Broken People--A Hufflepuff Story

Chapter V

                      Mr. Finn, Mr. Samuel, and Ms. Anthia all stood before the big column that you "ran into" to get to Platform 9 3/4. Mr. Samuel was going to "give it a run" and show her how to do it, but Anna was still nervous. It was as if, as soon as she ran into the column, she wouldn't be coming out. Ever. 

        She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She clenched, and unclenched her hands. Mr. Sam's voice just went on and on. She wanted Carrie to be with her, but that was impossible.

   "Look, Anthia and I will both show you how it's done. Here Anthia, grab hold of the handle--good. Now on the count of three--one, two, three!"

           Mr. Sam and Ms. Anthia put on a dead run towards the pillar, and ran straight through it. 

 Mr. Finn looked down at her, and handed her an extra cart. "Think you can do it, Anna?" 

    She glanced at the empty cart, and grasped the handles uncertainly. She was just about to push it off when a voice cried over the crowd. 

                   "ANNA!"

       Immediately she let go of the cart, only to see Carrie running towards her. 

                          Anna threw herself into the woman's arms the moment Carrie swept her up to her chest.

             "Oh, you didn't think I'd let you go off into some unknown world on your own, did you? Well. I may not can do magic exactly like you and your friends, but I will still always be here for you, my dear, dear Anna."

         Anna pulled away, surprised by a sudden burst of tears. She wiped them away quickly, and hugged Carrie again. 

           "I was...was hoping...hoping you would..come..."

           Carrie smiled. "I have my ways, as well as my friends." she glanced up at Anna's uncle, and noted his appearance. "You must be Finn." It wasn't a question, but neither was it a statement. Finn felt that it was somewhat of an...assessment. 

    "I am. And you must be her guardian. Not a witch, are you?" 

      Carrie shook her head. "No. But that doesn't mean you and your siblings can just snatch her away from me. Anna and I are family, in full heart. You may spend time with her and keep her from time to time, but for now I still have custody of her, you hear?"

       Anna stared gratefully at Carrie, eyes shining. "Carrie....I....I think...you'd best....best explain...explain who you....who you are...be-before you...you...you talk like that." Anna blushed at her stutter, which had gotten even worse over time with her real family. Carrie stared at her foster-daughter, then back at Finn. 

             "Well, Finneas Cage Salem, I am called Carrie. Nothing else. I am Anna's guardian, as you have already put together, and I'm here to see Anna off."

       Finn stared at the lady. "Yes Ma'am," was all he could muster out at the moment. 

 Anna smiled. "You...you go.... through that...that wall...there. It...it..it t-takes you t-t-to Platform 9 and...and..and 3/4. From-from there I take...a train t-to Hog-hogw-warts." 

      Carrie nodded along. "I see. And are you to push this cart through?" 

  Anna smiled. "Y-yes."

              "Alright then, on the count of three. One and-a two, and a THREE!"

      Carrie and Anna shoved the cart through the invisible door, and suddenly they were on a platform that had not been there previously. It bustled and crawled with people, and it reminded Carrie of what you found when you lifted a large rock from a damp patch of ground--many many bugs. Some of them were pretty, and some of them were quite plain, but they were an altogether different species simply trying to survive, and Carrie couldn't exactly relate to any of them, her being human. 

             The slowed to a stop, and Anna let go to take hold of Carrie's hand. She pointed to Sam and Anthia. 

         They approached, a question in their eyes. 

   "Good afternoon, Madam," Sam began politely, but Carrie interrupted him with a very unsophisticated snort. 

         "Madam my cold dishwater! You're Samuel Salem, right? And you're Anthia," Carrie said, turning to Anna's aunt. Anna suddenly wished she had not included such vivid descriptions of her aunt and uncles in some of her previous letters. 

                    "Well...yes. But I'm afraid I don't know you're name, Miss ..?"

        "Carrie. Just Carrie. Anna's guardian."

    Shock and surprise flickered through Anna's family's face. Then wariness. 

"Forgive us....Carrie. I'm not quite sure we understand." 

         Anthia was silent, a tinge of fear in her eyes. Sam's eyes were suddenly sharp and penetrating, and Anna could practically see the gears turning inside his head. Carrie opened her mouth to speak, when Finn strode through the wall behind them. A glint of humor shone in his gray eyes as he took in the scene before him. 

               "Sam, Anthia, this is Anna's legal guardian, Carrie. She's come to see her charge off."

     Anna smiled at her british family as they looked from Finn, to Carrie, to Anna. The train whistle blew. She pulled Carrie forward to the train, not looking behind her. She felt a feeling beyond relief--she would not be separated from her true family--Carrie.