I fiddled with my seatbelt as my mother drove me back to set. She was talking to me about something or other concerning the movie and the editing process.
I looked out the window to see the streets of London, King's Cross Station was a ways away and Chris had wanted me there early just so I could meet Alan Rickman. I was nervous as my mother pulled into the carpark and opened the door.
"Remember Tommy," she cooed, holding the door out for me as I stepped out, self-conscious. "Be careful with that hair, wear your hat." I caught a glimpse of my face in the windows as I walked and shuddered. I forgot often that my hair was no longer the brunette that I had been born with; it made me look like a whole new person.
Then we caught sight of the entrance to the station and my mother grabbed my hand and began dragging me along. Her heels clicked on the asphalt loudly as she rushed me. "Come on Tom, we're going to be late!" she said impatiently. I quickened my pace before colliding painfully with a trolley, knocking me flat on my bum.
"Hey!" I protested, looking up to gasp at the contents of the trolley.
The girl pushing it had brown bushy hair and rather large front teeth. She looked at him, shocked. "Oh my! I'm so sorry about that!" she cried, stooping to help him up. My mother was dusting me off and turned to complain to the man who was apparently in charge of the girl.
"It's okay, really." I stated, looking again at the trolley. There was a single, large trunk. "Where are you going?" he asked. The question took the girl by surprise and she shrugged shyly.
"Well, you know…" and then she tugged on the man's sleeve and he thrust some money into his mother's hands to pacify her and followed the girl away. I was puzzled, she hadn't told me where she was going at all….
"Tom!" a voice shouted and I turned with my mother to see the director, Chris, waving his clipboard at us with a smile. "Oi! I was worried you would never get here." He sighed. I smiled, a blush on my cheeks.
Emma and Daniel were chatting, already made up for shooting. Rupert was playing with a yo-yo, sitting in his chair. He looked up and cast a friendly grin at me, and I returned it in earnest. A hand on my shoulder made me turn to see Chris looking down on me, a man standing behind him.
"Mr. Felton," the director teased. "I have to introduce you to Mr. Rickman." I stared up in awe at the man who was possible one of the most famed in Britain. He smiled down and offered his hand to me.
"Pleased to meet you Tom, you can call me Alan though." He stated cordially. I nodded and my mother then snagged his attention, beginning to speak with him in fast, excited tones.
Movement caught my eye and I turned to see that same girl with her trolley and that man, they stopped in front of a wall, and she started running to it. I blinked and when I opened my eyes again, both were gone. "Hey, hey mum!" I said, running to her, she ignored me, continuing to talk to Alan.
I then turned to see Ms. Rowling looking in the same direction I had just been watching the progress of the girl, she noticed me watching and bent down to look at me, a smile on her face. "Remember Tom, behind every story is a grain of truth." And she got up to stand next to the director.
"Alright people! Let's get ready to shoot!" Chris called, effectively ending my train of thought.