Chapter Three

Platform 9 ¾

Jenna woke up on September first to the sound of a car running into fire hydrant. Still breathing heavily from the jolt, she slipped out of bed. This was it! She was actually going to Hogwarts to become a witch! Jenna spent longer that usual getting dressed. She wanted to look perfect.

"Jenna!" Elizabeth called from the kitchen. "Get in here and eat!" Jenna glanced at herself in the mirror one last time before stepping out of her room and into the warm kitchen. Jenna grabbed a piece of toast from the pile and began to spread liberal amounts of jam onto it. She looked over at her mother.

She was reading the newspaper and having her usual cup of coffee. Elizabeth sensed her eyes and looked up.

"Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?"

"Mmph." Jenna was trying to answer with a mouth full of toast.

"Jenna, that is disgusting. Finish what you're eating and then talk." But Elizabeth had a small smile playing on her lips. Jenna swallowed, took a sip of her orange juice and then spoke.

"I slept fine, Mum. Can we go now? I don't want to be late."

"It's only 9:00."

"So?" Elizabeth gave Jenna one of those looks that only a mother can giver her daughter.

They arrived at King's Cross at 10:30. Jenna was practically dragging her towards the platform. Then she stopped. Elizabeth looked at where she was staring and noticed it too.

There was Platform 9, and there was Platform 10, but there was nothing in between. They stood there confused until...

"Could you excuse us?"

They turned around and came face to face with a small woman with brown eyes and short, straight, brown hair. She was with her son who looked to be in 6th or 7th year.

"Oh, sorry." Elizabeth shooed Jenna out of the way. The woman, her son, and his trunk began to disappear through the barrier. Jenna was smiling in awe, but Elizabeth looked confused.

"How did they do that?"

"I don't know, Jenna."

"Excuse me?" They heard a woman's voice behind them.

"I'm sorry, we'll move." Elizabeth began to haul Jenna's trunk over another few feet, but the lady stopped her.

"No, I didn't mean for you to move. I was just wondering if you needed any help getting onto the platform."

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, thank you."

"That's all right. You muggles wouldn't know how to do this; it's not your fault."

They looked confused. "I'm sorry Miss—"

"Lovegood"

"Miss Lovegood. What is a muggle?"

Miss Lovegood laughed. "It's a non-magical person, of course." Her waist-length dirty blonde hair moved slightly as she giggled. Jenna, who had been silent throughout this conversation, spoke up.

"You look too young to be a mother." Luna sighed.

"I'm here to drop off my sister. She's a 7th year this year."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry Miss Lovegood—"

"Call me Luna."

"Luna, could you please tell us how to get on to the Platform?" Luna sighed again.

"Yes. Let's do this quickly. I have to help my father. He just found proof of the existence of Chirons."

Jenna gave her a weird look. Elizabeth just sighed.

"What's a Chiron?" Jenna asked.

"It's a creature that supposedly roams moors and marshes shooting people down with bows and arrows made of cattails. But it runs away when you get too close, so most people don't even know they exist."

"Well Luna, that's very interesting, but—"

"The platform, of course. You just simply walk through it. If you scared, you should take it at a run. Well, I must be off."

Luna turned around and left, but not before Elizabeth noticed a pale piece of wood sticking out from behind her left ear.

"Well...shall we?" Elizabeth asked Jenna.

"Jenna grabbed her trunk and ran as fast as she could towards the solid stone. Elizabeth closed her eyes and waited for her to crash.

But there was nothing. She opened her eyes. Jenna had disappeared. It must have worked. Elizabeth bit her lip and ran towards the barrier.

She came out on the other side. A loud whistle greeted her as Elizabeth caught her breath. They were standing in front of a shiny, scarlet steam engine. The words Hogwarts Express gleamed on the side of the train. Jenna grabbed her mother's hand.

"C'mon, Mum! It's leaving soon." They grabbed the trunk and hoisted it onto the train.

Jenna was about to get on herself, but Elizabeth stopped her.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Elizabeth had tears in her eyes. Jenna sighed and gave her a big hug.

"I'm going to miss you, Mum."

"I'm going to miss you too, love." Jenna got on the train and waved to her mother. The door closed as the train gave one final shrill whistle and lurched forward. Elizabeth watched the train until it turned a corner and was out of sight.

That night, Elizabeth was lying on her bed. The empty apartment seemed so large now that she was the only one in it. Silent tears streamed down her face as she sang.

Hush-a-by, don't you cry.

Go to sleepy little baby.

When you wake, you shall have

All the pretty little horses...