11:55am

If one had told Maurice Holmes was going to be a runner in his lifetime, he would have laughed boisterously about the mere thought; after all, he was no sprinter. Yet, there was no laughter coming from the wizard as he was taking large stride steps through King's Cross Station, trying desperately to arrive at the designated platform. "Excu--I said excuse me! Please move!" came his irate tone, his facial expressions getting more irritable by the minute. This was utter ridiculousness and he wished that the train was coming at a time that wasn't right as the noon bunch were making arrivals for Saturday excursions. Eventually, the sight of Platform 9 3/4 was in view as were the droves of Muggles that still happened to be in his way. A groan and sigh, Maurice approached the brick wall, pulling out his pocket watch to check the time whilst also giving the appearance to the passerby he was waiting for someone.

When it at last seemed every eye wasn't upon him, Maurice turned around and pushed through the barrier, disappearing to the other side with ease. A slight twinge of nostalgia always seemed to fill him, a sense of belonging and home there. However, there were more pressing matters than one's wish to return back to Hogwarts for a leisurely stroll. That didn't mean though his mind trailed for a moment longer, wondering if the little lion was all right. Such thoughts were interrupted soon enough with the clock toiling to signal it was finally noon.

His eyes glanced to the clock and then to the empty track that was designated for the cargo and witch Maurice had traveled to meet. No train....yet. Hm. Interesting.

A shrill whistle a moment later begged difference on the 'it's late' factor as the train came into view. Adjusting his slight slouch, Maurice waited for the train to stop and watched as a few witches and wizards spilled out from the boxcar. Eventually, his lips tugged into a genuine smile as one Persepolis Zephyr spilled out. It wasn't hard to determine that it was indeed his former minister and not someone random - the striking purple and that pluming hat were dead giveaways. Approaching Persepolis, Maurice's smile widened into a full fledged grin. "Well, if it isn't the witch herself. Gods, it's good to see you again, Persepolis. It's been too long."

Persepolis Zephyr had been in constant conversation from the moment she boarded the magical locomotive in Brussels, the entire time, it submarined beneath the English Channel, through the white cliffs of Dover, and onto the tracks leading into London right up to the second the doors of the train opened and magical folk bustled out.

Her palaver with her fellow travellers ended when she caught sight of her tall attache, her most trusted companion, and ever-loyal comrade.

"Eeeeeeeeeeee!" she crooned as arms wide she shuffle stepped towards him with eye crinkling joy.  "Maurice, my dear Maurice!"

She wrapped him up in a voluminous plum hug, the long feathers of her hat batting at his sideburns.

"It's been ages," she agreed.  The former Minister of Magic looked well, not too haggard from her shift in roles in European magical politics. She hadn't taken a proper vacation in what felt like forever, so a busy visit home was exactly what the Healer ordered.

"First order of business - avoid the family!"  she chirruped with cheer, linking arms with Mr. Holmes.