A/N: Hello again; this is a drabble for the Waiting challenge at the LiveJournal community spoilmehbp. It's rather AU and silly. Enjoy, and constructive critisism is appreciated.
When Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny arrived at King's Cross station, an uproar began. People on all sides started cheering, egging them to get onto the platform. Moody and Mr. Weasley, the group's escorts, were trying vainly to carve a path through the sea of people, even as muggles Harry didn't know pressed closer to shake his hand.
"What's going on?" he asked Moody, who turned back to him, face blazing with suspicion.
"I don't rightly know yet, boy." the grizzled man replied, "I s'pose they heard somethin' and've come to take a look."
Moody moved his gaze over the small group in his care. "Don't any of yeh talk to 'em, and constant vigilance!"
Harry saw both Moody and Mr. Weasley surreptuously draw their wands as they approached the barrier. Hermione was holding both his and Ron's arms, with Ginny in front of them. She leaned over and whispered to him,
"I really don't like this. Let's get out of here as quickly as possible."
The quartet of Hogwarts students hurried through the crowd towards the platform. When they reached the barrier, the muggles closest started backing into a circle around both the group and the barrier. Moody muttered something to Mr. Weasley and they started quietly throwing Confundus charms at the nearest people. Ginny grabbed Ron's arm and watched nervously as chaos erupted around them.
A young American woman on her way to platform ten was unable to get through the throngs of cheering and yelling people. Stumbling into a stringy teenager, she apoligized profusely and asked what the fuss was.
"Well, miss, the minute that Harry Potter and his friends get on that train, Half-Blood Prince is set in motion, and we all get to read it. Surely you've heard of the Potter series?"
"Of course I have," the woman replied, but the rest of her response was drowned out by a wave of jubilation: the wizards had finally gone through the barrier.
When they were finally ensconced in an empty compartment, Ron voiced everyone's thoughts on the situation.
"What in the bloody hell was that?"
Hermione sighed. "I'm not sure, Ronald, but whatever it is, it's probably making that Rowling woman millions."