It's just a wall
It all started at a wall. A freaking wall, can you believe that?
"You want to go first, Toms?" He heard his older brother, Techno, ask. Wilbur snickered next to him. Tommy only stared at them, bewildered.
"Platform nine and three quarters is a fucking wall??" He exclaimed, watching all their faces shift into amusement. Even his muggle father was clearly holding back a laugh.
His mother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and smiled down at him.
"Ignore them, Tommy. All you have to do is walk through as if there's no wall whatsoever," she explained, "here, I'll go first."
Tommy watched as his mother walked confidently up to said wall and just as Tommy expected her face to smash into the bricks, she disappeared into it.
He gaped at the sight. "HUH- WHAT- WHERE-"
"Pffft, she's just on platform nine and three quarters, Tommy. Think of the wall as like.."
"A portal," Techno finished his twin's sentence.
"Yeah! A portal!"
Tommy watched people walking past, unaware that the boy had just watched his mother walk through a fucking wall. He knew he should've expected something like this when he'd asked how a train platform could be in quarters and his brothers had simply giggled and brushed him off with a 'you'll see'.
"We can go through together if you're worried, Tommy," Wilbur offered. Tommy huffed in response.
"As if! I'm a big man, I can do it myself."
Though it was pretty obvious he was nervous as his knuckles whitened around his trolley.
'You've got this. It's not a wall, it's a portal. Mum's in the other side' Tommy reassured himself, taking a deep breath. He pushed the trolley ahead of himself and let his feet follow. He picked up his pace before he collided, hoping that would keep him from chickening out. With the wall just ahead of him, he squeezed his eyes shut and prepared for impact. But it never came.
Tommy opened his eyes to find himself on a new, bustling platform. There was a bright red train off to the side and his mother stood in front of him. She clapped her hands together and jumped a little. Tommy let his lips contort into a big grin and leaped into her arms. Behind him, he heard his brothers follow through, bickering about who was first, and his father sighing at them.
"I told you I could do it!" Tommy practically yelled at them, proudly, letting his mother go.
"How many tries did it take him?" She questioned the others.
"Actually, he got it first try," his father replied.
"Wha- you-" Tommy spluttered, "you didn't think I could do it first try?!"
"Well it took your brothers quite a few attempts."
"Hey!" Wil pouted like a child, next to a reddening Techno.
The family were interrupted by a horn echoing throughout the platform.
"Alright, boys, you'd better get going before you miss the train," said their father. It hit Tommy for the hundredth time that day that he would be separated from his parents for a whole year (well, aside from holiday breaks). His face must've betrayed his thoughts because his father went in for a hug. He held him for a while, then pulled away, ruffling Tommy's blonde locks. "You'll be alright bud." He assured. He then hugged Wilbur, while Techno stood to the side. He wasn't too big on physical affection most of the time, even from his dad. He was usually only touchy with his twin and occasionally Tommy.
Whilst Tommy had been watching his brothers, a pair of arms had snaked around his torso from behind and lifted him up into a spin and set him down just as quickly as they'd picked him up. Tommy swayed where he stood for a moment, the sudden movement making him dizzy. His mother now stood in front of him, fawning over his hair and clothes. "You remember to send us letters and do your homework and stay out of trouble and don't get involved in your brother's antics-"
"Okay! Okay!" Tommy pryed her hands off him. The train sounded again and people on the platform crowded around the doors, filing in messily.
"Take care, Toms." She finally kissed his forehead and moved onto mothering the elder pair. "You two better have a good year. I don't want to hear you hexed the staff toilets again," she warned, "and look out for your little brother!" She gave them both and quick peck on the cheek before shooing the three off towards the train