The Other Potter

Hogwarts Express

I'm reading on the top bunk in our room when Harry comes back in looking both happy and shaken.

"What's got you?" I ask, looking over the edge. There's no railing on the top bunk, I think they're hoping one of us will fall and all their troubles would be over. Harry thinks that's extremely morbid and unlikely. I then have to remind him where his first bedroom was, which shuts him up.

"I got Uncle Vernon to agree to take us to the platform tomorrow." Harry says. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and lean towards my brother, mainly so I don't hit the ceiling.

"Are you mad?" I demand.

"We need a ride, Miles." Harry says, using my childhood nickname only he's allowed to use.

"I know, but...took some nerve." I say, lying back and returning to the book.

"What are you reading?"

"Potions."

"Have you gotten to History of Magic yet?"

"Yes. The fact that you named your owl Hedwig intrigued me, so I kind of had to."

"Had to." He scoffs.

The next day I dress in my well-worn jeans, a very loose navy sweater, and black sneakers. Harry gets Dudley's hand me downs and I get Aunt Petunia's clothes from when she was a girl. I never understood why she kept them for so long, but they're clothes and they fit better than Harry's clothes fit him, so I'm not going to complain.

When we get to the train station Uncle Vernon puts Harry's and my trunk on a trolley and even pushes it to the platform.

"No Platform 9 3/4. Well, have a nice school year." He says before turning and leaving us there. I can see all three Dursley's laughing as they leave.

"There are special places in hell for those three." I tell my brother.

"We have other things to worry about right now, Mya." Harry says. I look at Harry pointedly. "I know, I know. Your coping mechanism is dark humor."

"Platform 9 3/4 this way." I hear a voice say. I hit Harry's arm before walking in front of the trolley and he follows. I find that the voice belongs to the matriarch of a family I could easily fit in with. So many red heads.

"Excuse me." I say as I approach carefully and very subdued.

"Hello, dear."

"Um, could you help my brother and me, um, get onto the uh..." I try to get out, but I have never been very good with strangers or large crowds, let alone a large crowd of strangers.

"How to get onto the platform?" The woman asks kindly and I nod.

"Not to worry. It's Ron's first year as well." The woman says. Harry and I look at the boy she gestures to and give him nods of acknowledgment. "All you have to do is run at the wall in between platforms 9 and 10. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous."

"I can take her, mum." One of the many sons says.

"Thank you, Fred."

"He's not Fred. I am." The boy's copy says.

"Honestly, you call yourself our mother."

"Oh, I'm sorry, George."

"I'm only yanking your wand. I am Fred." The original boy says. He takes my hand, his trolley, and we run to the wall.

"Whoa." I say once we're through and out of the others way.

"Brilliant, right?" George asks as he joins us. I take a long look at both boys to find a difference between the two,and it's hard, but I manage it: their eyes and the constellation of freckles on their faces.