Platform 9 ¾

Chapter six

Just two today.

September 1st stormed in. Harry and I had all of our belongings loaded into the trolley and Hagrid began leading the way to the platform, where soon, we would board onto the train and take us to Hogwarts. This was so exciting. Even Hedwig and Scorpio were hooting in delight. Hopefully, wherever we were going there would be plenty of space for them to fly around. I think they would like that after being cooped up for a long time. The train station wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be, considering that it was a Sunday and all.

"Blimey is that the time?" Hagrid asked pulling his pocket watch out from his coat. "I'm afraid that I have to leave ya. Dumbledore will be wanting his ah; well he'll be wanting to see me. Here are your tickets," he handed us each one. "It is important that you stick with your ticket." I looked at the tiny, thin paper in my hands. This made absolutely no sense. Platform 9 and ¾? Was there even a place?

"Hagrid, this can't be right," I said. "Platform nine and ¾? There can't be such a place. Can there?"

Looking back up, I found that he was gone. Hagrid simply just disappeared. How did he do that? I guess Harry and I were on our own now.

"Should we try and find the platform?" Harry asked.

"Sounds good to me," I agreed. "Let's go."

So, Harry and I started off towards the platforms. All the platforms were normal numbers. 7, 8, 9, 10 and so forth. No 9 ¾ in sight. We did get a few odd glances, which was understandable. Why would two 11 year olds be wondering alone at a train station? It was five minutes later when we were about to give up.

"I'm going to ask for help," Harry strode over to a fat man. "Excuse me sir, can you tell us where we might find Platform 9 and ¾?"

"9 and ¾?" he laughed at us. "Think you're being funny do ya?" And he walked off.

"How rude," I said. "How are we going to find it?"

"I don't know," he sighed.

"…..packed with Muggles every year," A large woman with red hair walked passed.

"Muggles?" Harry and I looked at each other. We followed behind them.

"Alright Percy, you go first dear," she motioned the eldest of the boys with flaming red hair. He lined up straight with the wall and began running right at it. Was he insane? I wanted to yell out, but before I could, he vanished. Right through the wall. "Fred, George, you two next. The next two eldest, who also looked exactly alike went next. This had to be it. This had to be how we would get onto the platform.

"Excuse us," Harry called out. "Could you tell us how to get onto the platform?"

"Of course I can, it's Ron's first time at Hogwarts too," we turned and looked at yet another red-headed boy. He smiled at us. "Now, what you should do is line up straight between platforms nine and ten and go right at the wall. Might want to do it at a bit of a run if you are nervous." Harry gulped.

"I'll go first!" I rolled out in front of him. Harry was always the less adventuresome between us. With a deep breath, I darted right towards the wall. There was a tiny feeling in the bottom of my gut with doubts, but I quickly ignored it because when I opened my eyes I was on the other side of the wall. "No way," I smiled going down the way. The scarlet engine was before me. Hogwarts Express written in gold on the front.

"This is really cool," Harry came up beside me.

"About time you got here," I laughed. "Let's find a seat before the train leaves."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

The scenery flew by as the train went full steep ahead on the tracks. It seemed like we had been on the train for hours. I wonder how long this ride was going to last? It was four hours now, would we be getting there at night? Would it be that long?

"Excuse me," there was a knock on the frame. It was that Ron kid. "Do you mind? Everywhere else is full."

"Go for it man," I said taking my feet off of the seat in front of me so he could sit down.

"Thanks. I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley," he said.

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter," Harry said.

"And I'm Haylee Potter," we shook hands.

"Really?" Ron's face dropped. "So, do you two really have those, those scars?"

"Oh, yeah," we showed him.

"Wicked," he said.

"It's no big deal," I shrugged. "So do you know what Hogwarts is like?"

"Oh yeah, my brothers have told me lots of stuff," Ron answered.

"Did they mention how long it will be until we get there?" I asked.

"Pretty long," he answered. "Won't get there till dark I expect."

"Great," I said.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" The candy lady wheeled a huge cart of sweets by our door.

"No thanks," Ron said. "I'm all set." He pulled out a wrapped sandwich from his pocket. It did not look appetizing whatsoever.

"We'll take the lot," I grabbed a handful of Galleons from my pocket.

"Whoa," Ron gasped. "You didn't need to do that."

"Think of it as a trade," I said. "If you tell us some stuff about Hogwarts."

"Deal," I picked up a pack of jelly beans.

"Every flavor?" I asked.

"Oh yeah," Ron took a licorice wand. "They mean it. They have all of the candy flavors like peppermint, chocolate, marshmallow and things like that. Then there's the nasty flavors like, tripe, earwax, and rotten eggs. My brother George swore he got a boogie flavored one once."

"That's attractive," I took the bean out of my mouth. It was green; I wasn't going to take any chances.

"These aren't real frogs are they?" Harry asked.

"No, it's only a spell," Ron said. "Besides you want the cards. Every pack has a card of a famous witch or wizard inside it."

"I've got Dumbledore," Harry exclaimed. He paid no attention to the chocolate frog jumping out of the window. What an idiot.

"I have about six of him," Ron said.

"He's gone!" Harry exclaimed.

"You can't expect him to stay around all day can you?" Ron asked. "This is my rat Scabbers by the way. A bit pathetic actually."

"Just a bit," I agreed. Rats were weird in my opinion.

"Fred gave me a spell to turn him yellow. Do you two want to see?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," I grinned. Actually going to see some magic.

Taking his wand in hand, Ron let out a cough before beginning. "Sunshine- can we help you?" A girl with brown, bushy hair came into our compartment.

"Have any of you seen a toad?" she asked. "A boy named Neville's lost one?"

"No," we shook our heads.

"Oh, are you doing magic?" she wondered. "Let's see then."

Coughing again, Ron went for another go. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow." He waved his wand, but nothing happened. I might have never done magic before, but that didn't really sound like a legit spell to me.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" the girl asked. "Well it's not very good is it? I've only tried a couple spells myself and they all worked for me," she sat beside me. "For example, Oculus Reparo." Amazingly, Harry's broken glasses fixed.

"Whoa, that was so cool," I said.

"That's better isn't it?" She asked Harry. "Holy cricket, you're Harry Potter! Then you must be Haylee Potter."

"In the flesh," I said.

"I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?" she asked Ron.

"Um, Ron Weasley." He actually had to think about it? Wow.

"Pleasure," Hermione said. "You three might want to get into your robes. I expect we will be arriving soon," she got to her feet and headed out. "You've go dirt on your nose. Did you know?" she asked Ron. "Right there."

I snickered. I liked this girl.

Ron was right. It was dark by the time we arrived at the station. Hogsmeade, I believe is what Ron told us. When it came to a compete stop, everyone unloaded and piled out onto the cobblestone ground.

"First years this way!" A large man shouted from ahead. I knew that voice.

"Hey Hagrid," Harry and I smiled up at him.

"Whoa," Ron stared at him in awe.

"Have a good trip you two?" Hagrid asked us quickly.

"Yup," I answered.

"Good to hear," he said. "Follow me to the boats!"

"Boats?" I asked.

"First years have to come a different way than the rest of the students," Ron explained. "Fred told me before we can sit down we have to do a test or something. Says it's really hard."

"I bet he's just pulling your leg," I replied while we walked behind Hagrid.

"Four to a boat if you please!" Hagrid shouted to all of us little ones.

Harry, Ron and I loaded into one with another kid with a rounded face. Once everyone was seated, the boats began to the other side of the lake. It was a big lake too. I wonder what was at the bottom of it. If Goblins and things were real, could, I don't know, the Loch Ness Monster be hiding in there? Then with a loud gasp, I stared up at the beautiful castle in front of me. It was so big! We were actually going to be staying here for the next nine months. This was Heaven.

Time to go write more. Catch you on the flip side!