Author's Note: Here's another AU Scooby series I've got in mind, folks!

This series is part of a series of alternate universes (Numbered in the D70s) that depicts Mystery Inc. as British rather than the usual American, so therefore, expect a high use of British terms and British-style spellings in this series of stories.

Anyways, this story is my reworking of the recent Daphne & Velma live-action DTV film, which I've decided to do a complete rewrite after reading the plot on Wikipedia (And trust me, folks, there were plenty of parts where a facepalm was the only way for me to describe my thoughts of the film), so therefore, only Daphne and Velma are featured in this story.

Also, this story, which functions as an origin story for this series, is the second of my stories to be based on the first Nancy Drew story The Secret of the Old Clock (The first story to be based on the story in question is my FictionPress story D4 Garfield and the Secret of the School Lockers, though for its case, the storyline of the ND story in question plays a major role in its final chapter only), with its own differentiation from the source material.

In addition, Coolchester is an English version of Coolsville and is the largest city and administrative centre of the county of Crystalshire, which is an English version of Crystal Cove.

Crystalshire is one of the 78 non-metropolitan counties of England and is one of the 50 with unitary authority.

I don't own Scooby-Doo. Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros. does.

Chapter 1: A new transfer

October 1, 2008

The rain was already pouring as the alarm clock went off on the nightstand right beside the bed of Daphne Blake, who groaned as she reached over and gave the clock a good whack.

She shivered as her right hand retreated back under the covers. It's barely into the month of October, and already the rain is making things feel damp and cold!

Grumbling under her breath, Daphne tried to get back to sleep, only for her parents to have a say in the matter.

"Daphne my dear, time to wake up!" Her father's Yorkshire accent boomed through the closed door. "It's a school day, you know."

Daphne groaned before she stretched her arms and then reluctantly flipped her warm covers aside so she can get out of her bed.

The redhead went through her usual school day routine in doing her business in the WC, which included washing her face, combing and brushing her hair and applying light makeup.

After she changed into her school uniform and put on her green scarf, Daphne grabbed her school bag and made her way downstairs to the dining room, where her parents were in the last stages of preparing breakfast.

"Still can't believe that the first month of school has went by, dear?" Her mother Elizabeth asked in greeting as their only child enters the dining room.

"What can I say, mum?" Daphne shrugged. "As the old adage says, 'Time does fly'."

Her father George, who was seated at his usual spot at the dining table and reading the newspaper, nodded in agreement, and it was Elizabeth who noticed the sour look on her husband's face.

"Something bothering you, George?" She asked.

"Just reading the stock market report, that's all." George looked up. "The subprime mortgage market across the pond has been buggered for quite the while, and if their government doesn't act to do what needs to be done, then we're gonna have to tighten our belts for the next while."

"I suppose when you invested some of the company's stock in assets over in the States, then the stock market report sure isn't going to bugger you off." Elizabeth nodded.

"Tell me about it." George agreed as he resumed reading the paper.

Soon, Daphne had finished her breakfast, and she was out of the door not long after finishing brushing her teeth.

Armed with an umbrella, the redhead made her way onto Easy Street not long after bidding her parents goodbye.

A short while later, the First Student-operated double-decker bus pulled into the stop, and she promptly boarded the vehicle and sat at the front near the front door.

She rarely sat at the top deck of the bus out of habit, mainly because her stop is the last stop of her school bus route before the bus continues its way to West Silverman High School, where she will begin her first day in Year 11.

Year 11 is a major school year for school students across England, as it's the school year where students do their final preparations for the year-end examinations for their General Certificate for Secondary Education (GCSE).

Daphne had spent part of her summer break making strategic plans for her studies, namely so she would be able to fit in enough time to study for the GCSE exams and her participation in the school's drama club.

While most students also utilise their Year 11 school year to make plans for their post-GCSE study paths, such as deciding which college to attend for further education, Daphne knew that she wouldn't have to worry about making such plans.

Afterall, West Silverman High School is one of the number of secondary schools that has sixth form (I.e. For students continuing on to Years 12 and 13), and Daphne intends to pursue her further education studies at West Silverman.

Much of the bus ride was uneventful, other than the fact that there was some traffic backup onto the main roundabout connecting Barbara Street with Silverman owing to an automobile accident involving a couple of lorries.

As the bus drove by the accident scene, Daphne noticed the police cars at the scene with several police constables at hand directing traffic.

"Hopefully, the constabulary would be quick in getting the accident scene cleared." Daphne thought to herself as she saw the two lorries involved in the crash and noted one of the lorries involved in the crash was an articulated one, and its trailer has blocked off several of the lanes in the carriageway, which explains the traffic backup they just drove by.

Eventually, the bus pulled into the main drive leading into West Silverman High School, and after it came to a complete stop, all the students picked up their stuff and made their way off the vehicle.

A short while later, Daphne was at her locker putting away her belongings and getting a number of class supplies she needs for her literature class when a familiar voice called out, "Hey, Blake!"

Groaning, the redhead paused and turned, in time to find herself face to face with Alice Carswell, the captain of the school's cheerleading team, and her gang.

As usual, Daphne can smell peaches as Alice and her gang walked towards her.

"What can I do for you, Carswell?" She asked.

"You know, I was thinking about your audition the other day, and I think we were a bit harsh." Alice said. "How about you give the tryouts another shot, and we'll see if you can arrange for us to have another party at your place at the end of this work week?"

"Excuse me?" Daphne raised an eyebrow.

"You heard me, Blake." Alice smiled. "Does this sound like a reasonable course of action to you?"

Daphne narrowed her eyes as she considered what Alice just said and, to be honest, she can't help but feel a familiar sense of déjà-vu as Alice made the remark.

After all, this past year, Alice made a similar offer, which she wholeheartedly accepted, except that this was before the end of the summer term of their Year 9 school year and the head cheerleader wanted to use Daphne's place for a party.

Long and behold, that Saturday before the end of the school year, at least 20 people showed up at Blake Manor and before you knew it, by the time George and Elizabeth Blake returned home that night, the whole living room looked like it was severely burglarised.

Daphne got an earful from her parents that night after she explained what happened, and she was sanctioned by getting grounded for the entire summer that year.

To add insult to injury, on the following Monday, Daphne asked Alice about the audition and the head cheerleader simply told her to consider auditioning again in the next school year.

Needless to say, since that ill-fated summer party at Blake Manor, Daphne has consistently felt that she has gotten the short end of the stick by Alice and her gang and has since promised herself not to let herself be associated with the cheerleading team.

"Well?" Alice asked when she saw the uncertain look on Daphne's face.

Finally, the redhead responded as she placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes.

"Honestly, Carswell, I don't see why you need to bring up the audition again when I never get my end of the deal after doing what you and your mates asked." She said slowly but crossly.

Then, remembering that she had gotten all the books she needed for Literature class, she slammed her locker door shut before adding, "We're done, Carswell. I'm not having this discussion with you again!"

With a huff, Daphne then walked away down the hallway, en route to her Literature classroom, as Alice and her gang looked on.

"I thought we were mates!" Alice called out.

"No." Daphne retorted as she continued walking without stopping or turning her head. "You were never my mate, not when I was the one who always get thrown under the lorry whenever things get buggered up, Carswell."

A short while later, Daphne was busy taking notes in Literature class as the teacher discusses the latest chapter of the class reading.

The teacher's discussion was paused when someone knocked on the classroom door.

Pausing from her note-taking, Daphne and the rest of the class all turned towards the door as the teacher walked towards it.

Opening the door, they saw the school headteacher accompanied by a young girl with chin-length auburn hair, freckles and wearing a thick pair of glasses.

"Ah, Mr. Chalk." Their literature teacher said. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Forgive me for interrupting your lesson, Ms. Gales." Mr. Chalk said before gesturing towards the girl and added, "I will like you to meet Miss Velma Dinkley here. Her family and her just moved in from Manchester and we only sorted out her schedule a few minutes ago as a result of a network problem this morning, which she actually was instrumental in help resolving."

"Ah, that right?" Ms. Gales arched her eyebrows.

"Yes. She's quite the brilliant mind, you know." Mr. Chalk nodded. "As a matter a fact, part of the reason why West Silverman has consistently gotten the silver medal in the national science fair competitions was due to the first place Wright Robinson College having Miss Dinkley as an asset."

"I understand." Ms. Gales nodded understandingly. "In any way, I presume that Miss Dinkley's scheduled to be in my Literature class right now, yes?"

"Exactly." Mr. Chalk nodded again before he turned to Velma and added, "Go on, Miss Dinkley. Here's your first period class."

Velma simply nodded but didn't say a single word as she was let into the classroom by the headteacher.

"Quite the shy young lady." Ms. Gales remarked before turning to the headteacher and added, "I'll make sure that the class does everything to make her feel welcome here."

"I'm sure you can do just that, Ms. Gales." Mr. Chalk smiled. "Good day."

Ms. Gales nodded before closing the door and headed back into her classroom to resume her lesson.

Velma was standing by the chalkboard as Ms. Gales returned to her desk, where she then turned to the class.

"Alright, everyone. Listen up!" Ms. Gales said as the class all turned towards her and Velma. "I'll like to introduce you all to Miss Velma Dinkley here. She's a new student from Manchester who was transferred here from Wright Robinson just this morning. I expect you all to treat her with respect and make her feel welcome in school, just like how you all expect your peers to do just that to you all."

As Velma proceeded to an empty seat near the front of the classroom, most eyes were on the new transfer as Ms. Gales resumed her lesson.

Daphne was among the students looking at Velma as she took a seat, and she can't help but observe how much the school's brown and white uniform barely fits her.

She was about to turn back towards the blackboard when Velma looked up and made eye contact to her.

Seeing that Daphne was staring at her, Velma narrowed her eyes into a glare.

Even at the absence of words, it was clear that Velma was asking her, "What are you looking at?"

Seeing the glare Velma was giving her, Daphne quickly shook her head and hastily turned back towards the blackboard.

Sighing, Velma then turned towards the blackboard as the classroom returned to mainly Ms. Gales writing stuff onto the blackboard.

Please read and review!