"Mum! MUM!" I cannoned into her at high speed, tripped over Peter's bag and crashed headlong into a wall. Luckily it was the exit into the Muggle World so I just kept going, startling some grungy looking boys waiting for the four eleven on Platform 9. I leaned back on the wall as casually as possible and slid back through to join the wizards and witches who were howling with laughter. I went red but laughed along anyway and wrapped my arms around my mum, breathing in her familiar smell.
She looked tired but simply radiant and was holding hands with Martin. Her bump was huge. Today her hair was blond and short but had the same deep chocolate eyes that I did. She was also quite a few inches shorter so that I towered over her and was wearing her sunglasses on top of her head.
"Arty, honey! Have you had a good term?"
I nodded and dragged Lily forwards. My mum hugged her too and Lily flushed slightly but held her tight. Sirius jerked his head over to a quiet corner and I followed him just out earshot.
"Are you sure you can't come home with us now?"
He nodded, his eyes serious, "I have to pick some stuff up, besides-" He pulled on his back pack, "-I've got my bike so I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed me fleetingly on the lips, then strolled back to my mum, wheeling his motorbike.
"Thank you for the invite." He said politely, shaking hands with Martin and then with my mum. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Mum nodded, when I'd written back to her a few days ago I'd told her that Sirius wanted to go back to his flat right at the beginning of the holidays for some stuff.
"We'll see you tomorrow in time for dinner then."
"Yeah, see you."
He vanished out of sight through a brick wall.
"Strange boy, " Martin said before shouldering my bag and picking up my trunk, leading the way out into the Muggle station.
"How we getting home?" I asked.
Mum smiled, "I set up a Portkey from that disused convenience store which will be going in about four minutes." She checked her gold watch. "My mistake, three and a half minutes. We'd better go. We followed her through the heaving station and out into the heart of London.
The convenience store was covered in graffiti and had a litter of old cans lying in the blocked gutter, gathering flies. The main window was white-washed and smeary, covered in hand prints and had the words To Let painted on a battered sign hanging from a lopsided beam riddled with woodworm holes. It also had muggle repelling charms all over it.
"Used to be a safe house before You-Know-Who's followers found out about it and tore it to pieces. Still, it's safe enough for our purpose." Mum explained, pushing aside the Do Not Enter sign and tapping the bolted door with her wand, causing it to swing open with an alarming creak then sag sadly on its single, rusty hinge.
We stared around for a few moments then: "There it is." Remus pointed to an old trainer, lying on its side in a puddle of rainwater that had obviously leaked through the ceiling.
"Come on then, quickly! It's about to go." I grabbed one of the laces, all the luggage making it difficult to all fit.
"Three, two, one."
I felt the invisible hook just behind my naval and a second later we were all sprawled on the golden sand, the cottage just over the next ridge. Mum and Martin's descent had been a little more dignified than ours, they had landed on their feet and were strolling serenely towards as though they had just come back from a picnic not just travelled half-way across the country faster than you can say 'improbable'. Not that that in its self was surprising. All my youth Mum had been Apparating and catching Portkeys all around the world for her job.
Remus offered me his hand and hauled me to my feet, just as Lily stumbled in James's arms.
"Smooth moves Potter." Remus smiled, then hauled Peter to his feet and waved his wand so all the luggage vanished.
"I just dumped in the garden, is that all right?" He asked mum, "The enchantments you've got around the house won't let me get them any closer.
She smiled, "No problem. I was just going to suggest- Ow!"
"Mum? What's wrong?"
She waved it off with an airy hand, then rested them on the small of her back to relieve the weight of her pregnancy.
"It's nothing, just a kick. Probably from the portkey. I think I'll just go and lie down though. You kids enjoy yourself and dinner will be at seven."
She took Martin's extended arm and slowly set off down the beach, taking careful, even steps. I stared after her worriedly, then felt Lily at my arm.
"She'll be fine. The last three months are always the worst."
I nodded thoughtfully. "How do you know?" I teased, then yelled, "Race you down to the water. Last one there's a stinking Bowtruckle!"
As we pounded through the sand and felt the cool surf teasing our ankles I couldn't resist one glance over my shoulder at the cottage. Green smoke was curling out of the chimney in the shape of a smile.