Unknown secrets | Harry Potter x OC

Chapter 6

After they finished their business at the emporium, Charlotte took the newly bought cage and placed it on her cart. They began their walk to the train station to meet up with Charlotte's father.

"Mum, I just want to thank you for being able to get me all of these things. A lot of other people aren't able to have this sort of stuff... So, thank you." Charlotte said. She wanted to make sure her mum understood how grateful she was. She was so incredibly lucky to be able to go to the school of her dreams and get all this new stuff.

"Oh, your welcome darling... you deserve it all." Her mum smiled while looking down at the young witch.

Charlotte side hugged her mum, and that's how they walked the rest of the way. Mary with her arm around Charlotte's shoulder and Charlotte leaning into her mother's side.

Eventually, they arrived.

"Alright, so now we need to find platform 9 3/4. Which should be right over... here." Her mother stated while hurriedly walking towards their destination.

"So, father will already be by the train, right?" Charlotte asked. She felt like she had to make sure. She didn't know if she'd be able to leave without saying goodbye.

"Yes darling he will be there, you have nothing to worry about." Her mother assured.

Charlotte nodded her head, brushing the slight nervousness off her shoulders. She looked around for a sign that had 9 3/4, like her mother mentioned... but she couldn't find it. Anywhere.

"Mum, I thought you said the train left from platform 9 3/4. I can't find it anywhere." Charlotte continued to look around confusedly.

"Well, platform 9 3/4 is not known to muggles, so it couldn't just be out in the open, darling. It is just for witches and wizards after all." Her mother chuckled. "9 3/4 will be found just between 9 and 10." Mary informed with a curt nod.

Charlotte became even more confused. They were standing right in between platforms 9 and 10. The only things around them were the train tracks and the brick walls. Her grandfather had told her everything there was to know about the majestic school... or so she thought. It occurred to her that he never mentioned how he got to the train. Charlotte had always assumed that the train was just... there.

Charlotte looked up at the older witch confused. Her mother laughed at the young witch's obliviousness.

"I assume you're unaware of the hidden passageway to our destination?" Her mother chuckled.

"Yes?" Charlotte tilted her head slightly resembling a dog.

"That's alright, darling. All you need to do is walk—actually, it would be better to run— straight through that brick wall, and on the other side will be platform 9 3/4!" Mary exclaimed rather excitedly.

Okay that's crazy talk Charlotte thought. She was supposed to walk, or rather run, through a brick wall and hope she didn't get a concussion? She guessed it wasn't the craziest that had been suggested to her. This was apart of the wizarding world after all. The young witch decided not to question it anymore and switched her very confused face to a determined one.

"Okay... I'm ready," Charlotte stated with confidence. She was definitely not ready for this, but she couldn't just say that. It's better to be confident and act like you know what you're doing than be scared and refuse to do anything. That's something her grandfather taught her, and she lived by that. Always.

"Okay, just make sure you have a good grip on your cart and run straight between 9 and 10. I'll be right behind you." Her mother assured.

Charlotte nodded and took a deep breath. She held tight onto her cart and went for it. When she got close to the brick wall, she wanted to back out and get her Mum's reassurance one last time. But, she knew that wasn't the kind of person she wanted to be. She continued forward and, to her surprise, didn't crash into the brick wall. Instead she went right through it and ended up on a new platform.

In front of her was a large red train, lined with windows. From where she was, the front of the train could be seen. The locomotive was black with a bit of red at the very front. The rest of the train was a crimson red that looked as if it could use a new coat of paint. Along the sides were also slight bits of gold detailing as well. This was the Hogwarts Express.

It was so much better in person. Her grandfather told her all about the express but she had never actually seen it in person. She always just let her imagination run wild with imagines of what it could look like.

But now she knew and she was not disappointed.

Charlotte was so engrossed in the red train that she didn't even notice her mother come through the passageway right behind her. She was brought back to reality by a hand that was placed on her shoulder.

"Isn't it wonderful, darling?" Her mother asked, grinning at the express.

"Yeah... it is" Charlotte said, in a dazed manner.

"Let's hurry up and find your father. I reckon the train will be leaving soon." Mary stated while grabbing Charlotte's dainty hand. "Oh, it will take forever to find that man!"

"I don't think it will take that long," a familiar voice said behind them.

Both witches turned around to see Charlotte's father standing there with a bright smile on his face. Charlotte immediately hugged the wizard as tight as possible, happy that he was able to be there.

"Well someone has a tendency to get lost in large crowds," Mary grinned playfully.

Richard brushed off his wife's comment and looked at the young witch in front of him. Charlotte stepped away and turned towards both of her parents. The smile that was on her face was slowly fading once she realized now was the time to say goodbye.

Then, it all hit her at once. She was about to leave her family, the only life she had ever known, for 11 whole months. Of course she would come back over Christmas, but that was still a long time to be without her parents. In fact, it's the longest she's ever been without her parents. What would she do?

Her parents seemed to understand what was going on in her mind, because they only had to take one look at each other before pulling the young witch into a large embrace. Charlotte tried not to cry as they held her. She looked up at them and smiled.

"Darling, it's okay." her mother cooed.

"We are only an owl away." her father spoke reassuringly.

"I know, and I promise to write all the time." Charlotte said, still trying to hold back tears. "I love you."

"Oh, and we love you honey," her father said with a sad smile.

They took a couple more seconds to enjoy each others' presence, but it was eventually time for Charlotte to board the train. She pulled away and looked up at her parents. After a few moments her father said, "Now go on... make memories."

She grinned at her parents and grabbed all of her belongings. She began her walk towards the train when she heard her mothers voice...

"And be safe!"

Charlotte turned her head one last time with a smile her parents would never forget.

A/N:
Ok so we are clearly not the best at updating😀. Well it's mainly me just not having any motivation to write, but we don't talk ab it. The editor literally like kept asking me to write and I just didn't💀. Idk what it was but it just took me FOREVER to write this chapter. But it's done now and hopefully y'all enjoyed it!! Again we'll try not to update slow but at this point you never know and I'm sorry ab that😭.

Editor here... and like the author said we are just bad at updating. Although, as much as she wants to blame herself... this chapter has been done for a few days and I was just too lazy to edit. This chapter is honestly just kinda filler which is why it was so hard to finish.. but the next one will be way better bc interesting things will be happening. Keep in mind this is the slowest slow burn you will ever read. Anyway, go eat some food and drink some water. - the editor