September 1st, 10:30 a.m.
King's Cross Station.
Aaron lugged the trunk while Anne carried the owl cage. The two of them walked toward the space between Platforms 9 and 10. People bustled around the station, coming and going. They'd have to wait until the crowd thinned before slipping through the stone wall into Platform 9¾, just to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention from the Muggles.
Aaron reached out and ruffled Anne's hair again. Ever since that time in Diagon Alley, he'd gotten a bit addicted to doing it. Her hair was soft and smooth, jet-black and gleaming. Every time he tousled it, her little face would scrunch up in mild protest, but it was the kind of anger that made people want to tease her more.
Maybe it was because she was shorter than most kids her age, Aaron thought. With her small nose, delicate mouth, and cool, distant expression, Anne always looked like a little lady too grown-up for her age. And yet she was incredibly polite when she spoke, which only added to the contrast.
The crowd gradually began to thin.
Aaron set the owl cage on top of the trunk and reached for her hand. With one hand gripping hers and the other pushing the luggage, he said, "Hold tight, Anne. It's time."
As they passed through the wall, a huge steam engine came into view, hissing and puffing white clouds. The platform was packed with families and students. The sharp hoots of owls and the rumble of trunks being dragged mixed with the cheerful noise of chatter.
Anne blinked. So many people... It reminded her of holiday travel rushes in her past life. Being short, she had to hold tightly onto Aaron's hand just to avoid being swallowed by the crowd.
Aaron didn't stop until they were near the very last carriage. "The front and middle compartments are always full. We'll have better luck at the back," he said loudly over the noise.
Sure enough, the back was quieter. Aaron helped Anne onto the last carriage. It was still empty.
He opened a sliding compartment door and hoisted her trunk onto the luggage rack. "It's heavy, but don't worry. When we get to school, someone will take it to your dorm for you."
Then he turned to her seriously. "Anne, I'll have to get off soon. Here." He pulled out a handful of coins, gold Galleons and silver Sickles, and pressed them into her hand. "This is your allowance. Buy whatever you like."
He paused, a faint crease between his brows. "And listen. If anyone gives you a hard time at school, tell me. I'll make sure they regret it." Then, remembering how mature Anne always sounded, he chuckled. "Of course, if you're the one doing the bullying, that's fine too. I'll still have your back."
Anne made a face. "I think I'd rather focus on my studies."
More students were boarding now, and the platform noise outside was swelling.
The train let out a loud whistle.
"Alright, really going now. Don't forget to write to me, Momo will find me, no matter where I am." Aaron reached out to ruffle her hair again, but Anne ducked away just in time.
"That's how you stunt someone's growth!" she protested. She didn't understand why people kept treating her like a kid, first Jill, now Aaron. Physical resistance never worked, so she had to resort to logic.
Aaron laughed and pulled his hand back reluctantly. "Alright, alright. Just don't forget to write." After getting her nod of agreement, he stepped out of the compartment and off the train.
The moment he did, the train began to move. People on the platform waved as it pulled away.
Anne sat quietly, watching the countryside begin to roll by. She idly spun a silver Sickle between her fingers, the green fields of England slipping past the window.
The door slid open.
A boy with messy black hair and striking green eyes peeked in. "Hi, um, is this seat taken?" he asked, pointing to the spot across from her.
Anne shook her head and went back to spinning her coin.
The boy placed his luggage down and sat opposite her. "Hi. Are you starting your first year at Hogwarts too?"
She nodded politely. "Yes. Hello."
He looked relieved at her reply. "You look a lot younger than the rest of us…"
When Anne glanced up at him, he backpedaled. "I didn't mean that in a bad way or anything…"
"It's fine," she said simply. Honestly, it's not even worth a reaction. The boy clearly had a fragile ego. "You're not the first to say that. I'm Anne. Anne Reeve."
She gave him a faint, practiced smile.
"I'm Harry Potter," he replied, returning the smile.
Anne raised an eyebrow. Already meeting the protagonist? That's fast. "Harry Potter? Oh…"
Harry braced himself, expecting her to ask about the scar, but Anne said nothing. No staring, no questions. That was... refreshing.
"So," Harry ventured, "do you know anything about Hogwarts? I don't really know anything about the wizarding world. I grew up with Muggles, actually…"
Anne gave him a thoughtful look. He's more timid than I imagined. A far cry from the stories people tell. She answered evenly, "I know a little. Hogwarts has four Houses…"
Before she could finish, the door slid open again. A tall, lanky red-haired boy stood there, freckles all over his face.
"Hey, sorry, do you mind if I sit here? All the other compartments are full."
Harry nodded, recognizing him from the station. He looked toward Anne, who also nodded.
The red-haired boy grinned and shoved his trunk into place before plopping down next to Harry.
"I'm Ron Weasley. You're really Harry Potter?"
Harry nodded again.
Ron leaned closer. "Do you really have, you know…"
Harry pushed his hair up, revealing the lightning-shaped scar.
"Whoa, the You-Know-Who mark? Do you remember anything? Like what he looked like?"
Harry shook his head. "No. Just… a lot of green light." He glanced again at Anne. She had paused her coin trick and was quietly watching them.
Ron suddenly remembered she was there and looked sheepish. "Oh, uh, sorry. I got a bit too excited. He's Harry Potter, after all."
Anne gave a polite nod. "I understand. I'm Anne Reeve. Nice to meet you, Ron."
Maybe realizing he'd been rude, Ron turned to Anne. "What were you two talking about earlier? I heard you mention Hogwarts."
"Oh, I was asking Anne about it," Harry explained. "She said there are four Houses."
Anne tucked away her coin and looked at Ron. "I believe the Weasley family is quite established in the wizarding world. You must know a lot more than we do."
"Yeah, I saw your brothers on the platform," Harry added. "They go to Hogwarts, right?"
Ron turned pink. "Yeah… but we're not really some famous family or anything. There's just a lot of us…"
The two boys chatted about their families. Anne listened quietly, occasionally adding a comment or two.
At around half-past twelve, a woman pushing a trolley full of treats stopped by their door.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?"
Anne, long curious about wizarding sweets, bought a generous pile. Harry, clearly starving, did the same. Their table was soon piled with treats.
Ron blushed and pulled out a slightly crushed paper package containing two sandwiches. Harry held up a pumpkin pasty. "Want to trade?"
Ron shook his head. "You really wouldn't want this. It's dry."
Anne picked up a box of Chocolate Frogs, trying to figure out how to open it. Listening to the boys talk, she passed it to Ron.
"Could you help? I've never opened one of these before."
Then she gestured to the table full of snacks. "I can't finish all this myself. If you tell us what's interesting about them, I'd love to share. Just think of it as a fair trade." She turned to Harry with a faint smile. "And I'm sure Harry, who also grew up in the Muggle world, would be happy to share too, right?"
The boys blinked at her. Then Harry nodded. "Yeah, of course." He paused, then said, "I thought you…"
"Were from a wizarding family," Ron finished.
"I'm half-blood," Anne said. "But I've lived with Muggles all my life." She lifted her unopened frog box.
Harry did the same, both of them now looking to Ron.
Flustered by their attention, Ron's face turned the same shade as his hair. He took the box and demonstrated. "Right, so… open it this way, or the frog might jump. Inside, there's a card of a famous witch or wizard."
He showed them a card. "Ah, Dumbledore again. I've already got three." He handed it to Anne.
Harry opened his own. "Merlin! I got Merlin!"
As Ron continued explaining the sweets, Anne found herself genuinely impressed by the creativity behind wizard candy. She tried Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean and got one that tasted like walnut and chocolate.
Just as Harry was about to try a suspicious gray one, the door opened again. A round-faced boy and a girl in brand-new Hogwarts robes stood outside.
"Sorry, have you seen a toad?" the boy asked, nearly in tears.
The girl raised her chin. "Neville lost his toad. Did you see it?"
Harry and Ron shook their heads. Anne recognized the girl from Flourish and Blotts.
The girl turned to leave but spotted Anne. She stepped in and sat beside her.
"Hey! I'm Hermione Granger. We met at the bookstore. I forgot to ask your name then, thank you for letting me have that last copy of A History of Modern Magic. Are you a first-year too? I thought you weren't. You look a bit small."
Harry and Ron blinked. Hermione knows her?
Anne was briefly startled but recovered quickly. "It's fine. I'm Anne Reeve. Nice to meet you."
Hermione nodded, clearly pleased with the answer. Then she turned to the boys. "And you are?"
"Ron Weasley…" Ron mumbled.
"Harry Potter," Harry said.
"Really?" Hermione looked at Harry in awe. "I've read about you! You're in A History of Modern Magic, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the 20th Century!"
Harry gaped. "I'm in books?"
Hermione looked scandalized. "You didn't know? If it were me, I'd have looked up every book I was mentioned in. Anyway, just so you know, we'll be arriving soon. You should get changed. I'm off to help Neville find his toad."
She turned to leave with Neville, then gave Anne one last glance, and a smile that lingered just a bit too long.
Anne blinked, watching her go.
That smile… felt different.
Anne's gaze lingered on the door for a moment longer than necessary.
Ron and Harry returned to their Quidditch discussion. But Anne, her thoughts had taken a new turn entirely.
She'd met Hermione Granger before.
And now she wondered when she'd see her again.
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A/N: If you're enjoying the journey so far and want to read ahead, you can check out 20+ advance chapters on Patreon: Patreon.com/Crimson_Lore