KING'S CROSS

A busy and crowded station, full of people trying to go somewhere. Amongst the hustle and bustle, two large cages rattle on top of two laden trolleys. They're being pushed by two boys, JAMES POTTER and ALBUS POTTER. Their mother, GINNY, follows after. A thirty-seven-year-old man, HARRY, has his daughter LILY on his shoulders.

ALBUS

Dad. He keeps saying it.

HARRY

James, give it a rest.

JAMES

I only said he might be in Slytherin. And he might, so ... (off his dad's glare) fine.

ALBUS (looking up at his mum)

You'll write to me, won't you?

GINNY

Every day if you want us to.

ALBUS

No. Not every day. James says most people only get letters from home about once a month. I don't want to ...

HARRY

We wrote to your brother three times a week last year.

ALBUS

What? James!

ALBUS looks accusingly at JAMES.

GINNY

Yes. You may not want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts. He likes a laugh, your brother.

JAMES (with a grin)

Can we go now please?

ALBUS looks at his dad, and then his mum.

GINNY

All you have to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms nine and ten.

LILY

I'm so excited.

HARRY

Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best to do it at a run if you're nervous.

ALBUS

I'm ready.

HARRY and LILY put their hands on ALBUS's trolley–GINNY joins JAMES's trolley–and together, the family run hard into the barrier.