71 Chapter 71: "King's Cross Station"

September 1st, 1989

Upon arriving at King's Cross station that morning to catch the Hogwarts Express, Harry and his companions quickly realized just how bustling one of London's busiest hubs could be. The station teemed with life—commuters darting to catch their trains, families navigating the crowds, and children's excited chatter filling the air. 

Harry's entourage for the day included Sirius, Amelia, and Susan, making it quite the family outing. Emma had initially wished to join them, but Harry persuaded her otherwise. It would have been too embarrassing for Harry to have many people sending him off to Hogwarts. Though Sirius had initially planned for just the two of them to accompany Harry, Susan's eagerness to witness the Hogwarts Express firsthand transformed the journey into something of a family outing for Sirius's household.

In a decision rooted in compassion for his feathered friend, Harry had sent Hedwig ahead to Hogwarts. The thought of her confined to a cage for the nine-hour journey didn't sit well with him, nor did he see the need to bring her cage to Hogwarts at all. Hedwig, with her keen intelligence and independence, was more than capable of finding her way to the school's owlery or enjoying the freedom to explore as she pleased. Harry trusted her completely to look after herself without any issues.

To further streamline their travel, Harry employed a combination of shrinking and weightless spells on his Hogwarts trunk, carrying it in his pocket instead of on a cumbersome trolley. This practical choice, however, made them somewhat of an anomaly amidst the throngs of travelers, their absence of visible luggage setting them apart in a place where nearly everyone had something to carry or push along. But that was nothing to worry about.

Harry already had many complaints about several aspects of his train journey to Hogwarts. The idea of spending nine hours on a train to reach Hogwarts seemed excessive to him, especially when one could apparate to Hogsmeade, a village close to Hogwarts, in just a few minutes.

The concept of a magical railway station dedicated solely to the Hogwarts Express, which was used only four times a year, puzzled him even more. He questioned the necessity of creating an entire station for a train that served such a limited purpose.

In Harry's view, the magical platform at King's Cross Station was an extravagant and unnecessary venture. Considering the wizarding community's access to more efficient means of travel, the investment in a train service seemed illogical. Harry couldn't understand how the Wizengamot, the wizarding world's governing body, had ever approved the construction of this station. It struck him as a waste of both time and resources.

Harry had quickly learned that applying logic to many aspects of the wizarding world was futile. The decision-making processes within this community often seemed to lack sense, leading to a number of questionable practices and traditions.

Among the other peculiarities of getting to Hogwarts was the method of accessing the platform itself: running headfirst into a brick wall. Harry mused over the numerous spells likely in place around the said wall to prevent this act from breaking the Statute of Secrecy, as families vanishing through a wall would surely attract unwanted attention from the non-magical world.

Although there were alternative ways to reach the platform, such as the Floo Network, they came with their own set of complications.

The platform's Floo connection was singular, preventing direct access from individual homes to the platform. Families wishing to use the Floo had to converge on a specific location in Diagon Alley, leading to congestion around the Floo point, especially on departure days like today.

As a result, many families familiar with the non-magical world preferred navigating the physical barrier between platforms nine and ten at King's Cross Station, opting to blend in with the muggle surroundings rather than face the chaos of the Floo point.

As Harry was lost in his thoughts, he was brought back to the present by Sirius's voice, indicating they had arrived at the crucial spot. "The platform's right through here," Sirius announced, pointing towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten.

Harry observed the scene carefully, noting how the bustling muggles around them seemed oblivious to this particular part of the station, a testament to the magical protections in place to maintain the secrecy of their world.

Sirius, ready to share a piece of Hogwarts tradition, instructed, "What you need to do is run straight at the wall, and you'll find yourself on platform nine and three-quarters on the other side. Come on, pup, take a bit of a run-up."

Harry, however, wasn't about to be caught in what he suspected might be a playful test of courage. Ignoring Sirius's suggestion for a dramatic entrance, he opted for a calm and measured walk through the barrier, proving to himself and Sirius that a theatrical run was unnecessary.

As he emerged on the other side, the sight of the Hogwarts Express greeted him—a striking red engine steaming patiently on the platform, its presence dominating the otherwise empty surroundings. The platform was alive with activity; students hustled about with their luggage, greetings and farewells filled the air, and the occasional screech of an owl added to the cacophony. The station was absolute chaos. Harry had timed their arrival to minimize waiting, so the train's departure loomed.

Following Harry's calm passage, Sirius, Amelia, and Susan joined him, stepping through the barrier into the magical side of King's Cross.

Sirius couldn't hide his disappointment at Harry's nonchalant approach. "You're no fun, Harry. It's a tradition for Hogwarts students to run through the wall. Walking through is just... boring."

Nevertheless, Sirius's spirits weren't dampened for long. Looking around at the bustling platform, he couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia. "Ah, just like I remember. Noisy and full of life. Let's go, pup," he said, eager to soak in the atmosphere of his own school days.

The bustling platform was filled with chatter and the clatter of luggage as Harry and his companions navigated through the crowd, searching for an empty compartment for Harry to occupy during his journey to Hogwarts.

Amidst the sea of faces and hurried goodbyes, Harry's ears picked up a familiar voice calling out to him.

Glancing toward the source, he spotted Cedric Diggory's head poking out of a compartment window, waving enthusiastically in his direction.

Harry returned the gesture, then turned to Sirius, indicating his decision. "I'll join Cedric, so there's no need to search any further. Plus, the train's about to leave."

At that moment, Susan, who had been wide-eyed with wonder at the bustling platform, suddenly expressed her desire. "I want to go too," she said, her voice tinged with longing.

Amelia gently reminded her, "You're not old enough yet. Your time will come soon, and then you can head off to Hogwarts with all your friends."

"But that's two years away! And Harry won't be there at home. It'll be so boring without him," Susan protested, her disappointment evident.

Harry tried to reassure her, "I'll write to you. You won't miss out on anything. I'll tell you all about Hogwarts, so it'll be like you're there with me. And when it's your turn, you can show your friends around just like a pro."

Susan, only partially consoled, clung to Harry's arm, her plea soft but desperate, "I don't want you to go. Can't you wait two more years so we can go together?"

As Harry prepared to respond, the train's horn sounded a warning, signaling the imminent departure. This allowed Harry to gently disengage from Susan's grip.

Sirius, always the mischief-maker, couldn't resist giving Harry a bit of advice, "Remember to have fun. If I don't hear about you causing a bit of trouble, I'll be disappointed. You're Padfoot's godson, after all. And if Snivellous gives you any trouble, remember those special pranks I showed you."

Amelia, ever the voice of reason, added, "Ignore Sirius, Harry. Just focus on enjoying yourself and making some friends. It's high time you found friends your own age."

Harry grinned at their remarks, assured them he would indeed enjoy his time, and then proceeded to say his goodbyes. His trunk, still magically reduced in size and weight, rested securely in his pocket, bypassing the need for any cumbersome luggage handling.

There was no discussion about which Hogwarts house Harry might be sorted into; to them, it mattered little. Sirius had long since shed any bias against Slytherin, indicating his acceptance of Harry's potential placement within any of the Hogwarts houses.

As the train's horn sounded once more, Harry, standing by the door, waved back at Sirius, Amelia, and a tearful Susan. Knowing she would be okay by the next day, Harry offered a reassuring smile, maintaining his wave until the platform faded from view.

Making his way to Cedric's compartment, Harry was thinking of ways to pass the nine-hour journey without succumbing to boredom.