Harry Potter and Hermione Granger: The Chamber of Secrets

The Whomping Willow

Dateline: September 1st, 1992

The end of the summer vacation came too quickly for Harry and Hermione's liking as they were looking forward to be getting back to Hogwarts. Their month at the Burrow had been the happiest of their lives, that on the last day of August, the Weasleys threw a dinner party that included their favourite things, ending with some mouthwatering treacle pudding. The twins, Fred and George, capped off the final day of August with a display of Filibuster Fireworks as they filled the kitchen with red and blue stars that bounced from ceiling to wall for at least a half-hour. Then, after one last sip of hot chocolate, they headed off to bed and couldn't wait for the start of their second year at Hogwarts.

It was quarter till eleven when the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione arrived at King's Cross, and everyone started to run through the barrier with Ron, Hermione, and Harry being the last one's to attempt to get on the platform. Feeling confident, they bent over to the handles of their trolleys and walked purposely toward the barrier, gathering speed. They were a few feet away from it when they broke into a run and -- CRASH.

The three trolleys hit the barrier and bounced backwards; Ron's trunk fell off with a loud thump, both Harry and Hermione were knocked to their feet, and Hedwig's and Crookshanks' cages bounced onto the shiny floor. People were all around them, weirdly looking at them.

"Oy! What do you three think you're doing?" said the station guard

"Lost control of the trolley," Harry gasped, clutching his ribs as he helped Hermione up.

"Why can't we get through?" Hermione hissed at Ron.

"I dunno -- The gateway's sealed itself for some reason," Ron whispered.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked up at the giant clock, and to their horror, the clock struck eleven.

"The train leaves at exactly eleven o'clock. We've missed it!" snapped Harry.

"Guys, if we can't get through, maybe Mum and Dad can't get back!" worried Ron.

"Maybe we should just wait by the car," Hermione suggested.

"The car?" said the two boys.

Moments later, after they avoided all the Muggles and packed their luggage in the trunk, they floated into the air before Harry said, "Ron, I should tell you, most Muggles aren't accustomed to see a flying car!"

"Uh, right," he said, pressing a tiny silver button on the dashboard.

The car and the people inside vanished as they rode the car toward London and passed King's Cross Station. Then, suddenly, something popped, and the car, Harry, Hermione, and Ron reappeared.

"Oh, no. The Invisibility Booster must be faulty!" said Ron, still jabbing at the Invisibility Booster.

"Well, come on, then, let's go lower. We need to find the train," ordered Hermione.

"Uh, all right," answered Ron, taking the car down on the train tracks.

"Now, all we need to do is catch up with the train," said Harry.

"We can't be far behind," said Ron.

An ear-tingling sound broke perhaps the sound barrier of the car as they heard the train whistling in the distance.

"Do you hear that?" said Harry, looking over to Ron and Hermione's side.

"We must be getting close!" Ron said in excitement.

"Hold on," Hermione said, looking very frightened and turned to Harry and Ron.

Hedwig made a loud shriek at the sight of a vehicle moving at a swift pace. The train was there, behind them, moving to crush the car if they hadn't been careful enough. Ron turned the wheel as hard as he could, and before long, they heard a voice coming from outside the car.