The Boy Who Wanted to Live

Hogwarts Express

Harry entered the platform for the Hogwarts Express and felt his heart catch in his throat. He gasped softly and the sight of hundreds of people bustling about and took a step back towards the passage.
"It will be okay" a voice said in Harry's head.
Harry set his resolve in place and marched bravely towards the man who stood next to the train. He wore a navy blue conducter's suit and Harry knew that he was the one to ask for help. As he was making his way towards the man a rather large woman walked by with five read head teenagers, exclaiming loudly about how they would miss the train if they dawdled. Harry was trapped behind the massive wave of red and his heart rate sped up as fear consumed him. He tried to walk around the group but couldn't find any way through. After several suffocating minutes the group had passed and boarded. The train whistled loudly and Harry saw the doors start being closed nearby. He gasped, tears filling his eyes and pushed the heavy cart towards the man.
"Wait! Dont leave yet! Wait please!" He cried, desperately pushing the heavy trolley with all his strength.
The man blew through a whistle and the doors stopped being closed. Harry thankfully breathed a sigh of relief and began to thank the conductor.
"Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you! I thought I was going to miss the train." Harry said, stopping the trolley next to the adult.
"For a minute there you almost did." The man replied, taking the trolley from Harry's hands and pushing it towards the loading dock. "Next time try to come at least 45 minutes earlier than the ticket says, okay son?"
Harry nodded and watched as they loaded his bags onto the train along with Hedwig's cage.
"Would you like to keep her with you?" A nearby worker asked "Or let her fly to Hogwarts?"
"D-does she know where to go?" Harry asked.
"Sure! Just tell her where to go and she'll go there. Smart animals Owls." He replied.
Harry opened the cage and looked at Hedwig nervously.
"Hedwig I would like you to fly to Hogwarts and wait there for me. Okay girl?" He asked softly.
Hedwig lowered her head as if to say 'I understand' and flew out of the cage towards the school.
The conductor took Harry's hand and led him towards an open door politely giving him ways to prepare for next year.
"You could even shrink your luggage so you don't need to push those heavy Trolley's. Now are you all set, son?" He asked.
Harry nodded and fiddled with the ring on his finger.
"Good, have you got your ticket then?" He asked.
Harry nodded and pulled the paper from his pocket and handed it to the kind man.
"All right then. Just go find somewhere to sit and enjoy your ride!" The man replied.
"Thank you." Harry replied, climbing aboard the train.
This was it. He was really going to Hogwarts. The sound of the train door closing behind him made it much more real and much much more terrifying.