Journey From Platform 9 ¾
Little Grian pushed his enormous trunk on a trolley, and nervously entered King’s Cross Station. The station was packed with people, most of them wearing suits and ties, rushing to work. Grian pushed his trolley to the platform between Platform 9 and 10, and looked in the middle, as if he was expecting a little opening for a platform.
After a good 15 minutes of searching, Grian glanced at the clock, blimey! It was already 10:40, the ticket Keralis gave him states that the train will depart at 11:00 sharp. Scratching his head, Grian helplessly looked around, before deciding to ask the station guard.
Turned out, the guard had never heard of the platform 9 ¾, and was looking at Grian with a questioning eye, wandering from his cauldron to Grumbot.
Grian, seeing this, thanked the guard, and scurried out of the scene.
He glanced at the clock, 10:45, only 15 minutes left on the clock.
Just as he was about to give up hope, he heard a female voice, ‘…packed with muggles of course…’
Grian pushed his trolley towards the voice, there he found a family of brown hairs.
‘Alright, Impulse, your turn.’ The slightly plump woman said.
‘I’m not Impulse, I’m Skizz!’
‘Sorry Skizz, darling.’
‘Seriously, woman, you call yourself our mother?’ The other twin said jokingly.
‘Sorry, go on.’
Impulse lined up his trolley to the wall, and started to run forward. But suddenly, he disappeared, in the thin air.
‘Skizz, your turn.’
The other twin lined up his trolley and moved, but he too, disappeared.
Grian knew that this was his only chance. Nervously and hesitant, he walked up to the woman.
‘Um, e-excuse me?’ He tapped her shoulder. She turned around.
‘Oh hello dear! First time going to Hogwarts? Scar here is new too!’ She pointed at her son, who was also pushing a trolley, held up his hand and made a small smile.
‘Yes, um, but the problem is, I don’t know-’
‘How to get onto the platform, dear?’ The woman smiled, ‘Don’t worry, all you have to do, is to jog towards this wall, remember to have confidence, confidence is key. And next thing you know, you’ll be on the platform! Now go, before Scar does. Me and Pearl will follow.’
Grian nodded his head. Feeling slightly foolish, he gripped the handle on his trolley, and started moving forward, slowly increasing his speed until he started jogging.
The wall was now just twelve feet away, Grian closed his eyes, expecting to crash into the wall. But that never came.
Grian opened his eyes and looked around. The station looked exactly like King’s Cross, with the difference of a red steam train, ‘The Hogwarts Express’. He had made it.
Walking through the crowd of teenagers and their parents, Grian arrived at the train, and unloaded his trunk from the trolley. However, it was too heavy for him to lift alone, and he lost balance.
‘Need some help?’ Grian looked up, one of the twins he saw at the otherside of the wall was smiling friendlily at him.
‘Yes, please.’ Grian huffed, standing up.
‘Oi Skizz!’
His identical twin hurried over.
‘Come help us pull this trunk in.’
With a heave and many grunts, they successfully put the trunk into the luggage rack.
‘Thanks.’ Grian huffed, pushing his sweaty hair out of his face.
‘Hey,’ One of the twins looked at his forehead.
‘Is that…?’
‘Are you…?’
‘Impulse! Skizz!’ Grian breathed a sigh of relief as the twins went back outside to meet their mother.
‘Now, I don’t want any funny business this year.’ He could hear the woman say sternly, ‘If I hear that you two have bombed another toilet-’
‘Aw mom, come on!’
‘You know that that’s our personality…’
‘Please be good, and take care of Scar.’
‘Don’t worry, Mr. Goodtimes will be absolutely fine with us.’
‘Shut up.’ Grian heard the boy grumbling, but had a smile on his face.
‘Ok, it’s getting late, you guys better get on board the train, or you’re going to miss it.’
‘Speaking of, guess who we just saw on the train?’
Grian’s heart sank.
‘Who?’ Asked their mother.
‘Grian Dreamslayer!’
The little girl squealed, ‘REALLY? Mom, can I get on the train and see him please? Please?’
‘Absolutely not, Pearl, he’s not an animal in a zoo.’ She scolded her daughter, ‘Poor thing, no wonder he didn’t know how to get onto the platform. He was so polite too.’
‘You reckon he still remembers how You-Know-Who looks like?’ Skizz asked.
‘I forbid you to ask him that, Skizzle.’ Their mother told them sternly. ‘Time to get onto the train!’
The three of them boarded the train seconds before the train started moving.
‘Goodbye Pearl! We’ll see you at Christmas!’
Grian looked out of the window, enjoying the scenery as they pulled out of King’s Cross, finally, he can leave the Innits behind…
The compartment door opened, and in came the brown-headed boy, Scar.
‘Anyone sitting here?’ He pointed at the seat opposite to Grian. Grian shook his head.
Scar sat down, and looked at Grian with a lopsided grin. ‘So, what’s your name?’
‘Grian, Grian Dreamslayer.’
Scar widened his eyes, ‘Oh, wow! The Grian Dreamslayer?’
Grian nodded.
‘I’m Scar Clocker. I go by many nicknames, such as Mr. Goodtimes, Scar the Swimmer, Sewer Cat… But I prefer people just calling me Scar.’
‘Nice to meet you.’ Grian extended his arm to shake Scar’s. Scar took it quickly.
‘Um,’ Scar’s smile faded, and he scratched his head, face slightly flushed, ‘do you, um, actually, ah, have-’ He leaned in, scrunching his eyebrows, and whispered, ‘a scar?’
‘Oh, you mean this?’ Grian pushed his hair out of the way and revealed his lightning shaped scar.
Scar sat straight up, ‘Wow,’ His lopsided smirk came back on. ‘Guess we’re destined to be friends then.’
Grian laughed.
The compartment door opened again, this time, the twins popped their heads into the compartment.
‘Scar, HBomb’s got a tarantula up front, we’ll be sitting with him.’ One of them said.
‘Grian,’ The other said, ‘We never properly introduced ourselves, Skizzle and Impulse Clocker, and this is our little brother Scar.’
‘Get lost, you two.’ Scar jokingly shooed them away.
For the next half an hour, or more, Grian and Scar sat in silence. Grian enjoyed silence sometimes, his life being as hectic as it can get. He absorbed the countryside scenery, as the train moved up North. He thought about the Innits, likely rejoicing that he’s gone. Tommy, however, might be a bit lonely as he won’t have anyone to bully around all the time. With this, Grian thought, my life may finally be a little less hectic.
Oh boy was he wrong, but he just didn’t know it yet.
This silence was getting a little awkward, so Grian cleared his throat, ‘Are all your family wizards?’
‘I think so?’, said Scar, ‘I think mom’s got a second cousin who’s an accountant, but we never talk about him.’
‘So you must know a lot of magic already.’
‘Eh, still getting the grip of it.’ Scar shrugged, ‘What about you? I heard you went to live with the Muggles?’
‘Yeah.’
‘What are they like?’
‘Horrible,’ Grian answered, shaking his head, then tilting it slightly, ‘well, not all of them. My aunt, uncle and cousin are, though. Wish I had two wizard brothers.’
‘Four,’ said Scar, face turning dark and gloomy, ‘I’m fifth in our family to go to Hogwarts. As you can see I have a lot to live up to.’
Scar reached inside his jacket and pulled out a fat grey rat, which was fast asleep.
‘His name is Crisp, and he’s useless. Dad bought this for Impulse and Skizzle years ago, but they didn’t want it anymore, so they gave it to me. He sleeps all day, and does nothing.’
‘Are you sure it isn’t dead?’ Grian said jokingly.
‘I hope it is.’ Scar laughed, prodding the rat with his finger.
Just then, a plump lady opened the compartment door, and smiled, ‘Candy, dear?’
Scar mumbled and said he brought a sandwich, but Grian jumped up, silver and gold coins jungling in his pocket.
‘You sure are hungry, aren’t you?’ Scar laughed.
‘Mhm.’ was all Grian could answer, as he swallowed his cauldron cake, ‘I don’t get this much sweets often.’
‘I see.’
‘What are these?’ Grian held up a purple hexagonal box, and shook it.
‘Chocolate frogs.’ Scar answered.
‘There aren’t actual frogs in this, are there?’
‘No.’ Scar laughed, ‘Just enchanted, remember to catch them!’
Grian opened his box carefully, the brown ‘frog’ immediately jumped out and tried to flee out the window, but Grian caught it, and skeptically put it in his mouth. He looked back into the box, ‘Hey! There’s a card in here!’
‘Oh yeah, I nearly forgot. These are chocolate frog cards, they depict a famous wizard, you’re meant to collect them like, uh… Pake-Pokeman?’
‘You mean Pokemon Cards?’
‘Yeah yeah, that. Could I have one? Maybe I’ll get Dan The Miner, or Preston Playz…’
‘Help yourself, mate!’ Grian’s heart skipped a beat, this is the first time he has ever gotten to share things with others, and it felt good. He looked at his own card, ‘Hey! It’s Littlewood!’
‘Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Littlewood.’ Scar said, as he slammed his chocolate frog against the window. ‘He’s the most famous man in the world!’
Grian read the card: Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Martyn Littlewood is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Xisuma in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Oli Sound. Professor Littlewood enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.
When Grian finally tore his eyes away from the chocolate frogs, his eyes landed on another colourful box.
‘Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans?’
‘Yeah, when they mean every flavour, they mean every flavour. So there's regular ones like Lemon Sherbert, Watermelon, Strawberries and stuff, but there's also pepper, boogey and just about everything that makes you feel disgusted and vomit what you ate.’
‘Huh.’ Grian popped one into his mouth, ‘cherry!’
‘Yeah, see?’
There were all sorts of random flavours, Grian had apple, green grass(which tasted better in his mind), curry, toast, coffee, and coconut, he was even brave enough to nibble a grey one that Scar wouldn’t touch, which turned out to be pepper.
The countryside now flying past the window was becoming wilder. The neat fields had gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers and dark green hills.
There was a knock on the compartment door, and a round-faced boy came in. He looked troubled.
‘Sorry,’ He said, ‘But have you seen a toad at all?’
They shook their head. ‘Damnnit!’ He groaned. ‘I’ve lost him, he keeps getting away from me!’
‘He’ll turn up eventually.’ Grian assured him.
‘Yes,’ said the boy miserably. ‘Well, if you find him…’
Then he closed the door.
‘Well that was random.’ Scar said, still looking at the door. ‘Well, anyways…’
He rummaged through his trunk, and pulled out an old, chipped battered wand.
‘Unicorn hair poking out, but who cares anyways.’
He raised his wand, and opened his mouth. But then the compartment door flew open again. A girl came in, she was already wearing her Hogwarts robes.
‘Has anyone seen Joel’s toad? He’s lost it.’ She said. She had a bossy voice, lots of curly orange hair.
‘We’ve already told him that we haven’t seen it.’ said Scar, but the girl wasn’t listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.
‘Oh, are you about to do magic? Let’s see it then.’ She sat down.
‘Uh,’ Scar clearly was taken aback, ‘.o-okay…’
He cleared his throat:
‘Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow. Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!’
He waved his wand, and pointed at the rat, but nothing happened, Crispy was still grey and fast asleep.
‘You sure that that’s a real spell?’ The girl questioned. ‘It’s not very good, is it? I’ve tried out some spells at home during the summer, and they’ve all worked for me. Nobody in my family knew magic at all, so it was quite surprising when I got my letter, but I was very pleased. I’ve learnt all our books by heart, I just hope it’s enough. My name is Gemini Tay, by the way. What are your names?’
Grian and Scar were speechless.
‘Um, I’m Scar Clocker.’
‘Grian Dreamslayer.’
‘Oh wow, the Grian Dreamslayer? I’ve read so much about you! You're the one who defeated DocM, right?’
‘You have?’ Grian was absolutely stunned. 'Who's DocM?'
'You-Know-Who.' Scar whinced.
‘If I were you, I’d have scoured everything about you!’ She exclaimed, ‘Anyways, do either of you know what House you will be in? I’m hoping I get Gryffindor, I heard Littlewood was one himself, but I suppose Ravenclaw won’t be too bad… Speaking of Hogwarts, I think we’re almost there, you two better change into your robes.’
Then she stood up and left.
‘Whatever house she’s in, I hope I’m not in.’ Scar said, still processing the information. He threw his wand back into his trunk, ‘Ah, I knew that spell was a dud. Ah well, that was fun.’
They changed into their school robes quietly.
The lamps overhead magically lit up, as the outside world became dark. The compartment door slid open again. Standing in the entrance was the boy Grian had met in Diagon Alley.
‘So it’s true?’ The boy looked down at Grian, ‘The famous Grian Dreamslayer?’
Grian eyed the two boys next to the boy. They were both heavy and large.
‘Oh, these are Major and Sausage.’ said the pale boy, waving his hand. ‘And I’m Jimmy, Jimmy Solidarity.’
Scar made a funny cough that felt like he was hiding a snigger. Solidarity turned towards him, eyes narrowing.
‘Think my name’s funny, boy? No need to tell me who you are. My father’s told me all the Clockers have brown hair, and more children than they can afford.’
He turned back to Grian.
‘You’ll find out soon that some wizarding families are better than others, Dreamslayer.’ He said, extending his hand, ‘And I can help you with that.’
Grian looked at Solidarity’s hands coldly, and looked up, ‘I think I know who the wrong sort are, Solidarity.’
Solidarity tired his head upwards, and his nostrils flared.
‘Now get out.’ Grian stood up.
‘Ah,’ Solidarity looked at his goons, smirking, ‘But we don’t feel like leaving, do we, boys?’
‘Get out!’ Scar pushed Sausage backwards.
Major closed in. But then, he yelped, eyes widening, and he tumbled back, shaking his finger like mad.
Mini had bit Major’s finger.
All of a sudden, the trio ran away, probably because they heard footsteps.
‘What happened here?’ Gem poked her head back into the compartment.
‘Nothing.’ Said Scar gloomily.
‘You’ve met Solidarity before?’ Grian asked, ignoring Gem.
‘Dad talked about the Solidarity family a couple of times. Scar said darkly, ‘Before You-Know-Who’s fall, the Solidarity family was one of the most loyal servants to him. Can we help you?’ He turned to Gem.
‘Nothing, just wanted to tell you that the driver said we will be arriving in five minutes. Oh, by the way, just leave your luggage on the train, they will be taken up to the castle separately.’ And she left.
Grian’s stomach tightened into a knot, and he saw, Scar’s face was as pale as his. They crammed the rest of their sweets into their pockets, and joined everyone else in the corridors.
The train slowly came to a halt. Students piled out of the steaming train, and onto the platform. It was a very old station, built in the Medieval times, maybe. Grian thought.
‘Firs’ years! Firs’ years! Firs’ years to me!’ A familiar voice rang in the distance.
Grian turned around, there he was. Keralis, in his usual bushy beard, and large coat. Grian walked towards him. Keralis saw him, and gave Grian a wink.
‘All good there Grian? Everyone, come along!’
Then he led the crowd of students down onto the dirt trail.
‘’Yeh’ll get yer firs’ look at ol’ Hogwarts in a sec.’
There was a loud ‘ooh!’
The path opened up to a large black lake. At the other side of the lake, perched on a grand mountain, with its windows gleaming under the moonlight, stood a magnificent castle with many turrets and tunnels.
‘No more than four in a boat!’ Keralis pointed to a fleet of small wooden boats by the shore.
Grian climbed into a boat with Scar, Gem and Joel.
‘Everyone in?’ Shouted Keralis, who had a boat to himself. ‘M’kay… Onward!’
And the fleet of boats glided across the lake. Everyone, silently, stared upwards at the castle, getting bigger and bigger, towering overhead.
‘Heads down!’ Keralis yelled, as the boats went into a rocky passageway past the cliff through a wall of ivy. Eventually, they reached an underground harbour, where they clambered out onto stone and pebbles.
Keralis held up an oil lamp, and led the students onto a set of stairs.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak front door.
‘Everyone ‘ere?’ Keralis asked.
Then he raised his enormous fist, and knocked three times on the castle door.