𝓓𝓸 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀? |𝗣.𝗝. 𝗔.𝗖.| Paused

III.

The sorting.

⟸★☆✫✰✯★☆✯✰✫☆★⟹

Hadrian, Morrígan and Hagrid, laden with heavy trollies and Hedwig, Hadrian's snowy owl, as while as Salem, Morrígan's cat, stand outside the station in the dawn light. Hagrid checks his watch, looks suddenly urgent. "Blimey, look at the time. I'm afraid I ave ter be leavin' yeh now, Dumbledore will be wantin'-" Hagrid pats his left pocket. Catches himself. "He'll be wantin' -ter see me. That there's yer train. Leaves in about ten minutes time. Jus' make sure yeh stick ter yeh ticket. That's very important. Stick ter yeh ticket." He hands the tickets over.

"There must be something wrong, Hagrid. This says Platform Nine and Three Quarters. There's no such thing-" they looks up, but Hagrid is gone. "Is there?" he asks Morrígan, who shrugs.

They dash through a bustling King's Cross, sledding to a halt in front of a pair of platform signs. One reads NINE. One reads TEN. Harry turns to a passing station officer before Morrígan can stop him. "Excuse me- Can you tell me where I might find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters?" He asks and Morrígan sighs. "Think you're funny, do you? Nine and Three-Quarters indeed." The man grumbled, leaving.

They look about, despairingly, then hears- "packed with Muggles, of course." They turn, seeing a plump woman hurrying along four red-headed boys and their little, red-headed sister. The boys all tow trunks identical to theirs. "All right, Percy. You first." They watch the tallest boy walk straight toward a dividing barrier and vanish. Hadrian squints in confusion. Next, Mrs. Weasley turns to a pair of cheeky twins. "Fred. You next." She says.

"I'm not Fred. I'm George. Honestly,
woman, you call yourself our mother?" One says. "Sorry, George." She says like she mixes them up a lot. "Only joking. I am Fred." Fred dashes off, trailed by George. They too vanish. "Excuse me. Could you tell us how-" "How to get onto the platform? Not to worry, dear. It's Ron's first time to Hogwarts as well." They look at the youngest red-haired boy. He is tall, gangly, and presently has a smudge on his nose.

"All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. Focus, but don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it either. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous." Hadrian looks. Shrugs, sprinting at full speed, at the barrier. coming closer and closer, he shuts his eyes and vanishes as well. Ron follows and as he does, Morrígan looks at Ginny who looks kinda weary of her. She smiles at the girl, hoping to look more friendly, before following her brother.

⟸✯⟹

They land on a platform milling with people. A sign above reads HOGWARTS EXPRESS. Below it sits a scarlet steam engine. Hadrian glances behind, sees a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS on it. Just beyond, he sees Kings Cross and the world he's left behind.

Hadrian struggles with his heavy trunk as all around him people say goodbye to their families. A round-faced boy turns frantically to his Gran. "Gran! I've lost my toad again." He says. "Oh, Neville. Honestly. Not again-" she says tired of this.

Further up, a boy in dreadlocks holds a box. "Go on, Lee. Give us a look." As Lee lifts the lid, a long hairy leg protrudes and students shriek. Unimpressed, one of the twins spots Hadrian struggling and Morrígan teasing him, refusing to help.

"Want a hand?"

"Yes, please. My sister won't help" he playfully glares at Morrígan who winks at him. "Oi! C'mere, fred! Take a handle."

Fred and George heave Hadrian's trunk atop other, similar trunks while Harry sets Hedwig with the owls and Morrígan snuggles Salem. Harry wipes his sweaty off his brow revealing his scar. "Thanks very much." He says to the twins. "Blimey. You're-" George starts, "-Harry Potter" Fred finishes. "What? Oh, him. No. I mean, I am. But it's Hadrian not Harry, I don't get why people keep calling us the wrong names. This my sister Morrígan." He says, the girl waving. The twins, gaped slightly, now recognizing her as well.