A/N: Welcome to all old and new readers. I decided that I hated what I had already written and the path that this story was taken. So I've removed it all, and I'm going to rewrite and re-upload. I'm also posting this over on AO3, so if you'd prefer to read over there, go ahead! :)

Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review.

Chapter One: A New Beginning

Waves crashing against the cliffs, bird call, and the occasional sound of the neighboring children playing were the only sounds to break the silence on a peaceful Sunday morning of October 8th in the Rossi house. It was disturbed by the delighted scream of a newly turned 11-year-old girl named Maria. Her parents Natalia and Jonathan were sitting at their kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking tea. Her mother smiled over the rim of her mug and in her soft Italian accent sung, "I think she got it." Heavy footsteps were heard running down the stairs.

"I got it! I got it! Mamma, Papa I got my letter! I'm going to Hogwarts!" The young girl ran around the corner a huge smile spread across her face, her long curly dark brown hair a bushy mess around her head, and an unopened letter in her outstretched hands. Natalia placed her mug on the table and stood up taking her daughter into her arms and placing a kiss atop of her head.

"Aw mia piccolo uccello, I'm so proud of you," her mother took her by the shoulders and directed her to a chair.

"Open it, Maria, let's see what it says," her father said just as excited as his daughter. Maria opened the envelope and pulled out the letter, unfolding it as she placed the envelope on the table in front of her.

"HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Rossi,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for next year. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on the 1st of September. We await your owl by no later than the 31st of July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress." Maria read aloud to her parents. "When can we go to Diagon Alley Papa? I want to make sure I have enough time to read as much of my textbooks as possible," she questioned bouncing in her seat.

"Now, now Maria, " her father laughed. "You still have the rest of the year of Muggle school to finish, and we haven't even moved to England yet. Let's just focus on Year Six and make sure you do well. After we move you'll still have the whole summer to get your supplies." Maria slumped down into her chair a frown on her face. At his daughter's dejected face he continued, "but because it's your birthday, we'll take you to Pompeii Magico for you to pick out your present." He smiled as she jumped up with a squeal and hugged him.

"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up, Andiamo!" She beamed, quickly running from the room. Natalia and Jonathan looked at each other with a smile and a gentle laugh as they too stood up and got ready for the day.

The first half of the school year went by very slowly for Maria, but as soon as the end of April rolled around the excitement of starting at Hogwarts in only a few months made it all zoom by. Next thing Maria knew it was June and summer vacation was in full swing. Their move went smoothly, and the Rossi family traded views of the ocean for those of rolling British hills. As soon as they were settled into their new house Maria spent all of her free time practicing the simple spells her dad had taught her like Lumos and Nox, Alohomora, Accio, and other simple charms and spells with the wand that her parents had gotten her for her birthday. She grimaced as she remembered the many bad attempts at using the different wands, and then smiled at the warmth that spread through her as the local wandmaker Signor De Luca spoke the words "10 and a quarter inches, redwood, unicorn hair, surprisingly swishy." It was an amazing feeling to finally have a wand of her own.

It was a warm Saturday morning when Jonathan found Maria out in their backyard placing a soft toy owl on the ground, walking away and using Accio to bring the owl towards her. "Very good, Maria. You've really gotten good at that one," he smiled at her as she turned around beaming.

"I've been practicing really hard like you said to!" she replied walking over to where he was. He smiled down at her as he placed his hand on top of her head.

"Your mother and I think that you've been practicing so hard lately and we think it's finally time to venture up to Diagon Alley for your school supplies!" Maria hugged her dad.

"Thank you, thank you!" She said as she grabbed her dad's hand and dragged him inside the house, "Okay so I need The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk, A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling..."

They had been walking through the bustling crowds of Diagon Alley for a couple of hours now and were down to the last few items on the list. "The last things I need are a telescope set.." Maria started.

"Your Nonno has bought you a telescope and is sending it over soon," her mother chimed in with a smile as she steered Maria clear of a witch whose arms were full of books and school supplies.

"Really?" Maria grinned. She looked back at the list, "Well, then the only thing I don't have is.."

"Yes?" her father looked over her shoulder. " 'Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad' hm," he said looking at Natalia, "now what should we do about that one?"

"Well this place looks like it would be a lot of help," Natalia said steering her daughter towards a store that's sign read Eeylops Owl Emporium. Maria turned to her mother with wide eyes.

"Really? I can really get an owl mamma?" her mother nodded, "Papa?" her father laughed.

"Of course, you can sweetheart, how else are you supposed to send us letters?" he joked ruffling Maria's hair before opening the door and letting his daughter and wife inside the store. The store was dark, presumably because owls are nocturnal, and quiet save for the soft hooting of the owls. Maria walked around the room slowly peering into each cage and carefully inspecting the owls. Suddenly a small brown speckled owl swooped overhead and landed on the top of a crate next to Maria, she let out a small gasp of surprise.

"Oh! Well hello there," she said reaching her hand slowly out towards the owl and stroking the top of its head.

"She's a tawny owl," a voice spoke from behind her, she turned around to see an older man, he lifted his hand out. The owl flew over to him and landed on his outstretched arm. "And she loves to fly, of course, all owls love to fly," he chuckled, "but she's just something special, obsessed with being in the air." He motioned his hands wildly in the air. "The only time she's not flying is when she's sleeping."

"She's so beautiful, is she for sale?" Maria asked looking from the owl to the shopkeeper.

"Of course," he replied with a kind smile, "she's 10 Galleons," he stroked the owls back and she soared off to fly through the store. Maria turned to her parents with hope in her eyes and a smile on her face.

"She's perfect," her mother smiled placing her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"We'll take her," Jonathan said reaching for his coin purse. As they walked out the store with the owl in her cage and all the necessary things to care for her, Natalia turned to Maria. "So, what are you going to name her?" Maria pondered for a moment looking at their surroundings for inspiration.

"Well she likes to fly a lot, so maybe Volo?"

" 'Flight'?" Her mother said, and Maria nodded with a smile. "I like it, very fitting." She wrapped her arm around Maria's shoulders, brought her close and kissed her on the head. "Let's get home and have a look at these books!" she said lifting the shrunken down bags she was holding that contained Maria's books. The family walked into the Leaky Cauldron to one of the fireplaces and floo'd home.