'Today's the day' I think to myself. I'm standing on platform nine and three quarters for the first time since I was going to Hogwarts myself. My husband is standing on my right side and all my children but one are playing tips along the edge of the train. My loyal best friend, Lauran is helping my oldest child, Zebedee, and hers, Sage, onto the train. Her husband is lifting a trunk and they're all laughing crazily at some joke he made.
My husband clutches my hand tightly and whispers comfort into my ear. I smile at him, then realise that I'm shivering. I stop at once and fall into the arms of my handsome husband. He grins wonkily at me and I smile back. 'He's prepared for it' he whispers into my ear. 'We've prepared him all that was possible and he's ready to begin his journey.' I remember now why I loved him in the first place. The whispers, the warm hugs and the quirky habits, though, his habits aren't as weird as Lauran's. I giggle as I think about my attraction to weirdness.
My youngest child pulls me out of my dreamlike state. "Mummy!" she shrieks, "Ralphie gave me a vomit-flavoured bean. It tastes yucky!"
"Oh, darling, I'm sure it was an accident!" Charlotte still looks upset so I say, "Ralphie, say sorry." He apologises and they continue playing. I look up when I realise that my beautiful husband is doubled over with laughter. "These kids!" he says. "Aren't they sweet?"
I stop laughing when I hear the train's whistle. I start worrying again and my husband pats my shoulder. "Time to say goodbye, sweetheart." I nod and wave goodbye to the children on the train, mine Lauran's and Rose's. I see Rose wipe tears from her face. I understand. After all, Rose's only son, Xander, is leaving. At least we'll all have our husbands to look after us. When the train pulls away, I wave until it is out of sight then turn to the wall and pick up two of my kids. My next oldest, April, walks hand in hand with my husband, asking him about his Hogwarts days. I hear him say, "Oh, they were the best of my life." And weren't they. My life really started at Hogwarts.
When we get home, I lie down on the couch, my head on my husband's lap. His dark hair brushes my cheek. My brain is still fuzzy and keeps bringing me back my memories of my first year of Hogwarts.