Party Police.

Chapter Five.

"Platform nine and three-quarters, Harry, you got that?" Lily asked. "Now, I've gotta go find where your father went... I'm pretty sure he's bringing the others. I'm sure (Y/n) knows where it is. You'll be fine on your own, right?" (Y/n) nodded and Harry did so more hesitantly. "Great! Don't get on the train until we say our goodbyes, all right?"

"Mhm," Harry hummed, anxiously looking around. 

"Come along," (Y/n) said after she adjusted her white beret. She had a purple top with a frilly collar and a jean skirt. She, of course, had her uniform in a carry on bag and she brought with her, her cats and her owl. "I have absolutely no clue where the Platform is," she admitted when Lily was gone. Harry looked at her in horror. "Well, I know where it is, just not where to find it. I'm bad with directions. Help me look for Platforms 9 and 10, won't you?" The two wandered around hopelessly, looking for the right platform. 

Harry had made the mistake of asking a passing guard for directions. (Y/n) grimaced when Harry gave their school name. The guard instantly grew annoyed when Harry couldn't mention a country and (Y/n) was too shy to do so. Out of desperation, Harry asked for the train that left at eleven o'clock but the guard told them there wasn't one. In the end, the guard walked away, muttering about time-wasters. They started panicking. According to the large clock above the arrivals board, they had ten minutes to catch their train or they'd be stranded in the middle of a station.

"There!" (Y/n) cried, successfully finding platforms nine and ten. "Wow, we passed this up at least three times," she murmured, leading Harry forward. Before they could pass through, a familiar group of people passed just behind them.

"—packed with Muggles, of course—" 

Harry swung around. The speaker was a plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming red hair. Each of them was pushing a trunk like their own in front of him— and they had an owl.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley!" (Y/n)'s voice brought Harry back to the train station. 

"Hello, darling," answered the woman pleasantly. "Now, what's the platform number?" she asked her children.

"Nine and three-quarters!" piped a small girl, also a red-headed, who was holding Molly's hand. "Mum, can't I go—"

"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first."
What looked to be the oldest boy marched toward platforms nine and ten. Harry watched carefully, making sure not to blink under the chance he would miss it— but right as the boy reached the dividing barrier between the two platforms, a large crowd of tourists came swarming in front of him and by the time the last backpack had cleared away, the boy was gone.
"Fred, you next," the plump woman continued.

"I'm not Fred, I'm George!" said the boy. "Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?" (Y/n) squinted at him in doubt.

"Sorry, George, dear."

"Only joking, I am Fred," said the boy and off he went. His twin called after him to hurry up, his elbow propped onto (Y/n)'s shoulder as they watched. He must have done so, for a second later, he had gone— but how had he done it? Now the third brother was walking briskly toward the barrier— he was almost there— and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere.

"Excuse me?" Harry said as he approached the woman.

"Hello, dear," she greeted. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too." She pointed towards the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose.

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "The thing is— The thing is, I don't know how to—"

"How to get onto the platform?" she finished kindly and Harry nodded. "Not to worry," she assured. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best to do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Pay close attention to (Y/n)."
(Y/n) took hold of her cart and broke into a confident stride. When she got closer, she picked up her pace into a slow jog and due to Harry paying close attention, he was able to see just how and when she passed through the barrier.
"Go on, go now before Ron," insisted the woman.