Chapter 3: King's Cross

August, 1991

In August, all Harry would do all day was read his school books. He liked all subjects, although some more the others. He really liked Charms, where you change an object's properties. It also sounded fun to transfigure animals and create things out of midair. Harry was not as excited about Astronomy and History of Magic, to him they were the most boring subjects of all, but he still liked them. He liked Potions, but as soon as he remembered his potions master, Professor Snape, he immediately tried to get his mind off the subject. His favorite was Defense against the Dark Arts, even though Professor Quirrell did not look like the type of guy that is an expert in such a subject.

Harry was surprised when he tried on the cloak that Dumbledore gave him. As he looked in the mirror, he did not see himself, but when he took the cloak off, he was visible again. Harry decided to test if other people could see him. He once pranked Dudley by bumping into his back, while he was going to the loo in the middle of the night. When he turned around, he looked confused and scared, but he did not seem to notice Harry under the cloak.

While daydreaming about Hogwarts in his room a sudden question popped up in his head. How was he going to get to Hogwarts? This question followed him whatever he was doing: eating, reading or even sleeping. This was until the final days of August, when he got a message from Dumbledore, which was delivered by an owl in his room.

Dear Harry,

When we met a month ago, I forgot to tell you about how to get to Hogwarts. As the term starts on the 1st of September, you must be on King's Cross (which is in London), on platform nine and three quarters. From there Hogwarts Express will bring you to Hogwarts. The Express takes off at 11 AM, so do not be late.

With best regards, Albus Dumbledore

After reading the message, Harry felt calmer. But then he realized that he had to find a way to get to London. Fortunately, he had to wait only five minutes to get an answer about this, when one of the guards came into his room.

"I will escort you to King's Cross on the 1st of September. "The man announced and went back down the stairs.

The night before the 1st of September, Harry had a hard time going to sleep. He was thinking about the visit to Diagon Alley, Dumbledore's letter, how the guard had told him that he was going to escort him to King's Cross, the different type of charms that were described in his school book...

1 September, 1991

Harry woke up at 8 AM the next day. He quickly went down for breakfast, where Petunia was frying eggs.

"Good morning, Harry." She greeted him and gave him a plate with eggs.

"Good morning." Harry responded.

It took the boy two minutes to eat his breakfast. Then he went to his room to pack his things. At 9 AM, after he had checked his room for any things, he had to take with him for the twentieth time, he went down the stairs and prepared to meet up with the guard.

"Are you ready, Harry?" He asked.

"Yes, I am."

"I suppose you know a port key is." The guard said as he pointed his wand at a newspaper.

Harry put a finger on the newspaper. He noticed a title on it.

Antonin Dolohov escapes Azkaban

As he was reading the title, he felt something pulling him from behind his stomach. Then he saw that they were in front of The Leaky Cauldron.

"We will have to take the subway to go to King's Cross." The guard told him.

They crossed the street and went down to the nearest subway station. From there they took a subway to a station close to King's Cross. Then they arrived there.

The station was quite large, Harry thought. He looked around and found a big number "9". Then he glanced to the right, where there was a "10".

Harry was puzzled, but the guard told him: "Follow me."

He then led him in front of the wall between platforms nine and ten.

"Run at the wall." the guard ordered.

"What?"

"Trust me, just run at the wall."

Harry let out a deep sigh and ran straight into the wall, closing his eyes. To his surprise, when he opened his eyes, he found himself at platform nine and three quarters. It was 10 AM, an hour before Hogwarts Express took off, so the platform was quite empty.

Suddenly, the guard appeared to his right. "Perhaps you can get on the train now. I will be waiting here if you need me."

"Thanks, Mr..." Then Harry realized he did not know the guard's name.

"The name's Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Thanks, Mr. Shacklebolt. Goodbye!" Harry said as he ran to the train.

When he climbed on it, he found himself in a long corridor. He turned to the left and began to walk. After passing a few compartments he entered one on his right. It was empty. He took a seat in the corner and picked up one of his books from his cauldron and started to read.