After saying a quick hello to Rose and Hugo, Lilly had drifted off to a corner of the station unmarked by signs of the Wizarding World. It was a small, drab ledge surrounded on three sides by stone wall. It looked out on an empty expanse of scuff-marked wooden plank floors for most parents, students, and siblings had already drifted farther along the platform, to watch the many students in black robes spill onto the train. She recalled her conversation from earlier that day with her father.
"It won't be long, and you'll be going too", her father had said.
"Two years", her plaintive voice echoed despairingly in her head, I want to go now!"
A few yards away, a large group of people were chattering excitedly. Engrossed in the cheerful discussion, the disappearance of a small, red-haired boy with chocolate eyes, went unnoticed. Once free of the chattering couples the young boy made straight for the sight of a small, purple shoe dangling out of a hidden crevice in the seamless stone wall. Arriving at the out-of-place hole in the wall, Hugo Weasley, was not surprised by the sight of Lilly Potter with puffy, red eyes. Brushing her hair out of her eyes, she glanced up at him, eyes pleading. Hauling himself up precariously on the uneven edge, he gathered the small girl in his arms and hugged her.
"Are you OK, Lills?"
"Hugo, I'm fine honestly, just over-reacting as usual."
She sniffled a little but then forced an obviously fake smile, bright and cheery onto her face as if to emphasize the point. A stern look from Hugo, caused her barrier to collapse and it all spilled out. How she was scared Albus was leaving her forever, and they would never be close again. How James was picking on her relentlessly, with no signs of stopping, even though her mother insisted it was just a phase. How...how...she secretly thought the teasing and taunting might be true, she was 9 and hadn't shown a single sign of magic. All this and more spilled out of her chapped, tired lips in hurried, frightened whispers, as her best friend and cousin held her close and reassured her everything was all right. But he, too, was only 9 years old, and he was no magician.
A good hour later, the Hogwarts Express long departed, Mr.'s & Mrs.' Potter and Weasley had strolled back down the empty station platform, only to stop at the sight of the two cousins asleep in a little nook in the wall. Lilly Luna had her head slumped against Hugo's already broad shoulders, her long, red hair falling over face, fluttering with every delicate snore she emitted. The boy with fiery hair had his spindly arms wrapped fiercely protectively around her shoulders. The two mothers stepped forward, successfully extracting the boy and girl from each other without waking either one. Bidding each other good bye they made their way back to their own cars'.
Tired and distracted, Mr. and Mrs. Potter took no notice to their daughter's fitful sleep in the backseat. Her words, whispered despairingly, went unnoticed.
"Albus...please...Albus..."
So I hope you all liked it! Shorter than I had hoped but I promise Chapter 5 is going to be really long. Please review!
