THE ARISE OF A LITTLE SISTER[Percy Little sis of boy who lived (Book 1)]

CHAPTER 6 : JOURNEY TO HOGWARTS EXPRESS

HARRY POV

It's been a month since Hagrid dropped me off at the Dursleys'. He gave me a ticket for the Hogwarts Express and told me to get to King's Cross Station before 11. The train leaves sharply at 11 o'clock on September 1st. Tomorrow is September 1st. The last month with the Dursleys has been unremarkable, except that Dudley is now scared of me. He wouldn't stay in the same room as me. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon didn't shut me in my cupboard or force me to do anything or shout at me. In fact, they didn't speak to me at all. I had my new owl for company. I decided to call her Hedwig, a name I found in A History of Magic. It's a relief, actually.

On the last day of August, I knew I had to speak to my aunt and uncle about getting to King's Cross Station the next day, so I went down to the living room, where they were watching a quiz show on television. I cleared my throat to let them know I was there, and Dudley screamed and ran from the room.

"Er – Uncle Vernon?" He just grunted in reply, but at least I knew he was listening, so I continued.

"Er – I need to be at King's Cross tomorrow to – to go to Hogwarts. So, would it be all right if you gave me a lift?"

Another grunt. Okay, that means yes. I'm going to Hogwarts. I'm going to meet Laia. My thoughts were interrupted by Uncle Vernon. He asked how I was getting to Hogwarts from King's Cross Station. I simply said, "train."

"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?"

I didn't say anything. I knew he would reply like this, but I needed his help, so it was wise to stay silent. This is what I actually learned in my ten years with the Dursleys.

"Where is this school, anyway?"

"I don't know," I replied, realizing this for the first time. I pulled the ticket Hagrid had given me out of my pocket.

"I just take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock," I read.

My aunt and uncle stared at me like I said there was going to be an alien invasion in Manhattan.

"Don't talk rubbish," said Uncle Vernon. "There is no platform nine and three-quarters."

"It's on my ticket."

"Barking," said Uncle Vernon. "Howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You just wait. All right, we'll take you to King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't bother."

"Why are you going to London?" I asked, trying to keep things friendly.

"Taking Dudley to the hospital. Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings," growled Uncle Vernon.

I woke up early the next day, double-checked and triple-checked the Hogwarts list to make sure I had everything I needed. I dressed in Muggle clothes—Hagrid told me that Muggle refers to non-magical people—since I didn't want to walk into the station in my wizard's robes. When the Dursleys finally woke up and got ready, we reached King's Cross Station at half past ten. Uncle Vernon left me alone with my trunk between platforms nine and ten. There was no platform nine and three-quarters. What on earth am I going to do?

I was starting to attract a lot of funny looks because of Hedwig. I'd have to ask someone. I asked the guard about a train that left at 11 o'clock, but he said there wasn't one. In the end, the guard strode away, muttering about time-wasters. I had no idea what I was going to do. I didn't know where Hogwarts was, and I didn't know what would happen if I missed the Hogwarts Express. Was I not going to meet Laia? At that moment, a group of red-haired people passed me. I caught a few words of what they were saying.