High Hopes (Harry Potter)

1: Through The Ticket Barrier

Matthew looked at me doubtfully. He was chewing on his bottom lip, a telltale sign of his apprehension. I couldn't help but associate the expression with that of our old pet rabbit. Blinking the image away, I smiled reassuringly.

I could understand his nervousness, of course, he'd never been allowed to do it before.

"Come on," I smiled, rolling my eyes. "We'll do it together." He nodded as his small hand slipped into mine, gripping tightly. "Three, two, one."

I broke out into a run and pulled him after me. Glancing back, I noticed Matthew had his eyes scrunched shut tightly. Afraid of impact, I guess. Seconds later, we were standing on Platform 9 and 3/4. "Hey, Matt," I nudged him. "You can open your eyes." The smoke cleared around us and I watched my little brother take in the scene. He turned back to me, eyes shining and mouth slightly agape. I wasn't sure if he was impressed by the magical pets, students walking around already in their robes or the great, gleaming, scarlet engine. The famous Hogwarts Express itself. Either way, Matthew was awestruck.

My father appeared at my side, wearing an expression to mirror his son's. Mum, on his other side, looked at me and sighed. As much as we all loved him, my muggle father acting like an eleven-year-old boy induced an eye-roll or two. It was a common occurance.

"Look!" he exclaimed. I turned around to see what (or who) he was pointing at. Another family. Dad waved, and they hurried over. The four adults immediately immersed themselves in the usual, mandatory 'the-children-are-back-to-school' conversation: How was you summer? Do anything nice? Did the kids miss school? That sort of thing.

Meanwhile, their daughter stood in front of me, crossing her arms. Her curly blonde hair was pulled back from her face with a black elastic hairband, but strands were already starting to escape from her ponytail. She was still dressed in Muggle attire, as was I. Her pale grey eyes were narrowed. She had a couple of inches' height on me and used it to her advantage, sneering down at me.

I looked her up and down in disgust. "Margo Barrett," I spat. "Long time no see."

"Very long time," she noted. "I wasn't expecting you back, to be honest. I didn't know if imbeciles like you were allowed to do the O.W.L.s."

"They made an exception. I'm just special."

"That you are," she grinned, finally dropping her act. Matthew looked between us confusedly as Margo slung her arm around my shoulders.

"How was the rest of the summer?" I laughed. "Miss me much?"

"Duh. Philip left the day after you. It was so boring without you guys."

Margo's house was our summer rendezvous point. Every summer since first year we'd spend a month or so at Margo's. She lived in a Muggle village which was located precisely in the middle of God knows where. I was used to Muggles, (living in a Muggle village myself) but Philip got the most enjoyment from it. Not being around magic was a novelty to him. Two weeks previous, Margo and I had walked into the kitchen one morning to find her mum teaching Philip how to peel potatoes with a potato peeler. He was amazed by it.

Matthew shifted awkwardly on his feet and Margo realised he had been standing there the whole time.

"Matthew! You nervous about starting Hogwarts?" she elbowed him. Taken aback, he nodded solemnly.

"I've heard so many things.."

"What? You mean when there was a troll in the dungeon? Or when the Chamber of Secrets was opened? Of when Sirius Black got into the Gryffindor dormitory? Or when Cedric Diggory died-"

Matthew looked at me, pure terror in his eyes, and I shot a look at Margo to say 'Too far.' She held up her hands in surrender, "I'm only telling him all the things that have happened since first year. And they're all down to Harry Potter, actually. Steer clear of him," she warned.