A place to call home - part one: A Magical Journey


Emma Swan was standing on platform 9 of kings cross station and didn't know what to do. She stopped a passing guard, but didn't dare mention platform nine and three-quarters. The guard had never heard of Hogwarts and when Emma couldn't even tell him what part of the country it was in, he started to get annoyed, as though Emma was being stupid on purpose. Getting desperate, she asked for the train that left at eleven o'clock, but the guard said there wasn't one. In the end the guard strode away, muttering about time wasters. Emma was now trying very hard not to panic, her she was, stranded in the middle of a station with a trunk she could hardly lift.
That nice witch who came to the orphanage to tell her about Hogwarts must have forgotten to tell her something you had to do in order to reach the platform, like tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley. She wondered if she should get out her wand and start tapping the ticket inspector's stand between platforms nine and ten. Maybe it would then magically open.

At that moment a group of people passed just behind her and she caught a few words of what they were saying.

"— packed with Muggles, of course —"
Muggles? Wasn't that the word wizards used to describe normal people? Emma turned around swiftly. The speaker was a man with red hair, a long nose and freckles all over his face. He was talking to another man, who had unruly black hair and round rimmed glasses. Walking behind them were two women and a couple of kids, one of which was pushing a trunk just like Emma's in front of him – and he had an owl.

Perhaps they could tell her how to get to the right platform. Emma pushed her cart after them, only stopping when they did so too. One of the women grabbed the hand of the smallest girl and together they marched towards the barrier between platform nine and ten, suddenly a large swarm of tourists blocked them out and when the last backpack cleared away, both the woman and the girl had vanished into thin air. How did they do that?

Emma gathered up her courage and approached the group, it was now or never. "Ühm. E- Excuse me," she said to the small woman with the red hair.

"Hello, dear," the woman replied. "First time to Hogwarts? My son James is new, too." She pointed at the boy with the trunk. He was not as tall as most boys she knew, and had unruly black hair, much like the man who she presumed was his father.

"Yes," said Emma. "The thing is, I-I don't know how to…"

"How to get onto the platform?" The man with the black hair responded kindly, exchanging a look with his wife. Emma nodded. "I know exactly how you feel right now, believe me. But, not to worry," he said. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now before James."

"Uhm… okay," said Emma. She pushed her trolley around and stared at the barrier. It looked very solid. She started to walk toward it. People bumped into her on their way to platforms nine and ten. Emma walked more quickly. She was going to smash right into that barrier and then she'd be in big trouble, leaning forward on her cart, she broke into a heavy run. The barrier was coming nearer and nearer, she wouldn't be able to stop, the cart was out of control. She was a foot away, she closed her eyes ready for the crash. But, it didn't come . . . she kept on running, and then finally opened her eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Emma looked behind her and saw a solid looking fence where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. She had done it.

Emma looked around in amazement, the platform was packed with people, cats were meowing, owls hooted to one another and then there was the distinct sound of the scraping of heavy trunks. Emma pushed her cart down the platform in search of an empty seat. The first few carriages were already packed with students, but near the end of the train she finally found an empty compartment. She started to lift her trunk up the steps, but as it was quite heavy, she was barely able to lift it up the steps.

"Need some help, lass?" she heard a someone say. Emma turned around and saw a boy looking at her.

"Yes, please." Emma replied.

"Oi, Liam lend me a hand!" The boy said to another, older, boy, whom she presumed to be his brother. With the help of the boys, Emma finally managed to get her trunk in one of the empty compartments.

"Thanks." Emma said gratefully.

"No problem." The older boy replied. "I'm Liam Jones by the way. And that imp there is my little brother Killian." He said pointing towards the younger boy, earning him a glare and a playful shove against his shoulder.

Emma chuckled at their antics. "I'm Emma. Emma Swan."

"Well Emma," Liam said shaking her hand. "It was nice to meet you, sadly I have to go now, prefect duties you know, but I think Killian can keep you company for now, right brother?"

Killian nodded and smiled at Emma. "Sure, if that's okay with you, Emma?"

Emma smiled back and shrugged her shoulders. "Well seeing as there is no one else in this compartment, sure."

"Okay, that is settled then!" Liam said jovially. "I'll see you two after the sorting ceremony. And remember Killi, make sure you don't get sorted into Slytherin, because then I would have to dishonour you." He added with a wink.

Killian just rolled his eyes in response and shoved his brother out of the compartment, he turned around and took a seat across from Emma, looking at her expectantly. When she didn't start a conversation he spoke up. "So, you're a first year too right?"

Instead of responding, Emma just nodded, everything was still a bit overwhelming for her.

"Me too." Killian said. "I can't wait to get started with the classes! Especially charms, but I'm dreading potions a bit, because it supposedly is very difficult? What house do you hope you get sorted in? I'm hoping for Gryffindor, because that is the house of my brother, who is in his fifth year…"

The boy kept babbling away, but Emma wasn't really listening. She was staring out the window, as the train pulled out of the station, slowly gathering up speed. Emma felt excitement bubbling in the pit of her stomach, she didn't know exactly what she was going to do – as it all was still a bit surreal – but it had to be better than what she was leaving behind.

"Emma? Emma, are you there?" Emma was pulled out of her reverie when she heard her name.

Killian was looking at her with a questioning glance. "I asked you what house you hope to get sorted into?"

"Oh, well I don't know any of the houses really." Emma said sheepishly, wondering if she should have known this.

"oh, that's okay." Killian said with a friendly smile. "I guess you've grown up in the muggle world then? Me too, and I didn't know anything about Hogwarts either, until my brother first got his letter and went there."

Before Emma could reply, the door of the compartment slid open again and the boy from the platform – Wasn't his name James? Emma thought – came in. "Anyone sitting here?" he asked, pointing at the empty seat next to Killian. "Everywhere else is full."

Emma shook her head and the boy sat down. "You're first years also right?" He asked looking at both Emma and Killian. "I'm James. James Potter. Who are you?"

"Emma swan." Emma said, shaking James' outstretched hand.

"And I'm Killian Jones." Killian said.

"Nice to meet you." James said with a friendly smile. "Are you guys as excited to start Hogwarts as I am? Although I must say that I am a bit nervous for the sorting ceremony. What house do you hope you get in? I'm hoping for Gryffindor, because my whole family has been in Gryffindor. Although I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin… I think my dad would seriously dishonour me.." he said with a thoughtful look.

"I'm hoping for Gryffindor too." Killian said. "Just like my brother."

"And you?" James asked, looking at Emma expectantly.

"I don't know." Emma said, shrugging her shoulders. "All this magic stuff is really new to me and I don't really know anything about any of these houses, yet. But I suppose Gryffindor sounds nice?"

"It would be awesome if we all got sorted into Gryffindor," James said with a smile. "It's the best house after all."

Their conversation carried on, as they discussed what the sorting ceremony would consist of and what classes they were most excited about. Around noon there was a clattering in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said. "Anything of the trolley, dears?" James leapt to his feet and bought some of everything. Emma looked at him wide eyed. "Hungry, are you?" she asked him as he took a large bite out of a pumpkin pasty.

"Starving." He answered with his mouth full. "Want some too?"

"Sure, thanks." Emma said grateful, as she was not really looking forward to eating the dry sandwiches she got from the orphanage. "What are these?" She asked James, picking up a pack of Chocolate Frogs. "They're not really frogs are they?" Although she was starting to feel that nothing would surprise her anymore.

James and Killian chuckled upon seeing the expression on her face.

"No." Killian said. "They're made of chocolate, Liam used to send them to me. But see what the card is."

"What?"

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know – chocolate frogs have cards inside them, you know, to collect – of famous witches and wizards."

Emma unwrapped her chocolate frog and picked up the card. It showed a man's face. He had unruly black hair, piercing green eyes and he wore round glasses. Underneath the picture was the name Harry Potter. Suddenly Emma remembered the man that helped her get to platform nine and three-quarters, he looked exactly like him and then it clicked, This is James' dad!

Eyes wide Emma turned to James. "Why is your dad on a chocolate frog card?" she asked.

James merely groaned and slumped down in his seat. "It's always the same when they learn who my dad is.." he muttered to himself, before turning towards Emma. "Yeah, I guess my dad is kind of famous, just turn around the card and see for yourself."

Emma turned the card over and read out loud:

HARRY POTTER
currently head of the auror department.

The first and only known wizard to survive the Killing Curse, earning the title "The Boy Who Lived." Youngest Quidditch player in the last century after gaining the spot of Seeker in the Gryffindor Quidditch Team in his first year at Hogwarts in 1991. Also known for having found Salazar Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets and defeating the monster within, which was a basilisk, in his second year at Hogwarts. Only known Gryffindor student able to speak Parseltongue. Youngest competitor of the Triwizard Tournament and winner of said Tournament at the age of 14 in 1995. Most famous for the defeat of the most dangerous dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort, in 1998 and his work and revolutionisation of the Ministry of Magic.

She turned the card back over, and looked at the man who gave her a small smile. "That's.. wow.." she managed to get out, looking back at James.

"yeah, I know right.. My dad is this big saviour, and in a way it's pretty cool I guess." He said looking down. "But sometimes it's also hard you know. Being the son of the great Harry Potter, people will expect great things of me, and I don't know if I'm capable of that. I don't want to be treated differently. I just want to be me, James Potter."

Emma and Killian were silent for a bit, because that was quite a burden to bear, but then Killian put a hand on James' shoulder. "Well, mate. Then it's a good thing that neither of us had heard of your dad before, as we both come from the muggle world. So to us you are just James Potter."

This seemed to lift James' spirit a bit, and he managed a small smile. "Thanks guys."

The next few hours they entertained themselves by trying Bertie Botts' Every Flavour Beans, and Emma soon found out that Every Flavour truly meant Every Flavour, as she encountered a bean which turned out to be spinach flavoured.

"What's your favourite Quidditch team?" James suddenly asked.

"Uhm – I don't know any?" Emma confessed.

"What?" James exclaimed, placing a hand on his heart in a very dramatic manner, he turned to Killian. "You sure do have a favourite team right?"

Killian chuckled. "Mate, I live with muggles too, I only know the Gryffindor team because my brother is the captain."

"But.. But…" James said dumbfounded. "Oh alright, I'll explain. You see, Quidditch is the best game in the world –" and then he started to explain the game to the both of them – or mostly to Emma, as Killian did in fact know how it was played. He explained what the basic rules were, and told her about the four balls it involved – with the snitch being the most important one – then he told her about the positions of the seven players. He also described some famous games he had been too, because – as it turned out – his mum had been a famous Quidditch player before becoming a Senior Quidditch correspondent for the Daily Prophet. He was just describing the broomstick he had at home and how he wished he was allowed to take it with him to Hogwarts, when they noticed the train slowing down.

The three of them quickly changed into their school robes. A voice echoed through the train informing them that they would be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time, reminding them that they could leave the luggage on the train, because it would be taken to the school separately.

When the train came to a halt, Emma was feeling very nervous all of a sudden and as she looked to her travel companions, she could see that they were too looking very pale. They joined the rest of the students out of the train, onto a tiny, dark platform.

Emma was looking around, not quite sure what way to go, when she saw someone holding a lantern, calling out for the first years.

"Firs' Years! Firs' Years over here!" the man called, Emma was looking at him with her mouth slightly open. Because he was huge, this man was bigger than anyone she had ever seen. And apparently Killian was thinking the same, as he had stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted the man.

"Hagrid!" James shouted out excitedly, waving at the man.

"Hiya there, James! Everything all right there?" The man – Hagrid – called back, before motioning to the students to follow him. "Firs' years follow me!"

Emma and Killian looked at each other dumbfounded, before looking at James.

"You know this guy?" Emma asked in awe.

"Of course, that's Hagrid." James answered. "He is the keeper of the keys and the grounds here at Hogwarts, and he teaches Care of Magical Creatures. He is an old family friend, and, as a matter of fact, he is also my godfather."

"But he is so- so huge. He must be a giant or something?" Killian asked, half-jokingly.

"Half giant, actually." James chuckled, taking both Killian and Emma by surprise.

"Bloody hell." Killian muttered wide eyed, while Emma was just rendered speechless. She was now entirely sure, that there was indeed nothing that should surprise her anymore.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder. "Jus' round this bend here."

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the each of a great black lake, and across from that lake, perched on top of a high mountain was a huge castle, with many turrets and towers. There it was, Hogwarts. A loud 'ooooooh' sounded through the crowd of first years.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing towards a collection of small boats at the edge of the lake. Emma, Killian and James were joined by a girl with gentle features and a pixie cut, who introduced herself as Mary Margaret Blanchard.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid asked, having a boat for himself. "Right then – forward!"

The boats glided across the lake, everybody was silent, just staring up at the magnificent castle ahead of them. When they neared the cliff on which the castle stood, Hagrid shouted to 'Keep their heads down.' The boats carried them through a curtain of ivy, which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. The went through a dark tunnel, which seemed to take them underneath the castle, and arrived at some kind of underground harbour.

They all got out of the boats and climbed up a passageway, following Hagrid and his lantern, coming out of at last onto smooth, damp grass in the shadow of the castle. The walked up a couple of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak, front door.
"Everyone here? Are you ready?" Hagrid asked, and then he raised his giant fist and knocked three times on the front door.

TBC


Okay, so that happened... I came up with this idea after rewatching 'harry potter and the philosopher stone' and this was only supposed to be a little drabble about Emma Swan going to hogwarts for the first time, not knowing how to get to platform nine and three-quarters and then this nice wizarding family would help her. But my muse decided to go in overdrive, and I just had to keep writing. I decided to split it up, so ths is part one of, I think, a three/four part story.

Anyways, I hope you liked it, and as usual reviews are very much appreciated (They make my day) :)

Love, Judith