Smoke billowed from the scarlet steam engine and curled over the platform like thick gray clouds. The crowd buzzed with chatter as owls hooted from their cages and cats of every color darted between people's legs.
Milo sat perched on Warren's trunk, watching the other cats with the calm, superior expression of someone who knew she was better than the rest.
Harry had vanished into the sea of people. Warren didn't bother looking for him. He stood on his toes, spotted Fred and George's red hair bobbing above the crowd, and pushed his way toward them.
"Where is Percy?"
"Haven't seen him anywhere. His Majesty the Prefect had important business to attend to, so he vanished in a flash."
Wait, Fred. Since when is Percy a prefect? I had no idea.
"Are you having a laugh, George? He's only mentioned it about a million times this summer."
The twins roared in unison. "He's been going on about it constantly!"
Right on cue, Percy appeared out of nowhere, already changed into his new robes. He wore his sternest expression. "If I were you, Fred and George, I would show a little restraint and not embarrass your brother in front of everyone, now that he is a prefect."
Merlin's beard, Fred. I'm terrified.
I know, George. It's terrifying. He sounds like he's already the Headmaster.
You two. Percy took a deep breath and decided to ignore them. He walked over and patted Warren on the shoulder, making a grand show of adjusting his new robes so Warren couldn't miss the shiny P badge pinned to his chest. Warren, dear brother, if you run into any trouble at school, just come find me.
Warren nodded with a smile. Sure, Percy.
Just then, Arthur and Molly arrived with Ginny and Ron. It was nearly eleven, and the white steam pouring from the train was thickening. The train was about to leave. Molly had to say goodbye to each of her children one by one.
When she reached Warren and Ron, she dabbed at her eyes and pulled them both into a hug so tight they could barely breathe. "You've never been away from home this long before."
"Don't worry, Mum." Warren patted her arm gently. "We're just going to school. Besides, Hogwarts is the safest place in the whole world. At least for now, he thought. "We'll write to you and Dad as soon as we get there. We'll write to Ginny too.
After soothing his mother, Warren turned to hug Ginny. She was already in tears, clutching his robes as if she would never let go.
"Warren, I don't want you to go."
"I have to go to school, Ginny. But you'll be at Hogwarts next year. It won't be for long."
It took a while to calm her down. Ron hadn't said a word through any of this. He was crying too, his nose running like a tap.
Waving goodbye to Arthur, Molly, and Ginny, Warren and Ron pushed their trunks onto the train and started looking for an empty compartment.
The front of the train was off-limits, reserved for older students. Percy had already bragged about having a prefect's compartment up there. So they headed toward the back.
They finally found an empty compartment near the back of the train. A long whistle blew, and the train lurched forward. Ron dropped his trunk and scrambled to the window, pressing his face against the glass as he tried to catch one last glimpse of his parents.
But he saw nothing.
Steam had already swallowed the platform, and through the haze, he could only make out a sea of waving hands. He slumped back into his seat, looking utterly defeated.
Warren withdrew his wand and levitated their trunks onto the overhead racks with a casual flick.
Seeing Ron's dejection, he hesitated for a moment before pulling a piece of candy from his pocket.
"Here."
Ron blinked, then took it. He unwrapped the sweet and muttered, "Thanks, Warren."
"Just call me brother."
Warren ruffled his hair playfully, instantly dispelling any trace of gratitude Ron might have felt.
Ron's face turned red. He flailed his arms, trying to escape Warren's grip. "No way."
Just then the compartment door slid open. A small, skinny kid stood wrestling with a huge trunk, looking uncertain. "Excuse me, can I sit here?"
Harry Potter thought this was the worst day of his life.
To start with, his aunt and uncle dumped him at the station and drove off, leaving him unable to find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Eventually, a kind woman stepped in to guide him there. After battling his way through the crowd, he barely managed to board the train before it pulled out, but now he faced a new problem. He could not find an empty compartment.
He tried the front of the train first, but older students with silver and green badges chased him out.
He walked the length of the train to the back, yet every compartment was packed. He searched for a seat to no avail. Then he spotted the two red-headed boys.
He recognized them.
They were from that family that had helped him outside the station. Their bright red hair was impossible to forget. Especially the tall one with the reddish-brown eyes that looked almost like gemstones. His name was Warren. He was the best-looking boy Harry had ever seen, better looking than any of the movie stars Aunt Petunia was always going on about.
But what really stuck in Harry's mind was what he'd just witnessed through the glass. Warren was waving his wand and making the luggage float.
Magic.
Harry couldn't explain what had come over him. He'd slid the door open on impulse, but now that he'd spoken, he wanted nothing more than to run. He was just a stranger intruding on the two brothers. What if they didn't want company? What if they told him to get lost?
His mind raced with worry. Growing up with the Dursleys had taught him to tread carefully and to always expect rejection.
Inside the compartment, Warren was momentarily surprised. He had assumed Harry would have found a seat elsewhere by now. He glanced from Harry to Ron. The magical world was steeped in destiny, a force woven into the very fabric of their reality. Was this the precise moment the Golden Trio was fated to unite?
He considered the question briefly before deciding such mysteries were beyond his current understanding. Maintaining a composed expression, he smiled at Harry. "Of course. Come in."
Harry looked faintly embarrassed. He mumbled his thanks and turned to haul his trunk inside. Before he could begin to struggle, he heard the incantation for a spell.
Wingardium Leviosa.
His trunk rose into the air and floated effortlessly through the door.
Hedwig hooted indignantly, flapping her wings wildly inside her cage, but her protests went unheeded.
Harry spun around. Warren stood there with a knobby wand in hand, guiding the trunk up onto the luggage rack. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he settled Hedwig's cage gently on the small table by the window.
A massive cat already occupied the spot. It cast a glance of mild disinterest at Hedwig before turning its gaze back to the rat in the corner cage.
Uh, er. Harry was completely stunned. He could barely get the words out. Finally, he stammered, "Thanks. Thanks a lot."
"You're welcome. Come in and sit down." Warren smiled. "I'm Warren Weasley. This is my brother, Ron Weasley. Hello, Harry Potter."
Harry hunched his shoulders nervously and stepped inside. "Hello, Warren. Er..." His eyes grew wide. "How did you know?"
Warren pointed at his own forehead. "I saw your scar outside the station."
So it wasn't magic, then. Harry relaxed a little. He was just about to speak when the freckled boy, Ron Weasley, practically jumped to his feet, staring at Harry's forehead.
"Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?"
//==============//