The Twin and Harry Potter

The Journey From Platform Nine and Three-Quarters

The last month with the Dursleys was surprisingly amazing. Dudley was so scared of them he wouldn't stay in the same room with them for too long. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon hardly even spoke to them, completely ignoring them when they were around. They had each other for company and that was fine enough for them.

Vanessa read every single one of her new books, multiple times. She couldn't get enough of them. Her owl, she named her Nox, after a counter spell she found in her spell book. Harry named his owl Hedwig. Hedwig and Nox get along well enough. At first Hedwig completely ignored the smaller bird, but now they seem to be friends.

It was agonizing, the wait. Every night the calendar got marked off, one day closer to September first.

On the last day of August they decided they needed to talk to their aunt and uncle about getting a ride to King's Cross tomorrow.

"You should ask." Vanessa murmurs.

"No way, you do it." Harry shakes his head.

"I'm not gonna do it." Vanessa folds her arms.

"You're younger, do it." Harry fold his arms as well.

"Only by ten minutes, I'm not asking."

"Fine," Harry sighs. "I'll ask." Harry stalks out and Vanessa creeps after him.all three of the Dursleys are down in the living room watching a quiz show on tv. At the sight of the twins, Dudley screams and runs from the room. Vanessa snickers.

"Er -- Uncle Vernon?" Harry says hesitantly. Uncle Vernon grunt to let him know he's listening.

"Er -- I- we need to be a King's Cross tomorrow to -- to go to Hogwarts."

Uncle Vernon grunts again.

"Would it be all right if you gave us a lift?" Another grunt, most likely a yes.

"Thank you," Harry nods and turns like he's going to leave. He shoots Vanessa a look of relief.

"Funny way to get to a wizard's school, the train. Magic carpets got all the punctures, have they?" Harry grabs Vanessa's arm before she can say anything.

"Where is the school anyway?"

"I don't know," Harry frowns. Vanessa realizes neither of them even know where it is. Harry pulls his ticket from his pocket.

"We take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock." He reads.

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon stare at him.

"Platform what?"

"Nine and three-quarters." Vanessa responds venomously.

"Don't talk rubbish," says Uncle Vernon. "There is no platform nine and three-quarters."

"It's on the ticket." Harry responds, nudging Vanessa.

"Barking," Uncle Vernon shakes his head. "Howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You just wait. Alright, we'll take you to King's Cross. We're going up to London tomorrow anyway, or I wouldn't bother."

"Why are you going to London?" Harry asks. Vanessa rolls her eyes at his attempt to keep things friendly.

"Taking Dudley to the hospital." Growls Uncle Vernon. "Got to have that ruddy tail removed before he goes to Smeltings." Vanessa snickers again, causing Aunt Petunia to glare at her.

At five the next morning Vanessa feels Harry get out of bed in her half asleep daze. It's maybe half an hour later that she gets up, excited to leave. Like Harry she makes sure everything she needs is packed in her trunk. Her heart sinks when she sees that Nox is nowhere to be seen.