The funeral of Arcturus Black came and passed as suddenly as his death. Although wishing to have made it a private affair it became well known that it could not be due to how much Arcturus had affected not only the family and his friends, but the wizarding world as a whole. He was recognized as a prominent member of the community, in fact he was honored posthumously with the Order of Merlin, First Class, for his services not only to the Wizengamot but also during the Grindelwald's Global Wizarding War. The medal, decided by Sirius, was put on the tombstone with an unbreakable sticking charm and many curses put into place so that if necessary only a Black would be able to enter the grave so Arcturus could truly rest in peace.

Though this time was gloomy it had good times as well. Harry and Hermione's first introduction grew and grew until it was very clear it was a friendship that James recognized. It reminded him alot not of him and Lily but of Alice and Frank Longbottom. Two people who instantly had a connection. It made him more relaxed. Besides Susan and Neville this meant Harry was also able to have a friend tied to the muggle side of himself with Hermione. Perhaps with this it'd make him act better than admittingly James did during his early years. And this hope continued until the day of the train ride. They had made plans to get there early enough so the kids could talk in person and would give James the least amount of exposure. He still was anxious about being seen by people with his mask on.

"Come on Harry!" James yelled through the house. "We need to go now if you want to speak with Hermiuone before heading to Hogwarts." He taped his cane impatiently.

"Coming! Coming!" Harry shouted down the stairs as he jumped on top of his case, closing it completely and sighing as it shut. He quickly locked it and dragged it downstairs as fast as he could. "Alright I'm ready."

His dad chuckled, shaking his head before flicking his wand at the suitcase as it stopped looking like it was about to burst and reshuffled the items into a proper packing. Something he learned from Lily he admitted to himself. He held his hand up for his son to take and once grabbed he twisted on his heel and apparated them both to an alley near the train station. After holding Harry's shirt while his son bent over and heaved from the apparition.

"Still not used to it son?" Harry could do nothing but shake his head before looking up at him and gesturing for them to go. Loading Harry's things onto a cart they headed in slowly. "Now if I'm right the Grangers should be-"

"Harry!"

"-here already." His father laughed as He saw a swift movement as Harry rushed forward to see his friend.

"Hey Hermione!" Harry smiled as he slid to a stop beside her. "Are you ready to go to Hogwarts?"

"Yeah! I honestly can't wait to see it. I've been reading our books early to give me a little push heading into the school year." She was bouncing back and forth on the balls of her feet in clear excitement.

"I did a little not too much but that's simply since I've been in the world since I was born."

"Cool then you can explain what a Platform Nine and Three Quarters is."

James laughed and gathered their attention. "I can actually lead you kids there." And thus he began to walk and led them to the third pillar between Nine and Ten and stopped. "The gateway is on this pillar here. It's enchanted to be a gateway. You simply need to go through it ... for your first time I'd recommend doing it at a run just to get the nerves out." He smiled and walked back over and made sure Jane and Daniel had their bracelets on for going through.

Her parents looked skeptical at them but after embracing their daughter they took the man's word and placed one hand on her back and one hand on hers.

"Ready hun?" Her father asked. Hermione looked back at Harry then back to her dad and nodded, running straight into the barrier as Harry and James watched the gateway opened and swallowed the Granger family.

James looked down at his boy for a moment seeing the apprehension on his face and knelt. "What's up Harry?"

Harry looked away for a moment before backing up at him. "I….um"

James squeezed his shoulders and made him look at him. "Don't hide yourself Harry."

Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "I just…I want to make you proud."

"Harry…" His father sighed before kneeling to look Harry in the face. "You always make me proud. Never think you don't. You are a Potter but more importantly…You are my son. You may be caught up in the sins of my past but nothing you could do or will do will change how I think about you. So go and make your own chapter in our family story. As Harry."

Harry looked at his father, his eyes slightly watery and his bottom lip quivering before he embraced his father in a big hug. "I will dad. I promise."

James smiled whole heartedly before he slowly let the hug loose and rose with him before taking a hand on the cart and a hand on Harry's back.

"On three…."

"One."

Harry gripped the cart hard feeling the metal warm itself up from his touch.

"Two."

James pressed his hand firmly to Harry's back ready to push him forward but not hard enough as if he was forcing him.

"Three!" James and Harry took off rushing as fast as they could, rushing straight into the gateway and through to the platform. Once through James smiled as he saw the awe in his son's face at seeing the Hogwarts Express for the very first time. A memory he only wished Lily could have been here to see it.

"Harry, come on, let's go make sure we get a good seat!" Hermione rushed over and took Harry by his hand and led him and his cart straight to the train where hers was beside. James could only chuckle and shake his head as he took a spot beside her parents.

"Those two…they remind me of two people I once knew." James laughed as he watched Harry help Hermione with getting her luggage, catching bits of the conversation about why her trunk was so heavy.

Jane looked over. "You and your wife?"

"No…a friend and his wife. They were instant friends. Me and my wife were um…"

"Cats and Dogs?" James nodded to Daniel's answer. "So were we. I was in the military as a medic before hand and Mrs. Granger here was highly against military types."

"You're not military anymore though hun." She playfully slapped his chest. "He eventually wore me down after he helped me with an ex boyfriend."

"Yeah that actually sounds more like my wife and me… She uh… kinda didn't give me the time of day until I finally grew up." Jane smiled.

"So she set you straight." The exhale of air slowly from James was enough information to say she was correct. "Good maybe since Harry has Hermione he won't follow in your steps."

"I can only hope."

"Funny I hope he gets her to be a bit more open." Daniel chuckled before seeing the kids running back. He looked at his wrist at the time. "We have to head out honey. We gotta get the practice open….Be good. Stay strong…and remember Hermione. I am Hermione Granger, and I will prove I'm just as good or better."

"Yes daddy." Hermione hugged her father tightly before she embraced her mother.

James knelt down and hugged Harry. "Be good this year ... .owl me when you're able and try to remember to look for that special thing. If it's not there just find the biggest pranksters around and you'd be alright."

"Sir, Yes sir." Harry gave a mock salute before hugging his father again. "I love you dad."

"I love you too son…..no go on. I'm sure Neville and Susan will join you shortly as well."

He smiled seeing the kids run back onto the train before walking with her parents back out of the gateway and when he saw the area was clear twisted on his heel and apparated away.

Meanwhile Harry and Hermione sat relaxed together in a compartment. Hermione was showing him some interesting facts which Harry told her were real or fake from what his father had told him and from what he saw when he had to go to Hagrid or Aunt Minerva for babysitting growing up. He looked up when the door opened and smiled as he saw his other two friends entering.

"Hey Harry!"

"Harry!"

The two were shouting at the same time as they saw their conjoined friend.

"Hi Neville, Susan…let me introduce you to Hermione." Harry gestured to her who offered her hand and they both shook it.

"Nice to meet you Hermione…" Susan then looked at the boys before leaning in and mock whispering. "Thank you for evening up the numbers. Two boys is just way too much sometimes."

"Hey!" Both Harry and Neville responded, causing both girls to giggle. Harry continued it though. "Oh hush you, you know you like having us around or you'd never even come over." He glared playfully at Susan. "I'm guessing your aunt and grandmother dropped you two off."

"Actually my grandmother dropped us both off." Neville cleared his throat.

"Da…Sirius is at home with the newborn while working as the Head of the House while Aunt Amelia is at work and dealing with the small tasks of House Bones." Susan continued.

"I'm sorry, Houses?" Hermione peeked in.

"You're a muggleborn aren't you?" Susan asked which caused Hermione's face to scrounge up.

"I'm a first generation witch, yes."

Neville grinned hearing that. "Alright she can stay. I like her."

"Good…I do too." Harry smiled at Hermione whose face began to turn red softly. The group of four continued speaking to each other, even Harry catching Trevor when the little toad tried to jump away when Neville took him out of his cage.

"Nice catch." Hermione praised.

"Harry always had good reflexes. We told him to go for quidditch like his dad next year." Neville tried to get Trevor fully into the cage spoke.

"Why can't he go for it this year?"

"There's a rule saying no first years are permitted. " Susan stated.

Hermione then shook his head. "Actually there isn't." That got Harry's attention.

"What?"

"It only states you're not permitted your own broom but if you made the team I'm sure you could ask your Head of School House for special permission if allowed." This made Harry grin. His father every now and again had gone out with Harry to ride a broom around and had spoken about quidditch quite often.

"Thanks for the info." Harry grinned and Susan shook her head softly.

"Now we won't hear the end of it." Harry was about to jump at Susan to tickle her, something they've always done since they were children. However, they heard a noise of what could best be described as a herd of elephants as they looked out the window and saw a herd of red haired individuals.

"That'll be the Weasleys." Neville sighed and Harry looked at him questioningly. "A magical family. They actually are pretty nice for the most part. The oldest we'll be with at school is Percy. Then there are the twins Fred and George. They're alright from the few times I've bumped into them while out with Grandmother. Ron's a bit…..much. Then there's Ginny who we'll see next year. She's the youngest."

"How many more are there?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Well excluding Molly and Arthur, their parents, there are seven siblings out of them all."

Harry made an oh sound. "Those are the two pranksters Dora was complaining about. They turned her robes to change colors with her hair and Aunt Minerva had to take away points because she thought she did it on purpose. She also is kinda in a bad way with them because she dated. I think his name is Charlie."

"Dated?"

"She said there were circumstances that caused it to end swiftly but they are apparently good friends."

"Well anyway," Neville continued. "Rumor is they are always late."

They watched the family for a moment before returning to their own conversations. They were only interrupted when the door was opened and one of the Red headed boys stuck there head in.

"Oh sorry, I didn't know it was full."

Harry waved him off. "No problem. I think the next one is good though." The boy nodded.

"Thanks, my name is Ron. Ron Weasley."

"This is Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones, Hermione Granger, and I'm Harry." The boy shook hands and headed off shortly after.

"Why didn't you say your last name Harry?" Hermione asked before receiving a sigh from him, causing her to look at Susan and Neville hoping that they would be able to give her an answer.

"Harry doesn't like being famous." Hermione made an oh sound before scolding herself.

"Sorry…."

"It's fine Hermione, just… I don't want my story to be made because I'm Harry Potter." With that they heard a crash outside and the door was pulled open and two boys with red hair. Harry had to double check to make sure he wasn't seeing double.

"Harry Potter?" The one on the right asked, causing Harry to sigh but nod.

"Well how about-"

"-that brother dear." The two began to start and finish the other's sentence. "I'm Fred-"

"No, I'm Fred, he's George-"

"-I'm George." They smirked at seeing the confused looks on their faces.

"My brain hurts." Neville muttered, rubbing his forehead.

Fred finally was kind. "Sorry about that. It's something we like to do."

"Too right, Gred." George spoke back up. "If you guys need anything just let us know and hope to see you in Gryffindor." They all shook hands before they headed off to find their seats as the train began to pull away from the port. They looked out and watched as the train station left and the kids were on their way for their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.