Georgia usually came to London a few times a year, for shopping, or a musical on her mum’s birthday. The station was always busy, but so many people were arriving for the protest that everyone shuffled towards the Underground like penguins.

Cops looked down from the restaurant gantry as the crowd inched down the Tube station steps.

‘Passenger information,’ the station announcer said, echoing through the huge space. ‘Due to overcrowding, Westminster, Leicester Square and St James’s Park stations have been closed. Passengers wishing to attend the protest at the Houses of Parliament are advised to travel to Green Park or Waterloo, or take a bus from the concourse in front of the station …’ After a pause, the announcer added, ‘No cuts, no budget!’

The whole station erupted in wild cheers and whistles. But moods soured as protestors got closer to the Tube steps and found marshals shutting barriers at the top of the stairs to prevent overcrowding on the platforms below.

Forty minutes later, they got off a train at Piccadilly and joined a huge crowd crossing Green Park. The crowd was cheerful, but there was a hint of menace, with vanloads of riot cops and fierce-looking London gang kids hanging around. Shops and cafes were closing, because mobs were stealing anything that wasn’t bolted down.

Georgia was walking up The Mall with Buckingham Palace at her back when a BBC News crew spotted her. Nobody had paid attention as she’d crossed Green Park with her schoolmates, but she caused gridlock once there was a camera on her.

‘I’ve spotted Georgia Pack,’ the breathless correspondent said, chasing Georgia as the cameraman walked backwards in front of her. ‘Georgia, we’re covering the protests live on BBC News. We’re seeing huge numbers of people pouring into London, possibly the largest protest in a generation. Many thousands of younger people are probably here because of the example you set. Do you have a message for them?’

‘I’m no leader,’ Georgia said, pushing hair off her face as Maya and Rolf grinned over her shoulders. ‘We elected this government to end austerity. They’ve betrayed every promise and it’s time they listened.’

A huge cheer went up, though Georgia felt like she was acting. Saying what people expected Georgia-the-rebel to say, more than something she passionately believed.

‘Police are urging people not to come into Central London and the Westminster area because the crowds are too big,’ the correspondent stated. ‘Would you agree with that?’

‘I’ve not seen any problems,’ Georgia said. ‘A bit of pushing around the stations and people nicking baguettes from Pret a Manger, but it’s mostly good-natured.’

‘And, lastly, do you expect you’ll be in a lot of trouble when you get to school tomorrow?’