Sophie was sitting on the couch, tapping her foot. Fred and George were late. They were supposed to be here at 10:00 on the dot and it was already a quarter after. Where could they be and what in Merlin's name was taking them so long?

"Sophie, did you remember to pack your swimsuit" Ella walked into the living room, suitcase in hand. She has been double-checking everything for what had to be the twenty-millionth time.

"I already told you," Sophie said, rolling her eyes. "We don't need our swimsuits. We'll be in New York. Like we'll have time to swim!"

"Well, just in case. You never know!"

Sophie was saved from answering because that very second two red-headed twins appeared in the dusty fireplace.

"Sorry we took so long!" George said before Sophie could even open her mouth. "Mum was going crazy-"

"You know," Fred continued. "With all the hugging and the kissing and the 'I don't want to hear of you two getting into any trouble!' . . ." he trailed off, a look of disgust and utter annoying on his face.

"Yeah, I think we get the picture," Sophie said. (Their mum could be the same way.) "Hurry up! We've got to go exchange our money before we get to the airport!"

Sophie and Ella's parents had been planning this trip ever since their older brother Ryan was born. They were going with their life-long friends the Spleckonsmotch's. However, it was just in the past year the two families and gotten around to planning it all.

Originally the whole family was supposed to come, but Ryan and to work and no one (except Grandmother, who had also happened to order all the tickets) thought Abby would enjoy the trip very much. This left them with 2 extra tickets on the Hammerstein end, so Sophie and Ella were each allowed to bring a friend.

Ginny, who was the obvious choice, was going to be away at some girls-only quidditch camp and Elliot, (who was also a Gryffindor in the girls' year) was already going them. So, after much convincing, Fred and George were coming with them. Their reasoning? Simple. Nothing could be boring with those two around! And then there was the little fact of them being best friends.

After all that was decided, a tour guide was hired, (again by Grandmother) for, after all, the Hammersteins and the Spleckonsmotches were traveling together. And how else were a bunch British witches and wizards to survive in this great muggle city called New York?

"Whoa," Fred breathed, staring at the runways in amazement. "What are those things?"

Sophie laughed and Ella rolled her eyes. They had forgotten how little those two knew about the Muggle world.

"They're airplanes," Ella explained. "They fly people places."

"Is that what? . . . oh no . . ." George was looking slightly sick.

"Yeah, we're riding in one of things if that what you're . . . ." Sophie trailed off at the sight of George's face. "You're not afraid are you?"

"But how do they stay up?" George gulped.

"Magic." Sophie replied, winking.

"Oh shut up Soph!" Ella said, giving her twin a shove. "Can't you see you're making it worse?"

Indeed, George had turned a funny shade of green.

"You see those long things sticking out on either side?" Ella asked George. "Well, those are called wings and they help with this thing called lift . . ." and she launched into a full explanation of how, and why, planes work.

Sophie rolled her eyes and pulled Fred over to a window facing the runway. "Come on, let's watch them take off!"

As soon as Ella (finally!) finished explaining planes to George Elliot (everyone calls her Ellie) showed up.

"Hey guys!" she yelled, holding up an arm covered with duffel bags and the like. "Wanna give me a hand"

"Where'd everyone else go?" Sophie asked, taking a bag.

"Everyboday have to make a pitstop by the bathrooms and just 'happened' to be the only one smart enough to go before we left!" Elliot rolled her eyes.

As soon everybody had taken a bag (Ellie was left with two) they headed to the baggage check-in.

"We normally don't travel this way, so I almost forgot about the whole check-in bit," Elliot said as they got into line.

"We don't either, and those Fred and George never have," Ella said. "George is afraid of it all!"

"Shut up," George muttered, turning scarlet. "I just don't want to crash or anything!"

"'Course you do," Sophie said with a snort.

"Well, that's just great," Elliot said, clearly trying to steer way from that particular topic. (poor George!) "Sooooo . . . what do we have planned for our first day in the Big Apple?"

Sophie reach into her backpack and pulled out a pack of gum. "Here," she said, handing a piece to Fred, "take this."

"What is it?" he asked eyeing the stick suspiciously. It wasn't unlike that Sophie had a few pranks up her sleeve for the trip, one possible involving this strange rectangle-thing she was holding out to him right now.

"It gum silly!" Sophie said rolling her eyes. "You chew it." She popped the piece into her mouth to demonstrate. Yet again, she had forgotten about Fred's lack of Muggle expertise.

"Alright, I'll eat it," Fred said, taking the piece Sophie was holding out to him. "But what's it for?" he said through a mouthful of gum.

"So your ears won't pop!"

"POP?" George exclaimed from across the aisle. "My ears could POP?!?"

Elliot shook her head, laughing and reached over Fred to claim her piece. (Sophie had scored the window seat and Elliot was by the aisle with Fred between them. Ella and George were right across the aisle.)

The plane was finished rolling towards the runway and started gaining speed. George was gripping the armrests as tight as he possibly could, looking sick yet again. Fred was leaning over Sophie trying to see out the tiny window.

The wheels left the ground with a jolt and the plane began its climb into the air. Across the aisle, George had his eyes closed tight, chewing his gum with unnecessary fierceness. (Apparently he took the whole ears popping deal with the utmost seriousness.)

The plane leveled off and everyone (except George) was crowding at the windows for one last look at home.

Someone let out a whoop and shouted, "New York City, here we come!"

Sophie wholeheartedly agreed.