Harry was extremely restless in the week before going to Hogwarts. He was so excited and nervous about starting his magical education. His school books were already well-thumbed through. It was all endlessly fascinating.
Hedwig, his owl, was a familiar companion in his bedroom. And Harry was comfortable with his wand, having tried out a few simple spells successfully. Harry was ready but the days till September 1st seemed to drag by. At last, he woke to glorious sunshine on the fateful day.
He was up at six am, starting to get ready. He just couldn't sleep any longer. He left it until seven am to wake his foster-parents and Etta. As it was Sunday, Mr Green was coming with them to the station.
They were all packed and ready to go by eight-thirty am, to catch the nine o'clock train to London. The train arrived on time in London at nine-forty five. This gave them plenty of time to travel to King's Cross Station on the underground. However, when they got to the platform area, between numbers nine and ten, they were at a loss.
Mr and Mrs Green could sense where the magical opening between worlds was, but not how to enter it. Harry prodded the bricks, wondering if they had to tap the bricks of the entry way as they had been told to do by the letter from Hogwarts to get into Diagon Alley. The letter had not mentioned how to get onto Platform nine and three quarters. As they all stood nearby pondering this dilemma a group of people walked up the platform towards them, all of whom had vivid ginger hair.
There was a mother, four boys of different ages and a younger girl who looked about Etta's age. The mother noticed Harry holding his owl in it's cage and the rest of the family looking perplexed.
"Are you trying to get onto Platform nine and three quarters?" she asked kindly, "Don't worry, it's very easy, walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten and you will pass through. Percy, could you show them, please?"
A boy with round glasses stood back from the barrier and pushed the trolley with his luggage on it at a brisk walk right at the wall. He disappeared into the bricks.
"Why don't you walk with your father and then your mother can go through with your sister," the lady suggested.
Harry gripped his trolley and tried to walk confidently at the wall with his foster-father beside him. He couldn't help flinching slightly as they reached the wall but they emerged onto a busy platform without any difficulty. They were quickly followed by Etta and Mrs Green. Then, soon after that by the red-haired family.
Looking down towards the further end of the train, Harry caught a glimpse of the blond boy he had seen in Ollivander's with a tall blond man and woman who he assumed were his parents. The mother looked even haughtier than the boy himself. It was easy to see why the boy looked down on everyone. Despite the chaos of students, parents, animals in cages and school things, Harry managed to ease his way to an open carriage door, with a little magical help from Mrs Green to clear a small path to the waiting train. Once he was settled in the carriage, he went to the window and waved goodbye to Etta and Mr and Mrs Green.
The train whistle sounded and he returned to his seat. As the train steamed out of the station his compartment door opened and the youngest boy of the red-haired family stood on the threshold.
"Do you mind if I sit there?" he asked, pointing to the seat opposite Harry, "Everywhere else is full."
"I don't mind, come in," Harry said encouragingly.
Harry was secretly pleased to have the chance to make a new friend already.
The red-headed boy introduced himself straight away, "My name's Ron Weasley. My older brother Percy is a prefect, in fifth year and the twins Fred and George, are in third year. I also have two other brothers who have finished at Hogwart's. Bill, the oldest, works for Gringotts in Egypt, as a curse breaker and Charlie works in Romania with dragons. You saw I also have a younger sister, Ginny, who will be coming to Hogwart's next year."
"Well, my name is Harry Potter."
Ron's mouth fell open and he just stared at Harry.
"Have you really got a lightning-shaped scar on your forehead?" Ron asked eagerly when he got his mouth working again.
Harry lifted his fringe to show Ron.
"I don't have any older brothers but I also have a younger sister called Etta," he replied "who will also come to Hogwart's next year. I live with my foster parents and up until now have only been to muggle school and had no contact with the wizarding world."
"Are your foster-parents muggles?" Ron asked.
"That is hard to answer," Harry said thoughtfully. They live like muggles, but they have taught us a little about magic."
"Wow, I've never heard of muggles who know about magic," Ron said surprised.
"And they can't be squibs if they have taught you magic," he continued.
Harry knew that a squib came from a magical family, but had no powers themselves and instinct told him that his foster-parents were not like other wizards and witches and not like muggles. He felt deep down that they were something else, but he did not know what. They had never talked much about what they had done before taking care of himself and Etta. Usually, the subject was quickly changed if this was mentioned. Harry was now wondering why they didn't want to talk about it. Was it something unpleasant that they didn't want to burden Harry and Etta with? Harry's musings were interrupted by the noise of a trolley clattering in the corridor outside the compartment.
A cheerful, motherly woman opened the compartment door and said, "Anything off the trolley dears?" in a bright voice.
Ron said, "No thanks."
But Harry, who was very hungry and had money to spend, jumped to his feet to see what she had. Harry didn't recognise any of the snacks she was selling. She had Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Cauldron Cakes and Liquorice Wands. Harry bought two of everything. He dumped everything on his seat and said, "Let's share it, even the sandwiches and make it a feast. It will be more fun if you tell me about all these sweets as we share them."
Ron seemed reluctant, but Harry's enthusiasm overcame this.
"Ok, why not," he said starting to unwrap a package of ham, cheese and egg sandwiches.
Harry felt that the first few hours of being part of the wizarding world had been a great success.

YOU ARE READING
The Mystery of the Philosopher's Stone.
FantasyMagical adventure of wizarding children