DISCLAIMER! I own nothing DISCLAIMER!
Harry listened to the sweet chirping sound of crickets singing into the late summer breeze. He stood leaning against his door frame, that led down to the serene Potter lake. Harry had moved into the Potter Manor not long after his visit to Gringotts and recieving his letter from his mother. The house itself wasn't what he had been expecting, he imagined a building a kin to the Palace of Versailles; the Potter family being one of the wealthiest in the world. But like every else in his life, he was dead wrong.
The large building was settled deep in the heart of the Potter estate, sitting comfortably between dense amounts of tree's and small meadows. It was nothing at all like he had expected. The three story house was large and white, with a huge balchony on the top floor, overlooking the lake. The house was so beautiful, it broke Harry's heart that he couldn't grow up here, his parents watching while he swam in the lake and played amoungst the tree's. The ground floor, was an open house plan, a large main ball room with a glass dome roof lay at the back of the house, the kitchen, at first, Harry thought was extremely small because on the outside it could only be the size of a broom closet. On further inspection Harry learned that the room was bigger on the inside, just like the tent Harry and Hermione had used whilst on the run. The kitchen counters were a white marble and the floor grey cobbled stone; both kept in prisine condition.
But what Harry loved the most about his new home was how much space he had to move and how light and airy it felt to be there. Like he had finally returned home. For once, Harry James Potter was looking forward to returning home during the school holiday's. A feat he thought he'd never accomplish.
That morning although calm and peaceful was tinged with sadness for Harry. Today was September 1st, the day he would return to Hogwarts; to where it all began. The pitter patter of tiny footsteps drew Harry out of his un-happy thoughts, he spun around with just enough time to be ready for a blue haired boy to launch himself into Harry's waiting arms. "Morning Teddy, where's your Grandmother?" the little boy giggled in his godfathers arms, changing his hair to an unruly black and eyes to emerald green. "Come on squirt lets get you breakfast" it wasn't 5 minutes after Harry had started to feed Teddy that Adromeda Tonks came running into the kitchen obviously in search of her grandson.
"Harry you shouldn't be doing that! You need to get ready, the train leaves at 11'oClock and Merlin save me you will not be late" Adromeda ushered him out of the kitchen, sending him up to shower and make the final preperations for school. Harry had invited Teddy and Adromeda to live with him as soon as he had become settled in his new home; he had never had the chance to grow up in this magical place so Harry would make sure as hell that his godson would. So far the arrangement had worked out great, Teddy was quite a handful and Adromeda was constently acting like the mother Harry had never had. Plus the Grangers were always visiting, he loved his little un-conventional family.
Harry raced up three flights of stairs and to his bedroom on the top floor, he had wanted to give the balchony room to Andromeda and Teddy because it was the largest in the house. But she had inisted that it was and always should belong to the Lord of the Manor; Teddy now had his own room adjacent to Andromeda's on the second floor.
It was half past ten once Harry was finally ready, thanks to the little blue ball of mayhem running about the manor. Harry shrunk his school trunk and placed it into his leather jacket pocket, fastened his wand holder to his left leg and placed the long silver chain with the Potter family ring attached to it around his kneck and tucked into his shirt. He looked at himself in the large foyer mirror, he had a look of recklessness about him and a hint of carelessness that was completely foreign to Harry; he liked it. His unruly black hair looked very windswept and interesting, he now realised why Harry's father, James, had liked to run his hand through his hair so much.
"Okay Harry we're ready!" Adromeda called down the stairs. Teddy took one look at Harry before turning into his mini-me and attaching himself to Harry's torso. "Okay, you take Teddy and I'll follow. On the count of three. One...two...three".
The three of them arrived in the midst of mass chaos; on platform 9 3/4. Harry tried to shield Teddy from the blare of noise and flashes of camera's, Andromeda following closely behind. Harry wished he had thought to say his goodbyes to them both back at the Manor, but he didn't realise it would be this bad. Adromeda pryed her godson off of Harry and held the teary toddler comfortably on her hip. Harry pulled out a small grey stuffed wolf from his jacket pocket and handed it to his godson, he had gotten in it Diagon Alley precisely for this moment. "You be good Teddy and take care of your grandmother. I'll see you both at christmas." He drew them into a strong hug and whispered into Andromeda's ear "Remember, if you need anything don't hestiate to owl me. I'll come straight home".
"Your a god send Harry, I know your parents would be proud. I know I am. Have a good year Harry" she gave him one final squeeze before letting him go.
He boarded the train to cheers of his name and the heartbreaking wail of his godson. He knew they would be alright, he just didn't want to miss anything. From the train it looked like the entire magical communtiy had come to platform nine and three quarters. 'Was this all to see him', he wondered. Harry strode down the train checking compartment after compartment for Hermione or any of his friends. Eventually Harry found Neville seated alone at the end of the train, hiding under his robes. "Neville what are you doing?"
"Are they gone? Have they left?"
"Have who gone where, Neville?" Harry guessed his long term friend was going insane.
"The-the-the-girls!" Neville stressed, Harry couldn't help but laugh at him, the situation was just so ridiculous."Its not funny Harry, they've been following me everywhere!", this only caused Harry to laugh louder and harder. He finally stopped once he noticed Neville's not-so-happy expression.
"Sorry Nev, but you've got to admit, its bloody funny" Harry lounged on his seat, his back resting comfortably against the window. "Have you see Mione, she said she'd meet me on the train"
"No, haven't seen her or anyone else. Have you seen Ron?"
"No and I don't plan to. All this fame has seriously gone to his head, I mean you saw what he was like at his birthday." Harry clarified for the bemused Neville. Its not everyday you hear the saviour of the wizarding world diss his once best friend. The clock on the platform struck eleven and a long loud whistle rang out over the crowds, the cheers became impossibly louder and Harry couldn't resist opening his window and waving to the adoring crowds; he even blew a few over the top kisses.
"What. The. Hell. Was. That." Neville accused, staring at what could only be an imposter Harry infront of him.
"Come on Neville it was only a bit of fun, lighten up" Harry said shrugging his shoulders. Neville didn't know where this new Harry had come from but he like him, his attitude was infective and soon they were both laughing and teasing eachother until Hermione finally appeared in the doorway.
"Hello boys." she said simply seating herself demurly on the seat next to Neville.
"Hey Mione, what took you so long" Harry asked, while Neville stared at Hermione jaw open. It took a while to for Harry to realise what Neville was staring at, Hermione had definatly changed over the last few years. Her hair was no longer a frizzy mess and fell in thick curls around her face and down her back, she had gained curves and a new wardrobe to match. To Harry this was old news, but obviously not to Neville, Harry wondered idly how the other boys of Hogwarts would react.
"Got held up at the front of the train, some reporter had snuck on and the driver had to kick him off before the train took off. Not to mention I had to walk the entire length of the train to find you two. You couldn't have picked a compartment closer to the front" she accused Harry in a half teasing manner. She let out a frustrated sigh before turning on Neville, "Sorry Neville, hows your summer been?"
The shock of actually being spoken to unfreezing him "Errr, it was great. Err, a little odd, but great. Yours?"
"I spent most of the summer at Harry's house with Adromeda and Teddy. He's getting so big now."-she smiled in fond memory of the little boy-"other than that, I've been recieving a lot of hate mail from the many people who believe I am a 'cold and heartless shrew' for dumping Ron-bloody-Weasley"
"Thats awfull..." Harry tuned the pair out, he'd heard it all before and frankly if he never saw Ron again it would be too soon. Harry leant his head against the window searching the cieling lazily for what seemed like hours.
"Harry, Harry, Harry!" Hermione called to him, apparently he had fallen asleep. He sat up wearily to face her "Its time to get changed into our school robes" she declared and conjured her a changing curtain to hang between the boys and her.
Nevilla and Harry immediantly began to change pulling off his shirt and en-larging his trunk to get his school clothes.
"Been working out Neville" Harry teased, pointing to Neville's growing physique.
"Shut it Potter, like you can talk pretty boy." Neville retorted, throwing a balled up shirt at Harry. It was true Harry had definatly changed, just like Hermione had. He was no longer the weedy little kid that had lived inside a cupboard for the first half of his life. Harry could now proudly say that he was the spitting double of his father, 6ft 4, chisled features and a qudditch players body. Harry pulled on his white shirt, leaving the two top buttons undone and tying the tie loosley around his neck-the knot incredibly small. He remained in his jeans with the wand holder attached and replaced his leather jacket with his gryffindor robes.
Neville and Harry both waited patiently for Hermione to take down the curtain. Or as patiently as Harry could achieve. "Come on Mione, its school not a fashion show. We're gonna get there and you'll still be changing!" he whined, much to the amusement of Neville.
Hermione finally took down the curtain to reveal her standing there, in a school skirt obvioulsy altered to lay just above her knee, black tights, little black shoes and a fitted white blouse. Her Gryffindor tie hung exactly the same way as Harry's, all in all she was very simply dressed but it worked for her. Harry heard Neville audiably gulp and had to hold back a teasing retort."Finally Mione, thought you'd never be ready" he smiled his most charming smile, so she would know that he thought she looked good. "But I think you've broken Neville" he said pointing to the almost drooling bot, Hermione returned Harry's smile and seated herself; she definatly wasn't going to make it easy to play the big brother role this year, he was going to have to fend hormone ridden boys off with a stick.
"We are approahing Hogwarts please leave your trunks on the train they will be taken to the school seperately" the nazel voice of the overhead speaker buzzed in each compartment throughout the train.
"Let the Holiday begin" Harry said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at Hermione.