Wall, train, tears
King's Cross Station was packed. Jean and her family, father Peter, mum Emma and brother Dean, could only just move about in the crowd. Jean was dragging a big suitcase behind her. Due to the many years of use, the formerly yellow case had whithered to a brown hue, some patches dingier than others. It used to be her father's. As a young lad, he had travelled Europe from hostel to hostel with the suitcase as his trustiest companion. Now, it was up to Jean to care for the contraption. Although she found it ugly and difficult to maneauver, she treasured the suitcase for its link to her dad.
Many other kids her age were lugging big cases through the entrance of the train station. Speculating on what itinerary she could possible use to get to a wizarding school, her brother hooked his arm around her neck and knuckled her head. "At least you're not the only one looking like a doofus," he taunted.
She elbowed him in the ribs. He shreeked and he dramatically fell to the floor, clutching his chest.
Her mother looked on in amusement before pointing to another child with a mountain of stuff on a trolley. "What if we just follow them? They must be going the same way as you, Jeanny."
As it was said, so it was done. But when chasing the teen over platform 9, they were suddenly no longer in sight. "Huh?" Jean scratched her head, still bruised from her brothers knuckles. "Where have they gone?"
Another child overtook their befuddled group of four. They ran full speed at the wall between platforms 9 and 10, before disappearing into the wall. Jean stared with her mouth agape like a fish. "Well." Her father cleared his throat and said in an uncertain voice: "I guess that is us."
"Oh don't be such a wimp Peter," Jean's mum taunted while romping towards the wall. "Mum!" Jean yelled, but Emma had already stepped into the wall. Her father followed after with a skip and a jump.
"Well, we can't stay behind," Dean took her hand and pulled her into a run. She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the grating stone to give her a concussion. Instead, the felt a shift in the air. 'Choo-choooo' sounded near her ear. She opened her eyes, shocking red filling her vision. A locomotive stood majestically on the tracks where there used to be a modern model. Steam spouted from the engine, drifting up into the high rafters. '9 3/4' was the number attached to the fall they had just passed through.
Jean left her luggage with an existing pile.
Her mum swept Jean into a tight hug. "Now, dearie, don't forget to call and text. We want to know whatever is going on in your life," she whispered in her ear. Her mum was trying to keep a brave face, but her dad had already utterly failed in that regard. Snotteringly, he embraced both Emma and Jean. "I'm going to miss you so much," sniffle. "Our wonder baby is growing up!" His tears awakened hers. Dean joined in on the group hug, making their huddle sway and struggle to keep upright. "Just be yourself Jeanny, you will have the greatest time ever. But don't you dare forget us!"
Many other kids her age were lugging big cases through the entrance of the train station. Speculating on what itinerary she could possible use to get to a wizarding school, her brother hooked his arm around her neck and knuckled her head. "At least you're not the only one looking like a doofus," he taunted.
She elbowed him in the ribs. He shreeked and he dramatically fell to the floor, clutching his chest.
Her mother looked on in amusement before pointing to another child with a mountain of stuff on a trolley. "What if we just follow them? They must be going the same way as you, Jeanny."
As it was said, so it was done. But when chasing the teen over platform 9, they were suddenly no longer in sight. "Huh?" Jean scratched her head, still bruised from her brothers knuckles. "Where have they gone?"
Another child overtook their befuddled group of four. They ran full speed at the wall between platforms 9 and 10, before disappearing into the wall. Jean stared with her mouth agape like a fish. "Well." Her father cleared his throat and said in an uncertain voice: "I guess that is us."
"Oh don't be such a wimp Peter," Jean's mum taunted while romping towards the wall. "Mum!" Jean yelled, but Emma had already stepped into the wall. Her father followed after with a skip and a jump.
"Well, we can't stay behind," Dean took her hand and pulled her into a run. She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the grating stone to give her a concussion. Instead, the felt a shift in the air. 'Choo-choooo' sounded near her ear. She opened her eyes, shocking red filling her vision. A locomotive stood majestically on the tracks where there used to be a modern model. Steam spouted from the engine, drifting up into the high rafters. '9 3/4' was the number attached to the fall they had just passed through.
Jean left her luggage with an existing pile.
Her mum swept Jean into a tight hug. "Now, dearie, don't forget to call and text. We want to know whatever is going on in your life," she whispered in her ear. Her mum was trying to keep a brave face, but her dad had already utterly failed in that regard. Snotteringly, he embraced both Emma and Jean. "I'm going to miss you so much," sniffle. "Our wonder baby is growing up!" His tears awakened hers. Dean joined in on the group hug, making their huddle sway and struggle to keep upright. "Just be yourself Jeanny, you will have the greatest time ever. But don't you dare forget us!"