Epilogue

Ten Years Later

' –But try not to get locked in a broom cupboard, okay? Because your Uncle Remus did that once and he couldn't get out again. It took us about a week to find him. It was actually very funny –'

'Sirius!'

'Oh, come on, Remus darling, don't be like that! It was funny, you even said so after you'd got over the initial shock and embarrassment,' Sirius said, winking at Remus as he pushed Harry's trolley along. He did a run-up and jumped onto the top of the trolley as it sped along freely. The snowy owl sitting in a cage atop Harry's trunk hooted in protest.

'It was not funny!' Remus argued when they'd caught up, unconsciously mimicking Sirius's famous pout as he glared dolefully at the dark haired man. 'I was half-starved when I got out and I hadn't had a shower in six days! It was horrible!'

'Urgh!' Harry giggled as his godfather teased his other guardian. Sirius nodded and gestured at Harry.

'See? He's going to try seriously hard not to get stuck in a broom cupboard now. Aren't you glad I brought that up?'

'No,' Remus sighed, shaking his head in mock exasperation. Harry giggled again as they came to a stop in front of the ticket barrier between platforms nine and ten.

'Want me to go first?' Sirius said kindly. Harry nodded. Sirius walked purposefully towards the barrier with the trolley and disappeared from sight as a group of tourists walked in front of it.

'Come on,' Remus said, smiling at Harry. He led him over to the barrier and leaned casually against it, indicating for Harry to do the same, and a moment later they had passed through it as though it were nothing but thin air, and were standing on an entirely new platform, where hundreds of people in robes and Muggle clothing alike were gathered, talking, laughing, embracing children or school friends or talking excitedly of the year ahead of them. Harry was entranced – even Diagon Alley, which had been one of his favourite places in the world since he was three, wasn't as exciting and appealing as this. He had been looking forward to going to Hogwarts ever since he could remember – he had always been captivated by the stories that his guardians had told him of midnight wanders along corridors, of playing tricks and practical jokes on (ahem) certain people, of the classrooms and the lessons, the portraits that could talk and the suits of armour that could move…

Sirius was waiting for them by the barrier. He grinned knowingly at Harry's look of wonder and the way his eyes lit up at the sight of the platform bustling with life, remembering how he'd felt exactly the same upon his first ever arrival at platform nine and three-quarters, how he could hardly believe that he was there at last.

'And remember, if you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you, but no pressure,' Sirius said.

'Sirius!' Remus protested. Sirius grinned and poked his tongue out at Remus.

'He knows I'm only joking,' he laughed, ruffling Harry's already untidy black hair. Remus rolled his eyes and bent down so that his face was level with Harry's.

'Whatever house you're in, we'll be very proud of you,' he said seriously. Harry smiled and nodded, but couldn't help adding, 'I hope I am in Gryffindor, though.'

'Carry on the family legacy, eh?' Sirius grinned. They had, of course, told Harry every tiny detail about his parents while he was growing up, and Sirius had made sure to embellish the prospect of Gryffindor house as much as he could (which often resulting in Remus sighing and rolling his eyes and making sure that Harry knew that Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin were just as excellent, and Harry should not be pressured into going anywhere he didn't want to go).

'Remus! How are you, dear?'

Remus turned and waved as Molly Weasley and five of her children appeared through the ticket barrier. 'It's lovely to see you, dear – oh, but you look a little pale. I'm sure they're working you too hard at the Ministry!'

Remus smiled – Molly was so maternal it always seemed she might have been born specifically to be a mother. He loved the way she'd always treated him as one of her own and fussed over him and Sirius every time she saw them, even though that was usually at least once a week. Harry grinned and went to greet Ron, his best friend and the Weasleys' youngest son, who showed him his new pet rat.

'I hope that's really a real rat this time,' Sirius muttered to Remus, who fought to hide a laugh before turning back to Molly.

'I'm fine,' he shrugged. 'You know how it is at the Werewolf Liaison Office, there's always some new propaganda or campaign to drive our lot underground. We just have to work hard to educate people and make them see we're actually no different. It does get a little tough at times; some lovely person sent us an Erumpent Horn the other week – I think Arthur told you about that.'

'Oh yes,' Molly replied, frowning and nodding. 'He said something about an exploding horn in your department. It's awful, the way some people are just so blindly prejudiced.'

Remus shrugged again. 'Well, that's why we're trying to educate them. It's not easy, but we're getting there.'

Molly smiled. 'Good, I'm glad, although it sounds like you've got a lot on your plate. Surely they should get some new employees. It can't be easy being head of the department.'

'Well, they let me have today off work to see Harry off, so I'm not complaining,' Remus said. He nodded at the Weasley children, who were standing around chatting with one another or their friends. 'You must be used to this by now.'

Molly chuckled. 'It gets easier every year,' she told him. 'It must be strange, this being your first time.'

Remus nodded. 'It's going to be weird without Harry chattering away for most of the year. Sirius has made him promise to write to us every week.'

Molly laughed again. 'He'll be fine,' she said reassuringly, as a whistle blew loudly, cutting across their conversation.

'Come on now, Harry,' Sirius said, picking up the owl's cage and giving it to his godson. He took Harry's trunk off the trolley and carrying it onto the train.

'Who's that?' Harry said, suddenly very interested in a platinum-blond boy who was being hugged and kissed by his mother. Remus gritted his teeth, recognising the tall blond man next to him; Lucius Malfoy's disdainful expressionas he looked around the platform was almost identical to that of his son's.

'Draco Malfoy,' he said, trying to remain objective.

'Oh,' said Harry. He remained staring at the boy for a few moments, seemingly captivated, until Remus cleared his throat. Harry blushed.

'Uncle Remus, am I – will I be okay?' he asked him abruptly, suddenly nervous. Remus smiled and crouched down again, so that they were face to face with one another, marvelling at how much Harry looked like James. People had commented on it every day for the past ten years, but every time Remus looked into that anxious, thin face he was struck by it. Harry was, no doubt about it, almost identical to James in every way – from his scruffy, forever-untidy black hair to his impish grin and his confident, joyous laugh – except, of course, his eyes. Those eyes, startlingly green, were absolutely, perfectly Lily's eyes – the shape and colour of them were exactly hers. He was reminded of something he'd said to Sirius ten years ago.

'They're still here, y'know. They're part of Harry.'

'You'll be fine,' he assured him. 'Hogwarts is one of the best places in the world, you'll have loads of fun and you'll learn so much. It's brilliant.' He grinned, reminiscing about the first and finest home he'd known. 'Even a werewolf can have fun at Hogwarts. You'll have the time of your life.'

Harry smiled. 'Thanks.'

'No problem,' Remus said warmly. 'Now you'd better get on that train or you're not going anywhere.'

Harry laughed as Sirius arrived back on the platform. 'Alright, kid?' he asked.

Harry nodded and Sirius ruffled his hair – for a moment the distinctive, lightning bolt-shaped scar was visible on his forehead. Several people noticed.

'Why are they all staring?' demanded Harry, as he and Ron craned around to look at all the other students.

'Don't let it worry you,' said Sirius. 'It's me. I'm extremely famous.'

Remus laughed and wound an arm around his waist as Harry and Ron jumped onto the train after a girl with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth, and Molly closed the carriage door behind them. Fred and George were standing behind them at the open window of the carriage. She gave the twins a very stern look.

'Now you two – this year, behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've – you've blown up a toilet or –'

'Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet.'

'Great idea though, thanks, Mum.'

'It's not funny. And look after Ron.'

'He'll be fine, Molly,' Remus laughed, unaware that Sirius was giving Harry a kind of pep talk, urging him to write if he needed anything at all.

'Thanks, Uncle Sirius, but I'll be okay,' Harry was saying. 'I'm really excited.'

'Yeah, but if you need anything –'

'Padfoot, he'll be fine!' Remus said. Harry caught his eye and mouthed, 'Thanks.' Remus winked.

'I only said if,' Sirius protested. Remus had to smile at his overprotective attitude – he was worse than Molly at times.

'Hogwarts is the safest place in the world, he'll have no trouble. He's already got Ron to talk to anyway.'

'I know, but –'

'He'll be fine,' Remus said again, and Sirius gave up his mother hen clucking.

They waved one last time as the train rounded a corner, and then disappeared from their sight.

'It's going to be weird without him,' Sirius murmured, laying his head on Remus's shoulder.

'I know,' Remus replied. 'But he'll still come back for holidays and things. And we'll still write to him. Don't be sad, Padfoot.'

Sirius smiled. 'I'm not sad, just… it's weird, that's all. Watching your kid leave.'

Remus smiled too. 'It makes me want to go back there myself,' he remarked. Sirius chuckled.

'Me too.'

'Would you boys like to come back to ours for a spot of tea?' Molly asked. Remus could tell she was dying to feed them up. He looked at Sirius, who nodded and said, 'Thanks, that would be lovely.'

Remus slid his arms from Sirius's waist and took his hand instead, squeezing it slightly. Sirius caught his eye and gave him a small smile.

As they approached the ticket barrier, Sirius turned and gave platform nine and three-quarters one last, fleeting look; Remus squeezed his hand again.

'He'll be fine, Padfoot,' he murmured. 'I bet he's already making new friends, plus he's got Ron already. He'll have friends whatever house he's in.'

He remembered something Professor McGonagall had said when they were being Sorted in their first year at Hogwarts.

'While you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts…'

'He'll have a family.'