Title: Star Power
Prompt: It's September 1st and Harry and Hermione are back at Platform 9 and 3/4.
Summary: A special September 1st drabble, unconventionally 400 words instead of 200.
'I hate it when everyone stares. How can you stand it?'
Harry Potter smiled at the words of his eleven-year-old daughter. He looked sideways at his wife, Hermione Granger, there was a look of amusement etched on her face also, the side of her mouth was twitching dangerously. The three of them were pushing a trolly together along the magical platform at King's Cross Station, as a sea of their fellow witches and wizards turned their heads and craned their necks to sneak a glance at the most famous person of their time.
'You get used to it, Emily,' Harry said quietly, as they made their way to the back of the train and found an empty compartment, onto which they heaved her large trunk, full of all her Hogwarts equipment and books.
'I don't want to get used to it,' Emily said nervously, there were still many people nearby, their eyes lingering on Harry, 'oh gosh, am I going to be stared at like this at school?'
Hermione pulled her daughter into a loving hug. 'If people do stare, sweetheart, you must not let it stop you—'
'I've changed my mind. I want to go home.'
'It's too late now,' Harry said happily, 'all of your belongings are on the train. And I'm not getting them back off for you!'
Harry chuckled at the face his daughter made at him, he merely pulled her into a hug as well, and gave her a reassuring kiss on the forehead.
'It's not their fault they stare,' Harry whispered, reaching for her chin and lifting her head up to make her look at him. 'Half of them don't know what else to do and the other half don't realise they're doing it. Your mother is right, you must not let it worry you, just work hard and be nice and everything will be fine. Okay?'
Emily bit her bottom lip and, after a moment, nodded.
The family of three embraced one last time, and then they helped her climb onto the train and watched her settle into the empty compartment, where she pressed her nose against the glass of the window and waved. Harry and Hermione held each other's hands tightly as they waved, and when the large scarlet train began to work its gears, it slowly began move, and for the first time, their daughter was off on her own.