Disclaimer: Don't own and never will.
AN: Written for the Epilogue challenge by HarmonyHub.
AN2: Set in the same universe as my fanfic Houses Four.
It was the first of September and Cho Chang-Lin was once more at Platform nine and three quarters.
As the steam from the train swirled and billowed to form thick clouds, Cho smiled to herself. Memories of times that seemed so far away assailed her as she stood and surveyed the scene before her.
The vapour was dense and many of the figures indistinct. Somewhere nearby she could hear some officious busybody talking about broomstick regulations or something to that effect.
It had been around twenty seven years to the day that she herself had stood on this very platform, staring up in awe at the scarlet train in front of her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked her daughter, who said nothing. Like her mother had done so many years ago, she stared at the train. Unlike her mother, her face was pale and she looked nothing short of terrified. Gently, she guided her daughter Mei to the train, their trolley rolling in front of them until they came to one of the doors onto the train.
"Just remember, your father and I are only an owl away if you need us. And there are prefects and teachers if you need help," she said as she helped put her case aboard the train. Mei merely nodded, but she still looked terrified.
"What if I'm not in Ravenclaw?" she whispered so quietly Cho almost thought she hadn't spoken. "What if nobody likes me or-"
"It doesn't matter what house you're in," Cho said quickly before Mei could worry herself further. "You could be in Slytherin for all I care. And wherever you go, I'm sure you'll find friends amongst like minded people," she paused for a moment as her mind flew back to her wartime experiences. "The Sorting Hat knows what it's doing. And why wouldn't anyone like a nice girl like you? Remember most of your classmates have the same worries as you," she paused and looked over at the Malfoy's son getting on board. "Some of them have even more."
Mei looked unconvinced and Cho looked her daughter in the eye.
"We'll write to you. Every day if you like," she said and Mei smiled slightly. "Besides which, I'm sure you'll be having too much fun with all your new friends."
Mei opened her mouth to say something else, only to suddenly be unable to speak and she hugged her mother. Cho hugged her back, a tightly reassuring comfort that seemed to work wonders for Mei as her tension momentarily slid away.
The whistle blew and the train slowly began pulling away, Cho waving constantly to her daughter until the train vanished from sight.