Author's Note: Hi, guys! I hope you like this story…I think it's going to be one of my favorites to write! I stopped it a bit short at the end…I would have gone on, but I didn't want it to be too long! Review and get your friends to read (and review too) and the next chapter will be up in a flash!

Chapter One

A boy of fourteen lay in his bed, sleeping soundly. His room was clean for a fourteen year old boy: magazines and comic books were strewn about the desk, on top of parchment with still-wet ink (he would discover, to his dismay, that the ink had stained the comic book in closest proximity to the parchment). A trunk made of thick brown leather like material was against the far wall. It was filled with old, but unused parchments, and nothing else, save for a few spider webs. His alarm had gone off hours ago, with him sleeping right through it. His sister had come in and turned it off. She had looked at him in pity and left him there to sleep for a few more hours. The next person given the task of waking him would not be so kind.

"TANE! WAKE UP!"

The female voice pretty much shattered the boy's eardrums. It was his mother, Thalia. He groaned, and covered his head with another pillow.

"Tane, please wake up! It is time to leave for supply shopping! You are already hours late!" A male voice now addressed him—Tane's father, Ophelius.

Tane sat up and groaned louder, hoping that his parents would hear. He could have used an amplification spell to carry his groan to his parents—but it was very early in the morning, and he hadn't thought of it. Tane looked at his clock. It said 9:20.

Tane heard approaching footsteps, and sure enough, a head popped into his room. It was a girl with bright green eyes, and pretty dark brown hair. She was Tane's younger sister Owen. Owen was thirteen, and a witch, just as Tane was a wizard. Owen was one of the smartest people Tane knew, and also one of the nicest. Tane appreciated that his sister wasn't stuck up, thrusting her smarts at anyone who happened to be walking by, looking like they wanted to converse.

"We're waiting for you," Owen said. Then she frowned at Tane. "Put on some clothes! That's gross."

Tane smirked at his little sister, then got out of bed. Owen left Tane's room before she could see his shark boxers. Tane stood in front of his closet, grabbing his wand off his nightstand. "Dahis vestis!" Tane yawned, waving his wand, and watching silver magic wisp out, and disappear into his closet, going through each article of clothing he owned.

"TANE! HURRY UP! You've already missed breakfast! I expected you to be on time!"

No! Tane wailed inwardly. His magic faltered, and Tane put his concentration back on his spell. Finally, a pair of dark wash jeans and a blue polo presented itself in midair.

"Fine," Tane told it absentmindedly. He changed quickly and headed down the stairs. It probably would have saved him time if he hadn't used the spell. It was mildly embarrassing that he even knew it. But it was pretty cool. His friend, Eileen had taught it to him. Speaking of…

"Hey, Eileen," Tane smiled at his friend, not surprised at all to see her sitting at the breakfast table next to his sister Owen. Eileen was a pretty Asian girl, with shoulder length glossy black hair, and warm intelligent brown eyes. She smiled back at him, putting down her fork (which had bacon at the sharp end of it).

"What's up, Tane?" she asked. "Took you long enough to get down here."

"Hey, sorry! I didn't know you were here."

Ophelius's face was stern. "I expect you to be on time!" Then, an amused smile appeared on his face. "Oh, I see how it is! If Eileen is here, you would have come sooner?"

Tane looked at his father in anguish. "Dad!" he cried. He glanced anxiously at Eileen, but she was just smiling and sipping her milk.

Ophelius chuckled. Tane's father had light brown hair, and dark brown eyes—a bit like Tane himself. Tane's father had an angular face with a strong jawbone, and wore rectangular silver wire-rimmed glasses. Tane looked at Owen, who was silently laughing. Tane saw Eileen shove his sister gently. She laughed a little louder at the Asian girl's attempt to stop her. It was more of a polite pat than a shove.

"Ophy, stop that. It's not appropriate," Thalia came in, her kitchen still in much of a commotion as the magic died down. Tane looked down at his plate, at began stuffing his face full of pancakes as fast as he possibly could. (Which couldn't be good for his stomach, but he wouldn't think about that till later, until t actually hurt.) Tane's mom was a beautiful woman, for one over thirty, with soft features but sharp green eyes. Her hair was as black as night, and her skin flawless. She came over to Eileen, cupping the girl's chin in her hand, pushing Eileen's cheeks like one would do to a toddler. "Though this girl is extremely pretty. A heartbreaker, I'd say. Our son better watch where he's stepping!"

Tane would have gaped at his mother, but his mouth was full of pancake. Instead, he shot her a wide-eyed glance. Luckily, Eileen protested (hopefully for the both of them, Tane thought.)

"Mrs. Shanton!" Eileen cried. "You're so funny. I'm not pretty at all."

"Don't say that," Owen gasped. "You're beautiful!"

"Okay, kids, wrap it up," Tane's father said gruffly. "Line up behind me! We're going to Diagon Alley!"

"Yay!" Owen cheered, leaping up. "School supply shopping!"

"Owen," Tane's mom said sternly, giving her a meaningful glance.

Owen looked downcast. "Sorry," she muttered. Raising her arms, wand in hand, she said "Subsideres adis!" and her plate and glass floated into the kitchen, and Tane knew, into the sink.

"Thank you, love," Thalia smiled, kissing Owen on the cheek. Eileen stood up and raised her arms as Owen did.

"No, Eileen, don't even think about it. Just follow Owen," Thalia said, shooing Eileen away.

"No, really, Mrs. Shanton, it's fine!"

"No, really, Miss Chu , it's fine!" Tane's mom replied, smiling triumphantly at Eileen's surprised smile.

Tane stood up and followed closely behind Eileen.

"Uh, uh, uh!"

Tane pouted at his mother, but performed the spell quickly, then stood behind Eileen in front of the Shanton's fireplace.

"Now, everyone, remember—" Tane's dad began before Tane cut him off.

"Dad, its fine, we've all done this before tons of times," Tane urged him on.

"Fine. Well then." The man turned around, and sprayed the silver powder into the fireplace. The fire turned green and Ophelius stated, "Diagon Alley!"

Next Owen went, then Eileen. Thalia was behind Tane, reassuring him. Here goes! Tane thought. He closed his eyes, stepped into the fire, saying "Diagon Alley!"