Harry watched as James passed through onto Platform 9 ¾ with an amused expression. James and the Tonks' women (Andromeda and Nymphadora) had arrived at the station together to help keep up appearances. Dumbledore had explained that it would help re-enforce the Memory Charm he'd placed on key Hogwarts letters if he was seen with his family. Harry wondered if it was perhaps to help re-enforce James' feeling of safety, with the masquerade firmly in place he'd never have to worry about returning to Azkaban.
Also, it allowed Tonks the chance to tease her "little brother" one more time.
Ginny and the twins passed through the barrier next followed by Hermione and himself. Ron and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would bring up the rear of their make-shift caravan. When they passed through the barrier, he noticed that they had other people there to see them off. Bill and Charlie were there as well as Remus.
The Weasleys gathered en masse and began the long process of saying good-bye to each other as well as Mrs. Weasley imploring the Twins to avoid trouble. He then watched Andromeda have a seemingly heartfelt good-bye with James that had his Godfather actually looking around uncomfortably. The younger Tonks woman merely pulled her brother into a hug, and with a smirk planted two dramatic, wet kisses on each cheek before letting him go.
Harry and Hermione shared a grin, after the last week, they needed a few light-hearted moments. The Quidditch World Cup match had been exciting, with Ireland taking the cup in spite of Viktor Krum (Who Ron did seem to have an unhealthy fixation on) catching the Snitch in a spectacular display of flying. Shortly after the match all Hell broke loose.
Masked Wizards raided the camp site sending curses and Unforgivables in every direction. Bill and Charlie had drawn their wands and leapt into the fray while Mr. Weasley sent Harry and the others into the forest to hide before he joined his oldest sons. He, Hermione and Sirius had gotten separated from the Twins, Ginny and Ron and had then run into Malfoy who taunted them (At the same time proving the memory charm had been successful by referring to Sirius as James and taunting him about his Mudblood father) before running off. Harry then noticed that his wand had gone missing.
Then Harry saw a strange sight in the night sky. A gigantic floating skull of emerald smoke appeared in the sky with a smoke-like snake coming out of its mouth. He'd heard his Godfather mumble, "No… Not him…"
He'd asked what James meant when Hermione went pale and told him it was the Dark Mark, Voldemort's Mark.
The Aurors arrived later and quickly gained control of the situation, then proceeded to accuse him of casting the Dark Mark. A house-elf named Winky was found stunned in the forest carrying Harry's wand. They cast a spell on the wand and found that it had cast the Dark Mark. There was an argument between Mr. Weasley, Barty Crouch, Amos Diggory and Ludo Bagman which ended with Mr. Crouch sacking Winky who had belonged to him.
When they'd returned to the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was beside herself with worry and clutching the Daily Prophet. She and Mr. Weasley had a tense discussion about an article before he returned to his office. Harry then pulled Ron, Hermione and James out of the room and explained to them about the dream he'd had of Voldemort killing that man. The four of them had a heated discussion that ended with both Hermione and James telling him to go to Dumbledore when they arrived at school.
They made the trip to Diagon Alley with little in the way of excitement. Though, when they got to Madam Malkin's Harry found that he was buying more then just a new set of school robes, James, Mrs. Weasley and surprisingly, Hermione spent a great deal of time helping him get fitted for a set of dress robes. When he'd asked why, James and Hermione shrugged and told him it was required while Mrs. Weasley got a knowing smile on her face. When they returned to the Burrow, James and Harry had had quite a laugh at the expense of Ron when his mother had given him his dress robes.
They were velvet, maroon in color with worn-looking moldy frills at the cuffs and collar. James remarked that they more closely resembled a dress than dress robes which sent Ron into a mild snit.
He was jarred from his memories by Remus' hand on his shoulder and his smile, "A word Harry?"
He nodded at his former professor and followed him away from Hermione. Harry frowned, "Is this about?" He pointed vaguely at his scar.
The werewolf smiled and shook his head, "No, this is about…" He looked around to make sure no one was listening and continued in a more discreet tone, "Padfoot."
He immediately relaxed, "Oh, what is it?"
The Marauder smiled, "When Sirius was in school with me, he was rather…" He frowned trying to find an appropriate term, finally he settled on, "Amorous, starting around fourth year. I'm afraid that young 'James' will take after his cousin in that respect."
Harry frowned. He didn't understand what the older man was getting at, "'Amorous?'"
Harry felt a hand clap his shoulder and he found himself flanked by James and Ron, "He means I was as randy as a three-balled Kneazle." The now-youthful Marauder smiled wistfully, "I was legendary, if I do say so myself." He made a show of winking at Ron and Harry then said, "You two stick with me and I'll have you knee-deep in knickers by Christmas."
Harry and Ron's reaction to the boast were polar opposites. Ron grinned widely and wickedly while saying, "Really? You promise?"
Harry went pale and then stuttered out, "'Knee-d-deep in kn-knickers?' He then searched the platform wildly to make sure no one had heard his voice crack.
James moved around Harry to Ron's side and draped an arm casually over the red-head's shoulders. "Oh yeah" He drawled. "Ron, my boy, haven't you ever noticed just how many lovely buxom young girls there are in Hufflepuff with poor self-images?" His eyes lit mischievously, "Come with me boys, I'll teach you everything I know about the fairer sex."
A sarcastic snort came from behind them and Harry turned to see Hermione glaring at James. "That, James, should take less than an hour." Ron and James turned around to face the fuming brunette.
Remus snorted in laughter, "Amazing Hermione, you know, Lily once told him the same thing."
The young woman completely ignored the former professor as her eyes narrowed upon James, "Honestly! Have you no shame, James?" She then reached forward and gripped Harry's forearm before leading him off to the train. "Come along, Harry."
With a smirk, James then yelled. "No Hermione, I don't have any shame. However I do have a nine inch," He arched an eyebrow when Hermione and Harry turned back to him, "Wand."
He winked at Harry while Hermione squawked and led them more forcefully onto the train, but not before Harry heard Remus say. "Easy there Padfoot or she'll snap that wand."
&&&&&&&&&
When they'd found a compartment, James handed Harry a stack of letters for him to read concerning the "death" of his Godfather. The first was a letter from the Child Services Office of the Ministry telling him that Sirius had adopted him prior to his imprisonment. The office had suspended the process while waiting for his trial, Dumbledore had written them approving the adoption not long before Sirius' "death." The second letter was also from the Child Services Office, and explained that Sirius' will had named Andromeda Tonks his guardian and instructed him to get in touch with her should he have any legal issues in the wizarding world between now and becoming a legal adult.
The third letter was from Gringott's and informed him of the specifics of Sirius' will. Sirius had spilt the vast Black fortune three ways; Moony and the Tonks family received a quarter of the monies and properties a piece. Any dark relics found in the vaults (That he never had the chance to inspect) were to be given to the Ministry either for study or destruction.
The remainder of the Black fortune was Harry's to do with as he saw fit. He'd also named Harry his heir, meaning on his seventeenth birthday he'd be the Patriarch of the House of Potter and the House of Black. The monies had been transferred to his name while an additional trust had been transferred to the one his parents had left him. The note closed with a request for his presence to review a list of properties he now had access to.
The next note was from Mr. and Mrs. Tonks:
"Dear Harry,
"My name is Andromeda, I am one of Sirius' cousins (One of the few he trusted as my sisters Narcissa and Bellatrix are both faithful servants of the Pure-Blood doctrine Sirius despised) and as you have no doubt been informed by the Ministry, I am now your guardian.
"My son James has spoken very highly of you as well as my daughter Nymphadora and it is my wish to get to know you better.
"My role in your life can be as small as a representative of your interests legally and as large as a close aunt or cousin; that is up to you though I hope you'll choose the latter. With that in mind, I cordially invite you to spend the Christmas Holiday with my family.
"I hope to hear from you soon Harry.
"Sincerely,
"-Andromeda Tonks
"Post Signing; please ask my son to write (Preferably in a public place.)"
Harry closed the letter from Mrs. Tonks with a smirk, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom were in their compartment discussing the World Cup and Harry felt the need to follow his guardian's wishes. "James, tell your mother I appreciate her letter and she's asking you to write home. She misses you terribly."
Much like Ron's older brothers had a few days earlier, his roommates pounced on the opportunity to pick on James for being a Mother's Boy. Surprisingly, Ron subdued them in favor of finding the Twins and showing them the catalogue as well as finding out if Fred and George had found out any information about the secret his mother, Bill and Charlie were teasing them with on the Platform.
James cut him a dirty look, though his blue-grey eyes were dancing with humor. "That was a dirty trick, Harry."
Harry grinned and turned towards the window, he noticed Hermione sitting across from, she rolled her eyes slightly and turned to the "Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4." He watched the heavy rain fall against the window as they made their way north.
The compartment door opened again and Harry turned to face a fuming Draco Malfoy, as always the pale faced boy was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle who seemed to look more like a pair of Gorillas with each year that passed. "Think it's funny, Potter? That your blood traitor Godfather gave you, a dirty half-blood Gryffindor, my birth-right?"
Harry didn't reply, but James did. "Actually, I think it's rather funny, if only to finally see some color on a Malfoy."
Hermione then said. "Why did you even come in here?"
Draco whipped his head towards her with his scowl deepening, "Silence Mudblood! Your betters are speaking!" Harry started to rise to his feet, "If you think anything changes now Potty, just because you're a Lord-"
Harry rose to his full height while his jaw set angrily, "It does change things Malfoy." He stepped forward, "If you ever speak a word to Hermione in a way she doesn't approve of from now on, I'll cut your mother off and dissolve her marriage to your Death Eater father. You'll be a bastard in the eyes of the law and they'll take every knut you have to your name." He looked hard into Draco's eyes, daring the Slytherin to say something. This was a carefully planned response that he, James and Ron had decided on for the first time Malfoy ran his mouth off either about the Black fortune or Hermione. They'd rehearsed it all right down to the wording and the cold look in Harry's eye as James knew it would strike hard at what Malfoy cared for most, money and power. He spoke again in a voice that could freeze a flame, "Get out."
After just a moment of hesitation, Draco led his minions out of the compartment. Harry slumped back into his seat, Hermione smiled at him strangely. "Thank you Harry."
He shrugged while trying to ignore the burning in his face. Despite practicing the speech actually talking like some puffed-up Wizard like Gilderoy Lockhart was embarrassing. She turned back to her book while Harry picked up Ron's discarded copy of the Daily Prophet to hide his face. He was reading an article on the attack at the World Cup by a reporter named Rita Skeeter when he heard Hermione announce she was going to go change into her school robes.
A moment later a wad of parchment came over the top of his newspaper and hit him in the nose. He lowered the paper and looked at James with an annoyed expression. His friend then motioned to his left with only his eyes. Harry followed his eyes and his brain stopped operating correctly. Hermione was up on her toes, digging through her trunk which they'd stored overhead and he had a spectacular view of her denim-encased backside.
His newspaper fluttered out of nerveless fingers, forgotten as he was presented with conclusive evidence that his best friend was a girl. As the thought made its way through his brain it began to re-classify everything he thought about Hermione and he suddenly realized that she was not only a girl, but a pretty girl.
He'd noticed girls at some point last year and though he couldn't pin down the exact moment he remembered one incident clearly. He'd been eating breakfast before the match with Ravenclaw; Katie Bell entered the Great Hall talking with Oliver Wood. The Quidditch Captain pointed out that her shoe was untied and as Katie kneeled down to tie it, Harry noticed her blouse had fallen open slightly giving him a glimpse of soft skin and white cotton. It was a life-changing moment for sure, if only because he now had trouble looking Katie in the eye without blushing.
Since that moment he began to notice the girls of Hogwarts in a brand new way; Angelina's long legs, the way Alicia twirled her hair, the way the Ravenclaw Marietta Edgecombe's skirts were just a few millimeters shorter than most girls, and that Susan Bones of Hufflepuff had a pretty smile and she filled out a sweater much better than most girls as well. He'd also developed a crush on Cho Chang of Ravenclaw.
Yet somehow Hermione had passed by without his notice until this very moment. He couldn't understand either, now that he realized that Hermione was in fact a woman like the others, he realized that her legs were much nicer without the need for shortened skirts, she did twirl her hair when she read as well as bite her lip and though she wasn't as buxom as Susan Bones she certainly filled out a Hogwarts sweater well. He now wanted to see her caught up in reading as he was wondering if the sight was as alluring as the memory.
With her robes gathered, Hermione closed her trunk. She turned around and gave him an amused expression. He suddenly realized that he must have looked rather comical. "Are you alright?"
"Wha?" He blushed at his failed attempt at speech and tried to clear his throat.
Hermione laughed, it was a lovely sound, and said. "You're acting very strange Harry."
She left him alone a moment later with a very amused James. His friend smirked at him and said, "All right there, Harry?"
He was completely gob-smacked as he turned to his Godfather, "Padfoot, she's a girl."
James' barking laughter rang through the compartment before he said, "Of course she is Harry."
"How did I not notice before?"
James stood and sat back down next to him, "Because it was more important to you that she was your friend than her being a girl, until now of course."
Harry's face suddenly fell, "She's pretty too, what am I going to do?"
"Well, let's start small, go get changed into your robes, then we'll worry about wooing young Hermione." He nodded mutely and got his robes out of his trunk before leaving the compartment himself.
Ron returned as he left and after taking one look at Harry's expression he turned to James and asked, "What did I miss?"
James smirked and said, "Oh just young Harry growing up." After he closed the door he heard that same barking laughter and he sighed, it was going to be a long time before his friend let him live this down.
&&&&&&&&&End Part 2&&&&&&&&&