Authors Note: I own nothing. Please Read and Review.

Changes

Hannah Abbot's thoughts were still swirling when she boarded the

Hogwarts Express and sat with her friends. Interpreted Hannah's silence as nerves about the approaching sixth year, Veronica turned to her and asked, "What do you think Hannah? American or British?"

"American or British what?"

Veronica laughed, "Boys of course! Haven't you been listening?"

Hannah, absorbed in her thoughts, had not been following her friends' conversation. "British." She said with a smile.

"Well I think American boys are much better looking!" exclaimed Jane.

"You know my mum is American." Hannah suddenly blurted. Her friends responded with

"Oh really?" and "I never knew that!"

"Wait," Veronica said, "that can't be true. Your mum went to Hogwarts. I've never heard of any American witches or wizards at Hogwarts.

"She came to England so she could go there." Hannah replied.

"Oh! Well I never knew that about your mum, but I don't know much about her at all." Jane said thoughtfully.

Nor do I, thought Hannah; her eyes glazing over as she lost herself in her thoughts.

ooooooooo

Winnie alternated between looking out the window and rearranging her robes. She could not remember the last time she was this nervous. She looked around and saw the other five people sitting with her looked equally nervous. They also looked a lot younger. She had never heard anything about short British teenagers. "Um, how old are all of you?" Winnie blurted and blushed.

A blond girl whispered "Eleven."

The other four nodded vigorously. Winnie was confused, she was sixteen and just starting at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; how could they be eleven and starting too? Winnie's anxiety increased as she wondered if she was being put in a class with eleven year olds because she had little talent. If that is the case, she decided, I am going back home, but what would her mom say? She was so proud when the letter arrived inviting Winnie to Hogwarts.

ooooooooo

Winnie watched the school bus come and go full of excited children preparing to face their first day of school. Winnie sighed and wished that she could be with them and not getting the mail before returning to her mom and resuming her home schooling. She had begged her mom to let her go to normal school, but her mother always said, "You're not like the other kids; be thankful Winnie."

Yes, Winnie thought bitterly, I am different. I don't have friends or ride the bus. Winnie did not know what else she was missing, but she knew she was missing a lot!

"Winnie?" Her mom's airy voice called her.

Winnie shook herself from her daydream, grabbed the mail, and returned inside. "What are we learning today Mom?" she asked and sat down at the kitchen table.

"Well," her mother said, "this teacup would be much more interesting as a hamster don't you think?"

Winnie giggled and nodded. She may not like being home schooled but she

did love learning.

Her mother continued, " I also thought a bit of Ancient Runes and then tonight some Astronomy."

The hours melted away as Winnie tried to change the teacup. Once Winnie's mother was satisfied with Winnie's progress she left to read the mail. Winnie looked out the window and let her mind wander until she heard the sound of glass shatter and flinched. The sound came from the hall were her mother was; Winnie decided that the green vase had broken when her mother reached for the mail yet again. Winnie had set the letters against it. Winnie remembered that sound from a summer many years ago.

ooooooooo

It was a hot, summer afternoon and Winnie was desperate for friends. Winnie found three girls having a tea party in her neighbor's year and asked them if they wanted to see what she had learned that morning. The girls nodded and Winnie made their teacups tap dance. Next was a blur of broken glass and screaming. Winnie's mother grabbing and sending her to her room. For the rest of the night Winnie could hear her mom yelling at stranger after stranger. Later that night Winnie's mother came upstairs looking tense and tried to explain to Winnie what happened. From that day on Winnie understood never to talk with anyone about what she had learned.

ooooooooo

Winnie glanced at the clock and realized that it had been five minutes since she heard the glass break. Winnie, filled with unease, walked into the hall to find the green vase in perfect condition, but the cream-colored carpet stained with cranberry juice and her mom's glass was in shards on the floor. Winnie's slight unease bloomed into panic. Where was her mother? What happened?