My One and Only

Chapter 4 - Year 1

ON SEPTEMBER FIRST, the Dursleys' left Harry and Maia with their trunks and owls standing before platforms nine and ten in Kings Cross Station ten minutes before eleven. The problem was, according to their tickets, they were meant to be at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, but it didn't exist. All that stood between nine and ten was a single brick wall. The guard they asked didn't prove to be much help, telling them that no train left at eleven, and that he couldn't help them if they didn't tell him where they were going. They thanked him, heads down, ignoring the stares as Orion and Hedwig hooted loudly. Orion hopped about in his cage, flapping his wings, as if trying to tell Maia something, but all she could do was stare helplessly at him, wishing she understood animals. Around her people chatted loudly, not one person daring to stop and ask the children if they needed help.

"So, I went into the office thinking I was going to get sacked, and then, boss tells me that I'm being promoted!"

"Alfie hush, mummy is on the phone right now."

"Hurry, Felix! We'll miss the train!"

"Oh it's the same every year, always packed with Muggles."

Maia turned abruptly her eyes locking on a family of redheads who were hurriedly pushing large trunks much like hers through the crowd.

"Come on." Maia said nearly tripping over her car as she hurried to approach the family. The family stopped near where the twins were just standing, and the mother ushered the oldest looking boy forward.

"Mummy, can't I go too?" a little girl with red hair matching her families asked, and the plump woman clinging to her hand shook her head sternly.

"Not yet, Ginny. You've got one more year to go." She said, and the little girl, Ginny, pouted. The woman turned to one of the four boys standing around her, and motioned him forward. "Alright, you first Percy."

Maia watched intently as Percy, who appeared to be the oldest rushed towards the wall between platforms nine and ten. Just as he was about to hit it, a crowd of muggles blocked him from view, and when they had cleared out, he was gone. Maia frowned, glancing around, certain he wouldn't be able to hide in the crowd, not with his bright red hair, but he had vanished.

The redheaded woman turned to two identical boys behind her next, and Maia bit her lip, intent on not missing what happened this time.

"You next Fred." The woman said, motioning with her head to the brick wall that the first boy had disappeared in front of.

"He's not Fred, I am!" one of the boys exclaimed.

"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother." The second boy said with a shake of his head.

"Oh, sorry, George." The woman said, as George pushed his trunk forward and positioned himself in front of the wall.

"I'm only joking. I am Fred!" the boy said, and Maia giggled quietly at the exasperated look on his mothers' face.

"Hurry up, Freddie!" the real George called, and Maia took her eyes off Fred to glance at George, who was leaning impatiently on his trunks. When she turned back, Fred was gone, and she resisted the urge to stamp her foot in frustration. As much as she didn't want to, she knew she'd have to approach the woman and ask for help. Her stomach churned anxiously, as it always did when she was forced to speak to a stranger, but she pushed her worries away as George ran forward and disappeared after his brothers.

"Excuse me!" Maia said, moving closer to the redheads, who looked startled that someone had noticed them. Harry was hot on his sister's trail, his cheeks red as the woman stared at him expectantly, but not unkindly.