Chapter 7

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

A/N: So to start off, I would like to again say thank you to everyone who is reading and reviewing. Seriously, you guys are awesome.

Now I'm going to rant a little bit. I just read the entirety of Unsung Hero by MeghansReviews. I now want to brain myself and forget I ever read it. The story was incredibly intricate, beautifully put together, and wonderfully, horribly well-written. I loved the story, although felt Harry was a bit OP, throughout, and then I reached the ending. I don't want to spoil it for those who might come across it, but suffice to say that it ended with a cliffhanger, and the sequel story was never finished. My soul is wretched and depraved in response to this story. In all honesty, I cannot pay another author a higher compliment than to tell them that their leaving a story unfinished ruined my day because I was so desperately in love with their work. So bravo to MeghansReviews. I sincerely hope that she has gone on to publish her own work and this is the reason she did not finish her series.

Whew. That helped a little, just a moderate chest pain now. Hopefully writing this chapter will help ease the rest of it away.

Mychakk: I'm hoping to bring in some of the lesser characters and put them in the forefront a bit more. I also dislike the idea of a HuffleHarry, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. As for Snape, he'll be an interesting subject. Imagine what a teenage girl would write in her diary about a friend who fell into the dark arts and hurt her? So many options ; ).

MrBojangles3154: I did indeed, each wand is loosely based off of the descriptions of wood meanings on Pottermore. So if I were to mention a wandwood, I have chosen it based off of what I find most meaningful in regards to the character. Hence the reason I changed Harry's wand as well.

Mizu-Bozu: That was one of my biggest problems with the originals. The characters just didn't feel real to me. Many of them, Vernon, Snape, and even Voldemort almost seemed like placeholders. I didn't ever feel that Voldemort's motivations were revealed, and that took a lot away from his character for me, because I couldn't understand him. I'm glad you're seeing the changes : ).

NathanHale2: I think that reckoning is a bit strong of a word to be using to describe an eleven-year-old's anger. Things will be discussed, but I think it likely that you will be surprised by how the characters weave together. I will say this, it would be a grave mistake to assume that any of the characters has a complete knowledge of anything that is happening anywhere in my story.

Harry and Tonks walked down Diagon Alley leisurely after Hagrid had left. "So what do you like to do?" She asked Harry casually.

Harry thought through the things that he did at Number Four Privet Drive. "Well I like to read stories, but I can't do it much over the summer."

"Why not?" Tonks asked, puzzled.

"The Dursleys always said that books these days were too full of nonsense. They wouldn't let me read anything except history books. I still read those sometimes, but the stories weren't very good. I like the novels they have at school much better."

Tonks nodded along, taking his words in stride. "Is there anything else you particularly enjoy?"

"Hmm—I'm good at cooking!" Harry said smiling!

Tonks laughed her lilting laugh and looked at the young boy. "You're a good cook? What do you make, peanut butter sandwiches?"

The young boy looked mildly offended. "I can make eggs and bacon, ham steaks, pancakes, and most other normal breakfast foods. I know how to roast poultry, sauté vegetables, and make mashed potatoes. I even know how to make marinades now!"

Harry said this last with a clear pride in his voice. He had been having trouble meeting Petunia's standards when it came to properly mixing the ingredients for a marinade, having only been able to achieve it after almost a dozen tries.

Tonks made an impressed look. "Did you help cook a lot?"

"Well I always cooked breakfast and made lunches most of the time. I just started learning dinners."

"What's your favorite thing that you know how to cook?"

"Well a lot of the things that I know how to make, I've never tried." Harry said casually. Tonks stared at him. He did not change the way he walked. He didn't act as if he had said anything strange at all. This was because he didn't realize that he had.

"Are you saying that the Dursleys didn't let you eat?!" Tonks almost yelled in anger. "You made them food and they just let you rot?!"

Harry cringed back from her voice and became quiet. He hadn't considered that she would be angry. Wasn't it normal for food to be withheld as a punishment? Or for him to have to eat separate meals after he had finished preparing the food? He didn't understand.

"Harry, answer me!" Tonks said, stopping and turning toward him. Harry stopped as well, but didn't open his mouth, looking toward the ground. He wanted to run. He knew that whenever Vernon got as angry as she clearly was, it was best to get away before he looked for something to hurt. Harry fought his instinct to dash away and waited for her to strike him. He wondered what he had done wrong.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Tonks said. "You look sick."

He made eye contact briefly and his eyes darted away. "I'm fine." He said, beginning to walk again, forcing his gait to be casual.

Tonks followed after him silently. Harry felt as if he had done something unacceptable and thought it safer to remain quiet through the heavy silence. They eventually arrived at the apparition entry point for Diagon Alley, just outside of the Leaky Cauldron's mundane entrance. Tonks stopped walking abruptly, as if she had completely forgotten they were moving to a destination.

"Hold tight to my arm, Harry. I'm about to show you how apparition works."

Harry looked up at her and clutched her arm firmly, being careful not to squeeze so hard he would hurt her. "This will be extremely uncomfortable." She said, and suddenly they were off. Harry felt as if his whole body was being shoved through a funnel. He felt as if his body was being distorted before he and Tonks appeared in the middle of a field.

Harry looked around, gaining his bearings. They were on a path that held what appeared to be wheat on either side. In one direction, the path continued for perhaps a hundred feet before curving off and disappearing into the wheat. To the other side, it led into the front yard of a white Victorian-era country house. The yard held a small garden to the left of the path and man-shaped dummies with targets painted on them were scattered throughout.

"I think I might've done that before." Harry said, still looking at the yard, but thinking of the feeling he had just experienced."

"Done what?" Tonks asked quietly. She tried to find what Harry was looking at.

"What we just did. You called it apparition, right?"

Tonks looked at Harry intensely. "That's not possible. Apparition is a practice that proves difficult to many wizards even after they have passed their licensing tests."

Harry became quiet, remembering Vernon shouting at him. "It doesn't exist! It's not possible!" he had said, referring to a science fiction program that Harry had watched where a character could move things with his mind.

Tonks saw his distraught look. "Harry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you earlier. Or just now for that matter. Tell me why you think you might've apparated before?"

Harry was confused. "What are you apologizing for?"

"I was harsh when you were telling me your story earlier. I can tell it scared you. And just now you got this far-off look, like you were remembering something. I don't want you to think you can't tell me things."

Harry turned his face down in shame. That is just what he had been thinking.

Tonks lowered herself, bringing her face within Harry's range of vision. "So, when might you have apparated?"

Harry met her eyes. "I was running from my cousin and his friend in the school yard so they wouldn't hit me, and then I was just up on the roof. Uncle Vernon was so mad about it."

Tonks stared at the child in front of her. "Well that sounds like it just might have been apparition." She said cheerily. "If it was, that means you're very strong at magic. We'll have to do some tests once you get settled in."

Ushering Harry up the wooden porch and into the house, Tonks introduced him to her parents, Ted and Andromeda Tonks. They seemed very nice, Harry thought as he watched them each get up to hug their daughter when they arrived. He watched their interactions closely, Andromeda placing her hand casually on Ted's arm while speaking, Ted placing his arm around her protectively. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen.

After a few minutes of chit-chat, Andromeda brought Harry upstairs. "This will be your room, dear." She said maternally, opening a door into a small room with blue walls. Harry looked around, startled. The room was not large. It held a small bed, a writing desk, and a single window allowed sunlight to stream in from the outside. Harry was shellshocked that this could all be for him.

Seeing Harry's speechless state, Andromeda gestured to the potato bag Harry held along with the bags filled with today's purchases and said "I'll just give you a minute to unpack your things. And Harry dear, I want you to know that we are so happy to have you here." After this, she exited the room.

Harry sat in the empty room and began to empty his possessions from the bags holding them. He stacked the books in front of the writing desk and placed his parents' journals on the desk above them. Harry then unpacked the various odds and ends that his schooling required. Placing inkwells, quills, and ink together on the top of the desk. When he had finished, Harry sat at the small wooden chair in front of the writing desk.

Opening his mother's diary, he flipped to the first entry. It read:

April 29th, 1971

I don't know how to start this. I've never just written out what I'm thinking before. Daddy bought me this journal and said that it would help keep me from going insane. I don't know quite what he meant, but it seems important to him that I try it.

Anyway, today I talked with the Prince. He was waiting for me by Bellevue Pond. He finally explained what he meant when he told Tunie that I was special and she wasn't. He said I was a witch and that I would be able to go to a magical school next year. He said that Petunia would have to stay home because she wasn't a witch. He called her something strange. Muggie? Mugger? I can't remember. Petunia got upset when he told me I was a witch and made me come home with her.

I know I can do special things, but I don't know if I'd want to go to a school without my sister. She'd be so lonely here. I know I wouldn't want her to leave me like that. Maybe we can bring Petunia along?

After this it was clear that Lily had become distracted and began drawing flowers on the page, as there was a blank space that held only a few crude drawings.

Well, that's all I've got for today and it's dinner time. I don't know how to end this. See you later? I'll be back? It seems odd to say goodbye to a book, but if I'm gonna do it, I'll do it right.

With love,

Lily Evans

She signed the last with an elegant swirling flourish that had clearly been practiced and refined into the perfection Harry saw on the page. He turned to the next page and was about to begin reading when he saw a cramped script at the top that had clearly been added to the entry.

"Don't read all of these at once, Harry." It declared. "Your father and I never managed to write in these every day. Spread them out so that it'll last longer. You'll also notice that these books seem to have many more pages once you open them than they did when closed. That was a special enchantment your father created when I reached the end of this diary. We both love you so much Harry."

An arrow was drawn from the end of the added note to the bottom of the page, where there had been no room. A lipstick kiss was preserved by the pages, clearly from Lily's lips. Next to it was a poor drawing of lips with a note off to the side.

"Your mom wanted me to wear lipstick and do the same thing. I refused. Remember Harry, there are a lot of things that a woman can ask you, but you should never wear her clothing or her makeup. She'll never be able to get the image of you with mascara and blush out of her head. Ask your uncle Sirius about his experience with Susan Bones for an explanation. Your mother says my handwriting is atrocious, I think it's a proper man's handwriting. Just illegible enough that anyone snooping wouldn't be able to read a jot. The explanation for that spell your mother mentioned is on the back of this page. It's a spell I found particularly useful in Professor Binns' class. I hope you know how much we love you, son."

Harry was laughing out loud at his father's note. He read the notes several times and read the diary entry as well, finding nothing of particular interest, but it didn't matter. Here it was; a living connection to his past. He loved every word, every bit of ink, every smudge. They were all he had to teach him of his parents' lives.

Tonks gently knocked on his door. "Time for dinner, Harry!" She called into the room.

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The next two months flew by in a rush for Harry. He found that he had more time than he knew what to do with. He read through his schoolbooks passionately, hoping that he could somehow catch up to all those who had been raised in the wizarding world by reading. Each morning he rose and helped the Tonks with preparing breakfast, having resisted their initial objections. He helped with chores around the house when possible. Harry realized at one point that, although he was doing the same amount of work he had been tasked with at the Dursleys, he held no sense of frustration or annoyance about the work because he cared about the people who he was helping. He did it by choice, not by force.

Andromeda and Ted, as they insisted Harry call them, were incredibly kind, and Harry enjoyed spending time with them when Tonks wasn't around. They would tell him stories of his parents at Hogwarts. They had been several years senior to his parents, so the stories were limited, but Harry cherished them.

There was still occasionally the awkward moment when one of them would attempt to touch Harry without thinking and he would flinch away. Occasionally, he would say something about his time with the Dursleys thoughtlessly and he would see the looks of frustration on the faces of those around him, so he did his best not to mention anything about them.

Harry grew particularly close to Tonks in this time, as she was somewhat closer to his age. One day, she returned home from auror training and asked Harry if he would like her to begin teaching him some spellcasting. Harry lit up with joy and responded a fervent yes. She told him to meet her outside in a half hour after she had showered.

Harry stood outside waiting on the porch when she finally came out of the house. "Are you ready for your first lesson, Harry?" Tonks said brightly. Her hair was blond today and she had lengthened it until it was hanging to just below her breasts in tight curls. Harry nodded at her question and responded, "What spell are you going to teach me?"

Tonks smiled. "I feel that a good first spell for you would be the reparo spell. It will fix any broken thing within the caster's skill level. For example," she pointed to a shovel that had had its head broken off and sat near the garden, flicking her wand. "Reparo." She commanded. Harry watched as the two pieces of the shovel sprang toward each other and the wooden fibers knit back together. Harry was fascinated and ran to the shovel, picking it up and inspecting it.

"That's amazing!" he said enthusiastically.

Tonks had a bright smile on her face, clearly enjoying Harry's virginal enthusiasm. "There are some rules to this spell." She said to Harry. "Firstly, this spell will not repair enchantments, wardings, or body parts, obviously. Do you remember what an enchantment is?"

"An enchantment is a spell that is placed on something that will give it magical attributes." He quoted from Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling. "Wardings are symbols that are imbued with magical power that act in much the same way as enchantments. Each of these spell types can also be used to make shields."

Tonks smiled at Harry, somewhat surprised. "I see you've been reading through your schoolbooks."

"Why wouldn't I?" Harry responded excitedly. "Magic is incredible; of course I want to learn as much as I can about it. It's going to be hard enough to catch up with everyone from wizarding families as it is."

"Very astute thinking," Tonks said. "But I think you're overestimating how much the wizarding children will have learned. Many of them put little value in their studies before they arrive at whatever magical school they attend."

"Really?" Harry asked. "Don't they want to be good magicians? With magic you can do impossible things, and…" He trailed off as Tonks chuckled lightly at him. "Many students don't find magic so incredible as you do. Many view it as just another thing they have to do, only focusing on the specific pieces they actually want to learn."

Harry thought about this briefly before his smile returned. "Well I want to be the best I can at it. What're the other rules for the spell?"

"The second rule is something that applies to all magic, but is particularly relevant when referring to this spell. All magic is powered by your magical core." She explained. Harry had already broached this subject in his books, but was confused on the finer points, so he listened intently. "The larger the job required, the more it will pull from your magical core. For example, fixing that wooden shovel pulled a very small amount from my magical core, but if I were to attempt to repair the foundations of a house, that would take a considerably larger amount. I might be able to do it, but it would most likely leave me tired."

"Is there a way to make your magical core bigger?" Harry asked the question excitedly, having been wondering about it since he read about magical cores.

"There is." Tonks said. "In fact, a large portion of my auror training is meant to do just that. Your magical core will expand as you exercise it. So the more magic you do, the more you push your limit, the more it will expand. Your core also expands as you become more physically fit. Therefore a man who exercises his body will also have a larger magical core."

Harry nodded along, grateful for the information. "Are there any other rules?"

"The last rule is another that applies to all magic. There are two requirements for any spell: power and skill. The more powerfully a wizard casts a spell, the more effective it will be, but if the man has no skill, he will have to use much more power to achieve the same result as a more skilled caster. In the case of the reparo, this means that if a person lacks the magical skill to cast the spell, or underpowers the spell, it will not completely repair the item on which it is cast. For simple castings, it is quite easy to meet this requirement, but as a spell becomes more difficult it becomes exponentially harder."

"When applied to other spells, this rule causes great complexity of spellwork. An apprentice enchanter may be able to enchant a hat so that it will block curses, but the enchantment will fade. However, if a master were to apply the same spell, it would be much more powerful and last much longer. This means that many spells cast inefficiently will fade and have to be reapplied over time. And in the case of a poorly cast reparo, that will lead to the same break repeating itself until it is fixed properly."

Taking the shovel from Harry's hand, Tonks spoke again. "I purposefully repaired this shovel poorly." She said as she smashed the head into the ground, breaking it in much the same way it had been initially broken. "This is what will happen if a spell is not cast properly. It will never truly succeed."

Harry nodded seriously, staring at the break and promising to himself that he would not do shoddy work. "Alright, now it's your turn." Tonks said, dropping the shaft of the shovel to lay next to the head. Harry adjusted his glasses nervously, looking up to Tonks and back down to the shovel. He remembered his Magical Theory text.

"The basic process of doing magic involves creating a connection to one's magical core and transmitting it out into the world with a specific intent." It read. "A spellcaster is greatly aided in making this connection through the use of a wand, which, having its own magical affinity, can reach out into his magic to help provide the connection." Harry certainly knew that he could easier connect to his magical core now that he held a wand. He had not yet attempted a spell, but the same feeling of power that came over him previously when he had wandlessly done magic was now a presence he could feel at any time. He could feel his core.

Harry looked at the shovel and reached deep into his magical core. Pointing his crimson wand at the shovel and tugged at his core, pulling as much power as he could manage and pressing it through his wand and into the world as he spoke, "Reparo!"

The two pieces of the shovel jumped back together rapidly and then sat unmoving on the ground. Harry felt a portion of the power he had been feeling since he received his wand disappear.

"Impressive." Tonks said. "I didn't think you'd be able to do it on your first try. Now let's see how well you cast the spell."

She took the shovel and pressed the head against the ground, lightly at first, then with more pressure. Frowning at the shovel when it did not break, Tonks placed a foot atop its shaft and began to press onto it with her body weight.

Nothing happened. The shovel stayed stoically in one piece, refusing to be broken. She looked at Harry, flabbergasted. "How did you do this, Harry?"

"What do you mean?" He responded, confused. "I used the reparo."

"But how did you make it so sturdy?" Tonks asked. "For that being the first spell you've cast, its much stronger than it should've been."

"Well it isn't quite the first spell I've ever cast." Harry admitted. "I once made a key appear in a locked room." He carefully avoided the fact that he had been locked in the room without food for days.

"Yes, but that's accidental magic. This is different. You meant to do this."

"I meant to do that, too." Harry protested. "I was trying to do it, for hours before it worked."

Tonks looked at Harry unbelievingly. "You did this without a wand?" she asked.

"Of course. This was before I had even met Hagrid."

Tonks mouth was slightly open as she looked at him. "Well, perhaps you're just stronger than I expected." She recovered before they returned inside.

This turned out to be the first of many lessons for Harry before he returned to Hogwarts, going out with Tonks once or twice per week to begin work on a new spell. And leading into the week before his departure he had already mastered the Reparo Spell, the knockback jinx, and the fire charm. He had begun working on the levitation charm, but found that he had trouble replicating the exactness of the wand movement.

Two nights before his departure for Hogwarts, Harry was again reading his mother's journal in his room.

July 15th, 1971

A letter came today from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry inviting me to attend. My parents were excited as they read it. I think they were relieved that there's an explanation for what I do. I talked to Prince about it and he said I should go, that that's where he's going. Part of me wants to go and learn about what I can do.

I don't want to leave Tunie though. She's upset because she didn't get a letter. I think I'm going to tell my parents that I want to stay here with her.

I'm done for today. I need to think.

Lily Evans

Harry found this particularly interesting and read several of the journal entries quickly. Each one progressed forward, showing how they had appealed Hogwarts to see if Petunia could attend, but were unfortunately denied. Harry's mother was clearly torn about what to do, and Harry understood her perfectly. He understood the desire to not hurt someone by your actions. He then came to a very interesting entry.

July 29th, 1971

Petunia screamed at me today. She told me that she didn't want me around anymore and that I should go be with people who were freaks like me. She told me that me and Prince deserve each other. That we should both be sent away where all the freaks go.

She's been so mean to me since the letter came. I don't want to make her sad, but mom said it would be best for me to go. She thinks that I have a gift. Today my parents sent the letter to Hogwarts to say that I will be attending this year. I'm so sad. I won't know anyone but Prince.

Lily Evans

He stopped reading after that. Instead heading to dinner. After they had eaten, Tonks made him cover his eyes with his hands and wait in the living room as she retrieved something. When she returned and told Harry he could open his eyes, there was a large wooden trunk sitting at his feet. Harry looked at her in disbelief.

"You—You didn't have to do this." He said.

"No, but I wanted to." Tonks said happily. "Every Hogwarts student needs a good trunk, and I can't have you forgetting me when you leave." She paused after this for a moment, then said, "Why don't you open it, Harry?"

Harry looked at the trunk and unclasped the locks before lifting the lid. When he did, he saw dozens of wizards pictures of himself and Tonks had been secured to the underside of the lid. There were pictures of the two training, pictures where they posed for the camera, and one picture where both laid on the floor, laughing uncontrollably. Andromeda had been snapping photos of anything and everything since Harry had arrived, but he never expected anything to come of it.

"I—I…" Tears filled Harry's eyes. He couldn't begin to fathom what he should say. Tonks smiled at him.

"I know, Harry. You deserve it."

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The morning of September 1st, Harry and Tonks departed for King's Cross Station. Ted and Andromeda gave Harry warm goodbyes and told him he was welcome back at any time before Tonks and he left. Tonks led Harry out to the street where she held out her wand and the Knight Bus appeared. They loaded Harry's pack onto the bus and secured themselves firmly in seats, bracing themselves for the Knight Bus's violent starts and stops.

When they arrived at King's Cross Station, Harry paid Stan, and they left the bus. Just before they entered the station, Tonks stopped. Harry looked back at her and waited, seeing that she clearly had something to say. She knelt in front of him, meeting his eye level.

"Harry, have fun at Hogwarts. It's one of the best places in the world, and has some of the most wonderful people as well."

"Alright." Harry said, somewhat confused, as she'd said almost the exact same thing on the ride there.

"You're an amazing person, Harry. You really can stay with me any time you like. You're part of the family now." Harry was shocked at her words and had no idea what to say. He started to withdraw into himself, afraid, but not knowing what he was afraid of.

"Harry, look at me." He did as she asked.

Tonks smiled at Harry and lightly touched his hand. He attempted not to shy away, but visibly stiffened all the same. "You're going to be an amazing wizard Harry. Better than me. Probably better than anyone I know." She said this with conviction.

"Wait 'til they get a load of you." She said with a broad smile. "From what I've heard of your father, you'll be the prankster of a generation."

Suddenly, Harry remembered something he had forgotten to ask. "Who's Sirius? My mother's diary mentioned him."

Tonks eyes darkened and she backed away, clearly not wanting to respond. "He was a traitor." She said with a viciousness in her voice that Harry had never heard before. "He was a friend of your parents, but joined Voldemort in the last war, and now he's rotting in Azkaban Prison, where he belongs."

Harry had heard the Tonks speak of Azkaban before. He knew no details, but from the way they had reverently and fearfully spoken the name he understood that it was the worst of places.

Tonks was clearly done with this conversation and she walked in front of Harry's trolley that held his trunk and Hedwig into the station. As they approached the pillar bearing the signs for platforms nine and ten, Harry began to look around for some middle area.

Tonks walked directly toward the pillar and stopped when she was a dozen steps away.

"You'll need this." She said to Harry as she handed him a train ticket. "I'll miss you when you're at Hogwarts."

Her statement just made Harry feel awkward. He wanted to say he would miss her too, that these last two months had been the best of his life, but he was afraid that even speaking a word would cause his luck to change. That something horrible would prevent him from ever making it back to the Tonks, so he just nodded.

Just then a bell began to chime, signaling it was quarter to eleven.

"Oh!" Tonks said surprised. "You must be going or else you won't make the train. Follow me."

After she said this, Tonks darted straight into the sign-bearing, brick pillar and vanished. Harry was confused, and then suddenly realized there must be some sort of portal in the pillar. He dashed after her with his trolley and came out the other side on platform nine and three quarters.

A large train stood in the station bearing the words Hogwarts Express painted in red on the side. Harry saw dozens of children kissing their parents goodbye and loading their trunks onto the train. He and Tonks stopped near the stairs leading to the train.

"I'll see you next summer." Tonks said firmly.

Harry looked at her. "Really?" he asked with far too much excitement in his voice.

"Without a doubt." She replied with a final smile. "Now go, it's time to leave. You can't be late your first day."

With that, Harry stepped onto the train and pulled his trunk along with him, walking down the aisle until he found an empty compartment that he entered and stowed his trunk in the rack near the ceiling.

A/N: Chapter 7 is done! Review and let me know what you think! Next chapter should be up tomorrow! Again, thank you so much for reading, I hope all of you continue to enjoy the story!

Where were you when I was listening to Freddie Mercury?