Nostalgic

September 1st, 1998

Kings Cross was busy that time of year, as September had dawned as crisp as an apple, and Harry realised it was the first time since the end of his sixth year he had come here. His heart filled with nostalgia as he helped Ginny push her trolley that rattled loudly through to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, with Ron and Hermione following close behind them.

It was here that his life had changed completely. He had met the Weasleys here whom to this day had treated him like their own, something he still marvelled about. It was here he had met his first ever friend. It was here he was finally free from the Dursleys at last. He had come year after year, eagerly looking forward to a new year with his friends. It was here he went back home.

He was oblivious of the gasps and stares he was getting because by now he had honed this ability to near perfection. For a moment, he longed to board the scarlet train that bellowed white smoke, he envied Hermione and Ginny for going to the castle he had called home for six years, he doubted his decision. But no, something told him he was done. That it was time to move on.

Taking him out of his reverie, Ginny gently squeezed his hand and nodded her head towards Ron and Hermione, who seemed to be having a frenzied argument with frantic hand gestures, "I'd have thought those two would have stopped their bickering now that their finally a couple," she said, her brown eyes dancing with amusement.

Harry gave a mock long suffering sigh, "I think it's even worse this way. Now we have to deal with their bickering and snogging." They laughed together, harmoniously to Harry's ears as he realised how much he was going to miss her.

"I'll be home for Christmas. You'd better be in one piece by then, Potter," She warned playfully, but he could have sworn he saw her eyes getting misty. He realised that it must be as hard for her as it was for him to leave again after last time. So he swallowed the lump in his throat and joked, "I'll try not to, I wouldn't want bat-bogeys after me."

The whistle blew just as Ron and Hermione joined them after they had said their own goodbyes. Hermione gave Harry a hug, and with a rush of affection to the girl he had considered a sister for years, he realised she had tears in her eyes.

"You two won't do anything stupid, will you?" she asked fretfully.

Ron snorted, "Us? Stupid? Hermione, we're Aurors in training, remember?"

"That just means you have even more rules you can break," snickered Ginny, while Ron's ears turned a delicate shade of pink.

Harry shared a smile with Hermione, "I think our rule breaking days are over."

"I think Hermione's the only reason you lot didn't do anything too stupid…" Ginny said thoughtfully as Hermione smirked.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I'm going to miss getting into trouble with you two," she sniffed quietly.

"On the bright side, I hear you actually learn something at Hogwarts now that we've gone," Ron said, trying to lighten the mood although even he looked downcast.

"Yeah Hermione, we expect many letters full of your revision plans for NEWT's," Harry added, "I'm so glad I don't have to take it, 'suppose there are some perks of having saved the world." he said, grinning as he avoided Hermione's swat.

Suddenly Ginny grimaced, "Looks like a few reporters want some insight on the 'Golden Trio', we better get moving," The others scowled and turned around to see that indeed there were cameras flashing in their direction.

"You two better board the train anyway," said Ron.

"Yeah, we'll use the invisibility cloak," Harry assured them, before either could object.

They exchanged their last minute goodbyes.

"Give mum our love!"

"Hug Teddy for me!"

"If you don't answer my letters, Ronald, I'll hex you!"

"Try not to get yourself killed!"

"Relax Gin, I'll be babysitting your boyfriend, remember?"

"That's what I'm worried about,"

"OI!"

"She's got a point you know,"

"Whose side are you on?"

Finally, trunks were loaded just as the train whistled one last time and picked up pace. The girls waved wildly from the windows, and Harry flashed back to years ago when he was the one on the train waving to a shaggy black dog who had wagged his tail happily at him. He realised that the place held so many memories, not only for him, but for everyone else too. He only hoped, as he chased the train with Ron exactly the way Ginny had done so many years ago, that King's Cross would hold even more happy memories for him in the future.


Author's Notes: Maybe that was a rather abrupt and hasty ending but it's all I could come up with. I wasn't able to put down my thoughts as well as I hoped, but I hope you liked it anyway. I've been planning on writing some Marauder era or Next Generation stories, so keep a look out for them! Please review, you don't know how much they mean to me! I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this story.