I've been mulling this story over in my head for a while now, but I've never gotten the chance to really sit down and write it. So, I'm really excited about this. I hope everyone enjoys!

Disclaimer: I own Kat, Jared, the youth group, Kim, ect. (heh heh heh...yes Kimmy, I own you) basically anything you see that isn't familiar. Oh, and I realize the Harry Potter universe takes place in like, 1995 or something like that, but who likes to be politically correct? :)

A Foreign Exchange

Chapter One

She hated flying. Kat Bailey had only flown a few times in her life, and every time it had not been the most pleasant of experiences. The first time she had flown, two of her classmates had said simultaneously, "Aww...you're gonna die!" Her youth pastor had hit her in the face with a dog slipper named Ralph while she tried to sleep. Her ears never popped until at least a day after the flight. And they never gave out peanuts. It was always those stupid cookie things. Kat wanted some peanuts!

On that note, Kat pulled some salted peanuts out of her bag. She had thought ahead that time. She sat there munching on her snack, staring out the window, and thinking about how incredibly long this flight was. And she hated flying. Oh well, the destination is well worth it. She was on her way to England. After some research, lots of extra hours at the movie theater (where she worked), and a lot of prayer, Kat had managed to go through a summer exchange program. Her Spanish teacher had wanted her to go to Mexico with the I.U. Honors program, but she declined. She didn't really feel like speaking Spanish the whole summer, and she had already been to Mexico the previous year, and it just wouldn't be the same without her youth group.

Kat smiled at this. The trip to Mexico had changed her life. And she had only been there for a week! She was going to be in England for the summer! She was definitely expecting this to be a life changing experience as well.

Kat felt a jolt in her stomach. They would be landing soon. She hoped she wouldn't get lost. She was supposed to be looking for the Dursleys. It was a married couple and their son, Dudley. Dudley was about the same age as Kat. She sincerely hoped that he wasn't attractive; that wasn't what she was there for.

"The flight's fifteen minutes late," Vernon Dursley growled. He was an extremely impatient man, who loved the saying, "To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is to be dead." The Dursleys had arrived at the airport half an hour earlier. They stood waiting at the gate. Well, Vernon and his wife Petunia were standing. Dudley couldn't stand up for that long. He was sitting in a chair that could barely contain him, clutching the sign that read, "Kat Bailey."

Vernon started tapping his shoe. Petunia put a reassuring hand on his arm and said, "I'm sure it will get here soon, dear." She understood his impatience. He was mostly just nervous. In her letters, Kat had seemed like a nice, respectable girl. A normal girl. And the Dursleys harbored a boy who was as not normal as a person could possibly be. Petunia's nephew, Harry, had been left on their doorstep fifteen years ago. His parents had been murdered, and Petunia had just known that nothing good would come of having the spawn of two wizards. Especially one who was targeted by a psycho. This was why Vernon was nervous. He didn't want anything unusual to happen while Kat was there.

It was announced on the intercom that the plane had landed, and Vernon breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally." A few minutes later, a girl emerged from the gate. She seemed average enough; long brown hair, fair complexion. She was wearing baggy tan pants and a black top, and she wore a chain with a fish charm around her neck. She spotted the sign, smiled, and walked over to the Dursleys.

"Um...are you guys the Dursleys?" She inquired.

"Oh, yes, dear," Petunia gushed, "And you must be Kat."

"Indeed I am." Kat shook each of their hands in turn, internally smacking herself for wandering whether or not Dudley would be attractive. No offence to large people or anything, but he just wasn't cute. They stood there for a few minutes, asked her how the flight was, that sort of thing. But Vernon was extremely anxious to get out of the hectic airport, so he suggested that they all go eat.

At the restaurant (which had an awesome steak) Vernon and Petunia decided to break the news to Kat about their nephew.

"Wow, this is awesome." Kat was now digging into her fries. "I mean, no offence or anything, but I had heard that the food here is bad. It really isn't. I don't taste any difference. But then again, I also heard it was plain, and I don't really like spicy foods that much, so it works for me."

"I'm glad to hear that, dear." Petunia cleared her throat. "Um, actually, we haven't been completely honest with you, I'm afraid.

Kat looked up. "What do you mean?"

Petunia looked to her husband, who nodded, and continued. "We have a nephew that stays with us during the summer. His name is Harry. During the school year he stays at St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. So, we just want to forewarn you that he is very, um, strange, and that if he says or does anything unusual, please just ignore him. He usually stays in his room, so he shouldn't bother you, but you know, just in case."

Kat processed the information. "Not a problem. I actually have a brother who goes to a boy's school, so, I guess I'm kind of used to that sort of thing."

Petunia blinked. "Oh."

"Yeah. He's doing a lot better since he started going there though, so..."

Vernon cleared his throat. "Well, with that said, we have to pick him up at the train station tomorrow. You don't have to come; you can stay at the house if you wish..."

"Oh no, it's fine, I'll go with you guys."

Vernon paled slightly at this. "Okay." He had been hoping she would stay at home, since he didn't want any chance of her seeing "those people."

"Well, here we are." They had just walked in the door. It was a very nice house. Very clean. Abnormally clean. But then again, Kat lived with her obsessive-compulsive grandmother for two years, so she was used to clean. Petunia gave her a tour of the house, and showed her the room she would be staying in.

"Well, I expect you want to be getting to sleep, then. You've had a long day, after all." Petunia made to shut the door. "If you need anything just ask. We're very happy to have you here with us." She leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "Me especially. It will be nice to have a girl around for once."

"Thanks. Good night." Kat lay down on the bed. It was very comfortable. She had had a long day. It was nice to finally be able to lie down. And she loved to sleep.

First chapter! That's a huge step for me. Well, please review. I know it's kind of weird at first but believe me, it will get better. Harry's in the next chapter, I promise!