"Who are we?" Ember says quietly, taking a sip of her soup. Jayden nods. Hagrid sighs. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Malha and Robert Crawford are allies with Voldemort, one of the darkest of the wizards in this world. They're the most feared followers of Voldemort. They weren't at first. They were nice people. Very talented, very smart. Robert used to be the Minister of Magic. That's the place of law in the magic world. But Voldemort offered them glory. Power. And they accepted. But then they found out they were having you two. So once Malha gave birth to you two, she left them at the front step of Hogwarts. We found you two and then we took you to your aunt and uncle's." Ember and Jayden just stare at him in pure shock. Ember's eyes fill with water.
"They didn't want us?" Jayden wraps his arm around her shoulders. Hagrid doesn't answer. They sit in silence for a few minutes, before Hagrid clears his throat.
"We need to go shopping for your school supplies."
"But we don't have money?"
"Your grandparents left you quite the load."
ま
Ember practically screams when Hagrid hands her a small, mewling tabby kitten.
"Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" She squeals, squeezing it. He blushes.
"Aw, it's nothing. It's a girl, by the way."
"Her name is Tiger." She says proudly. Jayden rolls his eyes. Hagrid smiles at him and hands him a cage. It holds a silver owl. She hoots at him.
"And I got you a little something too." Jayden smiles shyly at Hagrid.
"Thank you."
"Now come on, we have a train to catch." He puts their trunks on two trollies.
あ
Hagird hands them two tickets. Tiger meows from Ember's coat pocket.
"Stick to yer tickets!" He says. They look down.
"But Hagrid, there isn't a nine and three quarters." Ember says. They look up, but he was gone. Ember looks at Jayden. "This is so confusing."
"I know." They roll their trollies around. They see a conductor and run to him. "Excuse me, sir, do you know where nine and three quarters is?" He looks at them flatly.
"You think you're being funny, don't you?" He snorts and walks off. Ember sighs.
"Now what are we gonna do?" They see a lean woman courting a girl their age, a owl on her trolley.
"Come on, Evie dear. Nine and three quarters are this way." They follow Evie and the woman. Jayden taps the woman's shoulder.
"Excuse me, do you know how to get to nine and three quarters?" The woman smiles.
"Of course! This is Evie's first year too." She points to the stone arch separating nine and ten. "Just run straight through that. Evie, show them. " Evie smiles and runs. She disappears. Ember blinks. "Go on."
Jayden runs in, Ember following. Jayden looks around the train station, crowded with hundreds of people and their children. The train whistles. Ember looks at Jayden.
"I'm gonna pass out."