CHAPTER 2
THE ARRIVAL
As the bus pulled into the train station area, Harry noticed that this was the very same train station he used to get to Hogwarts through platform 9&3/4. Grabbing his things and disembarking the bus he proceeded to the train platforms. Taking a seat at a bench facing the train tracks he surveyed the station and noticed that it was pretty deserted apart from him and a few other waiting passengers. Checking again on if this was the correct platform on his ticket that had been given by Hermione's father, he read platform 7 and looked accordingly to the number of the platform he was present at the moment and nodded in confirmation. After a long wait Harry could finally see an approaching train, gathering his things he stood and waited to board. The sleek silver train halted to a stop, its doors automatically opened and he proceeded to board the train. Looking inside, the train was practically the same as the Hogwarts train with minor exceptions such as a mini-bar and lounge. Finding a secluded booth somewhere near the middle of the train he placed his trunk in the overhead compartments and placed Hedwig's cage (with hedwig in it) across from him on the opposite seat. Watching the people strole past his booth in search for one of their own, Harry couldn't help but feel sad and misplaced as he witnessed children pass with their parents, while having big exaggerated grins on their faces as they laughed and pointed at various things on the train. The train gave a hoot signalling that it was going to depart, and with a jolt the train started its journey.
Two hours into the journey, Harry stared out of the his window and saw rolling green hills and savannahs, the cloudless sky was a light azure that shone brightly with the suns rays. The full duration of the trip was around 4 hours or so it read on his ticket. Silence was an absolute in his cabin as he fell back into his deep recollections and memories. It was becoming harder and harder to focus on his happy memories as they were flooded with memories of Cedric.and Voldemort. Harry awoke suddenly realising that he had fallen asleep, he sensed the train slow down and soon enough he saw a train station, a large and very busy train station by the looks of it. Taking a gander around at the station, this station seemed to be a mainstream commercial station unlike that of the Kings cross-station in London. Standing and gathering his things he walked out of his booth and down the long blue-carpeted corridor of the train. At the exit door of the train the ticket man stood dressed fully in black with a policeman like hat. Greeting the disembarking passengers, smiling widely as Harry passed he asked, "Hope you had good trip lad". Giving a small smile Harry replied, "Yeah I did.thanks". Stepping off the train and walking over to a bench and plunked his luggage on the ground. Before he could straighten he heard a familiar voice call out his name. "Harry!" was all he heard before being semi tackled and feeling a warm body pressed tightly against him. After the initial shock Harry smiled and equally returned her embrace. Giving a small laugh he said "Hi", she looked into his eyes and said ".Hi". She didn't move and they continued in the same embracing position Harry noticed, she didn't say anything except stare at him, which Harry found very un-Hermione like. "Hermione? You okay?" he said almost drowning within her enchanting brown eyes. She abruptly stepped back which Harry wished she hadn't, "I'm.f.fine" she said as a blush crept up on her pretty face. Harry was taken a back at how Hermione had changed over the summer, her hair was still the same thickness and length however instead of being curly and bushy it was a little straighter and more wave like rather than bushy which Harry thought added to her attractiveness. She had grown in height as well although still a good ¾ of a head shorter than Harry which was close to 5"6; she was wearing a tight light blue sleeveless top with tight knee length denim pants that accentuated her slender figure and slender legs. Noticing other areas that he shouldn't have, Hermione seemed to be progressing very well in overall growth. Feeling that he'd stared long enough he suddenly found the ground to be fascinating while trying to hide an oncoming blush.
Harry heard an evident throat clear and peering around Hermione he saw two people who obviously had to be Hermione's parents. Both appearing to be relatively young somewhere in their mid thirties much like his parents would've been, Hermione's father was a medium built man who was quite a tall at about 6"0 with a friendly presence, he had thick brown hair with hazel eyes that smiled down at Harry. The woman next to him with her arm entwined with Hermione's father was obviously Hermione's mother with light brown hair which was fixed in a similar fashion to Hermione's, Harry now knew where Hermione got her beautiful looks from because of the enchanting brown eyes they both possessed and the similar attractive visage features. She had a loving and relaxing feel about her which Harry thought Hermione inherited. "Hi you must be Harry," said Hermione's dad offering a hand along with a wide smile that reached his eyes. Harry grasped his hand and shook it. "Please to meet you sir," Harry said with a smile. "Hermione's talked not stop about you for weeks," she said laughing a little while shaking Harry's hand too. "Mum!" Hermione protested glowering at her mum, however trying to give a stern glare with an apparent blush didn't work too effectively. Both Hermione's parents laughed while switching glances from the still blushing Hermione to Harry, Harry gave a bemused expression thinking that maybe they were laughing at a previous joke. "Come on let's get going, I have no doubts that Harry is tired and wants a rest," Hermione's dad said still laughing a little. Allowing Hermione's parents to lead the way, he and Hermione glanced at each other and smiled before following. *****
THE ARRIVAL
As the bus pulled into the train station area, Harry noticed that this was the very same train station he used to get to Hogwarts through platform 9&3/4. Grabbing his things and disembarking the bus he proceeded to the train platforms. Taking a seat at a bench facing the train tracks he surveyed the station and noticed that it was pretty deserted apart from him and a few other waiting passengers. Checking again on if this was the correct platform on his ticket that had been given by Hermione's father, he read platform 7 and looked accordingly to the number of the platform he was present at the moment and nodded in confirmation. After a long wait Harry could finally see an approaching train, gathering his things he stood and waited to board. The sleek silver train halted to a stop, its doors automatically opened and he proceeded to board the train. Looking inside, the train was practically the same as the Hogwarts train with minor exceptions such as a mini-bar and lounge. Finding a secluded booth somewhere near the middle of the train he placed his trunk in the overhead compartments and placed Hedwig's cage (with hedwig in it) across from him on the opposite seat. Watching the people strole past his booth in search for one of their own, Harry couldn't help but feel sad and misplaced as he witnessed children pass with their parents, while having big exaggerated grins on their faces as they laughed and pointed at various things on the train. The train gave a hoot signalling that it was going to depart, and with a jolt the train started its journey.
Two hours into the journey, Harry stared out of the his window and saw rolling green hills and savannahs, the cloudless sky was a light azure that shone brightly with the suns rays. The full duration of the trip was around 4 hours or so it read on his ticket. Silence was an absolute in his cabin as he fell back into his deep recollections and memories. It was becoming harder and harder to focus on his happy memories as they were flooded with memories of Cedric.and Voldemort. Harry awoke suddenly realising that he had fallen asleep, he sensed the train slow down and soon enough he saw a train station, a large and very busy train station by the looks of it. Taking a gander around at the station, this station seemed to be a mainstream commercial station unlike that of the Kings cross-station in London. Standing and gathering his things he walked out of his booth and down the long blue-carpeted corridor of the train. At the exit door of the train the ticket man stood dressed fully in black with a policeman like hat. Greeting the disembarking passengers, smiling widely as Harry passed he asked, "Hope you had good trip lad". Giving a small smile Harry replied, "Yeah I did.thanks". Stepping off the train and walking over to a bench and plunked his luggage on the ground. Before he could straighten he heard a familiar voice call out his name. "Harry!" was all he heard before being semi tackled and feeling a warm body pressed tightly against him. After the initial shock Harry smiled and equally returned her embrace. Giving a small laugh he said "Hi", she looked into his eyes and said ".Hi". She didn't move and they continued in the same embracing position Harry noticed, she didn't say anything except stare at him, which Harry found very un-Hermione like. "Hermione? You okay?" he said almost drowning within her enchanting brown eyes. She abruptly stepped back which Harry wished she hadn't, "I'm.f.fine" she said as a blush crept up on her pretty face. Harry was taken a back at how Hermione had changed over the summer, her hair was still the same thickness and length however instead of being curly and bushy it was a little straighter and more wave like rather than bushy which Harry thought added to her attractiveness. She had grown in height as well although still a good ¾ of a head shorter than Harry which was close to 5"6; she was wearing a tight light blue sleeveless top with tight knee length denim pants that accentuated her slender figure and slender legs. Noticing other areas that he shouldn't have, Hermione seemed to be progressing very well in overall growth. Feeling that he'd stared long enough he suddenly found the ground to be fascinating while trying to hide an oncoming blush.
Harry heard an evident throat clear and peering around Hermione he saw two people who obviously had to be Hermione's parents. Both appearing to be relatively young somewhere in their mid thirties much like his parents would've been, Hermione's father was a medium built man who was quite a tall at about 6"0 with a friendly presence, he had thick brown hair with hazel eyes that smiled down at Harry. The woman next to him with her arm entwined with Hermione's father was obviously Hermione's mother with light brown hair which was fixed in a similar fashion to Hermione's, Harry now knew where Hermione got her beautiful looks from because of the enchanting brown eyes they both possessed and the similar attractive visage features. She had a loving and relaxing feel about her which Harry thought Hermione inherited. "Hi you must be Harry," said Hermione's dad offering a hand along with a wide smile that reached his eyes. Harry grasped his hand and shook it. "Please to meet you sir," Harry said with a smile. "Hermione's talked not stop about you for weeks," she said laughing a little while shaking Harry's hand too. "Mum!" Hermione protested glowering at her mum, however trying to give a stern glare with an apparent blush didn't work too effectively. Both Hermione's parents laughed while switching glances from the still blushing Hermione to Harry, Harry gave a bemused expression thinking that maybe they were laughing at a previous joke. "Come on let's get going, I have no doubts that Harry is tired and wants a rest," Hermione's dad said still laughing a little. Allowing Hermione's parents to lead the way, he and Hermione glanced at each other and smiled before following. *****