Harry+Potter+and+the+Next+Generation


 * Harry Potter and the Next Generation **

Chapter 1 Rose Weasley sat in the vast library with her mother, reading __Hogwarts, A History__. "Just think, Rosie. Soon you'll be able to go. Just one more year." "That's a long time. Why does James get to go this year and I won't be able to go till next year." "James is older than you. He'll write to you, I'm sure." "But, Mommy. I wan't to go this year!" "You have to wait untill you're eleven," Hermione said in a tone of finality. Rose realized that she had lost the argument, and glared at her mother before returning to her book. Ron walked in and gave her a bear hug. "Daddy!" she shrieked, " I'm reading, don't." "Sorry, Rosie," he apologized, offering her a smile. Hermione looked up from her own book, __Standard Book of Spells, Grade Seven__, and cried, "We need to meet Harry and Ginny in half an hour at King's Cross. It's James's first year at Hogwarts! We'll be late!" "Relax, Hermione. We'll be fine. What is that you're reading? How many times have you read that now?" Ron said calmly, "We can take the Knight Bus. It'll be a nice little adventure for the kids." Rose brightened for the first time that morning. "We get to take the Knight Bus?" "Sure thing, kiddo." Rose grinned excitedly, "Should I go get Hugo?" "Where is he?" "He's still asleep." "Go wake him up then, and we'll leave."

~

Meanwhile, the Potter household was in chaos. "Dad! James just broke a plate in the kitchen!" "I didn't mean to! I swear! Albus came in and startled me!" "I did not!" "Would you both be quiet?!" "Sorry, Dad." "Yeah, sorry." Lily skipped into the kitchen, "When are we going to King's Cross?" "Soon. Lily, James, Albus. Get in the car." "Kay, Dad." "Okay." "Okay, Daddy." Harry stooped down to retrieve the shattered fragments of the plate on the floor. "On second thought, Reparo" The pieces flew together and rejoined in their original form. Ginny walked down the stairs and laughed. "We gonna leave?" she asked, "What did they do this time?" "Nothing. Let's go." And they left.

~

The Weasley family stood on the curb near their home in Whitehaven, England. Hermione stuck out her wand purposefully. A deep violet triple decker bus came speeding into view. A teenager just out of Hogwarts climbed out and read from a small card, "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Where do you want to go?" Busily Hermione said, "We're going to King's Cross Station." Hugo looked up at the boy with his turqoise hair and cried, "Teddy!" "What are you doing here, Teddy?" Ron asked in confusion. "Needed a job. Figured I might start here. Doesn't pay very well though. Why are you here? I thought Rose doesn't start Hogwarts till next year." "We're going to see James off, then go to lunch with Harry, Ginny and the kids. Would you like to come? They'd love to see you." "I just might. My shift's over in ten minutes." "Then feel free to join us." They climbed up the steps on to the bus, and contiued to the second floor. Teddy returned to the floor below and the Weasleys erupted into speech. "Did you know that Teddy got a job here?" "No." "I think it's really cool." "Yeah, isn't it?" "It's wonderful!"

~

The Potters were in the car driving away from their home that had once housed Lily and James Potter Sr. Lily sat, having a thirty minute day dream from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, while her brothers bickered about who knows what. "Will they ever shut up?" Ginny sighed. "Probably not. But it'll be a lot quieter around the house with James at Hogwarts." "I expect so, but I'll miss him." "We'll write him all the time." "Still." "Don't worry, he'll be fine." "I can't help but worry. He's going to Hogwarts already. Don't you remember what happened in your first year. And what happened in mine." "Things are different now. Voldemort's gone. He's dead. There isn't going to be a possessed teacher and somehow, I can't see James writing in a diary," Harry laughed. She smiled weakly. "I suppose so." "Everything will be okay. The most that will happen to him will be a quidditch injury." "Yeah." "Are we there yet?" James cut in, retiring from his quarrel. "Jeeze, James, we've only been driving for five minutes. We'll probably be there in fifteen more." Fifteen minutes later, the Potter's car came to a stop in front of King's Cross. "We're here now, James." "Yes!" He leaped out of the car and raced into the building. "Whoa, James, hold up!" Harry called after him. "Let's go find Rose and Hugo!" The other Potter children jumped out and ran join their father and brother. Ginny was the last to get out of the car and walk slowly over to them, carrying James's many purchases from Diagon Alley. "Okay, let's go find them."

~

The four Weasleys walked down the steps of the bus, accompanied by Teddy, whoose shift had just ended. "Shall we go find them?" Teddy asked as they entered the train station. "Yeah." "Come on." They lingered by platforms nine and ten before leaning casually against the platform divider and fell into platform 9 3/4. "Wow," Rose said softly. "Awesome." "Stop standing around, and let's go." They walked through the station with a common goal: Find the Potters. Finally, Hugo spotted a group of five, all with black hair save for the two girls. "Lily, James, Al!" he cried. "Hi, guys." "Teddy! What are you doing here?" "Thought I'd drop by to see James off." "Thanks Teddy." The children returned their attention to James while Ginny and Harry greeted Teddy. "You are so lucky, James. I want to go to Hogwarts too." "Too bad, you have to wait." "You're so mean!" "Even so...." "Next year, me and Al will go, and then you'll never have a peaceful moment!" Albus nodded in agreement. "Until then." He waved and climbed on to the train. Harry lifted his trunk and hoisted it on to the landing. "Here you go, James." Albus and Rose glared at him as he walked down the train.

~

James walked down the train after waving to his family. Lugging his heavy trunk behind him, he made his way into a compartment that was almost empty. A small boy sat in the corner. "Err... do you mind if I sit here." The boy didn't move but continued to stare out the window. James coughed. "Oh! Sorry, did you want to sit down?" "Sure, thanks. My name's James, by the way. James Potter." "Potter? Are you related to Harry Potter?" "He's my dad." "Wow.... Well, I'm Adam Chang. My mother knew your father. Apparantly, he taught her defence." "Was she in the D.A. or something? My dad taught a defence group in his fifth year." "Probably. " "That's cool." The train rumbled on for an hour or so, with the boys chatting away happily about anything that came up.

Chapter 2 The Weasley's and Potter's sat in Florean Fortescues, chatting happily. The children discussed Hogwarts. The houses. The food. The classes. Everything that they could relate to that magical place of wonder that they longed to go to. "I can't believe I have to wait another three years! I want to go now!" "Don't we all. I can't wait either. It's just next year for me." "It'll be so fun! I can't wait for quidditch! I want to be a chaser." "I don't know. Dad's gotten a lot of injuries in quidditch." "Ahh don't be a scaredy cat, Al." "I'm not. I just value my life more than some stupid game." "It's not stupid! Dad! Tell him it's the best game in history!" "I'm not saying that it isn't, but let Al have his own opinions." "Ron!" Hermione cried in surprise, "That was... thoughtful." "Excuse me? What are you saying? That I'm not usually thoughtful?" "That's not what I meant. I just didn't expect that." "Expect what?" "Oh nevermind." Ginny rolled her eyes. "She didn't expact you to act considerate. And I think that surprised all of us." "Oh shut up, Ginny." "Dad, Dad!!! Can we go down to see the new broom at Quality Quidditch Supplies?" "Sure." "Rose, will you go with him?" Hermione asked. "Why can't he go by himself?" "He's only seven, Rose. he could get lost." "I'll be fine." "Yeah, Mum. He'll be fine. Why do I always have to chaperone him? "He's your brother." "He's your son!" "Rose." "What?!" "Hermione, he'll be fine. He's only going to be a couple stores away," Ron said in an attempt to calm them down. "I'm not letting him go alone. He's too young." "Then why don't you take him yourself!" Rose said angrily. "Fine!" Hermione grabbed a scared looking Hugo's hand and marched off. Harry watched them go. "You've got your grandmother's temper. That's for sure." he said, shaking his head. "All the Weasley woman do." said Ginny, proudly.

~

James and Adam sat, talking animatedly about quidditch when a tall blonde girl slid open the compartment door. "Can I sit in here? The people I was sitting with got a bit annoying," she asked softly. James looked around. "Uh... yeah. Sure." The girl smiled and entered. "So... um, what's your name?" Adam asked awkwardly. "I'm Avis Malfoy. And you?" "Adam Chang." "I'm James Potter." "Are you Harry Potter's son?" "Yep." "That's cool." James smiled. Avis sat down. The conversation soon turned to their families. "My dad was a muggle. He left when my mum told him about the magical world. Thought she was mad. I can't believe he left when he did, though. My mum was pregnant with my little sister at the time. What about you?" "I'm pureblood, but I haven't got anything against muggleborns and half bloods. I have a brother coming next year." "I'm the oldest of three. My brother, Albus will come the Hogwarts next year, and my sister, Lily, is only eight now. I've also got cousins that we see all the time." "That's nice." "Anything from the trolley, dears?" a witch pushing a rusted cart full of treats called. "Thank god. I'm starving." James pushed open the door and fished in his pocket, drawing out some gold.He slipped out into the cooridor and came back with a couple liquorish wands and pumkin pasties. "Want one?" "I'm fine," Adam said quietly. "You sure?" "No really, I'm fine." James shrugged. "Okay, then." Avis looked at him curiously, but said nothing. ~ The rest of the train ride passed quickly with little conversation. As it pulled in to the station, the tension thickened. Each child was wondering. What life would be like from now on. What house would they be in. What their classes would be like. And how their years at Hogwarts, in general, would play out.

Chapter 3

James sat in the boat, slowly progressing through the lake. Avis and Adam were on either side. Both were quiet, adding to the terrified silence of the arriving first years. James was thinking to himself, //'What house will I be in? What if I'm in Slyther-no, it's Al's job to worry about that stuff. I'll be in Gryffindor for sure.'// As the boats came to a stop and everyone climbed out, Hagrid rapped sharply on the huge door with an enormous fist. It opened and James saw Neville standing there, grinning and beckoning them in. He explained about houses and points. James didn't really pay attention- he had known this stuff ever since he could remember. Finally he lead them into the great hall and pulled out a list of students. Adam was the second to be called. He tentatively walked forward and sat down on a three legged stool. Neville put the sorting hat on his head and there was a long pause. The hat hesitated, then called out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Adam looked surprised, but pleased. Several more names were called before Avis's. When it was called, she ran forward and hopped onto the stool. The hat took a while to sort her but not quite as long as Adam. James watched her expression change as if she were arguing with the hat in her mind. Finally it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" James was shocked but he applauded for his friend. Could he call her his friend? They had only just met. Neville called the next name and they were sorted. Just before he called James, the door burst open. A small boy he couldn't see very well stood in the doorway with a teacher and strode down to join the other first years. As he drew closer, James recognised him. "Where've you been, Fred?" "Missed the train." "Really? On the first day? "Aw well...I always love a dramatic entrance." "Potter, James." "Good luck, mate." Fred had been one of his best friends for a long time. He had been so blinded by excitement on the train, he hadn't even noticed his absence.

The sorting hat was placed on his head and a voice whispered in his ear, //"So, Harry Potter's son...sometimes I still wonder about your father's placement. That's in the past though. The question is, where will you go?"// //"Gryffindor,"// James told it mentally. //"That's certainly an option, but what about the other houses?"// //"I want to be in Gryffindor!"// he insisted. //"Very well then."// "GRYFFINDOR!" The end of the sorting found James and Fred sitting together at the Gryffindor table while Adam and Avis were eating silently at the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables, occasionally glancing at eachother awkwardly.