It was whimsical, the alley—the way the buildings curved and fit in to one another, as though they had constantly been shifted and stuffed together to fit each new shop as it came along. Witches and Wizards buzzed along the cobblestone streets, too caught up in their own lists to notice James and Lily as they led Harry into each new shop. He was entranced by the eccentricity of the alley, how the books in Flourish and Blotts seemed to support the ceiling; how the apothecary could contain so many smells and vials in such a tiny place.

They had woven in and out of almost all the shops in the alley gathering all the supplies—Lily trying to steer Harry in the right direction, his head bent over the list. James and Hagrid held up the back of the group as they held each new item when it came their way. Parcels of potion ingredients, quills and parchments were piled in their arms, almost as high as their faces, masking their upper bodies in a sea of brown.

"What's next on the list, sweetheart?" Lily asked Harry, steering him towards an open space on the side of the Alley, giving Hagrid and James time to catch up.

"All that's left," Harry began, his eyes scanning the list, mentally checking off items, "…is…a wand. Just a wand!"

"Well if it's a wand yeh be needin' you best be goin' to Ollivander's!" Hagrid said as he made his ways through the crowd, his head nodding towards a building towards the end of the street. "There ain't no place better."

He led the way as they merged back into the crowd, only to find themselves just a few short moments later in front of an old shop whose windows were piled high with an abundance of long boxes varying in size.

Harry's eyes followed the windows until they stopped just short of a sign that read: Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C..

"Go on in," Lily said, smiling, giving Harry a small push in the shop's direction.

"You're not coming in?" Harry said just as he reached the nob, after he realized no one was following him.

"No, son, this one is all you. Your mum and I are going to go pick up a few things of our own, we will meet you here when you're done." James said, ruffling Harry's hair before he took Lily's hand.

Harry looked to Hagrid, but the half-giant just shook his head and agreed with what James and Lily had said.

"See you in a bit!" Lily said, as she and James began making their way back down the Alley, with Hagrid parting in the different direction—headed towards the wizard bank.

Harry slowly turned the knob into Ollivander's wand shop, and as he did so he was engulfed in the smells of wood, varnish and some mixtures that his nose couldn't place. It was a dark room he entered that had multiple hallways branching back off of it, filled with shelves that were stocked with the same boxes he had seen in the shop window. Cobwebs hung from the shelves, and a thick layer of dust covered almost every inch of the shop except for the gold bell that sat on the merchant's desk. He made his way up to the desk and placed him palm down on top of the bell, ringing it for service while his eyes continued to wander around the most interesting shop he had set foot in yet.

The black robes draped over his shoulders and stopped just short of his ankle. The robes themselves stood out amongst the rest of his wardrobe, much like his textbooks and trunk stood out against the rest of his belongings that were scattered about his room. He glanced around at all of his stuff, both old and new. His eyes caught on an opening in his closet where the shiny red, blue and yellow of his Sussex School uniform glistened back at him as the afternoon sun made its way into his room. Harry found himself pulling his old uniform on, finding comfort in its warmth and the coloring—the familiarity of it all. A creak in the floorboard from just outside his door diverted his attention to his father who was looking in on his son as he studied himself in the mirror.

"What's on your mind there, champ?" James said, coming into the room, picking up the Hogwarts tie from Harry's pile of clothing laying on the floor.

"I'm really not going back to school am I?" Harry said, looking at his appearance in his old uniform once again before glancing at his father sitting on his bed in the mirror.

"Not Sussex School no, but you're headed on a new adventure. Hogwarts is a school filled with wonders and new challenges—new people. It's a chance to grow, Harry. You're going to become an amazing wizard at Hogwarts, probably a better wizard than I. Come here," James said, clearing a space on the bed next to him for Harry to sit. "I know the unknown can be a scary thing, and sometimes I wonder whether or not your mom and I should have told you sooner about the magical world. But Harry, I know that no matter how little or how much you know right now, you will learn it all in no time. Hogwarts will become home in no time."

"Dad, what if I'm not good enough?"

"Harry," James began as he draped the Hogwarts tie around his son's neck, "you won't know the answer to that unless you try."

"Everyone else is going to be ahead of me though, they've known about the magical world for years…"

"That's not necessarily true," James said, his eyes glancing to the picture that dawned his son's nightstand of his wife with her arms wrapped around a 9 year-old Harry. "Your mother didn't know about the magical world before she went to Hogwarts."

"How-how is that possible?" Harry said, inquisitive as to how it was possible for a normal human being to be magical.

"Your mother is a muggle-born witch. She was born into a non-magical family. Hogwarts finds the muggle-born witches and wizards and personally invites them to attend the school, just like Hagrid did for you. Harry, your mother," James said, picking up the photo and handing it to his son, "is the brightest and most talented witch I know. You are not at any disadvantage going to Hogwarts after being in this world for so long. In my opinion it can only help you."

"Is it really as amazing as you say, dad?"

James ruffled his son's hair and then got up to leave the room, a wide grin spreading across his face. "You'll just have to wait and see," he said with a wink as he walked out of the room. His head popped back in the doorway just a few seconds later, "and Harry, put all of this away before your mom sees all your new robes on the floor."

"Is he asleep?" James asked, as he heard the porch door close.

She came over to him quietly, handing James a small glass of wine. "He's out like a light. Think he's excited?" she asked, a little sarcasm pouring out from where her mouth hid behind the rim of the glass.

"I think he's thrilled. I'm nervous for him though, Lils…"

"Me too. Me too. We're putting him in safe hands though." She said, scenarios running wild in her mind.

"Is this the best thing though Lils? Is it really safe to bring him back into a world where a Dark Lord has a personal vendetta against him and followers who wouldn't hesitate to hurt him?"

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but James, it's a little late to decide this. We've already brought him back into the whirlwind of things, and he loved it, just as much as we do. It's part of who he is—we can't deny him that. Dumbledore is there, as is McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, and a few others who will protect him and provide him with the things we can't from afar. Hogwarts is the safest place besides our home for him. He's going to be a great wizard and we have to let him."

James let those words sink in for a bit as he laid back on the recliner and starred up at the back of the house, where the garden lights were helping to create dance-like movements against the wall as the leaves sprang to life in the midsummer night's wind. They had created a life out of the ruble of that Halloween night in Godric's Hallow. They had survived the Dark Lord's wrath for a fourth time and had come out of it all with a son who had made every day a new adventure for them. "It's his adventure now, isn't it?"

"He'll come back to us James—at holiday's and in the summer. He's only an owl away at all times. I'm going to miss him too," Lily said, getting up out of her own seat. She made her way over to where James was laying down and gently pulled his wine glass out of his grips and placed it down on the table next to hers. He shifted slightly, allowing her room to climb on the chair next to him. Her dark auburn hair fell onto his shoulder as she rested her head on his chest, curling into him, searching for warmth.

James settled his own head on top of hers, pulling her in closely.

"We did good, Lils."

The back of the hatchback was loaded with the rustic brown trunk and the owl cage. Harry gazed up at the house one last time before James started driving the car towards Knightsbridge Rd. The ride to the train station was not long, but with each passing glance at a sight that Harry had connected with the image of home, the destination of the journey became less and less desirable. He was excited about the endless possibilities that came with the wizarding world and a new school, but it was the leaving that was to be the hardest.

He wasn't ready to leave the known behind when they pulled up to King's Cross. Lily tugged the trunk out of the back and placed it down on the trolley that Harry had fetched for her just moments before. They were early, judging by the time on the large clock face that stood tall above them, nestled in the top corner of the old station building. All around them people buzzed along with their suitcases and trolleys, heads buried trying to memorize tickets as if at any moment they would be tested by a station attendant as to where their destination was. He himself was uncertain as to where in the station they were to head in order to catch the Hogwarts express, but when he had asked his parents had brushed the question off with yet another, "You'll see."

James met them at the front door just a few seconds later, pulling a ticket out of his back pocket as he made his way to them.

"Ready to go?" James said, smile stretched wide across his face.

Harry nodded then absentmindedly started leading the way without truly knowing where they were going. James and Lily followed, his arm around her waist as they did so.

"Um, dad, what platform is the train on?'" Harry yelled, over his shoulder, finally realizing he didn't have a clue.

James came up and whispered in his ear, "Platform 9 and ¾."

"Dad! Honestly, where am I getting on?" Harry said, impatiently as James began leading the way down the platform between tracks 9 and 10.

James stopped abruptly at one of the pillars that marked platforms 9 and 10. Harry stood there, his head whizzing around crazily, trying to see a train that might resemble one that would be headed to a magical school to no avail. Lily stood behind them both, giggling with her hand over her mouth.

"Dad!"

"We're here. Platform 9 and ¾."

"Funny." Harry said, straight-faced, green eyes glaring at his father whose smirk remained.

"Harry, the platform to get on the Hogwarts express is hidden. Do you trust me?"

"Yes, but…"

"But?"

"I trust you, but I don't see what trust has to do with anything?"

"Harry," Lily said, coming up behind him and placing both her hands on his small shoulders. "In order to get onto the platform, you have to go through the barrier between platform's nine and ten."

"I-I wh-what?" Harry stammered out.

James stepped in and clasped one hand on Harry's back, placing the other on the handlebar of the trolley. "We'll go together," was all he said.

Harry looked at him, gulped, and then nodded.

"Ok, 1, 2, …3"

Harry moved his legs slowly at first, but his father helped him to pick up speed, giving him the confidence he needed to get through. He expected, at first, to feel the hard brick against him but felt nothing of the sort, instead he was welcomed with chatter of hundreds of people, the sound of trolley wheels, and the steam pouring down and around him from the scarlet train engine that greeted him on the other side.

"Harry, welcome to the Hogwarts Express."