𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟏) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

3

It was a rainy day, but that didn't stop Julie from waking her brother in the most dramatic way possible. She crept quietly into his room, which smelled like unwashed socks and something vaguely dead, and climbed right onto his bed.

"MASON, WAKE UP!" Julie yelled, grinning, as she bounced up and down on the mattress. "IT'S SEPTEMBER FIRST!"

He groaned, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Merlin's beard, it's just school..."

"Just school?" Julie said, already throwing a pair of jeans and a shirt at his face. "It's Hogwarts!"

Julie was already dressed - blue jeans, a black hoodie, her favorite golden necklace and matching earrings. All that was left to put on were her white trainers, waiting by the door. She darted downstairs and found her Dad already at the kitchen table, inhaling pancakes like a human vacuum. Her Mum stood nearby, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.

"Leave some for the kids, John," she scolded.

"Goo' moinin'," her Dad mumbled through a mouthful of syrupy pancake as Julie plopped into the seat beside him and grabbed one for herself.

Mason joined them shortly after, still looking half-asleep but clearly starting to feel the excitement too. Their Mum sat down at last, and over pancakes they chatted happily about Hogwarts. With every bite, the buzz of excitement in Julie's chest grew stronger.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

They arrived at King's Cross at exactly a quarter to eleven. That gave them just enough time to get through the barrier at Platform 9¾ and say their goodbyes properly.

"Ready, rockstar?" her Dad asked, placing a hand on the handle of my trolley.

"Never been more ready," Julie said with a grin.

Together, they ran toward the barrier. Julie braced for impact, but it never came. A second later, they were standing in the middle of Platform 9¾.

Behind them, her Mum and Mason emerged, and in front of them stood the majestic scarlet train: the Hogwarts Express. Steam billowed around the platform. The noise, the colors, the magic, it was even more incredible than Julie remembered.

She spotted the Weasleys almost instantly but stayed close to her family for their final goodbyes.

"Be good this year, Julie," her Mum said, pulling Julie into a warm, lingering hug.

"But not too good," her Dad added in a low voice only Julie could hear. She smiled. He hugged her tightly. "Write us every week, alright? We love you, Rockstar."

"I love you too," Julie said, trying not to tear up. "I'll miss you so much!"

She gave them one last wave, then hurried over to where Ron stood by the train. Mason trailed beside her, veering toward the Weasleys.

Ron and Julie struggled to lift their trunks into the train, but they managed thanks to the help of one of Mason's friends - Cedric Diggory, if she remembered correctly. They thanked him over and over before making their way down the corridor.

The train was packed with students. Laughter, jokes, and chatter filled the air as they passed compartment after compartment, all full.

Finally, they found one with only a single boy sitting inside. Ron slid the door open.

"Anyone sitting here?" he asked. "Everywhere else is full."

"No," the boy said, glancing up. "Who are you?"

"Ron Weasley," Ron replied, settling into the seat across from him.

The boy didn't acknowledge Julie, which immediately rubbed her the wrong way.