"Not forest green like hers, but chocolate brown like hers"

Chapter 11

19 years later

The morning of the first of September greeted the Potter family with a crispness that hinted at the arrival of autumn. Golden sunlight bathed the surroundings as they made their way toward the bustling King's Cross Station. The air was filled with the faint scent of car exhausts and the breath of pedestrians, mingling with the sparkles of cold air like cobwebs.As they navigated the throngs of commuters, the family's progress was marked by the rattling of two large cages atop laden trolleys. Within them, the owls hooted indignantly, their feathers ruffled by the journey. Behind her brothers, a red-haired girl trailed tearfully, her grip tight on her father's arm.

"It won't be long now, and you'll be gone too."

"Two years," Jean Luna sniffed, her tone filled with longing. "I want to go now!"

Curious glances from the commuters followed the family as they approached the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Amidst the clamor, Arthur Neville's voice carried back to him as he recounted the argument between his sons they had started in the car.

"I won't! I won't be in Slytherin!"

"James, give it a rest!" Ginny intervened, her voice tinged with exasperation.

"I only said he might be.There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth—"

As the five Potters approached the barrier, James seized the trolley with a cocky grin, breaking into a run and disappearing from sight in a blur of motion.

"You'll write to me, won't you?" Arthur's anxious inquiry broke the momentary silence, seeking reassurance from his parents.

"Every day, if you want us to."

"Not every day. James says most people only get letters from home about once a month."

"We wrote to him three times a week last year."

"And you don't want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts. He likes to exaggerate, your brother."

Side by side, they pushed the second trolley forward, gathering speed until they reached the barrier. With a victorious grin, Arthur led the way, but instead of a collision, they emerged unscathed onto platform nine and three-quarters, obscured by thick white steam billowing from the scarlet Hogwarts Express.

"Where are they?"

Amidst the mist, indistinct figures swarmed, voices sounding unnaturally loud in the detached atmosphere. "I think that's them, Al," Ginny suddenly exclaimed, her relief evident as she pointed toward a group standing beside the last carriage.

"Hi," Arthur greeted them with palpable relief, Lily beaming at him in her new Hogwarts robes.

"Parked all right, then?" James inquired, addressing Harry with a grin. "I did. Hermione didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confuse the examiner."

"No, I didn't," Hermione interjected, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "I had complete faith in you."

"As a matter of fact, I did Confuse him," James confided to his son, a conspiratorial smile on his lips as they lifted Arthur's trunk and owl onto the train. "I only forgot to look in the wing mirror, but let's face it, I can use a Supersensory Charm for that."

Back on the bustling platform, amidst the chatter and anticipation, Jean and Leo, Lily's younger brother, engaged in an animated discussion about their future at Hogwarts. Their voices carried over the crowd, their excitement palpable as they speculated about which House they would be sorted into.