At ten thirty in the morning thousands of people walked through Kings Cross Station. In the midst of the crowd sat a boy,with tousled hair and slightly askew glasses,which was not an unusual sight at his time of the morning.
What was unusual was the large cart that sat next to him,piled high with trunks and on the corner was a grey cage holding a snow white owl. He was perched on a wooden bench under the sign for platform 9.
Had anyone stopped to notice they would've seen the slight squint of his eyes as he looked quizzically at his ticket. In bold print were the numbers 9 ¾.
Harry sighed and looked at the large clock that was mounted on the wall across from him. With each move of the second hand his anxiety mounted. What would happen if he missed the train? He would have to return the Dursleys,who had seemed far too eager at the prospect of Harry being gone for the next nine months.
Harry felt hot tears brimming in his eyes which he tried to wipe away quickly. If he had to return to the Dursleys he would at least return with dignity.
Suddenly the hoot of an owl brought his attention back to the station. Two benches over stood the pale boy from diagon alley and two others,which Harry assumed to be his parents. The hoot came from a large silver cage balanced on their cart where a beautiful owl perched,watching him.
The pale boy turned around,looking sharply at his owl as it hooted again. His eyes focused on Harry,who sheepishly waved and turned around feeling his cheeks flush.
A moment passed before Harry turned back to find the pale boy standing right beside him.
"You're the boy from diagon alley,aren't you? The pale boy squinted at Harry.
Harry looked behind the boys shoulder where he could see the boys parents whispering to each other. He watched until the Father caught his eye and stopped to give him what looked like a forced smile.
"Excuse me?"
Harry focused back in on the pale boy who had been following his gaze.
"Just ignore them,they weren't supposed to come with me this far but mum insisted on seeing me off."
"You're going on the train too?" Harry asked.
"Obviously,"the boy scoffed,"every Hogwarts student take the train."
"You..,"Harry looked around quickly to see if anyone was listening in,"you know about Hogwarts?"
The pale boy looked offended. "Every generation of Malfoy's have attended Hogwarts. Not to mention been sorted into slytherin. "
Harry looked at him with a blank expression. Malfoy gave him a confused look.
"Do you not know about the houses?"
"The what?" Harry replied,more confused than when he had first received his letter.
"The houses are a simple way.." Malfoy started before his father strode up behind him and cut him off.
"Draco it's time to go and place your trunks on the train."
Draco looked back at his mother,who nodded her head,before he moved towards his cart. "I'll tell you more about the houses on the train,"Draco flashed him a quick smile,"but now is the fun part. Run into that wall." Draco pointed to a nearby brick wall.
"What?" Harry spluttered,wondering if this boy wanted him dead."But we'll just smack into solid brick."
Draco laughed. "Let me show you." All at once he started sprinting forwards. Harry starting tensing up as the wall got closer and closer. Just as He was about to smash into it,Draco disappeared.
Harry gaped at the spot where Draco had just stood. A hand grasped his shoulder and Harry whipped around to see Draco's mother and father standing with his cart.
"It's your turn dear,"Draco's mother prodded her husband to give Harry his cart,which he did giving Harry another forced smile,"Draco will be right on the other side." She gave him a smile before her husband pulled her back into the crowd.
Harry took a deep breath,imagining the other side where Draco stood and his train to freedom was waiting. His feet started to move before his brain wall was becoming closer. Closer. Closer.
Impact.