Liberosis

0 | Prologue

"Be safe kids, Merlin knows what could happen to you at this school,"  Euphemia told her children as they suffocated in her hug.

"We'll be fine, mum!  I was here last year and didn't die, remember?"  James slipped out of his mother's arms and laughed.

"I'm, uh, I'm fairly sure you almost caused a death, brother."  James ruffled his brother's hair.  

"No, Little Nicky!  I only made school more exciting!"

"Stay out of trouble you two, we don't want an extra ten letters telling us that you've caused trouble."

"Don't worry about it, dad!  I'll keep Nicholas out of trouble."  James' reply earned a laugh from his family. 

"I think that was aimed at you, idiot."  The boy's natural smirk fell from his face as he put his hand over his heart and acted offended. 

"You two best be going, the train will be leaving any moment now!"  Euphemia pushed her kids towards the Hogwarts Express and waved them off.  Their father, Fleamont sent them a wave and shouted after them to write when they get to Hogwarts.

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"Nicky, come on, I think I see Sirius!"  James rushed down the corridor of the train, pulling his brother along with him.

"Are you sure you don't want me to sit in another compartment?"  Nick stopped before they went inside. 

"Of course not! My friends love you, probably more than me..."  He mumbled the last bit, but his brother heard him and laughed.  The Potter siblings entered the compartment and got comfortable before anyone noticed they were there. 

"Hey, guys!  How was your summer?"  James greeted his friends sarcastically.

Remus and Sirius jumped in their seats and it could have been said that Sirius screamed but that would depend on who you asked.  "Nick, you're coming to Hogwarts this year?"  Lupin had asked the younger Potter as Sirius smiled at them, both jokingly ignoring that their brother was also there.

"Yes, Lupin, it seems I can't escape my dear brother no matter how hard I try."  They sighed and sank into their seat, acting like it was the worst thing that could happen.

James had decided that he needed some attention and cleared his throat.  "Do you need some water, James?  I think I have some in my trunk."  Sirius had joked.

James elbowed his sibling as they fell off the seat laughing.  "So, how did you guys spend the summer?"

At this point, Peter had arrived, confused at the sight of his friend's younger brother struggling to breathe on the floor.  He helped them get up and both of them sat down, the Potter starting to calm down.  "Hello, Peter."

As the group shared summer break stories it was as though they had never been apart.  None of them acted any different despite the extra person.  It was as though Nicholas had been there the previous year as well.  All was going smoothly, as smoothly as it could be with the group until James Potter had the brilliant idea to see a certain redhead.

"Hey, Evans, how was your summer?"  James asked the girl, leaning against the door frame.  Sirius, Remus and Peter were stood behind him, likely there to help out if something goes wrong.  It also may be possible that they were there to pick on Severus Snape, the poor boy who had been the main subject of their bullying.

Nick had opted out of bothering the girl and her friend as they knew full well what they were doing.  The young Potter would have attempted to talk the boys out of it but they knew there was no way to get past their brother's stubbornness.

Nick flipped through the pages of their book, occasionally taking a bite of chocolate until it ran out.  They were pulled out of their story as the compartment door opened.  They looked up and saw a girl who was likely their brother's age.  Nicholas assumed the girl was looking for someone and their theory was confirmed when she spoke up. 

"Hello, I'm looking for Lily Evans, have you seen her?"

Nick nodded with a polite smile.  They had noted the compartment in which their brother and his friends had made their way to earlier.