It was the day I was to go to Hogwarts.

My stomach writhed with nerves, and I had double checked my trunk, then triple checked it, then about 5 more times.

My mom gave me a kiss on the forehead when I got to the station. She didn't want to go inside-it reminded her too much of dad-but I smiled at her.

"Bye, mum." I said in my small voice. "I'll miss you."

"Bye, honey." Mum looked at me adoringly, then drove off, waving.

I turned around. Looking at the time, I saw it was 10:40. I had 20 minutes.

Because I was only 11, I hadn't been here alone before. Kings Cross was completely foreign to me. I weaved my way through the bustling crowds, keeping my head down. I looked down at my ticket. Platform 9 and 3/4.

I looked up at the platform number sign.

9.

I slid my eyes over to the next platform.

10.

What?

I glanced at my ticket again, sure that my eyes had played a trick on me moments before. Yet there it was. Platform 9 and 3/4, right there, clear as day. Yet my mind, instead of clear, was a pile of mud. This was impossible.

I glanced at the clock again.

11:52.

Great. 8 minutes. I searched around frantically. Suddenly I heard a voice.

-"what's the platform number again?" It was a plump lady, surrounded by kids with trunks just like mine. They had an owl.

"Nine and three-quarters!" piped the only girl child in the group. "Mum, can I go, please can I?"

"Quiet, Ginny, you're not old enough yet."

I looked at the family. There was an older teenager, looking very pompous. There was a set of twins, and a boy who looked about my age. Then there was the mother and the girl. All had flaming red hair.

I watched them closely. A black-haired boy came up to the woman. I crept a bit closer.

"All you have to do," the woman was saying, "is walk straight through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous."

The black-haired boy nodded, took a deep breath, and ran straight at the brick.

He disappeared.

The lady looked around, and saw me looking very confused. She motioned for me to come over.

"Hello," she said. "Are you new to Hogwarts too?"

I nodded, looking down. I didn't like it when people talked to me.

"Ron is new too." She motioned to the youngest son. He waved at me and I looked down.

I could feel the lady's gaze on me. Probably thinks I'm a freak, I thought.

She gave me a smile. "Go on then." she said. "Run at that brick over there and you'll be there!"

I looked up at her and gave her the tiniest of smiles. Then I turned my trunk and ran to the brick.

I was getting closer, closer, closer, I was about to crash, I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact.

It never came. I opened my eyes to see a scarlet steam engine. I slowed down.

I weaved my way through the crowds yet again, making my way to the train. I went into the last compartment, the only one that no one was sitting in.

I positioned my trunk up in the rack, and sat down onto the seat near one of the windows. I stared at all of the families saying goodbye. Just as the train began to move, the compartment  door slid open. I looked up.

It was the black-haired boy I'd seen go through the barrier. He have me a smile.

"Would you mind if I sat here? Everywhere else is full." the boy said kindly. I shook my head, confirming that he could sit here.

"Thanks." he said and he sat down. "I'm Harry Potter, by the way." he said. "What's your name?"

Before I could respond, the door slid open yet again. The redhead my age-the youngest boy-looked at us.

"Hey. Can I sit here?" he asked.

"Sure," said Harry. He turned to me. "Is that alright with you?"

I nodded and put my head down as the redhead sat.

"I'm Ron Weasley." the redhead began a conversation. "What're your names?"

"Oh, I'm Harry Potter," Harry said. Ron gasped.

"Harry Potter?" Ron exclaimed. I didn't understand why he was acting like that, all excited.

"Erm, yes." Harry said.

"I've heard all about you." Ron went on.

"Am I really that famous?"

What? This Harry Potter boy was famous?

"Yep," Ron said. "You are."

Harry looked dazed. "Wow." he said, stunned. Suddenly he looked over to me. "We never heard your name," he said kindly. "What is it?"

"Erm..." I said in my small voice. I felt like an idiot. I swear I saw Ron snort-he was probably thinking I was psycho for not knowing my own name. "Amanda." I said. I felt like curling up do I wouldn't have to speak. I hated attention. Probably because I couldn't pay attention at all.

Harry didn't seem to acknowledge the hesitation. "Well, Amanda, it's very nice to meet you."

He held my gaze for a second or two, which I thought was a second or two too long. I dropped my gaze and looked down at my feet.

So much for making friends.

******
So sorry for not updating! I'll try to do it more frequently.... Anyway, next time, my friends

-Amanda ⚡️