Chapter Six

The Beginning

"You'll write to me everyday, won't you, Harry?" Ten-year-old Rory looked up at her older brother with pleading gray eyes. "Every single day?"

Harry smiled and hugged her for the tenth time that day. "I don't know if I can write every day, Rory," he said, but added quickly, "but I'll try, really I will."

Around them on platform nine and three-quarters, other Hogwarts students were boarding the bright scarlet steam engine. "You'd better hurry, Harry," said Remus. He took one end of his son's trunk and helped him stow it aboard. "Have a good term."

Sirius pressed a bag of coins into Harry's hand, and whispered, "I know Papa packed you sandwiches, but buy some sweets, all right? And make sure you share."

Harry smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

The older wizard clapped him on the shoulder. "You're going to be fine, Harry. It might be hard, but you'll make real friends. Maybe you'll even get a few detentions, like your fathers."

"So I won't be in trouble if I do?" the boy asked hopefully.

Sirius ruffled his hair, grinning. "Oh, you'll be in trouble, all right. What else are parents for?"

Harry laughed, then pulled on Sirius's shoulder to say in his ear, "You'll look after Papa at the full moon?"

His father nodded. "Don't worry about us, Harry. Have a good term." He gave Harry a push toward the train. "Go on, kiddo."

"Goodbye, Harry!" cried Rory, clutching tightly to Remus with one hand and waving frantically with the other. "Bye!"

The train started to pull away. Rory let go of Remus to run alongside the tracks. Harry watched as she fell behind, joined by a girl about the same age, with bright red hair.

"Er, excuse me," said a voice. Harry looked up to see a red-haired boy standing in the compartment doorway. "Can I sit here?" the boy asked. "Everywhere else is full."

"Sure," said Harry. This boy, with his freckles, red hair and admittedly worn-looking clothes, could only be a Weasley. Arthur Weasley worked at the Ministry, although in a different department than Sirius, but both of his fathers had nothing but good things to say about his family.

The boy sat across from him. Several times, he stole quick glances at Harry, then blurted, "Are you really Harry Potter?"

Harry laughed. "Yes, I am."

"Oh," said the boy. "My brothers told me you were, but I thought they might be joking. Fred and George, you know, they're always pulling pranks on me. I'm Ron, by the way, Ron Weasley."

"Nice to meet you," said Harry. "I think your dad might know my dads. Maybe you've heard of them? Sirius Black and Remus Lupin?"

Ron's eyes widened. "Sirius Black is one of the best Aurors in the department! Is he really your dad?"

"Well, he's really my godfather, but he and Papa have raised me since I was a baby. Do you have any siblings?"

"Six," said Ron. "Bill and Charlie are both out of school. Percy's a prefect, Fred and George are third-years, and my sister Ginny's ten."

"My sister's ten as well," said Harry. "Her name's Rory. She made me promise to write her."

"Ginny, too," said Ron. "Wait, Harry, does your sister have brown hair? And she was wearing blue overalls?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Merlin, she was with my sister. D'you think they'll be twice as bad if they made friends?"

"Nah," said Harry. "They'd have each other and not bother us."

Outside the open compartment door, a plump witch walked by pushing the trolly. "Anything off the cart, dear?" she asked kindly.

Ron muttered something about having brought sandwiches, but Harry pulled out the money Sirius had given him and bought a bit of everything. "Want some?" he asked Ron, dumping onto an empty seat.

"It's all right…" the redhead protested.

"Go on, have a Frog," said Harry, tossing him one.

Ron grinned. "Thanks, mate. Hey, did you catch the Cannons' match last week…?"

The End

Unnecessary Author's Note: I've read several of those 'Sirius and Remus have a baby' stories, but the scientist in me was bothered by one of them actually carrying the kid. Boys just can't do that (I studies biology- I got an A). But, of course, being fabulous wizards, there would be a spell that let them have a child, even if someone else carried it. And, I confess, Healer McGudrin is my own invention, but he's just so cute! (And not terribly essential to the story, as a character, anyway). That's enough from me. Go on about your lives, friends!