AN: This is the first in my quartet, possibly a quintet. Anyways, please read and review. Flamers you may flame but always remember my opinions are not yours and yours are not mine ^_^ Happy reading.

This story and those following it do not follow the books or movies precisely. There are similar themes, however some of the events may be out of order or non-existent, so don't start getting all upset because something didn't happen when it was supposed to.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All I own are the original characters featured in this story.

Time Period: Pre-HBP

Chapter 1 - The Journey

The mid morning sun blazed down through a cloudless sky into a canopy of gnarled old oak trees which had been planted many generations before near the icy creek which ran through the McCallister Estate. The landscape of the northern Alberta estate was picturesque in its natural beauty. Tall mountains could be seen to the northwest, their snowcapped peaks adding a majestic feeling to the little valley below. Around the valley were miles of forests, inhabited by many sorts of animals and plant life, including the occasional magical creature.

The trickling sound of rushing water gliding over smooth rocks was the sole focus of Ariana McCallister thoughts as she sat on the sun warmed grass not very far from where the rushing water was. Her soft chocolate gaze seemed focused on the water in front of her, however the distant look in her eyes revealed that she was deep in thought as her reflection returned her stare. Her shoulder length midnight hair was pulled back out of her face into a messy bun and her chin rested upon her propped hand as she sat resting her elbows on her propped knees and continued staring at the water in a relaxed manner.

Without notice, the twenty-one year old blinked and focused her eyes on her surroundings while admitting a loud yawn. Sitting up straighter, she stretched her back from its uncomfortable position and looked around her as if to see if anyone was around.

Ari, as she liked to be called, sighed heavily as she thought about what lay in store for her. In a few hours time she would traveling to London, a place she had never thought about going to and would rather avoid if she had the power, but then again, it was the stupid North American Assembly of Magic that had that power, not her.

"Damn Assembly..." her soft voice grumbled as she sent a glare at a leaf that had blown onto the creek's surface and began its drift downstream and away from where she sat.

Ariana had been initiated as an Auror two years ago with the North American Ministry, one of the youngest witches to ever achieve that status. Having been home schooled and partially under the tutelage of one of the highest ranking aurors in North America, Ari had spent a great deal of her time learning how to become a good auror, rather than worrying about O.W.L.'s or N.E.W.T.'s, like many of the other young wizards and witches her own age. She had been completing her assignments quite well and had thought herself to be on the good side of the Assembly officials. Well, she thought wrong. In her opinion, her little trip to London was done just to spite her. They knew her history, yet they had blatantly disregarded her wishes and decided to send her to jolly old England to 'help' out at some strangely named magical school for underage wizards.

Her teeth clenched in annoyance as she remembered the conversation she had had with the head of the Auror Department just two weeks earlier. Then again, a conversation usually involved two or more people conversing with each other. Their 'conversation' had been more of a 'this-is-what-you-have-been-told-to-do-so-do-it' kind of conversation.

The dark haired short, stocky body of Nicolas Kennigan blocked Ariana's way as she made to leave the department for the day. She had spent the last four hours filing paperwork on a fraudulent claim that dark wizards were going to attack a McDonald's fast-food restraunt. The prank informants had managed to provide a stunning pile of paperwork for their little game and she had been the lucky person assigned to 'deal' with it.

Kennigan's mismatched eyes, one green and one brown, eyed her with a look of discontent as she tried to scurry past him, not liking the look on his face. The last thing she wanted was another assignment right after she had finished dealing with several piles of paperwork.

"Ms. McCallister," Kennigan spoke in his 'I-mean-no-funny-business' voice, "I would like to have a word with you in my office." The way he spoke was final, which left Ariana little choice but to follow him as he entered his office and sat down behind his desk which was wrought with many piles of unorganized papers. He looked almost tired as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger and asked her to have a seat in one of the two unmatching chairs in front of his desk.

"I would rather stand, sir." Ariana responded, not liking the set of his stiff shoulders or the look on his face as he looked up at her. No, she didn't like this at all...

"Hmm," he mumbled as he pulled a file without hesitation from one of the several stacks on his desk and opened it. He browsed through the information for a moment before returning his gaze to Ariana. "Ms. McCallister, you've have been given a new assignment." He paused for a moment to let her consider what this meant.

Ariana had recently been working on locating several uncooperative teenagers who had been spreading rumors about the Dark Lord throughout Canada and several northern states in the U.S., similar to the situation she had just finished dealing with... She had complained when she had received the assignment because she fancied herself above running around after several brats who were only a few years younger than herself. Her elation at hearing of a new assignment was short lived as she saw the look on her superior's face. This was not going to be a good reassignment...

"You are being reassigned to the United Kingdom. There is a magical school there called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which is in need of some 'protection'." Kennigan spoke as his mismatched eyes watched her take in this information. A flash of anger entered her dark eyes for a split second before going behind her perfected mask of indifference.

"And may I ask why I am being sent there?" she ground out through slightly clenched teeth.

"It seems with the fear of the students being attacked by Death Eaters or other dark creatures, our oh-so-charming Assembly of Magic has offered its services to the British Ministry of Magic. They chose you because you are young enough to infiltrate the student body. Your mission is to find out if there are any traitors within the student body or faculty that may have connections to the dark wizards. You are also there as protection in case an attack directly occurs upon the school," his voice was almost sympathetic as he knew her personal feelings on the matter of being assigned anywhere near the British Isles.

"Peachy." She muttered darkly under her breath, her chocolate eyes seeming to darken more as a shadowed look crossed her face.

"All of your records are being forged and no one, not even the headmaster, will know of your position." Kennigan continued, choosing to ignore her less than happy response. "You must remember not to show all of your 'talents', and pretend to be just a regular student. All of the information is in this folder," he spoke while reaching across his desk to hand her the folder.

"Thank you, sir." She spoke with the utmost indifference. She was not happy. Not at all. However, this was her job and she had chosen to follow this path, despite knowing that someday she may be asked to do something she would not like to do.

Ariana nodded her head sharply to Kennigan and turned on her heel to leave the room as quickly as possible. The need to scream in anger and blow something up at the forefront of her mind until Kennigan's voice made her pause.

"You leave in two weeks for the start of the term. We have prepared fake parents for you and you will meet them here before transferring to Britain together. Take the next two weeks to prepare your supplies and such." Kennigan spoke just as she reached the door handle. Once he was finished, she quickly fled the room. After she had shut the door, he ran a hand through his hair and muttered a quiet 'good luck'.

Ariana could feel resentment rising within her, but she pushed it back down as she stood up and brushed the dirt and grass from her blue jeans. Her navy colored tank top only made her eyes seem sharper as she surveyed the land around her. She would miss this place. Having spent her entire life here, Ari could not imagine living anywhere else. However, she was going to have to.

That magical school might not be too bad. It would just be a pain in the ass having to deal with those immature little children and know-it-all professors. She was not sure what to expect when she got to the Britain, but she did realize that life was about to get a great deal more complicated.

Platform 9 and 3/4... Platform 9 and 3/4... the location of the Hogwart's Express platform eluded Ariana as she looked about King's Cross Station trying to find the location of the elusive platform. An older couple stood beside her also questing for the nonexistent platform. She spared a glance at her 'parents' who were standing beside her and nearly snorted from the absurdity of the whole situation. She had met her 'parents' only twenty minutes ago before apparating to King's Cross Station. They seemed nice enough, but they were only there for appearances.

Chocolate eyes flashed with interest as she caught sight of a family walking into a pillar in between two other platforms.

"Well I'll be bewitched and swarmed by doxies..." her soft voice muttered before she turned to her companions, "This way." She walked off in the direction of the pillar, ironically expecting to be obeyed by her parents.

Ariana hesitated for a moment and clenched her teeth as she walked into the pillar, not once faltering in her confident stride. She felt a strange sensation and became slightly dizzy before she came out the other side. When she opened her eyes, chaos met her vision as people bustled past her. Her companions bumped into her as they came through the magical portal, not having expected her to stop her forward movement. Her 'father' narrowly avoided bumping into her with the trolley which held her school trunk and flashed an almost irritated look at the people around them.

"Well darling, looks like we have arrived." Ariana's fake mother spoke in a clearly American accent as she began stepping into her role.

"I'm so proud of you for deciding to transfer to Hogwarts," her father spoke. He seemed a bit distant, but as long as he played his part... Ariana could understand his irritation.

The couple walked Ariana forward towards the waiting train. Ariana had to shuffle out of a group overexcited students' way several times as what appeared to be first years ran about excitedly.

This is going to give me a migraine, Ari thought to herself as she mentally prepared herself for what was to come. She stopped in front of a door leading onto the train and turned to look at her parents. Her father had sent her trunk to be stored away and now the only thing left was her worn, dark colored backpack. She had taken the time to make it look more... American by applying pins of American bands to the bag.

"I'm going to miss you dear!" her fake mother wailed as she brought Ariana into a bear hug. Not used to intimacy, Ariana stiffened. Forcing herself to put her arms around the woman, Ariana pretended to be sad as well. "You take care of yourself. Your father and I are only a floo away."

"I'll miss you as well mom," Ariana said as soon as she was released from her mother's grip.

"Have a good time and don't do anything I wouldn't do," her father said with a wink, that was almost believable, as he gave her a quick hug and then handed her the worn backpack. Ari took it, grateful to finally be able to retreat from the chaos of the station and enter the train. She waved goodbye to her parents and stepped aboard the Hogwart's Express and began her search for a seat.

Much to Ari's dismay, the incessant noise of the station did not fade once she had stepped aboard the train. If anything, the noise level had increased with the high-pitched squeals of young girls excited to see each other and old friends laughing and joking around as they caught up on what had happened over the past summer. Ari fought her way past a gaggle of young girls, gritting her teeth as she pushed past them. She was even more annoyed to find that the young girls were almost as tall as she was. Her height of 5'4" had always annoyed her, but it led some fools to underestimate her. She jostled against a group of people moving down the hall and finally made her way down the train car hallway.

I am going to pull my hair out! she thought angrily as she left the car she had entered originally and began the trek down another hallway. As she moved down the hall, her gaze continually shifted sideways into the passing cabins; looking for someplace to escape the incessant noise!

Relief filled her dark eyes as she found what she was looking for at long last. Sliding the door open, Ari stepped inside what appeared to be a small cabin. She was relieved there was no one inside and she relaxed slightly as she haphazardly threw her backpack on a cushioned bench seat before plopping down ungracefully herself. She allowed herself a moment of reprieve and closed her eyes. Ari felt the throbbing in her head die down and her body relaxed against the plush seat.

Dark eyes flashed open as a shrill blast from the train echoed through the cars. Peace and quiet seemed out of her reach today. She felt the slight tug of the train as it began moving forward on the tracks. She sighed and shifted her gaze out the window as the scenery slowly began to pass by faster and faster. She was glad the train had begun moving forward and let her head fall back to rest against the seat.

As she sat there, reclining in her seat, her mind began to wander over what was going to happen. In several hours they would reach Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had been informed by Kennigan that she would be 'sorted', whatever that was, and then introduced to her house. She would be taking normal classes with normal students.

Ari was nervous about going to classes. She had been home-schooled most of her life and had spent little time around people her own age... well, close to her own age at least. She doubted there would be many people near her maturity level, which was going to wreak havoc on her tolerance. She would have to deal with it though, she had a mission to complete. She just prayed that her worst nightmare was not going to come true. Even if it did, avoidance would prevent any blood shed... well, maybe just a little blood shed would not be too bad...

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door slid open and a boy and girl wandered in. Ari stiffened and immediately sat up straighter in her seat. She moved closer to the window as the two people came in and put their things down. The girl looked to be slightly younger than Ari herself was. Her hair was a dark brown, similar to Ari's own inky black tresses. The boy with her was fair haired and his blue eyes immediately looked at Ariana as if he had not known she was there before.

"Oh hello," chirped the girl as she sat down across from Ariana. The girl seemed overly cheerful, just what Ariana wanted. "My name's Annabell Luxley, but everyone just calls me Anna." She smiled warmly at Ari and patted the seat next to her for her companion to take.

"Grumpy face here is Nicolas Dennson," Anna supplied as Nicolas took a seat beside her, his wary gaze still resting on Ariana.

Supposing this was her turn to speak, Ari placed a small smile on her face, "I'm Ariana Vierez. I'm a transfer student so I don't know many people... It's a pleasure to meet you." She hoped she sounded sincere enough.

"Oh, a transfer student? We don't get many of those. What year are you? Nic and I are both sixth years this year." Anna chirped happily, ignoring her companion's sour mood.

"The same," Ariana smiled at the happy girl.

Review please.

AN: You may have accidentally viewed an older version of this chapter. If this is your first time seeing this note, please re-read.

Thank you,
DHM