So, such a bad idea to start a fic before going on holiday, but here goes. My first attempt at next generation HP

"Go on," Ginny said to her eldest son. James looked at the wall between platforms nine and ten on Kings Cross station. It looked shockingly solid. But growing up in a household with magical parents had made him accept that not everything was as it seemed. He smiled at his younger siblings who were eagerly looking at the wall. This was all of their first visit to the station, James being the first one of the Potter children to go to Hogwarts. He had a lot to live up to. Taking a deep breath he ran at the wall and heard the moment he'd passed onto the platform. The noise of the station had changed, eager students chattering away and hooting owls sounding over every part of the station. James smiled, waiting for the rest of his family to come through the solid wall.

It took only a minute or two before Harry and Albus came through, Ginny and Lily following after them. His parents smiled expectantly at James, and he suddenly felt an urgent need to get away from them. The weight of expectation on him was far too heavy and he had to get away. He looked at the clock and saw it was five to eleven. Only five minutes before the train was going to leave, much to his relief.

"Don't get into too much trouble," Harry said.

"That's rich!" James said. "After all the stuff you two got up to at school!"

"Yes well," Ginny said with a shrug. "We were young and stupid. Just be careful."

"Yes mum," James said, feeling that he couldn't get into as much trouble as his father had in his time. It would involve breaking the world record. "I've got to get on the train," James said. He gave his parents a hug each and then dragged his trunk onto the train. Lily and Albus were looking enviously on. Since before they could even speak they'd heard about how wonderful Hogwarts was, and James got there first much to the other two's annoyance.

"Remember everything," Albus said. "I want to know it all!"

"I will," James said with a grin. "I'll write. I'll send Farley back all the time," he added, looking at the barn owl in his cage on top of his trunk. The Hogwarts Express gave a loud whistle. Just a minute left to get onto the train. "I have to go."

"Have a good year," Harry said, smiling at his son. "See you at Christmas."

"Yeah," James said with a wink, getting onto the train. Not a moment too soon either. The train started billowing smoke and moving slowly as James waved to his family through the glass on the train door. They waved back and James stayed put until they were out of sight. With a sigh, he started looking for an empty compartment. Surprisingly he found one in the second one he looked. Sheer luck. He dragged his trunk in and managed to put it on the luggage rack without too much of a struggle. He hadn't even sat down when the door opened with a loud crack.

"James!"

He turned around quickly and then smiled as he saw the familiar freckled face with red hair. "Fred! I forgot you were coming to Hogwarts this year too."

"I'm hurt!" Fred said sarcastically. "I'm your cousin."

"I know," James said, relieved to see a friendly face. Fred sat down and closed his eyes, as if going to sleep already. "Fred?"

"Mm?"

James nearly didn't speak but as the minutes passed by in silence he felt that he had to. "Are you scared?"

"Terrified," Fred said honestly, opening his eyes. "I'm named after my dads twin brother who died at the great battle of Hogwarts and my entire family fought against the ultimate evil Lord Voldemort. Quite impossible to live up to that…"

"Tell me about it," James said. "My father destroyed the most evil wizard of all time. No matter what I do… I feel like I've already failed."

"Yep," Fred said easily. "So I've decided to just forget it. I can't succeed like that… fight the greatest evil the world has ever known? I can't compete. So why waste energy trying?"

James nodded, knowing he had a point. But it was easier said than done. James opened his mouth to talk about Quidditch to take his mind off of things when the door opened. A small girl with short blonde hair and blue eyes poked her head in.

"This seat free?"

"Yeah," James said. She smiled and pulled her trunk into the compartment, propping her feet up on it as she sat down.

"I'm Lucy."

"James," he said with a smile.

"Fred."

"Hi," she said easily. She opened her trunk and got out a large thick book before flipping it open and reading it.

"Hogwarts, A history," James read off of the cover. "No one ever reads that book."

Lucy looked up confused. "What?"

"Everyone owns that book, no one reads it," Fred commented, agreeing with James. "Except Aunt Hermione but she's weird like that."

"But… I know nothing about the castle or anything," Lucy said, seeming suddenly embarrassed. "I don't want to be behind."

"You're muggle born?" James asked pleasantly.

"Er… yeah," she said, a blush on her cheeks. "I bet everyone knows so much more than me," she added bitterly.

"Oh don't worry," James said. "We all start at the beginning."

"Well, I still want to know all I can," she said. "Are you both first years?"

"Yes."

"Is it true that the ceiling of the great hall is enchanted?"

"Yes," James said. "Like the sky outside. Apparently it looks like it doesn't have a roof at all."

"So," Lucy said, snapping the book shut. "What house do you think you'll be in?"

"Gryffindor," Fred and James said at the same time, making them both laugh.

"Wow. Arrogant much?"

"What do you mean?" James asked, his brow creasing in question.

"Well, I've read a bit about the school houses and it seems to be in recent times that everyone wants to be in Gryffindor," Lucy said, rolling her eyes.

"Not true," Fred said. "I wouldn't mind Ravenclaw."

"It is true," Lucy said, smiling. "Ask any first year on the train, they all want to be Gryffindors!"

"Well, if I'm not in Gryffindor I'll be disowned," James said. "Both of my parents were, all of my grandparents were and every single one of my six uncles were too. What they'll say if I'm not… I don't know," James finished, swallowing the lump in his throat with difficulty.

"Sorry," Lucy said. "I didn't mean to… Sorry." James shrugged as if it didn't matter, when of course it did. Before anyone could say anything further the lunch trolley came around, pushed by a stringy looking and sour faced man in his early twenties.

"What d'you want?" he asked sharply.

"Great I'm starving," Lucy said. "I was too nervous to mange breakfast." She got out her purse and then frowned. "No chance you take pounds?"

"Galleons, sickles or knuts only," he almost grunted. The look of disappointment on Lucy's face was comical. James handed her a dozen or so sickles.

"Oh you can't do that!" she said.

"I'm buying your money off of you," he said. "Don't worry. Just give me a chocolate frog." She hesitated for a moment and then smiled eagerly, pushing a paper note in James's direction. She spent every last sickle on a variety of sweets, spreading them out over the table. Fred's mouth dropped open and his stomach growled loudly.

"Help yourself," she said, pushing a Fizzing Whizbee towards Fred. He didn't need much persuasion. James looked at the note he'd been given. He didn't quite understand how people could expect to buy things with bits of paper, but then again he didn't live in the muggle world. Who was he to say what was normal? He put the note in his pocket, deciding to keep hold of that. His fingers kept brushing against the note throughout the rest of the journey, the train taking them closer and closer towards Hogwarts.

More in a week or so. In the meantime, please leave a review and let me know what you think. :-)