Starstruck

20. Weasley Red

Ginny, his mother however, seemed to have some sort of gift to spot trouble in a flash. Without even glancing back, she called "James give it a rest!" Her mid-length ginger hair tangled in the breeze, tomato red against her dark jacket. Albus could practically see her eyes rolling even with no sight of her obscured face. James however, seemed to be attacking the railway pavement with his scuffed trainers as he sighed.

“I only said he might be,” muttered James with a tone just emitting trouble. His face broke into a flushed and freckled grin. “There’s nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth-“  But James broke off and faltered under Ginny's piercing glare and winked at Albus, hazel eyes reflecting the shards of sunlight streaming through the station at this late hour of morning.  

Within a split second, James gripped his trolley handle tight and broke into a sprint. A moment later, Albus saw him disappear and knew that he had emerged onto the platform 9 ¾. He was ashamed to admit to himself his momentary relief at the absence of his brother but decided to grab the chance whilst he could.

Turning his head to face his father, Albus bit his lip and spoke. "You'll write to me whilst I'm there, won't you?" "Every day if you want us too" replied Ginny. Albus paused, letting flashes of imagination enter his mind; people snatching his letters and teasing him, asking why it was that his owl flew down into the Great Hall every day. He shook his head hurriedly to clear it, feeling heat rushing to his cheeks.

"No. Not every day. James said most people only get letters from home about once a month." He tried not to sound to bothered, but he'd picked up on James' habit of scuffing the floor at times where he felt uncomfortable.

"We wrote to James three times a week last year" laughed Ginny, raising an eyebrow. "And you don't want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts" Harry put in. "He likes a laugh, your brother."

Albus relaxed slightly as James's  'cool image' broke in his mind, imagining the loving notes he received multiple times a week, and smiled gratefully at his parents through the haze. Harry wrapped his arm around Albus’ shoulder, gripping tightly, and side by side they broke into a run. Gathering speed, Albus squeezed his eyes tight. No matter how much magic existed, he couldn't rid himself of the human instinct not to hurl yourself headfirst into a solid brick wall.

He winced as they drew near, bracing himself for impact yet he knew there would be none, and indeed no collision came as he opened his eyes tentatively. He let out a long, slow puff of air which rose as smoke into the air of Platform 9  ¾.  

It seemed packed with indistinct figured of wizards rushing about, locking their children into a spine cracking embrace before hurrying them off in a daze to board the Hogwarts express. Several students had an owl similar to his; some also had huge green toads, rats in a range of colours, cats, pygmie puffs, small dogs and magical pets; a few of them had yet more unusual pets such as parrots and spiders and baby nifflers. Albus stared in awe at a boy lugging a cage up the stairs to the train, containing an oozing orange snail!

 But right before, him most majestic of all, stood the Hogwarts Express- a brilliant scarlet steam train, puffing out clouds of thick white smoke from it's thick funnel. They obscured Albus's vision for a moment, as he peered through the thinning clouds of smoke. 

“Where are they?” he muttered anxiously. “We’ll find them Al, don’t worry…” said Ginny, sweeping his fringe to one side as she appeared through the barrier with a pale Lily.

They hurried past vast clusters of wizards, mostly clothed in long and flowing robes. Albus looked past empty faces, ignoring dark hair and eyes but searching for an extremely prominent set of features. Weasley red hair and splatterings of freckles.

As he squeezed through thick crowds, he could have sworn he heard Uncle Percy’s voice at one point, wallowing on loudly about broomstick regulations and his new promotion. Well, if it had been him then Albus wasn't surprised about the topic of conversation.

Suddenly, a group of four people emerged from the mist. “I think that’s them Al!” hissed Ginny, her eyes sparkling. Albus checked. Yep, Weasley red.