A small part of him wanted to believe his parents would see him off to the train station. This was his big day, after all. The day on which he took the first step in his magical journey. Surely, it wouldn't have been too much to expect either (or both) of them to take some time off work to say goodbye before they part ways for the next few months. Or at least make sure he got on the train.

The best way to avoid disappointments is not to expect anything from anyone

He recalled his father's reaction when he walked into his study, letter from Hogwarts in hand:

"Do you honestly expect me to congratulate you for merely existing for eleven years?!?"
There was a scoff, as the man went on scribbling on the scroll of parchment without turning to look at his son.
"Come back when you've actually accomplished something!!!"

Well, here he was now, standing in front of the plain brick wall, the gateway into the magical platform where a train was waiting to take him to Hogwarts, his opportunity to finally make something of himself.

Gérard has already gone through a couple of minutes ago, but his older brother made him swear that he should wait a while before doing so himself. He demanded he recites the rules he gave him one last time before leaving him behind too: He is not to speak to his brother. He is not to look at him. He is not to pretend like the two of them were even remotely related.
So basically, no different than any other day in the Rosier manor.

The best way to avoid disappointments is not to expect anything from anyone

Silently, he stood by his lonesome and curiously observed student after student saying farewell to their parents before running straight ahead - directly into the barrier, walking right through the wall as if it didn't exist. He kept on wondering how any of the Muggles in the busy train station missed the students, each pushing their heavy trollies, vanishing one after the other. There had to be some magic involved. A Muggle-Repelling Charm perhaps, used to enchant the entire wall? It certainly didn't extend much beyond it, because he could feel the Muggles staring at him and his overloaded cart as they passed him by.

"Here goes" he mumbled to himself after deciding he waited long enough for his brother to board the train, and placing both of his hands on the handles shoved his own trolly forward, walking at a steady, brisk, pace. He had to keep reminding himself that there was no risk of him colliding with the wall (his subconscious refused to accept that fact!). Only once his cart was halfway through the barrier did he sweat about the possibility of bumping into someone who might still be standing on the other side