As Valkyrie predicted, she hated the taxi ride. She didn't dislike it, she hated it. The taxi smelled bad, the driver smoked, and the back left seat had a stain that Valkyrie didn't even want to ask about. She was more than glad to be out of there. It was morning, and they had 45 minutes to get to the train.
Skulduggery was very calm as they walked into the station and onto the platform with 30 minutes left to go. Valkyrie couldn't have been more nervous. She looked at her ticket (which Skulduggery had given to her when they first got on the platform just in case they got separated), and it said platform 9 and ¾ , but Valkyrie could see no such platform. Skulduggery however, seemed to know exactly where he was going.
"Ghastly told me where to go." He explained when she asked. After a little while of walking, in between platforms 9 and 10, Skulduggery stopped. Valkyrie stopped next to him, and he smiled at her, casulally looking around to see if anyone was watching. When he decided they weren't, he took Valkyrie's hand and began to walk. Valkyrie looked at him when she realised he wasn't going around the wall dividing the platforms, he was heading straight for it. Her grip tightened, and Skulduggery squeezed lightly before they walked straight through the wall. The sensation that flooded Valkyrie reminded her of tunnelling with Billy-ray Sanguine, only this was much more pleasant, as she knew, for one thing, that Skulduggery wouldn't let go and leave her there. After about a second, they emerged onto a hidden platform that Valkyrie couldn't help but gasp at. An old steam train was parked, smoke billowing from it's chimney in anticipation of take off, the platform littered with parents and younger children each saying goodbye to others. Then to the left of the platform was a tall young man, holding a sign that said 'Detectives' on it. Skulduggery nodded at Valkyrie, and she nodded back after a moment before they walked towards the young man. He noticed them almost immediately.
"Ah, you must be the detectives. I'm the prefect of Ravenclaw house. I'll be showing you your compartment – Professor Dumbledore wanted to make sure you knew where you were."
"I'm glad someone knows." Valkyrie muttered, causing Skulduggery to let a smile creep onto the corners of his mouth.
"This way." The prefect turned and boarded the train, Skulduggery and Valkyrie following closely. It was a long but fancy corridor the prefect took them down until he slid open a transparent door, and gestured for them to go inside.
"The trolley will come down here about halfway through the journey if you want anything to eat or drink, but we should be there by nightfall."
"Nightfall!" Valkyrie exclaimed. The prefect nodded.
"I know, quite a distance, but don't worry. There's plenty of scenery to watch, or you could get to know the other prefects. We're the two compartments next door. The regular students are in the next carriage along."
"Excellent. Thank you very much." Skulduggery said politely. The prefect nodded and left as Skulduggery picked up Valkyrie's suitcase and put it onto the rails above their heads before putting his own up.
"I'm beginning to wish I'd brought a book or something." Valkyrie muttered. Skulduggery smiled slightly before sitting at the window, and Valkyrie sat across from him. Nightfall. What was she supposed to do until then?
"Oh, by the way. I have a present for you." Skulduggery smiled and stood as Valkyrie sat up straight.
"Really?" She exclaimed as he opened his bag and brought down a black thing. He handed it to her, and she gasped, grinning.
"Cool!" She exclaimed. The rimmed hat was almost exactly like Skulduggery's, but instead of a grey ribbon circling the rim, it had a deep dull red ribbon, the colour of Valkyrie's jacket. She grinned and put it on, slanting it low over her face like Skulduggery always did. For a moment, they sat smiling at each other, and then Valkyrie said 'thank you' to Skulduggery. He nodded and pulled his hat low over his face too, so the pair were both half-looking at the ground.
A few moments later, the train whistle started, and Valkyrie had the feeling that Skulduggery had begun to meditate – in other words, he had fallen asleep. She sighed and watched the platform as mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters all waved and yelled goodbye to thier relatives on the train. They must all be wizard families, or else how would they have known to get on the platform? Valkyrie wondered if any of the students had problems telling thier parents they were magical. Maybe she'd ask some, just to check. Who knows, it might even give her the courage to talk to her own parents when she got back. When she got back.
