The Gamer: Multiverse Travel

Daniel almost didn't wake up on the morning of September 1st. The excitement from the day before had kept him tossing and turning all night, his mind racing with anticipation. The only reason he opened his eyes at all was Miss Jones, who gently shook him awake.

"Daniel, time to get up," she said softly. "You need to eat breakfast, and we have to head to King's Cross Station."

His eyes fluttered open, and he groggily groaned, "Ughhh." But as the words registered, he shot out of bed in a rush. "Right, it's September 1st!" he said, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief.

He quickly grabbed his bag and followed Miss Jones to the cafeteria, his heart still pounding from the whirlwind of emotions. As they sat down to breakfast, Victor's voice broke through his thoughts.

"So..." Victor trailed off, his eyes lingering on Daniel. "You're leaving today."

Daniel felt a pang in his chest at the quiet sadness in Victor's voice. 'I guess I'll miss him, too,' he thought, the memories of all the games he'd played with Victor and the other kids at the orphanage flooding back. He tried to smile, but it came out a little shaky, as if the weight of the moment caught him off guard.

"Don't worry, I'll be back for Christmas," Daniel reassured him, trying to sound confident.

Victor nodded, but his face still looked a little down. "Yeah, I guess you will," he muttered, his voice soft.

The mood hung between them for a moment, but when Daniel finished his breakfast and stood up to leave with Miss Jones, he was met by a sudden rush of voices.

One by one, the kids from the orphanage approached him, offering hugs, good wishes, and promises that they'd miss him. Daniel smiled, though his throat tightened. "I'll miss you all too," he said, feeling a tear prick at the corner of his eye. Quickly, he wiped it away before anyone could notice.

Together with Miss Jones, he walked out of the orphanage.

At King's Cross station, the bustling crowd around them felt like a blur. It was still only 10 A.M., and Daniel had an hour to spare before he needed to board the train. He took his bag from Miss Jones, but before he could say anything, she pulled him into a tight hug.

Daniel froze for a moment, taken off guard. The embrace felt warm and comforting, and for a brief second, he wished he didn't have to leave. He hugged her back, though her voice came out quieter than he expected.

"Stay safe, Daniel," Miss Jones said, pulling back slightly but keeping her hands on his shoulders. "Remember to brush your teeth and change your underwear every day…" She began listing all the little things that made Daniel chuckle awkwardly.

"I know, I know," he said quickly, embarrassed but amused at the same time. Miss Jones smiled at him, a gentle kind of sadness in her eyes.

"You can always come back if you feel lonely or if you don't like your new school," she added, her voice softening. "I'll make sure you can return to your old one if you want to." She hugged him again, tighter this time, and Daniel felt a lump form in his throat.

"Now go," she said, pulling away with a forced smile, though her eyes were still moist.

"Goodbye, Miss Jones," Daniel called, his voice a little shakier than he intended.

He turned and walked toward the platforms, his heart heavy but hopeful. He glanced around, looking for platforms 9 and 10, but there was a slight twist in his gut when he realized he wasn't sure which pillar marked his destination. '9 and 3/4 should be somewhere there', he thought, squinting toward a brick pillar that didn't look any different from the others.

He took a deep breath. 'I guess it's the right one', he thought, stepping toward it.

Just as he was about to collide headfirst with the stone, something strange happened. It was as though the air shimmered, and before he knew it, he was walking through the wall as if it wasn't there at all.

He stumbled for a second, disoriented, then looked around, wide-eyed. 'So this is Platform 9 3/4', he thought, his heart racing.

The platform was exactly as magical as he had imagined, though there were fewer people than he expected. 'I guess being early has its perks', he mused, his gaze falling on the majestic train ahead of him. The Hogwarts Express loomed large, its polished exterior gleaming under the soft morning light.

'And this is the Hogwarts Express', he thought, excitement bubbling in his chest as he walked toward it.

The train's interior was just as impressive. Daniel found an empty cabin not far from where he'd boarded. It was cozy and inviting, the sunlight streaming in through the window, casting a golden glow across the seat. He placed his bag in the overhead compartment, his hands trembling just slightly from the sheer thrill of the moment.

He sat down by the window, staring out at the parents and children waving goodbye to one another on the platform. 'I can't wait to see Hogwarts', Daniel thought, his heart beating faster with every passing second.