The Big Four and The Prophecy (Book 1)

3 - Hogwarts Express

Hogwarts Express

a week later

JACK

Jack's mother and sister came with him and Gobber to King's Cross Station. Jack can't help but feel the butterflies in his stomach. He cannot contain the excitement and joy; but that didn't change the fact that he'll miss his family. He would miss his ice skates with Emma, cooking jambalaya with his mother and the snowball fights with Emma's friends—boy, he already missed it all.

They stopped right in front of the column between platform 9 and 10 which Jack looked in confusion, "Here you are, Jack." Gobber said.

"But, this is not Platform 9 3/4."

"Oh right! You would have to run through that wall, right there."

Jack was about to ask Gobber if he was kidding, but then again why would he? Jack had seen enough weird magical things lately, how could running through a wall be any different?

He looked to his sister then to his mom, who was half upset and half proud of him. He genuinely smiled and embraced the two of them. "Oh, we're going to miss you so much, Jack," said his mother, who gave him another quick squeeze before letting go.

"I'm gonna miss the two of you too mom," he looked down at his sister and knelt, "Hey," a sniff from Emma, "I'm not gonna be away forever. Just 10 short months and I'll be right home safe and sound. I'll be quick as a bunny," Jack said, gesturing his hands as if it were really running.

"I love you, Jack," she said while crying, giving him another tight embrace, "I love you too."

Jack now turned back to his luggage trunk and prepared himself. Gobber instructed, "Yep, just right in front there and ye go straight to the wall...and uh, I won't be able ta' come with you inside, I've somewhere else to go. But don't worry! Hiccup's gonna take really good care of ye. Now of ye go, ye don't wanna miss the train."

Jack took one last look at his family, took a long breath, pushed his trolley around and stared at the barrier; it looked very solid. He ran, coming nearer and nearer to the wall. Next thing he knew, he was already on the other side of the wall. He looked back, hoping to see them again, but all he saw was a solid brick wall.

A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven O'clock. Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every color wound between their legs. Owls hooted to one another over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

Where could he possibly find this mysterious Hiccup through this crowd? Then he remembered, he doesn't have to look for Hiccup; Hiccup would be the one looking for him. The first few carriages were packed with students, some were by the windows talking to their folks. So far he hadn't seen Peter.

Jack pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train. He put Eirwen inside first and then started shoving  his trunk towards the train door. He had a hard time lifting it up to the steps so it ended up landing painfully on his foot.

"Need a hand there?" It was a boy. A red head just like Peter, but the boy's hair was more of an orange. Somehow, Jack finds him to have very attractive features. Is this Hiccup?

"Yes, please," Jack said between breaths.

"Oy, Hubert, Hamish! C'mere and help!" he said with an accent, one that Jack recognized to be Scottish. Two people who looked exactly like the first, came up to them. Jack then pulled out the discovery that they were triplets. With their help, Jack's trunk was at last tucked away in a corner of the compartment.