Chapter Two - Sept Morn
"Psst" The sound came in like a breeze in the wind, loud enough to be noticed, quiet enough to ignore. So he ignored it.
"PSST" This time it was like standing in a wind storm, and not so easy to ignore. He rolled over and pulled the covers over his head, ignoring the fact that, that wouldn't change things in the slightest.
"Go 'way." He slurred. He felt more than heard the exasperation in the sigh.
"Alright, you made me do this…HARRY GET UP!" It was like a cannon going off over top of him. He rolled over quickly…right off the side of the bed. In the background he could hear laughter.
"ARRGH! Bloody hell! What was that for?" He slowly got up and walked over to the light switch. Click. "Is it possible to get any sleep around here."
"Language, young man. You remember what day it is, do you not?"
He grimaced. "Yes mum, September 1st," He grinned, "I get to go to magic school today, woohoo!" Suddenly he was wide awake. He looked at the clock. 9:36am. "Bloody he- I mean, dang we're late." He rushed around his room grabbing clothes and various items and throwing them into a half packed suitcase."
"Didn't you tell Vernon you wanted to leave at half past nine?" A male voice this time.
"Morning dad," he reached under the bed and pulled out a pair of trousers."And you know what they say, the best laid plans never survive first contact with the enemy."
"I think Helmuth would be rolling in his grave if he heard you applying that quote in this situation." he muttered.
"What he doesn't know wont hurt him," He paused for a moment, "Hey you're not gonna tell him I said that are you? You know since you're both technically dead and all…"
"Might we remind you that while we are without bodies, we have yet to cross into the afterlife?"
"Yeah I know. Hey have you seen my-"
"On your nightstand."
"Oh right. Hey what about that new-"
"Already packed it."
"Oh ok. Hey what about my wand?" Pause.
"You lost your wand?" Lily said incredulously.
"Well I wouldn't say it's lost. I mean it's definitely in this room," he muttered, looking around.
"Alright what's the last thing you remember doing with your wand?" Lily asked. James snorted.
"Using it to practice a moustache growing charm. Hey do you think I have any stubble?" He ran a hand over his smooth face, "Never mind."
"Did you check the bathroom?" James asked.
"Of course that must be it!" then paused, "Dad I haven't left the room, being in my head and all you should know that I haven't checked the bathroom," he laughed.
"You know what son, body or no body I need coffee to wake up. When are you going to start drinking some? You know, for my sake."
"Urgh definitely not anytime soon," he said walking into the bathroom. "Ah here it is."
As he picked it up he felt that familiar feeling of euphoria run through his hand into his whole body. Some gold sparks shot out the end of the wand. Ollivander had told him that the wand chooses the wizard and he wasn't one to disagree. His wand had a certain thrum to it. Holding it was like standing on a cliff, in the middle of a hurricane. Pure Power.
"Better hurry up before Vernon changes his mind about bringing us, I mean you," James warned.
"Right, I think I got everything now." He ran back to his room where he double checked that he had everything and zipped up his suitcase. It was an old battered thing his aunt had pulled out for him but it would do the job.
"Think next year I can get a new suitcase?" he asked heaving it up. "Preferably one with wheels?"
"We'll see," his mum replied.
Harry made his way downstairs. Vernon was at the table drinking coffee and reading the paper. His aunt was washing dishes at the sink. Harry brought his suitcase to the front door set it down. He looked around for his cousin, but he didn't seem to be around.
"Uncle Vernon?" His Uncle grunted in reply. "I'm ready to go now." Harry anxiously started tapping his foot. Uncle Vernon shared a quick look with Petunia, then he sighed and pushed his chair back.
"Late are we?"
"Er, I overslept a little. There's still time to make it I think. London's an hour away. We should have time."
"Very well then," Vernon brought his cup to the sink.
"See you in a couple hours Pet, I'm gonna run some errands in town." She nodded, and he gave her a quick peck.
"Alright let's go boy"
—
Kings Cross, Harry decided, was the largest place he'd ever been to. The train station was packed with people, moving to and fro. That said, with the big signs and train station numbers everywhere, it wasn't too difficult to navigate.
Harry and his uncle moved through the crowd, Harry pushing a trolley with his suitcase on top and his uncle walking beside.
"Which platform is it then?" his uncle asked, beady eyes looking around.
Harry pulled out his Hogwarts letter from his pocket and pulled out the train ticket inside.
"Nine and three quarters," he said. His uncle stopped and looked down at him frowning in annoyance.
"Is that some sort of joke?" he asked.
"No really it says nine and three quarters," he showed him the train ticket. Vernon looked it over in disbelief.
"Boy, I want you to carefully look around," he turned around and pointed up, "right now we are at platform 7, on the other side is platform 8. Over there is platform 9 and right beside it, let me check now, oh wait… yep that's platform 10. So where do you suppose nine and three quarters would be?" his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Harry blinked in surprise and looked at the ticket again
"Er mum? Some help here?"
"Platform nine and three quarters is hidden," she said, "You have to walk into the barrier separating platforms nine and ten."
"Ah, thats… rather lame for a secret entrance"
"Well its hidden obviously," Harry said turning his attention back to his uncle. "Obviously a train taking wi- my kind of people has to be kept secret. Uncle, I think I'm good from here. Thanks for the ride." He began wheeling his trolley towards platforms nine and ten. His uncle looked on in disbelief.
"If you say so." And he went the other direction back to his car. Pushing his trolley forward, Harry glanced up at the clock. 10:42.
"Guess we made it in good time."
"So we did. Still have a train to board though."
"And you'll need to find a compartment."
"Of course. I can't wait. For the first time, I'm going to have wizard friends!" he grinned. "I wonder what wizards do for fun?"
"Did you say fun? Well I can tell you all about that-"
"Not now James, Harry needs to get aboard the train. Don't you Harry?"
"Yes mum."
"Ah there's the platform over there. You just need to walk through it. You can take it at a run if you're nervous."
"Yeah cause running at the brick wall will calm me down." he rolled his eyes. Nevertheless he picked up the pace and aimed for the wall at a brisk trot.
"Hope no one is standing behind it."
There wasn't anyone standing behind it, luckily. The moment that he would have hit the wall there was a slight shimmering in the air and a tingling feeling ran over him. Suddenly he was on the other side. He stopped and stared. It was filled with wizards and witches of all ages wearing pointing hats and different coloured cloaks. There were kids that were Harry's age and size to obviously older teens that that seemed to tower over him. Some were carrying animals (a cat as a pet seemed normal enough) but some were carrying owls and he could have sworn he heard someone say they lost their toad (Who has a toad?). In the background of it all stood the Hogwarts Express train, red paint gleaming, and steam coming off of it. Right above it was the sign, 9 3/4.
"Wow," he said, quite speechless.
"If you think that's something, wait until you see the school," James said.
"Better move along, before someone else comes through the barrier," said Lily
He slowly pushed his way through the crowd, towards the train. There was so many Magical's here it was hard to comprehend.
"And I thought Diagon Alley had a lot of people."
Harry threw his trunk onto the train and climbed onto it. Once inside the sounds from the platform behind him became muffled. Inside kids bustled around, moving up and down the train. Some, mostly older years, walked, while the younger ones seemed to run about. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and chatter filled the air. Students were filling each other in summer vacation stories and who had been where. Harry grinned. It truly was a magical place. He walked down the hall looking for a compartment. Many were already filled with peoples belongings, and Harry assumed that these were placeholders while the students roamed the train. He made his way through a couple of cars towards the back of the train, finding an empty compartment near the end. He set his trunk down and took a seat. He noticed a luggage rack up top. He got up and tried to lift the trunk up onto it but found it weighed a lot more than he realized.
"Hmm. Could I get a little help here?"
"Of course, honey. Shall we use the levitation charm or the feather weight charm?"
He thought about it. "People might wonder if they see me with a trunk that weighs nothing. Let's do the levitation charm and make sure no one sees." He shut the door.
"All right, got your wand handy?"
He stuck his hand in his jeans and pulled it out. "Ready when you are."
"Alright pay attention and you should be able to learn it at the same time."
He nodded, then realized she couldn't see him. "Right."
Suddenly the presence that he knew to be Lily Potter entered his mind. Her conscience pushed against his and he let hers inside. Everything went numb. He watched his feet square up to his trunk but felt nothing. His arm raised itself and he watched in fascination as it swished and flicked, before his lips moved and spoke.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
The trunk suddenly lifted into the air, over his head and smoothly set itself down on the rack. Slowly her conscience slipped out of his mind and feeling returned to him. He shook himself off and was about to congratulate himself when he heard a voice behind him.
"Mate that was wicked!"
Damn.