Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at London's King's Cross Station had officially opened in 1951 as a platform exclusively for wizards. Every September first over the past forty-odd years, flashes of magic had appeared there from time to time, yet Muggles had never learned of its existence.
Today was, of course, no exception.
Brian had only just reached the vicinity of Platform Eight when he detected a familiar surge of magic from some distance away-a Muggle had been hit. His face quivered, and the wig on his head shook along with it. Standing in front of him was a burly man dressed as a Muggle security guard.
"Obliviate!" From his angle, Brian could clearly see a wand hidden inside the guard's sleeve-a short wand specially commissioned by the Ministry of Magic. Its durability and magical amplification fell far short of a normal wand's, but those sacrifices bought the ability to cast spells quickly.
Hermione Granger's eyes lit up beside Brian. She cleared her throat and explained with the practiced air of an experienced tour guide:
"Professor Brian, that man is the guard responsible for managing the crowds at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. I'll bet you a piece of chocolate-some unlucky person has forgotten to fasten their trunk properly again, or some muddlehead has tried to enter the platform in the wrong place."
"Really? Thank you for the chocolate, Hermione. Look closely-isn't there a Bowtruckle standing beside that trunk's lock?" Smiling, Brian watched the little green creature quietly withdraw its feelers from the keyhole and attempt to flee,
then waggled his fingers twice, sending it flying back into the trunk-the Automatic Wayfinding Levitation Charm was much more useful than hands when packing a trunk.
He had come to the station in Mr. and Mrs. Granger's car today. Since they could not enter