Chapter 5 – The Truth is Out
Parents and children around me were shouting, laughing and talking. Cases were being wheeled across the station and a family of red heads were making their way towards us. We were standing between platforms 9 and 10 on September the first at half past ten in the morning. This was it – I was finally going to Hogwarts.
"Good morning Uncle Ron!" Lily shouted. She started waving over to the rest of the Weasleys who were making their way towards us.
"How exactly are we getting to the platform?" Hugo asked curiously.
"Well, it says in Hogwarts a History that you walk, or run, through the wall between platforms nine and ten," I whispered so only Hugo and Mom could hear.
"Oh," Hugo replied, though he looked scared and worried.
"Jason, you go first," Ron said to the eldest Weasley boy. I watched as Jason walked casually up to the wall and disappeared! I blinked twice, just to make sure that it had happened. Everything was so different in England; getting to Salem was never like this!
"Rose, would you like to go next?" Harry said to me gently. I shook my head; I was still too nervous.
"I'll go then, shall I?" Sierra said with a hint of superiority in her voice. She disappeared through the walls as well, and was soon followed by Sam, Albus, Ron (holding Anna's hand), Ginny (holding Lily's hand), Harry and Mom (holding Hugo's hand).
"You ready?" James said to me. I shook my head again.
"No, but I suppose I have to get over it."
"We'll go together. On three. One..." I held onto my trolley. "Two..." I got ready to run. "Three!" We ran towards the wall and I closed my eyes, waiting for the crash that never came. "You can open your eyes now." I did as I was told, and I found myself facing a large red steam engine - the Hogwarts Express, finally.
"Wow," I whispered as I looked around the platform. I saw some familiar faces as I took everything in: Lorcan and Dean Thomas, all the Longbottoms, George and Fred (the second) and – unfortunately – Scorpius Malfoy!
"As if my morning wasn't bad enough," I heard Ron mutter to Harry.
"Oi Granger! What brings you back here? Did the husband finally realise what filth he had married?" We all turned our heads to look at Mr Malfoy. I could now see where Scorpius got his attitude from – I almost felt sorry for him.
"Ignore him Hermione, he's not worth it," Ginny said to Mom.
"Don't worry Gin, I know him too well not to sink to his level."
"I say you go over there Hermione and give him a blast from the past. Remember third year?" Ron said, with a grin on his face as he remembered the day.
"Go for it Hermione! We could all do with a laugh!" Harry said, backing Ron up.
"There is no way I am reliving that, as much as I enjoyed it." Mom started smiling as well.
"What are you talking about?" Albus asked, saying what we were all thinking.
"Just the time that Hermione was a rebelious little b-''
"Ronald! They've heard enough!" Mom said, as if she was scolding a bold child. We all laughed at the two of them.
"Onto the train now, before all the good seats are taken," Ginny said, trying to distract us.
"Hey Weasley, where's the wife? Oh right, she was put out of her misery. Bet she was thankful for that werewolf! It means she doesn't have to put up with you anymore!"
"That's it Hermione. If you don't go over and punch that slimeball's face, then I will!"
"Ron, calm down. You don't want to start a scene!"
"Come on kids, onto the train!"
"Hermione, he just brought up my wife's death right in front of me and my children! Why should I calm down?"
"The train will be leaving in fifteen minutes."
"Get on the train kids."
"Ron, Hermione's right. You need to calm down."
"Oh, so you're taking her side in this are you Harry? Typical."
"Dad, Uncle Harry is right. You need to calm down."
"Stay out of this Sierra!" Sierra jumped back from her father. I wanted to go over and give her a hug, but she was still frosty with me. I couldn't believe what was happening right in front of me. Ron had been the happy-go-lucky guy cracking jokes and keeping everyone in good spirits all summer. This was not the same man.
"Dad, just chill out, you're starting to scare Anna. Just step away from the group. Come with me." Jason led a shaking Ron away from the group.
"Now I wish we got on the train when we were told," James whispered to me.
"I really wish you didn't have to see that Rose. Dad goes crazy whenever Mum is mentioned," Sam said to me as we all walked onto the train. Sierra was still crying silently, staying close to her younger sister. I gave her a reassuring smile, which she thankfully returned. Maybe we could get our friendship back on track.
"It's ok. I just hope he's all right." We found an empty carriage and left our trunks in it. We went back out onto the platform to say goodbye properly, and hoping to find Ron in a better mood.
"Ron, you can't say something like that to your son! Of course he'll find someone! Everyone has a soul mate out there!"
"Oh just shut it Hermione! Just because you know that your child has a soul mate does not mean that everyone else has one!"
"Ron, calm down. You're causing a scene. Let's talk about this when we get home," Harry said reassuringly.
"Rosie!" Hugo came running over to me. He looked scared. I gave him a hug. Was he crying? What had we missed?
"It's ok Hugo. Ron's just a bit angry at the moment. He'll calm down once he's had a firewhiskey or something," I said, trying to cheer him up. I really hoped I was right.
"Why do you have to leave me Rosie? Why can't you just stay here and go to Hogwarts when I am?"
"I have to go now Hugo. It's all organised. I'll be back for Christmas, and we'll get to see Dad, remember. I'll write to you every day as well. You have to stay here and look after Mom." I kissed the top of his head and he gave me a final hug. I went over to Mom and said goodbye to her and Ginny. Harry was still trying to get Ron to calm down. I waved over to them; I knew I would see Harry in school tomorrow. I got on the train and waited for James and Sam to return. They came on two minutes after me and sat down in the carriage, clearly annoyed with how the goodbyes went.
"The train will be leaving in one minute." We all stuck our heads out the window to give one final wave and heard Ron shout:
"The daughter of brains is Rose and the son of courage is James! Just because my son is going to be miserable for the rest of his life, doesn't mean you have to keep reminding me that your two perfect little children are soul mates!"
I slumped back into my seat and the train started moving. Soul mates? Me and James? What was happening?
"Bloody hell," Sam whispered.