"This is weird" she said and Michael nodded. She was standing in his bedroom and looking at his trunk. It was open and his new Wizarding things were spread across his bed. His wand was in his desk drawer so he didn't accidently break it. His new robes were unfolded and his cauldron was in the corner as a door stop.
"Come on then give us a twirl" she said and thrust a set of robes at him. He shrugged and put them on. He twirled at her request and she snorted.
"It's like a dress" she said in between giggles and Michael frowned. Then he broke into laughter as well.
"Yea it is" he said as he took it off and folded it clumsily.
"So when do you go?" she asked and he sighed.
"September 1st" he answered and she nodded. She pushed his stuff to one side and sat down on his bed. He looked around for somewhere else to sit and then shrugged and folded himself onto the floor.
"You read these books?" she asked and he nodded.
"Some of them, The Standard Book of Spells I have and I have started Fantastic Beasts" he said marvelling at how he was talking about magic and spells as if it was normal. Of course it was normal for him now.
"Tell me about something" she said and he smiled and grabbed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He turned to his bookmark and continued to read from where he had left off.
"The bowtruckle lives in trees, but more specifically trees of wand quality..." his voice trailed out of the open window as the two children immersed themselves in the magical world.
The next couple of weeks raced by as September 1st came closer. Michael and Zoe spent more and more time together, knowing that soon he would be away for a long time. They continued kissing when they were alone and by the time August 30th came around Zoe felt confident enough to try something. They were lying on Michael's bed chatting about what their classes were going to be like next year. Michael talked about Potions, Transfiguration and Charms, while Zoe talked Maths, English and History. She also heard about Harry Potter, the boy that Michael had met in Diagon Alley. They had kept their word and over the last 2 weeks they had each sent a dozen or so letters to each other and told each other about themselves. Michael hadn't told Zoe about them until his Owl (which he had called Black Velvet) swooped in one evening with Harry's letter and he and Zoe were playing Monopoly. Zoe had tickled him until he relented and from that point on all his letters were signed "Michael and Zoe"
Zoe stretched up and locked their lips together. Michael leaned in and deepened the kiss. What happened next he was not expecting. He felt Zoe's soft tongue slip over his teeth and, automatically, he parted them to allow her access. "Two can play at that game" he thought and his tongue darted out to wrestle with hers. They continued their new game until a rap on the door alerted them that it was time for Zoe to head home.
"Sorry" she said, not really meaning it. Michael laughed and pecked her on the nose.
"Don't apologise. I enjoyed it" he said and she blushed.
"Me too" she answered and they went downstairs hand-in-hand. Michael walked her home in silence. Only when they reached her front door did he ask the question he had been meaning to ask since she got back.
"You coming with me to Kings Cross tomorrow?" he asked and she smiled.
"Of course hun. I'll come" she said and kissed him.
"Good then I'll see you 8 o'clock tomorrow" he said. His mum had taken the morning off work to give him a lift. She nodded and went in. Michael almost skipped home, he was so happy. But then he realised that it would mean leaving her on her own. Then he remembered Black Velvet. He could still talk to her.
The next morning he woke early and showered and got dressed. He tidied his room and packed all his stuff. He retrieved his wand from his drawer and slipped it into his jacket pocket. He slung his cauldron over one arm and closed his trunk. He pulled it downstairs and set it next to the front door. Just as he was turning towards the kitchen there was a knock at the door. He opened it and pulled the small girl in. He picked her up and kissed her squarely while he closed the door with his foot. She melted into his grip as he carried her to the kitchen and set her on one of the stools around the breakfast bar.
"What was that for? I don't mind but..." she said as she tried to get her breath back. And Michael laughed.
"I don't have much time left to do that so I am trying to build up a backlog" he said grinning and she giggled at his expression.
"Toast?" he asked and she nodded. When they had both eaten they waited for 9 o'clock when mum had said they needed to leave. At five to they heard her come downstairs and trip on his trunk.
"Ready?" she called and he looked at Zoe. She nodded.
"Yea Mum" he called and they got up and went out to collect his things. When they had squeezed them into the boot he slipped in to the back seat with Zoe. He put Black Velvet's cage on the front seat so he could sit with Zoe. They rushed through the early morning traffic and pulled up outside Kings Cross at 10.25. they pulled Michaels stuff out and found a trolley to put it all on. He pushed it through the sea of people towards the newspaper stand. Standing there was Harry. He called when they approached and Harry, pushing his own trolley, came over and they shook hands. He smiled at Zoe when Michael introduced her and then glanced at his watch.
"It's quarter to. We better get a move on" Michael nodded and, side by side, they made their way towards Platforms nine and ten. As they approached they heard a woman come past with her children.
"..Packed with Muggles of course" Harry picked up his ears and Michael followed his gaze. They watched as a plump woman with bright red hair herded her children towards the dividing wall, one by one they approached the wall between platforms nine and ten and disappeared.
"Well we know it works then" Harry said and Michael nodded. He turned to Zoe who had been very quite since they arrived.
"This is it" he said. He was going to say more when she leapt at him and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. He responded and they remained like that until Harry coughed.
"Come on Michael" he said a hint of amusement and sadness in his voice. Michael broke away from Zoe and they pressed their foreheads together and got their breath back.
"I Love you" he said and she nodded.
"I know and I love you" she said and kissed him once more. He broke away quickly when he saw his mum approaching over her shoulder and he put her down quickly she looked surprised before she followed his gaze and giggled.
"Sorry" she whispered and he shook his head.
"Don't be" he said. He waved to his mum and then turned away and followed Harry towards the portal. When he reached it he turned and blew a kiss towards his mum and Zoe. His mum laughed but Zoe caught it and put it over her heart. Then he turned and entered the portal.