The Philosopher's Stone (A Harry Potter Rewrite)

JOURNEY FROM PLATFORN NINE AND THREE QUARTERS

The next morning, Ria was up at 7. Even though The Leaky Cauldron didn't have a clock making racket every hour, years of habit ment that Ria always woke up around seven.

She washed and then started packing her belongings in the Trunk Tom had left for her last night. Once she was done, she changed into the dress she had bought from Madam Malkin's.

"Royal Blue on caramel skin. Nice choice dear"

"Thanks Mirrady. I'll miss your complements", Ria said with a smirk.

"Oh you'll be back. Goodluck till then"

"Goodbye. Take care."

Downstairs, Tom informed her that Professor McGonagall had left instructions to book a muggle cab to Kings Cross, which he had already taken care of. After having refused breakfast (she was too excited to eat), Ria bade Tom a goodbye, got into the cab and was off to Kings Cross.

Once at the station, the cab driver helped Ria mount her trunk on a trolley and drove away. Ria guided herself into the station towards the plastic number nine. She located the barrier between nine and ten. It looked extremely solid.

Ria slowly pushed her trolley until she stood right in front of it. Then with her tickit in her hand, she closed her eyes, imagined an archway like the entrance in Diagon Alley and walked straight ahead. She felt something slither past her, like she had walked through curtain, felt a change in her surroundings and opened her eyes.

A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts' Express, eleven o'clock. The Hogwarts school crest was on the side of the engine. Ria looked back and saw a wroth iron archways, much like the one at Diagon Alley and the words Platform Nine and three quarters written above it.

The platform itself was a hub bub of people and pets. Cats ran around everywhere, and owls booted at each other. Children of her age and older went around trying to find their cats or an empty seat or saying goodbye to their families. The place had a thrill of magic just like Ollivander's. Only that, it wasn't mysterious, it was joyous.

Ria checked her watch. There was still fifteen minutes to go till eleven. She pushed her trolley down the train in search of an empty compartment and found one near the back.

But how to lift her trunk? Ria knew she couldn't lift it by herself. She had tried and failed in the Leaky Cauldron and then Tom had bought it down. She could ask someone for help or....

Ria reached into the pocket of her dress and extracted her wand. But she didn't proceed. What if she set her things on fire accidentally?

"Need some help?" came a voice from inside the compartment.

Ria looked up. A boy stood there looking at her. He was burley with short cropped black hair and looked quite a few years older. He was already in his Hogwarts robes with a shiny red and gold badge on his chest.

Not waiting for her Reply, the boy took out his wand and withing a second had Ria's trunk floating up the train and into the compartment.

"Thank you" Ria said, smiling at the boy, once she was inside.

"Don't mention it. First year I'm guessing?"

Ria nodded.

"Oliver Wood", the boy said extending a hand.

"Aubrianna Greystone", Ria said taking his hand. "What is that badge for?", she asked him curiously.

"Oh. That's a captain badge. I am the captain of the Griffindor quidditch team."

Ria now noticed the letter C engraved on it. Wood left after that with a goodbye and Ria settled in her seat and stared out of the window searching for Harry's familiar face. Five minutes later she found him trudging down the train looking for a seat. Ria leaned out of the window and waved. Harry smiled when he caught her eyes and made his was towards her.