Broken Glass

1. Platform 9¾

30th August 2018

Harry,

Just a quick note to tell you I've arrived safely. The heat is extraordinary – not good for my complexion! Two weeks of sunblock spells – ugh! The teams have all arrived and I've managed to blag an interview with the England coach. And he never gives interviews. So excited.

Give my love to the kids. I assume you spoilt Lily at Eeylops Emporium. I hope you didn't forget I'm allergic to cats. Hope there are no problems with catching the train etc. I'm sure the boys will be too excited about going back to miss me and at least Lily has Hugo with her.

Sorry again about the mix up with mum's birthday party for you.

Gin x

***

Harry sat on the bench furthest away from the barrier on Platform 9¾. It was easier to sit down there, out of the way; he could avoid the other departing parents and those that still liked to stare, or the occasional fawner who was desperate to talk to him about the war despite it all being twenty years ago, or those who looked at him warily because of his job. He could wait until the dwindlers had long since gone; there was no hurry.

The smell of coal fire still loitered and he could almost hear the chug of steam engine lingering in the air as he watched the Hogwarts Express slowly diminish into distance greyness. It felt like it was taking his children away from him... it was taking his children away from him.

He sighed.

He sensed it was a monumental moment. Not for Jamie, Al, and Lils. No, they were wrapped up in their own adventures. Gone without a backwards glance, as if they'd abandoned him. Jamie hadn't even said goodbye, too keen to find Rufus and give him a noogie with boisterous delight as they ducked and wove through the steam that hung around the platform. They'd seen each other a week previously but you'd think they'd been separated for months. And Al had only given him a brief hug and rushed off to find Scorpius. Even Lils, her first time on the Hogwarts Express, hadn't needed him. She'd hugged him hard and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then Rose Granger-Weasley had held her hand and led her and Hugo off to find a compartment with Lily protectively clutching her new Kneazle kitten, Misty, to her chest. Harry was ashamed to admit he'd completely forgotten about Gin's allergy but it was too late now; Misty slept on Lil's pillow and Lils was constantly burying her nose into Misty's soft grey fur and murmuring sweet nothings. He wouldn't take that away from his daughter. He'd ended up buying a harness and lead for Misty as Lils refused to put the kitten in a basket.

Harry had brought Rose and Hugo to the station too. Mione was, as usual, tied up with Ministry business; she seemed to work 24/7 these days but he knew being Minister of Magic was a full-time job. And Ron had a sudden emergency at the shop, a messed-up delivery or something. Harry had, as normal, ensured he didn't have a weekend shift. He always did, it was a little tradition he started with Teddy nine years ago; that he was there to say goodbye to the kids at the beginning of each term and collect them when they came home, no matter what. He'd never failed yet, despite his job.

Ginny... well, who knew exactly where she was?

He sighed again.

She was somewhere in the Far East. The Philippines, he thought. Mindanao ran a bell but he wasn't entirely sure. The paper had sent her, or maybe she'd sent herself, to cover another international Quidditch tournament for her column in the Prophet's sport supplement. They didn't talk much these days so he wasn't certain, just brief notes as they passed like ships in the night.

He wondered what had happened, where had the last twenty years gone? What had he achieved?

Sure, he was Head of the DMLE now and he loved his job. It was rewarding. But his private life was a mess.