Disclaimer- I don't own anything that you readers recognize from the Harry Potter books/movies. That all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I only own my character Serena Lily Potter, the character Christopher Elijah Granger belongs to my friend, Kiba1278, and Adelinda Narcissa Malfoy belongs to my other friend, SunriseDestined. On my profile page will be links to the outfits the characters will be wearing. Please comment/review but please don't leave rude comments.

Chapter 6: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

Serena looked around King's Cross. It was so crowded. This was one of the many places Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had never taken the twins. It was extremely crowded with passengers struggling to get to the trains that would take them to their destination.

"Blimey is that time?" Serena was shaken out of her thoughts at the sound of Hagrid's shocked voice. "Sorry Harry, Serena, but I'm gonna have to leave. Dumbledore would be wanting his...Well, he'd be wanting to see me. Now, your train leaves in ten minutes. Here's your ticket. Stick to it Harry, Serena, that's very important. Stick to your ticket."

Serena examined the neat writing on the ticket Hagrid had just handed her. "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters? But Hagrid, there must be a mistake," Harry said, speaking what both he and his sister were thinking. "This says Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. There's no such thing. Is there?" The twins said looked up to find the spot where Hagrid was standing seconds earlier was empty.

"What now?" Serena asked quietly.

As at the same moment a group of people passed just behind them and the twins turned as they caught a few words they were saying

"-Packed with muggles of course-"

Exchanging a glance, the twins pushed their cart after them and Serena followed more slowly, she was always nervous about meeting new people. They stopped and so did the siblings, near enough to hear what they were saying.

"Now, what's the platform number?" said the boys' mother.

"Nine and three-quarters!" Piped a small girl, also red-headed, who was holding her hand. "Mum, can't I go..."

"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. Alright, Percy, you first." The mother said.

What looked like the oldest boy, marched towards platform nine and ten.

Harry and Serena watched, careful not to blink in case they missed it but just as the boy reached the divided barrier between the platforms a large crowd of tourists came swarming in front of the and by the time the last backpack had cleared away, the boy was gone.

"Fred, you next," the plump women said.

"I'm not Fred, I'm George," said the boy. "Honestly, women, you call yourself our mother?"

"Sorry. George dear," the mother said.

The boy turned to face the barrier. "Only joking! I am Fred!"

Serena giggled and the other boy, Fred's twin, turned to look at her. He smiled towards her which made her look away, going slightly red before the boy followed his twin, running towards the wall.

"Excuse me!" Harry called out, grabbing onto his sister's wrist, dragging her forward as he pushed his cart towards the remaining three of the red-headed family. Serena struggled to push her cart with one hand as she was forced to follow her brother. "Could you tell us how to..." Harry trailed off.

"How to get on to the platform?" The plump women finished. Harry and Serena nodded and Serena pulled her wrist free from her brother's grip, shooting him a furious look as she did so. "Yes, not to worry dear, it's Ron's first time to Hogwarts as well." The women gestured towards the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin and gangling with freckles, big hands and feet and a long nose. The boy, Ron, gave Serena a smile which made her turn away, blushing, to stare at his mother who was speaking again. "Now, all you have to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten. Best do it at a run if you're nervous."

Harry glanced towards his sister who gestured for him to go first.

Once her brother had vanished, she glanced towards the plump lady. "It's alright dear, Ron will be right behind you if you need any help."

"Good luck," said the young girl who was standing next to her brother.

Serena pushed her trolley around and stared at the barrier. It looked very solid. She started to walk towards it. Serena walked more quickly as she began to get nearer and nearer, her nerves growing as she did so. She closed her eyes, expecting to crash into the wall. She kept on running. She opened her eyes. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said 'Hogwarts Express, Eleven o'clock' Serena looked behind her and saw a iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform nine and three-quarters on it, she had done it.

"This is amazing!" Serena gasped as she met her brother who was standing a few paces away, obviously waiting for her.

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and scraping of heavy trunks.

A few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search for an empty seat. Serena followed more slowly, seeming uncomfortable at being surrounded by people. They passed a round-faced boy who was saying, "Gran, I've lost my toad again,"

"Oh Neville," Serena heard the old women sigh.

Harry and Serena finally found a compartment. Serena breathed in relief, she didn't like being surrounded by so many people.

A soft knock sounded on the compartment door and the boy, Ron, poked his head inside. "Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full."

"Not at all," Harry said, ignoring Serena's frantic look. She wanted to talk to her brother about the events that had just happened.

Once the boy was settled in the seat across from the twins, he smiled at them. "I'm Ron by the way! Ron Weasley."

"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." Harry glanced towards Serena who was gazing out the window. "And I'm Serena. Serena Potter" Serena said.
"So it's true!" Ron was staring at them in amazement. "Do you two really have the...the..."

"The what?" Harry asked, confused.

"The scars?" Ron whispered, eyes wide.

"Oh!" Harry pushed his bangs up, revealing his scar. Serena reluctantly pushed her fringe up, showing Ron hers as well.

"Wicked!" Ron breathed and Serena went slightly pink.

"Anything off the trolley dears?" An old lady poked her head into the compartment.

"We'll take the lot!" Harry said, exchanging a glance with Ron.
"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" Harry repeated, reading aloud the title on the box.

"They literally mean every flavor!" Ron said through a mouthful of licorice wands. "There's chocolate, peppermint and also spinach liver, and tripe. George sweared he got boogie flavored one once." Serena made a face and picked up a packet.

"Chocolate frogs? These aren't real frogs are they?" Serena asked Ron. Harry smiled to his sister. He could tell that his sister seemed to like Ron, thus the fact that she was actually talking to him.

"It's just a spell," Ron reassured her. "But it's the cards you want. Each pack's got a famous witch or wizard. I got about five hundred myself," Serena slid the packet open.

She jumped back against the seat as the frog jumped out of the packet and onto the window.

"Watch it!" Ron said. Serena tried to grab the frog with Harry's help but the frog just jumped out the open window.

"That's rotten luck," Ron grimaced at her.

"I've got Dumbledore!" Harry announced, waving a card around in the air. Serena took it from him and scanned the description.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
_
Currently Headmaster of HogwartsConsidered but many the greatest wizard of Modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling

"I've got about six of him," Ron told them.

Harry nodded then gasped, "Hey, he's gone!" Serena looked at the card to find it empty.

"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day, can you? This is Scabbers by the way. Pathetic isn't he?" Ron held up a light gray rat which just hung limply from his hand.

Serena giggled while Harry said, "Just a little bit," Obviously trying to be nice.

"Fred gave me a spell to turn him yellow. Want to see?" Ron asked pulling out his wand. "Sure" Serena said. "Ahem...Sunshine..." Ron stared to say.

Suddenly a boy and girl appeared at the door of their compartment. They were already dressed in their Hogwarts robes. The girl had brown bushy hair and rather large front teeth and the boy had short brown hair and brown eyes. "Has anyone seen a toad?" the girl asked in a rather bossy tone of voice. "A boy named Neville's has lost one." The boy said.

"No," said Ron, obviously wanting them to leave.

"Oh are you doing magic? Let's see then." the girl said as she took a seat beside Harry and the boy sat next to Serena.

Ron looked slightly taken back but all the same, he cleared his throat, raised his wand and said, "Sunshine daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow." and pointed the end of his wand at the rat. Nothing happened. Scabbers remained asleep and gray.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" The girl sounded amused. "Well, it's not very good is it?" the boy asked. "Of course, I've only tried a few simple ones myself but they've all worked for me. For example: Oculus Reparo," the girl said as she raised her wand towards Harry's face. Harry looked shocked as she fixed his glasses. "That's better isn't it?" Her eyes widened. "Holy cricket! You're Harry Potter! I'm Hermione Granger" She said as the boy turned to Serena who smiled shyly. "And You're Serena Potter! I'm Christopher Granger but call me Chris," the boy said as Hermione glanced towards Ron. "And you are...?" She asked sounding slightly disgusted.

Ron swallowed his mouthful of food before replying. "I'm Ron Weasley."

"Pleasure." Hermione and Chris said as they turned back to Serena and Harry. "You three better change into your robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon" Chris said. "You've dirt on your nose by the way," Hermione said to Ron, pausing at the door of the compartment with her brother. "Just there." She indicated where it was then turned and left. Ron shot Harry a look and Serena half smiled, trying not to laugh.

Serena stood up, grabbing her robes and turned to leave the compartment.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked worriedly.

"To change into my uniform," Serena answered quietly. Harry nodded and turned back to talk to Ron.

Serena soon found the changing room and quickly slipped into her uniform. On her way back, however, she heard a familiar bossy voice say, "Excuse me but have you seen a toad anywhere?"

Quickly, she tried to bolt, not wanting another encounter with Hermione and Chris, but as she spun around, someone coming the other way bumped into her, causing her to fall backwards, her back hitting the compartment door while the other person shot out a hand so they were looming over her as she was pressed against the cool glass door.

Staring up into his face, she recognized him as the boy from the robes shop with his sister, Adelinda, standing next to him.
"I...er...sorry," she spluttered and she blushed bright red as she looked up into his eyes.

"It's alright," he whispered.

"I wasn't looking where I was going," Serena said as she looked at the blonde boy.

"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," He said to her. "And this is my sister-" His sister cut him off.

"Adelinda but you already know that from that day in Diagon Alley" Adelinda said as Draco gave her a smile making her blush. "And what's your name?" he asked.

"Serena," she answered shortly.

"Your surname?" Draco asked.

"Potter," She mumbled, staring at the ground, wondering how they were going to take it.

Draco turned to look at Adelinda in shock then turned back to stare at her.

"Y-you mean...you're the Serena Potter?" Draco asked.

"Mother and Father told us a lot about you and what you and your brother did eleven y-" Draco began but Serena stopped him.

"Please don't let that get in the way of us becoming friends," She said quietly. "I want people who are my friends because of who I am and not because of something that happened eleven years ago that I don't even remember. I'm just a regular girl named Serena."

Adelinda nodded. "I can see how you would feel that way."

Serena smiled. Maybe this school was going to be fun after all.

*Hogwarts*

The train stopped and people pushed their way towards the door and out onto the tiny, dark platform. Serena shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and the twins heard a familiar voice. "First years! Firs' years over here! All right there Harry, Serena?"

Hagrid's big hairy face was visible over the sea of heads.

"C'mon, follow me-anymore firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path it was so dark on either side of them that. The twins thought like there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke.
There was a loud 'Oooooh'

The narrow path suddenly opened into the great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkled the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No mor'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville were followed in their boat followed by Chris, Serena, and Adelinda into the last boat.

"Everyone in?" Shouted Hagrid, who had a boat of his own. "Right then-FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff which it stood on. Serena knew, at that moment, she would never forget this.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through the curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along the dark tunnel which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto the rocks and pebbles.

They walked up a flight of steps and crowded around a huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here?" Serena took a deep breath as Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.