The Platform was just as crowded and noisy as Harry remembered it from his
own school days. The older students milled in all directions, and the first
years stood out like sore thumbs because of the petrified expressions they
all wore. Harry's eyes darted around the platform watching what was going
on, in the corner an elderly women stood with what seemed like ten children
gathered around her. She looked to be handing out pre-packed lunches and
giving last minute orders to her brood. The sight reminded Harry so much of
his mother-in-law that he couldn't help chuckling to himself as the
memories crowded his mind.
A flash of red near the rear of the train alerted him of what he was looking for, his best friend and now brother-in-law, Ron Weasley. Harry grinned and waved as he made his way over to Ron all the while making sure that the boy he was accompanying was still by his side.
"All right Harry?" Ron asked grinning back.
"All right Ron." Harry answered, "All right Billy-Bob?" Harry asked looking at the tall gangly eleven-year-old next his friend.
"Just fine Uncle Harry." The boy replied matching his father's grin.
As the final boarding warning echoed through the station both fathers pulled out the checklists their wives had drawn up, running through them and adding items of the own. When the formalities were done they each said their final good-byes to each of the boys.
"Matt," Harry said talking to his son, "your mother told me to tell you not to get into trouble, but don't forget the tradition you need to uphold okay?"
"Yes sir!" the boy answered grinning mischievously, "and let me guess, 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do?'"
"Something like that. Now get on that train young man." Harry said giving him a hug then shooing him onto the train after his cousin. Both boys waved then disappeared into the throng of student clamouring onto the train. Harry shook his head slowly before turning to Ron, "you know this doesn't feel right."
"I know, it feels like it should be us on that train." Ron said seriously. Harry just nodded.
"Come on we have to meet the others at the pub, so put on that devil-may- care face you're famous for." Harry said attempting to be cheery. Ron's brothers would tease the living daylights out of them if they were sulking when they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.
"Yeah, you're right. Come on let's go." Ron said turning to leave quickly Harry followed him.
A flash of red near the rear of the train alerted him of what he was looking for, his best friend and now brother-in-law, Ron Weasley. Harry grinned and waved as he made his way over to Ron all the while making sure that the boy he was accompanying was still by his side.
"All right Harry?" Ron asked grinning back.
"All right Ron." Harry answered, "All right Billy-Bob?" Harry asked looking at the tall gangly eleven-year-old next his friend.
"Just fine Uncle Harry." The boy replied matching his father's grin.
As the final boarding warning echoed through the station both fathers pulled out the checklists their wives had drawn up, running through them and adding items of the own. When the formalities were done they each said their final good-byes to each of the boys.
"Matt," Harry said talking to his son, "your mother told me to tell you not to get into trouble, but don't forget the tradition you need to uphold okay?"
"Yes sir!" the boy answered grinning mischievously, "and let me guess, 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do?'"
"Something like that. Now get on that train young man." Harry said giving him a hug then shooing him onto the train after his cousin. Both boys waved then disappeared into the throng of student clamouring onto the train. Harry shook his head slowly before turning to Ron, "you know this doesn't feel right."
"I know, it feels like it should be us on that train." Ron said seriously. Harry just nodded.
"Come on we have to meet the others at the pub, so put on that devil-may- care face you're famous for." Harry said attempting to be cheery. Ron's brothers would tease the living daylights out of them if they were sulking when they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.
"Yeah, you're right. Come on let's go." Ron said turning to leave quickly Harry followed him.