glimpses of several rooms before he tumbled from the grate, falling to his knees.

"You really haven't gotten the hand of flooing, have you?" James said teasingly.

Harry grinned. "No," he brushed off his pants. He didn't think he'd ever get the hang of it.

"Come on," Terri said grabbing a hold of his arm and pulled him towards a stack of books. Harry noted this book store was much larger then the one at Diagon Alley. Hermione would love it here. He'd have to remember to tell her. It didn't take them long to gather they're books.

Stepping outside the book store Harry looked around. It was much like Diagon Alley. There was a street in the middle, which they were now standing on, and there were two rows of shops on either side.

"How about we go to the cauldron shop first?" Lily asked smiling. Everyone agreed and they headed right a few stores down.

The cauldron shop, Steele's Cauldrons, was a small building. Entering the shop there were cauldrons stacked on each other. All kids, bronze, steel, metal, everything. Some had designs, some were colored. 'Snape would kill anyone who brought one of those to class,' Harry thought. Fifteen minutes later they were finished in Steele's Cauldrons and were headed to the stationary shop. 'Crazy Quills,' was written on the front. Inside the shop was stuffed with boxes, parchment, different colored quills, different colored ink and lots more that Harry couldn't see. He got several bottles of black ink, and a dark green ink bottle. Terri got the same, and Matt got blue.

Next they went to the pet shop. Harry looked around as Matt and Terri looked for they're own pets. What shocked him was seeing Muggle animals. There were kittens, puppies, even some rabbits and birds. A growl caught his attention. Next to the yelp caught his attention. Next to the puppies, kind of pushed to the side, was a baby Rottweiler. Harry raised his hand cautiously, not wanting to get bit, but also wanting to pet it.

"Harry," a voice called, making him jump in surprise. Turning around he saw Terri holding up a white kitten that had startling blue eyes. "What do you think?" She asked as he came closer to inspect the kitten.

"It's very pretty," was the only thing he could think of saying. The only thing that usually came to mind when he saw cats was Mrs. Figg, who babysat him when he was with the Dursleys. She had lots of cats, too many.

"She is, isn't she?" Terri grinned. "I think I want to get her."

"Great." Harry smiled. "What's Matt getting?" he asked curiously. Terri looked toward they're parents to see if Matt was with them, but he wasn't and neither of them could see beyond the cages that were stacked on one another.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him," she finally answered turning back to him. "Have you found anything?"

"I already have an owl, Hedwig. But she's with Ron."

"Oh," Terri's smile faltered. "Well, what were you looking at?" Harry motioned her to follow him and pointed to the Rottweiler who yipped again.

"It's a Rottweiler." Harry said as he again cautiously made to pet it. He was relieved when it licked his hand through its cage. Terri reached up too and began to pet it. She laughed as it licked her, Harry smiled. "I'm surprised this place has Muggle animals too," he commented.

"The animal place in Diagon Alley doesn't?" asked Terri curiously. She had thought every magical animal shop would also carry Muggle animals. Harry shook his head. A hand on they're shoulders surprised them and they jumped, Terri pulled her hand away from the Rottweiler.

"What are you looking at?" They're father asked, oblivious that he'd just startled the twins.

"A Rottweiler," Terri answered first. "Harry found him. I found a kitten."

James looked at the white kitten that still lay in Terri's arms. "What are you going to name it?" he asked petting its head.

"I haven't decided yet," Terri answered. James turned to Harry.

"Do you want to get the Rottweiler?"

Harry shook his head. He did like the Rottweiler, but he already had a pet. "I have Hedwig."

"Are you sure?" James asked. "I'm sure Hedwig and this Rottweiler would get along, they'd have to after a while." Harry hesitated. James noticed Harry's hesitation and made the decision for him by picking up the cage with the Rottweiler.

"No, its okay." Harry said in alarm. "You don't have to."

James turned around facing Harry. "It's not a problem. If you want the Rottweiler, we'll get it. We'll probably be getting another dog anyway with Jamie next year," he said with a wink. "Jamie loves dogs. He had one a few years back, but unfortunately he died from old age." Harry nodded having remembered seeing some pictures around the house with a younger Jamie and a small dachshund. James went to find Matt.

"Well it looks like this little guy finally found an owner," A voice behind them said. Turning around Terri and Harry came face to face with a homely looking man. His name was Mr. McKnight.

"What do you mean?" Terri asked Mr. McKnight.

"Well, I've had this guy for over a month. Usually the animals, especially the babies, are adopted first. For some reason no one has wanted him before now." Mr. McKnight explained before turning to take a look at the kitten. "A very beautiful kitten for a very beautiful girl," he muttered before turning to Lily, James, Matt, Jamie and Corbin who were approaching the counter; Matt with a cage in hand.

"What did you get?" Harry asked Matt after Matt had placed the cage on the counter.

"A rat," Matt said grinning.

"Why would you want a rat?" Jamie asked making a disgusted face.

"Because they're cool." Matt countered. "Besides, he's cool. He's got freckles all over him."

"No they're not. They're ugly." Jamie mutter. Lily also looked displeased with her son's choice of familiar.

"Well I like him," Matt said decisively. James quickly paid for the animals as the kids talked about they're animals.

After James finished paying they finished they're shopping. James made sure to go to the Quidditch shop. Lily rolled her eyes at this. Her husband and Jamie were obsessed with Quidditch. By the time they had finished in the shop, almost an hour and a half later, James had gotten a broom for Terri and Matt. "I would have killed to have one of these when I was on the Quidditch team," James said as they were checking out at the counter.

"Not me," Harry spoke up. James turned to him in curiosity.

"That's right," James muttered. Harry had mentioned previously that he played Quidditch, but James had been too busy at the time to ask him about it. He'd meant to asked more on it later but had forgotten. "You play Seeker, don't you?" Harry nodded. "I'll bet you got on the team second year," James said proudly. Harry shook his head smiling.

"First year," he smiled at the expression on they're faces. Terri wasn't so surprised because he had already told her.

"First year!" Jamie almost yelled. "No one gets on first year!" Harry smiled and shrugged.

Finally finished with the Quidditch shop they headed to the ice cream shop, much to Corbin's happiness. Harry, Matt, Terri, and Jamie talked about the animals. Jamie grumbled that he hadn't been able to get an animal or a broom. James whispered something in his ear that cheered him up. Harry guessed it was that Jamie would be starting Hogwarts next year and would then be able to get his own animal and broom.

End of Chapter Seven

3/7/06

A/N: Hello everyone! Another chapter just days after posting chapter six! I'm so happy. I would have posted it yesterday, but I had no time to post it. I caught my friends cold this past weekend and was asleep all yesterday. Thank you for your reviews! I really enjoyed reading them when I woke up (feeling better, yeah!) this morning.

I also went out to get my copy of HARRY POTTER and the GOBLET OF FIRE! There was a line when I went to get it! I think some kids skipped school to go get it. I also got a lithograph (a Harry Potter collectable picture) with it. I'll scan it and post the scans on my Harry Potter web site, and Yahoo site.

LilyXJames: Yes, Remus will have a part in my story. If you read back in chapter five it will say how.

Also, the Rottweiler was not an original plan I had for the story. I only came up with that as I wrote the chapter. I still haven't come up with a name. I think it will be Levi. Sapphire for Terri's cat. And Freckles for Matt's rat.

Next Chapter: Leaving for school.

Note: Is anyone interested in continuing Learning to Cope. I really wanted to finish this story myself, but sadly I haven't got the time. If you are interested in finishing Learning to Cope, then please either send me your e-mail so we can discuss it or the link to your Bio page. I'll send you the notes I had for the story; its up to you if you want to use them or not. Thank you again.