CHAPTER FIVE
perfectly confident; this wasn’t nearly as uncomfortable as using
Floo powder. Both of them bent low over the handles of their trol-
leys and walked purposefully toward the barrier, gathering speed. A
few feet away from it, they broke into a run and —
CRASH.
Both trolleys hit the barrier and bounced backward; Ron’s trunk
fell off with a loud thump, Harry was knocked off his feet, and
Hedwig’s cage bounced onto the shiny floor, and she rolled away,
shrieking indignantly; people all around them stared and a guard
nearby yelled, “What in blazes d’you think you’re doing?”
“Lost control of the trolley,” Harry gasped, clutching his ribs as
he got up. Ron ran to pick up Hedwig, who was causing such a
scene that there was a lot of muttering about cruelty to animals
from the surrounding crowd.
“Why can’t we get through?” Harry hissed to Ron.
“I dunno —”
Ron looked wildly around. A dozen curious people were still
watching them.
“We’re going to miss the train,” Ron whispered. “I don’t under-
stand why the gateway’s sealed itself —”
Harry looked up at the giant clock with a sickening feeling in
the pit of his stomach. Ten seconds . . . nine seconds . . .
He wheeled his trolley forward cautiously until it was right
against the barrier and pushed with all his might. The metal re-
mained solid.
Three seconds . . . two seconds . . . one second . . .
“It’s gone,” said Ron, sounding stunned. “The train’s left. What
if Mum and Dad can’t get back through to us? Have you got any
Muggle money?”
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