Change the Future

*First Year*

First year

“Dad, come on, I wanna find the twins!” Rory said, practically bouncing on her toes as they approached King’s Cross Station, her hand tightly gripping James’s.

“Rory, slow down” James laughed, letting her pull him along with only a token resistance. He glanced back at Lily. She just shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. Remus, ever the calm one, followed behind them pushing Rory’s trolley, trunk and owl cage wobbling slightly as they navigated the crowd. Sirius walked beside him, hands stuffed in his coat pockets, his eyes scanning the station with fond amusement. Rory and James were the first to disappear through the barrier. A heartbeat later, Lily and Harry followed, the little boy’s wide eyes staring in awe at the gleaming scarlet train as it came into view. Finally, Remus and Sirius passed through, still deep in conversation but Sirius’s attention quickly shifted when he heard the shriek of joy ahead.

“RORY!” two voices shouted in perfect unison.

“Fred! George!” Rory beamed, sprinting toward the redheaded twins as they ran to meet her halfway. She threw her arms around them both, and they hugged her so tightly her feet left the ground for a moment. James smiled as he watched the reunion, heart squeezing with pride and affection. Sirius and Arthur exchanged knowing grins before joining the fathers who were helping trunks and cages up into compartments, giving directions and reminders only half-listened to by the eager students.

“Oi, you lot better not blow up the train before it even leaves the station!” Sirius called over his shoulder.

“No promises!” Fred yelled back cheerfully. After a whirlwind of loading bags, checking lists, and the last-minute fussing over missing chocolate frog cards and owl treats, it was time. Rory had hugged everyone, Sirius, Remus, even little Harry who clung to her leg for a full minute before Lily gently peeled him off. Then she turned to James, suddenly quieter, her excitement dimming at the edges.

“Right. You ready to go, Rory?” James asked, crouching down to her height, his eyes warm and encouraging. The twins stood just a few feet away, already calling to her, waving for her to hurry. Rory hesitated.

“No” she whispered, her lip trembling just slightly. James’s heart clenched.

“Why not, Wolf?”

“I’m going to miss you” He pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly as though that alone could delay time.

“Hey” he murmured, kissing the top of her head, “I’m going to miss you too. So much. But I’ll write to you all the time, every day if you want. You’ll be so tired of reading my letters you’ll ask me to stop”

“Never” she mumbled into his shoulder.

“I love you, Rory”

“I love you more, Daddy” she said softly. James smiled, holding her for just another second longer before pulling back and tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“Go on now” he said, his voice a little hoarse. “They’re waiting” Rory nodded, giving him one last tight squeeze before letting go. She turned and ran back to the train, the twins immediately sandwiching her between them and hoisting her bag up into the carriage. Lily stepped beside James, her hand slipping into his.

“You okay?” she asked gently, watching as Rory waved to them through the window with both hands, Fred and George making exaggerated sad faces behind her. James nodded, eyes never leaving his daughter.

“She’s ready”

“And so are we,” Lily whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder. The whistle blew. The train began to move. And as it pulled away, with Rory’s face still smiling through the glass, James whispered just loud enough for Lily to hear