Chapter 18: At King's Cross again
On the morning of September 1st, Platform 9 3/4 was full of families. The air was covered by the train's steam mixed with excitement and nervousness.
Ron and Harry were putting James, Rose and Albus' trunks on the train. Rose kept looking around, as if looking for something or someone to appear.
"You think she'll come?" Hugo asked her. Rose looked at her brother.
"She will. She promised to be here today." She said. Just then, a redheaded girl came running to them. Behind her was a tall young man with blonde hair. Rose ran to the girl, smiling. They hugged.
"You came!" Rose exclaimed.
"I wasn't going to miss seeing my little sister going off to Hogwarts for anything in the world." The girl said.
"Belle, you're here!" Hugo said as the 19-year-old girl went to hug him.
"Hey, Hugh! You're taller than you were last weekend." She said. She opened her purple purse and took out a blue book. "I got the book you wanted." She added handing it to Hugo. The boy looked at it, mesmerized, and hugged his sister. "I also got you this month's catalogue. Let me know if you find something you like." She said as she gave him piece of parchment. It's been a year since Belle had moved in with her boyfriend Adam. They lived in a small apartment in wizarding London near Diagon Alley. While Adam worked in Gringotts, Belle worked in the bookshop Flourish and Blotts. They were both studying in wizarding university: Adam was studying to become a lawyer and Belle was studying Wizarding literature. Both Ron and Hermione were extremely proud of what their first born had accomplished.
Belle saw her parents, cousins, aunt and uncle and she went and hugged them.
"It's good to see you, kiddo." Ron said. Belle smiled. "You too, Adam." He then added referring to the blonde guy standing next to his daughter. Adam nodded.
"Sorry we were late, but Belle wasn't feeling well." He added as Belle glared at him. Hermione and Ron looked at her, worried.
"It's nothing serious. I just ate something wrong last night." Belle answered. Before her parents could say anything, she gave her father a piece of parchment similar to the one she had given to Hugo.
"I got you the catalogue you wanted." She said. "I marked the ones mom might like for her birthday." She whispered in his year as she hugged him again.
"That's why you're my favorite." He whispered back. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Mom, I got you the book on goblins laws you wanted." She said handing her mom a large volume. Hermione smiled as she took the book.
"And this is for you." Belle said giving Rose and old notebook. "It's my diary from my first year at Hogwarts. It has things about school subjects and things I wanted to remember. I think it'll be helpful for you." She said. Rose took it in her hands as if she was holding a treasure. Then, she hugged her sister. "I love you, Belle" she said.
"I love you too, Rosie Posie. I'll see you at Christmas." Belle said. In that moment, they heard the sound of the whistle. Rose said goodbye to her brother and parents and then she hopped on the train.
"I don't get it." Hugo said as everyone was looking at the train leave. He was looking at Belle's purse.
"What, Hugh?" Belle asked.
"How did you get all those heavy books in that tiny purse?" He asked.
"Undetectable Expansion charm." Hermione and Belle said. They looked at each other and smiled.
"I'll teach you how to do it on Sunday brunch. I promise." Belle told Hugo.
Belle and Hugo walked side by side as they talked about everything. Hermione looked at them, smiling. Looking at her eldest daughter talking to her youngest as if they were equals made her extremely proud as a mom.