Flames of Eternity // George Weasley

3. Journey to Hogwarts

Song for this chapter ~ Arsonist's Lullabye by Hozier

As I awoke the next morning, I couldn't help but feeling the strangest pit in my stomach. Everything that went down last night happened all so fast I barely had time to process it before I fell asleep.

This whole week was a fever dream.

So many unusual things had happened to me over the course of a week, I didn't even know where to begin. Although this was the case, George Weasley remained on my mind all morning, as I got ready to leave for King's Cross Station. I shook the thought of him out of my head almost instantly—I had more important things to worry about.

Thinking of important things I needed to worry about, I looked at the old grandfather clock that stood in my room—it was already half past ten, and I hadn't left yet. Although it would only take about ten minutes to get to King's Cross via the Underground, I hated being late, and when it came to Platform 9 ¾, being late wasn't an option.

As I exited my room and began to walk down the staircase, trunk in hand, I half expected to see familiar faces; however, there weren't. I don't exactly know what I was expecting, but I couldn't help feeling lonely at the thought of everyone gone.

Don't make a fool out of yourself Calista, you barely know them, I thought to myself.

As I quickly made my way towards the checkout counter and dropped my key off to the man behind the desk, I grabbed one of the mugs that were stacked together, holding it out to the black kettle, watching it pour coffee into it. Although it was still quite hot, I downed it in nearly one shot, burning the back of my throat on its way down.

As I headed towards the exit of The Leaky Cauldron, I looked back for a quick second, thinking about how I'd be back here in another year. Although I was always excited to be here, for some reason, this time round, I couldn't help but become conscious of the fact that it would be spent alone— again, like every other year.

* * *

As the automatic doors of the tube suddenly opened, I quickly made my way through the station, now looking at the large clock that hung above one of the platforms—it was now just ten minutes before eleven, thankfully I would have just enough time.

As I walked towards platforms 9 and 10, I suddenly stopped on the spot. Standing in between the platforms were Potter, Granger, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and their two youngest—but no one else. All six of them then vanished as they ran through the brick platform.

Making my way towards the brick column along with my trunk, which was now on a trolley, I sped at it with full velocity—only to open my eyes seconds later and see a maroon steam train with piles of thick grey smoke coming out of its engine.

Remembering how little time I had, I headed for one of the train doors closest to me, handing off my trunk to the train porter. I quickly climbed in, now peering down the long corridors of the train, which were now packed with students trying to get to their compartments. Unlike all the other houses who mingled amongst each other and shared compartments, the Slytherins liked to be kept with their own kind—every year claiming all the compartments at the end of the train.

As I made my way towards the end of the train, I passed by many students already in their robes—I had stuffed mine into my drawstring bag to change into later on the train. Passing by the various students sticking their heads out the windows, waving goodbye to their families, I couldn't help but feel like I had been missing out on something my whole life.