Hogwarts walls were always curiously buzzing with hubbub and nonsensical rumors or twisted tales of the Daily Prophet, and today wasn't really much different, except that the tumult was true. The famous Harry Potter was now entering the first week of his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which meant 6 long years of trying to filter out rubbish. A tall and gangly red haired boy pummeled through a thick wooden door revealing a resting Harry Potter, fingering through a tattered book with dense binding named Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Can you really be studying at a time like this?"

"What's that supposed to mean, Ron?" Harry asked, not skipping a beat in his readings.

"Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"The news you blundering idiot!"

"What news? News that Dean was snogging your sister yesterday morning?" Harry mumbled.

"What… "

"Nothing Ron, just forget it, what's the news?"

"Dumbledore is having a speech today, and everyone saw eagles landing right in the Quidditch field. "

"For one, today is normal for Dumbledore to have a speech… it's the day before our classes begin. Second, who is everyone…"

"Well, Seamus…. Luna…." Ron bit his lip.

"Oh get off it. There's a feast going on tonight, that'll be at least enough to get you out of bed I hope."

"Well, when?" Harry asked.

"You've been straight up livin' blind today haven't you. Not one Gryffindor is in the common room…."

"Let's be off then. I can use a break. This head start on my N.E.W.T's isn't going as lovely as I had planned."

Harry shoved the book under his bed and a small gray cloud of dust billowed underneath it. Hedwig softly hooted at Harry and Ron scurried through the open passageway. The halls were completely baron, not one voice could be heard on the boy's walk to the Great Hall. From quite a distance the noise became apparent rather quickly and a large rush of excitement poured from the slightly askew Hall doors. All four overly long tables had been in the same position, Hermione's hands were waving frantically in the air at the farther end of the Gryffindor table. The house banners were not hanging over each table, but a black flag with an enormous eagle planted in the center flew proudly above the students. After Ron and Harry sat with Hermione, they noticed one more table; it sat horizontally with theirs filled with all unfamiliar faces beaming in the luminescence.

"I can't believe Dumbledore actually did it." Hermione grinned.

A man shy of six feet with a stout black cape glided across the front of the usual Hogwarts tables. An air such the Dumbledore radiated was spread amongst the students, but this man was easily 20 years younger than the Hogwarts headmaster. Dumbledore rose at the usually centrally located podium, and instantly the Great Hall went mute.

"Students! I am clearly aware of the talk that has been spread faster than wildfire of our new guests sharing our same Great Hall. To help douse the fire you wonderful pupils have fueled out of control, I will mutter from my own mouth the identity of the fine gentleman standing in front of you. This is headmaster Fink, of Eaglecrest of Boulder, Colorado located in the United States of America."

A collective gasp could be heard ringing around the silent air, Hermione especially was beaming with joy.

"He's heard to be the best potion master in the entire world. " She whispered across the table. It seemed if Ron and Harry could nearly see tiny hearts leaving Hermione's head as she stared off in admiration.

"Hogwarts Students." The man announced, joining Dumbledore at center stage.

"It is my humble honor to announce that my students and I will be borrowing your brilliant time and joining you in your fight here against those who have committed unspeakable crimes against the wizarding community. We believe with the collaboration of these two noble institutes that our students will have no chance of becoming victims of… you know who."

It was more than obvious to Harry that it seemed like Fink was staring straight at him. Harry's face became hot with an emotion between embarrassment and anger.

"Funny accent that fellow has, yeah?" Ron said before a muffled "oomph" as Hermione kicked him under the table.

"Thank you headmaster Fink, Hogwarts is home to any witch or wizard, we hope our hospitality is at its most uprightness. We will now carry on with our sorting ceremony of new students and Eaglecrest students. The Sorting Hat will decide with house will be your temporary placement during your year stay at our home."

The trio nearly dozed off at the trailing end of the sorting ceremony where the brand new first years were placing the same old dusty hat on their head. Not soon after large silver trays piled with food the Hogwarts students had never seen before. The smell was strong and hearty; Ron's mouth began to water as the round aromatic pizza waited to be devoured. Both hands gripped golden crust of the pepperoni pizza and Ron shamelessly stuffed the triangles into his mouth.

"I read about this in my Muggle Culture book. It's called pizza and muggles have it delivered regularly to their houses for dinner." Hermione explained.

"My parents have it sometimes in London." She smiled.

"Dad tried making it once. Turn out a bit rubbery. Dad isn't much of a cook." Ron blurted out with both cheeks full of pizza.

The three ate until their bellies were so full that the buttons of their pants were near the point of bursting off. The Great Hall had nearly been emptied before Harry, Ron and Hermione had gathered their things to regroup with the others back at the common room. When the trio finally made it to the common room, it was so full they could barely squeeze through front entrance. A large circle of Gryffindors made a thick border around at least 10 brand new faces that Harry hadn't recognized.

"Bloody hell, this place is at least double what it used to. Brand new furniture it seems like too." Ron pointed out.

"I am sure while we were all in there eating Dumbledore charmed the place to add more room." Hermione added.

Ron and Hermione loomed around getting caught up in the excitement of the new students, but Harry didn't seem all too concerned with the novelty. He slipped past the large group and headed up a newer slate set of stairs that lead up to a much longer hallway than before. With a few minutes of exploring he could see that the hallway now stretched completely around the common room connecting the boys and girls hallways. Harry was able to narrow down his own door by a few markings that looked familiar to him. The dark brown wood always had a tiny crisscross mark right above the golden knob. His only predicament was there were two doors with that same tiny notch and they happened to be right next to each other.

"Dumbledore must've just used a charm to make copies of the doors." Harry whispered to himself.

After a small debate with himself, he picked the door with the handle that looked more worn, clicked it open and plunged headfirst. He was hoping to see Neville's face staring back up at his, but instead it was far from it. It was a girl, particularly one he has never seen before.

She jumped nearly three feet, pulling her black night robe tightly into her chest.

"Excuse me!?" She screamed.

"Sorry miss, wrong room." Harry said as attempted to duck out of the room.

"Really, it's fine. Same thing happened to me earlier. Stepped into a room I thought was mine, but the beds inside were so messy I knew it couldn't be mine."

Harry blushed.

"And you are?"

"Harry…. Harry Potter."

Her busy mind now focused straight on Harry.

"Harry Potter….."

"Yes….."

"You picked the wrong girl to charm."

"Charm? I picked the wrong room. I wasn't charming anyone."

"The girls from my school all fawn over you. They all know who you are."

"I don't understand…"

"Stop being so modest. There's 49 other girls you can try that crap with. "

"I'm sorry you feel this way. But, you don't know me. They don't know me, and I am not a master charmer."

"Just get out."

"Before you throw me out, can I at least know your name?"

"Bloom. Ophelia Bloom. Goodnight Mr. Potter."

After backing out and reuniting himself with the comforts of his own dorm, Ron shot a smarmy smirk from a lazy position on his bed.

"They loved me. I think I am going to move to America." Ron dreamily said.

"I didn't hit it off so well with the Red, White and Blue…."

"Really? All I had to say was 'Hello mate' and they all swarmed me." Ron chuckled.

"Well before I was tossed out, the girl next door told me how I was just a charmer, and how all the American witches fawned over me."

"Come to think of it, they were asking where you were…. Don't let her get to you. There's plenty others you can get to know."

But unheeding Ron's advice, Harry did let it get to him. In fact, he nearly obsessed over the conversation in his head. When he wasn't panicking about his NEWT's he was thinking about how Ophelia Bloom was able to hate him without speaking with him for more than 5 minutes. Ophelia was beautiful, even in a night robe; her looks were still able to completely outshine the unkempt appearance. Her long blonde hair hung down past her elbows, and her bright blue eyes shone, brighter the angrier she seemed to get during the conversation.

It was the first morning beginning classes and Harry was not completely excited of the fact that Professor Snape would be teaching his favorite class. The only good thing that came out of it was that now Harry was allowed to take Advanced Potions due to the fact that Professor Slughorn's entrance scores from the OWL's were not as high as Snape's. Harry realized that he had awoken just a tad bit earlier than he needed to be in order to get ready for class and decided to take the time to stretch his legs. It was more than exciting to him seeing so many new faces roaming the halls. Hufflepuff's dominated the halls showing all of the new American students around the castle. Harry took roughly twenty minutes to show a younger American boy to classroom 1B for Transfiguration, where he stopped for a few minutes to chat with Professor McGonagall. Not soon after she pointed out that he was going to be late for his own class, and Harry dashed down to the dungeons for his first DADA class.

With only a measly 5 minutes to spare, Harry rushed through the door, where Snape was standing with his back turned to the open threshold and Harry scurried to one of the empty chairs located in the back of the classroom.

"Scuse' me, is this chair taken?" Harry asked politely.

A rather chipper looking girl with black hair chopped off at her ears smiled back.

"Of course not. Especially not for Harry Potter."

The four other girls at the table chuckled as he pulled out the chair. Before he dug his nose into his crossed arms he noticed Ophelia three tables in front of him, shooting him the sourest glare over her shoulder.

"Excuse me Harry."

A voice said timidly, barely audible from Harry's head being buried in his robes.

"Yes?"

"Would you mind showing us your scar? We've all read about it, but you sat down so quickly that I couldn't see it."

He lifted the few strands of black hair that dangled over his glasses and revealed his infamous scar. The girl's shrieked; Harry nearly melted them in their seats. Snape slammed an overly large book on the table, causing the entire class to jump.

"Now that I have your attention, we can begin your lesson on Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. You'll all most likely be needing it, so take notes." He said in a monotone voice.

As Snape mumbled on, the girl next to Harry continued to mumble questions under her breath, taking notes on Harry's answers, not Snape's intro lesson on Dementors. Harry battled the entire 90-minute lecture with trying to reserve himself enough to keep Snape from giving him shifty eyes, and upholding his politeness to the girls at his table. He managed to keep the women and bay and Snape's squinty-eyed glare directed at other students throughout. After Snape's final comment Harry wasted no time dashing back to the common room to avoid anymore questions about you know who, or his current relationship status. The number of unfamiliar faces outweighed the number of ones he knew, so he hugged the shadows against the walls and avoided everyone all together.

"Harry wait!" He heard a voice call from behind him.

The call was confusing, it was loud and surely could be mistaken as hostile. He gulped down a mouth full of air, hoping that it wasn't a group of American kids with their wands pointing to his vulnerable back. To his surprise, his turn revealed a ginormous boy holding the tiniest white cup and saucer in his palm.

"Don't run away so fast. We made some tea, would you care to join us?"

Reluctantly, Harry accepted the strange smelling tea and plopped down on an open couch near the unlit fireplace in the common room.

"Harry Potter…. we've been waiting to talk to you." The tall one stated.

"Who would've thought that idiots like us would be sorted into the same house as some of the most famous wizards of magical history." A much smaller and blonde haired boy stated.

"So, you had to talk to me about?" Harry interjected, attempting not to be brash.

"Harry, in America, you are a novelty. Your name is already being taught at Eaglecrest in our History courses. All of the witches and wizards from Hogwarts are very famous overseas. We've never had to fight for our lives against you know who. "

The tall one stood again, staring in amazement the gigantic portrait of Godric Gryffindor mounted over the fireplace.

"Why would Dumbledore ask for Fink's help? None of us can help."

"I think Dumbledore did what he had to. We have strength in numbers, and it is smart to have talented wizards behind our walls. "

"Speaking of… What's Eaglecrest like?" Harry asked.

"Well, it isn't located in a castle. That's for a start. It's in the mountains, in a state called Colorado. The students are split into four houses like here and there are many buildings that aren't connected throughout the woods that we have to walk to for class. Our houses are Wolfpaw, Feathersmith, Owlwise, and Crowseeth. Wolves were mostly sorted into Gryffindor, Owls in Ravenclaw, Feathers in Hufflepuff and Crows in Slytherin."

"Wolfpaw as in Artesia Wolfpaw?"

"Yeah that's her. So you do know a little American history." The tall one chuckled.

"How would I not know about her? She pretty much discovered the patronus charm."

The boys spent most of the afternoon munching on pasties and drinking the strange tea that the American's made. Harry learned their names were Matt, Bobby and Travis and they were all 6th year Eaglecrest students. The common room started to buzz with more Gryffindor students entering after their classes had ended. Many of the students all gathered and began adding candy to the crumbs left of the pumpkin pasties that the boys had devoured through their hour long conversation. Chocolate frogs jumped about the pile of cauldron cakes, acid pops and Bertie Bott's. The pumpkin juice was flowing plentifully by the time Ron and Hermione had made their way into the common room. Barely noticed, Ophelia trudged through the thick wooden door of the common room and plowed through a group of girls splitting a box of canary creams. Matt watched Harry's attention be drawn to her long legs climbing the small set of stairs toward the back of the commotion.

"Out of every single person coming through that door, she's the only one skipping the fun. What is her deal?" Harry asked.

"Ah, don't worry about her, Harry."

"Seriously, I want to know."

"Well fine, if you must. Ophelia is a Wolfpaw, pureblood witch. She's a sweet gal, but her exterior is tougher than stone. She's a lot more like you than you'd expect, Harry."

The boy gulped more pumpkin juice, and Harry followed in suit waiting for the second half of the story.

"I dunno if Hogwart's books talk about Dirk McSalistone, but he was a very famous wizard, who apparently unknown to knowledge at the time he was in the American branch of Death Eaters. Dirk wormed his was in to our Ministry of Magic and executed nearly three quarters of them. All of Ophelia's family worked for Ministry and perished along with the other 170 members who died in Operation Meteor. So after that, she was off to live with her muggle uncle off in the Rocky Mountains, no wife and only a dog in a tiny log cabin. "

"Country bumpkin who didn't believe in magic, but sent her to Eaglecrest anyway.-"

"Wait Muggle uncle?" Harry interjected, "I thought she was a pureblood?"

"Yeah, uncle fell in love with her whack job aunt, Primrose Ulbrecht, pureblood witch. Blew herself up or summin' in some potions accident right after her and good old John tied the knot. So after her mom and dad were murdered, John forbid her to speak of any magic whatsoever when she was home for the summers. After her fourth year, she just started interning at Eaglecrest and other international schools, avoiding Hogwarts like the plague. We reckon that's why she hates you, because she can relate to you. "

"Like that makes any sense." Harry blurted out.

"Women." Two boys said in sync.

"Harry, really. Don't take is personally. Ophelia has always been guarded. The only reason she's cordial with us is because she grew up with us. "

Harry nodded and continued to sip on pumpkin juice and enjoy the whimsical ambiance. Three girls Harry hadn't recognized climbed over Hermione's legs and clouded over him. Harry stood from the seat, now feeling overly uncomfortable with the crowded air he was trying to breathe.

"Here, take my seat." He offered.

The girls politely smiled and plopped down across from Hermione completely ignoring her presence.

"I'll be off then." Harry gestured toward Hermione.

"Sleep well, Harry. You have a long day tomorrow." She called off as Harry began to sift through the crowd.

"Spying on ole' Harry, yeah?" Ron startled Ophelia, bumping into her in the hallway above the Common Room.

"How long have you been standing there?" She demanded, gathering her composure defensively.

"Not very long, but enough to see you googley eyed over Harry."

"I am not googley eyed over anyone. I am just curious."

"Bout what?" Ron asked.

"I've been trying to study what makes his story so special, and what makes me such a nobody. He's so normal. He doesn't have a certain arrogance, or poise. He's just a normal kid, but girls want to love him, and boys want to be him."

"Harry doesn't live around here like some king, ya know? What's novelty in America doesn't translate so well here at Hogwarts. People blame Harry for you know who, he's constantly in the spotlight and being scrutinized. Your books only mention the good, but I am sure they leave out all the bad. Give him a chance."

Ron exited from the conversation and joined Harry at the top of the stairs. The two slipped like shadows through the hall, passing Ophelia as she scampered into her room, nearly closing her door in sync with the boys. Harry haphazardly tossed his shoes off and paced the small throw rug on the floor in his socks.

"Keep that up we'll be sleeping in the dungeons. What're you doing?" Ron asked.

"Thinking." Harry shot back.

"Yeah, I can see that. Are you thinking about that girl again?"

"Yes Ron, I was finally at a point where the entire school didn't hate me and it felt nice. It feels nice when people don't hate you."

"I dunno Harry. I saw the look in her eyes. She could burn you ten times over."

"You talked to her today?"

"Maybe…. But only good! I swear. Ran right into her as she was standing in the shadows, plotting your death, I presume."

"Really Ron?" Harry spat at him.

"Maybe not, but watch yourself Harry. She's an American tigress."

"Alright." He said, stopping his pace and jumping straight into his empty bed.

"Get some sleep, Harry. We've both got potions class right away tomorrow thanks to you and your little talk with McGonagall."

CHAPTER