Harry walked the platform of King's Cross Station, bewildered at how he was supposed to find Platform 9 and 3/4, it did not make sense! Harry wondered around for a couple minutes, trying to find something that looked distinctly wizardly, but found nothing out of the ordinary. In between Platforms 9 and 10, he had stopped and looked for a bobby to ask for directions when he curiously noticed a young boy with hunched shoulders and brown hair, and an eccentric older woman wearing a hat with a pheasant on the top, strangely stopping in front one of the pillars between Platforms 9 and 10.

"Now, Neville," Harry heard the old woman say in a gentle, but no-nonsense tone, "don't be frightened of the barrier, never once in all of my experience has it ever failed. Just run at it quickly and remember to open your eyes so that you don't run into anyone. Go on, dear, I'll be right behind you." With a gentle shove on the small of his back, the woman propelled the boy into movement, and he went jogging towards the wall, head-on. Harry froze and made a strangled noise as he witnessed the boys impending doom, but to his shock, he saw the boy slide effortlessly into the wall and out of sight.

The woman must have heard him and sensed he was a wizard because as she saw him, she called, "Where are your parents? Do you need help getting across the barrier, dearie?"

The woman's voice jarred him from his frozen state and he answered lamely, "Umm… I'm trying to get to Hogwarts…?" The last word came out hesitant, unsure as to what the woman was alluding to.

"Well, of course you are!" The woman walked towards him, "What is your name, love?"

Harry answered shyly, "Harry Potter, ma'am. My parents aren't…" He trailed off not knowing how to answer and looked down at his feet. If Harry had looked up at the woman, he would have seen her face soften, eyes misting softly.

"It certainly is wonderful to finally meet you, Mr. Potter. I knew your father as a young boy, you look much like him. My name is Augusta Longbottom." Mrs. Longbottom placed her hand out for Harry to shake, when she saw his head shoot up with disbelieving eyes.

"You knew my dad?" Harry's voice was full of wonder and desire.

"I did, indeed, quite the charming young fellow, but now is not the time to reminisce. We must be getting you on the train, my boy." Mrs. Longbottom put her hand on young Harry's back, noticing but not commenting on the slight flinch he made when she touched him. "Where are your guardians?"

Harry looked down with flaming cheeks, "They couldn't be here today. They dropped me off at the entrance, ma'am."

"And no one from the school came to escort you?"

"No, ma'am. Hagrid took me to get my things, but he had to leave, too."

Augusta looked down, aghast at thought that Dumbledore sent Hagrid to care for the boy, instead of an actual teacher, when it was obvious that the boy was raised by Muggles. She quickly put the thought away for another time and lead Harry to stand directly in front of the barrier.

"Now, all you have to do is run straight at the wall, Mr. Potter. It is not a real wall, only enchanted to look that way, to not raise suspicion in the Muggles. Once you go through, quickly move out of the way and do your best not to hit anyone."

Harry's eyes widened, and he looked at Mrs. Longbottom with trepidation, "What happens if the barrier doesn't let me through?"

Mrs. Longbottom looked down at Harry and smiled gently, "The barrier has never failed to allow a witch or wizard entrance in all of its existence. Simply run at the wall, my dear."

It was obvious that Harry did not believe her, but he took a deep breath, steeled his shoulders and started a brisk jog towards the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut just as his trolley made it to the wall, bracing for impact. When he was not meet with resistance, he opened his eyes and was met with a wondrous, breathtaking sight. A new platform materialized in front of him, people in robes milling about, and a huge, red, gleaming train in front of him. Harry looked around in disbelief at the magical sight. At the last second, he remembered Mrs. Longbottom's voice telling him to move out of the barriers path. Just as he had moved towards the boy Mrs. Longbottom was directing earlier, out came the lady in question.

The boy next to Harry exclaimed, "Gran! What took you so long?"

Mrs. Longbottom walked gracefully towards the pair and gestured towards Harry, "I had to help young Mr. Potter here across the barrier." Mrs. Longbottom looked at Harry and put a hand on the other boy's shoulder. "Mr. Potter, meet my grandson, Neville Longbottom. Neville, this is Harry."

Neville's eyes widened, and he put his hand out, awestruck at meeting the Harry Potter, "Hi! It's nice to meet you."

Harry blushed and nodded, "It's nice to meet you, too." placing his hand in Neville's. After Neville released his hand, Harry looked at the ground with blushing cheeks and a slightly puzzled looked on his face, not used to people being so polite to him.

Mrs. Longbottom watched to two eleven-year-olds with a slight smile. "Alright boys," she looked at the large clock on the Platform wall, "it's almost 10:30, time to get on the train." She watched as her grandson looked at Harry and seemed to understand that he was not what the Daily Prophet spouted about the fabled Boy-Who-Lived. Neville looked at Harry and squared his shoulders and decided to become friends with the painfully shy boy.

Neville started pushing his trolley towards the train, looking back at Harry expectantly. "Would you like to sit together, Harry? It might be nice to sit with a friend!"

Mrs. Longbottom's suspicions were further raised when she saw Harry's eyes open widely and he gasped, "You want to be my friend? I have never had a real friend before"

Harry blushed furiously as he seemed to realize what he said, and once again, he lowered his gaze and pulled his trolley in front of him protectively. Almost as if he expected to be punished for his forwardness.

Neville nodded slowly then smiled reassuringly at Harry, "Of course I want to be your friend! It wouldn't be any fun to ride all the way to Hogwarts by myself!"

Harry looked up shyly and smiled shakily, "I would like to sit with you, too." Harry's eyes dropped back down to the floor, and he missed the meaningful glance passed between grandmother and grandson; Neville would look after Harry.

"Well, you two go on ahead and get a good seat on the train." Mrs. Longbottom hugged Neville tightly, "Now, be a good boy, Neville, and don't forget to write! I want at least one letter a week." As they parted, she swept her fingers across her cheek and softly smiled at him. "I'm so proud of you, Neville, and I know your parents would be, too. I love you."

Neville's eyes widened and watered slightly, and he whispered, "Thanks, Gran. I love you, too." He hugged her tightly again before walking towards the train.

Harry stood awkwardly to the side during this exchange, not sure what to do. He started walking toward the train, when he was pulled softly into a warm embrace by Mrs. Longbottom. He tensed slightly, arms stiff at his side.

"It was lovely to meet you, dear. Your parents would be so proud to see you off to Hogwarts. If you ever want to hear more about them, don't hesitate to write. Now, be safe!" Mrs. Longbottom released Harry from her arms and gently pushed him towards the train entrance.

Harry looked back, smiling uncertainly, "Thank you, Mrs. Longbottom. It was really nice to meet you, too." Harry turned back and walked towards Neville, who was currently pulling his trunk into the train cars.

"Come on, Harry! Let's go and get a good seat!"

Harry stood up straighter and climbed onto the steps of the train, "I'm coming!"

Mrs. Longbottom smiled at the two boys and went to sit on a bench, to wait for the train to depart before leaving. Mrs. Longbottom began to think over the strange and concerning reactions of the young Potter boy. Something was not right in that situation and she was going to figure out what.