Chapter 6: Chapter Six: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters
The morning of September 1st arrived bright and clear, the golden sunlight streaming through the small window of Harry's room at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry had hardly slept, his mind buzzing with thoughts of Hogwarts and the strange power that seemed to hum just beneath his skin.
Hagrid had left early that morning, muttering something about "urgent business with Dumbledore," and Harry found himself standing alone outside King's Cross Station, clutching his ticket: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
"Right," Harry said to himself, looking around at the bustling station. People in business suits hurried past him, luggage trailing behind them. "Platform nine… and three-quarters."
It wasn't on any of the signs.
Harry pushed his trolley, loaded with his school trunk and Hedwig's cage, between platforms nine and ten, hoping to find some clue. He felt a bit foolish, wandering in circles, but no one seemed to notice.
"Excuse me," Harry finally asked a passing station guard, "could you tell me how to get to platform nine and three-quarters?"
The guard looked at him as though he'd lost his mind. "Nine and three-quarters, you say? Don't be silly, lad. There's no such thing."
Harry stepped back, his face reddening. Maybe this was a joke? Or maybe wizards were just bad at directions. As he turned away, his ears caught a snippet of conversation that made his heart leap.
"Packed with Muggles, as usual."
Harry whirled around to see a plump woman with a kind face, surrounded by a gaggle of children with flaming red hair. One of the boys was complaining loudly, while another was chasing a small girl who kept shrieking with laughter.
Harry approached them hesitantly. "Er, excuse me…"
The woman turned to him with a warm smile. "Hello, dear. First time at Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Harry said, relieved to find someone who didn't think he was crazy. "But I—uh—I don't know how to get to the platform."
"Not to worry," the woman said kindly. "All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop, and don't be afraid—you'll pass right through."
Harry glanced at the solid brick wall. Walk into it? That sounded like a recipe for disaster.
"Go on, Percy," the woman said, nudging one of the older boys. "Show him how it's done."
The boy straightened his prefect's badge and strode confidently toward the barrier. Just as Harry braced for the crash, Percy vanished into thin air.
"Blimey," Harry muttered, his jaw dropping.
"Your turn, dear," the woman said, giving him an encouraging nod.
Harry took a deep breath, tightened his grip on his trolley, and started walking. As the barrier loomed closer, he half-expected to smash into it—but instead, he felt a cool rush of air, and the world around him shifted.
---
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was a chaotic wonderland. The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet steam engine, puffed clouds of smoke into the air. Students darted between the carriages, loading trunks and waving goodbye to parents. Cats weaved between the legs of owls in cages, and the chatter of excited voices filled the platform.
"Wow," Harry said under his breath.
"Hey, you made it!" one of the red-haired boys said, grinning as he hauled a trunk onto the train. "I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley."
"Harry. Harry Potter."
Ron froze, his ears turning pink. "The Harry Potter?" he whispered.
"Er… yeah, I guess," Harry said awkwardly.
Before Ron could respond, his twin brothers—Fred and George—appeared, their identical faces lighting up with mischief.
"Blimey, it's Harry Potter!" said Fred.
"Can we see the scar?" added George, leaning in.
"Leave him alone, you two," their mother scolded, swatting them away. "Sorry about that, dear. They're a handful."
"It's fine," Harry said, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Better get aboard," Ron said, jerking his thumb toward the train. "We can sit together if you want."
Harry nodded, grateful for the company, and followed Ron onto the train. They found an empty compartment and settled in as the train began to move, the platform sliding out of view.
---
As the countryside rolled past, Harry and Ron got to know each other. Ron told him about his family—his five older brothers, his little sister Ginny, and how being the youngest boy in a big family could be a bit of a challenge.
"So," Ron said, taking a bite of a chocolate frog, "what about you? What's it like being famous?"
Harry hesitated. "I didn't even know I was famous until a few weeks ago. I've been living with my aunt and uncle, and they… well, let's just say they're not very nice."
Ron frowned. "That's rough. But at least you've got magic! Wait till you see Hogwarts—it's brilliant."
Harry smiled, but his thoughts drifted to the strange power within him. Was it magic? Or something else entirely? And what if Hogwarts couldn't explain it?
The compartment door slid open, and a girl with bushy brown hair and an air of authority stepped inside. "Has anyone seen a toad?" she asked briskly. "A boy named Neville's lost one."
"Er, no," Ron said, looking startled.
"Oh, all right then," the girl said, but she didn't leave. Instead, she eyed Harry curiously. "You're Harry Potter, aren't you?"
Harry nodded, feeling like a rare animal on display.
"I've read about you," she said matter-of-factly. "You're in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said, though he wasn't sure how to feel about being in so many books.
"Are you excited about starting at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, sitting down without invitation. "I've already read all the set texts, of course, and I've practiced a few spells. I hope I'm in Gryffindor—everyone says it's the best house."
"I'm just hoping to figure out how this all works," Harry admitted.
Hermione raised an eyebrow but didn't press him further. "Well, you'd better get changed into your robes. We'll be arriving soon."
As she left, Ron muttered, "Bossy, isn't she?"
Harry laughed, feeling a bit more at ease.
---
As the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, Harry felt a thrill of nervous anticipation. Beyond the station, the towering silhouette of Hogwarts rose against the darkening sky, its windows glowing like stars.
This was it. The start of something new. Of something magical.
And perhaps the beginning of answers.