Hey, I'm back for another chapter! I just got the soundtrack to the third Harry Potter movie, it ROCKS!!! Check it out! Now, on to Platform 9 3/4!
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The return trip to England two months later was not much better then the first one, for anyone. Hiei still distrusted planes and all but drove Kurama crazy, and Luna's dysfunctional family was as spontaneous as ever. It was quarter to eleven when Luna found her two friends wondering around King's Cross.
"Hey!" she called excitedly, rushing towards them wile awkwardly pushing her cart laden with her trunk. Kurama and Hiei also had carts, Kurama's owl, Kuronue, perched on top in his cage.
"Luna," Kurama greeted her with a smile. Hiei acted as though he didn't notice her, so she ignored him as well, turning her full attention on Kurama.
"You look lost," she noticed, her voice holding a slight tone of teasing. She had already guessed what was confusing her tall friend who stood before her staring around the station. Shiori stood a little behind them, also looking around curiously.
"We are a little lost," Kurama admitted. "You would happen to know where-"
"Platform 9 3/4 is?" Luna finished with a smile. Kurama nodded and Hiei spared her a glance.
"Follow me," she instructed. With Kurama, Hiei, and Shiori in tow, Luna lead them to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Her family stood there already, waiting for them. Nick and Jason were running circles around Aunt Molly who was red in the face from yelling at them and Amy was trying not to look too interested in anything. Uncle Xander was missing.
"Xander had work today and couldn't come. He didn't plan ahead and used up all his vacation time when we came for school supplies," Luna explained before Kurama had a chance to ask.
"How exactly do we get to the platform?" he said instead.
"Easy. Through there," Luna said casually, pointing to the barrier.
"That's solid brick," Hiei snorted.
Luna only shook her head. "Oh he of little faith," she sighed. "Here, watch. Jason! Nick! Go through the barrier!" she called to her twin cousins. They were all to happy to oblige. They gave each other a quick smile, then lowered their heads like charging rams and ran full speed for the barrier. Kurama had to force himself not to look away, not wanting to see the boys split their heads open on the brick.
The twins were in front of the barrier now, they would hit it any second. But the crash never came. Instead, the two passed through the barrier and vanished. Kurama, Hiei, and Shiori all stared in shock while Luna smiled.
"Isn't magic great?" she asked with a laugh. "Now, if you're scared, it's best to close your eyes," she instructed as she leaned forward and prepaired to run at the barrier.
"Scared?" Hiei scoffed, but Luna ignored him. She wouldn't show it, but she was scared. Even with magic, only ghosts could walk through walls. This was a special barrier that was an exception to that rule and she knew it, but her mind was still nervously telling her that she would hit the brick and bounce off.
"See you on the other side," she said. She took a deep breath and forced her legs into a run. The wall came up before her, looming there like some horrible monster. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to keep running. There was a spit second of silence as she passed through the barrier, then she was enveloped in noise once more as she opened her eyes to see a deep scarlet steam engine with 'Hogwarts Express' printed on it. She sighed in relief and waited for her friends to join her.
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Kurama, Hiei, and Shiori were still staring at the solid wall Luna had disappeared into.
"Well, it seems safe enough," Kurama said after a moment, more to assure himself then anything else.
"Hn," Hiei grunted. He then pushed his cart until it was aligned with the wall, then he took off at a run. He made sure to keep his pace at a human's speed so as not to draw attention. In seconds, he too had passed through the barrier, with his eyes open.
Kurama gave his mother a reassuring I'll-be-alright glance, then turned to the barrier. He started towards it, slowly at first, but picking up speed as he went. The barrier was coming closer. He was in front of it now and moving too fast to slow down. He closed his eyes, waiting for the crash. But, as with the others, there was no crash. The wall came and went and Kurama found himself on a whole different platform. He glanced behind him to see an arch with a sign reading 'Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.'
"Kurama!" a voice called his name. He looked up to see Luna waving at him from one of the train's windows. He pushed past the crowed and soon found the compartment on the train Luna had waved from. Hiei was there as well, staring out the window and ignoring them all. Luna helped Kurama store his trunk with hers and Hiei's before they too took a seat.
No sooner had they sat down then the train whistle blew and they began to move slowly. Luna opened the window and she and Kurama waved good-bye to Shiori, Aunt Molly, Nick, Jason, and Amy as the platform began to disappear behind them. Once Platform 9 3/4 was completely out of sight, the two sat down once more. There was silence for a few moments in the compartment, an uncomfortable silence. Much to Kurama's and Luna's surprise, it was Hiei who spoke first.
"How long is the train ride?" he asked, still staring out the window.
"Um...I don't know. Till sometime after dark I think," Luna said hesitantly, taken aback that Hiei had spoken to her. At that moment there was a sound of movement outside the compartment and the door opened.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss. Campbell," a boy, another first year, sneered. He had light red hair, a much more orange shade then Kurama's, and light blue eyes. He was accompanied by a few more boys that were trailing behind him, and even a group of girls.
"Jake," Luna returned, her voice holding a new note of anger that Kurama and Hiei had never heard before. She stood up to face the newcomer.
"You know him?" Kurama asked.
"Unfortunately. Jake Darsel. His dad works for the Ministry of Magic's board of International Affairs. He loves to make things tuff for Xander," Luna explained.
"You're Uncle's pathetic," Jake spat.
"Better then being a sleezball like your dad!" Luna countered. Jake glared at her, but then turned to Kurama and Hiei.
"You should chose your friends more wisely. This mutt is a sorry excuse for a human being, let alone a werewolf!" Jake said slyly. Jake's crowd of followers gasped and Luna went red.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just let your little secret out didn't I?" Jake snickered, turning back to Luna. He smiled at her darkly for a moment, then turned and left, his group following and glancing at Luna as they passed. They heard him give a howl from down the hall and his followers started shouting things like "Better stock up on silver!" and "Be careful of the full moon!"
Luna slammed the compartment door shut with a BANG! and sat down. She stared out the window, her face still red with anger and embarrassment.
"Now he's ruined everything," she muttered.
"I'm sure it's not all that bad," Kurama tried to comfort her.
"Not that bad?! You don't know him. Now him and his little gang will go around and tell everyone! No one's suppose to know except the teachers! This year is going to be hell now, all thanks to him!" She turned to stare out the window again and was silent.
By the time Luna had begun to calm down a little, a smiling woman appeared outside their compartment with a cart laden with all kinds of pastries and treats. Luna eagerly searched for her money and she and Kurama combined their remaining Knuts and Sickles to buy a little of everything from the cart.
"Here, try on of these," Luna offered, throwing a chocolate frog at Hiei. Hiei stared at the box for a moment, then opened it. He nearly jumped out of his seat when the chocolate amphibian inside hopped on his shoulder. Kurama and Luna both laughed.
"Relax, it's only a spell. They're not real," Luna assured him as Hiei finally caught the frog and eyed it suspiciously before attempting to eat it. Kurama and Luna spent a great deal of the afternoon daring each other to eat Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Luna won when Kurama refused to touch a dark, greenish-brown one that Luna held up. In the end, it was probably a good choice considering that it almost killed Kuronue when they tried to get the little owl to eat it and see what it was.
By the time they had finished their treats, and promised not to feed Kurama's owl anymore beans, it was growing dark. Luna went to the next compartment, which had a group of third-year Ravenclaw girls in it, to change while Kurama and Hiei did the same in their own compartment. After packing their other clothes away and re-securing their trunks, the train was chugging to a stop.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," a voice sounded throughout the train. "Leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken care of separately."
Luna, Hiei, and Kurama gave one last glance at Kuronue, who was chirping excitedly in his cage, before getting up together and following the flow of moving bodies off the train.
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The return trip to England two months later was not much better then the first one, for anyone. Hiei still distrusted planes and all but drove Kurama crazy, and Luna's dysfunctional family was as spontaneous as ever. It was quarter to eleven when Luna found her two friends wondering around King's Cross.
"Hey!" she called excitedly, rushing towards them wile awkwardly pushing her cart laden with her trunk. Kurama and Hiei also had carts, Kurama's owl, Kuronue, perched on top in his cage.
"Luna," Kurama greeted her with a smile. Hiei acted as though he didn't notice her, so she ignored him as well, turning her full attention on Kurama.
"You look lost," she noticed, her voice holding a slight tone of teasing. She had already guessed what was confusing her tall friend who stood before her staring around the station. Shiori stood a little behind them, also looking around curiously.
"We are a little lost," Kurama admitted. "You would happen to know where-"
"Platform 9 3/4 is?" Luna finished with a smile. Kurama nodded and Hiei spared her a glance.
"Follow me," she instructed. With Kurama, Hiei, and Shiori in tow, Luna lead them to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Her family stood there already, waiting for them. Nick and Jason were running circles around Aunt Molly who was red in the face from yelling at them and Amy was trying not to look too interested in anything. Uncle Xander was missing.
"Xander had work today and couldn't come. He didn't plan ahead and used up all his vacation time when we came for school supplies," Luna explained before Kurama had a chance to ask.
"How exactly do we get to the platform?" he said instead.
"Easy. Through there," Luna said casually, pointing to the barrier.
"That's solid brick," Hiei snorted.
Luna only shook her head. "Oh he of little faith," she sighed. "Here, watch. Jason! Nick! Go through the barrier!" she called to her twin cousins. They were all to happy to oblige. They gave each other a quick smile, then lowered their heads like charging rams and ran full speed for the barrier. Kurama had to force himself not to look away, not wanting to see the boys split their heads open on the brick.
The twins were in front of the barrier now, they would hit it any second. But the crash never came. Instead, the two passed through the barrier and vanished. Kurama, Hiei, and Shiori all stared in shock while Luna smiled.
"Isn't magic great?" she asked with a laugh. "Now, if you're scared, it's best to close your eyes," she instructed as she leaned forward and prepaired to run at the barrier.
"Scared?" Hiei scoffed, but Luna ignored him. She wouldn't show it, but she was scared. Even with magic, only ghosts could walk through walls. This was a special barrier that was an exception to that rule and she knew it, but her mind was still nervously telling her that she would hit the brick and bounce off.
"See you on the other side," she said. She took a deep breath and forced her legs into a run. The wall came up before her, looming there like some horrible monster. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to keep running. There was a spit second of silence as she passed through the barrier, then she was enveloped in noise once more as she opened her eyes to see a deep scarlet steam engine with 'Hogwarts Express' printed on it. She sighed in relief and waited for her friends to join her.
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Kurama, Hiei, and Shiori were still staring at the solid wall Luna had disappeared into.
"Well, it seems safe enough," Kurama said after a moment, more to assure himself then anything else.
"Hn," Hiei grunted. He then pushed his cart until it was aligned with the wall, then he took off at a run. He made sure to keep his pace at a human's speed so as not to draw attention. In seconds, he too had passed through the barrier, with his eyes open.
Kurama gave his mother a reassuring I'll-be-alright glance, then turned to the barrier. He started towards it, slowly at first, but picking up speed as he went. The barrier was coming closer. He was in front of it now and moving too fast to slow down. He closed his eyes, waiting for the crash. But, as with the others, there was no crash. The wall came and went and Kurama found himself on a whole different platform. He glanced behind him to see an arch with a sign reading 'Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.'
"Kurama!" a voice called his name. He looked up to see Luna waving at him from one of the train's windows. He pushed past the crowed and soon found the compartment on the train Luna had waved from. Hiei was there as well, staring out the window and ignoring them all. Luna helped Kurama store his trunk with hers and Hiei's before they too took a seat.
No sooner had they sat down then the train whistle blew and they began to move slowly. Luna opened the window and she and Kurama waved good-bye to Shiori, Aunt Molly, Nick, Jason, and Amy as the platform began to disappear behind them. Once Platform 9 3/4 was completely out of sight, the two sat down once more. There was silence for a few moments in the compartment, an uncomfortable silence. Much to Kurama's and Luna's surprise, it was Hiei who spoke first.
"How long is the train ride?" he asked, still staring out the window.
"Um...I don't know. Till sometime after dark I think," Luna said hesitantly, taken aback that Hiei had spoken to her. At that moment there was a sound of movement outside the compartment and the door opened.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss. Campbell," a boy, another first year, sneered. He had light red hair, a much more orange shade then Kurama's, and light blue eyes. He was accompanied by a few more boys that were trailing behind him, and even a group of girls.
"Jake," Luna returned, her voice holding a new note of anger that Kurama and Hiei had never heard before. She stood up to face the newcomer.
"You know him?" Kurama asked.
"Unfortunately. Jake Darsel. His dad works for the Ministry of Magic's board of International Affairs. He loves to make things tuff for Xander," Luna explained.
"You're Uncle's pathetic," Jake spat.
"Better then being a sleezball like your dad!" Luna countered. Jake glared at her, but then turned to Kurama and Hiei.
"You should chose your friends more wisely. This mutt is a sorry excuse for a human being, let alone a werewolf!" Jake said slyly. Jake's crowd of followers gasped and Luna went red.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just let your little secret out didn't I?" Jake snickered, turning back to Luna. He smiled at her darkly for a moment, then turned and left, his group following and glancing at Luna as they passed. They heard him give a howl from down the hall and his followers started shouting things like "Better stock up on silver!" and "Be careful of the full moon!"
Luna slammed the compartment door shut with a BANG! and sat down. She stared out the window, her face still red with anger and embarrassment.
"Now he's ruined everything," she muttered.
"I'm sure it's not all that bad," Kurama tried to comfort her.
"Not that bad?! You don't know him. Now him and his little gang will go around and tell everyone! No one's suppose to know except the teachers! This year is going to be hell now, all thanks to him!" She turned to stare out the window again and was silent.
By the time Luna had begun to calm down a little, a smiling woman appeared outside their compartment with a cart laden with all kinds of pastries and treats. Luna eagerly searched for her money and she and Kurama combined their remaining Knuts and Sickles to buy a little of everything from the cart.
"Here, try on of these," Luna offered, throwing a chocolate frog at Hiei. Hiei stared at the box for a moment, then opened it. He nearly jumped out of his seat when the chocolate amphibian inside hopped on his shoulder. Kurama and Luna both laughed.
"Relax, it's only a spell. They're not real," Luna assured him as Hiei finally caught the frog and eyed it suspiciously before attempting to eat it. Kurama and Luna spent a great deal of the afternoon daring each other to eat Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Luna won when Kurama refused to touch a dark, greenish-brown one that Luna held up. In the end, it was probably a good choice considering that it almost killed Kuronue when they tried to get the little owl to eat it and see what it was.
By the time they had finished their treats, and promised not to feed Kurama's owl anymore beans, it was growing dark. Luna went to the next compartment, which had a group of third-year Ravenclaw girls in it, to change while Kurama and Hiei did the same in their own compartment. After packing their other clothes away and re-securing their trunks, the train was chugging to a stop.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," a voice sounded throughout the train. "Leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken care of separately."
Luna, Hiei, and Kurama gave one last glance at Kuronue, who was chirping excitedly in his cage, before getting up together and following the flow of moving bodies off the train.