The Epilogue

                                    

                                          
"Come on quickly, now, we don't want to miss the train!" Ginny rushed, her hand on Lily's back as they hurried through Platform 9 & 3/4. 
                          
"I want to go! Why can't I go?" The little redhead complained, pouting angrily.
                          
Harry laughed as he pushed his son's cart. "You'll go in just a few years, kiddo. Once you're old enough."
                          
"But I want to go now!" Lily insisted.
                          
Ginny smiled at Harry, who grinned back in amusement. She had retired from her position as Captain of the Holyhead Harpies just a few years ago and was now a Quidditch journalist for the Daily Prophet. Harry was Head Auror, Ron his deputy. 
                          
"Hey, it's Teddy!" James said suddenly, pointing at the older boy. Teddy Lupin was chatting with his boyfriend up ahead. He was tall and lanky just like Remus had been, but his blue hair was from Tonks.
                          
Harry rolled his eyes. "You see him every week, yet act like it's been years. I swear, next you'll be wanting him to live with us."
                          
James's eyes widened in excitement. "Can he?"
                          
Harry laughed. His son was obsessed with Teddy, looking up to Harry's godson as a cool big brother. "Teddy likes living with his grandma. We can't just take him." Remus's son came over for dinner at least once a week. Harry was determined to be a present godfather in a way Sirius had never been able to, as a fugitive. And as an orphan himself, he knew how to be there for Teddy. He shared stories of Remus and Tonks all the time, and had even purchased his own pensieve for the boy. 
                          
James hugged his parents before running off with his cart to go find his friends. He was as bold as a Gryffindor could get, always excited to loudly hang out with his friends.
                          
Harry noticed Albus hesitate. He exchanged a look with Ginny, who ushered theirdaughter forward to give them privacy.
                          
"Hey," Harry said to his son, dropping down to tie his shoes like Albus. His middle child was starting Hogwarts this year, and Harry understood his nerves. "What's going on?"
                          
Albus bit his lip. "What if I don't get in Gryffindor?"
                          
Ah. So that's what this was about. "Albus Remus Potter," Harry said with a smile. "You were named after two brave men. And while both of them were in Gryffindor, some of the most amazing people haven't been. Teddy's mom was a wonderful Auror, and she was a Hufflepuff. Merlin himself was a Slytherin. The houses don't mean anything more than personality traits."
                          
"But what if?" Albus pushed.
                          
Harry shook his head. "It doesn't matter to me, or Mom. We love you. But if you really care, the Sorting Hat does take your opinion into account."
                          
"Really?" Albus asked incredulously. 
                          
Harry nodded. "It did for me. I would have been in Slytherin, actually, but I wanted to be in Gryffindor with Uncle Ron."
                          
Looked significantly more cheered up, Albus got to his feet. Harry let him push the cart, and they went over to join Ginny. She was chatting with Ron, who was standing with his wife and their son. He and Padma's kid was James's age, and hugged his parents before loading his things on the train.
                          
"You ready for Hogwarts?" Ron grinned at Albus.
                          
Harry's son nodded excitedly. He loved Ron, who was his godfather, Padma being his godmother. Lily's godparents were George and Angelina. They had one son, Fred, who was in Teddy's year, and whose godfather was Percy.
                          
Speaking of the demigod, he burst through the barrier characteristically almost late. He was wearing black slacks, a button down, and his robes. Everyone stared as he walked by, the kids waving at him and parents smiling. It was untraditional for the Headmaster to be seen on the platform, but Percy had his own kids to send off. McGonagall, who had retired but still taught Transfiguration, was holding down the fort at Hogwarts.