Chapter One
Aurora Hansen was late for class. Not that it was unusual for her to be late; she just wasn't ever this late. The bell to start 3rd period had rung almost exactly 15 minutes earlier. Aurora had been in the bathroom, staring into the mirror trying to imagine herself as a famous musician. Normally, her aunt and uncle discouraged muggle career choices, but even they could see she was a natural.
Aurora had been brought up by her Aunt Judy and Uncle Lucas after her parents were both killed during a routine raid. They had both been Aurors and had been assigned to an old, abandoned mansion near Washington. Aurora missed them very much. Aunt Judy was a muggle and Uncle Lucas was a pureblood. They had no children, but were delighted to take Aurora in 10 years before. They sent her to Portland Academy for Gifted Witches and Wizards and gave her anything she wanted (within reason).
When the bell rang, Aurora had been practicing her awards acceptance speech and hadn't realized until after the fact, that the bell had rung. She had hurriedly left the girls' room and unfortunately, she had slammed into a passing teacher who immediately sent her to see Madame Meara, the headmistress. Madame Meara was a chubby, likable, motherly lady of 60 years. No student was particularly afraid of being sent to see her.
The fact that Madame Meara was so nice to everyone made it unsettling when Aurora reached the door of her office and heard two obviously enraged people screaming at the top of their lungs. Aurora stood by the door, listening in and unwilling to interrupt.
"I will not send my students into harm's way! I have kept correspondence with Albus Dumbledore for many years and if he says it is not a wise decision then I will believe him!" Madame Meara never got this angry, "I do not care if there's been a new magical law. I don't care if Minister Howard himself ordered me to take these children to the place, I won't do it! I don't want to live with the guilt if something happened to one of them."
"Oh come on now Melissa, not only did Minister Howard order it, but all magical dignitaries agree that it was the right decision! He isn't happy about this either! He assured me that the students would be protected from all dangers!" A man with a low, rumbling voice was now shouting back, "The students will all be protected by Aurors during the year. You are to pick the most qualified students out of your 5th year classes and get them to Hogwarts so we can all just stop fighting, damn it!"
The irony of the man's statement about fighting must have struck them both as funny, because in the next few seconds they were both laughing, Madame Meara with her light giggle, and the man with his deep booming laugh. Aurora almost had to giggle herself. After a few minutes, the laughing subsided and the voices grew softer. Aurora had to lean in closer to hear.
"Now then," Madame Meara was saying to the man, "How am I to pick the students? Is the ministry going to help me choose them? How are we supposed to get there? Obviously we can't floo or apparate over there, that would be too dangerous."
The man answered, "You are to pick the 5 most qualified students from the 4th year students, they will have their 5th year at Hogwarts. Once you have done this you are to explain to them about the new policy, why it will benefit the country, what they will do while there, and how they will do it. The ministry will provide transportation to England prior to the start of the next school year. You will fill a position left by a current Hogwarts teacher and your students will occupy dorms and attend Hogwarts for a year. The teacher you are filling in for is going to take 5 students to another school and so on. The purpose of this is to learn different ways of learning and teaching. And also to learn of the culture and way of life of the European magical community. The Hogwarts family will, in turn, learn all about life in America and Portland Academy. The ministry will send you more details in the next few weeks. Understand?
"Yes, but one question." Madame Meara always liked to ask one question. "How am I to choose the students? You didn't answer me."
"That," the man said with a smile in his voice. "Is entirely up to you, Melissa."
A/N: Ah I just love the first chapter of a new ff don't you? Well I would appreciate it if you would tell me what you think, so I can improve for the next chapter. Thanks!