This is my first try with the whole Harry Potter thing. Hope you like it. I'm mainly doing this for my friends at work because they mean the world to me and I love to entertain them.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. I wish I did, but, alas, I don't. That goes for the rest of the story too. Whatever I mention, I most likely don't own it unless it's Laurynce or Darcy, but even his name is from something else. Bugger. Don't own nothin'.


Laurynce Thomas looked around the airport. Someone was supposed to meet her here to pick her up and take her to the inn. It wouldn't be the first time someone forgot about her, but this was a completely different country and she didn't exactly feel like getting lost right off the bat.

She was a foreign exchange student from Florida and this would be her first time in England, London to be exact. She was so excited. It was the first time she had ever left the country besides a week long mission trip to Costa Rica. This was her first taste of Europe and her nerves were getting the better of her. She walked to the baggage pick up area and waited for her trunk to appear on the belt.

This was the first time she would ever be without a member of her family and she was slightly scared. Well, actually quite frightened really, if she was being honest with herself. Her mother was back in Florida as well as her twin sister and younger brother. Her mother was working as a secretary for a private school and her sister and brother were enrolled in school back in the States.

Laurie was here because her pen pal asked her to come and see if she could be an exchange student. Laurie had asked her mom throughout the whole entire last semester of school and she finally agreed. And thus, here she was.

After grabbing her trunk and making sure she had everything, her carry-on on her back and her trunk by her side, she started to go toward the doors of the airport.

"'Scuse me, comin' through," a loud voice said above the din of the crowded airport.

Laurie looked to where the voice was coming from and saw a very large man come through the crowd, parting it as if he was Moses. He was at least eight feet tall and had long shaggy hair and as well as a shaggy beard. He looked as if he was bent on a mission and when he came within twenty feet of her he stopped. He was looking at all of the people in the area and finally after a myriad of bizarre and confused looks landed on her.

"You Laurynce Thomas?" he asked in a deep voice, sounding quite eager.

"Um, yes." She really should know better than to answer strangers' questions but she didn't think he was all that dangerous.

"Finally. Don't know how them Muggles know which way they're goin'. Was all the way on the other end of the buildin' before I realized me mistake." He was quite funny trying to explain himself. He used his arms a lot when talking and since she couldn't really see his mouth, she just watched his beard move.

After a bit he seemed as if he were done and ready to move on.

"Are you escorting me to the inn?" Laurie asked as he grabbed her heavy trunk as if it were a pillow.

"Yep. Dumbledore sent me, 'specially. Said he wanted you to be welcomed, he did. Great man. You'll like 'im once you've met 'im."

She nodded understanding that this man had a fondness for the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Um, I'm really sorry, but I don't know your name."

"Oh! How silly of me!" he declared and almost hit her with her trunk when he whipped around to shake her hand. "Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. You can just call me Hagrid."

"Okay."

Laurie was practically running to keep up with the large man and held the strap of her bag with a death grip in order to keep it from falling off her shoulders in her haste.

"How are we getting to the inn, Hagrid? Are we walking the whole way?"

"No. Just 'round the corner. Leaky's been rather busy with some of the new students arriving to get their supplies an' all. Have you got all yer school things already?"

"No, I have to get my books but my mom's sending my broom via my falcon."

"Oh, good. The rest of the students should be coming within the next couple days or so."

They were walking rather fast toward a darkened street a few blocks away from Heathrow. Hagrid came to a stop in a dark section of the street.

"Do you have your wand with you?" Hagrid said suddenly.

"'Course."

"Well, hold it out toward the road and stand back."

Laurie took out her wand which was holding up her hair – seven inch oak with the feather of an Augurey. Quite suddenly there was a loud BANG and a bright purple triple-decker bus appeared next to the sidewalk. Laurie stumbled back a bit and was caught by Hagrid before she landed on the ground.

"All right, Laurie?"

"Yeah," she said trying to brush her shirt and jeans off. "Never better."

A thirty year old man was driving the bus and a young man of indefinite age stepped out and introduced himself. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Scott Stoke," but he was interrupted by Hagrid before he was able to finish his speech.

"Come on, we don't have all day." Hagrid pushed past the man and went onto the bus. Laurie followed him reluctantly as she felt the man's eyes follow her.

As soon as she sat down on a bed next to the one Hagrid chose on the first floor of the bus, the driver sped off into the night with another BANG.

Laurie watched as the bus jumped from place to place, stopping every once in a while to let passengers from above off. The distance jumping didn't really bother her, as they had something similar back in the States, only it was a yellow Greyhound bus instead of a purple triple-decker.

After about thirty minutes, Laurie dropped off to sleep, curling up in the four post bed. Jet lag was starting to get to her and was going to be a downer for a few days at least. She fell asleep to the sound of Scott talking to the driver whose name was apparently Ernie.

Laurie woke as she felt a hand nudge her shoulder. Of course, it wasn't a nice gentle nudge, it was a rather rough one. She flipped onto her back and stared at the chandelier in the middle of the ceiling. She looked to her side and found that Hagrid was waiting for her to get up.

"What time's it?" she asked groggily.

"'Bout midnight. Just arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Tom's up and ready to take you to yer room."

Laurie struggled sitting up and swung her feet to the ground. She was going to sleep in tomorrow. 'Til at least noon, probably past.

Hagrid led her inside and introduced her to Tom who promptly led her to her room. After saying goodbye to Hagrid and learning that her friend would be there tomorrow to help her around Diagon Alley, Laurie quickly changed into her pajamas and fell into bed, immediately falling asleep.


Well, there's the first chapter. Let me know what you think!

Ever yours.