"He already comes round for dinner about four times a week." said Harry. "Why don't we just invite him to live with us and have done with it?" "Yeah!" said James enthusiastically. "I don't mind sharing with Al -- Teddy could have my room." "No," said Harry firmly. "you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished." He checked the battered old watch that had since been Fabien Prewett's. "It's nearly eleven, you'd get on board." "Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him. "Mum! I can't give a professor love!" "But you know Neville --" James rolled his eyes. "Outside, yeah but at school he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he? I can't walk into Herbology and give him love ..." Shaking his head at his mother's foolishness, he vested his feeling by aiming a kick at Albus. "See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals." "I thought they were invisible? You said they were invisible." But James Merely Laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him, gave his father a fleeting hug, then leapt upon the rapidly filling train. They saw him wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find his friends. "Thestrals are nothing to be worry about," Harry told Albus. "They're gentle things, there's nothing scary about them. Anyways you won't be going up to school in the carriages, you'll be going in the boats." Ginny kissed Albus good-bye. "See you at Christmas." "Bye, Al," said Harry as his son hugged him. "Don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea next friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you've learned how. And don't let James wind you up." "What if I'm in Slytherin?" The whisper was for his father alone, and Harry knew that only the moment of departure could have forced Albus to reveal ho great and sincere that fear was. Harry crouched down so that Albus's face was slightly above his own. Alone of Harry's three children, Albus had inherited Lily's eyes. "Albus Severus,"Harry said quietly, so that nobody but Ginny could hear, and she was careful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." "But just say --" "-- then Slytherin House will have gained an excellents student, won't it! It doesn't matter to us, Al. But if it matters to you, you'll be able to choose Gryffendor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account." "Really?" "He did for me," said Harry. He had never told any of his children that before, and he saw the wonder in Albus's face when he said it. But now the doors were slamming all along the scarlet train, and the blurred outlines of the parents were swarming forward for the final kisses, last-minute reminders, Albus jumped into the carriage and Ginny Closed the door behind him. Students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned viewing Harry. "Why are they all staring?" Demanded Albus as he and Rose turned around to look at the other students. "Don't let it worry you," said Ron. "It's me. I'm extremely ???（这边看不清楚）" Albus, Rose, Hugo, and Lily laughed. The train began to move, and Harry walked alongside it, watching his son's thin face already ablaze with excitement. Harry kept smiling and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching his son glide away from him... The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded a corner. Harry's hand still raised in farewell. "He'll be all right," murmured Ginny. As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead. "I know he will." The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well. --

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