The New Trio and the Philosopher's Stone

Chapter 6: The Journey From Platform Nine and Three Quarters

On the morning of September 1st, Neville flooed over to Grimmauld Place. This was because his Gran had a charity function to attend at the time the Hogwarts Express was due to leave, and because she didn't trust his Great Uncle Algie with his safety. Harry greeted him at the fireplace, hugging him and telling him about his week, since they'd met up a week ago as well.

When it was ten o'clock, Sirius and Remus apparated them into a disused bathroom in King's Cross Station, which was only disused because Platform 9 ¾ had anti-apparation wards all over it. They exited the bathroom one by one, so as not to draw too much attention to themselves. This attention was bound to happen anyway, because the two boys had huge trunks, one had a cage with an owl in it, and the other had a small leather satchel hanging around his neck, and a toad's head occasionally popped out of the opening to see its surroundings.

Ignoring the stares from the muggles was easy enough, as Harry had grown up with it from all sorts of wizards, and so once the two adults had found them both trolleys, the four of them made their way down three quarters of the way down the strip between platforms nine and ten. "All about the original firsties experience, boys," stated Sirius, who looked wistful, as though he wanted to be a first-year again.

Harry and Neville had both been told what to do many times beforehand, but listening to Harry's godfathers tell the story and actually about to run face-first into what looked like a solid brick wall, were completely different things. Remus, showing that the entrance was real, walked briskly towards the wall one second, and then the next, he seemed to disappear. Harry and Neville both gulped, looked at each other, then squared their shoulders simultaneously. They started towards it, and contrary to its extremely solid appearance, they walked right through it, one after the other.

A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform with a few people on it. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw Neville, with his eyes closed, pass through a wrought-iron archway where the ticket box had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. They had done it.

Smoke was drifting from the engine over the heads of the few chattering children who stood with their parents, reluctant to leave, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

That was when he became aware of Remus clapping, his eyes alight with happiness and pride. He saw Sirius pass through the archway as well, and the four of them, now reunited, made their way along the platform, looking for an empty compartment.

The first few carriages were quite close to packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Near the middle of the train, they found an empty compartment. Just as Sirius and Remus had lifted up Harry's and Neville's trunks into the storage area, Harry spotted a tall, regally dressed woman walking along with her son, both with very familiar white-blonde hair.

He rushed out from the compartment, ducking and weaving a bit in between the families, until he was in listening range of Draco and his mother.

"... but Mother, I don't like Crabbe, or Goyle. I've never liked them, you know that. Must I sit with them?"

"If you cannot find appropriate fellows, Draco, what other choice do you have?" asked the stern, yet soft voice of Narcissa Malfoy.

Harry called out, "I guess you'll just have to sit with me then, won't you, Draco?"

He saw Draco start at the sound of his voice, search around for him, and then smile hugely when he found Harry's trademark messy black hair and bright green eyes.