Autumn. Albus' favorite time of year. The leaves gleamed on the trees, the impending winter wasn't quite freezing him over yet, and the crisp morning air was fresh in his lungs as he set out for the forest behind his home. Early, just after dawn, he would head to just past the property line to sketch morning scenes from the forest.

There was nothing he enjoyed more than just sitting there on a log, capturing down the beauty of the trees. Then he'd watch as they came to life, flitting across the page as if they were alive. An invisible wind blew through the charcoal trees patterned out on the thick parchment, and Albus watched with wonder as small rabbits he had drawn earlier hopped from foot to foot, enjoying the feel of leaves crunching beneath their paws.

Albus sighed gently and pulled out his favorite sketch pencil, tracing thin spiderwebs of lines across the paper. He smiled once, then continued on, putting in details of leaves and white-tailed deer. His dark black hair blew across his eyes and he brushed it away with a careless move of his hand. He blinked once, twice, then began shading. First darks then lighter, until the ground met the beating sun.

Crisping leaves caught his attention as he glanced up to see his younger sister, Lily. He winked at her as she approached and she took a seat beside him on the dead log.

"Hey, Alb. Whatcha drawing?" He turned the book toward her as he gnawed on his lip nervously and looked at the rising sun.

"I-It's not very good, I know. But–"

"Albus Severus Potter you shut up! Your drawings-"

"Sketches." He corrected, smiling softly. She rolled her eyes.

"Fine, sketches then. Anyway, they're amazing. Simply wonderful, I think." She handed the sketchbook back to him and squeezed his shoulder encouragingly, looking into his crystal blue eyes.

"Thanks Lills." He bit down on his lips and looked down at his beat-up sneakers, swallowing. "D'you think I'll ever do anything amazing, you know, with these sketches?" He asked, his voice shaking.

"I...I don't know, Alb. I just, I don't know." She took his cold hand in her own and clasped it tightly.

"It's okay. Well, are you excited for your First Year?" He was referring to Lily's first year at Hogwarts, which she had been anticipating ever since Albus had come home from his First Year.

"Absolutely. I'm particularly thrilled about the Herbology classes. I heard the mandrakes are quite enrapturing." She giggled gently, and Albus smiled in return.

"Yeah, they're quite something." He commented, then chuckled.

"Albus! Lily!" Their mother called from the house, shouting out the back door. The smells of breakfast wafted out an open window, and Albus could already hear his other brother, James, thundering down the rickety staircase.

"C'mon then." Albus persuaded, gesturing for Lily to follow him up the small slope to the back door. His sketchbook carried loosely under one arm, he made his way into the kitchen. Harry embraced his son, and then held him back by the shoulders.

"What have you been up to this morning, Albus?" He questioned, his emerald eyes sparkling in the dim lighting.

"Just...sketching." He replied, holding out the leather-bound book. Harry accepted it, thumbing gingerly through the pages. He stopped at the one Albus had been working on currently.

"Wow, Alb. This is really something! Ginny, look at this, it's brilliant!" He tilted it so that his wife could see, the both of them admiring it proudly.

"You've got a real talent, Albus." His mother complimented, smiling warmly. She kissed his forehead, a pan of eggs in her hand, and they walked to the table together.

Bacon was placed beside a large pitcher of fresh orange juice, and banana chocolate chip muffins lay in a basket together. Albus closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose. He took his spot beside Lily, and nodded to James, who was across the table.

Lily giggled quietly at Harry, who was desperately trying to get his spoon to stick to his nose, to no avail. Ginny was holding back a chuckle, and her eyes gleamed. Harry put down his spoon, and the table quieted.

Harry bowed his head solemnly, his children following his lead. "Grace." He murmured, then the family dug into their meal. "Pass me a muffin, will you, James?" James underhanded a muffin to his father, grinning wildly. Ginny poured herself a glass of orange juice, the yellowish beverage spilling into her glass smoothly.

Harry reached for her hand underneath the table. The rest of the kids resumed their meal, but Lily caught on.

"Mom, Dad, what's up?" Her eyebrows raised, she gestured to their hands that were below the table. Harry was clearly having a difficult time trying to eat his breakfast using his fork with his left hand, attempting to balance his eggs on the times of his utensil.

Harry and Ginny shared a glance. "...Nothing." Harry finally managed, suppressing a grin and looking at his kids, who had all paused in eating to look at the two of them, who were now both blushing furiously. Harry let go, much to Ginny's facial protesting, and they all are in silence for what seemed like ages. The kids all shared looks, especially Lily and Albus, who were whispering sharply, just quiet enough so that James couldn't hear them.

"So, kids," Harry started, jerking them out of the silence. "Your letters came today. Yours too, Lily." Her face brightened, and Ginny looked at her only daughter with a look of near nostalgia on her features.

Harry disappeared out into the hall to retrieve the mail, then dropped it off in the centre of the table. Lily snatched all of the letters, giving the boys theirs, then carefully slitting open her own. There, in fancy lettering, was her letter for the year. She squealed in excitedment, leading the boys to cover their ears and groan.

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 20. We await your owl by no later than August 15.

Yours sincerely,

Rubeus Hagrid,
Deputy Headmaster

Lily screeched again.

"I made it! I'm so excited for classes, and the pets. Ooh, Mum, can I get an owl?!" She inquired crazily, staring her mother down with a begging expression.

"Of course, Lily. Now come on, we really must be getting to Diagonal Alley to collect your things." Lily jumped up to change into her clothing, and the boys followed half as enthusiastically. They were going to Diagonal Alley.

Lily picked out her favorite purple jumper, with a pair of jeans and then sneakers on her feet. She brushed through her hair quickly, and then bolted back downstairs, her letter and equipment list in her hand.

Harry smiled briefly, and winked at Lily. She laughed, going to hug her mother. "I love you, Mum." She muttered, squeezing her tight. The boys walked in, and Lily let go.

"Alright," Harry said, clapping his hands together. "Let's go then, shall we?" He led the way out to the car. It was a regular Muggle car, one that Harry had insisted on getting for trips to London like these. Floo powder was absolutely ridiculous in his opinions and then didn't need the Muggles finding out about the Wizarding World by seeing another flying car. Ginny shook her head and laughed, following Harry with a single hand in his.

Harry managed to start the car with a few turns of the keys, then they were off. To London, no less. The boys, although they had been before, were still nearly as excited as Lily was.

The crowded streets and maze-like traffic brought their car to a halt just outside their small country town. Harry cursed under his breath, and Ginny smacked him on the arm. "Harry! The kids'll hear you!" She scolded him, grinning faintly.

Finally, the traffic moved, and Harry lurched the car forward, leading Albus to smack his head into Lily's sharply. He apologized profusely, and Lily managed a glare. They laughed together, and Ginny looked back at the kids, a loving look upon her face. Albus was back at his sketching, scribbling away frantically to try and cover the space before he lost inspiration. James sat silently, looking out the window.

The car arrived in Diagonal Alley, and Harry found them a squished parking spot in between two larger cars. He huffed in annoyance, got out, and the kids followed. He led the way to the Leaky Cauldron, putting his arm around Ginny and kissing her cheek in a gentlemanly manner.

The kids watched in awe as Harry tapped the bricks with his wand, to open up the gateway to the real part of Diagonal Alley. They were guided, at first, to a robes shop, where they were all to get their robes.

They stepped inside the cool shop, looking around wondrously at the rows and rows of fabrics and pre-made robes covering the walls of the shop. Lily saw a sparkling midnight blue robe that she loved, and stepped forward to get fitted. There was a boy there just ahead of her, on the stool, smiling broadly as the witch measured him for his robes. He looked over at Lily and smirked kindly.

"Hullo there," He said with a bit of a drawl. "I'm Scorpius. Scorpius Malfoy." Lily put a hand to her mouth and ran back, out of the shop. The Malfoys. She had heard that name from her father oh so many times, and not in a fond manner. She kept running until she couldn't run any more, and stopped. She bumped into a freckled girl her age, with wavy brown hair and bright green eyes.

"Rose! I'm so glad to see you. You see, we went to the robes shop and I saw a boy there, and he looked very nice, but father told me to stay away from the Malfoys and he-he was one of them." She was speaking at a hundred miles a minute, and Rose looked at her incredulously, trying to determine exactly what Lily was trying to say.

"Lily, Lily, calm down." She assured her cousin, taking her by the arm and leading her into the nearest shop, a joke shop called Weasley's Wizard Weases. Lily looked at Rose, surprised, and Rose nodded. The two walked inside, and saw Rose's parents, Hermione and Ron, behind the counter, helping serve people.

"Wow." Was all Lily could manage. Then Hermione came over, a blinding smile upon her lips.

"Lily, is that you?" She exclaimed, pulling Ron over.

~~~

So, I know this has a slow beginning to start off, but it gets better, I promise.

I've been working hard on this and is like to see what you think! Please leave a comment below, and I'll keep posting!

Alli<3