AN: Ok... I know no–one reads these but... Due to a review that my best friend harrypottertwilight (the Author of this fic) received letting her know that if Lily was going into her first year at Hogwarts then James would be 15 and Al 13 and also the fact that her Microsoft Word is not currently working she asked me, Nymph Tonks–Lupin (please no–one go look at it, the stories are abysmal... I don't know why I keep going), to re–upload this chapter with the corrections
To
make up for all the missed birthdays, Harry bought Sagan and Lincoln
an owl each. Sagan decided to get a snowy owl that she named Edward,
while Lincoln got a handsome tawny that he named Jasper.
As it was
Lily's first year as well, the three eleven year olds hung out
together as the parents and Minerva took them to get potions
ingredients, owl treats, uniforms and things like that. But, as Lily
and the boys had been begging to go the entire trip, the last place
they decided to visit was Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Lincoln and
Sagan couldn't take in everything quick enough. Everywhere they
looked in that shop there was something new to see.
Albus and
James kept running ahead as they were 'responsible' enough to go
off by themselves for a while. But the thirteen- and
fiveteen-year-olds knew that they had gone too far when they ended up
at the entrance to Knockturn Alley. As soon as they stepped foot in
the Alley, they were mobbed by Dark wizards and witches trying to
sell them Dark artefacts. James grabbed Al by the hand and sprinted
back the way they came, with Al almost flying along behind
him.
"Mum... Dad... Knockturn Alley... creepy people..." James
barely managed to spit out.
"James Sirius and Albus Severus,
what did we say about going into Knockturn Alley? It's dangerous!"
Ginny reprimanded her sons.
"We know Mum, we weren't watching
where we were going and as soon as we got there, we ran away as
quickly as possible," Al took over.
"All right," Ginny
sighed. "As long as you're both okay."
As soon as that was
said, Al turned quickly to his dad and said very excitedly, "Can we
go get my birthday present now?"
"I guess," Harry said. "I
don't see any reason why not."
"Yeah! Come on, come on,
otherwise they're all going to be gone!"
"Fine, fine. We're
coming. Lead the way. You probably know how to get there better than
I do, anyway, by now."
Albus snickered at his dad's joke.
Nobody knew the way to 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' better than
Harry Potter.
For his thirteenth birthday, Al was allowed to
choose a new broomstick, because right now, all he had was James'
old Nimbus
3000,
which went out of style when the new Lightning
Bolt came
out. Al desperately wanted one of these; even James didn't have
one.
Al looked at the 'price upon request' sign that hung next
to the Lightning Bolt and gulped, glancing quickly at his dad. Just
the fact that they didn't show the price, told him that it was
expensive. Behind him, Albus heard the twins gasp as they looked at
all the different Quidditch supplies. After they purchased Albus'
new broom, Alison asked the twins if they would like a broom as well.
Both twins nodded enthusiastically.
"I'm afraid they won't
be brooms like Albus', especially not two of them. Here, maybe
something a little cheaper."
"Come now, Alison, I'll pay for
them," Harry laughed.
"Oh, no, you've already bought them
owls, I..." Alison said quickly.
"I insist," Harry said
firmly. "If it makes you feel better, I'll only pay for
half."
"Oh, ok then." Alison finally gave in.
So out they
walked with three Lightning Bolts.
Alison pulled quickly into the
driveway of 26 Alphabet Way with Sagan and Lincoln in the back seat,
looking excitedly through their new supplies.
When they got
inside, each carrying a third of the school stuff, Sagan quickly
dropped it on the couch and ran to Dudley. "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!
Guess who we saw in Diagon Alley?! We saw Harry, Daddy! Harry Potter!
You know him don't you, Daddy?!"
Dudley quickly turned to
Alison. "If his children are going to Hogwarts then mine aren't
going."
"But, Dud..."
"No, Alison. I've thought this
through, I'll put up with him and his... abnormality, but he will
NOT pass it on to my kids."
Sagan turned to Alison with tears in
her eyes. "But mummy, I want to go, and Linc does too, don't you
Linc!" Lincoln quickly nodded his agreement.
"No, I absolutely
refuse. You just tell that McGregor woman or whatever the hell her
name is, that they will not be
going."
As
the hours turned into days and the days turned into weeks, Alison and
the kids decided to give Dudley the cold shoulder, only speaking to
him if absolutely necessary. Alison, though, knew her husband well
enough to know how to persuade him to give in. Even if it took
months.
September 1st rolled around with Sagan and Lincoln still
ignoring their father, maybe begging him every now and then to change
his mind and then, when he still refused, went back to the silent
treatment. But Dudley had inherited his father's stubbornness, and
stood his ground.
Early
in the morning on September 1st, Alison quietly packed all of Sagan
and Lincoln's school supplies into her car, while everyone else was
still sleeping. At 10:00, she told Dudley that she was taking the
kids to a sleepover at a friend's house. So off they drove to
King's Cross Station with Dudley obliviously watching the news at
home.
"Linc? Do you have the tickets? What platform is the train
leaving from?"
"Um… Platform 9 ¾, it says," Lincoln said
nervously.
"What? Platform 9 ¾? Are you trying to be
funny?"
"Mum, there's Harry!" Sagan cried excitedly.
"Remember him? I think we should follow him."
"Oh, you're
right, Sagan, that is him. Maybe we should ask him for directions.
Come on kids."
"Uh, Harry?" Alison called out.
Harry
quickly turned around to see who called his name. When he saw who it
was he smiled. "Oh, hi Alison. How are you?"
"I'm fine,
thanks. Would you, erm, be able to tell us where the train is leaving
from?"
"Oh! Of course! I forgot you didn't know how! Just
follow us, we'd be more than happy to show you the way."
Alison
and the twins anxiously watched James, Albus, and Lily run through
the wall between Platforms 9 and 10. Then, Harry ran through.
With
a deep breath, they quickly ran through the barrier to get to the
platform, Alison holding tight to Ginny's hand as the only way
Muggles could get through was to be in physical contact with a witch
or wizard.
The three Dursleys stared around in awe at everything
they saw, from the sign that read "Platform 9 ¾" to the
steaming, scarlet train that read "Hogwarts Express".
"Quickly,
quickly, get on!" Ginny said hurriedly. The train leaves at exactly
11 o'clock! You've got ten minutes!" Ginny began herding her
children towards the train.
"You'll be fine, Lily, don't
worry! Don't listen to James, he's just playing with your mind.
Have fun! Albus don't stress out too much! James, try not to get
into too much trouble!"
Alison took a big, deep breath. "Well,
I suggest you follow them," she told the twins. The twins nodded
and began dragging their trunks towards the train.
Alison waited
until she saw their heads poke out of one of the windows. They began
to wave to her.
"Now you two write every day, you hear me?"
Alison called out. "Don't worry about your father, I'll talk
him around!"
"We'll write, Mom, I promise!" Sagan yelled
back.
"Yeah, we'll be fine! Don't worry about us!" Lincoln
added.
"I love you!" Alison yelled one last time. The train
began to roll away, taking her kids with it. Alison waved until she
couldn't see the train anymore.
One tear slid slowly down
Alison's left cheek, but before she could quickly wipe it away,
Ginny saw.
"Don't worry Alison," Ginny said soothingly. "I
remember how hard it was when James first went off to Hogwarts four
years ago, and we still had two kids at home! If you ever want to
talk you're welcome to come around our place, isn't that right
Harry." Ginny fixed her husband with the stare she inherited from
her mother.
"Oh, er, yeah, anytime you want," Harry said
sheepishly. "We live at 12 Grimmauld Place, London."
"Thanks,
guys," Alison said. "I may have to take you up on that offer one
day." She got up the courage to give the couple a watery smile. She
was very lucky to have made two such wonderful friends, even if her
husband didn't approve of them.
Yet.
