1 Platform 9 3/4

It was the first day of the new school year, and King's Cross was extremely busy with departing students and crying parents. Sleek bullet trains as well as modern diesel ones packed nearly every platform of the terminus.

If you were walking between Platforms Nine and Ten, perhaps out of the corner of your eye you would spot an antique red and black steam locomotive, chuffing quietly as it awaited an influx of travelers. However, if you paused to look further, it seemed like an ordinary modern train on an ordinary track.

Only if you were special, could you see that it was particularly crowded with throngs of people there. In fact, almost every student's trolley cart was not only packed with suitcases, but also had a cage containing some sort of exotic animal.

The Network Rail Security Officer strolled around the station building to keep an eye on things. Hearing what sounded like bird screeching, he headed to Platform Nine to inspect the origin of the cacophony. Suddenly he realized he desperately needed to return to the office. Why, he didn't know, but it didn't seem to matter as he hurried away…

'It sucks being a kid,' whined 5-year-old Zachary Potter, but only in his heart, not out loud. He stood with his parents in the crowd at Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross. Watching them hug his three siblings goodbye, he stroked the tawny owl in the cage on top of his brother's trolley. Why he wasn't as special as them? Was it because he was the youngest? Almost ten years separated him from his sister, but it was a vast gap in ages. And it just wasn't fair. No matter how hard he tried, he could not make sparks dance around the dinner table like Albus, or move objects with a slight movement of his fingers like James.

His eldest brother walked up and ruffled his hair. "Take care of our parents, squirt, and we will see you at hols." James looked up and glared at his brother, who was excitedly chatting with Scorpius under the watchful eye of his friend's father Draco.

"Oy, Al, come say goodbye to your brother!" Albus looked up and sniffed before turning away and ignoring the gaggle of Potters standing by the trolleys. Lily just rolled her eyes as she skipped up to Zach and gave him a fierce hug. While hugging her back, he felt her put something in his pocket.

Putting her lips close to his ear, she whispered, "If you need to contact us, just press the red button." Then, with a resounding smack, she kissed his cheek before letting him go. Zach felt better and smiled. He knew his siblings loved him despite his handicap. Well, except maybe the middle brother.

"Zach, come here," his mum ordered, and he obediently stood with them and waved as in groups of two and three, the students ran into the brick column and disappeared.

Looking up at his mum, he asked, "Will I ever get to go to school?" He stared back at the students, watching James herd the younger Potters towards the secret entrance.

She looked down at her youngest and sighed. "You may not go to Hogwarts when you are older, but you will still go to school. And you will always be a part of us, no matter what." She hugged him while looking across at her husband, his scar still noticeable in the artificial lights of the station.

Once everyone disappeared, the parents began to disperse. Zach took one last glance at the brick wall before taking his dad's hand and walking away.