Author's Note:
Sorry that this is so short, but I'm a bit busy studying for my graduate test. The next chapter will be longer.
"Emma, wake up dear."
I opened my eyes expecting to see my mother standing there to wake me up. For a minute it was as if she were there. I could see her smiling down at me, her warm hazel eyes looking down at me full of love, her brown hair pulled back into her usual bun, the worry lines on her face. I wanted to reach out and touch her one last time, but there was no point. She wasn't there... Instead, I closed my eyes and opened them again and she was gone. Gone again.
I sat up and looked at the clock, ten o'clock. I preceded to make up the bed before putting on the clothes that I had set out the night before. I looked at my belongings already packed up because I had never bothered to unpack them knowing that I would just be leaving again. I walked up to the mirror and stare at the girl looking back at me. A girl of just fourteen, too young to lose one's mother. She was quite the reflection of her: same brown hair and olive complexion. Her hair wasn't natural, her mother had dyed it at a young age. Her eyes were also darker, a trait from her father he presumed. Of course she was younger, but her mother was still in there.
I moved away from the mirror and wiped away the tear that managed to fall. I grabbed my trunk and my wand placing it in my back pocket. Giving the room one last look, I left the room and headed downstairs. There I saw Tom, the landlord, cleaning around the pub. I gave him a small smile when he looked in my direction.
"Good morning there, Miss Emma!" Good to know someone was in such a good mood. If only the feeling was contagious. I gave him a small smile in return. "Good morning, Tom."
"Enjoy your stay, Miss Emma?"
"Indeed, thank you again Tom," I answered with a curt nod.
He nodded in return. "No problem, Miss Emma. Your cab is waiting for you outside, just as asked to take you to the train station. I think you'll find Hogwarts to be... magical."
"Magical, huh?" I thought. "Thanks again, I really appreciate you letting me stay."
"Of course Miss Emma," he said with a smile. "Enjoy your stay at Hogwarts."
I thanked Tom one last time and pulled my things outside where there was indeed a black cab waiting for me. After getting all of my things situated in the back, we headed off towards King's Cross Station.
I looked out of the window gazing at the London scenery. Although I was originally born in England and had just spent the last few days here, I never really got the chance to see it. From what I could tell it was a beautiful city. The architecture was beautiful, for so early in the morning it was quite busy, and the place was just bursting with culture. Still, even after my mother's death her warning still rang in my head.
"Emma, you musn't go out alone, okay sweetheart?" she told a 7 year old me one sunny afternoon. While she had been distracted I had gone outside to the park down the street and met a young girl that wanted to me my friend. I had told her about the experience and had asked if I could have tea with the girl and her family.
"Mama, why can't I?" I exclaimed. "It isn't fair! I want to make friends, I want to play. I want to have fun outside of a house. You never let me go outside."
"I know my love," she cooed pulling me into her arms. "And I'm so sorry. Just know that I'm doing it for your safety. I just want to protect you, because I love you sweetheart. Just trust mama, okay? No going out alone?"
She wiped off the tear that slipped from my eye. "Okay mama. I won't go."
I wiped the tear that managed to fall.
When we arrived at the station, the driver helped me get my things from the back and wished me a safe trip. I thanked him and made my way inside the train station. I looked down at the ticket Dumbledore had given me. I was to go to Platform 9¾. I walked by each platform and until I found nine and ten. No Platform 9¾. I looked at the clock, it was 10:50. I remember what Dumbledore had told me.
"The train leaves at 11 o'clock. No sooner and no later. It would be most inconvenient if you missed the train and the sorting ceremony," he warned. "Although, I think I do know two young boys who could possibly get you there... somewhat safely."
That Dumbledore was quite a strange man. Shaking that thought away, I only had ten minutes to find this bloody platform. I was absolutely certain that it would have to be here between the two. I looked around for someone to ask and I found a conductor.
"Excuse me?" I asked. He turned towards me and gave me a friendly smile. "How can I help, miss?"
"I'm having a bit of trouble. I'm looking for Platform 9¾." His eyes widened as if in shock.
"I guess you would be having trouble seeing as this 'Platform 9¾' does not exist," he bit back. With that he turned on his heel and walked of leaving me alone and confused. I could have sworn that I heard him mumble, "Not this again" and "Children these days." How rude...
I sighed in frustration and looked at the clock again. 10:54.
"This is ridiculous!" I exclaimed getting more and more frustrated by the second. What in the hell was Dumbledore talking about? Certainly there must be special instructions but of course he couldn't happen to mention that bit.
"Erm, is everything okay?"
I turned around and saw a boy looking at me with concern. He was a tad bit taller than myself, a bit chubby but lanky. He had somewhat curly, unruly hair and a crooked teeth. He seemed to be a bit awkward. It was almost as if he were uncomfortable in his own body. "Yeah, uh, I'm just looking for this platform, here." I motioned toward the ticket in my hand. He gave a little nod as if he understood why I was so frustrated.
"Hogwarts Express, I'm on my way there now actually," he said.
"Oh great, thank you...?"
"Neville, Neville Longbottom," he answered reaching out his hand. I shook it. "Emma, Emma Mason."
He led me a feet away from where I had been standing between the two platforms. "Just do what I do, okay?"
Next thing I knew, he was running towards the platform at full speed and just when I thought he was going to hit it and fall to the ground making an utter fool of himself, he disappeared! How strange... The platform was between Platform 9 and 10... just now how I thought. Great! I was supposed to run into a brick wall, there was nothing strange about that. I looked up at the clock again, 10:57. I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath of air. It was now or never. I held on tightly to my belongings and ran towards the platform. Just when I thought I was going to make impact with the wall, I never found it. I heard a loud whistle and I opened my eyes to see Neville standing across from me.
"Wow" I said surprised. I was still in one piece. He smiled a toothy smile and walked off towards the train. The train! It was then that I noticed the big scarlet train that read Hogwarts Express towards the front. There were kids and teenagers running onto the train as they waved to their families goodbye. Family. I had no one to say goodbye to, to hug, to tell that I would write frequently. No one.
Not wanting to cry again, I grabbed my trunk and followed Neville onto the train.