More significant additions and help from Deb and Diane.

*

Ginny watched as Harry walked in with Minerva, more in love than ever with him. He arose first, used the loo, shaved, brushed his teeth, and then woke up Minerva and changed her, before bringing her in to nurse. That was love.

She put Minerva on a breast, naked above her waist, and relished in the skin to skin contact, Minerva nursing and touching her, and Harry lovingly looking at her, one hand on her thigh. Minerva was old enough to wean, but she was such a good toddler it was hard to give up this physical and emotional closeness. Besides, unlike her other children, Minerva would stay in her cot playing while Harry came back and touched all of her.

Life was good.

Lily was going to Hogwarts today. It was hard sending a young child away to school. Some Magi had started a home schooling program so they could wait until third or fourth year to send their children to Hogwarts, and Ginny understood both the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. Lily would be with her brothers and cousins, though, and not alone. Ginny remembered being at Hogwarts with her brothers. Although she would miss her daughter, she felt better knowing that Lily would have family around to watch out for her. Having family around should help Lily feel better as well.

Ginny looked lovingly at Minerva. She was not her mother with all those children, and having a fourth child was still at times a little bit of a surprise to her, but she was not quite ready to be a mother without a child at home either.

*

"Are all the children ready for school?" Harry asked at breakfast later that morning. He had put down the morning paper when Ginny came into the room and the two served themselves breakfast from the platter.

'Our three are ready," Ginny announced, taking a sip of tea and toast, "Rose is going to be over prepared as usual. I helped Hermione get Hugo's things ready yesterday afternoon. Hermione has never quite learned how to manage Hugo.

"Ron is at the store. There are always people doing some last minute shopping. He is going to Floo over at the last minute to meet us. Hermione, Rose and Hugo are going to be here in a bit, and we all will go over together. We are using the Closet network this year. First the guard Elves, Mo, Jo and Dobedo will go, then Hermione, Rose and Hugo. Mitzi and I will follow with James, then Albus and Frerin, his Elf. You bring up the rear with Lily and Jane."

"Yes, ma'am," Harry kidded, causing Ginny to roll her eyes at him.

Harry walked out of the Closet and onto the train station. His Magic/Muggle Mobile beeped. There was a message on it that read, "Four Muggles with cameras are looking at the space between platforms 9 and 10." Harry was glad that he had insisted on everyone using the Floo or Closet networks this year. He had even had them stop using small offices or closets at King's Cross Station. Every Muggle family was paired with a family of Magi, and came to King's Cross from a remote location by Floo or Closet. No one, Magi or Muggle, was supposed to come to King's Cross station

He had several Aurors on the other side to keep any family of Magi from trying to go through the entrance to platform 9 ¾, and also to keep them from yelling out to Muggles, or trying to help what they thought were Muggleborn. Last year someone had taken a very blurry and bad video of one of the students disappearing the barrier and it had been spotted by the Magi department in charge of keeping an eye on those types of video and pictures. They had been quickly able to discredit the video but it had been close as it had gone viral on YouTube and in several other platforms. This year he did not want a repeat of that, as once on the net always on the net.

*

"I do not see why we have to play this 'loving parent' game," Astoria bitched to Draco in front of Narcissa, Scorpius and Cleopatra. "That fat black thing is never going to fit in this family." Astoria scowled at Cleo.

"I HOPE not!" Cleo exclaimed, "I'm going to marry Albus Potter."

"You are here to marry Scorpius," Draco muttered more to Astoria than to Cleopatra. Cleo ignored Draco, but Astoria glared back at him. Draco knew that Scorpius and Cleopatra marrying was part of some plot to free his father, and that from all he could see the plan was going wildly wrong.

"What Scorpius did killing those basilisks should make any mother proud." Cleo snapped, glaring at Astoria, trying to keep from losing her temper. Putting up with Astoria's constant criticisms was tiring and frustrating.

Astoria and Draco both showed conflicting emotions. Cleo and Scorpius had talked, and they thought Draco may have known more that he said, or supported Tom Riddle Hanley more that he would say. Any pride in what Scorpius had done was tempered by something.

"I will say it again, Scorpius. I am very proud of you," Narcissa beamed, breaking eye contact between the two females. "I am proud of both of you for all you are doing, including your work with and for the Elves." She touched both of their heads in a tender gesture.

"STEALING MY HOUSE ELVES!" Astoria yelled. She was in a particularly bad mood today.

"You are welcome," Scorpius bowed, enraging his mother even more.

"Draco, Scorpius, Dis the Elf, then Cleopatra, and Astoria, you are last," Narcissa insisted, pointing to the Floo. Just as Astoria was about to step though, Narcissa grabbed her arm. "My dear, do try to act with a bit more decorum as becoming your station." Astoria yanked her arm out from Narcissa's grip and went through the Floo. Narcissa shook her head. She never understood why Draco had married Astoria. There was certainly no love there and the constant enmity was tiring.

Narcissa sighed. Once you were soul bonded in a Magi ceremony, and the marriage was consummated, you were pretty well stuck for life.

When Scorpius exited the Floo he immediately looked for the Potter family, and found them. It was easy to spot them. Mr. Ron Weasley was striding out of another Floo towards them, and he was quite tall and, in his Weasley's Wizard Wheezes uniform, very hard to miss. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes personnel no longer wore robes, but their "Muggle" clothes were no less strange and colorful.

Scorpius and Cleo strode towards the Potter and Granger-Weasley families. James was getting on the train. Lily, Jane and Hugo were entering the section reserved for First Years, accompanied by other students they seemed to know. Albus and Rose were waiting for them.

Scorpius made some motion to Albus. Albus and Rose both waved, "Good Bye. See you at the first Quidditch game, if not before." All four students rushed onto the train.

Draco nodded coldly, "Potter."

Harry replied, "Hello, Draco. I hope you enjoyed the week that Scorpius and Cleopatra spent at your house."

"It was less than a week," Draco scowled. "I do not appreciate you stealing my son."

"You can keep the fat black slob," Astoria snarled.

Draco gave Astoria a nasty look, and the couple glared at each other. Astoria turned and strode towards a Floo, and Draco followed.

"I'm not sure even Draco deserves that bitch," Ron observed.

"Why Ron, dear, that is the nicest thing you have ever said about Draco," Hermione wryly observed.

Harry and Ginny both chuckled.

"The Wheezes was a madhouse until shortly before I left," Ron stated. "I need to head over to the Hogsmeade store. There are a few students above seventh year who can come into the castle as late as just before the opening feast, and many of them come through the Hogsmeade entrance."

"Good sales and good margins," Hermione kidded. Ron's desire to have every product make money was well known. He smiled at her and offered her his arm as the two walked back to the Floo.

"Enjoy your train ride, Harry," Ginny told Harry, giving him a quick peck on the lips. "I will see you tonight."

"I hope it is just another boring ride in the train engine," Harry replied.

"I am not sure if I am staying for the opening banquet or not, although I do want to stay for the sorting. I will let you know as soon as I know."

*

As the train started Harry looked at the message on his Magic/Muggle Mobil.

ML (Mary Lou Creevey, his lead administrative assistant.) "Two families of Magi tried to go through the Kings Cross entrance. The Aurors and DMLE people intercepted them, but there was a little bit of a fuss."

HP "Did anyone notice?"

ML "Yes, but we think it is all taken care of."

HP "Which families?"

ML "Peter and Priscilla Parkinson and their grandson Perth, all in robes. Peter and Perth are both defiant bastards from what I have been told. Wendell Wilkes and his daughter Katherine tried as well, but at least they were dressed in Muggle clothes."

HP "I'm not sure what we can do about the Parkinson family, but Wilkes is on the Hogwarts board, and he is going to be in trouble for this idiot stunt."

*

Albus, Rose, Scorpius and Cleo, their Elves Frerin and Dis found one compartment. James and Erica Lionheart had another compartment filled with Quidditch players.

Over the years Hogwarts had instituted a number of measures to encourage students to meet other students, especially students from different houses. That started this year with special train cars for first year students, so Lily Potter, Hugo Granger-Weasley and Jane Smith were directed to a first year train car. Harry Gudgeon and Marvin Shook were with them. The five quickly found a compartment. Lily stood at the doorway looking for people, and spotted Harry Lionheart. He did not like Quidditch much, unlike his older brother and sister, but at least Lily knew him, so she suggested that he join them.

Cara Chang Koizumi and Roseanne Creevey were both daughters of Auror supervisors, and knew each other. They entered the train together, and when they saw Lily asked if they could join the people in the compartment. There were many more students than when Lily's father had entered Hogwarts, but the train was much bigger, and the compartment did not have any trouble holding eight first year students.

Meanwhile, back in the car with Albus and his friends, they were wondering which house people would be sorted into.

"I think Hugo will be sorted into Gryffindor," Rose predicted.

"I'm not sure about Lily Luna," Al thought. "Grandmother Lily Potter was sorted into Gryffindor, but Aunt Luna Scamander was sorted into Ravenclaw. I sure cannot see Lily in Ravenclaw."

"Slytherin?" Scorpius wondered.

Everyone looked at Cleo. "I like Lily Luna," Cleo reflected. "She is not a bad person, just impetuous. She needs to stop and think before she does things."

"House?" Scorpius persisted, looking at Cleo.

"Not Slytherin," Cleo replied, shaking her head. "She is not enough of a schemer to be in Slytherin, not nakedly ambitious enough either." Cleo pondered some more. "She sure doesn't care about blood purity, or social standing, or politics. She likes Quidditch, but she likes people too. Not Ravenclaw. She is smart enough, but she doesn't care enough about her studies to work hard enough to be in Ravenclaw."

The group moved on to other topics.

*

As they were leaving the train, Albus spotted Professor Longbottom leading the first year students into the boats for their trip to the castle. "He is not wearing the Sword of Gryffindor," Albus remarked. "I think Thorin has it almost all of the time now."

As the banquet began, Ginny Wang and Jesus Rios were sitting across the table from Albus and Scorpius, looking intently as the first year students were being led in. Ginny and Jesus had become close the past year, and were trying as hard as anyone to change the culture of Slytherin.

"How many of the first year students do you know?" Ginny Wang asked Albus and Scorpius.

"Quite a few of them," Albus confirmed. "I will tell you about them as they are sorted." When the sorting began he cast a quick Muffliato over the group so they wouldn't interrupt the sorting with their talking. He and Scorpius took turns talking about who they knew as they came up to get sorted.

Albus started, "Hermann Brandt is coming to Slytherin, as we expected. His sister Adel has become an excellent Seeker for Slytherin. I wonder if he plays Quidditch.

"Roseanne Creevey is going to Gryffindor, the same house her father was sorted into. Mr. Creevey is the second in command of the Aurors, and fought at the Battle of Hogwarts."

Scorpius continued, "Nukka Senda Eseven is the last of the MELL students to be sorted. She is joining us in Slytherin.

"Cara Chang Koizumi is going to Ravenclaw. Her mother is a supervising Auror, and her sister Chloe transition to a boy, Charles, last year. Charles is in Gryffindor, but Albus, didn't you say Cara's mother was in Ravenclaw?"

Albus nodded yes, and then said, "Lucy Lewis is going to Ravenclaw. Her father is the pastor of the Wizarding Christian Church we go to.

"Harry Lionheart is in Hufflepuff. That is not a surprise. His brother and sister are in Hufflepuff. Unlike his older brother and sister, Harry does not much like Quidditch. He can fly, but he is no fanatic.

"Joey Middy Jr. is in Ravenclaw. I think his father is still a reserve Auror. His father rescued captured members of his family when he was still an Auror, and received the Order of Merlin and other rewards for it. Dad had nothing to do with that adventure."

Scorpius pondered, "Willow Ollivander was sorted into Ravenclaw, unlike her sister and brothers. That is interesting."

"I wonder where the sorting hat will put my sister Lily?" Albus mused as Lily moved through the thinning group of first years.

Lily Luna Potter walked confidently up to the stool, and waved at her cousins in Gryffindor. The hat was placed on her head, and it promptly shouted out, "Hufflepuff."

Lily removed the hat and sprinted towards the Gryffindor table.

"LILY LUNA," Professor Longbottom shouted, causing the girl to stop, looking back at him in question. "The hat sent you to Hufflepuff."

Lily looked confused. Professor Longbottom pointed towards the Hufflepuff table.

Bill Lionheart stood up and waved Lily over to the Hufflepuff table.

Lily scowled, and it looked like she was going to argue. As she stood there, staring at Professor Longbottton, the Great Hall erupted in snickers.

Lily looked at everyone looking at her, bowed toward the student tables, and finally walked over and plopped herself down between Bill and Harry Lionheart.

"Your sister sure knows how to make an entrance," a laughing Jesus Rios remarked.

Albus just shook his head, laughing. He was sure he would hear more of Lily's misadventures.

"Marvin Shook's parents are the heads of the Auror guards for the Potter family," Albus continued. "His parents are from North America, so they were never in a Hogwarts house. I am not surprised he is in Gryffindor."

Jane Smith was sorted into Gryffindor. "It is probably because she had the courage to run away from home so she could go to Hogwarts," Albus theorized.

Lily Sprout was sorted into Hufflepuff, to the surprise of no one.

Gretel VanDer Raaltee was sorted into Slytherin, joining her brother Hansel and half-sister Patricia. "Gretel's father installs mobile telephone antennas in magical spaces, and Mrs. VanDer Raaltee works at the Hogs Head," Albus remarked.

Hugo Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor with little hesitation.

When dinner was finished Jesus and Ginny quietly asked to meet privately with Albus and Scorpius. Albus took them to the still unused classroom he used for private meetings.

"How many of the prefects are on our side now?" Jesus asked.

"I think I can get information from some of the girls," Ginny added.

"I think the best indication that Orion Ollivander might be at least not against us is that he was not invited to visit the Chamber of Secrets by TR Hanley," Albus thought. "I like Orion, and will make a point of befriending him."

"I will as well," Scorpius added.

"I do not know how Rickie Nott feels, but the girls are less inclined to be mean pure blood fanatics than the boys," Ginny guessed. "I will try to feel her out."

"Victor Valsey is on the Quidditch team, and I can see if he is on our side," Albus suggested.

"We have met both Richard Gudgeon and Delores Hanley on our block," Albus explained. "Richard's father is in the Domestic Affairs unit of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and helps manage the safe houses on our block. Delores and her mother are living in an apartment in one of the safe houses. I will talk to Richard, and Ginny, you can approach Delores. Let me know if you need any help."

The four spent more time talking about the dynamics of Slytherin.

*

Harry popped in from the Floo in time for a late dessert. "Lilly was sorted into Hufflepuff," Harry grinned, and then he burst out laughing.

"What did our darling daughter do now," Ginny wondered, amusement and frustration mixed in her expression.

"Neville put the Sorting Hat on her head, and it immediately shouted out Hufflepuff," a smiling Harry explained. "Lily took off the hat and started to run to the Gryffindor table. Neville had to call her back and point her toward the Hufflepuff table." He sighed. "Typical Lily, didn't listen."

"At least she will not be in Gryffindor with Hugo, plotting who knows what type of mayhem," Ginny theorized. "I expect Hugo was sorted into Gryffindor."

Harry nodded yes.

After dinner Harry received a Text Message on his Mobile from Albus.

AP. Scorpius's father took him somewhere Thursday, and Scorpius has no memory of where or what they did.

HP. Did Cleopatra use the map we made for her?

AP. Yes, but they just disappeared. The map was not helpful.

HP. I will see if we can get some memory experts over to see you tomorrow night. Messing with blocked memories can be very tricky, however.

AP. Thank you.

Harry explained the situation to Ginny, but stressed that the information was very confidential. "The Malfoy family is one of the families that Her Majesty the Queen asked me to watch. I do not know what is going on, but I think it is going to be harder to find out where Draco is taking Scorpius, and if and when we do what we find is going to be a very big deal."

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