Chapter Four: Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters

The remainder of the summer holiday passed by too quickly for Erin's liking. In fact, she wouldn't have minded entirely if she just remained in Diagon Alley- both she and Sapphira had grown deeply attached to it the time they spent there.

The pub she had originally gone through to reach Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron, also accommodated rooms in the upstairs for traveling visitors or people who could not afford anywhere else. Erin did not mind at all, and was delighted in staying in what she looked at as a magical motel. The mirror in her room talked- yes, actually talked!- in a strange wheezing voice- she was served three delicious meals a day that was included in her room fee- and was also free to roam Diagon Alley at her pleasure.

Because she had already purchased all her school supplies, Erin used up the last few days before school either gazing at the broomstick in the shop window, or passing by her absolute favorite sight in Diagon Alley.

It was a large, blinding white building that towered over the little shops. Erin liked to think of it as the powerful ruler, lording all over its groveling subjects. It was bold and majestic, but she had never been inside- from the snatches of conversations she had picked up, it was Gringotts, the wizarding bank. She had no need of a bank, and so therefore just gazed wistfully at it, wondering what sort of treasures could be inside.

But summer was over, and with a heavy heart she put the finishing touches to her luggage and looked out the window adoringly, as though this would be the last time she would see Diagon Alley again. She touched the glass of the window softly, as though reaching out to touch the village itself, but a voice called from outside her door and broke her thoughts.

"Erin?" There was a sharp tap on the door, and she opened it rather reluctantly. It was Tom, the landlord, and she knew if he was here it was time for her to leave. "I have just spoken with the Headmaster," he said with a lisp. "Your train leaves at eleven today, so I will drive you to King's Cross… are you all set?

She glanced questioningly at Sapphira, who at the moment was hovering above her open suitcase, evaluating all the items (rather few) that had been packed. At last, she gave a satisfied chirp, and Erin turned to Tom, grinning nervously. "I'm ready."

They were able to reach the station in quite some time, although Erin suspected Tom had used magic to cheat his way through the unmovable line of traffic they had run into. He courteously opened the door for her and she stepped out, thanking him as he got a cart for her to place her luggage on. Sapphira remained, as always, on her shoulder.

"Your ticket," he said, handing her the small paper. "And don't forget, walk right into the barrier between platform nine and ten- best do it on a run for your first time. Would you like me to-"

"No," Erin cut in firmly. "I'll be fine on my own. Thank you for your hospitality. I expect I'll see you in a year." Out of the corner of her eye she watched him drive off in the car, jumping ahead of two cars in front of him and suddenly disappearing after cutting in front of a Ferrari. Erin wheeled her luggage into the station, her head twisting at every platform number she saw before she reached platform nine and ten.

There was nothing spectacular about the barrier that stood in between- nothing to hint that beyond it was the way into the wizarding world. She gazed at barrier, her heart hammering in her chest. It seemed very much solid to her. And she was supposed to walk through it?

Very casually, she leaned forward and walked toward the barrier, slowly picking up her pace so she wouldn't be able to stop in case she backed down. She was going to smash, and she knew it! She was right before it, running now, and she was going to crash into it, and then where would she be? She winced for a moment, dreading the impact…

But instead felt Sapphira's claws tighten on her shoulder, and felt something smooth brush against her, almost like a gentle breeze. The station she had momentarily been standing had completely changed, and her eyes glanced around in shock. People were packed at a platform where a scarlet steam engine was waiting for them, with a sign overhead that said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. She had done it.

"We're here," she breathed softly, looking at Sapphira with happiness. "And I wasn't scared at all!" she lied to her, throwing her an offended look when Sapphira's eyes bubbled with laughter.

Her gold eyes shone with wonder as she watched children, her age and older, hug their parents goodbye, and watched their parents kiss them affectionately on their heads, saying they would see them soon with tears in their eyes. Her heart constricted and she felt a pang of- what?

There were groups of children spread out across the platform, comparing items and just having a good laugh. Was she going to be the only stranger here? Already students had boarded the train, and they were leaning out the window, grinning widely as they called their last farewells to their families. "Goodbye, mum!" A girl with wavy brown and freckles plastered over her face was hanging out the window, waving to some unseen parent. "I'll miss you, Mum!"

She had no mother to miss.

She ignored Sapphira's stare; she'd rather not talk about what she was feeling right now. She pressed on through the crowd, searching for an empty compartment. However, all the compartments were filled with friends, students chatting with each other and laughing excitedly for the new year. She had no intention whatsoever of joining these random strangers; after all, she was perfectly capable of sitting alone.

Sapphira nipped her ear to get her attention, and Erin saw, in the compartment nearest to her, the back of a boy's head with pale, blonde hair. She smiled to herself and opened the door, causing him to jump in surprise. "Mind if I sit here?" she asked tentatively, unsure of what his response would be. But Scorpius grinned back. "Sure, no problem, I'm sure there's enough room for the both of us." She nodded and struggled to lift her luggage up to the compartment, and he rushed forward to help her bring it in.

As soon as they had settled, Erin heard a clock chime eleven somewhere even amid the entire din, and felt the train begin to move. The steam engulfed the air around them, and misshapen figures could be seen through the grey waving and shouting as the train rolled past them. Neither Scorpius nor Erin leaned out their window for final farewells, and when the train finally picked up enough speed and rounded the bend, they both settled comfortably into their seats.

In the momentary silence, Sapphira glided over to the cage Scorpius was resting his arm on and peered inquisitely at the bird inside it. It was an eagle, black and grey spotted and handsome with somewhat haughty looking eyes, and sheen to its wings. Scorpius caught Erin looking and said, "That's Skree, my eagle. My father had one too when he was in school- it's a Pureblood tradition to receive an eagle for your eleventh birthday."

"I found Sapphira when I was younger," she said softly, stroking Sapphira's head. Scorpius nodded and asked, "You told me that your parents- about your parents. Where do you live during the year?" Erin rolled her eyes. "St. Peter's Orphanage- their one goal in life is to make me miserable, mark my words."

Scorpius laughed. "I'm not joking," Erin said, grinning. "You've never met Matron." She told him all about Matron and even some of the "accidental" magical mess-ups she had done before Dippet had told her about the wizarding world. "I'm honestly just thrilled to be here," she said, gazing out the window at the ever changing scenery. "I had no friends at the orphanage… they all called me 'witch-girl'; you know, because of all the strange things that happened."

"I guess that's the worst thing about being Muggle-born," Scorpius said, not noticing Erin's questioning face to the unfamiliar word. "There's no one tell you that you're a wizard, and you just keep unleashing your magic without knowing what you're doing. And that must have been strange for you; developing your powers at seven, being so different than everyone at such an early age." Erin frowned. "You develop your magical powers when you're seven?" Scorpius nodded. "Yeah, everyone knows that. That's when Hogwarts starts Tracing you for any magical signs. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone coming out with their abilities before turning seven."

Mommy, Mommy, look what I can do!

Stupid girl, don't ever do that again! You hear me?

Scorpius smiled. "Anyway, I guess I got lucky because live in Serpens Antrum- it's strictly an only Pureblood area, so I already have friends going to Hogwarts… besides for you, of course." Erin smiled back. "So where are they know? I'd like to meet them." He hesitated for a moment. "Maybe they'll by later- my friends are, er, busy right now."

The way he said it made Erin drop the subject. Instead, they chatted for a while about their pasts, Erin careful not to let him know too much. Mostly, she listened to Scorpius and realized there was much about him she had not first noticed.

"… Not that I mind being friends with them," he said, leaning back comfortably. "It's just that my father's constantly pushing me, and I feel I just have to do it because that is what is expected of me. I've always wondered-" But exactly what he was wondering, Erin never found, because at that very moment the compartment door was thrown open roughly. A number of students admitted themselves in, rowdy and already in their school robes.

The boy in the front chortled. He was quite unattractive, with distorted features that gave him a permanent scowl. "Well, look what we have here," he said, shoving the heavy, curly haired boy beside him. Scorpius narrowed his eyes. "Shut up, Mulciber." This made them laugh harder. Erin noticed the only ones of their new guests that did not find the situation funny were a sallow skinned boy with dark hair that covered half his face, and a girl in the back that was hidden in the shadows.

The boy, Mulciber, grinned. "Is that any way to talk to your friend? What do you think, Goyle? Maybe he thinks he's superior to us- do you think that, Scorpius? That you and your little girlfriend here are better than us?" His friend Goyle chuckled stupidly and Scorpius cast his eyes down. "I don't think that," he muttered. "And she's not my girlfriend," he added defensively. Erin remained silent the entire time, her hands shaking strangely. She must remain calm…

"So, what's your name?" Mulciber had taken the seat beside her, and was containing his laughter. When she didn't answer, he pressed on. "You a Pureblood?" Erin stared at him with unfathomable eyes. "Apparently not; I was born in an orphanage." Scorpius groaned, but Erin was the only one who heard him. However, at her answer, Mulciber grinned even wider. "You're a Mudblood? Scorpius, I never would have thought you, of all people…" She felt a strong pair of hands grab her arms and wrench her upright, to the jeers of the boys. Goyle gave a shove and sent her flying through the open compartment door.

She saw Scorpius gazing down at his feet, avoiding her eyes, and the girl staring out the window with her hands in two balled fists. Goyle's ugly face was inches away from hers. "This here compartment is for Purebloods only!" And he slammed the door on her face.

It was autumn, and the leaves were in the midst of their color change. Even the sky was made up of prominent orange, pink, purple, and blue brushstrokes. It was the perfect picture; all except for the lone girl, sitting silently on a wooden swing hanging from an old oak tree. Even from here she could hear the raised voices from inside. "… We had her for over two months already!" She could hear the man, Mr. Fawcett, saying. "And you'd think as her foster parents, we'd made some connection? But no! She won't talk, she barely eats- she won't allow us to get to her. Its like she wants to be left alone!"

That is what I want, fools, she though savagely. She did feel a twinge of regret. The Fawcetts had been very kind, and under normal circumstances she would have liked them… but she could not allow that. She could not allow for herself to become emotionally attached to anyone, for she would just lose them too. Love… what was the meaning of it? It was just a weakness.

"And it's not just that," said a frenzied woman's voice that she knew belonged to plump Mrs. Fawcett. "She scares the children, she does! I don't know what she does, but strange things seem to happen around her and-"

"Alright, Mrs. Fawcett, that's enough," cut in a deep man's voice. With a nervous drop in her stomach, she realized it belonged to Mr. Thomas, the man who ran the orphanage. "We will file your complaints- and I'll go talk to her." She heard the door open and looked down at her toes, pretending not to have noticed Mr. Thomas approaching the swing. They waited a few moments in silence- he was clearly waiting for her to begin talking- until he finally spoke.

"Erin, Erin, Erin," he said three times. She hated when adults did that. "What are we going to do with you? This is your fifth foster home in the past year and it's still not good enough. What's wrong?" She didn't answer. "Is it because you're afraid of starting a new family?" When she continued to remain silent, Mr. Thomas turned his back to her and said, "In any case, we'll have to be sending you back to the orphanage."

Erin remained silent. When Mr. Thomas made a movement to turn around, Erin burst out, "Can't you do something else? I don't want to go back there!"

"I've done enough," he said sternly, sounding tired for the first time. And as he walked away, she could hear his unsaid thoughts… there's no hope for you…

She clenched her fist tightly and proceeded to the back of the carriage. Always the loner, by herself, least wanted, and least loved… there's no hope for you.