The Journey to Hogwarts

The King's Cross station was abuzz with the sound of chattering students, anxious parents, and the rustling of luggage. Sally and Percy stood on the platform, clutching his ticket and a small bag that contained his school supplies. As they made their way through the crowded station, Sally couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was proud of the young man Percy was becoming, but she was also going to miss him terribly. As they approached the Hogwarts Express, Percy's eyes widened with excitement. The train was a magnificent sight, with its gleaming carriages and steam engine puffing out white clouds into the air. Sally smiled as Percy took a deep breath, his face set with determination. "Right, Mom, I've got this," he said, trying to sound braver than he looked. Sally smiled and handed him a small package. "For your first year, I packed a few things you might need. There's a note in there with my number, just in case." Percy nodded, tucking the package into his bag. "Thanks, Mom. I'll be fine." As they reached the entrance of the train, a friendly conductor greeted them. "Welcome aboard, young Percy! You're going to make many new friends on this journey. Please, find an empty seat and make yourself at home." With one last hug and a whispered "I love you," Percy climbed aboard the train. Sally watched as the doors closed behind him, and the train began to move. She felt a pang of sadness as the distance between them grew, but she knew this was a necessary step in Percy's journey. As the train chugged out of the station, Percy made his way down the corridor, searching for an empty seat. He found a compartment with two other students, a boy with red hair and a girl with bushy brown hair, who introduced themselves as Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The three of them quickly hit it off, chatting about their summer holidays and their expectations for the year ahead. Percy found himself laughing and joking with his new friends, feeling more at ease with each passing minute. Ron, it turned out, was a wizard from a large family of wizards, and he had a wealth of knowledge about the Hogwarts school and its traditions. Hermione, on the other hand, was a Muggle-born witch who had already demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for magic. As the train journeyed on, the three of them discovered they had much in common, despite their different backgrounds. They talked about their favorite subjects, their hopes and fears, and their dreams for the future. The landscape outside the train window changed from urban sprawl to rolling hills and eventually, to the misty Scottish countryside. The air grew cooler, and the sky turned a deep shade of blue, with clouds that seemed to stretch on forever. As the train pulled into Hogsmeade station, Percy felt a thrill of excitement. He was finally here, at the beginning of a new chapter in his life. With Ron and Hermione by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As they disembarked from the train, Percy glanced back at the platform, half-expecting to see Sally waving goodbye. But she was already gone, and he was on his own. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, but he steeled himself, knowing that he was exactly where he was meant to be. With a deep breath, Percy followed Ron and Hermione out of the station, into the unknown world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.