King's Cross Station, London, 9/1/1994, 10:45
Harry led his family onto platform nine and three-quarters, he was pushing Hardwin's stroller while the twins each pushed a cart containing their trunks and glass tanks where their familiars were curled up watching their surroundings with interest.
For Ares, Harry had enchanted a muggle fish tank with an undetectable expansion charm and plenty of warming charms. Due to a very interesting optical illusion caused by placing the enchantments on the tank, the ten-foot-long bushmaster looked positively tiny to anyone looking in at him making him. Ares looked like a common corn snake to the untrained eye, which shouldn't draw any unwanted attention.
Citrine was still relatively small at about three feet in length and to the untrained eye, she resembled a nonvenomous parrot snake. At present, she was sulking in her tank as Harry had made both children put their familiars in tanks for the trip through King's Cross to avoid any problems on the muggle side of the station.
As they stepped onto the platform and the Hogwarts Express came into view, the twins began to practically tremble with excitement. Harry felt nostalgic as he looked upon the scarlet engine that was already billowing steam as it prepared to depart.
The platform was packed with students and parents alike, there was an almost deafening hum in the air as families said farewell and friends said hello after a summer apart. Owls and cats of all sizes and colours meowed and hooted from their cages and crates and the hissing sounds of the train's boilers building up pressure added to the din.
"Whoa," Iggy muttered, staring at the locomotive in awe.
"I know, I said that the first time I saw the train too, Son," Harry chuckled as he led them over to a carriage towards the front of the train.
"It looks really old," Carina mused.
"It is, Princess," Harry said as he used his wands to levitate their trunks and tanks onto the carriage.
With Harry's assistance, it only took a few minutes to find a compartment and get their trunks stowed away in the overhead rack.
When the three of them returned to the platform it was to find Bellatrix arrived in conversation with the Greengrasses.
As soon as Astoria spotted the twins, she squealed excitedly and ran over to Carina and began talking a mile a minute, her voice getting higher in pitch.
Daphne bid her mother farewell before joining Jonathan who was levitating her and Astoria's trunks onto the carriage.
Harry kissed Bella's cheek, noticing the sad look that crossed her face as she looked at the train.
"I always hate the first of September," Roxanne sighed as she watched the three first years bouncing with excitement.
"They'll be home before you know it, Luv," Harry whispered in Bella's ear as the warning whistle sounded over the hustle and bustle of the platform.
"I had better go and say goodbye," Bella exclaimed before stepping forward and pulling the twins into a tight hug.
Harry couldn't fight his smile as he saw Bella whispering something to them that had them both nodding their heads in agreement.
Harry waited until Bella released them before stepping forward and pulling them into a hug as well.
"Behave yourselves on the train, I'll see you at the feast tonight," Harry said before letting them go.
"And if I get any letters from your professors, I'll come up there myself," Bellatrix warned as students began to scramble to board the train.
"Here is some money for the snack trolley," Harry said as he gave them each a bulging money pouch.
"But don't fill yourselves up on junk," Bellatrix added.
"Your mother's right, you'll want to save room for the feast," Harry agreed, giving them a knowing look.
Harry sighed internally as the one-minute whistle sounded, knowing he couldn't drag out their departure any longer.
"Alright, you best get on the train," Harry said as he saw the Weasleys scrambling to board a couple of carriages back.
"I love you, Mum, Dad," Iggy said before he climbed aboard the carriage.
"I love you, Mother, Love you, Daddy," Carina said before she followed after her brother.
They had barely stepped aboard before the carriage door shut behind them and the train started to lurch forward. Harry and Bella stood there as the train began to creep down the tracks waving as the train turned the bend and disappeared from sight.
"The first time they go off to school is always the worst," Jonathan said from his right pulling Harry's attention from where he had been staring at the train tracks lost in his own thoughts.
"I thought I was ready for this," Bella sighed as she scooped Hardwin out of his stroller and began to rock him making the toddler giggle.
"At least you still have this little guy," Roxanne said as she smiled at Hardwin.
"True," Bella agreed before placing a kiss on Hardwin's cheek.
"So how are things at the school since Minerva has taken over?" Jonathan asked looking over at Harry.
"There isn't much difference, to be honest," Harry admitted as Bella set Hardwin back in the stroller.
"No, I suppose not. From what Cissa has told me, Minerva was running the school for years," Roxanne intimated as the four of them began making their way towards the muggle side of the station.
"She has been taking care of the day-to-day operations in the castle since before I started teaching," Harry agreed.
"What about this Tri-Wizard tournament? Have you heard what the tasks are going to be?" Jonathan questioned.
"No, they haven't told us a thing. I think they're worried that we'll start slipping our sixth and seventh years hints," Harry shrugged.
"Well as long as the twins don't sneak into it, I'll be happy," Bellatrix said after they had stepped through the portal.
"They won't," Harry said, giving her a reassuring smile.
"I hope our girls don't try and sneak into the tournament either," Jonathan muttered.
"They won't or I will find a very creative way to punish them," Roxanne assured her husband.
The two couples parted ways on the muggle side of the station, the Greengrasses heading to Diagon Alley and the three Peverells going to have lunch at an Italian restaurant not far from the station.
As Harry and Bella sat down to lunch a few minutes later with Hardwin yammering away from the high chair, Harry couldn't help but feel a bit saddened that the twins had taken the next step in growing up.
GreatHall, Hogwarts, 9/1/1994, 18:43
Harry watched from his place next to the new potions' mistress who was coincidently, his sister-in-law as Filius brought the new first years into the hall. Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw the twins looking just as nervous as the other first years. They followed the tiny charms master to the front of the hall where the sorting was already waiting on the three-legged stool.
"Welcome to you all, at this time we shall begin the sorting," Professor Flitwick exclaimed, silencing the hall with his squeaky voice.
Harry watched as anxiously as any student as a tear near the brim of the hat opened like a mouth and the sorting hat began to sing, his booming voice echoing around the silent hall.
A thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favourites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!*
Harry clapped along with everyone else when the sorting hat finished its song pand bowed to each of the four house tables. Harry felt encouraged that the sorting hat's song was the same one he remembered from his fourth year.
"When I call out your name, please come forward take a seat on the stool and I will place the sorting hat upon your head," Professor Fliywick instructed after the applause for the sorting hat's song had died down.
"Ackerley, Stewart."
Harry watched as a tiny twitchy-looking dark-haired boy moved up to the stool and quickly took a seat. As soon as the boy was seated, Little Professor Flitwick stood up on a step stool and placed the sorting hat on the boy's head. Harry watched the boy fidget for a moment or two before the hat made its decision.
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat bellowed so the whole hall could hear.
The Ravenclaw table burst into applause as Stewart Ackerly got up from the stool and hurried to join them.
"Baddock, Malcolm," Filius called when the applause had died down and Stewart had found a seat at the far end of the Ravenclaw table.
Harry watched a short sandy-haired boy take his seat before Filius slipped the sorting hat on Malcolm's head. The hat had barely touched the boy's head before it bellowed out Malcolm Baddock's new house.
"SLYTHERIN!"
After this, Harry kind of zoned out for a bit as Filius called the students names and the boy or girl would come forward to be sorted. Once they were sorted into their house, the members of the house that the student was selected for would applaud them as they crossed the hall.
"Coote, Richard."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Brown, Devon."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Branstone, Eleanor."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Cauldwell, Owen."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Creevey, Dennis."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Dobbs, Emma."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Harry's tuned back into the sorting when he heard Filus call out, "Greengrass, Astoria."
Harry watched as Astoria approached the stool with her head held high and sat down primly on the stool, waiting for Filius to place the hat on her head. Astoria was a small girl and the hat completely enveloped her head. It seemed to take quite a while before the hat called out her house
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry wasn't that surprised really. As sneaky as Astoria had always been, the house of the cunning suited her perfectly.
Harry let his mind wander again as Astoria took her seat across from Ginny Weasley. He really wished that his last name wasn't towards the end of the alphabet as he was anxious to see where the twins would be sorted. Harry listened with half an ear as students were sorted.
"Madley, Laura."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Madley, Mafalda."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"McDonald, Natalie."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Peakes, Jimmy!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry perked up when he heard a name that he had been waiting to hear since the sorting had started.
"Peverell, Carina."
Harry's first thought as he watched his daughter cross the hall was that she looked so very like her mother. Carona held herself just as Bellatrix did, moving with perfect poise and posture as she swept across the room as if she owned it before taking her seat on the three-legged stool.
Harry watched with bated breath as Filius sipped the hat over her head, the ragged and patched headwear obscuring her face so that all he could see was her long curly ebony hair flowing out of the brim of the hat.
Carina sat there for quite a while, it seemed like she sat there for an eternity before the hat finally made its decision.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry couldn't fight his smile as he clapped along with the Slytherin students as the hat was pulled off of Carina's head.
Carina stood up and made eye contact with him as she began to walk to the Slytherin table, a look of relief briefly crossing her features when she saw his reassuring smile.
Carina took a seat beside Astoria and the two girls immediately put their heads together.
Harry glanced over at Filius as he called out the next name on the list.
"Peverell, Ignotus."
Ignotus stepped forward a nervous look on his face as he crossed the hall. Ignotus was tall for his age and had the same dark messy hair as his father. Iggy walked with more grace than Harry ever did at that age and took his seat on the stool. Filius placed the hat on Iggy's head, the brim of the sorting hat slipping down to his chin.
The hat didn't take nearly as long as it did with Carina before it bellowed out, "GRYFFINDOR!"
There were looks of surprise on many faces around the hall as every member of the Gryffindor table rose to their feet and cheered, the Weasley twins making far more noise than those around them.
"It looks like the twins are going in separate directions," Andi whispered as Filius called out the next name.
"Pritchard, Graham."
Harry nodded letting his mind wander. He had sort of expected something like this to happen if he were being honest but it still worried him that the kids were in rivalling houses.
True the reputation of Slytherin house had been improving over the last few years, with a few exceptions here and there most members of the house had friends in other houses. Still, Harry was concerned that it could cause problems with his kids. Deciding to keep an eye on the situation, Harry looked toward the Gryffindor table where Iggy and Devon Brown were already having a whispered conversation while Graham Pritchard was sorted into, "SLYTHERIN!"
Harry felt his stomach starting to growl as he watched a tiny blonde first-year boy named Nigel Wolpert sit down on the stool. Harry was absolutely starving and mentally urged the sorting hat to hurry up and sort Nigel so that the food would appear on the tables already.
The train ride to Hogwarts had gone fairly smoothly though he wished they served something besides candy on the snack cart, chocolate frogs just didn't cut it for lunch.
Harry was pulled from those thoughts as the sorting hat bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!" and Harry rose with everyone else to cheer on their newest housemate.
"It's about time, I thought the sorting would last all night," Susan muttered as Nigel joined the other first years at the end of the table closest to the door.
"Tell me about it," Ron Weasley muttered from his place across from them.
All of the chatter in the hall came to an immediate stop as Professor McGonagall rose to her feet and approached the lectern in front of the head table.
"I would like to welcome our new students and welcome back our old hands as well. As most of you already know, Professor Dumbledore has decided to retire after a very long and prestigious teaching career."
"I am the Minerva McGonagall, the new headmistress of Hogwarts and I feel it would be best to get some very important announcements out of the way before we begin the feast."
Harry felt like banging his head on the table at this announcement. It was bad enough they didn't serve lunch on the train but now they had to wait even longer to eat!
"Firstly, the forest on the grounds is out of bounds and spells are not allowed to be used in the corridors between classes. The list of banned items has expanded to include canary creams and ton-tongue toffees. The complete list can be found on the door to Mister Filsch's office if anyone cares to look."
"Professor Slughorn has chosen not to return for another term, so the post of Potion's Master will be taken over by Professor Andromeda Tonks who will also be taking over as the head of Slytherin house," McGonagall paused here as Andromeda stood and the Slytherin students politely applauded.
"The position of transfiguration professor will be taken over by Professor Penelope Haywood now that I have other duties to tend to," McGonagall said, pausing again as the room was filled with cheers from the Hufflepuff section of the hall when a tiny blonde in her early twenties stood up from the staff table and took a bow.
"The last change in staffing will be Professor Longbottom who has agreed to take over my place as head of Gryffindor house," McGonagall announced before there was loud applause from Harry's table as Professor Longbottom stood and and waved to the students at the Gryffindor table.
"Now onto news that many of you will find... upsetting. I regret to announce that the inter-house quidditch competition will not be taking place this year," McGonagall said and waited as a collective groan was heard across the hall.
"The school will be hosting an ancient competition this year and the staff, myself included, do not have the time to organize the quidditch cup on top of our other duties."
"Finally, the Tri-Wizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year, delegations from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang will be arriving towards the end of October, so you may want to research the Tri-Wizard tournament on your own time between now and then. I must warn you before you get your hopes up, there is an age restriction on the competition. No one under the age of majority will be allowed to compete in the tournament," Harry actually saw McGonagall roll her eyes as the Weasley twins began to complain loudly amongst themselves at this proclamation.
"Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let the feast begin," McGonagall said causing food and drinks to appear on all five tables.
"Bugger," Harry said as he filled his goblet with pumpkin juice.
"What?" Susan asked in confusion as Harry handed her the pitcher to fill her own goblet.
"Draco was right," Harry scowled as he glanced over at the Slytherin table and saw that the Malfoy heir was smirking in his direction.
"He was making a wild guess, it doesn't count," Susan said stubbornly as she loaded her plate with steak and potatoes.
"We both know he won't see it that way," Harry snorted as he loaded his own plate with roast chicken.
"So we've got a Gryffindor Peverell now," Susan said as she looked down the table where the first-years were seated.
"You and that Peverell kid look a lot alike," Ron said before shovelling a large spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"The Potters and the Peverells are closely related," Harry shrugged.
"I guess that means you'll be really handsome when you grow up," Lavender giggled from her seat at Ron's left.
"He's pretty handsome now, Brown," Hannah called from the Hufflepuff table, shooting the other girl a warning glare.
"Calm down, Abbott," Susan said rolling her eyes at the blonde.
"I wonder if this means Gryffindor will be able to get away with more now," Ron mused.
"Not a chance," Susan sniggered.
"No, I wouldn't want to be the Peverell twins," Harry agreed.
"Why not?" Ron asked in confusion.
"Because the new potions' professor is their aunt and their father is the worst teacher you can get for detention," Susan answered.
"Fair point," Ron nodded.
"I can't believe that they cancelled quidditch," Harry sighed before taking a big bite of his chicken.
"Yeah but it might be worth it to see the Tri-Wizard tournament," Ron said before digging back into his plate of steak and kidney pie.
"Maybe, but I was hoping to get the cup back from the Badgers this year," Harry muttered.
Harry began to dig into his own meal as he thought about the missed opportunity that was the inter-house quidditch cup. Harry had been looking forward to quidditch season ever since he saw Viktor Krum play at the World Cup.
Still, there was no reason that he couldn't organize a pick+up game or two like he and Hannah had done last year. Those unofficial games had been a lot of fun, perhaps more so than official matches because he got to play a different position and his teammates were picked on the spot making the whole experience more exciting.
With those thoughts in mind, Harry began eating with more enthusiasm as he thought about setting up a match for the weekend after next.
As he ate, his thoughts wandered back to the Tri-Wizard tournament and what the three tasks would entail. He knew from his lessons with Missy Cissa that the tournament was very old and had started back around the same time as Hogwarts was founded. The tournament had been cancelled in the seventeen hundreds when a cockatrice had killed all of the champions and several of the spectators after it got loose from its paddock.
It really would be awesome to watch the Tri-Wizard tournament, though Harry honestly had no idea who would want to willingly enter themselves into such a competition.
Harry pushed those thoughts aside as the main course vanished and was replaced with dessert and he eagerly served himself a large helping of treacle tart.
Harry began to eat with vigour, forgetting about quidditch and tournaments as he savoured the flavour of the sweet and slightly tangy pastry.
Great Hall, Hogwarts, 10/31/1994, 17:46
Harry was seated in between Andromeda and Alice as food appeared on all five of the massive tables.
The school year up until this point had seemed to fly by with the only noteworthy event being the arrival of the delegations from Durmstrang and Beauxbaton yesterday evening. Their arrival made the room seem much more
Thankfully the names were being drawn by a neutral third party with no magical contracts involved. The head of magical transportation department would be arriving after the evening meal concluded. The representative would draw the names out of three silk bags (one bag for each school) and then fill the champions in on what to expect for the first task.
Ironically Harry had nothing to do with this change in the tournament, that all fell to Albus Dumbledore.
Albus had demanded this change to the tournament citing all sorts of problems with the artefact that could be a danger to the chpampions. Albus had got his way in the end and Harry couldn't be happier with the outcome.
That Wizengamot session was actually the last that Albus had attended before he had stepped down from the Wizengamot.
Harry was just thinking that he would like some treacle tart when it happened.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
Harry jumped along with many others in the hall as the bray of a donkey cut through the hall followed seconds later by another and another, all three animal exclamations coming from the head table.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
"Damn it, not again!" Minerva hissed angrily as Professor Flitwick opened his mouth to speak only for a fourth exclamation to be heard.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
The hall erupted in laughter as Professor Flitwicks' voice echoed around the hall sounding much higher in pitch than a real donkey.
Harry drew his wand and waved it over his plate, scanning his food for any signs of foreign magic and quickly finding traces of some unknown potion in the mashed potatoes.
Looking towards the Slytherin table, Harry saw Carina, Astoria, and Ginny Weasley with their heads together and laughing uncontrollably as Professor Flitwick brayed a second time.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Carina was behind this disturbance. He had seen that look on her face many times before and it always spelled trouble.
"Stop eating the mashed potatoes, they're tainted," Harry called down the table to Minerva.
"This madness has to stop," Minerva muttered eyeing the bowl of mashed potatoes warily.
"Oh my, this is a very interesting potion," Andromeda whispered as she began to analyze the mashed potatoes.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
Harry turned to see that Professor Vector had just let out a braying sound, the man's face flushing with embarrassment.
"What kind of potion are we talking about, Andi?" Harry asked with interest.
"A modified alihotsy draught. And this is a second-year potion, Minnie" Andi said answering Minerva's next question before she could ask it.
"Please tell me it doesn't last for very long?" Alice asked as Filius was overcome by the potion yet again.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
"No, it's been diluted down quite a bit. It may last twenty minutes if that," Andi assured her.
"But a second year could have brewed this?" Harry asked.
"It's a second-year potion. Though my niece could have easily brewed this, she's quite ahead of her peers in my class," Andi said, giving Harry a knowing look.
"That's what I was afraid of," Harry sighed as he made eye contact with his daughter who quickly averted her eyes and looked determinedly at the table.
"HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
"I'll look into the matter," Andromeda promised as she gave her niece a calculating look.
Harry couldn't contain his laughter as Professor Flitwick made a sound like a donkey, for the third time in a row. Whoever had set this prank up was a genius, they even had the good sense not to catch McGonagall in the prank.
Beside him, Susan had her head on the table and she was shaking with muffled giggles. Harry had no idea why she was bothering to hide her laughter, everyone around them was laughing uproariously as two of the professors brayed like donkeys.
"Oooh ha ha ha," Susan exclaimed as she sat up, her face flushed a bright pink.
"Wh-who di-did it?" Ron gasped out between fits of laughter.
Before anything else could be said, the sound of a cannon blast reverberated through the hall, startling its occupants into silence.
'BOOOOOOOOOOM!'
"Silence," McGonagall exclaimed, her voice magically magnified.
The silence only lasted for about thirty seconds before it was broken by Professor Vector.
HEEEEEEEOOOONK!"
The look on McGonagall's face at this caused renewed outbursts of laughter and Harry wondered if the headmistress was going to start breathing fire soon.
Harry wished he knew who had played this prank because it was bloody hilarious. Though judging by the look on McGonagall's face, whoever had played this prank was really going to get it.
King's Cross Station, London, 12/22/1994, 16:48
Harry and Bellatrix were standing on platform nine and three-quarters with all of the other parents. Today was the day that students below the fourth year were returning home for the holidays. Most of the students in the fourth year and up were staying to attend the Yule Ball but Harry had managed to avoid getting tasked with chaperone duty.
Amazingly even with the new system of selecting champions, the three students that were selected by the goblet in his time were chosen this time as well, making Harry start to wonder if fate really was at play here.
Harry had actually enjoyed watching the first task of the Tri-Wizard tournament. When he wasn't competing, it was actually pretty entertaining to watch.
So far, Viktor Krum was in the lead and he had used the same method that the Viktor from Harry"s timeline had, a conjunctivitis to the dragon's eyes. Truthfully, the way Krum got through the task was the only problem Harry had with the tournament so far. Viktor Krum had very nearly permanently blinded the Chinese Fireball and had her eggs not been replaced with fakes, Krum would have been responsible for causing her to crush half of her clutch.
Harry hadn't told Bellatrix but he had assisted the Dragon handlers with healing her after the task. Luckily they were able to repair her eyes but the dragon had been in a lot of pain before they sedated her.
In other news, Charlie and Tonks had set a date for the wedding and planned to marry on the twelfth of March. Harry actually felt a bit nervous as he would be the one walking her down the aisle during the ceremony. Harry had been very touched when she'd asked him to give her away at the wedding and had accepted without even having to think about it.
"Fancy seeing you here, Peverwll," a familiar voice called over the platform.
Harry turned to see Jonathan Greengrass and Roxanne walking towards them.
"Jonathan, Roxanne, it's good to see you two," Harry beamed.
"You as well," Roxanne said as she waved at Hardwin.
"I guess your house will be a bit empty this year?" Bellatrix questioned.
"Our oldest is staying for the ball this year but they couldn't get Astoria out of the castle fast enough," Jonathan chuckled.
"Trust me I know what you mean, Minerva is still hacked off about that Halloween prank," Harry admitted.
"Yes, I heard about that. Did you ever get to the bottom of who set it up?" Roxanne asked.
"Not with any certainty," Harry sighed.
"You know as well as I do that it was the twins," Bellatrix said, a kook of amusement playing on her lips.
"I think it was Carina and her little gang but they did a really good job of covering their tracks," Harry admitted.
"Can't say that I'm surprised, both of our daughters are well placed in the house of the cunning," Jonathan said as they heard the sound of the train in off in the distance.
"I know, I am still baffled as to how they snuck into the kitchens without even the elves seeing them," Harry sighed as Bella and Roxanne began having a conversation about Bella's business.
"I'll try and get to the bottom of it," Jonathan chuckled as the saw a trail of smoke moving steadily closer to them down the tracks.
"Good luck with that, I tried my best to get a confession out of Carina," Harry admitted as the scarlet engine came into view.
Their conversation came to an end as the train whistle sounded over the platform and the train slowed to a stop. The sound of steam hissing filled the air as the conductor released the boiler's pressure, filling the air with thick grey fog as the cold December air met the superheated steam from the locomotive.
They didn't have to wait very long before children began pouring onto the platform. Luckily there weren't nearly as many students on the train mostly just first, second, and third years.
It didn't take long to spot the twins exiting the train together. They were followed shortly by Astoria Greengrass and Devon Brown and it looked like the four of them were discussing something very funny if their laughter was anything to go by.
"I think that they're plotting something," Bellatrix muttered as she watched the kids getting closer.
"Those two are always plotting something, Luv," Harry muttered as Carina's laughter carried over the crowd.
Harry couldn't fight his smile as the twins spotted them. Both of them rushed forward and captured Bellatrix in a three-way hug, much to his wife's surprise.
"We missed you, Mum," they said in unison, causing Bella to smile fondly as she hugged them back.
"Hey, what about me?" Harry joked.
"We saw you this morning before we got on the train," Iggy said as he released his grip on his mother.
"You refused to take us straight home, you said that riding the train was part of the experience," Carina added, giving Harry an accusing look.
"It is," Harry agreed, barely containing a grin at the look his daughter was giving him.
"You also said that you and Mum were going to see a film?" Iggy said, giving his parents a curious look.
"We did," Harry beamed as Astoria and her parents began to have a whispered conversation.
"We did," Bellatrix huffed.
"You didn't like the movie, Mum?" Carina asked with interest.
"It had that actress in it, the one who looks like me," Bella scowled.
"You mean Helena-
"We don't say her name, Son," Harry said cutting Iggy off before he could finish his question and annoy his mother any more than she already was.
Harry had left Hardwin with Narcissa this afternoon and taken Bellatrix to lunch and then the cinema. They had seen a film based on a classic Mary Shelley novel. The movie was very good and Bellatrix in particular loved the ending, though she said seeing what looked like herself being lit on fire was very disconcerting.
"How was the train?" Bellatrix asked looking down at the twins expectantly.
"Boring," Carina pouted.
"Well you never did like train rides, even as a baby," Bella smirked.
"You mean Dad wasn't making that up about Carina throwing a tantrum on a train ride across France?" Iggy asked, grinning at the slight blush on his sister's face.
"No, that trip was a nightmare," Bella said shooting Carina a look of annoyance.
"Are you lot ready to go home?" Harry asked.
"Yes," the kids said in unison.
"I'll see you at Narcissa's Christmas Ball, Peverell," Jonathan said as both families began making their way to the small bank of fireplaces near the portal leading into muggle London.
"Yes, hopefully, it won't be as exciting as last Christmas," Harry chuckled as Astoria and then Roxanne stepped into the fireplace and vanished in a flash of green flames.
"I hope it's not, take care of yourselves," Jonathan said before he too stepped into the fireplace.
"Alright kids, you go first, I'll be right behind you," Harry instructed.
Harry watched the twins step into the flames followed by Bellatrix and Hardwin leaving Harry standing on the platform by himself. He was beyond thrilled to have the kids home for the next two weeks and he was really looking forward to seeing the looks on their faces when they opened their Christmas presents.
The wizarding world was settling into a state of normality now that the death eaters had all been tried and most of them had been executed for treason. Harry couldn't be more pleased with how things had turned out in the past year and he was finally living the life he had wanted when he'd defeated Voldemort in his own timeline. The war was over, the country was rebuilding, he had a beautiful wife, three wonderful children, and all was well in the world as far as he was concerned.
With those happy thoughts in mind, Harry stepped into the fireplace and disappeared in a flash of green flames, intent on starting off the winter holidays with a nice family dinner, and perhaps decorating the Christmas tree if the kids weren't too exhausted from the train ride.