The End of Normality

Hi everyone! This my first fanfiction; I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't and probably never will own Harry Potter.


Do I believe in love at first sight?

No.

Do I believe in hate at first sight?

Maybe.

Do I believe in annoyed at first sight?

Absolutely.

Before him, my life was relatively normal. As normal as your life can be when you're a witch and attend a magical boarding school where strange things happen every year. Then he came bounding in with all guns blazing, making it his mission to throw my life into chaos.

He succeeded.

I didn't mind.

My name is Alyssa Summers. I have stacks of books everywhere. I know the city of London like the back of my hand. I expected to graduate Hogwarts with ten or eleven N.E.W.T.s and find something to do with my life.

I never expected him.


"Are you sure you've packed everything?" Mum asked for the thirty-seventh time. I sighed, looking to my dad for help, but he was watching the others on the platform with wide eyes. So I looked to my cousin Dora instead.

"She'll be fine, Aunt Izzy," she grinned, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "I'll look after her, I promise."

"Oh, all right," Mum relented, her voice cracking. She pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. "Alyssa, you will be careful, won't you? And study hard, and make friends?"

"Mum," I complained. "You're crushing me. You heard Dora, I'll be fine."

I wasn't sure why she was so worked up. After all, she'd gone to Hogwarts herself, years ago. I gave her another hug and permitted her to kiss my cheek. I turned to Dad, Aunt Dromeda, and Uncle Ted. They all hugged me, but my little brother declared that I had cooties. I made a face at him. He stuck his tongue out at me.

"Come on, 'Lyssa," Dora chuckled. "I'll help you get your stuff on the train."

She hugged her parents and led me off toward the Hogwarts Express. We hoisted our trunks onto the train.

"Do you want me to sit with you?" Dora asked, absently turning her hair bubblegum pink.

She's a Metamorphagus, which is really cool. I spent a few years trying to become one when I was little. All I got was sent to my room for getting into my mother's beauty products.

"No, that's okay," I shrugged. "You go on and sit with your friends."

"If you're sure...go meet some first years. Try not to scare them all away with that huge brain of yours."

I laughed and started to lug my trunk down the corridor. Most of the compartments were already full, and it was a while before I reached any that looked inviting. On my right was a compartment with three girls, who were giggling hysterically about something. Okay...maybe not my idea of inviting. On my left, a girl sat alone with her head pressed to the window. I slid the compartment door open cautiously, but she still jumped.

"Hi," I smiled. "Do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full." All right, that wasn't strictly true. But I didn't fancy sitting with the gigglers. The girl shrugged, but helped me hoist my trunk into the luggage rack next to hers.

"I'm Alyssa Summers," I said once we were seated again.

"Elena Michaels," she murmured, smiling shyly and shaking my hand.

"You're American!" I cried, noticing her accent.

"Yeah?" she said, somewhat defensively.

"Nothing, that's just really cool," I grinned. "How come you're not going to Salem Institute?"

"My parents are Muggles," she said, cheeks turning red.

"So? There are a lot of Muggle-borns here. Besides, my dad's a Muggle."

"My parents don't like magic." Her voice sounded funny when she said that. "They said that if I was going to be a witch, I couldn't go home during the summer. So I'm here instead. I'm staying with my older brother,Will. He's a wizard."

"Oh," I said, grimacing. "I'm sorry."

Elena shrugged. "It's all right. My brother has been great. The woman who came with my school letter took care of everything. She was scary-looking...McGonagall, I think Will said her name was."

"That's right, I think. Will you go back to America when you've finished school?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

The more I talked, the more Elena talked. Soon, we were chatting like we'd known each other our entire lives. If I didn't know better, I'd say I was making a new friend.

"What House do you think you'll be in?" I asked.

"Well, Will says I have to be in Gryffindor, so I can cheer for 'his' team. What about you?"

"My mum was in Ravenclaw. That's where I'm hoping to end up. But she comes from a family of Slytherins, so I guess we'll see. I hope we end up in the same House."

"Me too, I really-" She was cut off when two red-headed boys burst into our compartment.

"Ha!" one of them said, slamming the door shut. "See if he finds us in here!"

"Excuse me," I said, standing up. "But this compartment is full."

"What do you mean?" the other boy frowned. "There're two empty seats right there!"

"Yes, but we're having a private conversation. So, would you mind?" The first boy frowned, looking at me appraisingly.

"Y'know, you're really cute and dainty. But then you open your mouth. It completely ruins the effect. Come on, George."

I glared after them.

"Do you know them?" Elena asked warily.

I sighed and shook my head.

"I've never seen them before in my life."

"Oh..." she said uncertainly. "Okay, then."