Harry woke at 5 o’clock the next morning and was once too excited and worried to go back to sleep. He got up and pulled on his jeans when you consider that he did not need to stroll into the station in his wizard’s robes — he’d trade on the educate. He checked his Hogwarts record all over again to make sure he had the whole thing he wanted, saw that Hedwig was once shut safely in her cage, and then paced the room, waiting for the Dursleys to rise up. Two hours later, Harry’s gigantic, heavy trunk had been loaded into the Dursleys’ car, Aunt Petunia had talked Dudley into sitting subsequent to Harry, they usually had prompt.
They reached King’s pass at half prior ten. Uncle Vernon dumped Harry’s trunk onto a cart and wheeled it into the station for him. Harry proposal this was once surprisingly form unless Uncle Vernon stopped useless, dealing with the systems with a bad grin on his face.
“good, there you might be, boy. Platform nine — platform ten. Your platform should be someplace within the core, however they don’t appear to have constructed it yet, do they?”
He used to be quite correct, of direction. There was once a tremendous plastic quantity nine over one platform and a massive plastic quantity ten over the one subsequent to it, and in the middle, nothing in any respect.
“Have a just right term,” said Uncle Vernon with a good nastier smile. He left without one other word. Harry grew to become and noticed the Dursleys power away.
All three of them have been laughing. Harry’s mouth went as a substitute dry. What on the planet was he going to do? He was beginning to draw quite a few funny looks, seeing that of Hedwig. He’d ought to ask anybody.
He stopped a passing defend, but didn’t dare mention platform nine and three-quarters. The look after had certainly not heard of Hogwarts and when Harry couldn’t even tell him what a part of the country it was in, he started to get frustrated, as if Harry was once being silly on motive. Getting desperate, Harry asked for the train that left at eleven o’clock, however the defend stated there wasn’t one. Subsequently the protect strode away, muttering about time wasters. Harry used to be now trying hard not to panic.
Consistent with the big clock over the arrivals board, he had ten minutes left to get on the educate to Hogwarts and he had no idea the way to do it; he used to be stranded within the middle of a station with a trunk he could hardly ever raise, a pocket filled with wizard cash, and a significant owl.
Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you needed to do, like tapping the 1/3 brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley. He puzzled if he will have to get out his wand and tapping the ticket inspector’s stand between structures 9 and ten.
At that second a bunch of persons handed just at the back of him and he caught a few phrases of what they were pronouncing.
“– filled with Muggles, of course –”
Harry swung round. The speaker was once a plump woman who was once speakme to four boys, all with flaming pink hair. Each and every of them was once pushing a trunk like Harry’s in entrance of him — they usually had an owl.
Heart hammering, Harry pushed his cart after them. They stopped and so did he, simply near sufficient to listen to what they were pronouncing.
“Now, what’s the platform quantity?” mentioned the boys’ mom.
“nine and three-quarters!” piped a small lady, also purple-headed, who was preserving her hand, “mother, can’t i am going… “
“you are no longer historical ample, Ginny, now be quiet. All proper, Percy, you go first.”
What gave the impression of the oldest boy marched towards systems nine and ten.
Harry watched, careful to not blink in case he ignored it — however simply because the boy reached the dividing barrier between the 2 structures, a colossal crowd of holiday makers came swarming in entrance of him and by the point the final backpack had cleared away, the boy had vanished.
“Fred, you subsequent,” the plump girl said.
“i’m now not Fred, i am George,” stated the boy. “actually, girl, you call your self our mom? CarA you tell i am George?”
“Sorry, George, dear.”
“best joking, i’m Fred,” stated the boy, and off he went. His twin known as after him to hurry up, and he have to have completed so, since a 2d later, he had long past — however how had he done it? Now the third brother was going for walks briskly toward the barrier he used to be close to there — and then, really immediately, he wasn’t anywhere.
There was nothing else for it.
“Excuse me,” Harry mentioned to the plump girl.
“hello, pricey,” she stated. “First time at Hogwarts? Ron’s new, too.”
She pointed at the last and youngest of her sons. He was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, large hands and feet, and an extended nose.
“sure,” stated Harry. “the item is — the article is, I don’t know how you can –”
“methods to get onto the platform?” she said kindly, and Harry nodded.
“not to fear,” she said. “All you must do is walk straight at the barrier between structures nine and ten. Do not discontinue and don’t be scared you can crash into it, that’s very essential. Great do it at slightly of a run if you’re fearful. Go on, go now before Ron.”
“Er — k,” mentioned Harry.
He pushed his trolley round and stared on the barrier. It seemed very strong.
He started to walk toward it. Humans jostled him on their solution to systems nine and ten. Harry walked more quickly. He was going to smash right into that barrier and then he’d be in challenge — leaning forward on his cart, he broke into a heavy run — the barrier was once coming nearer and nearer — he would not be capable to stop — the cart was out of manage — he used to be a foot away — he closed his eyes ready for the crash — It failed to come… He saved on walking… He opened his eyes. A scarlet steam engine was once ready subsequent to a platform packed with individuals. A sign overhead stated Hogwarts express, eleven O’clock. Harry regarded in the back of him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the phrases Platform 9 and Three-Quarters on it, He had finished it.
Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of each colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one an extra in a disgruntled type of means over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks.
The primary few carriages have been already filled with students, some putting out of the window to speak to their households, some fighting over seats.
Harry pushed his cart off down the platform on the lookout for an empty seat.
He handed a round-confronted boy who was once pronouncing, “Gran, I’ve lost my toad once more.”
“Oh, Neville,” he heard the ancient woman sigh.
A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by means of a small crowd.
“provide us a appear, Lee, go on.”
The boy lifted the lid of a box in his hands, and the humans round him shrieked and yelled as whatever inside of poked out a protracted, furry leg.
Harry pressed on by way of the group unless he observed an empty compartment close the top of the coach. He put Hedwig within first after which started to shove and heave his trunk toward the educate door. He tried to elevate it up the steps but might hardly ever lift one end and twice he dropped it painfully on his foot.
“want a hand?” It was probably the most purple-haired twins he’d followed by way of the barrier.
“sure, please,” Harry panted.
“Oy, Fred! C’mere and help!”
With the twins’ aid, Harry’s trunk used to be at final tucked away in a nook of the compartment.
“Thanks,” mentioned Harry, pushing his sweaty hair out of his eyes.
“What’s that?” said some of the twins all of a sudden, pointing at Harry’s lightning scar.
“Blimey,” mentioned the other twin. “Are you “he’s,” said the first twin. “are not you?” he introduced to Harry.
“What?” stated Harry.
“Harry Potter, “chorused the twins.
“Oh, him,” stated Harry. “I mean, sure, i’m.”
the two boys gawked at him, and Harry felt himself turning pink. Then, to his alleviation, a voice got here floating in through the coach’s open door.
“Fred? George? Are you there?”
“Coming, mom.”
With a final seem at Harry, the twins hopped off the instruct.
Harry sat down next to the window the place, half of hidden, he could watch the purple-haired loved ones on the platform and listen to what they had been pronouncing. Their mom had simply taken out her handkerchief.
“Ron, you have got got some thing in your nose.”
The youngest boy tried to jerk out of the best way, but she grabbed him and began rubbing the tip of his nostril.
“mom — geroff” He wriggled free.
“Aaah, has ickle Ronnie acquired somefink on his nosie?” mentioned one of the vital twins.
“Shut up,” mentioned Ron.
“where’s Percy?” said their mom.
“he is coming now.”
The oldest boy got here striding into sight. He had already changed into his billowing black Hogwarts robes, and Harry observed a vibrant silver badge on his chest with the letter P on it.
“cannot keep long, mother,” he stated. “i’m up entrance, the prefects have obtained two booths to themselves –”
“Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?” said one of the twins, with an air of best surprise. “You must have mentioned anything, we had no suggestion.”
“cling on, I think I take into account him saying anything about it,” stated the opposite twin. “once –”
“Or twice –”
“A minute –”
“All summer –”
“Oh, shut up,” said Percy the Prefect.
“How come Percy will get new robes, anyway?” mentioned probably the most twins.
“considering the fact that he is a prefect,” stated their mother fondly. “All right, dear, well, have a just right time period — ship me an owl while you get there.”
She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she became to the twins.
“Now, you two — this yr, you behave yourselves. If I get a different owl telling me you’ve — you’ve got blown up a toilet or –”
“Blown up a rest room? We have not ever blown up a bathroom.”
“nice suggestion though, thanks, mom.”
“it is now not funny. And guard Ron.”
“do not worry, ickle Ronniekins is riskless with us.”
“Shut up,” mentioned Ron once more. He was once virtually as tall because the twins already and his nose used to be nonetheless crimson where his mom had rubbed it.
“hey, mother, bet what? Wager who we just met on the teach?”
Harry leaned again quickly so that they could not see him looking.
“you know that black-haired boy who was once near us in the station? Understand who he’s?”
“Who?”
“Harry Potter!”
Harry heard the little girl’s voice.
“Oh, mom, can i go on the train and spot him, mom, eh please….”
“you’ve already noticeable him, Ginny, and the negative boy isn’t something you goggle at in a zoo. Is he really, Fred? How have you learnt?”
“asked him. Noticed his scar. It is really there – like lightning.”
“poor pricey – no marvel he was alone, I questioned. He used to be ever so well mannered when he asked the best way to get onto the platform.”
“by no means intellect that, do you consider he remembers what You-know-Who looks like?”
Their mom immediately grew to become very stern.
“I forbid you to ask him, Fred. No, do not you dare. As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at college.”
“All correct, preserve your hair on.”
A whistle sounded.
“Hurry up!” their mom stated, and the three boys clambered onto the train. They leaned out of the window for her to kiss them goodbye, and their younger sister began to cry.
“don’t, Ginny, we are going to ship you a whole lot of owls.”
“we will send you a Hogwarts rest room seat.”
“George!”
“handiest joking, mom.”
The coach started to move. Harry saw the boys’ mother waving and their sister, 1/2 laughing, half crying, walking to keep up with the educate except it gathered too much velocity, then she fell back and waved.
Harry watched the woman and her mother disappear because the teach rounded the corner. Residences flashed earlier the window. Harry felt a best bounce of excitement. He didn’t recognize what he was going to but it surely had to be higher than what he used to be leaving in the back of.
The door of the compartment slid open and the youngest redheaded boy came in.
“any person sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry.
“in all places else is full.”
Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry and then seemed rapidly out of the window, pretending he hadn’t regarded. Harry noticed he nonetheless had a black mark on his nostril.
“hi there, Ron.”
The twins were again.
“listen, we’re taking place the center of the train — Lee Jordan’s received a tremendous tarantula down there.”
“correct,” mumbled Ron.
“Harry,” mentioned the other twin, “did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And that is Ron, our brother. Goodbye, then.
“Bye,” stated Harry and Ron. The twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.
“Are you particularly Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
“Oh -well, I inspiration it maybe considered one of Fred and George’s jokes,” mentioned Ron. “And have you ever relatively acquired — …”
He pointed at Harry’s forehead.
Harry pulled again his bangs to exhibit the lightning scar. Ron stared.
“So that’s the place You-comprehend-Who “yes,” stated Harry, “but I can not consider it.”
“Nothing?” mentioned Ron eagerly.
“good — I recall numerous inexperienced mild, however nothing else.”
“Wow,” stated Ron. He sat and stared at Harry for just a few moments, then, as if he had all of a sudden realized what he used to be doing, he looked rapidly out of the window once more.
“Are your entire loved ones wizards?” asked Harry, who located Ron simply as exciting as Ron discovered him.
“Er — yes, I consider so,” mentioned Ron. “I suppose mother’s received a 2d cousin who’s an accountant, however we not ever talk about him.”
“so that you ought to recognize plenty of magic already.”
The Weasleys had been obviously a kind of historic wizarding households the light boy in Diagon Alley had pointed out.
“I heard you went to reside with Muggles,” said Ron. “What are they like?”
“Horrible -good, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Want i might had three wizard brothers.”
“5,” mentioned Ron. For some motive, he used to be watching gloomy. “i am the sixth in our loved ones to go to Hogwarts. You would say I’ve got lots to reside up to. Invoice and Charlie have already left — bill used to be head boy and Charlie used to be captain of Quidditch. Now Percy’s a prefect. Fred and George mess around so much, however they nonetheless get really excellent marks and each person thinks they are relatively funny. Every body expects me to do as good as the others, but when I do, it can be no large deal, seeing that they did it first. You on no account get some thing new, either, with 5 brothers. I’ve obtained bill’s historic robes, Charlie’s historical wand, and Percy’s historic rat.”
Ron reached within his jacket and pulled out a fat gray rat, which used to be asleep.
“His identify’s Scabbers and he’s vain, he rarely wakes up. Percy got an owl from my dad for being made a prefect, however they couldn’t aff — I imply, I bought Scabbers instead.”
Ron’s ears went purple. He gave the impression to believe he’d stated an excessive amount of, when you consider that he went again to staring out of the window.
Harry did not suppose there was anything flawed with no longer being capable to afford an owl. In the end, he’d never had any money in his lifestyles unless a month ago, and he advised Ron so, all about having to wear Dudley’s ancient clothes and in no way getting right birthday offers. This seemed to cheer Ron up.
“… And except Hagrid informed me, I didn’t comprehend something about be ing a wizard or about my mother and father or Voldemort”
Ron gasped.
“What?” said Harry.
“You stated You-be aware of-Who’s name!” said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed. “i’d have thought you, of every body –”
“i am now not seeking to be courageous or anything, pronouncing the name,” mentioned Harry, I just in no way knew you mustn’t. See what I imply? I’ve received hundreds to be trained…. I bet,” he introduced, voicing for the first time whatever that had been disturbing him quite a bit as of late, “I bet i am the worst in the type.”
“You is not going to be. There’s a variety of individuals who come from Muggle families and so they study fast adequate.”
whilst they had been speakme, the teach had carried them out of London.
Now they had been speeding prior fields full of cows and sheep. They have been quiet for a time, gazing the fields and lanes flick earlier.
Round 1/2 prior twelve there was a quality clattering external in the hall and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, “some thing off the cart, dears?”
Harry, who hadn’t had any breakfast, leapt to his toes, however Ron’s ears went purple again and he muttered that he’d introduced sandwiches. Harry went out into the hall.
He had under no circumstances had any money for candy with the Dursleys, and now that he had pockets rattling with gold and silver he used to be in a position to buy as many Mars Bars as he would carry — however the woman didn’t have Mars Bars. What she did have had been Bettie Bott’s each taste Beans, Drooble’s quality Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs. Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron muffins, Licorice Wands, and a number of other strange things Harry had by no means visible in his life. Not looking to overlook something, he received a few of the whole thing and paid the girl eleven silver Sickles and 7 bronze Knuts.
Ron stared as Harry brought all of it again in to the compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat.
“Hungry, are you?”
“ravenous,” said Harry, taking a giant bite out of a pumpkin pasty.
Ron had taken out a lumpy package and unwrapped it. There have been four sandwiches within. He pulled certainly one of them apart and stated, “She continuously forgets i don’t like corned pork.”
“Swap you for any such,” mentioned Harry, maintaining up a pasty. “Go on –”
“you do not need this, it is all dry,” stated Ron. “She hasn’t bought a lot time,” he delivered quickly, “, with 5 of us.”
“Go on, have a pasty,” said Harry, who had under no circumstances had something to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It used to be a quality feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way via all Harry’s pasties, truffles, and sweets (the sandwiches lay forgotten).
“What are these?” Harry asked Ron, keeping up a p.C. Of Chocolate Frogs.
“they are not rather frogs, are they?” He was once starting to suppose that nothing would shock him.
“No,” stated Ron. “but see what the cardboard is. I’m missing Agrippa.”
“What?”
“Oh, of path, you wouldn’t understand — Chocolate Frogs have playing cards, within them, you understand, to accumulate — famous witches and wizards. I’ve received about five hundred, however i have never received Agrippa or Ptolemy.”
Harry unwrapped his Chocolate Frog and picked up the cardboard. It showed a man’s face. He wore half- moon glasses, had an extended, crooked nostril, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache. Beneath the photograph used to be the identify Albus Dumbledore.
“So that is Dumbledore!” mentioned Harry.
“don’t tell me you’ll never heard of Dumbledore!” stated Ron. “Can i’ve a frog? I would get Agrippa — thanks Harry grew to become over his card and browse: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE presently HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS regarded by way of many the finest wizard of latest occasions, Dumbledore is peculiarly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon’s blood, and his work on alchemy together with his companion, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber track and tenpin bowling.
Harry became the cardboard back over and noticed, to his astonishment, that Dumbledore’s face had disappeared.
“he is long gone!”
“good, you can not anticipate him to hang around all day,” stated Ron. “He’ll be again. No, I’ve obtained Morgana again and i have obtained about six of her… Do you wish to have it? You could gathering.”
Ron’s eyes strayed to the pile of Chocolate Frogs ready to be unwrapped.
“help your self,” said Harry. “however in, you already know, the Muggle world, individuals just keep put in snap shots.”
“Do they? What, they don’t transfer at all?” Ron sounded amazed. “weird!”
Harry stared as Dumbledore sidled again into the picture on his card and gave him a small smile. Ron used to be more curious about eating the frogs than watching on the famous Witches and Wizards cards, however Harry could not preserve his eyes off them. Soon he had no longer handiest Dumbledore and Morgana, however Hengist of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, and Merlin.
He in the end tore his eyes far from the druidess Cliodna, who was scratching her nostril, to open a bag of Bertie Bott’s every flavor Beans.
“you wish to have to watch out with those,” Ron warned Harry. “when they say every taste, they mean every taste — you realize, you get all the typical ones like chocolate and peppermint and mar- malade, however then that you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a boogerflavored one once.”
Ron picked up a inexperienced bean, looked at it carefully, and bit right into a corner.
“Bleaaargh — see? Sprouts.”
They had a good time consuming the each taste Beans. Harry received toast, coconut, baked bean, strawberry, curry, grass, espresso, sardine, and was even courageous enough to nibble the end off a humorous grey one Ron would not touch, which turned out to be pepper.
The nation-state now flying previous the window was once becoming wilder. The neat fields had long gone. Now there were woods, twisting rivers, and darkish inexperienced hills.
There used to be a knock on the door of their compartment and the round-confronted boy Harry had handed on platform nine and threequarters came in. He looked tearful.
“Sorry,” he said, “but have you ever visible a toad in any respect?”
after they shook their heads, he wailed, “I’ve misplaced him! He maintains getting away from me!”
“He’ll turn up,” stated Harry.
“sure,” mentioned the boy miserably. “well, in case you see him…”
He left.
“don’t know why he’s so troubled,” said Ron. “If i’d brought a toad i’d lose it as speedy as I might. Mind you, I introduced Scabbers, so I cannot talk.”
The rat was once still sound asleep on Ron’s lap.
“He might have died and also you would not comprehend the change,” stated Ron in disgust. “i tried to turn him yellow the day prior to this to make him extra exciting, however the spell didn’t work. I’m going to show you, seem…”
He rummaged round in his trunk and pulled out an awfully battered-looking wand. It used to be chipped in locations and some thing white was once glinting at the end.
“Unicorn hair’s practically poking out. Anyway He had simply raised his ‘wand when the compartment door slid open again.
The toadless boy used to be back, but this time he had a woman with him. She was once already carrying her new Hogwarts robes.
“Has any individual obvious a toad? Neville’s lost one,” she said. She had a bossy type of voice, tons of hairy brown hair, and instead large entrance teeth.
“we’ve already instructed him we have not seen it,” said Ron, however the woman wasn’t listening, she used to be watching on the wand in his hand.
“Oh, are you doing magic? Let’s examine it, then.”
She sat down. Ron looked bowled over.
“Er — all proper.”
He cleared his throat.
“Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this silly, fat rat yellow.”
He waved his wand, however nothing occurred. Scabbers stayed grey and rapid asleep.
“Are you certain that’s a real spell?” stated the lady. “well, it’s now not superb, is it? I’ve tried just a few simple spells only for follow and it can be all labored for me. No person in my family’s magic in any respect, it was ever this kind of surprise once I bought my letter, however I was once ever so cheerful, of path, I imply, it’s the very high-quality institution of witchcraft there is, I’ve heard — I’ve learned all our course book (harry potter and the philosopher’s stone audiobook online) with the aid of heart, of path, I just hope it is going to be adequate — i’m Hermione Granger, incidentally, who are you.
She said all this very fast.
Harry checked out Ron, and was once relieved to look with the aid of his surprised face that he hadn’t realized the entire course book (harry potter and the philosopher’s stone audiobook online) with the aid of coronary heart either.
“i am Ron Weasley,” Ron muttered.
“Harry Potter,” stated Harry.
“Are you quite?” said Hermione. “i know all about you, of course — I got a number of extra book (harry potter and the philosopher’s stone audiobook free) . For heritage studying, and you’re in modern day Magical history and the rise and Fall of the dark Arts and high-quality Wizarding pursuits of the 20 th Century.
“Am I?” said Harry, feeling dazed.
“Goodness, failed to you understand, i might have found out everything I would if it was me,” mentioned Hermione. “Do both of you understand what house you’ll be able to be in? I have been asking around, and i am hoping i’m in Gryffindor, it sounds through a long way the fine; I hear Dumbledore himself used to be in it, but I consider Ravenclaw wouldn’t be too dangerous…. Anyway, we’d higher go and appear for Neville’s toad. You two had higher change, you realize, I expect we’ll be there quickly.”
and she left, taking the toadless boy along with her.
“some thing house i’m in, i’m hoping she’s no longer in it,” stated Ron. He threw his wand back into his trunk. “stupid spell George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud.”
“What condo are your brothers in?”