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that sailed across the lake; they were boarding the Hogwarts Express; |
talking and laughing as the countryside became greener and tidier; |
eating Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans as they sped past Muggle towns; |
pulling off their wizard robes and putting on jackets and coats; pulling |
into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station. |
It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform. A wizened |
old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting them go through the gate |
in twos and threes so they didn't attract attention by all bursting out |
of a solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles. |
"You must come and stay this summer," said Ron, "both of you -- I'll |
send you an owl." |
"Thanks," said Harry, "I'll need something to look forward to." People |
jostled them as they moved forward toward the gateway back to the Muggle |
world. Some of them called: |
"Bye, Harry!" |
"See you, Potter!" |
"Still famous," said Ron, grinning at him. |
"Not where I'm going, I promise you," said Harry. |
He, Ron, and Hermione passed through the gateway together. "There he is, |
Mom, there he is, look!" |
It was Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, but she wasn't pointing at |
Ron. |
"Harry Potter!" she squealed. "Look, Mom! I can see |
"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point." |
Mrs. Weasley smiled down at them. |
"Busy year?" she said. |
"Very," said Harry. "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. |
Weasley." |
"Oh, it was nothing, dear." |
"Ready, are you?" |
It was Uncle Vernon, still purple-faced, still mustached, still looking |
furious at the nerve of Harry, carrying an owl in a cage in a station |
full of ordinary people. Behind him stood Aunt Petunia and Dudley, |
looking terrified at the very sight of Harry. |
"You must be Harry's family!" said Mrs. Weasley. |
"In a manner of speaking," said Uncle Vernon. "Hurry up, boy, we haven't |
got all day." He walked away. |
Harry hung back for a last word with Ron and Hermione. |
"See you over the summer, then." |
"Hope you have -- er -- a good holiday," said Hermione, looking |
uncertainly after Uncle Vernon, shocked that anyone could be so |
unpleasant. |
"Oh, I will," said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that was |
spreading over his face. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic |
at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer...." |
THE END |