Happy Return to Hogwarts Day!

The morning unfolded in what would become the norm for future September 1sts in the Potter household. A rushed breakfast, a beehive of activity, yelling down the hall as Ginny called out, asking if they packed this and that, while Harry saw to the menagerie that would accompany their children to school; two owls and a cat, Lily's new addition that she had named Fernando.

As he added treats for all the animals in his kid's bags, Harry was still contemplating the best time to talk with Albus, who had reverted to his usual surly attitude when it came to Hogwarts. His permission form for Hogsmeade was in his, Harry's, pocket, signed and ready to hand over to his son, who hadn't even asked for it back, since handing it over way disinterestedly, way back in June.

Lily had been ready for half an hour; they were waiting on James. She was going around the house, farewelling the pets that would stay behind, checking her room for anything else she thought she might like to take, sadly aware it had been the last time in months she'd lay in her bed, look out her window, see her mum and dad playing footsies under the table.

But she was ready to go. She'd waited a long time for this. Hogwarts, and all it promised, waited for her, and she tampered down her fear of the unknown for the wonder of what awaited her.

With a thud, James' door opened and he came out. Spying her, he grinned. "Ready?"

She grinned back. "I'm ready!"

Of course she had been to platform 9 ¾ before, so that was nothing new. Her dad handed her trunk to Uncle Percy who had already loaded Molly and Lucy's onto the train. Uncle's George and Bill were already loading Freddie, Roxeanne's, Dominique's and Louis', and her mum went to make sure they handled her kid's trunks with care.

Lily saw her dad and Albus exchange heated words that ended with Albus setting some parchment alight (she would find out later it was his Hogsmeade permission form), then Albus left to find Scorpius, who was already on the train. He stopped to hug their mum and have a few words with her before he hopped on the big red train.

Lily watched her mum go over to speak with a solemn looking Mr Malfoy. Remembering what Albus had told her about Mrs Malfoy, she vowed to make an effort to get to know Scorpius, because he was important to Al.

Hearing a squeal, she turned to see a group of girls rush over to greet her cousin Rose, who had just arrived with her parents and her brother. She felt a moment of envy to be that popular but it wasn't her nature to dwell on things like that. With quick hugs to her parents, Rose and her friends hurried to board the train. Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione were now talking quietly with Hugo, who was nodding nervously.

People were shouting goodbyes and hellos, parents were crying and laughing and all she felt was a sense of wonder. This was her world now, she was a part of all this! There would be no more waving goodbye from the platform, then seeing the train round the corner before returning home with her mum.

This time she would see what was around that corner.

"Lily!"

At the sound of her name she turned to see Teddy heading for her, smiling widely, with Victoire by his side.

She jumped into his arms. "Teddy, you came!"

"I wouldn't miss this for anything, Lily, it's a big day for you," he replied.

She hugged him, so grateful to have Teddy in her life. She buried her face against his jumper; it muffled her "thank you."

"I know you're ready to go to Hogwarts, Lily," he told her, " but the question is, is Hogwarts ready for Lily Potter!"

Victoire laughed, hugged her and wished her well,

and left to go speak with her siblings and cousins.

Her dad was talking with Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron while Hugo shuffled at their side. Her mum left Mr Malfoy and walked over to her dad, aunt and uncle, placing an arm around Hugo's shoulders and saying something to make him smile and put him at ease. Then her uncle said something that made them look around and focus on her, berfore they all came over and surrounded her.

"Hey, here's my favourite Potter," greeted Uncle Ron, giving her a hug so tight it burned her ribs. It was the same greeting he gave her every time.

"Sorry Lily, your dad and I didn't mean to leave you alone," said her mum, apologetically.

"Hey, am I wearing an invisibility cloak or something?" asked Teddy, cheekily. Ginny nudged him and he winced, pretending to be injured. At her scoff, he slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"It's fine, Mum, I was just taking it all in, and then Teddy and Vic arrived," said Lily.

Aunt Hermione hugged her goodbye before taking Hugo's arm and gesturing to Ron to follow her.

The train whistled, and it was time to go.

Her parents turned to stand in front of her; Teddy had stepped aside to give them a moment alone. She looked up at them, swallowing down the sudden burst of homesickness.

"Lily." Her mum's voice was thick with emotion.

"It's time, Lily." Her dad's voice shook slightly.

Lily stepped forward into both parent's embrace. "I'm going to miss you so much," she told them.

"Not as much as we'll miss you," replied her mum.

"Owl us anytime if you need us," said her dad, "for anything."

"Dad, I'm going to be fine," she drawled.

"Yes," nodded her mum, "yes she is."

"We love you, Lily," said her dad.

"Go on," urged her mum. "It's time to go."

Lily nodded, hugging them quickly again. "I'll send an owl, letting you know what house I get into," she told them.

"Come on, Lily," called Lucy, and she looked to see Hugo and Lucy waiting for her.

She looked back at her parents, and they nodded. Teddy hugged her again.

She turned and ran to her cousins. "All right?" she asked them.

"Together?" asked Lucy, and all three walked to the train steps.

"Lily, there you are." A figure emerged through the steam of the train.

"Aunt Luna!" cried Lily, stopping suddenly.

The others had stepped onto the train, but stopped at her cry. She looked over at them. "Go on, save me a seat," she told them. She looked back at her godmother, beaming. "You came to see me off?"

"Of course. It's a momentous occasion in all young wizard and witch's lives," said Luna, ignorant of the strange looks she was getting, standing so close to the entrance to the train.

The train whistled twice. Lily looked up, then at her godmother.

"I have to go," she said, suddenly nervous.

"Yes, it's time," agreed Luna calmly.

Lily took a deep breath. "Any last minute advice?" Her godmother had a unique way of looking at things. Her dad said Luna was quirky but her mum insisted Luna was as smart as Aunt Hermione. Lily tended to agree with her mum.

Luna brushed some of Lily's hair away from her face and cupped her chin. "Just one." She leaned forward to kiss Lily on her forehead, then leaned back. " Always be yourself."

There was a knocking on the window nearby; James was beckoning her to hurry.

"Go," urged Luna, "it's your time to shine."

"I'll write," said Lily, running up the stairs. She stopped to turn around; her parents, aunts and uncles had now moved closer to the train, as most other parents had.

"Bye," called Lily, waving. "Goodbye!"

The train started pulling away from the station. Lily hurried aboard and went to find the compartment with Rose, Hugo, James, Freddie and Louis. Next door was Lucy, Molly, Roxeanne and Dominique, while further back, Albus and Scorpius were already talking, alone in their compartment.

"Bye," they all yelled, waving madly, for the very last time. Her parents were getting smaller and smaller as she watched them, then the train picked up speed and turned the corner.

She was on the way!

Half an hour later, and the excitement of leaving had faded somewhat. James and Freddie had left to cause mayhem further down the train – word was someone had let off a stinkbomb – and Rose had gone to find her friends. Hugo and Louis were engaged in a chess match, but looked up when Lily stood.

"I'm going to the loo, then I'll probably stop in and see how Lucy is doing," she told them.

Louis nodded, barely taking his eyes off the board, Lily left, checking for signs as to the location of the loos, walking carefully due to the jostling of the train in motion.

She reached for the handle just as the door opened, and a young girl stepped out, nearly running into Lily.

"Oh, sorry," they both said at the same time, then they both laughed.

The other girl stepped aside, just as Lily did too. "Sorry," she said again.

"It's fine," giggled Lily. "Hi, I'm Lily."

"I'm Ivy, Ivy Peterson. Hey, we both have flower names," replied Ivy. "Are you a first year too?"

Lily nodded, and Ivy sighed in relief. "Well, at least I know someone now."

She hesitated, then began to walk away. Lily called out to her.

"Hey Ivy." The new girl stopped and looked back at her.

"I wouldn't go down there, I heard someone let off a stinkbomb. Would you – if you don't mind waiting for me, you could come and sit in my compartment for awhile. My cousin is there, he's a firstie too."

Ivy's face lit up. "That would be great, thanks. I'll just wait over here, don't want to be known as the creepy girl who hangs around the loos," she winked, making Lily laugh.

"Well, you'd get on quite well with Moaning Myrtle then," she replied.

The two girls chatted all the way back to the compartment, and Lily introduced Ivy to Louis and Hugo. They all bought some sweets from the Trolley Witch – her dad had slipped Lily some money – and spent most of the rest of the jouney getting to know more about Ivy and talking about Hogwarts.

Rose, James and Freddie returned later, telling the others they would be arriving soon. Ivy reluctantly left but cheered up when both Hugo and Lily promised to look out for her upon arrival at Hogsmeade station.

"Firs' years over 'ere!" Hagrid's familiar voice boomed loud and Lily led her cousins and new friend over to him.

" 'ello there, Lily, Lucy and Hugo. And who's this?" he asked, looking at Ivy.

"I'm Ivy, sir," said Ivy, suddenly shy.

" 'ello, Ivy, I'm Hagrid," he said kindly. He then raised his voice, calling out again for all the first years to come towards him.

Minutes later, Hugo, Lucy, Lily and Ivy shared a boat ride across the Black Lake. Lily actually gasped; it was the first time she had seen the castle all alight in welcome to the first years.

As they clamoured out, Lily took a look at her fellow first years. Some would be her class mates, and some would be her house mates and possible dorm mates. They all looked quite nervous about what was going to happen next.

In two rows they walked into the Great Hall, aware the eyes of the entire student body were on them. Lily's eyes searched the tables, finding her cousins waving in encouragement.

Albus sat with the blonde boy; Scorpius, she supposed. She smiled at them both, surprising Scorpius. When she looked at James, he held his hands up, with fingers crossed for luck.

Headmistress Macgonagall looked stern as she looked over her first years, but Lily swore she saw a twinkle, or was it a wink, when her eyes landed on Lily.

Professor Longbottom stepped forward, carrying an old brown hat. He placed it on a step and waited for it to sing –

'Are you afraid of what you'll hear?

Afraid I'll speak the name you fear?

Not Slytherin! Not Gryffindor!

Not Hufflepuff! Not Ravenclaw!

Don't worry, child, I know my job,

You'll learn to laugh, if first you sob.'

Lily watched on as witches and wizards were called up in alphabetical order, to have the hat placed on their heads, before being sorted into a house. Some were sorted in mere seconds, some took longer.

It seemed to take an eternity before Uncle Neville called out, "Lily Potter."

Lucy gave her a hopeful look as she nervously made her way to the front. James had stood up for a better view, while Albus watched on, daring to hope.

'GRYFFINDOR!"

With a regretful look at Albus, she then smiled widely as she made her way to the Gryffindor table, where James, Rose and Ivy waited for her.

It was her time to shine,

Starting now!

~finite~

A/N 1- Sorting Hat song was taken from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Pts 1 and 2, Pg 29, Australian edition.

A/N 2 – I know a lot of you are fans of blvnk's artwork, and I'm happy to say she has started her own discord channel, PotterbyBlvnk. Come and join for discussions on her wonderful art and general Hinny chats and fun. I'll see you there!