Station 9 and three- wait where did i put my wand again?

11:30
Late!
How could I possibly be late on such an important day!

Mum, Dad and I had been staying at an Inn near the station. We'd set alarms. Three! we'd had breakfast ready to throw in a microwave and yet-

"Shoes! Shoes! Where are your shoes, Louis!" My Dad yelled up at me.

I was in our room's loft, double checking i had everything. Is my wand still in the pocket? Yes, no it's in my hand, no wait it's in my pocket. I like pockets, they're very useful. Wait what did Dad say again?

"Shoes Lou?" He asked again, exasperated.

I glance down. oh there they are! "I'm wearing my shoes Dad!"

"No I know that, I'm asking about your spares!"

Spares? I have spare shoes? I look in my trunk and yep. Two extra pairs. "In my trunk!"

"Alright get down here, your Mum already has breakfast in the microwave and is starting the car."

How did she start the microwave from the car? did she use a spell? I don't think she used a spell, that wouldn't be legal, maybe? I don't remember the laws for using magic, that book was soo big.

I lug my trunk down the loft stairs. Stairs of the loft? Loft staircase? Minicase? whatever, I came downstairs and-.. wait where did i put my wand again? oh never mind it's in my pocket.

"Louis!" My dad said- and Oh he's really close.

He was kneeling in front of me brows furrowed. "Do you need a moment, Bud? We can always pause for a second if this is all too much."

I fidget with my hair while thinking. Is It too much? A little bit. but not bad we have to take a break. "Uh.. No thanks. I'm good."

He squeezes my shoulder once before grabbing the tubs of Bubble and squeak we'd made for breakfast. And like that we're off.

I spend most of the drive switching between eating, picking at my seat belt and staring out the window, watching the raindrops race. Go! go- oh wait that's not my raindrop. look at it go- oh wait wrong drop again and-

"Louis." My mum said. "We're at the station."

I look up and oh... yes we are. "Cool."

I unclick my seat belt -and by that I mean I fumble with the button and wait for my dad to do it for me because shut up- grabbing my bowl of almost -kinda- finished bubble and squeak which i put in my truck.

Mum leads Dad and us to... a wall. okay, so I get that this is supposed to be magic but no way that the wall is actually- Oh My GOD, Mum Just walked through a wall!

Dad and I shortly follow, Gaping in awe at the huge red train. wow i wonder how fast that thing can go. does it run on coal or petrol or do they have some kind of magic thing working it. do they have snacks on the train? not that i really had any money. just the little i'd swapped my pocket money for since Mum wasn't letting me dip into her wizard money.

"I'm gonna miss you guys." I blurt out, grip on my trolley tightening as tears prick my eyes. "And Nona and Pops and Perry even if he's just a mangy old cat and you guys don't like him and-"

My parents share a look before we do a Rhys family group hug -patent pending- Mum whispering reassurances about how I could always come home for Christmas and how I can always owl and how I'd be having so much fun i wouldn't even notice.

After a good cry -or four- I finally board the- Wait where's my wand?!
Encyclopedia|Next