Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious or Harry Potter, the former belongs to Dan and Nickelodeon, the latter to J. K. Rowling. This is a collab done with MagicalInsanity and we're just working together to make this the best story possible.

New chapter, Enjoy :D

Chapter 9: Scarlet Steam Locomotive I

Since they still had one week until their trip, the kids spent much of their time outdoors and could be easily found. Trina had taken to setting camp at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, reading her books; she already knew a spell to help cool her milkshake to its original temperature. André, Beck and Robbie took to staring at Quality Quidditch Supplies, where the owner gladly explained the game. They would be found looking off into the distance and every once in a while, looking with something akin to jealousy at Jet, who was in his broom, following his sister. Cat had to be under constant supervision, so Holly took the task, as Lyra had a four-year-old who was going crazy with the broom.

To make matters worse, Jade had bought the kid a pair of robes, and asking at the Daily Prophet offices for a camera man, (once they heard her name, they hurriedly did as requested and got her what she wanted) she requested a moving picture of her brother on the broom, with Midnight besides him. The kitty held his balance perfectly, and Jet began cackling like a hag. Taking the remaining of his film (only three slots) up with the boy, two with Jade making him stop and him pouting, did he reveal the film and gave the family the pictures. Lyra took the one which had her children smiling and hugging, Midnight at the girl's shoulder and trying to climb over her head, while Jade took the shot of her baby brother acting like an old hag and Jet was happy to have the one in which he was pouting, even if he was pouting. Such, were their days spent.

"Don't forget, you must feed it every day," Jade told the boy, "or let it out every night. What're you going to name it?"

"Grey?" He asked uncertainly, and then he smiled a toothy grin, "what's the Latin name for owl?"

"Uhh," she had read several of her books; it was what most of them pour over and she had once shown Cat something, the redhead had remained with her head on the book, "Ulula?"

"Yup," both André and Cat remarked, and she sighed in relief.

"Is this one boy or girl?" Jet asked her, confused.

"They said it was a girl." She told him confidently.

"Then I'll call her Ulula!" He said with joy; everyone knew not what to say.

The Vega sisters also bought an owl, this one was hazel colored, and they named him Argentus. Midnight seemed quite composed for having to share his bed with two birds, though all three left to hunt at night. Jade had, of course, bought her precious feline a nice, self-cleaning basket. There had been several incidents though, with Jade accidentally burning her pillows; they wouldn't sleep with their wands beneath their pillows ever again, Beck almost breaking his jaw when a spell backfired, and Robbie incidentally making his left buttock disappear. So, rules were: never sleep with the wand beneath the pillow and never keeping it on a back pocket.

Later on, they went trunk shopping. Duffle bags were no replacement for trunks, which were part of the Hogwarts experience. They all bought relatively good trunks, where they stored books and clothes; however unlikely, Tori ended up helping Jade pack, since she just threw the clothes in, even though the books and clothing were apart, unlike Robbie who just mixed everything. André kept things apart as well, while Beck folded his clothes but mixed the clothes and books. Between them all, they managed to get their trunks midway on presentable. Before leaving, family arrived; Sylvia Shapiro had moved back to her old house, and gave Robbie the youngest yet healthiest owl their family had, a brown one with white dots, instructing him to sending him home often with news. She also said that she would send it to him once he was there. Mrs. Oliver had also moved back and was searching for a house, as well David Vega, and suddenly, Theodore was there, along with his mother. Cat went bonkers at the sight of her mother who could see the entrance of Diagon Alley quite clearly, despite being Muggle.

"Caterina, Theodore!" She barked and at once, her children were at her side, "could you tell her to be careful?!"

"Kitty, mom is freaked about being a different place," he began, hugging her, "so please be good, and behave."

"Kay kay!" She replied, and her mother just sighed. "Teddy Bear, will I see you guys soon?"

"You'll be visiting us quite soon," he replied with a happy grin, "I promise, I already have a nice place in mind."

"Yay!" She hugged him, he hugged her back, and their mother cleared her throat and they hugged her.

"Much better," she said, then motioned for Jade to come over and join; the pale girl was weak against Kathryn and reluctantly went for the hug.

"Jade, I know you'll keep an eye on her," the young man said solemnly.

"Bartholomew," she began, taking a deep breath and sounding serious, "I won't let you down."

Theodore then promised to get their family owl back in shape and make a habit of writing. André was seemingly the only one who didn't have his family drop by, then they found his bodyguard waiting for him, and he went inside a limousine. He came back out with a smile. The next day was the real test, as both Lyra and Holly had been having trouble for most of the week with this one, delicate subject. The kids had been going to bed late, 3 in the morning late, and it wasn't looking up at all. They were up during the nights in excitement, and woke up early due to the excitement as well but, at some point, it was going to come crashing on them. Being children, they thought the excitement would last. Sadly, the world being as it was, it wasn't possible. Jade, being far more centered on when reality would come crashing down; she had the experience, was the only one up and bright, having decided on sleeping with her family before leaving. She knew her baby brother would appreciate it, and he did, behind all the bawling he was doing about being left behind, and being unable to go with his big sister to the big place and enjoy the experience with her. She was a doting big sister, much like Theodore, hence the trouble presented at the moment.

"Don't worry buddy," she ruffled his beautiful blond mane, "I'll make sure I can sneak you in for Christmas."

"Oh Jadey," it certainly didn't bode well for him if she wasn't be able to keep that promise, "how can you be certain?"

"Because I plan to blackmail the entire school if needs be," she said solemnly, and that was the only part everyone, who had been rampaging down stairs like elephants, heard; they had woken to Holly's demanding a wakeup call for what seemed, a few minutes after they had fallen asleep.

"I guess there's no stopping you then," Lyra sighed, "curse of our family, Slytherin . . ."

"Daddy was there?" Jet inquired as he hugged his big sister for dear life.

"Yes, and so was I . . ." She sounded as though she regretted that.

"You definitely were Gryffindor material," Holly remarked with some exasperation.

"After my dear cousin and brother went there," she shook her head, "I wish I could have my child's strong head . . ."

"Hey mum, I won't let you down," Jade remarked, a happy smile on her face, an honest one, "I'll make it into Gryffindor no matter what. And you'll do too, right kiddo?"

"Yeah!" The boy remarked.

But Jade wasn't looking too sharp. It wasn't until breakfast was served that she looked better and more human. It probably had something to do with the drink she had, which had loads of sugar, but was as black as her cat. After everyone had eaten, they were all sleepy, which was the intention with Jet, but not everyone else.

"Come along now, all of you," Lyra requested, pushing them towards their rooms; they all groaned, all but Jade who was already ready, "Holly doesn't need this kind of stress this early in the morning, so giddy up!"

"But, we still have time!" One of the girls whined.

"You have exactly half an hour to get ready," Lyra remarked.

"Isn't it 10 only?" Someone yawned, probably Robbie.

"Unless you all pretend to get there in your pajamas," Holly called, clearly being pushed, "then no."

"Hey Robbie," Jade called, wheeling her trunk with basket perched on top; her duffle bag had her robes, "I wouldn't recommend going with your Honey, I shrunk the kids! to King's Cross;" the boy blushed, "besides I don't think wizzs know what that is."

She headed toward the couch, sitting just to have her brother crawl on her legs and over the boy's back, was the cat. Everyone just stared at her, even the grown-ups, but all she did was shush them onward.

"Get a move on, the clock is ticking and we need to be ready in good time," she glared at some of them, "you don't want to push the witches towards appearing there."

They scurried away.

"I must say I'm impressed with the way you handle a crowd," Holly remarked, nodding in contentment.

"Call it years of experience of being a West," the girl replied darkly, "when you make a promise, always mean it, and always know that your promises will come true."

"Honey, please forget that concept," Lyra begged, going to her daughter and shielding her boy's ears, "you know that isn't a promise, it's a threat . . ."

Jade sighed. "Maybe he corrupted me more than thought," she looked at her mother with sadness, "but we won't let this little guy suffer, right?"

Her mother nodded, caressing both of her children. With Jade's egging, they managed to get ready with thirty five minutes to spare; meaning not that much. As a surprise, Oliver was waiting with the limo, had been waiting for twenty minutes, and helped them get there much faster. What aided them the most was that, apparently, someone of the royal family was passing through. It was as if something was helping them out, and there was something simply magical about it all . . . They arrived with fifteen minutes to spare, and that was just luck. Entering, showing their tickets to get access to platform nine, and the children were baffled. Who was going to be the brave soul to ask the dreaded question?

"Uhm . . . Mum?" Trina began softly, as though scared of angering her mother; the rest were looking around. "I don't see platform 9 3/4 anywhere . . ."

"Shhhh!" Holly became exasperated; she made sure that nobody had listened to her baby girl; "Muggles can't see that it says 3/4, only the 9 so don't make yourselves suspicious by asking 'Muggle nonsense'."

Trina blushed, embarrassed, but at least her mother had used the quotation marks.

"All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten," Lyra said softly, "right were the 3/4 would be."

"And don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important," Holly added, and everyone swallowed; they hadn't thought of that. The two witches stood right where the kids had to pass through. "It'll be better if you do it running, so run if you're nervous."

"Go on!" Lyra encouraged; they had ten minutes left, "if you don't hurry you're gonna miss the train!"

"Kay kay!" Cat replied with a giggle, and with excitement, ran towards the barrier before someone could stop her.

Jade, growing worried, rushed behind her with Midnight's basket weaving perilously, and the witches sighed in relief. Both girls crossed the barrier like it was a curtain. The clock was ticking and this meant desperate measures.

"It's safer to go one by one, but time is of the essence, so we'll have to go in pairs," Holly was hiding her eyes and her hand was shaking; everyone was worried.

"André, you and Beck go," Lyra hurried, and the boys swallowed and rushed forth, "Robbie, follow them closely! Be grateful your owl is with your grandma or it would be too shaken at the moment."

He just swallowed as he nodded, crying out as he felt the barrier crash. Luckily, his scream was heard by the wizard community, and not the Muggles. Looking around in wonder, he was cleared from his gazing by the other boys, who took him and his cart away from the entrance.

"Come, it's harder with Argentus, so hurry!" Holly called to her daughters, and they obeyed; the others had gone through, so should they.

It was luck, and Robbie gave another shrill scream when he noticed that he would have been walked over had he remained there. Right then, the women appeared, and it looked as though a kid was about to cry. Jade went to her brother and gave him a wet kiss on his cheek; he immediately calmed down.

Tori and Trina gasped in excitement, as they were the last to enter; Jade hadn't even bothered, being worried about her redhead and her brother. She had enough stress, add to that, they had but five minutes to board. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said 'Platform 9 and 3/4, Hogwarts Express, Eleven O'clock' and they realized what Jade had. Pushing on their rather cool and useful wheeled trunks, they found their pale friend going to a rather empty and vacant compartment near the back. The witches instructed for them to leave their trunks, and then Holly enchanted them to fly through the door and down. Everyone piled soon after, then noticed that the platform was full with families and children, owls and cats; it would seem that every student had already boarded. At most, people were wearing normal clothes, but some of them wore black robes. They did notice some students wearing their robes, but these ones had an insignia on their chest with the letter P, HG or HB. They thought that there were houses, so how was it that there was no way of differentiating the houses?

"They grow up so fast," Holly mentioned, shedding tears.

"Yeah, but we must get a house soon," Lyn blushed slightly, "sorry, that didn't sound appropriate —"

"No, don't say that," the Muggle-born dried her tears, "having Jet is going to help distract me."

"Take care kids," the pale woman called, lower lip trembling, "look after each other."

"Phoebe!" Jet called out, tears rolling, and he was close to bawling. "Phoenix!"

It was the first time he managed to say that name completely, and he stunned his mother and sister. A whistle blew in what felt like another place altogether.

"Delphius, I promised you!" Jade raised a fist through the window; her display was seen by everyone, but she wasn't ashamed of her tears. "For Christmas Delly! I'm showing you everything I can for Christmas, because you'll be staying with me!

"So hang in there buddy!" The train began moving, but everyone was frozen by the bold display and promise being made. "We're spending Christmas together, like all our Christmases!"

She then went back inside, and everyone said their goodbyes. Mrs. Oliver with her husband waved from an unseen corner, as did Cat's brother and mother, and even Mrs. Shapiro, with her pristine white hair, was visible among the crowd. Tori and Trina waved at their mother, and the youngest of the sisters couldn't stop looking at the blondes that were besides her mother. The boy had his face hidden at the crook of his mother's neck, but he had a little fist raised high.

"We'll have a house by summer," Holly called, "I promise!"

"Mrs. Vega," Jade had her head out again, "please take care of them."

"Will do Jade," she replied with a soft smile, "try to stay out of trouble!"

They began gaining speed, and they saw a little redhead girl trying to stay with the train.

"Thanks Holly!" And soon, they disappeared.

"My daughter likes you!" Lyra remarked with some surprise, drying hers and her boy's tears. "That's quite unusual . . . She sticks to formalities with seething hate, so the use of a more familiar, first name . . ."

"You can't apparate, can you?" She inquired softly; was this perhaps the reason why Jade had been so insistent? At the shy negative, she smiled and extended a hand. "Then, shall we leave?"

Jet cried for the rest of the day, looking at the beautiful gray owl his sister had given him, and deciding to write his first letter, with the help of his mum of course

FINALLY THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY TO HOGWARTS :D, HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT