All characters are the property of JK Rowling.
A/N: Yes, I realize that most of this chapter (except the first paragraph and the last bit) is actually the epilogue. Don't worry, this has a purpose; it will be compared to something later. And so, because I don't want to get sued, I admit to not owning most of this chapter. All rights reserved to JK Rowling and various publishers. Read on!
The kids – aside from Albus and Hugo – all ran off immediately upon crossing the border. The adults chatted for a bit, killing time and avoiding the goodbyes for as long as they could. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just spotted a certain blonde Malfoy, while Albus discovered what a crush was in the form of Scorpius.
"Hey!"
James had reappeared; he had divested himself of his trunk, owl, and trolley, and was evidently bursting with news.
"Teddy's back there," he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulder into the billowing clouds of steam. "Just seen him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!"
He gazed up at the adults, evidently disappointed by the lack of reaction.
"Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing–"
"You interrupted them? said Ginny. "You are so Ron –"
"– and he said he was kissing his girlfriend! And then he told me to go away. He's snogging her!" James added as though worried he had not made himself clear.
"Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily ecstatically. "Teddy would really be part of the family then!"
"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week," said Harry. "Why don't we just invite him to live with us and have done with it?"
"Yeah!" said James enthusiastically. "I don't mind sharing with Al – Teddy could have my room!"
"No," said Harry firmly, "you and Al will share a room when I want the house demolished."
He checked the battered old watch that had once been Fabian Prewett's.
"It's nearly eleven, you'd better get on board."
"Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him.
"Mum! I can't give a professor love!"
"But you know Neville – "
James rolled his eyes.
"Outside, yeah, but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he? I can't walk into Herbology and give him love…."
Shaking his head at his mother's foolishness, he vented his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus.
"See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals."
"I thought they were invisible. You said they were invisible!"
But James merely laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him gave his father a fleeting hug, then leap onto the rapidly filling train. They saw him wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find his friends.
That was the last Ginny Weasley heard from her oldest son. Lily and Albus kept a semi-regular correspondence, and she heard about James through their letters. This didn't surprise her the least; James had always been the most independent, only writing home if he was: A) In the utmost danger, or B) he really needed something.
What was surprising was that, unlike last year where she would receive a letter from Hogwarts and she would be expected to drop everything she was doing in order to floo to Headmistress McGonagall's office, Ginny hadn't received those familiar envelopes once in the whole five months her kids have been away.
So on the Friday afternoon Ginny had been peacefully washing the dishes and spotted an owl scratching on the kitchen window, she didn't bother to open it. She let the dishes slip from her fingers – probably startling her husband, Harry, who was resting upstairs after a long day of Auror work. Barely stopping to grab her purse from the couch, Ginny practically ran to the living room and into the fireplace, shouting Hogwarts! as she went.
After a few moments of waiting for something to happen, Ginny slinked out of the fireplace in embarrassment. This time she remembered to grab a pinch of the Floo powder before repeating her destination.