"LEA!"

"ALICE!"

Those were the words that were screamed out as the two girls slammed into each other, hugging tightly on the platform. Azalea had said goodbye to her parents before going through to 9¾, so she didn't have to worry about leaving them behind, and Daisy wasn't of her concern anymore.

"I've missed you so much!" Alice said as she pulled back, smiling at her best friend. "James told me about his meeting with you, he told me about your sister-"

"It's fine," Azalea shook her head. Alice and Daisy had not got along when she'd come to stay at the Edwards', due to Daisy trying to turn Alice against Lea. "She's been acting like a bitch recently, but what's new? She's been like that for six years."

"Doesn't make it alright," Alice pointed out, before sighing and smiling. "Come on, mum's down the platform with everyone else!"

When they got to the crowd, however, it was considerably more adults than teens. In fact, the only kid Lea could see was James, stood at the platform, seemingly waiting for someone.

(Most likely her).

"Where did they all go?" Alice frowned. "Literally everyone was here when I-"

"They'll be on the train, securing us a compartment," Azalea shrugged with a smile. "Come on, you need to say bye to your mum."

However, before they could even make it to Hannah, Alice's mother, Azalea was stopped by a smirking, black haired, blue eyed boy.

"Hey, Edwards."

"Oh fuck off," Azalea rolled her eyes. "Hello, Potter."

"You looked good in that tank top, Edwards, but I must say, it's refreshing to see you in your robes," James smirked.

"Shut up," Azalea's cheeks burned, and she hated him for it.

"How's about you make me, Edwards?" James grinned.

"How's about I don't-"

"Azalea!"

And then Lea was getting crushed into a hug by Hannah, Alice's mother, and her best friend was muttering how this was "so embarrassing" under her breath and Hannah was laughing and then all the parents were looking at them as they pulled back.

After a quick look round at them, Azalea quickly devised who was who. There was Bill and Fleur Weasley, Louis' parents, George and Angelina Weasley, Fred's parents, Ron and Hermione Weasley, Rose and Hugo's parents.

And then there was Harry and Ginny Potter. Al, Lily and James' parents.

Harry just laughed, his face splitting in a smile. "So this is the girl I've been hearing about for the past six years, eh?"

"Shut up, dad," James muttered, cheeks flushing.

Azalea almost burst out laughing. James Sirius Potter, big head extraordinare, was... embarrassed?

"Well, it's nice to meet you, I'm Harry," the man smiled, extending a hand.

"Azalea," the girl said, shaking his hand, smiling slightly.

"And I'm Ginny," said his flaming redheaded wife, pulling Azalea into a hug. "Maybe Harry wasn't the best at saying it but yes, we have heard a lot about you. You're often the main topic if James is at the dinner table."

"Mum, I swear, shut up-"

"Didn't know it was possible to make you embarrassed, Potter," Azalea muttered to him. And this time, she was the one smirking.

"Oh, it's very possible," Ginny laughed. "Do you wanna hear about the time when James-?"

"Shut up, Mum-!"

"It's okay, Jamie, I wouldn't do that to you," Ginny laughed slightly. "It's very nice meeting you, Azalea, I hope James doesn't give you too much trouble this year."

"It's fine, I know how to handle it," smiled Lea.

"Right, come here you two!" Ginny smiled, hugging her son tightly. "Have an amazing year at school, don't get into too much trouble, and give Neville our love."

"Mum..."

"Bye, James," Harry laughed, hugging his son after Ginny finally let him go. "And who knows, maybe we'll see you more often this year."

"Hope not, you guys have completely sold me out," James rolled his eyes, before admitting. "Love you guys, see you later."

And with that, he boarded the train.

Azalea and Alice burst out laughing, the parents all watching them with smiling faces before they said goodbye.

Azalea smiled, waving to them as she and her best friend stepped aboard.

"Nice meeting you, see you later!"

✾✾✾

It didn't take long for them to find the compartment where the party was happening. The compartment was packed. Lily was in the corner, Rose and Scorpius were sitting practically on top of each other to provide space, Albus and Hugo were playing an intense game of exploding snap across from each other, and Frank was watching them, a big grin on his face.

When Lily saw Azalea and Alice, she squealed, squirming herself out of the corner position to run and hug them.

"I've missed you so much!" She yelled, hugging her redheaded bestie tightly.

"I've missed you too!" Azalea grinned, hugging her back the same way.

"I wanted James to take me with him so bad, but the asshole, as usual, didn't listen!" Lily said, getting a few more laughs.

Soon, after Azalea had said hello to everyone else, she and Alice were sat on the floor at the back of the compartment, legs all bunched up, but having the time of their life nonetheless.

"So, did you get quidditch captain?" Rose asked Azalea, a big smile on her face.

"What?" Azalea asked, frowning.

"You didn't?" Albus leaned forward, losing his focus on the snap game.

"No, I thought James did, or Fred," Azalea said. It was true, she had been hoping to find a quidditch captain badge inside her Hogwarts letter, but there hadn't been one when she had. She had forgotten to ask James about that when she'd seen him earlier, actually.

"No, he's been bitching about not getting it all summer, and Fred as well!" Hugo rolled his eyes. He didn't play quidditch, instead opting for chess and books. Alice was the same.

"So what do you think they've done, given it to a sixth year?" Azalea questioned.

"Nah, they wouldn't just bypass you lot, you've been on the team for years," shrugged Scorpius.

"Yeah, and Lea's the best player on the goddamn team," shrugged Lily. Azalea turned round to look up at her, raising her eyebrows but smiling, flushed with pride, nonetheless. "It's true," was all Lily said.

Azalea shrugged. "Regardless of that, how have all your summers been?"

She then got bombarded with all sorts of things. Ron was apparently taking Rose and Scorpius' relationship well ("only two screaming matches so far" was how Rose put it), Albus had apparently been knocked out by a bludger when he attempted to play quidditch with his siblings and cousins during the holidays, and Frank was not at all prepared for the troubles OWL year was going to bring him.

"Oh, and dad really wants to meet you," Lily said, tapping Azalea's shoulder. "He was practically begging to come with James and see you in the summer."

Azalea laughed slightly. "I met him, Lils, just now on the platform."

"Oh hell," Lily slapped a palm to her forehead. "What'd he say?"

With a sigh, Azalea explained to Lily how her talk with Harry and Ginny went, with Alice's help as well, since she'd been there.

"He was also really cryptic, Lils," Alice sighed. "And, like, mysterious. He kept saying stupid stuff like 'you never know, I might see you all again'."

"Why would he, though?" Lea frowned. "He coming back to study at Hogwarts?"

"If he did, it'd be fucking embarrassing," Lily rolled her eyes.

"Your dad is literally Harry Potter, Saviour of the Wizarding World, how is that embarrassing?" Scorpius asked.

"He's just an embarrassing dad to me," Lily shrugged. "Although he did do some cool stuff when he was our age."

Azalea chuckled, tucking her hair back behind her ears. "My dad would be worse, Lils," she informed her.

"Nah, your dad's amazing," Alice said. "If anyone knows what it's like to have your dad around at Hogwarts, it's Frank and I. He's literally all of us' professor."

"Yeah, but he's the best herbology teacher," Rose said. "If anything, he-"

"Hello, everyone!"

Oh for fuck's sake, here we go again.

Azalea rolled her eyes as James threw the compartment doors open, stepping inside with Fred and Louis by his side.

"Oh, go away James," Lily said instantly, rolling her eyes.

"Nice to see you too, Lils," James bit back at his sister, before turning his attention to the girl below her, who was looking up at him with raised eyebrows. "Hey Edwards," he said easily, signature smirk upon his face, saying ironically. "Long time no see."

"Yeah, and I'd quite like it to stay that way," Azalea threw right back at him, even though she'd seen him on the platform.

"And here I was thinking you were happy to see me," James chuckled.

"Don't flatter yourself, Potter. It was hilarious to see your parents make fun of you, though."

Despite their manner, Azalea knew that since James had shown up in her neighbourhood, something had changed between them.

He probably hadn't done that for any of the girls he's made out with in broom cupboards, or any of the girls he's ruffled his hair for.

"So, new quidditch captain," James said bitterly, with an air of disappointment. "What are your plans for this year? Are you gonna have us all-?"

"I'm not the new captain."

James took a double take.

"What?" Fred asked. "It's got to be you-"

"It's not, because I'd be flashing the badge everywhere if so," Azalea replied. "I'm not the new captain, sorry to disappoint you."

"It's fine," James flashed a grin at her. "It'd be better if you'd comfort me, th-"

"No, shut up," Azalea snapped. "I'm trying to have a nice, simple last year at Hogwarts, and I'd really appreciate it if you'd not ask me out."

"Aww, but he had so many plans," Fred pouted.

"This year was gonna be the biggest," sighed Louis.

"Edwards," James said, finally sitting down on the floor, next to Azalea, Fred and Louis taking their seats opposite. "I don't know if it's escaped your notice but I actually haven't asked you out yet."

"You giving maturing a try?" Azalea snapped.

"Or maybe he's finally listening to us," shrugged Fred.

James just smirked again, deciding not to divulge his reasoning.

"Right, come on Al, extend that game of exploding snap because I wanna destroy all of you..."

Azalea sighed, smiling as she, Alice, Lily, James, Fred and Louis were dealt in for an intense, competitive, fun and most of all, exciting game.

So be it if James asked her out.

✾✾✾

"First years over here! First years with me!"

The sound of the giant man's voice made Azalea smile. It was the same sound heard every year as she stepped off the train, but knowing this was the last time she'd hear it, it was quite sad.

"Hagrid!" James called, waving his arms about like an absolute idiot (which he was) as the huge man beckoned first years over to him, to sail across the lake and get the best first view of Hogwarts. Azalea had had it too, six years ago, and she had never forgotten it, ever.

"Hello, you lot!" Hagrid grinned, yelling at them over the sea of people. "You had a good ride? You'll certainly have plenty of fun this year?"

"Why?" James yelled back. "Is it because of that stupid mysterious thing dad was talking ab-?"

"Come on Potter, otherwise we're gonna get trampled," Azalea snapped, only keeping ahold of Alice because their arms were linked tightly, and almost losing James, Fred and Louis.

She ended up in a carriage with them, though. All five of them, having lost the others in the crowd and when yelling at Hagrid.

"Something's going on," James announced on the way up. "Everyone's hiding something and it's seriously strange."

"I agree, but what is it?" Alice asked. "If your dad and Hagrid know about it, is it something serious?"

Harry Potter was an auror (or dark wizard catcher), Azalea knew, because Lily had told her once a few years ago. This meant that it probably would be something serious.

"Is it something to do with here?" She asked. "Like, something happening at Hogwarts?"

"Who knows?" Louis sighed. "I just hope it doesn't interrupt your 'nice, simple last year'."

"Shut up," Azalea warned. "And besides, maybe I was lying. It isn't Hogwarts without a little excitement and adventure."

And she was right.

But she was also about to get a lot more excitement and adventure than she wanted.