"Checkmate."
Rose leaned back against the cushions of the train compartment. "Fine," she said, "I give up. Take the stupid queen."
"King."
"Whatever."
"I feel like we've been on this train all day," groaned Albus, tapping his head against the window. "Why are we not there yet?"
"Homesick?" asked Scorpius with a grin.
"I just want my bed," said Albus with a groan. "I didn't sleep a wink last night, Liam and Brady were talking the whole time."
"I'm looking forward to seeing Hugo," admitted Rose. "It's the last time he'll see me getting off the train. I can't believe he's starting school in September!"
"You're going to spend at least a week with us at the Grange," said Albus firmly, looking at Scorpius.
"You can come for my birthday!" suggested Rose. "Or maybe the twins', theirs is a bit later."
"I'll see what I can do," said Scorpius with a grin. "I'd invite you over to my place, but I don't think that would go too well."
Lysander cleared away the chess set. Rose had tried to focus on the game, but her thoughts were far too scattered. Like Albus, she had hardly slept the night before. She found herself staring out the window and onto the moonlit grounds of the castle. The Riders had already left with the dragons, and all that remained from their visit were a few large clawmarks by Hagrid's hut.
Albus' face contorted. It looked as if he had caught a quiff of something sour.
"What?" said Scorpius.
"Hugo's coming to Hogwarts," he said.
Rose raised her brows. "Yes, and?"
"That means Lily is coming too," he said. "I don't think I'm ready for this."
"She causes plenty of trouble at home," noted Lorcan. "Maybe she needs more discipline. Being at school could help."
Rose silently agreed with him. Albus had turned out well-behaved and relatively obedient, but James and Lily both enjoyed acting out to gain their parents' attention. Rose knew that it had to do with how little their parents were home sometimes. Both of them enjoyed their jobs, but that had meant that their children had gone for stretches without seeing them while they were growing up.
"I hope it helps," groaned Albus. "It can't get much worse."
"Three Potters at Hogwarts at once?" said Lysander with a grin. "I think the castle might burn down."
"Only the Gryffindor Tower where you all will be," said Scorpius, laughing. "I'll be busy hiding in the dungeons."
It was dark when they reached the station. As tired as she was, Rose found herself dragging her feet as she approached the barrier between magical and Muggle stations with Albus and Scorpius.
"Please write," she pleaded with Scorpius. "If I go all summer without hearing from you, I might forget you exist."
"Good luck with that," said Scorpius with a grin. "I'm unforgettable, remember?"
"You'll be over to visit soon enough," said Albus, patting Scorpius on the shoulder. "Don't you listen to her, now. Enjoy your summer."
"You too," said Scorpius, "and I'll write whenever I can, I promise."
Albus sighed and looked at the students passing through the barrier in small clumps.
"It almost makes me miss being in class," he said with a sigh.
Scorpius gave him an incredulous look, and Albus laughed.
"I said almost! C'mon, let's go."
And with a running start, the three children disappeared into the brick wall before them.