A/N - What? A double posting? Is the author feeling well? Well, yes I am, I'm just trying to get both the FFN and AO3 versions synced up. Anyway, this is the original story that I had posted on AO3, which spawned the "Rookie on the Grid" series. It was inspired by the fic "The Heart of the Champion" by LordCroussette and uses some of the base storylines/OC's from it.

Anyway...

James "Jimmy" Sirius Potter was nervous. It was his first Formula One race in front of his home crowd and he had a lot to live up to.

It wasn't just the fact that his parents and grandparents were watching him, standing at the side of the grid.

And it wasn't just the fact that he was the son and grandson of two previous Formula One drivers either.

But it was also the fact that she was there, watching him.

Alison Longbottom.

It was amazing really, how history could repeat itself.

Two Days Earlier…

Jimmy Potter was driving his car along the A43 from his parents' home in Brackley when he saw the car in front of him suddenly stop. Applying his brakes, he came to a stop right behind the Toyota Prius when a girl who he saw to be his age come out and open the bonnet to plumes of smoke.

Getting out of his car, he pulled on his jacket to cover the shirt he was wearing and headed towards the stricken car.

"Excuse me" Jimmy said, looking at the stricken motorist. "Do you need any help?"

She looked up to see him standing by the car door. "Do you mind? I was driving when suddenly there was a bang."

Stepping to the side, she let Jimmy take a look at the car when she saw that he had an Alfa Romeo hat on.

"You off to the Grand Prix?" she asked, having noticed the hat. "I'm not really a fan, but my brother is and he got me tickets for my birthday."

"Oh?" Jimmy said, pulling the top of his shirt up to his mouth to cover it whilst he had a look under the bonnet. "Yeah, I'm off to the Grand Prix. I bet it must be a kicker, this happening on your birthday."

"No, it isn't my birthday today. It was last December."

"That's good… erm… I mean… that's…erm…" he spluttered. 'Damn it Jimmy, just keep calm. It's not like you're going to fall in love with her like Dad did with Mum.'

"I'm Alison by the way, Alison Longbottom… but most people call me Lis."

Jimmy stood up fully, almost hitting his head on the bonnet. He offered her a hand, only to realise that it was all dirty. Rubbing it on his jacket, he removed the dirt from it.

"I'm James… but everyone calls me Jimmy."

Present Day…

Watching as his pit crew fitted his tires, he remembered how after she had introduced herself, she had told him that she was a University student studying medicine, and how she wanted to be a dentist, and about how she had resented her older brother because he was poised to take over her father's empire of garden centres in a few years when he retired.

Jimmy had told her about his mother, how his mother had been a lawyer for the Flowers of Cokeworth Foundation before he and his siblings were born, and that she was now a writer of short stories.

"Lis", as she had said she like to be called, had asked him about what his father did, but before Jimmy could say anything, her phone had rung. It was her brother, Franklin, asking her where she was.

Remembering that she had said that her brother was a Formula One fan, he knew that he had to go before he was recognised.

Of course, he didn't expect that he would see her again so soon… or the fact that it would be similar, yet different to the one his parents had in the pits at Silverstone, twenty-two years ago.

Two Days Earlier…

Jimmy had been on track to clock another fast lap around the Silverstone track in his Alfa Romeo C42 during the Free Practice session, but, as has been usual this season, he had been slowed down by one of his rivals, Scorpius Malfoy, in the Aston Martin car in front of him.

Heading into the pits, he heard his teammate talking to the Team Principal about him.

"He's a good driver you know. Spades of talent, just like his isä and isoisä. It's just that idiotti Malfoy – everyone knows that he only got that spot at Aston Martin because of his parents buying into the team. Everyone here got in on pure talent."

Getting out of the car with the assistance of one of the engineers, Jimmy saw his brother, Al, standing at one of the computer terminals talking a girl with dirty blonde hair, someone who he knew instantly wasn't one of the staff at Alfa Romeo.

Suddenly he heard a squeal, so he turned around and saw his other siblings coming up behind him.

"Rosie, Hugo." Jimmy said, hugging his sister. "I thought Dad wasn't bringing you two here until tomorrow."

Rose looked at her brother with her chestnut brown eyes and smiled. "Well, its… its Grandpa James's fault. He wanted to catch up with Uncle Marty and then the TV lot roped him in to do a bit, and you know what it's like."

Jimmy knew what it was like, being the son and grandson of Formula One drivers, all the media being around. Fortunately he had been used to it, his mother being the most professional of the family when it came to relations with the media, having to deal with them when first it was announced that she was engaged, and then having got married, to his father, and then with her series of short stories about a pair of twins who solved mysteries in a Scottish castle and her legal work for his grandmother's Flowers of Cokeworth Foundation.

"I see King Git has got himself a girlfriend." Rose told her older brother, referring to her twin, Albus. "That or he's paid her to do some work for him."

Turning round, Jimmy saw the person who his sister was referring to, the same blonde girl who Al had been talking to when he had arrived. It was then who he had recognised who it was.

"Lis!" Jimmy said, heading over to her and his brother. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to go out of the ground to the garage where my car is. They had phoned me during the first Free Practice to say that I needed to get some paperwork done and then when I tried to get back in, the people on the gate wouldn't let me back in." she said, genuinely shocked about what had transpired. "It was then that I met your brother. He managed to get me through the gates and brought me here. You never told me that you were a Formula One driver."

Jimmy looked at his brother who immediately felt like he was going to spontaneously combust with the intensity of how Jimmy's emerald green eyes were boring into him.

"Rosie has it right Al. You really are a King Git." Jimmy said, frowning. "Her brother is a fan and if he hears about this… and the media…"

"I… I won't tell anyone." Alison said, reaching for his hand. "Honestly… being that cute chap who stopped and helped me at the side of the road is better than being a racing driver."

Jimmy could hear his brother chuckle when she said he was cute. Flipping Albus the bird, he held her hand when he heard footsteps approach behind him.

"Stop teasing your brother Albus Potter." Jimmy's mother said, standing behind him. "Personally, I think he did a good thing, helping someone in need. I remember when your dad did that for me."

"Yeah, and look at you now mum." Jimmy replied, not realising that he was still holding Alison's hand. "Still in love with him."

"Yes James. I still love your father as much as he still loves me." Hermione Potter said, turning her head to face her husband. "Even though I still swear you had one too many knocks on the head."

"I blame you 'Mione." Harry said, kissing her. "That, or having bashed my head this morning on the headboard as you…"

"Erm… dad… TMI." Hugo said, standing next to his parents. Offering his hand out to Alison, he smiled. "I'm Hugo by the way, Hugo Daniel Potter."

"Nice to meet you, Hugo. I'm Alison, but everyone calls me Lis." Alison said, shaking his hand.

"And I'm Rose. Rose Emma Potter." The younger girl said to her. "And I see you've met my twin brother, Al "The King Git" and my older brother Jimmy."

"Yeah, Jam…Jimmy saw me break down and stayed with me until my brother came to pick me up. He did offer to bring me here you know."

"That's very nice of you James." Hermione said, watching as her eldest went as red as a tomato. "Reminds me of your dad."

"Yes, your isä is a great man." Jimmy heard his approaching teammate say, his conversation with the team principal over. "Watching him in the 2000 season was interesting, especially when he and your äiti started dating. Even though I rooted for Mika, I knew that Harry would surpass him, which he did. And as for you James, you have your isä's heart and your isoisä's talent."

Jimmy looked at the elder race driver and smiled. "T…thanks Valtteri." He said, a tear coming from his eye.

Present Day…

Jimmy sat in his Alfa Romeo watching as the lights on the gantry were about to light up. Turning his head, he saw his family, standing on the grass next to the grid.

Seeing them give him the thumbs up, he turned back to see the track in front of him, and the lights getting ready to start.

Unconsciously touching the side of his helmet where Alison had kissed his cheek, he smiled.

'Like father like son' he thought as it was lights out, and away he went.

Hmmm... so I wonder *strokes beard* what happens next...