NOTE: I've been focused on my Criminal Minds stories lately, but I promise to pay more attention to this story! Really, I will! But I hope you enjoy~

%$%$%$%$%$

By the time their month at Aunt Cheryl's place was over, Valentine and Terry had gotten tons of training in. Evelyn and Oliver told them that they should make the team without any problems. They met Terry's mum Linda at the Leaky Cauldron again.

"Val, I'll try and save us and Padma a compartment on the train, ok?" said Terry.

"Angela and Chip are sitting with me," said Valentine, hugging Terry good bye.

"That's fine with me," said Terry, releasing the hug. "I'll see you on the first!"

Valentine grinned. "See you then!"

A few idle pleasantries later, Linda and Terry were gone, and Lois and Valentine were back at their house to spend the week packing for September the first.

%$%$%$%$%$

It was at last time to go to King's Cross Station. The Lynns decided to leave the house at precisely nine o'clock to prevent any lateness. Their method worked. They arrived at approximately 10:19am and were not the first family to do so. The Lynns ran into the Malfoys as the former was about to pass through the gate to the platform.

Draco sneered wordlessly at the kids, while Lois glared at Lucius. "Malfoy."

Lucius sneered back in the way that only the Malfoy family could. "Lynn. I see you've managed to have two more children. Tell me, how do you manage to afford five of them?"

Lois crossed her arms. "And you tell me, how do you manage to fit your head through any doorway?"

"Oooooh, very clever. How much did that line cost? A knut?"

"Maybe yours," said Lois.

"And I see you've brought along your Muggle husband." He sneered derisively.

"He's a better man than you'll ever be," said Lois.

"Isn't he one of those...oh, what do they call them..." His face lit up in mock realization. "...doctors? The ones who cut people up?"

Peter went slightly red in the face and looked as though he was going to give Lucius a piece of his mind, but Lois hushed him, something Lucius was quick to notice.

"Now, why don't you listen to your wife, you stupid Muggle?"

"Lucius, I for one don't believe you when you say that you were under the Imperious curse when You-Know-Who was in power. I think that was a lie to keep your status and your job."

Lucius got a superior look on his face. "Why don't you prove it?"

"Don't think I won't."

"You won't be able to. The Dark Lord did that to many great wizards and his wand is lost to the ages. You'd never find it."

"Well, if You-Know-Who rises again, you can be sure that you'll be on his side and I will be fighting you. And you won't stand a chance, you arrogant toe-rag," said Lois. "Now if you three don't mind, I'm going onto the platform with my family before you can come up with another clever line to try and humiliate me. Good luck fitting through the archway." She turned to the kids and Peter. "Come on!" She ushered them through the gate. Once through, Lois led them away from the gate and stamped her foot in disgust. "I can't stand them!"

"I think you held your own, Lois," said Peter. "I've only met the guy once. What was his issue? And what do you mean, you'll be fighting him?"

Lois turned to him with sad eyes. "You remember the first wizard war?"

"Yes. The twins were two and Valentine had just been born."

"Well, if You-Know-Who does rise again, I want to fight alongside my friends and allies. I, along with the sane members of the wizarding community, hope that he doesn't. But those nutters like the Malfoys hope he does so that the pure blood families can reign supreme."

The kids gaped at Lois.

"But Mum, you hate fighting!" Valentine managed.

"And we always get into trouble when we fight!" exclaimed Percy.

"I believe in fighting if the cause is right." Lois smiled and looked at her watch and around her. The platform was beginning to get crowded. And it was 10:45am. "Good lord, is it really that time? You kids get on the train!"

Chip and Angela looked up at Lois. "We had a question for you," said Angela tentatively.

"What is it dear?"

"What house were Mum and Dad in?" asked Chip mournfully.

"Your Mum was in Ravenclaw with me and your father was a Hufflepuff," said Lois, kneeling down beside them. "But whatever house you both end up in, your parents would have been proud." She smiled and hugged them tightly. "I'm sure your house will be great!"

They hugged her back for a long moment.

Lois released her hold, but kept her hand on their shoulders. "You'll be all right. And if you need help, you can always count on Val, Percy and Annabeth, ok?"

Chip and Angela nodded. "Ok."

"Ok." Lois kissed each of them on their foreheads and stood up. She turned around the face the rest of the kids. "Have a good term and watch out for the two of them, ok?" She hugged them.

"We will, Mum," said Percy.

Lois turned to Peter. "It's time, dear."

Peter nodded and pulled out two boxes, one for Chip, one for Angela. He handed them the boxes. "Open these when you're on the train. It's time to go." He hugged each of the kids goodbye. "It's time to go." It was 10:50am. "Get your things on the train."

"Send us an owl after the feast," said Lois. "Chip and Angela, send us Emeric or Thalia."

"We will," said Chip.

After another round of hugs, the Lynns got their trunks and various owls onto the train and found the last empty compartment. They'd only just sat down when Terry came knocking and the train started moving. Terry came in and the twins stood up.

"I'm gonna go sit with Fred, George and Lee," said Percy.

"I'll be with Sandra and Jae if you need anything," said Annabeth. "They have a compartment in the next section."

And without further ado, the twins left.

With them gone, discussion for Terry and Valentine turned to the same topic that they had been discussing all summer- the Quidditch trials.

"Come on, Val! You watched Chang play last year! You're going to beat her no problem," said Terry.

"I know I will. But I figure that you never perform half was well at something if you're not a little nervous beforehand. And it's easier for you to say- you're trying out for Chaser!"

"What position does she play?" asked Chip.

"Seeker," said Valentine.

"She didn't train with Evelyn Thomas and Oliver Harris all summer," said Angela. "You'll beat her."

Terry turned to Chip. "You were a pretty good Chaser yourself. Maybe you should try out next year!"

"Maybe I will," said Chip.

"Chip, Angela, open the presents Mum and Dad gave you," said Valentine, grinning. "Chip first!"

Chip nodded and opened the box. Inside was a note, folded on top of a slightly dented silver wrist watch with a leather strap. Chip read the note. Dear Chip, Your father intended to give this to you himself before you left for Hogwarts. We found it and it now belongs to you. Enclosed is the note that your father wrote you that was supposed to be on top of the watch. Love, Aunt Lois and Uncle Peter

Chip teared up a little as he finally recognized the watch. He turned it over and saw an inscription. For Chip. Good luck at Hogwarts! Love, Mum and Dad. He teared up a little as he put it on. "It was my dad's." He wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"Your turn, Angela," said Valentine, still grinning.

She opened it to find a very similar note, and a silver charm bracelet, a silver raven charm already dangling from it. She teared up, same as Chip, as Valentine put on the bracelet for her.

After that, Terry decided to get out his Exploding Snap game, which everyone joined in for a while. Padma found her way to their compartment and joined them in a few more rounds.

"How was your summer, Padma?" asked Valentine.

"Pretty good," she replied. "My family went to the Middle East and Greece to look at ruins. It was a lot of fun! What about you guys?"

"I went to Val's aunt's place in the country and we trained for Quidditch try outs with Evelyn Thomas and Oliver Harris," said Terry excitedly.

"Who? Oh, them!" said Padma.

"I would never have forgiven you if you hadn't remembered who they are," said Terry jokingly.

When they started to get hungry, as if on cue, the lunch trolley came by. Everyone bought copious amounts of snacks. They put away the Exploding Snap, and ate with gusto.

And after that, the talk turned to Hogwarts, Chip and Angela wanting to know as much as they could before they arrived. That conversation took them all the way to Hogsmeade. Just before they arrived, the prefects went around and told everyone to get their school robes on. And they did.

They got off the train and the first thing they heard was Hagrid's friendly call of, "Firs' years to me! Com' on, firs' years, don't be shy!"

Padma, Terry and Valentine gave Chip and Angela encouraging smiles, Valentine hugged them and they were off.

"Come on, let's go find a carriage," said Padma.

They set off to find one. On the way, they ran into Hermione.

"Hermione, have you seen Harry or Ron?" asked Valentine.

"I was about to as you the same thing," she replied. Pause. "They're probably already at the castle," said Hermione after a minute. "Let's go."

The four were soon joined by Semus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, fellow second years. The six climbed into the nearest carriage, which started moving seemingly on its own!

"What d'you reckon's pulling it?" asked Seamus.

"I dunno if I even want to know," said Dean.

The rest of the ride passed fairly quickly and they were soon seated in the Great Hall, awaiting the sorting.

After a few minutes, the doors opened, and Professor McGonagal strode inside authoritatively, leading a group of extremely timid looking first years. When they reached the front, McGonagal set out the stool, the Sorting Hat on top of it. After the hat's song was sung, tremendous applause filled the hall and McGonagal said, "When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your Houses." She grabbed the hat and lifted it.

"Stewart Ackley!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Ruth Blair!"

"Slytherin!"

"Elanor Branstone!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Mandy Brocklehurst!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Steven Cornfoot!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Collin Creevey!"

"Gryffindor!"

"William Crenshaw!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Braiden Cross!"

"Slytherin!"

It was some time before they could pay attention again. By the time the Gs had been sorted, Anthony Goldstein, Holden Davis, twins Peter and Monica Hill and Michael Corner had all been sorted into Ravenclaw.

At last, "Angela Hyde!"

Trembling, Angela stepped up to the Sorting Hat. Valentine crossed her fingers.

After a minute, "Gryffindor!"

Angela handed the hat to Professor McGonagal and ran to the cheering Gryffindor table.

"Chip Hyde!"

Valentine crossed her fingers. After a minute, the hat cried, "Ravenclaw!"

Valentine cheered along with the other Ravenclaws as Chip sat down next to her. Valentine hugged him. "Why were you ever worried?" She laughed, Terry, Chip and Padma laughing right along with her.

"Su Li!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Luna Lovegood!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Come on, only ten more!" exclaimed Terry.

"Aiden Neal!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Orla Quirke!"

"Slytherin!"

"Lilly Ritter!"

"Slytherin!"

"Braiden Silva!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Zacharias Smith!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Patrick Svitzer!"

"Slytherin!"

"Romilda Vane!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Kylie Watts!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Ginny Weasley!"

All of the Weasley brothers who were there, Fred, George and Percy, Ron still being conspicuously missing, craned their necks.

"Are you yet another Weasley? Well then...Gryffindor!"

The Weasleys gave Ginny a standing ovation.

Terry's stomach grumbled loudly. "Cooooome on!" He whined. "Two more!"

"Eva Wiseman!"

"Hufflepuff!"

And the last one.

"Rose Zeller!"

"Ravenclaw!"

The chattering stopped as Professor Dumbledore got to his feet. "Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!" He smiled down as if he loved nothing more than to see his school assembled before him. "Now, before we become befuddled by our excellent feast, I have a few start of term notices that I wish to announce." He paused for a second to make sure everyone was listening. "New students would do well to remember that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, something that some of our older students should know by now as well," he said, looking in the direction of the Weasley twins.

He cleared his throat. "Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will be arranged at the convenience of the captains, though they should be next weekend if you and your future teams are to get in a good amount of training before the season starts."

Valentine and Terry grinned at each other.

"I would also like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockheart."

Lockheart stood, gave one of his smiles and waved at the students. Some of the girls sighed, most of the boys rolled their eyes and some laughed.

"We wish him the best of luck." Dumbledore turned to face McGonagal. "That's about it, right?" She nodded. "Well then, let the feast begin!"

And so it did.

%$%$%$%$%$

NOTE: I felt like that was a good place to end it. Next time, we'll see the Quidditch tryouts~