thirteen years later

"Scorpius!" I yelled.

"Coming, Mum!"

Footsteps, followed by the sound of a heavy trunk, came floundering down the stairs bu the door.

"I'm ready!" Scorpius said, his bright blond hair falling over his eyes.

"Alright! It's time to go. Draco! Teddy!"

"Coming, love," Draco's soft voice said from above me. He walked down the stairs, a smiling Teddy behind him. "Are you completely packed?" he said to Scorpius.

"Yep!" The eleven-year-old held up his heavy trunk and grinned. "Can we go now? Please?"

"Alright, alright," I said, opening the front door to the house. "Last one is the car is a broken wand!"

Teddy and Draco both ran to the car, getting in quickly. I hopped into the driver's seat Scorpius put his trunk next to Teddy's in the back.

We drove to King's Cross Station. Scorpius kept asking, "Are we there yet?" because he was so excited to finally go to Hogwarts.

As soon as I parked, he hopped out of the car. "Come on come on come on come on!" he said eagerly.

"Y/n!" a familiar voice called.

I turned around to see Harry walking toward us, Ginny and his three kids following close behind.

"Albus!" Scorpius yelled, jumping at the sight of his cousin. "Hi, James! Hi, Lily!"

"Scorpius! Teddy!" the three cried in sync, all taking off to run at us.

I laughed. "Come on, kids. Let's go inside so Teddy, Scorpius, and Albus don't miss the train!"

Harry, Ginny, Draco, and I followed the group of children as they raced through the crowded station.

They stopped once they reached the ninth platform.

"I'm going to show you something really cool," I said, walking to the third column on the platform. "Follow me."

I walked through the column and entered the vibrant station called Nine-and-three-quarters.

"Whoa!" Scorpius said excitedly, coming onto the platform with Teddy. "That was so cool!"

"Y/n, Harry, hi!" Hermione yelled, meeting us bu the entrance as the rest of our group came onto the platform.

"Hey, Rose!" Albus said, giving Hermione and Ron's child a high-five.

"Are you ready for Hogwarts?" Scorpius asked.

"You bet!" Rose exclaimed. "I bet I'm going to be a Gryffindor, like my parents!"

"I want to be in Gryffindor too!"

"Being in Slytherin would be cool cause my parents were Slytherins!" Scorpius said happily. "Or I want to be a Hufflepuff like Teddy!"

Star appeared behind us from the barrier as the red Hogwarts train blew it's whistle, signalling that it would depart in five minutes, which caused the kids to jump and scramble toward the train.

"Aunt Star!" Scorpius shouted, running to hug her.

"What's up, kiddo? Are you excited to finally go to Hogwarts like your big brother Teddy?"

"You bet!"

Star ruffled the boy's hair and laughed. "You'll be great, Scorpius. Don't get into too much trouble!"

"I won't!"

I hugged Teddy and he boarded the train with James. Scorpius threw his arms around me and held on tightly.

"I love you, Mum! I'll see you over the winter holiday," he said, backing up to grab his trunk again.

"Make sure to write and tell us which House you're in!"

"Oh, come on, love," Draco teased, "he'll obviously be a Slytherin."

"You said that about Teddy and James, dear. Neither of them are Slytherins."

Scorpius cleared his throat and started walking to the train. "Bye, Mum! Bye, Dad! Bye, Aunt Star!"

"Goodbye, Scorpius! We'll miss you!"

With that, he disappeared into the train, turning left to find a compartment with Rose and Albus.

The train blew its whistle again, and slowly, it left the station, increasing speed with every second. Scorpius leaned against the window, waving goodbye as he disappeared with the train.

I grabbed Draco's hand as the last bits the train moved out of sight.

"Remember when we were just little kids going to Hogwarts for the first time?" I asked.

"That was the day we officially met for the first time, right?"

"Best day of my life," I said, giggling.

"I see you two are still as lovey-dovey as ever," Star said jokingly.

"Oh, shush, Star. You're just jealous because you're single," I answered in the same joking manner.

"I am perfectly happy without a man in my life, I'll have you know."

"Yeah, I know."

Star and I burst out laughing.

"Anyway, I'm off," Star said after we calmed down. "I have to get to the Ministry for a random office check." She turned and walked off of the platform.

"Let's get out of here, shall we?" Draco asked.

I nodded, agreeing.

"Where to?"

"Anywhere, love. I'll be fine as long as I'm with you."

He smiled softly, trying and failing to hide his grin behind his free hand. I smirked and pulled him close, kissing him. His smile didn't waver, and neither did mine.

As we walked through the station, holding hands like any average couple, I couldn't help but embrace a feeling of nostalgia. The day I first entered this station, nineteen years ago at age eleven, I was so scared of what was to come—even though I had no clue as to what that was.

Over the years, though, I came across many challenges, one of them even being getting on the platform. Along the six years I spent at Hogwarts, I was able to make friends, win Quidditch matches, and defeat the one and only Voldemort, which brought peace back to the Wizarding World and put my name in the textbooks.

Even though my teenage years were harder than I had ever expected as a child, I didn't regret a thing about those years. Now, I had wonderful friends, adorable kids, and a lovely husband.

We had found our new normal, and nothing could make me happier than being with the people I had around me.

I sighed happily, squeezing Draco's hand. "I love you, darling," I whispered.

"I love you too, Y/n. You're perfect."

With that, we left the station, just as in love as we were thirteen years ago.

the end