I Solemnly Swear - a Fifth Marauder Story

Chapter 1: King's Cross and Kindred Spirits

King's Cross Station was packed with Muggles. I felt very out of place, and not just because I was carrying a cage with an owl in it; I could see others, dotted among the crowd, with trolleys carrying large trunks and cages similar to mine. No, I felt out of place because my father, who walked beside me, seemed so irresistibly at home, in this place that was all but foreign to me.

Of course he would do. Before he moved to the States my dad had lived in England his whole life, and gone to school at Hogwarts too. He'd probably trod this path many times. I often wondered about my dad, about the life he'd had before he became famous Newt Scamander, magizoologist and writer of Fantastic Beasts, which, he told me, was used as a textbook at Hogwarts. It was disconcerting, seeing him gaze around the train station, a glint of nostalgia in his eyes, a ghost of a smile on his lips, memories dancing across his face with every new sight and smell.

"Platform Nine and Three Quarters is very well hidden," said Dad suddenly, as we came to a halt at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. "It's an ingenious piece of magic, really. Hiding in plain sight to the extreme."

I glanced around in slight confusion. I couldn't see any hidden platform — but then again, that was the whole point of hiding it.

Two boys came sauntering up to the barrier just then. Both were tall and lean, and both had black hair, although the taller boy's hair was longer and the shorter one's messier, and he wore glasses. The first boy, who was wearing a band t-shirt I recognised as being Muggle, winked at me as he passed, and I rolled my eyes in disdain. Positioning their luggage trolleys, the boys set off at a run — straight towards the barrier. My whole body tensed as they got close, and I expected the idiots to crash, but with the faintest of whooshes they passed straight through the solid wall.

Impressed, I ran my hand over the brick. So here was the secret door.

"Can't Muggles get through? What if one leaned against the barrier by mistake?" I asked curiously. Dad shrugged.

"I don't know, but I assume it's Muggle-protected. That would be a serious breach of the International Statute of Secrecy if they could get through. What intrigues me, however, is whether Muggle animals can get through... the owls and cats students bring do just fine... but what if a Muggle's pet dog ran into the barrier?" He tugged at his lip thoughtfully, a habit of his. "Maybe an animal can only get through if carried by a wizard."

I pondered the question for a second, but glancing at my watch realised we didn't have time for this.

"Dad, it's almost eleven. We need to go."

"Alright. Come on then." He placed one hand on the trolley and the other on my arm and steered us both towards the barrier. I winced slightly as we passed through the wall, but then we were safely on the other side and my eyes widened in wonder.

Platform Nine and Three Quarters was even more packed than the Muggle station outside the barrier. Witches and wizards in bright, colourful robes milled around, chatting or waving children goodbye. Students, some in school robes and some not, were reuniting with friends and boarding the train, dragging their heavy school trunks on with them. Steam made the air hazy, coming from the great scarlet steam-engine which glistened on the tracks.

Seeing all these people in their large groups of friends made me feel even more alone, despite being back in my own world. I didn't know anyone here. Then you'll just have to make new friends, won't you? I told myself sternly. It's not as if you find it hard.

The minute hand on the large clock on the wall moved closer to the hour. I pushed my trolley over to the train door and climbed inside, lifting my tiny owl Celestine with me. Dad pushed my trunk into the train and wheeled the trolley out of the way, leaning in to give me a hug.