Meeting of Ron Weasley
Normally the heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute. Harry's was upto almost 200. Looking at the bustling station around him , he had never felt as small in his life. He was alone. The dursley's having left right after dropping him off.
Gripping the ticket tighter, Harry started inching towards the platform between 9 and 10 , having a sinking feeling in his heart that things were going to go terribly wrong.
Having reached the platforms 9 and 10 he was proven right, he grimaced glancing up at the platform numbers and back at the ticket number in his hand , once again 9¾ quarters. He didn't see wrongly . Was he given the wrong ticket number? Was he going to be left behind like he always was?
He couldn't go back to the dursley's. He half expected Hagrid to pop up and tell him he had been given the wrong ticket. Desperately trying to find him he turned around locking eyes with people watching him with suspicion and curiosity , hurriedly breaking eye contact he looked away suddenly feeling very out of place with Hedwig.
His grip around the cart tightened , hands clammy. Were there always this many people in the station? Trying to find a conductor He turned around , maybe this was a joke and if he went home he would see Hagrid waiting for him to come by so he could drop him off to Hogwarts. Gulping harry cast another glance around him , shifting his body towards the exit.
His attempt was foiled as he slammed into a red haired teenager followed by an entire family of redheads , shrinking back he mumbled an apology , the next second his eyes widened realising that they were also carrying owls and carts like Harry .
"It's okay mate , you good?" A soft melodious voice reached his ears , The boy had freckles scattered around his face in random directions yet it all looked seamless as if every freckle was placed on his face with a purpose in mind. Dazed, Harry nodded, fidgeting with the corner of his clothes. He wanted to ask this red headed boy where the platform was but somewhere along the way his voice got stuck. Before he could try again his family clearly in a rush passed by him , while calling for the boy to hurry up.
"I'm coming mom , wait for me !" Gathering his things the boy started moving towards his family. Harry's eye twitched...no he couldn't go like this and all of sudden his hand was pulling the boy's back stopping him midway.
"Excuse me is there a prob-? " Suddenly the boy stilled his eyes roamed around Harry's visage and gave a crooked smile
" You are a muggle born aren't you , need help getting on the train?" Not particularly sure what he meant other than the latter part he nodded.
Grinning, the boy grabbed Harry's hand and rushed forward, dragging Harry with him . Startled, Harry tried to keep pace, trusting the boy to know where to go and then he came face to face with a wall. It was too late to stop at the speed they were going , Harry closed his eyes bracing for impact but he was still running. Opening his eyes he saw the platform number in bold letters shining on top - 9¾
Feeling his heart beat faster Harry laughed, the boy dragging him turned to look at him , there was something on his face that Harry couldn't figure out but soon that look melted into a laugh of his own.
The boy had finally stopped running but was still holding Harry's hand moving him towards where the family of redheads were. Harry hoped his hands didn't feel sweaty.
"Ron, where were you and who's this next to you?" Ron tilted his head towards harry squinting slightly " A muggleborn, found him at the other station dunno what he was doing without a professor though" it felt accusatory like harry had been running around and got lost , Harry felt the blood rushing to his cheeks " I didn't come with a professor "
The woman , Ron's mom probably shook her head in distaste "well carry on then , the trains going to leave soon." Staring at them her gaze hardened and Harry didn't know if he was imagining it but it was directed at his hands. Looking down, Harry noticed his hand was still connected with Ron's. Harry felt his hands getting clammy again , before he could seperate his hand from Ron's though ; he was pulled forward inside the train.
The train was quite spacious and big. The walls of the train contained traces of the past with engraved initials scattered around , The train felt like a time capsule. Ron must have found a compartment to his liking though as he finally stopped towards the end of the train letting go of Harry's hand he entered inside with his luggage. Harry moved to follow but the door slid shut before he could enter , speechless Harry looked at the closed door, a stinging feeling of betrayal creeping up on him as his eyes grew hot.
The door opened up by itself though and Ron's head popped out scanning his face a slight smile bloomed on his face " sorry mate , the door got shut by itself. Come in would you " nodding, Harry entered ignoring how it felt like he was stepping into a trap . He was being ridiculous harry reminded himself why would he be stepping into a trap ? He was with Ron.
"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Ron Weasley, what's your name?"