King's Cross Station - part 3***

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C3577
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: King's Cross Station - part 3***
Date: 7/8/00 11:11 am  (ET)

***

"The Hogwarts Express" announced a grass-green metal plate attached
to the round, black face of the train. Alongside it, on the platform,
sat the comical Ford Anglia - my namesake. I took a few photographs of
him for posterity.

"The train now departing from Platform 9 and three quarters is the special
Hogwarts Express!" boomed the station announcer, as puzzled backpackers
on the main concourse scratched their muggle heads, and frowned.

At last, I spotted the platform sign - no, not a lovely antique sign
swinging on a post of filigreed brass, but a rather dull blue board,
slapped on top of "Platform 1". "Platform nine and three-quarters," it
said, followed up by details of the journey facing the Hogwarts Express:
Didcot...Kidderminster...Manchester...York...Perth. "Luggage and broom
service provided. Wizard snacks available in the buffet car." Bloomsbury's
wit department must have been up all week working on that.

It was gone 11.30am when the train finally gave a reedy toot and
buffeted a head of steam into the air, before chugging gracefully out
of the station. A hatchet-faced guard began folding up the "Hogwarts
Express this way!" signs immediately, without even stopping to soak up
the poetry of the moment. 'That's THAT fiasco over with,' she seemed to
be thinking, as she dusted off her hands.

I caught the tube back to London Bridge Station holding onto my bag with
the precious book inside, as if it contained gold bullion. 'Gold bullion
would be worth less than this,' I thought to myself. As we neared my
stop, I noticed that one harassed mother had given in to the pleadings
of her little boy, and opened "...Goblet of Fire" at page 1. The train
rumbled and grumbled, and I realised, slowly, and with increasing horror,
that her lips were moving. She - was - reading - it - out - loud!

I escaped, but in the nick of time. I don't think I've ever had to invest
so much effort in *not* reading a book!

****

Neil