Today is 1st September 1932, the day on which I would depart from the king's cross station to arrive at Hogwarts for my second year there. But first, to depart from king's cross I had to first get there from Hogsmead. Fortunately there is a floo connection there, so I could just take the floo network from the Three broomsticks and arrive there at my leisure.
Today's morning started like any other day, I woke up for fresh did some minor exercises both for my physical body and mental one and cooked up myself a lunch which I ate alone in silence. The only difference was me packing my trunk with all that I would need for my second year and getting ready to go to the three broomsticks for using the floo network there.
Once I was on the station and platform 9¾ I looked on and about for my friends, I wasn't sure that I would find them with me being early than even some of the most eager students, I had arrived at the station at 10:12AM, and as I thought I couldn't find any of my friends yet. So I took the last cabin of the train in the second year section of it, there were not many people present here yet just some families which were conversing about who knows what.
When the time as we measure it was 10:30 more and more people started arriving at the platform some through the floo like me or some through the muggle entrance like Eleanor whom I saw coming out of the barrier between the muggle and wizarding world. She also saw me as would anybody if they heard their friend yelling at the highest of what they could. She was a bit embarrassed by my behaviour but that's what I wanted, I got to annoy someone after almost two months, what else I could as for?
She quickly got up in the train in no time and was outside the compartment waving her wand in the families motion of a stinging hex, my two months of training kicked in without much thinking on my part as I spring up on my feet and a shield materialized infront of me at just the right angle for her spell to bounce back at her causing her to yelp in pain. I and her just stood there for a while wondering what just happened.
"Marcus why did you do that?! And more importantly how did you do that." She eventually said in complete astonishment and slight anger. I chuckled awkwardly first and then cleared my throat and said, "Well you certainly shouldn't expect that I will take any spell thrown on me just like that I had the right to defend my self. And as for how let's just say I am built different."
She eyed me suspiciously for a while before sighing and let go of this matter. Meanwhile I took her trunk and levitated it to the racks, hoping it would quell her slight anger for the embarrassing moment just as she entered the platform. From the looks of it I succeeded in it as she just took her seat and said, "So? What did you do for summer holidays?"
"Ah well as you know I had to spend it in Hogsmead and there were some restrictions in what I could do so I just roamed about the village, a bit of early sneak peek before our third year if you would." I said back answering her question. "What about you? What did you do your whole summer?" and asked her the same question as she did to me.
"Well I went to France with my parents there we visited many places. Oh Marcus, you've no idea how beautiful France is in spring. We took the train through the countryside—endless fields of gold and green, like something out of a dream. The moment we arrived in Paris, I could smell bread baking from every direction, and the air felt… different. Lighter. Magic lingers there, you know, but it's subtler than here in Britain—like perfume instead of a potion. My father says the French Ministry regulates public enchantments far more strictly, but you'd never know it from the way things shimmer.
We visited Beauxbatons, just the outside mind you—it's nestled in the Pyrenees, behind a waterfall that you can only cross if you know the right spell. I swear I saw a Veela in the gardens, all silver hair and gowns that moved like wind even when there wasn't any. And the food! Marcus, they enchant their pastries so that the layers melt in your mouth like clouds. I tried a croissant that sang to me. Really sang! A little aria from The Enchanted Flute. Mother said it was a special charm the patisserie uses to keep customers happy.
And the clothes! French witches dress like they're walking out of spell books—robes of velvet and lace, little jewelled brooches that hum with minor enchantments. I found the most divine lilac cloak in a boutique hidden behind a painting in Montmartre. You had to say a riddle to the painting, and it would swing open. Mother bought it for me after I solved the riddle on my first try.
But the best part… we visited a magical library in Lyon that's older than Hogwarts. The shelves rearranged themselves, and every time I asked a question, the books came floating toward me like they were excited to help. It didn't feel like studying—it felt like a conversation with a very old, very clever friend.
I wish you had been there, Marcus. You'd have loved the spells they use to light the streets—golden orbs that follow you as you walk. Everything felt like magic was stitched into the very bricks. Even the Muggles seemed happier somehow. It was all so alive."
I nodded along with what she said imagining everything as she described and couldn't help but smile at all the things that she said, "Well you certainly enjoyed yourself no doubt about it." And we talked with each other more but soon Edgar was also here. He got inside and greeted us, "Good morning Marcus, Eleanor how were you holidays?"
I said, "Good morning Edgar." Cheerfully but Eleanor just roped him in with her long winded explanation about how she enjoyed her holidays and what she did. Somewhere along her explanation both Henry and Elizabeth also came to our compartment prompting Eleanor to start over with what she was saying again much to the chagrin of my and Edgar. By the time she had finished the train had already started moving and we were even almost halfway through our journey.
Along the way they would ask me what I did for my summer and I would go on to tell them how I made all my meals myself and about the misunderstanding about it and how Professor Dumbledore even enjoyed my cooking from time to time. By the time we were done with catching up with each other Hogsmead station has arrived.
We were directed towards the threstral carriages by a distracted Mr. Walker. Not that any of us could see the threstrals yet but we could touch them none the less, each of us fed our threstrals an apple each before boarding the carriages to the Hogwarts proper. Where we were ushered in the Great Hall by a still strict Professor Beery. The sorting was as magical for me and nerve wreaking for the first years as I remember it to be. Whenever one would get sorted in Gryffindor or our house Ravenclaw I and my friends both on our table and at the Gryffindor table would cheer up.
After sorting came the much needed stomach filling, I myself ate a light dinner so that I could at least go back to my dorm without much problem. After dinner and some complaint from Edgar about having eaten too much we moved off to the Ravenclaw common room and straight to bed. With even me a bit exhausted, I happily accepted the nights embrace.