Victoria Christiansen squinted against the early morning sun as she hauled two buckets of cow's milk into her family's small cottage just outside London. Her black slippers whispered on the dirt road, becoming dusty, and her plain gray dress didn't fit correctly. When she reached the house, she almost dropped the buckets on the doorstep. Her arms were weary from carrying them the long distance between there and the barn. She opened the door slowly, picked up the buckets again, and stepped inside, making her way to the kitchen. The cottage was quite drab, as was most everything her family owned, but they had made it into a home with curtains, a few paintings done by Victoria, and as many flowers as they could bring in from the garden outside. Upon entering the kitchen, Victoria found her mother making eggs and her father sitting at the table. Victoria's mother Mary, still beautiful regardless of her age, came over to take the two buckets of milk; she then carefully set them on the counter. Victoria had taken after her mother in looks. She had dark, thick brown hair that curled as it pleased, and piercing blue eyes; she was slender and small and had delicate features to match, with the exception of her strong nose. Her father Philip smiled at her. "Good morning, dear," he said. Sliding into a chair, she replied, "Good morning Dad, Mum." "It's almost the end of summer, Victoria. You're going off to that school again," her mother sighed. "What will we do without you around here?" "Mum, this is my fifth year going, and you've been fine each time," she said with a small grin. "Don't presume to give me that whole speech about how you two get older every year. I know for a fact you've still got a lot of hard work left in you. And don't tell me that I'm your only entertainment, either. Just go to one of the duels or jousting matches, they're always fun." Philip almost laughed at his daughter. She had always been forward like this. A fiery little one he had raised. But alas, she wasn't so little anymore, at least not in years. "Don't worry, we won't make any more speeches to keep you here. Of course you're going to Hogwarts. We know what's best for you, and Hogwarts is it. To be frank, the whole magic thing is still a bit weird for your Mum and me." "No more attempting to put me on a guilt trip? You promise?" Victoria looked sharply at both her parents. Her mother answered her with a smile, bringing breakfast over to the table. "Yes, we promise." The family began to eat, and Victoria began to think about Hogwarts. She couldn't wait to return and see her friends Albert and Kathrine, or to be back so she could eat wonderful food every day. It would also be fun and interesting to go to all her favorite classes, including Transfiguration and Astronomy. Her fifth year would be amazing, she was sure. Ravenclaw might even win the house cup, taking it away from Hufflepuff for the first time in eight years. Clearing the last bits of food off her plate, Victoria set her fork down and asked to be excused. Philip nodded, chewing on a bite of eggs. She cleared her plate, setting it in the washbasin just next to the fire, and went through the kitchen to the living room, which she continued through to enter her room. Just as she entered, her gray owl Hercules (she had named him after one of her favorite constellations), hooted quite loudly. Victoria jumped, and then realized what had made the noise. "Hercules," she spoke sternly, "what was that for?" The owl nudged at his food dish. with a sharp black beak, one beady blue eye fixed on her. "Did I forget to feed you? I'm sorry." Victoria grabbed a handful of seeds from the bag next to her dresser and dropped them into the dish. "There you are. Don't scare me like that." Victoria had changed out of her work dress and into a pink cotton dress, and was just about to sit down on her bed and curl up with a book for a while when she heard a high-pitched shriek coming from the kitchen. She raced through her doorway, through the living room, and into the kitchen, looking for the source of the noise. "What in the name of His Majesty is going on in here?" she questioned, rather flustered. Then, looking about, she saw the source of the scream. Her friend Albert stood in front of the fireplace, brushing ashes off of his white shirt and black breeches. Victoria walked over to her mother, who was standing and pointing at Albert with her mouth haning open; she steered her to a chair, forcing her to sit. Her father was sitting in his chair, fork halfway to his mouth. Suddenly, he dropped his fork, which landed on the plate with a clatter, and began to laugh. His deep, rich voice rang throughout the house. Victoria straightened, arms folded across her chest, and looked at her friend. She raised an eyebrow in silent question and stood waiting for an explanation. Apparantly finished brushing the ashes off of himself, Albert Logan smiled, his tanned face absolutely glowing with pleasure, deep brown eyes sparkling. He pushed his night-black hair off of his face and walked over to Philip, taking his hand and shaking it. He then took Mary's hand and kissed it lightly, bowing. "Good morning everyone! I'm Albert Logan. Pleased to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen. And hello Vic! You get lovelier every time I see you." He then took Victoria's hand and kissed it, his eyes almost mocking as he looked up at her. Victoria looked at him, still coolly and silently demanding an explanation. "Ah, you probably want to know why I'm here. Well you see, my parents have decided to go on vacation in France for the rest of the summer, and so they left me with some Floo Powder and told me to find someone to stay with. I already tried Kathrine's house, but her mum started whacking at me with a broom like I was some ugly little bug, and so I got out of there in a hurry and well, now I'm here. I've brought all my own things." And indeed he had, his trunk and the cage with his brown owl Chocolate were on the floor behind him. He shrugged, still smiling. Victoria tried to look angry but failed miserably, a smile breaking out on her face. Truth be told, she was quite excited to see Albert. She hadn't heard from him all summer. Philip, still laughing in his chair, waved his hand a bit. "Of course you can stay, lad. You're welcome here as long as you pull your weight." Mary did not look so pleased at the idea. "Where is he going to sleep?" she asked. "Certainly not in Victoria's room." This thought worried Mary greatly. Victoria was growing up so fast, and she was already fifteen. Albert was surely the same age, and what's more he was a male. Growing up in the poor section of London, Mary knew exactly what every male wanted. "Of course not, Mary," Philip said, quite good-natured. "He can sleep in the living room, we've an extra mattress we can lay out for him. And although it's right next to Victoria's room, it's also right next to ours, and you being such a light sleeper..." "I don't know, Philip." Victoria jumped into the conversation, having watched the whole time up until now. "Please, Mum? You heard him, he's got nowhere else to stay. And it's only for a week and a half. That's all that's left before school. And he and I can go to Diagon Alley and pick up our books and things together." "Alright, he can stay," Mary said with much reluctance. "But no more surprise entrances." Victoria picked up Chocolate's cage, and motioned for Albert to get his trunk. She then showed him into the small living room, shutting the kitchen door behind them and stepping into her room to set Chocolate down next to Hercules. After that she went back through the doorway to sit down on one of the cushioned chairs. Motioning for Albert to sit, she asked, "So, are your parents actually away on vacation, or did you make that up just so you could stay with us?" Albert shook his head and smiled. "You caught me, Vic. Although I suppose you always catch me. Still, aren't you happy to see me?" He began to pout, looking rather like a sick puppy dog. Victoria rolled her eyes. "First off all, you know I hate it when you call me that. And second, don't do that to your face, it's not becoming." "I've been calling you Vic for five years, I can't stop now. Besides, it's so cute how your face scrunches up like you've eaten something sour every time I say it." He shrugged. "It's not becoming, you know." Sighing, she gave in with a smile. "Okay, okay. So, when do I get to visit your family? I can't believe you'd want to come stay in this dusty little place when you could be in that mansion of yours. And right in the city, too." "You have no idea, do you? What it's like to live with my parents? Believe me, it's not something you want to do. They won't let you do anything unless you sit right, eat right, speak right, bow right - or in your case curtsy - and on and on and on. I have absolutely no freedom. I haven't been able to fly on my broom all summer, nor have I been able to send Chocolate to anyone. Which, by the way, explains the lack of correspondences from me when you sent me so very many, horribly long letters. And to think I actually suffered through them all." "I'm not that boring, and you know it. I suppose that would be rather hard," her voice was thick with sarcasm, "to have servants waiting on you all day long, to be able to bathe as you please, to have other people carry the buckets of milk in for you, to have cooks, and wonderful food, and lots of money, and great clothes, and - " Albert cut her off. "Think what you like. I won't discourage you further. And what's wrong with your clothes? That's a fine dress you've got there. Aside from that, at Hogwarts all you'll wear is your robes. Everyone looks the same all the time. Speaking of Hogwarts, when do you want to go to Diagon Alley to pick up our things?" "As soon as possible! I've missed the wizarding world very much." "Well then, how about today? Today is as good a day as any, don't you think?" he asked with a grin. Victoria's eyes widened. "Today? I didn't think it would be that soon. I've misplaced my list of supplies, and I've got chores to do around the house, and..." "I've got my list, and we are in all the same classes. You, Kathrine, and I are in all the same classes. Aside from that, she'll be there today. And what chores have you got?" "Well, I've got to - " Victoria paused to think for a moment. "I suppose I haven't any chores to do. Kathrine's going to be there?" "Yes. I didn't lie about stopping by her house, you know. However her mother didn't beat on me with the broom. She was very welcoming, and they wanted me to stay there, but I said I had to visit you." Victoria laughed. "I didn't picture Kathrine's mum doing something like that. Well then, what are we waiting for? I'll just change into my riding clothes, and we'll ride into the city and go by way of the Leaky Cauldron." She then stood up, and began to walk to her bedroom. Albert stood up, and took three long strides, cutting her off. He then turned to face her and put his hand out in front of her. In front of Albert, who was just over six feet tall, Victoria was dwarfed. She had to crane her neck to look up at him, as she was a whole foot shorter than he. "No need. I've still got enough Floo Powder left for us." "Well then, I suppose we'll just head straight for the fireplace." She took his hand and moved it away from her face, then turned on her heel, headed for the kitchen. "Mum, Dad, is it okay if Albert and I go to Diagon Alley today? Kathrine's going to be there, as well." "Certainly, dear," her father spoke before Mary could get a word in. "I suppose you'll be needing some money, then." He made his way over to one of the kitchen counters, lifting up the top and pulling out a small bag of coins. "I counted all of this out. It's as much as last year, so it should be enough. Just make sure to be home before dark." Victoria took the bag and thanked her father, giving him a tight squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, standing on her tiptoes to do so. Then Albert brought out his bag of Floo Powder. "You don't mind if we use your fireplace again, do you Mr. Christiansen?" "Absolutely not, Albert. I'm very thankful for the warning this time. You're sure neither of you will be hurt going through the flames?" Philip looked a bit worried for his daughter's safety. "I'm quite sure, sir," Albert replied with a bow. He then gestured toward the fireplace, turning his attention on Victoria. "Ladies first, Vic." He winked at her as she grimaced at the nickname. She stuck her hand into the pouch. Having used Floo Powder before, she knew what to do, and threw the pinch into the fireplace. She stood directly in front of it, and shouted out "Diagon Alley" in a clear voice. Albert followed, pocketing the bag before stepping through the flames.