Closed An Intangible Magic

Train ride down to London, Check.
Purchase the appropriate magical supplies, Check.
Arrive at Platform Nine and three quarters, Check.

Neil stuffed the crumpled paper back into his pocket for the fifth time that day. First impressions are vital and making some stupid 'muggle-born mistake' would certainly ruin his chances of anyone in wizarding society taking him seriously. As if he knew a thing about wizarding society. From what he picked up from his visit to Diagon Alley, the key components of wizard kind were wearing pointed hats, archaic fashions, and speaking casually about a variety of things Neil didn't really understand. So this must be what they call culture shock.

It would be unfair to be too judgmental of the wizarding world. There's no way to deny that they do have a knack for presentation. Just looking around the platform, the bright red locomotive with smoke billowing from the top, the families gathered around the platform, and the trolleys of trunks, bags, and the occasional owl all culminated in a cozy atmosphere. An intangible magic seemed to float over the crowd just as it did back at Diagon Alley. There was no mistaking this for an ordinary train platform.

Mr. Archie McKenzie placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder,

"Looks like this is the place. Wizards, huh."

Neil's father seemed to share in his awe. Neil gave him one last smile, holding the sentimental note for a moment before his father's familiar hand drifted from his shoulder with a nod that indicated to Neil to push forward into the crowd of people more strange than strangers to soon become Neil's peers, friend, and foe.

Climbing the step onto the train, Neil lugged his sole luggage, a dusty- blue leather trunk, over his side, banging it against his leg in the narrow entryway to the train, same thing that happened with the train ride down to London, the trunk being so large and unwieldly. Awkwardly carrying the Trunk in front of him, Neil made his way down the middle aisle of the train compartment, still pretty empty as most students were still wishing farewells. It was embarrassing, honestly, all the weeping parents hugging and kissing their disgruntled kids who probably just wanted to sit down with their friends. But that was likely just Neil being pessimistic again. It's a difficult task to avoid pessimism when you're surrounded by things you don't understand, after all.

Neil stepped into an empty cabin towards the end of the train car, hoisting the trunk into a storage loft above the cushioned seats on either side of an open window looking out, not towards the platform, but to the empty brick wall on the opposite side of the train. Neil didn't hesitate to plop himself down below his trunk after accomplishing the incredible feat of lifting it. All that was left to do was to wait for students to fill up the train, all while not looking like he was just sitting there waiting for someone to sit across from him. Yet another challenge in his wake.

Author's Note :