𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓:
Platform 9 ¾
(1971)

PLATFORM 9 ¾ appears as an ordinary wall between Platforms 9 and 10, without any visible entrance. Situated at King's Cross Station in London, England. It's a normal brick wall to any muggle, but to young witches or wizards like Viviane, it is so much more than a brick wall.

It's as if the wall is calling to her.

It's as if whispering to her that she'll finally be free with just a few more steps.

The platform exists in a realm between the Muggle world and the Wizarding world, serving as a gateway for students and their families. Who will be riding the Hogwarts Express.

Viviane approaches the wall with Christine and, surprisingly, her Father behind her. Christine encourages Viviane with a smile, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Oh! I remember experiencing this the first time, anak." Christine gushes, "If you're nervous, just take a deep breath and just run through the wall." Christine tells her encouragingly.

Viviane nods with a smile, and she glances at her Father. To her surprise, it was as if he was encouraging her too—it was odd, but his eyes seemed sincere and soft, and Viviane knew the eyes never lie.

So, Viviane took a deep breath and ran through the wall. A picturesque scene unfolds before her, reminiscent of a bygone era. Gleaming steam locomotives billow smoke, their polished black exteriors emblazoned with the Hogwarts Express emblem. The unmistakable scarlet color of the train stands out against the platform's rustic charm.

A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express. Eleven o'clock. Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd while cats of every color wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted at one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.

Christine and Daniel followed through, pushing Viviane's trunks together. Christine insisted that they both send off their daughter. Of course, Daniel agreed.

He knows that the Daily Prophet is just dying to put their daughter in their headlines again and as the role of a perfect Father and husband. They'll write him as if, even though he is a busy man, he makes time to bid adieu to her daughter.

"Come now, anak." Christine guides Viviane towards the platform as Daniel arranges his daughter's trunks. Hermes and Hades had already made their way to Hogwarts. Sadly, they won't be as comfortable as during the long train ride journey.

Daniel walks back towards them, a perfect whole picture of class and poise, wearing an elegant and obviously expensive suit. Christine dressed in an elegant dress and matching pearl—together they made the definition of a businessman husband and a loving housewife. Daniel waits patiently for them.

Christine then says, mid-way crouching down to the level of her daughter's height, "Here is your ticket," Christine hands Viviane her ticket, and Viviane places it dutifully in her purse with an extension charm.

"If you get hungry, I packed your sandwiches, your favorite, chicken sandwiches with honey oat bread, extra pickles, lettuce, and no tomatoes, with mayonnaise and that hot sauce you like," Christine says, bringing out a ziplock bag with two chicken sandwiches. Placing the sandwiches inside Viviane's purse carefully.

Christine then pulls out of her own purse a small vial. "If you get sick on the train, just take a few whiffs of this. Its white flower and Vicks Vapor Rub work wonderfully if you're growing nauseous." Placing it inside Viviane's pockets.

"You have your water bottle already—" Christine was cut off by a shrill voice they both recognized.

"Ah! Daniel, wonderful, you're already here." Walburga approaches them, with Sirius, little Regulus, Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa dutifully following behind her, pushing their own trunks with their own impatient and dull expressions.

Daniel looks at her with dead-set eyes, tone dull and full. "Of course, I'm here, Walburga." Raising an eyebrow, looking at the Black sisters, wondering where their parents are.

Walburga answers his silent question with a forced laugh, "Druella and Cygnus are quite busy. I took it upon myself to send off these ladies." waving her hand towards them. The three sisters just pursed their lips and began making their way to the train. Narcissa squeezes Regulus' shoulder before following her sisters.

"Go on now, girls," Walburga's voice is tight. Viviane peaks towards Dromeda, who has already set her trunks inside the train, giving her a wink as she enters the train.

Narcissa waves her hand shyly—Cissa is always shy in public, 'see you later, Viv.' she mouths following behind Dromeda.

Sirius waits impatiently, looking at Viviane with an obvious signal in his eyes as if knowing how his eyes indicate, let's bloody get the hell out of here asap.

"Regulus is quite sad that he'll be left alone in the house without his brother and cousins." Walburga nudged her youngest son forward, who was hiding behind her.

Christine gives Regulus a soft smile, "Only a year, darling. You'll be on your way to Hogwarts too," with an assuring voice that relaxed Regulus's anxious face.

Daniel clears out his throat. Christine looks at her husband, confused. "The media is here. Quite late, in my opinion." Rolling his eyes, his tone irritated. They were suddenly blinded by the flashing of bright lights.

Viviane releases an inner sigh. The scene is already familiar to her, so she holds her parents' hands and gives them the photo they want.

HAWTHORNE HEIRESS GOES TO HOGWARTS. WHAT HOUSE WILL SHE BE SORTED TO?

Viviane's willing to bet 50 galleons that it'll be the headline for the afternoon's paper.

Walburga scoffs. "Still can't control the bloody daily prophet, Daniel?" Placing her arms around Regulus' now terrified form. He'd never been swarmed with people before.

Sirius then discretely takes a few steps to the side, looking for someone or the friend that he made in Diagon Alley—James Potter.

"Obviously, Walburga." Daniel says with gritted teeth as he gives a bright smile, "We can't really help that we Hawthornes are sought out, can we?" Daniel shoots Walburga a grin as the woman just scoffs. Taking Regulus with her as she moves away from the famous family. Viviane hears Walburga distantly shrink out Sirius's name.

Suddenly a man went forward with a quill and a little notebook in his hand. "Ms. Hawthorne, what house are you hoping to be sorted into?" And with that question, swarms of other questions followed through.

Viviane just gave them a smile, confidently answering.

"Slytherin, of course! My Father's a Slytherin—" Viviane looks up to her father as he gives her a proud nod and a smile, "And my Mother too. It runs in the family. I suppose." Viviane shrugs as she tilts her head, flashing her chubby cheeks and adorable smile.

"Speaking of it runs in the family. How do you feel about being the only firstborn girl?" Another man asks, and Viviane suppresses a glare.

Merlin, she's used to these questions, but she never really answers them because—

"Enough." Daniel warns, tone commanding and full, "My daughter is being sent to Hogwarts, and the lot of you are ruining a precious moment and memory for our family." Daniel pulls her wife and daughter away from the journalists and photographers as they are escorted out of the platform by the magical law enforcement that Daniel had hired a week before for crowd control.

Multiple whispers and murmurs erupted. as the Hawthorne family received looks of curiosity and envy. Christine and Daniel then guided Viviane toward the entrance of the train.

Viviane gave her mother one last hug and peck on the cheek, and Viviane looked at her father for a brief moment before Daniel placed a peck on her forehead and...a hug.

How strange and unexpected, indeed.

Viviane didn't let her shock show because they were still being watched by every witch and wizard on the platform.

"You'll do great, anak," Christine promises as she places a hand on Viviane's face, caressing Viviane's cheek softly with her thumb.

"Thank you, mama—" Viviane replies, feeling emotional, and looks at them both, "I'll send you both letters after I get sorted," Viviane tells them. Her parents nodded as Christine encouraged her daughter to go inside the train. Daniel places an arm around Christine's waist.

"Let's wait by the benches, dear," Daniel tells her as Christine obediently nods. Viviane enters the train, the ticket collector, and sees Sirius waiting patiently for her beside the ticket collector.

"Finally!" Sirius exclaims exasperatedly, "I've been waiting for you, Viv. Merlin." Sirius took her by the hand and guided her toward the narrow corridor. The doors of the compartments they passed are closed; they can hear the faint sounds of excitement and chatter. Meaning they are already occupied. They both halt in their steps, as Sirius says.

"Wait here. I'll look for James and see if he already has a compartment." Viviane nods as her eyes follow Sirius' narrowing figure. Viviane scoffs as Sirius randomly opens compartments and is getting yelled at and complained at.

Viviane decided to check the compartments they already passed, with her being more polite, by knocking and then opening the compartment doors.

The first compartment was already full, with boys. Two red-headed twins and their friends. "Oh! My apologies. I was looking for a compartment my cousin and I could squeeze in." The twins looked at each other, grinning.

"It would be an honor to share compartments with the Hawthorne Heiress." The twins mimic a bow, and Viviane giggles.

"How adorable you two are, but I'll be assuming we all won't fit in here. My cousin is bringing his friend." Viviane answers, and one of the twins waves his hand in dismissal.

"It's fine. We aren't really that disappointed." The twins mimic a playful frown.

Viviane then smiles, asking, "If I may ask. What are your names?"

The two twins grinned as they confidently squared their shoulders. Standing, each taking her hand, placing a peck on top of her hand. In unison, they introduced themselves.

"Fabian Prewett, princess."

"Gideon Prewett, my lady."

Viviane smiles widely, hearing their surnames, Prewetts, they're in that list her Father told her. Good, she'll note that she'll befriend them at Hogwarts. They look like trouble. It's best to be on their team.

Viviane giggles again, "Viviane Blair Hawthorne." She introduces herself humbly.

"We know." The twins said knowingly. Then their friend clears his throat as he holds his hand out, "Amos Diggory, a pleasure to meet you, Viviane." He's alarmingly handsome, that is certain, charming in a sense.

"Noah Turner," Noah gives her a curt nod, not moving from his seat as he proceeds to read the book in his hand. He looks well-read with his black glasses, and this aura that surrounded him demanded respect.

"Nice meeting you boys. Hopefully, we will pass by each other at Hogwarts."

"We doubt that," Fabian says with an obvious tone.

"But it's good that you want to." Gideon continues. Viviane knew what they meant.

It was house rivalries, seeing that these boys were older than her and basing them on their sweaters.

The twins with their scarlet and gold that they're in Gryffindor. With Amos's yellow and black well-ironed tie, he's in Hufflepuff. And Noah looks like an intelligent lad, maybe a Ravenclaw.

They really won't see each other much because, after all. Viviane knows that she'll be sorted into Slytherin, and her common room is in the dungeons away from the Gryffindor Tower, Hufflepuff kitchens, and Ravenclaw Tower. According to Hogwarts: A History.

Viviane waves goodbye as she knocks on another closed compartment to her left.

Opening the door to the compartment, seeing a blonde girl her age.

Opposite her is a blonde boy, wearing a Slytherin-colored tie, much older than the girl. They shared similar features, both beautiful, assuming that they're siblings, the brother is very bloody attractive.

"Sorry!" Viviane closes the compartment door in a rush, embarrassed. Moving to her right, she knocked and opened the compartment door again.

And Viviane deeply regrets what she did because before her, her cousin, Dromeda, was snogging a boy.

"Dromeda!" Viviane exclaims, and her cousin pulls away in shock, leaving a very flustered boy. Dromeda drags her cousin inside the compartment, closing the door shut behind her. The curtains are closed.

"Viv!" Dromeda scolds, but Viviane didn't notice the smile on her cousin's face, too flustered and embarrassed with what she had witnessed.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. Sirius and I are looking for compartments to squeeze into!" Viviane squeaks out, looking anywhere around the compartment, not looking at Dromeda or the boy she was just snogging with before Viviane interrupted them.

Dromeda laughs, "Viv! It's alright." she assures and looks at the boy beside her, placing a hand on his arm. "This is Edward Tonks."

Edward smiles at her shyly, scratching the back of his neck, "Call me Ted, please."

Viviane furrows her eyebrows. She doesn't recognize the surname. As if Dromeda read her mind, she was about to say something until Viviane blurted out.

"I didn't see anything." Viviane shrugs, "I didn't see you with someone. Unless..." Viviane drags out the last word with a mischievous grin.

"Unless?" Dromeda raises a playful brow.

"Unless you give me two boxes of cauldron cakes from Hogsmeade." Viviane innocently bargains, pursing her lips to the side and clasping her tiny hands to her back.

Viviane knows that Dromeda is allowed to go to Hogsmeade because she's a Sixth Year student.

"Fine. I'll give it to you later." Dromeda agrees as Viviane nods, opening the compartment doors.

"Bye, Dromeda—" Viviane says, then looks at the boy beside her, "And to the boy, I didn't definitely see my cousin snogging." Viviane closed the compartment door, but she definitely saw Ted's blushing cheeks.

Viviane prayed that this would be the last compartment. She prayed to Merlin that it was not another couple snogging or worse.

Viviane knocked softly and opened another compartment door. Then there's a pale, thin, sandy-blonde boy sitting inside the compartment with a book in his lap, looking at Viviane expectantly and shyly.

"Hello!" Viviane greets him with a smile. Finally, a compartment that isn't too cramped. Hopefully, he's willing to share a compartment with her and Sirius and James if she finds them.

"Umm..." He stutters, looking at her confusedly, "Urgh...He–Hello?" He greets confusedly, nose twitching. He sniffed, and he suddenly stilled.

Viviane didn't notice it, though.

Soft green eyes peered up at her as if something in the air that he breathed changed. He was already wearing his black Hogwarts robes.

It looked slightly big on him, covering him from head to foot, but his sleeves rose up to his arm. Viviane's eyes fleeted towards his arm, a faint outline of what looked like healed and fresh scars.

Viviane frowns, concern flashing in her expression as the boy follows where she is looking and insecurely pulls his sleeves down.

"Are you alright?" Viviane asked softly, and the boy nodded shyly, a light blush spreading across his cheeks.

"'Em alright." He answers with an accent that Viviane instantly identifies. The boy's from Wales, hugging the book in his lap to his chest.

Viviane then read the title. It was the book she read over and over again. She practically memorized it from front and back.

Hogwarts: A history.

Viviane, an extrovert, diverted the awkward tension, "I've read that book, and it's simply excellent!" sitting opposite him. The boy sighed in relief, feeling the awkwardness between their encounter fleet.

"I've just reread it. A–a refresher, if you will." He responds cheekily, still a hint of shyness from his movements.

"Are you alone?" Viviane asks politely.

Alarmed, "Erm...Yeah. I–I'm alone." His stuttering came back, and Viviane thought how adorable he was.

"Do you...Umm...Need this compartment?" He was about to gather his things, hoping for a hasty retreat, when Viviane stopped him, jumping up from her seat and placing a hand on top of his that was clutching his leather messenger bag. He stiffened once again.

Viviane removed her hand, now noticing how uncomfortable he was with the sudden contact.

"I don't want you to leave!" Viviane exclaims worriedly. And the boy looks at her, confused. "I was going to ask if you're okay to share the compartment with me, my cousin, and his friend."

"Oh..." Tone realizing and nervous at the thought of being around people. But instead, says, "It's alright."

Viviane smiles widely, beaming as she holds out her hand, introducing herself, "Viviane, Viviane Blair Hawthorne."

The boy's eyes widen, blinking rapidly, looking at her and then her hand. Viviane frowned, and the boy noticed it too and quickly acted, shaking her hand—carefully, almost as if Viviane was delicate.

"Remus Lupin," He retracted his hands, shoving them inside his pockets. Still sporting a shocked expression.

Viviane shrugged and couldn't really blame him. Viviane just knows that Remus is already regretting his decision to let him share his compartment with Viviane.

And Viviane recognized his surname. Lupin, she read in the Daily Prophet a man named Lyall Lupin works at Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and it was quite the controversy when the man made a derogatory remark about Werewolves.

Viviane remembered when her Father insisted on her learning about Care of Magical Creatures. He even gave her a book of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them by Newt Scamander.

That news in the Daily Prophet reminded her Father, Daniel, that Viviane needed to be aware of the beasts in their world.

But upon learning more of the subject, instead of a growing hate towards the creatures that she read upon—as Daniel hoped for.

Viviane felt empathy and understanding, especially for Werewolves her Father was so disgusted by the news reports of the Werewolf murders that occurred when she was five years old.

Viviane was intellectually mature at the time to understand that Werewolves have no control over their condition, especially during the full moon.

Her Father was just judgemental and prejudiced like always, nothing new.

Too bad that the Ministry of Magic didn't care enough about them. Viviane read in the Daily Prophet that the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures staff are protesting about their lack of funds.

"Are you sure it's alright? I can find another compartment." Viviane asks again.

Remus nods his head, "Really, it's—it's alright." he shakes off the shocked expression, now flushed with embarrassment. Viviane turns around and peeks her head outside of the compartment.

And sees Sirius at the end of the narrow corridor, still unsuccessful in finding a compartment. It looks like he found James and another boy with them too.

"Wait just a bit for me, please?" Viviane batted her eyelashes, and Remus just nodded dutifully.

Viviane exits the compartment closing the door shut behind her, and walks towards her cousin, who he had just heard yell out irritatingly, "Greasy git!"

Viviane's eyebrows furrowed as she neared them, standing beside Sirius, who was looking at the opened compartment with a red-headed girl and a boy who had long and this...very oily hair as if a salon had gone wrong.

"Sirius?" Viviane questions with a raised eyebrow, looking between him, the boy with black curly hair and large glasses and the boy behind them with dirty blonde hair. "What are you doing?"

"Bloody git started insulting us when we asked if sharing a compartment was alright. All compartments at the back are full." Sirius answers, and Viviane looks back inside the compartment. The red-headed girl already looked apologetic, and the boy opposite hers looked annoyed.

"Don't waste your time, Sirius. The train's about to leave. I found a compartment." Viviane informs him and scoffs as she glances back towards the boy, "With a much nicer company, and much neater apparently." As her piercing brown eyes observed the boy from head to toe.

Viviane looks at the red-headed girl, who is the total opposite of her...friend—Viviane assumes.

"You ought to keep pleasurable company. My cousin politely asked if he could share compartments. No need for insults." Viviane released a 'humph.' She didn't wait for the girl's response, dragging Sirius instead.

"Already making enemies Sirius. We haven't stepped into Hogwarts grounds. Merlin, I've got my hands full with you already." Viviane scolded as she reached the compartment she was in earlier.

Sirius dutifully followed her and let her drag him, with James and the boy she didn't know following her lead.

"Oh, come on, Viv, no scolding," Sirius whines playfully as Viviane rolls her eyes, opening the compartment. Her glare melted when she saw Remus waiting for her patiently.

"Hello, again!" Viviane enters the compartment sitting beside him. The boys entered the compartment, closing the door shut.

Remus gives her a crooked smile, placing a hand at the back of his neck. "Hi, Viviane."

"This is my cousin," Viviane places a hand on the back of Sirius' neck, making him sit beside her—rather forcefully, with James and the boy with dirty blonde hair sitting opposite them.

"Sirius Black," Sirius scoffs as he lightly slaps Viviane's hand away from him. "Thanks for sharing the compartment, mate."

Remus answered anxiously, fiddling with his fingers, "I—I don't really mind."

"James Potter." The boy with curly black hair, large glasses, and gleaming brown eyes. Grinning as he looked at Remus. "Yeah, we've been looking at compartments for ages."

"Remus Lupin." Remus introduced again.

"Peter Pettigrew." The boy with dirty blonde hair said with a chocolate frog in hand and smudged chocolate on the side of his mouth. Viviane didn't recognize the surname.

"You've got chocolate on your cheek," Viviane mentions, and Peter wipes it with his hand. Viviane refuses to grimace. How unhygienic. She definitely won't be shaking his hand.

Then the train releases a loud whistle. Meaning they're leaving. Viviane hurriedly stood up from her seat, opening the drapes of the windows.

Seeing her Mama and Father standing beside each other. Viviane opens the window midway. Viviane takes a peek out. Then she felt a hand on the back of her clothes.

Viviane looks behind her shoulder, seeing Sirius standing behind her, rolling his eyes.

"So sentimental, Viv."

"Hush, now." Viviane rolls her eyes and looks back outside the window.

She faintly hears Sirius say, "Did she really just hush me?" He is still holding the back of her clothes for support.

"She did mate."

The train started to move with a loud whistle. Viviane took her hand out and waved energetically toward her parents as they did the same. She sees her mother wiping her cheek with her silk handkerchief as her Father nods at her.

Viviane recognized the look in his eyes. Reminding her of the rules she has to follow.

She paid no mind to the shuttering lights of the photographer as they took her photo for this afternoon's paper.

Then the train was going fast, and a bump collided with the tracks making Viviane fall—onto someone's lap.

Viviane releases an 'oomph' as she falls. Remus, alarmed, held her in his arms securely. Viviane gives him an apologetic look. "Sorry for that."

Remus looks like he's going to combust from embarrassment. "It's fine—are you alright?" Remus asks, concern lacing in his tone. Still holding Viviane's form tightly.

Viviane places a kiss on his cheek as she removes herself from him, sitting on the spot she was seated before.

"I'm alright. Nice catch, by the way. Thank you." Viviane responds with a soft smile.

Remus places a hand on his heated cheek, the cheek that Viviane kissed. "You–You're welcome."

Viviane then opened her purse, taking out the zip lock bag with two sandwiches her mother had made. "Would you like a sandwich?"

Sirius looks at her cousin offensively. "I want one!" Sirius exclaims. Remembering how good of a cook Christine is, he is hungry too, his own mother didn't make an effort to serve him breakfast.

"I want one too!" James and Peter exclaimed in unison.

"Too bad you three didn't catch me when I fell." Viviane glares at them.

"It's for Remus only for being a gentleman." Viviane encourages him to take the sandwich, which Remus gladly accepts, it looks delicious, and he's rather hungry being so early on the train because his parents work early.

"Lucky bloke," Sirius mutters under his breath, crossing his arms to his chest.

Author's Note:
— Hi! Wow, September is officially upon us, tomorrow for me, lol! It's been a while since I updated, but I'm adjusting to my new environment in college, and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with my classmates—not with the subjects, lol.

So, I took a bit of time off from writing. I just updated because Arctic Monkeys played "Suck it and See" in their concert in Michigan! It's been quite some time since they played a song from the SIAS album, and I can't wait to see the videos from the concert!

I hope this 4K words chapter will last you all for a few weeks as I am taking it slow and letting myself adjust to the new change happening in my life that is ✨college!✨ Please leave your thoughts in the comments! I'll definitely read them, and they motivate me to write!