The Way It Should Have Been

Thanks to all who reviewed my story! It's great to have people tell you you're doing a good job. Here are some replies:

sushiniti: My first reviewer! And don't worry, I will. It just my take a little while to get in full swing.

BuffyXO: Yeah, the whole no Voldemort thing is exciting. I hate the cloud of doom!

MyDarkDraco: Yeah, I'm looking forward to the school years as well. I felt that I had to get a solid foundation first, though. Next chapter will begin their first year.

i beast u all: Malfoy already has that role, so Harry doesn't need to fill it. Sorry! And since the Weasleys and the Potters are both prominent wizarding families, (yes everyone has heard of the Weasleys, although they aren't rich), it is natural that they would meet. Lily and Molly get along well because they are both fiery red headed women!

asianboy552: I will.

plaid_shorts: Yes, Remus will show up quite a bit. But he's been a little busy, and you'll see why.

Angelus06: Thanks, and here it is!

On with the story! Sorry for the delay. Writer's block, you know.

~The Way It Should Have Been~

Chapter Two: Mr. Celebrity

In 1992, Harry Potter turned eleven years old. It was quite the event, for two different reasons. One, the Potter child would be coming to Hogwarts. Two, it was the ten year anniversary of the downfall of Voldemort. People all over the world would be celebrating, but in England there would be a special party going on.

Harry's parents had never spared him any expense. They had enough money from inheritance and their jobs at the Ministry to be quite happy, not to mention they could get in free to any place at anytime. They had, after all defeated Voldemort. And Harry was an even worse case. People seemed to think that when he was older, he would have the power of his parents combined.

So, for his eleventh birthday, he was going to get the biggest bash of the year. All the magically born children in his class would be invited to the Potter house for a party. And for the adults, there would be another party in the ballroom. To take care of this, his parents had to beg and plead with Headmistress McGonagall to give them the list of the new first years.

So far, they had received RSVP's from almost the entire class. The magical-born children had eagerly accepted the chance to meet the famous Potters. Practically every wizarding family in Britain was vying for the opportunity to get into this party. Those that weren't going were selling their invitations for thousands of galleons.

Harry was rather excited about his party. He had never had a large party before. It was always just his friends and relatives. Now, he was finally old enough to join in on the excitement of the adults. About a week before the big event, Jameson and Ron were over, having a day without the girls for once. They had decided that since Padma and Parvati weren't there, they could play Quidditch. Ginny was at home, helping her mother today. Molly had asked her to stay, and Ginny had a façade to keep up.

They were playing without beaters. Ron was the keeper, Harry was the chaser, and Jameson was the seeker. They weren't really keeping score, but it was fun all the same. After a particularly spectacular play by Harry, Ron said, "Harry, exactly what are we going to do at this party of yours? I mean, the stupid girls will be all about dancing and things like that. Can we set up a Quidditch match, or something?"

Harry pondered this. "Well, my mum will want to do something that everyone can participate in. I'm just not really sure what I want to do yet. Any ideas?"

Jameson popped over with the Snitch in his hands. "Caught it again! Anyway, you're trying to think of something to do at the party? Well, muggles do this thing where they all sit in chairs and there are more people than chairs. When music plays, they all have to get up and get a new chair, not the one right beside them, and not the same one. There will be one person left standing that doesn't have a chair. They are out. A chair is taken away when the music starts to play, and another person is eliminated, and so on. I think we might be able to do something of the sort with brooms, don't you think. The girls might like it a little better than a match. It kind of compromises the whole dancing thing with Quidditch, because there will be music playing. What do you think?"

Harry clapped his hands. "I think that is a brilliant idea. Let me run it by my mum, and see what she says. Ron, any ideas?"

Ron shook his head. "Only one, and it's not brilliant like Jameson's or anything. I thought we could turn your second dance room into a rolly skit thing or something. It's another thing muggles do. They put wheels on their shoes and roll around. And music is playing as well. Another compromise between sports and dancing. And sometimes they play fun songs that you have to dance to really strangely. I went to a party like that once Ginny. One of her muggle friends had her birthday party there. It was rather fun."

Jameson laughed. "It's not rolly skitting, it's roller skating. And that is a genius idea! Tell your mum about that one too, Harry!"

Harry smiled. "This party is going to be great. Let's go see if we have any of those preserves left from a few years ago. I've been saving the last jar for a special occasion."

Jameson smirked and said, "Those were great times. Can't wait till we go to Hogwarts in September! Then we can fry bigger fish, if you know what I mean."

Harry snorted. "I believe it's catch, not fry."

Jameson looked affronted. "Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

Ron stepped in between them and yelled, "Guys, come on! It's not really important, let's go eat!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Always got your mind on your stomach, don't you Ron. Alright, let's go then."

On the night of July 31^st, the Potter Mansion was filled to the brim with parents, children, and others. All of the incoming first years were outside on the Quidditch Pitch, waiting for instructions as to how they were going to play this new and supposedly exciting game. Jameson was off boasting to a crowd of girls about the game he had come up with, saying that they were going to have a blast. He said to one girl, who in particular was very pretty, "I'll catch you if you fall, you know. What did you say your name was?"

The girl giggled with her friends and said, "My name is Lavender Brown. And I'm sure if you came up with the game, it will be a blast."

Jameson smirked and walked over to the next crowd, leaving the girls giggling among themselves. He was already a ladies' man at eleven. Just like his father.

Fifteen minutes later, everyone knew how they needed to play the new game. Brooms had been handed out to those who wanted to play, and everyone was in the air. "Alright, everyone, when the music starts playing, I'm going to need you to switch brooms with someone. Be sure to do the switch no more than three feet off the ground, because we don't want anyone getting hurt. Alright, here we go!" Sirius, the chaperone for this game, turned some music on. Immediately, kids who had been flying high up near the goal posts dove for the ground and switched with someone. Predictably, a girl named Susan Bones was out first. She looked as if she had never been on a broom before. Everyone laughed as they had a jolly good time, and soon, it was down to two people.

Both Jameson and Harry had proved to be rather good fliers at a young age. And they were the final combatants. The final round would be a little different than the first round, since obviously they would just switch with each other. So, there would be another broom on the ground, and they would have to race for it from opposite ends of the pitch. "Alright, you two, be careful. Your mothers will have my head if you get hurt. On your marks, get set...GO!"

Harry and Jameson took of at lightning speed from each side. It looked as if they were going to collide. And then, although it seemed as if they would get there at the same time, Harry's amazingly fast chaser broom gave him a little extra push towards the other broom, and he grabbed it and pulled up. Quickly, before Jameson could take the broom from him, he leapt onto it and shouted, "I win Jamie! HA!"

Jameson landed on the ground, having been only two feet from getting to the broom first. Grumbling, he walked over to Harry, who had landed, and shook his hand. "Nice job, mate. I'll get you next time, though, so you better watch out." And Harry knew he was right.

Later, when all of the first years had gathered into the second ballroom turned skate rink, they were being instructed on how to skate without falling down. There were charms on all of the skates to assist them. When the music started, and everyone began skating, the three boys quickly found someone to skate with. All the other boys began pairing off with girls as well. It seemed that the last boy left without a partner would be all alone, because the boys had gone into impress mode.

Harry found Ginny, and they linked arms and laughingly went around and around. Jameson skated off to find Parvati, as he had always had a little crush on her. Ron found Padma and started goofing off with her. They were enjoying being silly and playing small pranks on other children.

When the skate was almost over, a boy named Draco Malfoy asked Ginny to skate with him. She agreed and they went out into the middle of the rink. "So, Ginny, did you have a nice time skating with Saint Potter?"

Ginny looked confused and said, "Yes, actually, and why did you call him Saint Potter?"

Draco smirked. "Well, obviously because he thinks he is. Everyone loves the Potters, and it gets to their heads. Of course, my family used to be prominent, until my father got into a spot of trouble shortly after I was born."

Ginny scowled and unlinked her arm from his. "They don't think they're better than everyone else, but you do! I'm sorry, but I must go. Harry wants to skate with me again."

Draco looked dumbfounded. Why did people always think he was conceited? I mean, he obviously had reason to brag a little, he was Draco Malfoy. All he wanted was someone who understood him, and he obviously wasn't going to find that person in Ginny. She liked Potter too much.

The rest of the party went on satisfactorily, and around ten 'o' clock, kids started leaving. It had been a great way to meet all of his fellow students, and Harry had had a blast. When Harry was going to sleep, his Mum came in and asked him if he had had a good time

"Yeah, I really did mum. And do you know what? There's this kid named Seamus Finnigan who..."

"Harry, come now, it's late. You can tell me all about it tomorrow. We're going to Diagon Alley to get you school things. I've asked Molly to come with us, but she doesn't have time yet seeing as Charlie's wedding is in two weeks. She plans on going after he leaves for the honeymoon."

Harry smiled. Ginny and Ron were excited that Charlie was moving out of the house. It meant an extra room and then they wouldn't have to share anymore. It was rather hard on them, because they didn't get along well in enclosed spaces. Harry and Sirius had locked them in a room with a glass door together once, and the result had been rather funny. The siblings emerged with not a few scratches.

He was sad that Ginny couldn't go to school this year, but he supposed it would make Ron happy...well, those thoughts could wait for later. Right now he was tired. And he would be leaving for school in a month, so he had to get some rest before all the excitement began.