Disclaimer: None of the characters previously mentioned in the Harry Potter books are unter my ownership...sadly...
"I'll miss you so much, Jay Perth!"
"I'll miss you more, Kyoko Takashen!"
I hugged my best friend with tears running down my cheek. I was not one for crying (it's for sissies), but Kyo had been my best and, well, only true friend since, like, two. Now that we were eleven, we were going to different schools in different parts of Britain. Separation is a horrible thing.
My train came into the station first, as she had scheduled her ride for a later time. She had things to do before she left. With one last hug from her, and a ruffle of my hair, I boarded the train. Finding a seat close to where she was standing on the platform, I waved at her and smiled. Our last day together for a long, long time had come to an end.
The train shuffled forward, and the platform was soon out of sight. I took a small mirror out of my handbag and checked how horribly she had messed up my hair. The short black waves only came down to my chin, so it didn't look too bad. I took a long look at my face in the mirror. I saw an eleven year old Caucasian girl staring back at me. She had soft grey eyes that usually had a few stray hairs in front of them. Her eyes were tearstained and her face red. I wiped away the tears with one sleeve. I hadn't realized I had cried that much. I thought myself a crybaby and then took out my book to read as the train made its way through the British countryside.
About an hour into my ride, I closed my book and pulled a piece of paper out of my bag. I had received it a month ago, and it was informing me that I had been accepted to a highly recommended school. But this school wasn't just any school, oh no! I had been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I was a witch.
My parents were so proud when my letter came via owl, but only my dad knew what it really meant. He finally got around to telling my mom that he, in fact, was a wizard. She was so surprised that she almost fainted, but he grabbed her and conjured a glass of water for her on the table in front of him. Then she did faint.
My father was not the businessman he pretended to be. As he told us so bluntly, he was an Auror. His "business trips" really involved staking out and shadowing would-be criminals, apprehending them if necessary. This my mother had not known until I received my letter.
My books and wand were now stowed away in my trunk, and my owl was to be sent to Hogwarts when I got there, as we didn't want to attract unwanted attention from Muggle (or non-wizard) passers-by.
I reread my letter a million times, checking to see if I had missed or forgotten anything important. I was so involved in reading, that I jumped a mile high when a male's voice came over the loudspeaker.
"We are now approaching Grand Central Station. All those who deboard the train at Grand Central Station, please gather your belongings. Grand Central Station." It said as the train started to slow. The man's voice sounded as if he was so bored with saying the station names as the train approached them. I could see where he was coming from.
I grabbed my bag and trunk and got off the train as it came into the station. I was too busy with my belongings that I never noticed how marvelous Grand Central was. When I finally had the chance to be aware of my surroundings, I stood in awe of them. People were bustling here and there; others were running to catch their trains. Conductors were shouting "All aboard" and the trains were honking their horns as if eager to leave this crowded, noisy place.
I stood leaning against a pillar until I finally had the sense to look down at my watch. I had a couple hours to spare, so I bought a magazine and some chocolate bars to pass the time. I sat down on a bench by the magazine stand and started to flip through the ever popular Britteen Magazine. I munched away on my chocolate bars as I turned page after page. Before I knew it, my train was scheduled to leave within a half hour. I picked up my bag, slung it over my shoulder and hauled my trunk to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. My dad had told me how to get onto Platform 9 ¾, so I had no trouble at all leaning into the solid brick barrier between platforms nine and ten. I hoped that no muggle noticed me, but usually they were too blind, so I didn't worry too much. A tingling sensation ran down my spine as I passed through the brick wall to the adventure that was awaiting me.
((Hope you enjoyed the first of many chapters! Reviews are always welcome!))