A/N: Thanks for the feedback!
I'll continue to publish chapters whenever I've had time to write. I don't know yet where the story will head to in the end, but the next few chapters already in exist drafts.
Saying Good-Bye
"Potter." Draco made his voice sound harsh.
Harry turned around. "Malfoy. So we meet again."
Suddenly both of them laughed and then shook hands.
"Good to see you, Draco. Hello, Marianna." Harry exchanged greetings with Draco's wife. Ginny and Marianna hugged.
"Oh, you look fantastic!" Marianna told Hermione who just arrived with Ron.
Hermione put a hand on her obviously pregnant belly. "Thanks. And thank Merlin, I'm not puking my guts out this time," she added in a whisper so the children wouldn't hear it. "One horrible pregnancy is so enough for me; I'd like to enjoy this one."
"So you are trying to overtake us, Ron!" joked his brother Bill. His and Fleur's youngest, Louis, sat on his father's shoulders, curiously looking everywhere. Their middle child, Dominique, was starting school this year, and their eldest, Victoire, was in the third year like Harry's godson Teddy, her boyfriend. Having inherited his birth mother Tonk's ability to change his appearance at will, Teddy today had tomato red hair with golden highlights, because he was proud to be a Gryffindor.
Besides Lucinda and Dominique, Harry and Ginny's son James, and Ron and Hermione's daughter Rose and their adopted son Sirius were among the new first-year students of Hogwarts. They were joined by Percy and Audrey's boy Freddie, and Neville and Luna's twins, Xena and Philia.
"See you at Christmas!", Albus said to his parents Harry and Ginny, hugged them, then hurried off to some of his friends. He was in second year.
"Can we now pleeeease get on the train?" shouted Sirius. All this stupid hugging! That made him totally look uncool.
"Yeah, we wanna go!" insisted his six months younger sister Rose.
Rose didn't mind being hugged by her parents, but she wanted to finally be on the train with all her friends.
Now James demanded: "I wanna go, too!" He sloppily hugged Harry and Ginny, his younger sister Lily, then grabbed his owl cage and ran off to where Victoire and Teddy were snogging.
"The two of you so need to stop this!"
"He's jealous!" mumbled Victoire against Teddy's lips.
"Hell no! Snogging is so disgusting!" James shuddered as he climbed onto the train.
"Look at them, running around on their own; they do not even want to be hugged anymore!" Ginny said this like she considered it to be cute.
"We officially became uncool today," answered her husband Harry, kissing her on the cheek.
Lucinda hugged Draco and he helped her to get her trunk and owl in the train. Then she hugged her grandpa and her mother, promised to be a good girl and to send at least one letter per week.
Steam poured onto the platform and noise filled the air as the bright red train started to move.
The parents waved their good-byes until the train was out of sight.
"Quidditch player of the year, congratulations, man!" Draco slapped Ron's back.
Ron beamed, then tried to be modest. "You're not doing badly either. St Mungo's new Head of Department of Magical Unjuries! Who'd have ever thought you'd become a healer!"
"Not me!" Draco laughed. "So, Hermione, a little baby break in your running towards becoming the next Minister of Magic?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, thanks. Running a household and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is all I want to do right now. I'm fine where I am."
"But then you're using the break to write another book?" Ginny guessed. The Hermione-Granger-Weasley books on Wizard-Muggle-relations were famous.
Hermione refused to say anything, but behind her back Ron nodded proudly.
"Who wants to have lunch before Luna and I need to leave for Hogwarts?" Neville asked. Neville had succeeded Professor Sprout as Herbology teacher two years ago and his wife Luna was about to begin her first year as Divination teacher since Sibyl Trewlaney had retired during the summer. They were going to travel via Floo Network in the afternoon.
Everyone agreed and the small group left for the Leaky Cauldron where the entry to Diagon Alley was.
On the Train
"Oi!" Freddie shouted. "I got us a compartment on our own!"
"Yes!"
"Strike!"
James and Sirius collided, both trying to squeeze through the door before their friend.
"Boys..." Dominique rolled her eyes because of her cousins. "So, what house do you wanna be in?"
"Gryffindor!" shouted Xena and Philia.
"Slytherin!" piped Lucinda.
"No, Gryffindor!" insisted James and Freddie.
Sirius answered last. "I don't care. As long as you guys are in the same house, I guess it'll be okay." A grin cracked up his face. "Though it could be fun beating your arses in Quidditch!"
"Ha!" His sister Rose laughed. "Maybe the two of us will end up in different houses and I'll be the one to beat your sorry arse!"
The children joked and laughed, bragged about their new pets – owls and bats and toads and rats – until the old lady with the sweets trolley arrived.
The compartment fell silent except the "Hmm"s and "Yummy"s and the crackling sounds of wrapping paper.
"Oh, great..." muttered Sirius. "I can't even get rid of Dad!" He showed his Chocolate Frog card to the others. Ever since the cards had started to show portraits of famous Quidditch players, he had been haunted by his father.
"I'll take your dad," offered Freddie. "You can have my Krum card."
"Great! Thanks, mate."
Sirius took the card, remembering Victor Krum's last visit to his parents' house. His wife Alina and their daughter Vicky had accompanied him as usually. Rose, Sirius and Vicky, who had known each other from a very young age onwards, had been playing cards. A little accident while playing Exploding Snap had caused Vicky's eyebrows to burn off. She wasn't injured, but she glared at Sirius for the rest of the afternoon and didn't want to accept his apology.
At night Rose snuck into Sirius' room to tease him about Vicky. She even sang: "You la-la-la-la-like her!"
Hermione and Ron grounded Sirius for one week and Sirius used the time to write a letter to Vicky. Things were looking brighter again when her answer arrived. And even brighter when Uncle Harry came for a visit and told him stories about his namesake Sirius Black. He must have heard all the stories about a hundred times, but he still loved to hear them.
Some first year children were already waiting in the entrance hall when the children from the Hogwarts Express arrived. They were the offspring of the teachers and those whose parents lived in Hogsmeade.
Sirius knew some of the faces, like Ravena Cho, Martin Macmillan, Christy Jordan and – towering above all the other children his age – Albert Hagrid, one quarter Giant and son of Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid who had escorted the first years from the train station to the castle.
Most important among all the waiting children: Vicky Krum. Her father had successfully applied for the job of the Flying teacher and Quidditch referee for Hogwarts after ending his career four years ago. Alina's book shop was in Hogsmead anyway, so the family didn't even have to move. But like all the other new pupils Vicky today would move into one of the first year dormitories of Hogwarts.
Sirius slowly pushed his way through the small crowd till he was next to Vicky. She smiled at him and played with her long, chocolate brown hair. Her eyebrows had grown back nicely.
"Hey, Weasley." she said.
"Hey, Krum." he said, biting the insides of his cheeks in order not to grin like a moron.
Seconds later Professor Flitwick ordered the children to form pairs and then follow him into the Great Hall.
The Sorting
Roaring applause welcomed them into the Great Hall. Sirius had seen pictures of this place, magically moving pictures, but to be here in person – that was real magic.
Above their heads floated thousands of enchanted candles as if they were hanging between the stars of the night sky. The house ghosts hovered above the tables, the Bloody Baron, the Grey Lady, Nearly Headless Nick, the Fat Friar and Peeves.
Vicky gave Sirius a little push to show him where her father was sitting, waving like some of the other teachers who had children among the new arrivals.
"Weasley! Weasley! Weasley!" shouted a dozen of red-haired boys and girls when the group passed the Gryffindor table. Sirius grinned at his cousins Victoire Weasley and Albus Potter.
Flitwick led the children to some benches in front of the teachers' platform. The Sorting Hat sat on his stool, waiting for them.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" whispered Vicky.
"Don't know."
Vicky leaned closer to him. "I think I might be in Slytherin."
"Why Slytherin?" Sirius had never really thought about ending up in Slytherin. It still wasn't one of the popular houses. And the chances of becoming a Slytherin were one to three. In other words: it was more likely to end up in one of the other houses.
"Because my dad went to Durmstrang," Vicky continued, "I guess that could count like Slytherin. Mom was in Hufflepuff, though."
Sirius wasn't able to answer because on the platform Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress of Hogwarts, stepped foreward to the lectern.
Everyone fell silent.
"Welcome to Hogwarts to all those who have arrived here for the first time!" Professor McGonagall smiled at the first years. "Welcome back, Gryffindors, welcome back, Hufflepuffs, welcome back, Ravenclaws, welcome back, Slytherins!" The houses cheered when they were announced. "A fresh school year is about to begin…"
Sirius now was so nervous that he barely understood McGonagall's words. He wished that he had made plans like James to tell the Sorting Hat in which house he wanted to belong. James wanted to ask to be put in Gryffindor because for his father asking seemed to have worked. James said that asking never hurt.
A heavy, icy lump had formed in Sirius' stomack by the time the Sorting Hat began to sing his famous Hogwart's Song:
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
McGonagall started to call out the names of the new students, starting with "Abbott, Milena." The girl sat down timidly on the edge of the stool. The Sorting Hat barely touched her hair before it shouted: "Hufflepuff!"
The first house table welcomed their new member with cheers.
The Sorting quickly continued until the turn had come for "Hagrid, Albert" who was sorted to Gryffindor. The huge boy grinned and then blushed because his father at the teachers' table yelled his name so loudly. McGonagall gave Hagrid a sharp look and he shut up again.
"Krum, Victoria!" McGonagall called not long afterwards.
Vicky whispered to Sirius: "Wish me luck!" and almost ran towards the stool.
The Sorting Hat took his time with her, and after a whole minute shouted: "Slytherin!"
"Told you so!" she shouted towards Sirius before hopping down the stairs and being welcomed by her house mates. All of a sudden Sirius wanted to be Sorted to Slytherin so he could be with her.
Victor Krum was much more composed than his colleague Hagrid, but his grin was nonetheless a very happy one.
Next among Sirius' friends and family were the Longbottom twins. Philia joined Gryffindor and Xena Ravenclaw. Both "Malfoy, Lucinda" and "Potter, James" were Sorted to Slytherin and Gryffindor like they had predicted.
Then it was the Weasleys' turn. Dominique was first. She seemed very surprised when the Hat called "Hufflepuff!", but then shrugged and sat down at the yellow and black table.
Freddie hesitated went McGonagall called him. Now that his cousin hadn't become a Gryffindor, anything could happen.
"Do you need an extra invitation, Mr Weasley?" McGonagall asked.
Freddie hurried to sit down, nervously gnawing his bottom lip. "Gryffindor, Gryffindor…" he mumbled and the Hat declared him: "Gryffindor!"
The boy was so relieved he nearly tripped over his own feet on the way to his housetable. He fell down heavily next to James who clapped his back.
Now there were only three children left to Sort. Sirius watched his sister Rose walk to the platform. After him there was only one other boy.
Seconds felt like hours while the Sorting Hat sat on Rose's head, but then it shouted: "Gryffindor!"
Finally McGonagall said: "Weasley, Sirius!"
He got up, feeling hundreds of eyes staring him. Whispering started in some corners of the Great Hall, or was he imagining that?
Everyone seemed to be irritated that he, too, was a Weasley, but didn't have the same red hair like the rest of his family who for the most part waited for him at the Gryffindor table. Sirius had always been proud that his hair was black and long like his namesake's.
McGonagall smiled reassuringly and put the Sorting Hat on his head.
Immediately a strange voice spoke inbetween his ears: "I see that you are the descendant of two very old wizarding families, though others have given you their name."
What two old families? Sirius wondered.
"Both your parents studied here at Hogwarts," the Hat continued.
My real parents? Do you know who they are? Or are you talking about Mom and Dad? I know they were in Gryffindor! What do you mean?
"You would make Gryffindor proud, young sir."
So I'll be in Gryffindor? Sirius felt unsure about it. His eyes strayed to the Slytherin table where Vicky sat, curiousity on her face.
"But I can see that your heart is with another house for which you would be an enrichment."
Vicky, he's talking about Vicky… maybe Slytherin is okay, too…
"Slytherin?" the Sorting Hat's voice asked in head. "Then Slytherin it is!" The name of the house was audible for everyone in the Great Hall.
Sirius felt shaky as he got up and walked to the Slytherin table where the boys and girls applauded his arrival. Only a few other kids on the other tables clapped, most of them from his family.
At least he wasn't the first Weasley ever to be in Slytherin, Sirius thought.
Among a group of four-years Sirius' cousin Amanda was sitting, daughter of his Uncle Charlie. She had always been fascinated by dragons which were her father's profession, and had helped him to take care of the eggs and babies since she'd been able to walk, so no-one really had been surprised when she became a Slytherin.
Vicky and a blonde, tall sixth-year boy who introduced himself as one of the prefects made room for Sirius to sit down.
After the Hat had finished the Sorting and the last boy had joined the Ravenclaw table, he spoke once again: "Remember, boys and girls, no matter what house you've been sorted to, stand together and Hogwarts will be strong from within!"
Applause welled up during which McGonagall rose again and stepped foreward on the dais.
A series of loud cracks ripped through the air and a small groupf of elves appeared on her side. The one in front of magical creatures was clothed in a knee-length, rainbow-coloured robe and wore a huge white chef's hat between his ears.
The Headmistress silenced the students with a gesture.
"It is not only the witches and wizards that we welcome back at Hogwarts," McGonagall spoke, "it is also the Free Elves who kindly agreed to cater for us again for another year."
The four tables applauded and cheered for the elves.
McGonagall stepped aside and let the cook have the last words: "Hello everyone. My name is Barny. For those of you who don't know me yet, I am the head cook of the Free Elves of Hogwarts. Whenever you're starving or your sweet tooth needs stuffing, feel free to visit the kitchen. We hope you enjoy the meals and desserts we prepared for today's feast! And now" – Barny stood on top of his naked toes and shouted: "dig in!"
With loud cracks the elves disappeared – and the house tables were full of bowls and plates and trays, filled with steaming soups and gravy, delicious steaks and sausages, mixed vegetables, lettuce, noodles and rice. On multi-leveled silver trays there were all kinds of desserts: puddings, fruit salad, chocolate mousse, cakes and enchated ice cream that wouldn't melt until you started eating from it.
"We start with dessert, right?", Vicky asked.
Sirius helped himself to a huge piece of chocolate cake. "You bet!"
Note: The Sorting Hat's Song is quoted from JKR's HP 1. "Stand together, be strong from within" are the words that the Hat uses, according to Nearly Headless Nick, whenever it feels the need to warn about something.