Galileo was pecking me again. "What do you want?" I groaned, turning over onto my stomach and burying my head under my sleeping bag. Then I woke up with a start. Pushing my knotted hair out of my face, I checked my watch. 9:47! Oh no! I only have slightly over an hour to get to kings cross station and I don't even know where platform 9 3/4 is! I rushed about my small area in the theatre, rolling up my sleeping bag, getting Galileo into his cage, brushing my teeth, combing my hair, clearing my space so the next person who inhabits it won't have to, putting on a clean set of clothes, grabbing my school bag and finally wheeling my tattered green trunk out the back entrance. Thank heavens I packed the night before. It's probably why I woke up so late. I spent hours going over my checklist to see if I had everything. And then even when I tried to sleep, I couldn't to all of the excitement building up in me. I probably could've ran a marathon because of all that energy.
As soon as the bus came round the corner, I hopped on. The driver gave me the oddest look when he saw that I was carrying an owl. I gave him a dark look, one that said "if you say anything, I will scream so loud, from that point on you'll be deaf." and sat in the empty seat behind him.
Stepping off the bus, I ran towards the entryway, my train ticket fluttering in one hand and Galileo and my trunk rolling along the pavement in the other. I searched for the platforms. I saw a sign pointing me in the direction of Platforms 9 and 10. "It must be between those two," I said to myself. I looked down at my watch. 10 minutes. I can do this. I started running again pushing my way through thick crowds of people. The distance between me and platform 9 grew smaller and smaller. I was panting, sweat made my hands slick, making it increasingly more difficult to keep a tight grip on my trunk and Galileo. I stopped running at Platform 9 to catch my breath, also knowing that Platform 9 3/4 would be just a little ways down. I walked briskly past the platform toward Platform 10, all the while looking for a sign that read Platform 9 3/4. But then I saw the sign for Platform 10. No that's not possible, I thought. I walked back in the direction of Platform 9. Still no sign. I paced between Platforms 9 and 10 five more times.
Finally giving up I leaned on an archway and sliding my back against the wall until I was sitting on the ground. I looked at my watch. 3 minutes. I'll never make it. There goes those dreams, I thought. But then something most peculiar happened; the wall behind me suddenly gave way. I screamed and caught myself by instinctively holding my hands out in back of me. Looking in front of me I saw that only half of myself and my trunk were present. Galileo's cage had rolled to the side and he was now flapping uncontrollably. The other half I guessed were on the opposite side of the brick wall which was now in front of my face. I scrambled to push myself up to find that dangling above me was a sign that read Platform 9 3/4. A huge smile spread across my face. I turned around. Behind me, through the crowd of proud waving parents, a gigantic red train sat steaming on the tracks. The only other way to describe it would be wonderful, as if it chugged straight out of a story book.
I ran, more like skipped, to the the passenger car as the ticket man yelled the last call. Inside, I stared down a hall way. Boys were hopping between compartments, showing off their latest tricks, while the girls were gossiping and giggling. I looked into each cabin, hoping one would be willing to take a last minute addition. I passed boxes and boxes of children, all of varying age and started to feel like everyone had already become the best of friends. But, at the very end of the corridor, I saw a vacant cabin. I sighed, happy to find some peace and quiet. "Maybe I could take a nap," I thought to myself, "I'm terribly tired from staying up all last night."
I closed the door behind me and hoisted my bag into the overhead compartment and gently nudged Galileo over as well. I then squashed my jumper into a sort of makeshift pillow and then settled into a corner, delighted to find that the benches were quite cushy. However, just as I started to lean my head against the window, I suddenly felt as if I had just drank ten cups of coffee. It was as if my body knew something important was going to happen, something I needed to be awake for.
The door shut with a loud thud! A boy was staring out the door window frantically, panting. After standing there for a good minute. He sunk down into the bench, his eye still on the door.
"Hello, I'm Alo," I said to the back of his head. He whipped around, an astonished look upon his face.
"Oh!"
"Well, actually it's Aloisia, Aloisia Odam."
"Hi"
I looked him over. He was tall for his age. Not extremely tall, but just over average. His golden brown hair was standing in multiple directions. Some was up, some was down, some was wavy and other parts straight. It made him look like he had just climbed out of bed. As for his eyes, the hazel orbs held glint of mischievousness in them. "So yours is?"
"Oh uh Chris, my name's Chris... Conrad. So... you mind if I stay here? Some fourth year tossers were trying to test some spells on me. I..."
The tea cart witch then arrived at our cabin. "Anything you fancy?"
"No thanks," I replied with a smile. She looked at Chris.
"Ah, um, some of those, whatever those are."
"Cauldron cakes my dear, here you are. That'll be 10 sickles." Chris handed over some coins and with a wink, she left for the next cabin.
"As I was saying..." Chris started. But I stopped him again.
"Just a sec." I popped my head out the door and snaked my hand next to the trolley witch's waist, stealthily grabbing a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. "Continue please." I sat down and popped a handful of the jelly beans into my mouth, straight faced. Chris's mouth hung open. I chewed. But then the corners of his mouth turned up into a cheeky, conniving smile.
"As I was saying, so I ran in here and met you, Aloisia Odam A STEALING WI..." I flew at him and covered his mouth entirely, preventing him from shouting the rest of his sentence. He squinted at me and placed his hand out. I rolled my eyes and grabbed the jelly beans from my seat. I poured some into his cupped palms while giving him my most evil glare. Grinning, he threw one into the air and caught it in his mouth. His smile faded. He started coughing, violently, tears streamed down his face.
"CHILI PEPPER!" he yelled. With a dumbstruck look, I burst out laughing, doubling over to save my straining abdominal muscles. My eyes were now tearing up as well. Galileo joined me by flapping his wings in his cage and giving a hoot. Chris gulped down water, his adam's apple bobbing and then accidentally dribbled it on his pants. He stared down at his now wet lap; a giggle escaped from his mouth and then he too was laughing, with closed eyes and shoulders bouncing up and down.
"Truce?" I asked still shaking from laughing, but with a hand stretched out.
"Truce," he replied grabbing my hand.
So next chapter will be in their 5th year. Sorry to whom ever wanted me to go through all 7 years of hogwarts. That ain't gonna happen. Be excited! Things are going to become a hell of a lot better from this point on! Look forward to a grown up Chris ;)
