Snow On The Beach - Harry J. Potter

The journey

Through the busy King's Cross Station ran a small family of four: the father, wide-eyed with a big smile on his face and holding hands with the mother, whose eyebrows were furrowed and face was settled into a slight frown; the child, running in front of her parents with her trolley and finally the cat, who was calmly laying on top of the girl's trunk, unbothered.

One second they were running through the station and the next...

"It's that wall directly between the Platforms 9 and 10, just run straight through it and we'll be right behind you!" The mother called to her child, tugging on her husband's hand and picking up her pace.

The girl did as she was told, silently hoping her mother didn't mix up the walls.

The last people saw of the girl was a blur of brown hair before she disappeared, a similar one and a blonde one following close behind.

Coming up on the other side, Cassandra took a moment to catch her breath before looking up. In front of her was a scarlet engine with a sign saying its name was Hogwarts' Express. Despite the clock next to it saying it was five minutes before the trains' departure, the Platform 9 ¾ was still packed with people, with students and parents alike.

Cassie saw a big group of redheaded people standing in front of a window, not knowing they were being watched by a boy who was sitting in that compartment and thought for a moment about how happy they seemed.

She was soon snapped out of it when her mother lowered her trunk back to the ground and Nyx hopped off, stretching her legs. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her dad looking around the platform with child-like eyes full of wonder and parted lips.

Cassandra was often told by family friends that she greatly resembled her mother. She had her brown hair, lightly bulged nose and downturned smile. As Cassie had always thought her mother was the most beautiful woman alive, she considered this the best compliment she could receive.

Now, she smiled gently at her daughter, "Have a good term, alright? And if you struggle with some things, don't hesitate to ask for help." She then opened her arms and Cassie hugged her tightly. Another set of hands joined the hug as her father squeezed them both, knowing they all won't be together at least until Christmas.

"And don't forget to write, okay? I at least expect a letter saying which house you've been sorted into," her father said as they untangled and kissed the top of her head. His hazel eyes that mirrored her own seemed shiny with unshed tears. Cassandra smiled softly at that.

"I will dad, don't worry."

Just then, the train whistle sounded and she picked Nyx up, taking hold of her trunk and turned to bid her parents goodbye.

"Well, I'll see you soon. Bye!" She waved before entering a random carriage and setting off down the corridor in search of an empty compartment.

After going up and down the train (and passing by a compartment somewhere in the middle of the train, filled with kids surrounding a boy with dreadlocks who held a tarantula. Like, what's that all about?), she realised she wouldn't have such luck, and decided to find a compartment with the least amount of people in it.

Luckily for her, the carriage just up ahead opened and out of it came a bunch of older students, and judging by their badges with the letter "P" on them, she concluded they must be Prefects. Her mother had told her all about them.

One of them spotted her, a girl with green robes, and approached.

"Hi there, still haven't found a seat?" She had a warm, smooth voice.

"No, I wanted to find an empty compartment but there aren't any left, so I was about to go search for the least crowded one," Cassandra explained.

"Well come on then, we'll search together." The girl took the lead and started looking in every compartment. "My name is Gemma, by the way."