Inspiration – Chapter One – Kings Cross

A/N: Hello! Welcome to another of my attempts at Harry Potter Fan Fiction! Please tell me what you think! (I know this chapter is short, but it serves as an introduction for this tale.) Without further ado…

"…the train now standing at Platform Nine is the 10:31 to Edinburgh – calling at; Harrogate..." crackled the station announcer as Hermione Granger pushed the trolley carrying her trunk and cat carrier forward between Platforms Nine and Ten.

"…York…"

It was September the First; the first day of her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It had been two and a half weeks since the severed head of Cedric Diggory had appeared before terrified onlookers at the end of the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. The Tournament's crystal trophy carried the grisly message as the dark mark was cast from the Astronomy Tower.

"…Northallerton…"

Never since the sacrifice of Harry Potter and the disappearance of Lord Voldemort had the Wizarding World been so shaken. It had long been assumed that Harry Potter died as an infant along with his parents when his home was personally attacked by Voldemort.

"…Darlington…"

But according to the reports from the time, when Ministry Hit-Wizards entered the property in Godric's hollow that fatal night nearly fifteen years ago, only the bodies of James and Lily were discovered. The remains of Voldemort and baby Harry had vanished. It was theorised that the bodies had been vaporised in a ferocious burst of magic as Voldemort's killing curse rebounded off the child's body. Neither the Dark Lord, nor the Boy Saviour had been seen since.

"…Durham…"

Hermione mulled this over as she marched toward the barrier that formed the gateway to King's Cross' secret magical platform, her parents following on behind.

"…Newcastle…"

"This is it dear," said her mother, "you're going away again." Hermione's mother sniffed, pulling her daughter into a hug.

"I know," she responded.

"Are you sure about this?" asked her father with a face of concern, as he ruffled her hair.

"Of course Dad," Hermione stared her father down. "It's like you said, if we stop going about our ordinary lives, it means the terrorists have won." Hermione recalled, word for word, her father's comments in the aftermath of the 7/7 London bombings – when four Islamic extremists blew up three tube trains and a double decker bus, killing 52 people.

"…Morpeth…"

"I just want you to be safe," Mr Granger said gently as he hugged Hermione.

"Hogwarts is safest place in the country for this kind of thing."

"Well if you say so."

"Dad, it is. We've already had this conversation and you've already had guarantees from Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall."

"But-", Mrs Granger began before being stopped from saying whatever she was about to by Mr Granger who cut across her.

"Enough. Now, don't you have a train to catch?" he smiled.

"…Alnmouth…"

Hermione gathered her parents into a final hug.

"I love you, but Dad is right, I've got to go. What kind of impression will I make as a new prefect if I'm late?"

"…Berwick-on-Tweed…"

Mrs Granger chuckled before stepping back and looking her daughter up and down. "Well whatever you do, stay safe and remember to write."

"I will."

Hermione turned away. After checking for anybody who would see what was about to happen, confidently pushed her trolley at the barrier which seemed to swallow her up until all that was left on the platform were two parents, comforting one another as the commuters of Kings Cross went about their business, blissfully unaware of what had just happened and what was going to happen in the months that followed.

"…and Edinburgh. There is a restaurant car on this service. The train now arriving at Platform Three is the 10:13 from York…"

A/N: So what do you think? The premise of this story is that after being dead to the world for the best part of fifteen years, Harry Potter returns to the Wizarding World. This story will start from around Chapter 10 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. But as this is an AU, the Golden Trio does not exist and Hermione has had a relatively normal summer with her parents. Please remember that this is only a prologue to (hopefully) a larger work! Let the chaos commence…

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