Chapter One You too!

Chloe Thompson yawned and sat up slowly in her bed, tracing patterns on the bedspread that were made by the early morning sunlight. The smell of pancakes lingered in the air. It was Saturday, and Chloe's father always cooked the same thing. Chloe leaned back, thinking about her friends in America, wondering how they were doing. Probably getting ready to go back to the Salem Academy, she thought bitterly. I have to go to Hogwarts where I have no friends. Before she could get too angry at her parents for moving to England (during her O.W.L year no less!) her bedroom door exploded open and she was knocked over.

"Christian," she screamed. "How many times do I have to tell you to knock before you come in?" Chloe reached over and shoved her brother off the bed with all her might.

"I'm telling Mommy and Daddy on you," Christian replied. "You shouldn't hurt me because I am only five and very breakedable."

"You mean breakable."

"That's what I said, breakedable."

Chloe just rolled her eyes. There was just no arguing with Christian when he truly believed something. And besides, the word breakedable was kind of cute.

"Hurry up and eat with me, Chloe" Christian pleaded. "Daddy says we are going to Dragon Alley to get you stuff for your new school. I hope that there are really dragons there. That would be so cool. And maybe I can catch one and keep him for a pet and…"

The rest of this sentence was inaudible, as Christian was already bounding down the hall. Sighing, Chloe got up and washed her face in her bathroom sink. She brushed her long curly blonde hair and put on white eye shadow that set off her sparkling blue eyes. After changing into her white capris, pink tank top and white flip flops, Chloe ambled down the stairs where she was met by parents. Her father, covered in flour and what seemed to be egg shells, presented her with a stack of pancakes while her mother gave her a glass of juice.

"Ready to go get your stuff for Hogwarts, Chlo," asked her father happily. "I know that you will really like Hogwarts. I know it was hard for you to leave all of your friends back home, but you will make new ones."

"In case you haven't noticed, I have made a new friend. Katie Bell, from next door."

"I meant you will make new friends at school, Chloe. There is no need to be sarcastic."

"John!" Chloe's mother began, warningly.

"What, Sarah? She has to learn to get over it. She can owl her friends anytime that she wants. I could not help it if I was offered a job as an Auror here for more money."

"I'm going over to Katie's. Call me if you need me," Chloe said, and ran out the front door without waiting for a response.

When she got outside Chloe paused under a tree, and just thought. Why do you always start arguments about moving to England? Immediately, her thoughts drifted off to her friends in America. She thought of her old school, Salem Academy, and all of the fun times she had had. Especially the time when she and four of her friends snuck into the headmaster's room and…

"Hey Chloe, what's up?" asked a voice. Katie Bell, a blonde girl about Chloe's age approached her and interrupted her reverie.

"Nothing at all. You?" It was amazing how close Chloe and Katie had become. It was almost as if they were meant to be friends. They were already each other's best friends. Chloe wished that Katie was a witch too, so they could go off to Hogwarts together.

"Escaping the terrors," she said with a laugh. Chloe joined in. Katie's older brothers Ryan and Jason were hard on her, always picking on her. But Katie could hold her own with them.

"I have to go buy school supplies today," Chloe said with a grimace.

Katie laughed. "I have to do that today too. It will be nice to know I have everything all squared away and ready to go for tomorrow."

"Yeah, you are right. It will be a relief. Katie, you are the only friend I have in this whole country…why can't you go to the same school as me?" Chloe exclaimed suddenly, finally voicing her fear of the unknown.

"I understand how you're feeling. Really, I do." Katie began. "But don't you think you are overreacting a little bit. Everyone feels that way whenever they are thrown into a new environment, but when you came here you were able to make friends with me pretty easily. I wouldn't worry too much."

"I know, but it might be harder for me. Because I'm from America."

"Don't worry. Hey, your family is loading into the car. I'll see you when you get back." With that Katie sprinted into her house, making sure her brothers were not lurking in the bushes, planning some type of sneak attack.

An hour later, Chloe and her family were entering Diagon Alley, with Christian looking fervently around for dragons. Looking at the heavy yellow piece of parchment that contained her school list, Chloe directed her parents to a nice shop where she could get black robes. Slimming, she thought. After stocking up on potion ingredients, ink, quills, parchment, and a few joke products, Chloe and her family headed to the bookstore (Christian calling it 'Flowers and Boots'). After picking up her new books for potions, charms, transfiguration, arithmancy, herbology, ancient runes, history of magic, defense against the dark arts, and care of magical creatures, Chloe shuffled up to the counter. On the way up to the register, she bumped into someone, and spilled their books everywhere.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry" Chloe said quickly, bending down to help the person pick up their books.

"It's ok," the girl said. When the two girls straightened up, they looked at each other in shock.

"You too?" they exclaimed at the same time.

Katie and Chloe began to hug and giggle excitedly. "Chloe, do you know what this means? We are going to be in the same school, assuming you are going to Hogwarts."

"I am going to Hogwarts. What house are you in?"

"Gryffindor, it is the best house by far. Dumbledore himself was a Gryff. And we have the best Quidditch team, but that's because I'm on it." They squealed excitedly and hugged each other again.

"Get a room," said Ryan and Jason. Katie and Chloe stuck their tongues out.

The next morning Chloe awoke with a start. She already saw that her parents had drug her trunk downstairs. Quickly she showered, changed into her favorite muggle outfit (a short black mini skirt with black chunky shoes and a baby blue tank top), and ran down the steps at full speed.

"Much more excited about Hogwarts now that Katie's going to be there, aren't you," Chloe's mother asked.

"Yes, I am. At least I know I will have one person there to turn to."

"Well, eat up. Your father and brother are already in the car waiting for us."

A half an hour later, the Thompson family was pulling up at Kings Cross Station, looking around for platform 9 and ¾. At first, Chloe began to panic, as there was no platform 9 and ¾ to be found. Luckily, Mr. Thompson was told how to get onto the platform by his colleagues at the ministry. He motioned for his family to run towards the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Chloe felt a weird sensation and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, a scarlet train was tooting it's horn and she was on a platform with at least a hundred teenagers. Wide eyed, Chloe took in all of the details, from the gleaming train, to the hoots of owls, to the incredibly good looking guy talking to two red headed boys…

Wow, was he gorgeous. Dark haired with deep brown eyes, and a burly build. He totally looked as if he played Quidditch. Chloe could see his muscles through his shirt. She tried as hard as she could not to stare, but she couldn't help it. He was just so perfect. She saw him look over at her and she immediately looked away. When she chanced another glance in his direction, he wasn't there. She definitely was going to ask Katie all about that guy when she saw her.

"Hey Chloe, I was looking for you," Katie said as she came skipping up to her. I got us a compartment near the front. I want to introduce you to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They are all really nice people."

"Cool," Chloe said. "But Katie, who was the really hot guy talking to the two red headed boys?"

"Dark hair, dark eyes, and muscular with a Scottish accent?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Chloe, that is Oliver Wood. Every girl in the school knows who he is. But he never goes out with anyone. He is too caught up in Quidditch to even realize that he could have his pick of any girl in the school. Well, except for me. You know I already go out with Justin."

The two girls then entered the compartment. "Chloe Thompson," said Katie, "I'd like to introduce you to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Angelina Johnson (a tall black girl), Alicia Spinnet (a short girl with long blonde hair and green eyes), Fred & George Weasley (the red headed boys) and Oliver Wood."

Chloe was only half listening to the introductions, as she was too busy staring at Oliver. If she thought that this guy was gorgeous from far away, then up close he looked like a Greek god. It was all she could do to keep from drooling. She heard Katie say Oliver's name and realized that the introductions were over.

"Hi," everyone said at once, which elicited a round of laughter.

Chloe sat down next to Katie and right across from Oliver. Oliver smiled at her and said, "So what brings you to Hogwarts? You seem too old to be a first year."

Chloe flirtatiously smiled at him and said, "My father got a job in the Ministry. He's an Auror. I used to live in America. And you are right I'm not a first year, I'm a fifth year."

"So am I." Oliver grinned at her. "Do you know what house you are in?"

"Not yet. I am supposed to meet up with a Professor McGonagall and she is taking me to my house."

"Did you try on an old hat?" Oliver asked, excitedly.

"Yeah, when I met with Dumbledore to talk about transferring to Hogwarts. The hat said something that I didn't really understand and then Dumbledore said my head of house would lead me to the house table when I got to Hogwarts."

"You're a Gryffindor!" shrieked Katie. "McGonagall is our head of house!" The two girls hugged while Oliver smiled and looked intently at Chloe.

"Wood, do you have a staring problem?" Katie shrieked.

A very startled Oliver turned red and said, "If you must know, Bell, I was thinking of a new Quidditch play. We will need more of them to win the House Cup. We are getting too predictable."

"Sure," Katie said sarcastically. "We've become predictable. Which one of our eighty seven million plays do we use too often ? Jeez, Wood. The term hasn't even begun. Give Quidditch a break!" She rolled her eyes at Chloe, with a look that clearly said "What a loser!"

After that, time just flew by as the group chattered amongst themselves. Finally, Katie suggested that everyone change into their robes, which Chloe did grudgingly. She knew that the robes did nothing to flatter her figure, and for the first time in her life, her appearance was the only thing she could think about. Oliver couldn't see her dressed in something like this. She had to look…well, perfect.

"Chlo, snap out of it!" Katie walked up to Chloe and pulled her hair. "All the girls are wearing these so you will still look perfectly gorgeous for Oliver Wood."

"Shut up, Kate. That is not what I was thinking about. I was just thinking about what the robes would look like in a different color."

"You liar! Chloe, I know you want to look good for Oliver. You have a crush on him. Your first real crush! Awwwww!" With that Katie erupted into a fit of laughter.

"It's not my first real crush. It's my third."

"So you admit, you like him, don't you?"

"I think he's the most handsome guy ever and he has a good personality. But, you said he is too caught up in Quidditch to notice any girls."

Katie smiled. "Chloe, did you notice that he only mentioned Quidditch once during this entire trip and that it was obviously a cover up? He barely talked to the rest of us. Every question was directed at you."

"He was just being nice, Katie. I'm new and your friend. He was probably just trying to make me feel comfortable."

"Yeah, well we have to go, the train has stopped. We can discuss Oliver later."

The two girls exited the bathroom, talking now about Katie's insanely crazy brothers, when suddenly everything around Chloe went black. Someone had put their hands over her eyes. "Guess who?" said someone with an adorable Scottish accent.

"Hmm...Fred?"

"No. Try again."

"George?"

"One more guess."

"Well, I know its not Oliver. The hands over my eyes are way to small to belong to a Keeper."

"Hey," Oliver yelled, pulling his hands away. "What did that have to do with anything?"

"I was just kidding, Ollie"

"Since when do you call me Ollie?"

"Since you said on the train that it annoyed you," Chloe said sweetly, smiling up at him.

"Come on you guys," Katie yelled. "You can flirt later. I want to get to the castle to eat."

"We're not flirting!" Oliver and Chloe yelled together and ran off after Katie. But as they were running, Chloe couldn't help wondering if maybe Katie was right.