King's Cross Station had already descended into complete chaos.
Large numbers of young wizards and their parents were stranded under the strange stares of Muggles because they could not enter Platform 9 3/4.
Several wizards refused to believe there could be a problem with the platform. Even as Ministry of Magic staff repeatedly tried to stop them, they stubbornly charged headfirst into the barrier and ended up being taken to St. Mungo's Hospital for treatment.
The station was a disaster zone.
Countless young wizards and their parents were complaining, especially the parents of Muggle-born children. Their impression of Hogwarts and the Wizarding World had hit a new low.
"Good Lord, the design of Platform 9 3/4 is already idiotic enough."
"Even more idiotic is the fact that we have to charge straight into it."
"Now comes the stupidest part: it can actually fail. You never know whether you'll make it through or end up with a lump on your head."
"Is this what wizards are like? Honestly, I'm already regretting agreeing to let my child study magic. Is it too late to withdraw?"
Some wizards had the terrible misfortune of experiencing two similar incidents in a row.
Take Hermione Granger's family, for instance. The three of them stood there speechlessly, staring at Platform 9 3/4 and feeling a familiar sense of deja vu.
Why was it familiar?
Because when they had gone to Diagon Alley to buy things before, the passageway had suffered a similar malfunction. They had waited there for several hours before Ministry of Magic personnel repaired the entrance.
And now it was happening again, right when they needed to catch the train?
Hermione clenched her teeth and stamped her feet in frustration.
She had spotted Charle in the crowd earlier and had been planning to go over