All stories told are black and blue underneath

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All credits belong to the author.

Previously...

Harry nodded and took hold of Dumbledore's arm and they apparated away.

Chapter 9

Harry had been taken to his foster home straight after much to his dismay. He had wanted to stay at Diagonally for the rest of his summer holidays but knew he had to endure and move on. His new foster home was better then he expected.

The woman he stayed with, Jane Green, worked a job that required time yet didn't earn her a decent amount of money at a time. She was too busy to spend much time with him but when she did he found himself laughing and playing along with her. He actually started enjoying himself. It was something new for him. He remembered old foster kids who were adopted visiting their friends telling them about their amazing new guardians. Harry had simply scoffed and tuned out the conversation at the time thinking it was either a myth or something he wasn't destined for. But this time he felt himself believing in it. Never in a million years would he have thought it would happen to him. He found himself craving more moments with Jane. Just to feel something that resembled what you would feel when a parent was around.

So he pulled his own weight. He continued working and payed for things at times when she couldn't. He didn't complain when she came home at 12 midnight smelling faintly of coffee and collapsed on the sofa after giving him a half hearted hug leaving him to clean and do all the housework. He didn't complain when he had to make her meals and run towards where she worked just to give her the food so she would eat since she never bought any of her own. He never complained when she ranted about everything being to expensive. He never complained when he had to take care of her at times because he didn't mind. She gave him something more in return.

Harry had also spent some of his summer in his room. When his caretaker was out and he didn't have anything to do he would sit in his room reading his school books. By the end of the summer, he had probably read and re-read every single book bought and memorised them by heart. Sometimes he even tried a few spells in secret. However, the thing he loved most was his owl. He had fallen in love with the snowy owl and started getting used to its company. When looking through his books his eye had caught on a name and he had deemed it the perfect name for his companion. Hedwig. For him it was perfect. He didn't know why. But it had a sense of rightfulness to him.

As he lay in his bed, he looked over to the paper calendar hanging awkwardly next to him and smiled. Days had been crossed of as Harry waited for Hogwarts to start. The travel arrangements had all been made and though it was far, Harry would walk early in the morning to catch the bus and walk back in the evening. It was perfect for him. Now he just had to wait. Wait to start his new adventure that couldn't come any quicker.

---------------------------------------------Time skip-------------------------------------------------------

On August 31st, Harry had breached the subject of going to school with his foster parent. He caught her before she went to work.

"Harry I'm really sorry but I don't have much time. I have to go. I'm going to be so late. We can talk later. " Jane said rushing around putting things hurriedly into her purse.

"Er... Well you see I'm going to secondary school tomorrow." Harry answered quickly helping her put everything in.

"Really? Is it that time already? That's amazing Harry. I hope you have fun. We'll discuss everything tomorrow but I really have to go." Jane replied brushing her straight brown hair out of her face exposing her blue eyes and pulling it into a ponytail before putting one shoe on and hopping around trying to find the other.

"But I start tomorrow! " When he got no answer he continued disheartedly , "You see, my school finishes later and since its far away I leave earlier. I just thought I'd let you know I would be home quite late. " Harry said shuffling his feet.

Jane simply nodded distractedly.  Harry took that as a sign that she wasn't listening any more and left it at that. "Don't forget your lunch." He called out behind her but she was already out the door. Harry sighed before taking lunch and taking it with him for his shift to give it to her when he was on his break. Sometimes he wished she was there. Sometimes he felt anger and annoyance at her. For making him open up then never having enough time for him. But he knew it was wrong. It had usually left him feeling guilty with himself. Because she had done more then any one had bothered too. Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts and continued on with his day.

Harry had spent the evening organising and making sure he had everything for the next day. He had searched every corner of his room to see if there were any rogue schoolbooks lying around. Soon everything was up to his standards and he fell into a fitful sleep.

That night, Harry had nightmares. Dreams of the worst possible scenarios. Him not making it on time. Him loosing the ticket or not finding the platform so they don't let him on. Them telling him it was a mistake and they got the wrong person. Him living his life normally. Barely functioning and overworked with a guardian who he wished spent more time with him while just hoping for anything that was...different . Something he was terrified of. After each nightmare he had bolted up gasping for breath. His stomach would twist into knots and his breathing would come out in ragged gasps but would fall back into a dreamless sleep after assuring himself he had the means to contact teachers if something happened.

Harry woke up bright and early the next morning. The sunlight streamed through the curtains and the wind flew in through the window.  He changed into his school uniform and got ready. After checking everything once more, he picked up his bag and owl cage, stuffed a few wards of money into his pocket and rushed down stairs to start on breakfast.

After cooking some breakfast, he served himself a serving before taking out a plate and placing a proportion onto a tray for his foster parents and rushing out the door.

By the time, he reached Kings Cross it was already 7:00. He only had 15 minutes to get on the train and he didn't even know where the platform was. He placed Hedwig and his bag on a trolley and took out his ticket and really looked at it for the first time. The Hogwarts express was going to leave the platform at 7:30 from platform 9 and 3/4. A platform he had no idea where to find. Platform 9 and 3/4 . He had never heard of there being a platform 9 and 3/4's. Was this some sort of sick joke? What if there was no such thing and it was just an elaborate and cruel prank some one wanted to play? He knew he shouldn't have gotten his hopes up. But what if it was something else? Like a test? Or a detail someone forgot to tell him?

Harry took a deep breath and started searching for the platform. The platforms name was platform 9 and 3/4 so he figured it must be between platform 9 and 10 so he had to go in that general area. He wandered around the platforms following the signs but somehow managed to get lost. He started panicking when it was 7:15 and he was still yet to find platform 9. He finally found a station managers desk and got directions. He found his way to platform 9 and was about to take a look around when he felt someone tugging on his arm. He turned around quickly to find himself staring into familiar stormy grey eyes. Draco's eyes.

Hi! Don't worry I'm still alive! Sorry about the late update. I was swamped with schoolwork and had to study for loads of tests. I'll try to update a little more often from now on. Keep the comments coming. I would love to hear your opinions and suggestions. I'm open to them.

Thanks for reading.

FantasyTiger123