1 – Three Go To King's Cross

Anne lay in bed, the morning sunlight streaming in. There were a whole two weeks left of the summer holidays, her brothers had gone fishing without her, and she had no reason to hurry. She was just thinking about breakfast, when suddenly there was an owl, a large one, flying around the bedroom! She had been expecting this, hoping for it, but it was still startling when it happened. It dropped something onto the bed, and was gone out of the window before she could do anything.

Moments later she was downstairs. "Mummy, my letter: it's finally come!"

Of course there was no doubt she would get one, as Julian told her at lunch. "Bravo, Anne," he said. "The first trip there is something to look forward to. You'll have a smashing time."

"Yes," said Anne, "George told me all about it. But, it isn't getting there that I'm worried about, it's being away from home so long: it's months until Christmas."

"Don't worry, Anne," said Mother. "I thought the same before I went for the first time. But I was so busy making new friends and doing new things that I never had time to be homesick. Not once."

"And because you get loads of work to do," said Dick. "Prep every night, even in the first term."

"Don't exaggerate," said Julian. "Lessons can be fun, well some of them anyway. Like learning to ride a broomstick: that was my favourite. I'm trying for the house Quidditch team this year."

"Julian's lucky," added Dick. "He'll be able to go to Hogsmeade. You and me, Anne, we'll be stuck in school."

Julian laughed. "That's true," he said. "I'm looking forward to going in Zonko's Joke Shop. And trying the butterbeer in the Three Broomstick's - they say it's even better than ginger-beer!"

The very next day Mother and Anne used the Floo network to get to Diagon Alley. Anne had been there before, of course, many times, but this time it was mainly to buy things for herself. First, they went to the famous Gringott's Bank, and Mother exchanged some of the Muggle money which Father earned for what she called 'proper money'. Anne was disappointed that they were not visiting the family vault, because the cart ride to the vault was better than anything in a Muggle fairground. But she cheered up when they arrived at a smart, newly painted shop, the world-renowned Ollivander's. "No other wand will do," said Mother. "I still use the Ollivander wand I got when I was your age."

A little bell on the door tinkled as they went in. The tiny shop was empty, then it wasn't: a tall thin man was there and he bowed to Mother. Mother said "Good afternoon, Mr Ollivander, my daughter has come for her first wand."

"Good afternoon, Madam. We equipped both your sons, and it will be my pleasure to provide the exact wand suited to your daughter."

Wand in hand, Anne left the shop feeling transformed: she was now truly a witch! They had lots more shopping to do, of course: school robes and a cauldron for herself, books for all three of them, and various bits and bobs besides. Most of the new books were for Julian, and looked impossibly difficult to Anne. "Don't bother your head about that," said her mother. "You're just not ready for them yet."

Home again, they found Julian and Dick waiting for them. Both groaned when they looked through the new school books their Mother had bought for them. Mother ignored this, she told them, "I only had to buy two new books for Anne. You can pass on to her some of your old year-one books."

Anne showed them her new wand. "I've waited so long to get this," she said, a gleam in her eyes.

"Do not use it yet," said Mother. "You know you must wait until you get to school: the Ministry is very hot on under-age magic."

When Mother was out of earshot Dick asked Anne what she thought of Mr Ollivander, the wand maker.

"Well, he was very polite, and he tried to be friendly, but he did seem …" she stopped, trying to think of the right word. "Odd," she said finally.

"Odd!" said Dick. "I think he is downright peculiar."

"Uncle Quentin says that all wand makers are like that," said Julian. "It's proverbial. Some people reckon that having all that magic around them affects their mind."

….

At the breakfast-table everyone was yawning; it was still dark it was so early. Today Julian, Dick and Anne were going to Hogwarts. Their things had been packed the day before ready for the early start."Father will drive us to the station in time for an early train to London," said Mother. "Then we will take a taxi to King's Cross."

"I wish we could use the Floo network," said Dick, his mouth full of shredded wheat."

"So do I," said his mother. "But it can't take your heavy trunks, you know that. And don't talk with your mouth full."

Father did not take them to the little, local station. Instead he drove them all the way to the mainline station in town. "This way," he said, "you don't have to change trains. The train will take you straight into Paddington - much easier for you all." He shook hands with Julian and Dick, which made them feel very grownup. Anne got a big hug and a going-away present, a wristwatch. "So you'll have no excuse for being late for lessons," he teased.

At Paddington station they still had to cross London to King's Cross station before eleven o'clock when the Hogwart's Express was due out. "I booked a taxicab in advance," said Mother. "We should get there with plenty of time to spare."

"There are four of us now," said Julian. "Won't we need two taxis to take all of us and three trunks?"

Mother laughed. "No, it's a Ministry-approved taxi, not a Muggle one."

The taxi was waiting for them, but it was not what any of them expected, it was horse-drawn with a goblin driver! "It's like something out of Sherlock Homes!" exclaimed Julian, who had had a book of Sherlock Holmes short stories for Christmas. Indeed, it did look very like the hansom cabs pictured in the book. It was definitely a magical cab, though, for all of their luggage fitted easily with plenty of room for more.

"Let's get aboard, 'the game's afoot'" said Julian excitedly. As it was a wizarding cab there was plenty of room inside, and all four of them were able to sit comfortably.

"King's Cross railway station, please, cabman," called Mother, and they set off into the London traffic. Then she asked Anne, "What time is it, dear?"

"Almost ten, Mummy."

"Then you should be there in plenty of time." However, fifteen minutes later they had only got as far as Chapel Street, for the horse went slower and slower.

A strange little voice said, "Go faster: train to catch at eleven o'clock." This startled everyone, and everybody looked around to see who was talking.

Anne squealed. "It was my watch!" she blurted. "I thought it was just a Muggle watch, but it's a real wizarding one! Hurray!" Then she realised what it had said. "Oh, Mummy, we're going to miss the train. What will we do then!"

Julian banged on the roof of the cab. "Go faster, we have a train to catch!" he yelled. The goblin cabby shook the reins and cracked his whip, but they continued at the same snail's pace. Dick banged too, and shouted even louder, but it made no difference.

Mother leant out of the window. She called out: "Goblin, if we miss the train I shan't pay the fare. That's the contract!"

The goblin shook the reins furiously and used his whip, but it was no use: the horse would go no faster than dead-march slow. The goblin climbed down from his high seat and peered in at them. "The horse is useless. I'm giving up with it." With that he was gone, abandoning them. Cab and horse stood still.

"I don't think I like that Goblin very much," said Anne.

"Nor do I," said Dick. "It was jolly mean of him, running off like that. Let's see what's the matter with his poor horse."

Anne was very fond of horses; she said, "We must make friends with it, ask it to hurry because we must catch the train." She got out of the hansom, and Julian and Dick followed. The children had grown up with horses and knew how to look after them. Anne knew how to make friends, so she went to talk to the horse and calm it down. Very soon it pricked up its ears and lost its wild-eyed look.

Meanwhile, the boys were looking it over; Dick had a penknife with a blade for removing stones from horses' hooves, and was always keen for a chance to use it. "Can you get him to walk forward, Anne," he called. She led the horse forward at a slow walk while Julian and Dick watched him carefully.

"There's something wrong with this front leg!" exclaimed Julian. With his help Dick raised the horse's hoof, and sure enough there was a sharp little stone there. The boys had it out in a jiffy!

"Try again, Anne," said Julian. They moved slowly forwards. "A bit faster," he called, then, "Run with him." Poor Anne: the horse started trotting so fast that she was nearly dragged along!

Julian knew the way - at least he thought he did - so he climbed up to the cabby's seat, ready to drive. Anne and Dick scrambled back into the hansom. Then they were off, and in no time they were trotting along the Marylebone Road. Anne looked at her watch: it was just after half-past ten, and even as she looked the dial turned from red back to white. They crossed Baker Street and then they were passing Madame Tussauds. "Well done, all of you," said Mother.

Ten minutes later they were on Euston Road and passing Euston railway station. Five minutes after that it was St Pancras station. "Julian," called Mother to her eldest, "Take the next left and we are there!"

But ahead of them there was one of those London traffic jams which even a magic taxi could not get through. They inched their way forward until Julian was able – to the relief of all – to turn out of the traffic and reach the station.

There was a witch ready to take the horse. Mother wanted to tell her all about the goblin cabby, but Anne was looking anxiously at her watch, which was now flashing an angry red. "Mother, we must hurry," she said. So the witch was paid with a little bag of Galleons, three trunks were loaded onto three trolleys, and off they charged for platform 9¾.

The Hogwarts Express was ready to depart, and on the platform there were crowds of parents and younger children ready to wave the passengers off. Among them was someone who Julian, in the lead, recognised. "Uncle Quentin!" he shouted.

"At last, my boy! We had given you up! Georgina and Timmy are already aboard. Quickly now, get aboard all of you." With help from Uncle Quentin, and some silent wand-work by Mother, the three children quickly stowed their luggage, and joined George and Timmy the dog in their compartment.

A whistle blew, there was a hiss of steam, and the Hogwarts Express began to move. Dick, still breathless, said, "Five together again, hurray!" A sentiment to which all agreed: a new term and proper wizarding adventures lay ahead of them. "Hurrah!"