Chapter 3: Platform 9 ¾

The day of September 1st rolled around, as it did each year and, there was an unusual crowd at Kings Cross station. More specifically, between platforms 9 and 10.

Harry, who was still excited about school, had become nervous in the days that lead up to September 1st. He worried about friends, his house, his classes. He was scared to leave Sirius and sad to leave his parents. But most of all he was thrilled to go to Hogwarts.

Neville, on the other hand, could've cared less. Hogwarts would mean more fans. More people who want to be his friends. More people that wanted something of him. He walked on to Platform 9 ¾, like he owned it.

"Are you ready?" Sirius looked at his godson with joy. "Look." He pointed to a large family of red heads. "That's Molly Weasley, her brothers Fabian and Gideon were in the Order. You know, I think she has a son your age. Though there are so many of them, who really knows?"

Sirius steered Harry towards the family. "Hi Molly." Sirius gave the woman a warm smile.

"Oh, Sirius. I see you have Harry with you. You know my Ron is starting school today too." She pointed to the youngest of the boys. And then to Harry she said, "You look just like your father, except your eyes…"

"I have my mother's eyes." Harry finished. He heard it all the time.

"I guess you hear it all the time." Mrs. Weasley chuckled. Then to her sons, "Fred go help Ronald with his trunk!"

One of the identical boys yelled back, "I'm not Fred!" He then pointed to the other identical boy.

"Sorry, George." Mrs. Weasley looked embarrassed.

"Just pulling your leg, I'm Fred, really." The first boy said.

"Cut it out!" And to Harry she smiled, "go, Ron's looking for a friend too." Mrs. Weasley pushed Harry towards Ron.

"Hi." Harry said, shyly.

"Hey" Ron returned a similar shy greeting.

"I'm Harry"

"Ron." They shook hands. And then Ron tried to make conversation. "What house are you going to be in?"

"Gryffindor, I reckon. It's where my parents were. Where dwell the brave at heart."

"Yah, my whole families been in Gryffindor." Ron smiled. "If I'm not, I figure I'll be disowned." Harry laughed. The train then started to puff smoke onto the platform.

"We better go." Harry then ran back to Sirius. "Bye" He hugged Sirius, tightly. Then, pulling himself away, he ran back to Ron. "Come on." Harry pulled his new best friend onto the train.

Together, they searched for an empty compartment. When this proved impossible, they settled for a compartment with just one girl. The girl had puffy, brown hair and was already wearing her school robes.

"Can we sit here?" Harry asked.

"Go ahead." The girl smiled.

"Harry Potter." Harry put out his hand.

"Hermione Granger." She said as she shook it. Then turning to Ron she said, "And you are?"

"Ronald Weasley." Ron put his out as well, and Hermione shook it. Then Hermione turned back to her book.

"What are you reading?" Harry asked.

"A History of Magic, by Batilda Bagshot." She answered, not bothering to look up from it.

"Oh I got that book." Ron said. "Why are reading it already?"

"This is the second time I've read it." Hermione said, matter of factly.

"Why?" Ron asked, like this was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard. But Herminoe didn't have a chance to answer, because just then the compartment door opened. It was Neville Longbottom! As Ron pointed out a second later.

"Blimey, your Neville Longbottom!" Ron said excitedly. "Do you really have that scare?"

"Yah." Neville was grumpy, and he lifted his bangs to show a lightening shaped scar across his forehead. "Can I hang here for a second." He pointed behind him at a group of girls who were asking him for his autograph.

"Sure." Harry welcomed Neville.

A/N: Thank you to Bluerock 7 for my first review! Hope you like this chapter, sorry if you don't. Please review if you like, don't like, have suggestions, or ideas. Thanks!