12 Oct 2020, 21:39
A façade of neutral boredom
It was loud and hectic at Kings Cross when his mother guided him to the platform between tracks 9 and 10. She had told Phineas exactly what he needed to know: that he had to run through an enchanted stone pillar that lead to platform 9¾, from where the Hogwarts Express brought all the students to the magical school. The young pureblood was trying to hide his nervousness as he was pushing his trolley through the masses at Kings Cross. In truth, it cost him all his willpower not to turn around and ask his mother to go back home to Wilmington Hall. Instead, he put on a mask of calmness bordering on boredom and glared at people who stared at the peculiarly dressed pair of them. His plain black cloak wasn’t nearly as attention-grabbing as his mother’s fascinator that was adorned by peacock feathers. She had explained that this was the latest trend in French wizarding fashion, but to the eleven-year-old it looked nothing but ridiculous.
When they stood in front of said pillar, Phineas momentarily stopped to gather some courage, before he lightly jogged towards the magical barrier. In that short moment ‘inside’ the pillar, he felt as if he were in a vacuum. There was no light or sound – there was just nothingness. When they were on the platform Phineas took in his surroundings. Hundreds of people were bustling on the platform. Some of the children had already boarded the ancient-looking steam engine and Phineas turned around to bid farewell to his mother who had insisted on accompanying him to the train, even if his father hadn’t seen the necessity to do so. Apparently, the current head of the Avery legacy had more important things to do, than to see his only son off for several months.
When he faced his mother, her eyes were already shining with tears and Phineas threw all his fake nonchalance into the wind and engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug. “Goodbye, mummy”, he whispered and soothingly caressed the back of the aristocratic woman who was now shaking with silent sobs. “I will see you soon”, he said, not sure if it was to reassure her or himself. Then, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and stood back, straightening his shoulders, putting on a façade of neutral boredom. He grabbed his expensive leather suitcase and climbed the steep metal stairs onto the train. And with a last look back, he was gone.
Phineas K. Avery
When they stood in front of said pillar, Phineas momentarily stopped to gather some courage, before he lightly jogged towards the magical barrier. In that short moment ‘inside’ the pillar, he felt as if he were in a vacuum. There was no light or sound – there was just nothingness. When they were on the platform Phineas took in his surroundings. Hundreds of people were bustling on the platform. Some of the children had already boarded the ancient-looking steam engine and Phineas turned around to bid farewell to his mother who had insisted on accompanying him to the train, even if his father hadn’t seen the necessity to do so. Apparently, the current head of the Avery legacy had more important things to do, than to see his only son off for several months.
When he faced his mother, her eyes were already shining with tears and Phineas threw all his fake nonchalance into the wind and engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug. “Goodbye, mummy”, he whispered and soothingly caressed the back of the aristocratic woman who was now shaking with silent sobs. “I will see you soon”, he said, not sure if it was to reassure her or himself. Then, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and stood back, straightening his shoulders, putting on a façade of neutral boredom. He grabbed his expensive leather suitcase and climbed the steep metal stairs onto the train. And with a last look back, he was gone.
Phineas K. Avery