Chapter 11:
Tom awoke to see Nessa sleeping peacefully in the bed directly next to him. She looked so soft, more gentle than usual, while she was in her deep slumber. And it made Tom smile.
Tommy, however, was awake. He leapt over onto Tom's bed and softly licked his face with his small, rough tongue. Tom smiled a small smile at the kitten and rubbed his belly.
Tom got out of bed and walked down the creaky staircase to the pub. He found Dumbledore sitting at the long table, alone, sipping some morning coffee. Dumbledore turned to acknowledge Tom's presence and smiled.
"Good morning Tom. Sleep well?" he greeted. Tom nodded and pulled up a chair next to Dumbledore. He noticed the newspaper that Dumbledore had in front of him.
"The pictures…they move!" exclaimed Tom. Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes. This is the Daily Prophet, the wizarding newspaper. You will find that every photograph and portrait here in this world tend to move. Don't be alarmed at Hogwarts when you see the people in paintings traveling from one frame to another." chuckled Dumbledore. Tom nodded.
"Mornin' youngster! What'll it be for breakfast?" asked Tom the Bartender from over the counter. A dirty wash rag hung from his shoulder. Tom shrugged.
"Give him your special, Tom." suggested Dumbledore. He leaned in to young Tom. "You'll like it, I promise. Tom makes very good porridge," Tom nodded.
"Aha! Here we are! The Cauldron's specialty: cinnamon and yam-berry porridge with a side of honey-crusted toast and a glass of orange juice!" announced Tom the Bartender as he served Tom a bowl of porridge with a piece of toast sticking out of it and a tall glass of orange juice.
"Thank you, sir," said Tom as he looked up at the bartender.
"Oh, what smells so good?" asked a sweet voice coming down the stairs. Tom quickly turned his head to see Nessa, Tommy in her arms, in her purple nighty walking towards them.
"That, my dear, would be young Tom's breakfast. What, might I ask, will you be having?" asked the bartender.
"I'll have what he's having for sure!" answered Nessa as she sat down next to Tom, laying Tommy in her lap. She peered over at Tom's breakfast. "Wow Tom, you sure do have a good sense of appetite!" Tom grinned slightly at her.
Tom brought Nessa her breakfast.
"Oooh, Tom this looks delicious! Thank you!" exclaimed Nessa as she scooped a spoon into the soft porridge. Dumbledore watched the two eat their breakfast.
"Well, tomorrow's the big day. I'll take you to King's Cross Station where the two of you will aboard the platform 9 ¾ and—"
"9 ¾? There's no such thing as a platform 9¾!" exclaimed Tom. Dumbledore chuckled again.
"Ah yes, my dear boy, but didn't you also say that there was no such thing as magic? You simply thought that you levitating objects was merely just a super-power." Dumbledore said. Tom looked back down at his porridge and didn't respond, but fed himself a spoonful.
"How exactly do we board onto a platform that isn't a full number?" asked Nessa.
"Well, you'll see how to board Platform 9 ¾ tomorrow morning. But for now, eat up your porridge. We don't want Tom's wonderful breakfast to go to any sort of waste now do we?"