Prologue

7 years ago, London

Mister Figgins and Professor McGonagall had been walking around Hogwarts the whole day. Finally, they finished the tour.

"I'm sure everything will go well, Professor McGonagall," Figgins said firmly.

"And I'm wishing you the best, Mister Figgins. Hogwarts shouldn't stay in one place. I'm glad the President of United States accepted our offer," Professor McGonagall replied with a smile on her lips. "Have you thought about the place, yet, sir?"

"I'm thinking small towns, Professor McGonagall. Maybe Ohio. It's my hometown."

"I would love it to be a small town as well. You can never hide Hogwarts from muggles in New York or Los Angeles," the old lady chuckled. "And if we are successful with the US branch, we can construct new schools for the young wizards and witches all over the world," She could not be happier.

"And may the kids have a bright future," Figgins excitedly put his fists up and held it in front of his shoulders. "Achievement!"

Professor McGonagall did not seem to understand his gesture.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I have to leave to catch a plane back to my country. It's my pleasure to meet you," Figgins casually bowed and left.

Before Professor McGonagall could say anything, he was already out of her sight.

"He could have just used the Floo Network," she mumbled.

1 month ago, London

"Dad, do you really have to go? I'm gonna miss you so, so, so much," Brittany hugged her dad again. It had already been ten times today.

Pierce Pierce, Brittany's father, one of the five-stars Pierce Hotel owners, had been offered a big job in the Embassy of England back in their home country, the States. The family moved to Pierce Hotel London since Brittany was almost 11, just so she could attend to Hogwarts, the best school for witches and wizards. It already felt like home here.

"Brittany, honey, you're not a little girl anymore. You know you only have two years left at Hogwarts, and then we can go back to US and live together as a family again," Whitney Pierce was trying to comfort her daughter.

Brittany just nodded.

"Are you sure you're okay not having me around? I don't think the Embassy will allow me to travel on my own too often," Pierce asked his wife.

"Oh dear, Brittany and I are going to have so much fun here. We'll have girl night and girl chat everyday," the woman said brightly.

Pierce playfully rolled eyes at his wife. He then checked his watch. "I have to go now, or I'm gonna be late. Come here, guys. Give me a grouphug!"

Brittany and Whitney hugged him at the same time. The girl was trying her best not to cry.

"Take care," Pierce mumbled after they let go of him. He grabbed his luggage and stepped into the house's fireplace. "The Pierce Hotel, Ohio!"

And then Pierce was gone. Brittany blinked a few times. She didn't realize she was hugging her mom. Whitney gently stroked her daughter's hair.

"Two years, Brittany. Only two years."

2 weeks ago, London

It had been a slow month since Brittany's father moved back to the US He came back to London to visit her and Whitney once a week, but Brittany still did not get used to not having him around. Today was another day she woke up and just stared at her bedroom's ceiling.

IF YOU WANNA BE MY LOVER, YOU BETTER GET WITH MY FRIEND!

She was startled and slapped her alarm clock a little too hard. It fell off her nightstand.

"Woah, Spice Ladies, you startled me," she mumbled.

"I didn't know you like to talk to a clock," a bright shiny voice came out of nowhere.

Brittany was startled again. It was the same moment she realized her cousin was in her room.

"Courtney!" Brittany got up and ran to give her cousin a hug.

Courtney Pierce faked a cough and Brittany let go of her. "What?"

Courtney looked up and down at Brittany to make a point that she was still in her underwear.

"Oh, I sleep in my underwear now." that was all Brittany replied.

She stood still, did not even bother to get dressed yet.

"No wonder why your mom suggested me to wait for you outside. Anyway, sorry if I invaded your privacy, but your bod is hot, just like mine!"

Brittany smiled at Courtney, and Courtney did it in return. For both girls, it was like staring in a mirror.

Courtney was sixteen-years-old like Brittany. She was the daughter of Uncle Theirry Pierce. The two girls were born in the same month and almost looked alike, except that Brittany had blue eyes while Courtney had green ones. They were also raised together in Pierce Hotel Ohio and were mistaken for twins many times. But since Brittany moved to England, they did not hang out much anymore.

"So what brought you here, Court?" Brittany asked.

"A port key," Courtney replied and laughed at her own joke.

Brittany chuckled at how bad the joke was.

"Seriously, twinsie, get dressed and I'll tell you everything at breakfast," Courtney winked and then walked to the door elegantly.

She's not my twin because she's much better than me. She's the Prefect of White House of US Hogwarts, and she won Yule Ball Queen last year. Not to mention her straight Outstanding grades. Basically, she's perfect. Brittany could not help but think about these facts.

Brittany put on a t-shirt and a spank pants because she was curious about what Courtney was about to tell her, so she wanted to get dressed as fast as she could.

Her mother and her cousin were already at the table, along with Uncle Theirry and his wife, Joanne. Brittany said hi to them and sat down.

"So, why are you guys here?" the girl got to the point as soon as her butt touched the chair.

"Brittany, give them a break. They just got here and this is an important news," said Whitney calmly.

"Mom, you just made me even more curious," Brittany did not lie.

Courtney smiled and clucked her tongue once.

"Fine. It's just that US Hogwarts had this exchange program that one sixth year's student will come here and finish school, and one from here will go there. So I'm that student and you're going to US Hogwarts. Oh, I already applied for the both of us and they said yes, so you don't have a choice. But it's okay, right? Because I know how much you miss your father," Courtney spoke so fast without breathing.

It took Brittany three seconds to gather the information, and it took ten to process.

"Oh, this is so…," Brittany was speechless.

"Awesome?" Courtney finished the sentence for her.

"Yes, but…"

"What?"

"I'm not so good at making new friends and stuff. And I don't even know how US is these days. I don't even know if mom wanna move," Brittany turned to her mom at the end of the sentence.

"Oh honey, anything you want. But if it were up to me, I would love to live with your father again, of course. And you're a good girl. People will like you," Whitney gave her daughter the best answer.

"I'm sure Brittany will be popular at US Hogwarts just like Courtney was," said Uncle Theirry.

"You'll be a great Prefect, Brittany. Or a cheerleader, or a Yule Ball Queen!" Aunt Joanne supported her husband.

They think too high of me. I don't want to disappoint them. But I really miss my dad and wanna stay close to him again. Not to mention I have no choice. Damn it, Courtney. You're so commanding sometimes. But this time I guess it's for the best.

"Okay. So when do we have to move then?" Brittany asked.

"As you've noticed, our whole family are already here…," Aunt Joanne started.

"…So you have to go to US Hogwarts within next week," Courtney finished her mother's sentence.

"Gah, I hate packing!" Brittany groaned.

"You are such a baby," Courtney shook her head.

"Yeah, yeah. Can we eat now?"

1 week ago, London

For the rest of the week, Brittany spent most of her time packing. Courtney took it of her own accord that she would move in Brittany's room, so she started moving her things inside the room and made everything even messier. The girls took this opportunity to exchange the information of each other's school.

"So, US Hogwarts is not too different from the one in England, actually. But instead of having four houses, we have two. The White House and The Pentagon. I guess you know what they were named after. You're going to be in White House, and I'm gonna be in Hufflepuff. They don't re-sort us. I guess when they said "exchange student", we really do exchange everything, you know? If you wanna know anything else, just ask," Courtney honed her 'talking without breathing' craft again.

"So are there any Pygmy Puffs in US?" It was the first question Brittany could come up with.

Courtney shook her head and smiled at her cousin.

"That's all you wanna know? You know why you are my favorite cousin? Because you're so cute and you've never changed. Of course, there are Pygmy Puffs, unicorns, flobberworms, all the cute things."

Brittany did not think flobberworms were cute, but she did not argue.

"Anyway, you will find the rivalry between two Houses quite strong, though. The Pentagon's Prefect is an uber bitch. Don't talk to her if you don't have to. Actually, don't even get near her," Courtney suddenly sounded very serious.

"Court, did she do something to you?" Brittany was concerned.

"Oh no. She just always insulted me and my friends, or cast silly spells at me. But I heard a rumor that she has killed someone," Courtney whispered when she got to the last sentence.

"Oh my God. I hope it's not true. But I'll be careful. What's her name?"

"Santana Lopez."