The train began to slow down as it approached King's Cross Station in London. After an hour or so of staring into space I finally came to my senses.
It had been a lonely journey from Edinburgh, especially when I hadn't even intended on coming down to London by train, my mother was going to give me a lift. Sadly the night before she had come home drunk out of her skull. At about three o'clock in the morning I had heard her shatter and knock over various objects in the lounge. When my alarm went off at 6am I found her sprawled over the couch, completely out of it. After showering and dressing I double checked I had everything packed in my trunk. Albert, my Tawny owl hooted sleepily I as eased him off his perch and into his cage. Finally I left my mother a note.
Mother -
Clearly you are in no state to drive me down to London so I am taking the train. I'll write to you after dinner. There's plenty of instant coffee in the cupboard for the headache. Be sure you eat today. I've taken some money from the jar for the bus and a train ticket.
All my love - Romilda
And so I got an early bus to the Train Station in Edinburgh. After purchasing a ticket to King's Cross I fished out some leftover money from my pocket and bought a bagel for a quick breakfast.
It was a dreary day. I sat down on a bench on the platform and began to eat my small breakfast. I tried to look inconspicuous but Albert wouldn't allow that and flapped his wings manically every time someone walked past. When the train finally came in I wasn't in the best of moods. Only one thing was keeping me happy - I was going back to Hogwarts.
I didn't have my iPod with me on the train. What use would it be once I got back to school? There's too much magic in the air for mere muggle technology to fully function. When the train pulled into the station I was anxious to get out and break through the barrier to platform nine and three-quarters.
I hopped off the train in excitement. Well I would of if I didn't have to drag off a heavy trunk and a bird cage. I caught sight of some trolleys against the wall and heaved my trunk over to them. I plonked the trunk and Albert's cage on the nearest and wheeled it round. Glancing at my watch I saw it was 11.50. I began to head to platforms nine and ten. On the way a large family of red-heads overtook me. All of them, excluding the adults, were pushing their own trolleys with trunks on them. Amongst them a boy of about my age was talking to a tall red-head boy. He was the only one without red hair. His hair was dark, he wore round glasses and had a thin scar upon his forehead in the shape of a lightning bolt. The tall red-head's name was Ron Weasley, the other was his best friend the famous Harry Potter, both walking with the Weasley family.
I felt the colour rise to my cheeks slightly. I happened to have a crush on Harry, a crush I'd had since I'd started Hogwarts. He also happened to be way out of my league. He'd survived You Know Who's attack as a baby, the dark wizard was reduced to something barely alive. In the past he'd defeated a giant snake, a dragon, got through many magically taxing tasks in the world famous tri-wizard tournament, seen You Know Who return to power and fought him last year at the Ministry of Magic. He was also a year older than me which didn't help.
I kept my head down and pushed my trolley at a steady pace behind the Weasleys and Harry. They approached the barrier between platforms nine and ten and - very casually so passing muggles wouldn't notice - disappeared through the barrier. Once the whole family was through I took a deep breath. The moment I was through the barrier I would no longer be little Romilda who's shattered family suppresses her, no longer the girl who would prowl around her dodgy neighbourhood to pass the painfully slow time in the school holidays. No I would be the brave, bold Romlilda Vane who is always surrounded by her girlfriends, who will always lead people, who faces every problem with a steely look in my eye. It was a big step but to me that barrier was like a barrier into a different world. And surely I can be a different person in a different world.
I started off at a walk, looking out for passing muggles. The walk became a trot and, a few metres from the barrier I broke into a run.
My first fanfic people. Let me know what you think!