The Untold Reborn

Chapter-3 : Through the Barrier

Aurelia stood nervously outside King's Cross Station, the bustling noise of travelers and the screech of trains echoing around her. Her heart thudded with a mixture of excitement and fear, as if the weight of the unknown hung just over her head. She gripped the handle of her trolley tightly, glancing down at her trunk and owl, wondering if all of this was real.

"We'll miss you, darling," Margaret said, her voice soft but full of emotion. "You'll write to us, won't you?"

"Of course, Mum," Aurelia said with a forced smile. She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt creeping in—leaving behind the only parents she had ever known felt wrong, even though she knew it was necessary.

"I wish Liza was here too," she said as she became sad how she wouldn't be saying her last goodbyes to her grandmother, who was currently on a trip to India with her old grannies club.

Her mother sighed. "I'm sorry love, but you know she's out of the country

"Do you have everything?" Edward asked, checking her trolley as if they could somehow prepare her more than they already had.

Aurelia nodded, though she barely heard them. Her mind was focused on the instructions in her letter: Platform 9¾. But how did one find a platform that didn't technically exist?

Edward seemed equally confused, scratching his head as they walked between Platforms 9 and 10. "Maybe this was a mistake. What if—"

"No, wait!" Aurelia interrupted, her eyes catching sight of ta tall blonde family she had seen earlier at the entrance. They moved with purpose, heading toward the platform barrier with a familiarity that screamed wizarding world.

"I think they know how to get there," she murmured to her parents. Without waiting for confirmation, Aurelia began to push her trolley in their direction.

Margaret and Edward followed closely behind, their expressions uncertain. As Aurelia watched, the blonde boy and his parents walked straight into the solid brick barrier and disappeared.

"Did you see that?" she whispered, awe striking her like lightning.

Her parents exchanged a confused look, but Aurelia steeled herself. "I think that's how we get to the platform. Just follow me." With that, she took a deep breath and pushed her trolley toward the barrier. Her legs wobbled as she braced for impact—but instead of crashing, she slipped right through, the air cool and magical around her.

There it was. Platform 9¾. The gleaming red Hogwarts Express, steaming and alive, sat on the track, waiting for its passengers.

Turning to see her parents come through the barrier moments later, she felt a wave of relief. They hugged her tightly before watching her board the train, their eyes brimming with pride and a little sadness. Aurelia fought the tears threatening to spill over as she waved goodbye, the only family she had known disappearing from view.

The inside of the train buzzed with energy. Students, both old and new, moved through the narrow corridors, laughing and shouting greetings to each other. Aurelia found herself wandering from compartment to compartment, unsure where to sit. She caught glimpses of familiar faces, some from the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, but most were strangers.

A compartment door slid open just ahead of her, and two girls—one with frizzy brown hair and another with bright red locks—were talking inside.

"I just don't understand how they could both be missing on the first day!" the red-haired girl, Ginny, said anxiously. "Mum is beside herself with worry. What if something happened to Harry and Ron?"

The other girl, Hermione, sighed. "They were supposed to meet us at the station. Maybe there was a mistake..."

Before Aurelia could walk past unnoticed, Hermione's sharp eyes caught sight of her. "Oh! Do you need help finding a seat?"