1.| The First Day Back

                                    

                                          
September 1st, 1991
                          
As it always was on the first day of term, Platform nine and three-quarters was as busy as ever. The scarlet steam engine waited proudly on the tracks as children piled onto it, waving goodbye to their families. 
                          
Mothers were running back and forth with forgotten luggage, children were hanging from the compartment windows, shouting for their friends to hurry up, and a small, podgy boy ran up and down the platform asking everyone in passing if they'd seen his toad. 
                          
Among the commotion, Charlotte Lupin pushed her trolley along the platform, her tawny owl screeching excitedly in his metal cage. 
                          
"I know, I know," Charlotte smiled with a little giggle, tucking a strand of her sandy-blonde hair behind her ear. "Let's go and find Mum first, then we'll see George and Fred."
                          
The owl screeched again. 
                          
"Tony, you're being absolutely ridiculous," Charlotte told the owl. "What's the matter?"
                          
The owl whined like a disappointed dog whilst turning it's head around in a full circle. 
                          
"Dad's not here, Tony. He's at another job interview, remember? He said goodbye to us this morning just before cousin Andromeda picked us up."
                          
Once again, the owl squawked. 
                          
"Alright, alright, she's Mum's cousin, but she's ours once removed. Honestly, Tony, do I look like an idiot?" She looked around the platform for any sight of a certain woman wearing (y/f/c) robes. 
                          
The owl tilted its head at Charlotte. 
                          
"Yes, I had detention twenty-seven times last year but I still passed all of my exams. With a little help from Mum and Dad and Percy, granted," Charlotte remembered. "I'm still not an idiot though."
                          
They finally reached the front of the train where the teachers were gathered. Among the flurry of multicoloured robes, Charlotte finally spotted the unmistakable (y/f/c) of her mother's. 
                          
"Mum," she called, moving slightly faster whilst the rattling of the trolley got louder. "Mum!"
                          
"Thought I heard you," (y/n) smiled as she hugged her twelve year old daughter. "How are you?"
                          
"I'm good, thank you. Just came to say that I'm here, safe and alive, Dad left for his interview a tiny bit late but he said he should be alright, Andromeda says hello, the Weasleys are here and I can tell that because I can hear Molly shouting already, and Tony really wants to see Fred and George so you can take my luggage and I'll see you in the castle," Charlotte rushed. "Bye, Mum!" she shouted as she ran away with Tony in his cage. 
                          
"Bye!" (y/n) shouted back. "I don't want to hear from the Trolley Lady that you've been causing trouble on the train!"
                          
"You won't! Can't guarantee that the boys'll behave though!"
                          
"The four of you are menaces!"
                          
"We know!"
                          
"Is that what we were like?" (y/n) asked McGonagall who was shaking her head at her fellow colleague with a smile. 
                          
"No, not at all," McGonagall answered. "There were five if you, you were much, much worse."
                          
"Freddie! Georgie!" Charlotte exclaimed when she finally saw the two people she loved most (excluding her family and Lee, of course). 
                          
"Lottie!" the twins shouted back, running to the girl and tackling her in a hug. "Tony!" they exclaimed when the saw the owl who was spinning around his cage at the sight of the twins.